Island Ecc Podcasts

Make room is a call to open up your heart and your life because of the King. As we enter into the Christmas season, we take a look at how God made a grand announcement of the coming King to lowly shepherds and their beautiful response to the news.Από τον Eric Farmer

Our Christian is a deeply personal faith, but we don’t stop there. God’s heart is for us to bring health and well-being to the people we are in touch with and even to the the city where we live and called home. So, what is God’s plan for us and the city?Από τον Albert Ng

In Hong Kong, families are struggling as couples shy away from having children while marriages face unexpected difficulties. Even though our homes are experiencing challenges, it’s important to remember that to God, families matter. Not only are they essential for the well-being and thriving of society, but they also play a vital role in advancing …

Over 60% of our waking hours are spent in the workplace. If we aren’t flourishing there, then we aren’t flourishing in life. Unfortunately, many people in Hong Kong have an adverse relationship with work. What is the solution to the problem of work? Work less? Work a job that you have passion for? Work a job that compensates well? In this sermon we…

A flourishing city is comprised of flourishing neighborhoods and workplaces, which is comprised of flourishing individuals. Your best contribution to a healthy city is a healthy you.Από τον Brett Hilliard

In this concluding message on the book of Habakkuk, we see the progression of a man who struggles well with his doubts and confusion. He lands in a place of genuine worship, with doubts still present, but a faith that is even greater.Από τον Brett Hilliard

We may often misunderstand God’s timing or His methods. The prophet Habakkuk did as well. But he learned that instead of letting confusion rule our hearts, we can find confidence even amid our doubts.Από τον Brett Hilliard

Let’s be honest. Sometimes God is hard to figure out. Sometimes our expectations are not met, and we are left confused, disappointed, and maybe even, spiritually numb. So what are we supposed to do with our doubts? How can we honestly turn our doubts into sincere faith?Από τον Brett Hilliard

In Luke 8, Jesus takes His disciples out on the water for an experiential lesson they will never forget. Distraught from a storm overtaking their boat, the disciples turn to Jesus as they witness His full humanity and divinity on display.Από τον Eric Farmer

It seems like an absurd question – ”Do you want to get well?”. But tucked away inside that probing question is an invitation to examine what our true motives are. To follow Jesus is to not just seek His blessings, but to recognise His lordship as well.

It’s easy to give lip-service to the idea that God provides. It’s another thing to actually believe it with our lives. How do we really grow our belief about the provision of God? In this sermon, we look at Jesus’ question “Do you still not understand?” to see if there is a secret ingredient to having greater faith.…

At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Plain in the sixth chapter of Luke, Jesus poses a poignant question to His listeners. In summary, He asks them, “You’ve just heard me give you clear commandments, so why do you not do what I say?” On top of that, His question puts every listener and reader on the spot by making us all ask ourselves, “Do I real…

Jesus asks His disciples, “who do you say I am?” It is a question that they struggle to answer with great clarity. We take a deep dive into their answers and examine what contributed to their misunderstandings, before we assess how we might also answer the question incorrectly.Από τον Kevin Kusunoki

Who among us doesn’t have moments of doubt? Does God hear all my prayers? Is Jesus really the only way? Is my salvation secure?Από τον Brett Hilliard

Spiritual stagnation plagues many Christians. The excitement and passion we once had for God slowly gives way to apathy and complacency. By looking at the story of Lydia, we try to discover the secret of her lasting fire and unwavering faith.Από τον Kevin Kusunoki

Drift always moves toward chaos. It takes intentionality and focus to ensure spiritual drift doesn’t occur in your life. Demas is a man who started well, and sadly ended in desertion. What can we learn from his life to prevent the same disaster in our own?Από τον Brett Hilliard

Some names are included in scripture as warning signs for us. Diotrephes is such a man. His ungodly character was a nemesis to Paul, and a stumbling block to the growth of the church. So don’t be like him. But first you’ve got to understand what makes him so unsavoury.Από τον Brett Hilliard

Do you feel encouraged or disheartened today? Are you an encouragement to those around you or do you discourage others? Come and learn from Barnabas, a micro character in the bible that has a major impact in the world. Come and discover the undeniably amazing power and influence of encouragement!Από τον Daniel Tse

We kick off the sermon series by looking at the life and actions of Onesiphorus. We will examine what he does that makes him such a loyal companion to the Apostle Paul and wrestle with what that might mean for our relationships today.

Are you content with how often you hear from God? Do you think it’s possible He’s speaking more than you are aware? How can we tune in, to make sure we are hearing all that God is saying as He leads us in this life.

As a follower of Christ, there is the possibility of living above the fray. Choosing to tether your sense of confidence in the goodness of God, rather than the goodness of life.Από τον Brett Hilliard

How does knowing Christ affect the way we talk? How does the gospel message change our conversation?Από τον Brett Hilliard

We know that gossip can be dangerous, but it also feels really good. Gossip helps us vent our frustrations and gives us something interesting to talk about. Is gossip really all that bad? And if so, how seriously should we fight against it? We look to the book of Proverbs to find wisdom about this neglected topic.…

We communicate with people every single day, but the person we talk to the most is ourselves. And the words we choose to speak to ourselves are some of the most powerful words we encounter. How do we formulate our thoughts? What lies are we telling ourselves and how can we overcome them with the truth? Today, we will look at a Psalm that deals with…

The ability to receive feedback well is the mark of Christian maturity. In this sermon, we will explore why people often reject feedback, and what we can do to improve our capacity to receive feedback well.Από τον Albert Ng

Our words make worlds. Whether good, bad, plentiful, or rare, the content from our mouths leaves lasting effects on those around us.Από τον Brett Hilliard

Baptism is a beautiful symbolic representation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Today we will explore what it means that we have been baptised into the death of Jesus and united with Him in resurrection.Από τον Jessica Richmond, John Slosted

Today is the first of two Baptism Sundays! It’s always a great celebration in our church. While baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith, it is also a snapshot of a bigger story, or testimony, of what God has done in our lives. Today, as we celebrate the stories and baptisms of our brothers and sisters, we are going to look at two of the…

Many people desire to have mentorship relationships. However the sad reality is that many of us have no idea how to engage in that form of discipleship. We look to the story of Elijah and Elisha to learn about the building blocks of successful discipleship.Από τον Kevin Kusunoki

The book of Ruth usually – and rightfully so – highlights the relationship between Ruth and Boaz. This story is a powerful tale of redemption that points to our ultimate redemption in Christ. Today, however, we will focus on the journey of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi and how we can glean some great truth and encouragement from this beautiful r…

Work relationships are among the most important ones we have. Unfortunately, these too often are also among the hardest ones. Examination of the hierarchical relationship between Saul and David, as recorded in 1 Samuel, yields applicable principles for making the best of problematic work relationships.…

Perhaps the greatest force for change in your life is your friends. You become like those you surround yourself with. So for Christ followers, friendship is more than a collection of good people, but rather a spiritual discipline to bring about the change God desires for you.Από τον Brett Hilliard

From the earliest of times, every human being has learned how to let themselves off the hook. We are adept at providing reasons for our behaviour (or misbehaviour). But instead of making excuses, what would our life be like if we were simply honest with ourselves and those around us?Από τον Brett Hilliard

We all have people we want to evangelise to. Problem is: we don’t know how to. What do we do when the people we love and care about don't want to hear the gospel message? We kick off our “it takes two” relationship-focused sermon series by studying Paul’s unique relationship with his jailer.Από τον Kevin Kusunoki

The parable of the lost sons gives us great insight into the depths of our own souls, and offers a freedom and understanding that transforms our religion into relationship. The resurrection was never intended to make us religious.Από τον Brett Hilliard

For many people, being righteous is an unattainable goal. As much as we try to live a holy lifestyle, we still make mistakes and sin. But Jesus actually gives us clear instructions on how to live a righteous life, and it’s not how we might expect. In this parable we learn about the devastation of sin and the importance of humility.…

One of the most direct parables taught by Jesus, the story of the rich man and Lazarus calls us to love God from the inside out. Even with its tough teaching, the calling of Jesus was magnetic to the sinners of the day because it emphasised a judgement based on what was real instead of religiously superficial, something we all long for.…

Is your faith entrepreneurial? Jesus teaches us about the danger of a faith that is stale and predictable.Από τον Brett Hilliard

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well known parables Jesus ever told. It has become ubiquitous in our language and society. But why is this parable so important for us? Today we’re going to look at how shocking the story really is and how powerful it can be for us if we actually put it into practice.…

What lies at the heart of our greed? Is it simply a desire for more things, or is there a more sinister problem at the root of it all? We look to Jesus’s parable of the rich fool for answers and seek to find practical ways to combat the problem of greed.Από τον Kevin Kusunoki

Jonah was rebellious and then he was reluctant. How can we learn from Jonah and simply live in alignment with God’s heart?Από τον Brett Hilliard

Most of us would readily agree with the notion that God loves us. But to take that truth in and be totally changed by it, we need to really let it sink in. We need to stand in awe.Από τον Brett Hilliard

The state of our world demands an urgent response, and Jesus provides the only lasting hope. As Christ followers, our lives are not our own, and we have both the joy and the responsibility, to bring the light of the gospel to the world in which we live.Από τον Brett Hilliard

You were made to be instrumental in the purposes of God. Regardless of your profession, your ultimate calling is to discover how God wants to use you for His greater glory.Από τον Brett Hilliard

While everyone is wishing you great blessings of good health & wealth during CNY, what do you really wish for? Maybe at the end of the day, you just want to be happy – that’s it! “Don’t worry, be happy”? Then again, the Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” It never said, “Be happy in the Lord always!” So, what’s the difference between being ha…

Lunar New Year brings in a season of renewal. It’s time to leave behind things that hinder us, and pursue good things that God has in store for us in the future. So, how does renewal work?Από τον Albert Ng

The great Christian hope is heaven. However, many of us don’t like to think about heaven because it either scares us or seems boring to us. But how much of our conception of heaven has been influenced by Hollywood, and how much is actually Biblical? As we look into the final chapters of the book of Revelation, we will attempt to discover what God t…

Hagar’s encounter with an angel provides the framework for a good start-of-the-year inventory of our lives. What should you leave behind? What is your direction? What can you expect from God?Από τον Brett Hilliard

This series offers three personal ways to move beyond resolutions to having consistent resolve in vital matters. This first sermon uses the life of Daniel to delve into how resolve is worked out in our past, present, and future.Από τον Rick Bates

Who among us couldn’t use a greater dose of peace? This Christmas Day, allow God to gift to you a greater sense of this peace that surpasses human understanding.Από τον Brett Hilliard