Ecclesia: Church at the Chip Podcast (New)

Ephesians 1:13-23 Did you know that Jesus offers us an incredible inheritance? It’s true, and it’s ours because of his resurrection from the dead. On this Easter Sunday, let’s explore this inheritance, and how we can be sure to receive it.

The Kingdom of Jesus: A Study in Luke’s Gospel (#20) Luke 6:1-11 Controversy continues to percolate as religious leaders become increasingly suspicious of Jesus’ kingdom ministry. Last week Jesus confounded them by feasting with sinners, to which he replied, in effect, “A new day is dawning.” This week he stokes the fires again by plucking grain and healing hands on the Sabbath. Who does Jesus thi...

Jesus is having way too much fun. He prefers feasting over fasting, sinners over saints, and new wine to old. What’s going on here? What’s going on is this: A wedding celebration! The Bridegroom has come for his Bride. The Kingdom of God is arriving, and everyone is invited to the party. March 30, 2025

As Jesus begins his kingdom campaign, he recruits disciples to follow him. We’ve already met the first four, who were fishermen (5:1-11). Today he will call a fifth person to follow him: a tax collector named Levi. As we shall see, both the invitation and what happened next reveal the scandalous nature of Jesus’ kingdom. March 23rd, 2025

As Jesus’ kingdom of God campaign gathers momentum, Pharisees from as far away as Jerusalem arrive to check out the miracle-working prophet in Galilee. What happened next shocked and angered them -- but the people “were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen extraordinary things today.’” March 16th, 2025

Luke will tell us many stories about Jesus’ healing power, but the one we will examine today is especially poignant, for it is especially personal and intimate. In a time when leprosy led to what amounted to a living death of disfigurement and isolation, Jesus broke every social and religious convention by touching a man “full of leprosy.” What are we to learn from the healing touch of Jesus in th...

Having burst on the scene with power and authority, Jesus begins to select those who will accompany him on his kingdom-building mission. In today’s text Jesus calls his first few disciples, beginning with Simon Peter. What do we learn about Jesus, about Simon Peter, and about what it means to follow Jesus? We’ll talk about that today. March 2nd, 2025

Following the rejection of his kingdom manifesto in Nazareth, Luke describes a day in the life of King Jesus. What do we learn about Jesus’ kingdom, and what does that have to do with us? We’ll talk about that today.

Having described his infancy and preparation for ministry, Luke is now ready to describe Jesus’ public ministry, and the kind of kingdom he has come to establish. Returning to his hometown, Jesus makes an astonishing announcement: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Let’s take a close look at Jesus' “kingdom manifesto” --  what it meant for his first hearers, and for us a...

Having just been baptized as Israel’s representative, and declared to be the Son of God and the son of Adam (Luke 3:21-38), Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert to be tested by the devil. Why does Jesus’ public ministry begin this way? What does this have to do with the kingdom he will establish? And what does this have to do with us? February 9th, 2025

2024 was a phenomenal year in our church family. We are so very grateful and thankful to God for “your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” As we embark on a new year, let’s take a moment to reflect and thank God for his tremendous blessings during the past year. February 2, 2025

This week's message was brought by guest speaker, Doug Price! We often are examined to determine the well being of our physical health. Today I want to encourage each of us to look at our spiritual health. Are we living the life Jesus has intended for us? January 26th, 2025

In order to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, John called the people to “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (3:3). We understand why the average person would need this; but why did Jesus undergo baptism? January 19th, 2025

After 400 years of silence, the rumor is that a prophet is preaching on the banks of the Jordan river. His name is John, and he claims to be God’s messenger to prepare the way for the Lord, just as Isaiah promised centuries ago. He is calling you and your fellow Jews to repent and even be baptized like Gentile proselytes! What’s this all about? Let’s find out.... January 12, 2025

Luke is the only New Testament writer to tell us about Jesus’ childhood. Why does he choose to include this particular story about Jesus, his worried parents and his Father’s house -- and what does this have to do with us? We’ll explore these questions on this, the first Sunday of a brand new year. January 5, 2025

The fourth great song of the first Christmas was sung by Simeon, the devout old man who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” Why does Luke close out Jesus’ infancy narrative with Simeon's (and Anna’s) blessing, and what significance does this have for us today? We’ll talk about that this morning. December 29, 2024

Luke has raised our expectations for the arrival of King Jesus: Two The birth of Jesus may have been told in prosaic language, but the response to it certainly was not. A third angelic announcement was made, and the heavenly choir sang, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” Why the celebration? This is why: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Let’s take a clo...

Luke has raised our expectations for the arrival of King Jesus: Two angelic visitations, two miraculous pregnancies, and two magnificent songs of praise. We can’t wait! But when the final moment arrives, what we find is not poetic praise, but prosaic prose: The king in a mansion makes a decree, and the King of the Jews is born in a manger. What are we to make of this contrast? December 15th, 2024

Luke continues his musical rendition of the nativity of Jesus with a second song of praise. Last week it was Mary’s Magnificat. This week it is Zechariah’s Benedictus. Filled with the Holy Spirit at the birth of his son John, Zechariah’s first words (after nine months of silence) are a poetic and powerful outpouring of praise. As the final prophetic word before the birth of Jesus, it is a song wel...

The Overture is complete; the Oratorio commences. Luke now presents to us the original Christmas musical masterpiece, complete with four powerful songs celebrating the nativity of God’s promised Messiah. We consider the first of these today: the beautiful and revolutionary song of Mary known as Magnificat. December 1, 2024

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! ... You will bear a son...”. What a shock this must have been to Mary, the girl whose obscure village of Nazareth was the least likely place for God’s rescue plan for creation to finally reach its fulfillment. We wonder: "Why Nazareth? Why Mary? Why now?" To which God might say, “Why not?" November 24, 2024

As a rural priest in the hills of Judea, Zechariah had been to the temple in Jerusalem many times. But this time he had an experience which utterly changed his life. What happened to him in the temple, why does Luke include his story, and what significance does this have for us? We’ll talk about that today. November 17th, 2024

The most influential person to ever walk this earth was Jesus of Nazareth. But can we trust the written accounts of his life? What was it about him that made such an impact on the world? We’ll explore these and other important questions as we begin our study Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ life and his kingdom. November 10th, 2024

According to today’s text, God has “transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” We belong, first and foremost, to the kingdom of Jesus. As citizens of Jesus’ kingdom, what is our responsibility to the kingdoms of this world -- especially when it comes to the current election? We’ll talk about that today. November 3rd, 2024

We consider Peter’s final words as we take one last look at the book we’ve been studying the past few months. He closes his letter by “exhorting” them to “stand firm” in “the true grace of God.” What does he mean by this, and why does he stress it at the end of his letter? We’ll explore that in this message. October 27th, 2024