Early Church of Christ

Last week, we looked at being rooted in prayer and the word of God to grow into the people God created us to be. This week we will talk about God's gift of the church and the joy of being rooted in community.

"...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7, ESV

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7, ESV

The prophet Daniel spent his youth and all of his adult life as a captive in Babylon doing a job he didn't ask for, in a place he was enslaved, working for men he couldn't possibly agree with, and yet--he earned the respect of kings, saved lives, and declared the hope of the coming Messiah to generations. Mondays in Babylon had to be a drag, but Daniel greeted them with a powerful faith and charac...

We're continuing a new series called Redeeming Mondays. Mondays for so many are hard days. In fact, research shows it's the hardest day for most people all week. It's their back-to-the-grind-the-weekend-is-over-how-much-coffee-can-one-person-safely-consume day, and quite often dread sets in on Sunday night because Monday's coming. But what if Mondays could be better? More, what if Mondays have som...

We invite you to join us for our in-person worship service on Sundays at 10 am. Children's ministry is during the message for kids 3 years to 5th grade, and we have an attended nursery. Giving can be done securely through the Tithe.ly website app. https://earlychurchofchrist.org/giving Some music is performed by PraiseandHarmony.tv and is licensed and used by permission. earlychurchofchrist.org

Psalm 84 (NIV) For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! 2My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my K...

Psalm 19 (NIV) Psalm 19 For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heave...

Psalm 116:1–19 (ESV) 1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;...

Psalm 116:1–9 (NIV) 1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “LORD, save me!” 5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion...

Psalm 51:1–19 (ESV) 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blamel...

Psalm 29:1–11 (ESV) 1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD brea...

Choices that lead to life, renewal, and blessing. (July Psalms Series) earlychurchofchrist.org Psalm 1:1–3 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, whi...

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV) 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith...

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV) 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith...

1 Peter 5:6–11 (NIV) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is...

Life will throw you all kinds of curve balls, but at every twist and turn, the Lord is there, working for growth, faith, and purpose.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17, NIV

1 Peter 2:20–25 (ESV) 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth....

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so...

With spit and mud, Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man in John 9. But the blindness of the Pharisees proved a deeper problem...

In John 3 a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness. He's nervous, curious, and unsure of just who Jesus is (though he confesses that he must be from God). This exchange, held so quietly and privately, became a powerful revelation of what it means to follow Christ and to fully embrace the kingdom of God.

Matthew 25:31–40 (NIV) The Sheep and the Goats 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to th...

Matthew 22:1–14 (ESV) The Parable of the Wedding Feast 22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner...

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then h...