Ecclesia: Church at the Chip Podcast (New)

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

After admonishing the church’s elders to “shepherd the flock of God,” Peter now gives some final words of instruction to the "flock.” What does he say to the church family? We’ll talk about that today.  October 20th, 2024

Living as people of hope: A study in 1 Peter Pastor Steve delivers a message on the suffering of Christ and how we can be a reflection of Christ through our own trials and suffering. October 6th, 2024

Guest Speaker: Sandy Mason While Pastor Steve tends to his wife as she recovers from surgery, Sandy Mason is our guest teacher today. Sandy was the founding pastor of nearby Desert View Bible Church and currently serves on the leadership team of The Bonhoeffer Project. It is a pleasure to welcome Sandy and Margie to our church family. September 29th, 2024

Living as People of Hope: A Study in 1 Peter September 22, 2024 Peter is teaching his readers how to endure suffering in a way that honors Jesus Christ. In today’s text -- one of the most obscure in all scripture -- he shows us how the suffering and the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope and strength to endure suffering just like Jesus did.

Living as People of Hope: A Study in 1 Peter Sunday 15, 2024 Having established our true citizenship in Christ, Peter has been teaching us how to honor Jesus as citizens of our country, as servants in our workplace, and as spouses in our families. He now applies this to the theme that will dominate the rest of his letter: how to honor Jesus when we suffer for goodness sake.