ERCC Sermons

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) What's a recent decision where you struggled between following what you felt God wanted versus what you wanted? 3) God's love remains constant regardless of our performance or failures. How does truly believing this change the way you approach your relationship with Him? 4) Sometimes following God'...

1. Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2. We often try to build good lives through our own efforts and achievements. What area of your life do you find yourself trying to control the most instead of surrendering to God? 3. The fruit we produce on our own may seem sweet but ultimately leaves us unsatisfied. When have you experienced something you thought would b...

Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? Many people limit themselves to specific spiritual gift categories based on personality tests or past experiences. What abilities or talents has God given you that you might be overlooking or underusing because they don't fit your self-perception? Using our gifts requires consistency even when we don't feel motivated, much li...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) The parable of the talents shows servants who either invested or buried what their master entrusted to them. What fears or doubts have caused you to "bury" abilities or opportunities God has given you? 3) Scripture teaches that every believer receives manifestations of the Spirit for the common goo...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) We often wish we had different abilities or personalities than what God has given us. What specific gift or trait do you possess that you've struggled to see as valuable? 3) Many things in life promise to give us purpose and meaning beyond our daily routines. What activity or pursuit tends to contr...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) The Holy Spirit empowers us to accomplish God's purposes rather than our own agendas. What area of your life do you find most difficult to surrender to God's control rather than maintaining your own? 3) Waiting on God's timing often feels counterintuitive when we see needs around us. How do you dis...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) We often try to fill our emptiness with temporary things like achievements, entertainment, or relationships instead of allowing God to fill us. What are you most tempted to use as a substitute for God's presence in your life right now? 3) Following Jesus requires us to stop making excuses and simpl...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) There's a significant difference between knowing facts about someone and actually knowing them personally through relationship and shared experiences. What's one area where you feel like you know facts about God but would like to know Him more personally? 3) Human hearts seem universally designed w...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Many Christians struggle with knowing whether they're hearing from the Holy Spirit or just following their own thoughts and feelings. How do you personally discern when the Holy Spirit is guiding you versus when you might be following your own desires? 3) Peter lists qualities like virtue, knowledg...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Jesus ministered in the power of the Spirit rather than relying solely on His divine nature. This sets an example for us that even the Son of God operated through the Spirit's enabling power rather than His own strength. In what area of your life do you find it most difficult to rely on the Spirit'...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Many of us experience a deep sense of wanting something more in life, asking questions about purpose and meaning that go beyond just making money or surviving day to day. This longing often feels like a thirst that we try to quench with achievements, relationships, or possessions. What are some way...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) The Bible describes our natural spiritual condition as having a "heart of stone." This imagery suggests something that cannot feel, grow, or respond to God properly. In what areas of your life do you still notice resistance to God's leading or difficulty feeling connection with Him? 3) We often thi...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Jesus described the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of Truth" and said the world cannot receive Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. This creates a distinction between those who can perceive spiritual realities and those who cannot. The Spirit illuminates truth in ways that transcend human und...

1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Many people experience seasons of grief, loss, or disappointment in their spiritual journey. These difficult moments can feel like walking to a tomb, carrying the weight of unmet expectations or shattered hopes. How has a difficult season in your life eventually led to unexpected joy or a deeper understanding of God's p...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Throughout history, people have defined peace differently—as the absence of conflict, as prosperity, as freedom from oppression, or as inner contentment. These definitions often shape our expectations of what God should provide in our lives. How do you personally define peace, and how might that de...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Many of us struggle with acknowledging weakness because our culture celebrates self-sufficiency and independence. We've been conditioned to view weakness as something to overcome rather than as a doorway to relationship with God. How has recognizing your need for God (your "weakness") actually beco...

Discussion Questions 1. Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2. Many of us have been taught prayer techniques and formulas throughout our lives. We learn when to pray, how to structure our prayers, and what words to use. Yet prayer at its core isn't about technique but relationship. How has your understanding of prayer as relationship rather than obligation chan...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) In a world that often measures success by visible results and numbers, spiritual communities can fall into the trap of evaluating their health based on programs and attendance. True vitality, however, springs from a deeper source that transcends these external metrics. What does authentic devotion...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) Many of us hesitate to bring "small" requests to God, believing we shouldn't bother Him with trivial matters. We often decide certain issues aren't spiritual enough or important enough to warrant prayer, choosing instead to handle them on our own. What prevents you from approaching God with complet...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) We often face situations in life where we believe we can handle problems on our own strength. This self-sufficiency can lead to spiritual dryness and disconnect from God. When was the last time you found yourself trying to solve a significant challenge without seeking God's help, and what was the o...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) The concept of Shalom represents more than just peace; it encompasses wholeness, fullness, and complete satisfaction. We often pursue various paths trying to find this sense of completeness, whether through achievement, relationships, or personal development. Yet true Shalom can only be found in re...

Elder Dean preaches from Hebrews 13:17

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) When we look at relationships in our lives, we often struggle to see our own faults clearly. We tend to minimize our mistakes while magnifying the wrongs done to us. This perspective can skew how we view both forgiveness and the need to be forgiven. What area of your life do you find it most challe...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) We often try to earn forgiveness through good deeds or making amends. This transactional approach to forgiveness is deeply ingrained in human nature and shapes how we view both giving and receiving forgiveness. What makes it challenging to accept forgiveness that comes without any requirements or c...

Discussion Questions: 1) Was there anything from the sermon or the passage that stuck out to you? 2) In our modern world of abundance and instant access to resources, it can be challenging to maintain a sense of daily dependence on God. Many of us rarely experience genuine uncertainty about where our next meal will come from. The comforts and securities of modern life can inadvertently distance us...