Believe it or not, we all have blind spots and sometimes, these blind spots get us into trouble. In this sermon, we will look at how these blind spots trick us and how God may redeem these "sour experiences" to bring out the best in us. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Perseverance is in short supply these days. In a world that has increasingly grown used to quick results; a long, steady endurance is rarely seen. In your faith, there will be seasons where a quick fix won’t work, but a decision to persevere will make all the difference. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
What can we do to prepare ourselves for setbacks and frustration when life doesn’t go the way we want it to? When we understand this wisdom from the Book of James, we can include the ‘sour’ with the sweet in our lives to experience the fullness of all the good that God has planned for us. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Jesus promises both an abundant life and a life full of trouble. If we don’t adjust our expectations accordingly, we are destined to have either a distorted view of God or a bitter disappointment. Merging both the sweet promises of God and the sour realities of life on earth make for a grounded and hopeful faith. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Everyone is religious. Everyone has some sense of what ought to be done, and what rules people ought to abide by. But everyone breaks even their own standards of what is right. And so everyone lives with uncertainty and guilt. Christianity offers an unreligious alternative. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
You may or may not think of yourself as a powerful person, but really, you are. You have influence and that makes you powerful; but how you manage that power is key to a fulfilling life. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
During difficult circumstances we find our faith challenged or shaken by questions we never had before. We often respond by trying to forcibly control events around us, and become worried and anxious when we can’t. But God calls on us to trust Him in times of trouble. When we do, we find that He is faithful and our hope in Him does not disappoint. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Fear is a powerful feeling but it doesn’t have to paralyse us. The humble faith of a woman named Ruth reveals many secrets about fearless living. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The Bible warns us of a spiritual battle that is all around us and it’s a fight for our souls. It’s something that can cause us all a great deal of fear in our daily lives. This sermon will look at the strategies that are being used for this war and how we can be (and already are) victorious. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The principle of "reaping what we sow" is a great encouragement for us. It gives us hope that when we faithfully sow seeds with perseverance today, there will be a harvest waiting for us in the future. As the Bible says, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!" (Psalm 126:5). In light of what you want to be in 3, 5, or 10 years time, how do you want to sow your life today? Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages ....
What forms our identity? How much does fear influence our identity? A solid identity in Christ is vital for fearless being in today’s world. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
From fake designer handbags to the new term of "fake news", we find ourselves in a world where little around us seems real. And yet Christ, not only accepts us with our flaws, but he makes us real in the process. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Why was Jesus sometimes reluctant to heal? In the healing of a paralysed man, we learn that not all encounters with Christ end well. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Nicodemus came to Jesus with curiosity and skepticism, and his encounter with Jesus was not what he expected. From his story, found only in the Gospel of John, we will learn about what it actually means to be convinced that Jesus is who He says He is, and how that can change our faith today. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
If the key to the Christian life is belief then how do we nourish a growing confidence in God? What is necessary for us to remain as confident believers rather than doubt-ridden cynics? Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The gospel message changes everything. In an encounter with a nameless woman at a well, Jesus takes her (and us) on a journey of how that change occurs. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Loving others can sometimes be really messy. And it requires entering into others’ lives in ways that are both graceful and confrontational. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Shame is powerful and can subtly erode our sense of self and hope for the future. But discovering a brave love that only Christ can offer erodes the power of shame and empowers the believer. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
This message is the second in a three-week series on Brave Love. It focuses on how difficult it is to love those who are unlovable in some ways. Using 1 Thessalonians 5:14 as the major text, the message gives handles on how to respond with love in appropriate ways to people with three major types of problems. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
It seems we’ve entered into what seems like a new day of public rage and hopeless despair. What should be the Christian attitude toward the state of our world? How should you engage with those who differ from your beliefs? This message taken from the book of Daniel sheds insight into how we can meaningfully impact our despairing world. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Knowing when to slow down and when to speed up is an art form. Timing is everything. And scripture is replete with wisdom on when to speed up and when to slow down. Sometimes the speed with which we respond is as critical as the response itself. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The roots of the banyan tree are highly unusual. Visible above ground and dropping down to the ground from mid-branch—no other tree is quite like it. Psalm 1 compares a deep faith to a stable tree, with deep roots that provide security and nourishment. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The words Go Beyond are at the heart of the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations." We're honoured to have our GO conference speakers preaching today and helping us understand our participation in the Great Commission. In this podcast, we hear from Lawrence Tong about God's shepherd heart and this compels us to go and make disciples of all nations. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The words Go Beyond are at the heart of the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations." We're honoured to have our GO conference speakers preaching today and helping us understand our participation in the Great Commission. In this podcast, we hear from Tim Davis about how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Money. We all want more. Our lust for more money resides in us as an unchecked monster of our soul. And yet money, if properly understood, can be a massive force for good change in the world. A look at an unusual parable in Luke 16 helps us understand the privilege and power we have in our wallets. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Tick, tock, tick, tock. Time is the great equalizer, isn’t it? Nobody can add more to their life. You can make more money, make more friends, but you can’t make more time. So managing time becomes incredibly important. A look at Psalm 90 helps us debunk some myths about time so we obtain a wise approach to how we spend our time. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
When the Christmas story unfolds, we are told that Jesus will be called "Immanuel", which means "God with Us". Though there have been many names to describe both God the father as well as Jesus the Son, this is the only word chosen specifically within the telling of the Christmas story in the Bible. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
This message concludes a three-week series entitled "Evergreen" that gives attention to three spiritual realities that are forever with each believer, but that we can too often neglect. With Romans 12:3-8 as the foundation, this sermon prepares the way for Christmas Day with exploration of the spiritual giftedness that comes with knowing Christ as Saviour and being part of Christ’s church. Find the Spiritual Gift Assessment at www.islandecc.hk/sgi . Watch this and other messages in video at www....
The gift of salvation through Jesus’ righteousness: you can’t see, touch, taste, hear, or smell it; but you can know it through its features! And you can certainly receive it! Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The Holy Spirit is timely gift from God which is often overly emphasized or mostly neglected. How do we maintain a vibrant, spirit-filled relationship with God? Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
