Gratitude honours God and makes the world a better place. God's desire for us to live a life characterised by gratefulness is not a burdensome command. Rather, it sets us free, enables us to experience life in a deeper way, and even help those around us to live a better life.
Our opinions, if held too tightly, can be barriers for friendships, or worse, excuses for others to not embrace faith. Unity must be fought for, even amid polite disagreements.
Every single day, you make hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions. Some you make with great confidence, but some are shaky, at best. Some decisions you make have little consequence. But some have massive consequences and therefore we need to know the mind of God to guide us well.
Predicting your future is really not as hard as it seems. In fact, it's pretty scientific. If you know your direction, you can know where you'll end up. So why do so many of us not pay attention to our direction in life?
As we enter a new decade, expect the wondrous. This message builds on the events in Jesus' life recorded in Mark's gospel that clearly indicate two foundations we can build into our lives for wonderful things to happen by being intentional.
Christmas time is a time where we tend to feel joyful. Gifts are exchanged, meals are shared, carols are sung, and decorations are sparkling. It's what some people call, "the most wonderful time of the year," and it comes and goes every December. But is that it? Should we only "feel" joy just once a year? In this message, we'll discuss what true joy looks like.
We all need an a-ha moment with God. An understanding, or maybe just a deep reminder, of the significance His light shines on our lives. Without it, we are fumbling around in the darkness.
As our church celebrates Baptism Sunday with many stories of life change, we'll go to the book of Mark to explore a man who had a dramatic life change and received a surprising rejection from Jesus. As we listen closely to Jesus's reasoning, we just might discover He'd say the same to us.
There is no shortcut to an elevated faith in God. Valleys of doubt are necessary on the journey to the summit of great faith. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Your real identity is more than the facts about you. And knowing who you are, frees you to fulfill your God-given purpose in life. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are reminded that the coming 20 years will be even more crucial for the grounding of faith in Hong Kong. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
We are bombarded with images and messages that stir our discontentment. The key to finding contentment is not to avoid or abstain, but to change what we chase.
Grief is an emotion that all of us will feel at some point in our lives. There are many aspects to this emotion and ways to manage it. The hard part is when we feel alone and that no one understands. In this message we will look into the Bible and discover that God walks with us through our pain and even knows what we’re going through.
Fear has a way of gripping our souls and shaking our confidence. The answer is not always courage, but rather a deconstruction of what makes us afraid in the first place.
Our own anger, if left un-analysed, can bring us to faulty conclusions and irrational responses. Made in the image of God, who is “slow to anger”, means we should all feel anger as He does, and yet control its pace and place in our hearts.
Anxiety, stress, worry. Are these just a normal part of our lives, or does our faith offer an alternative way of dealing with tough circumstances?
Living Kindness in a Polarized World. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Unity isn't always easy. In fact, it rarely is. But it is always worth fighting for. This message takes a practical look at how we can arm ourselves with tools for preserving unity amid differing views and opinions. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
We are whole beings with emotions, thoughts, and decisions. If we attempt to worship God in only one of these dimensions, we are left confused and disappointed. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
His promise of rest is extended to us in the midst of our trouble, not in exemption from it. Our troubles often provide the fulcrum for our faith. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
It's easy to lose our confidence or to let confusion cloud our faith. Psalm 16 serves as a guidepost for deepening our trust in an unshakeable God. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Psalm 23 is perhaps the most famous of the psalms. David gives us incredible hope and insightful warning for dealing with life "among our enemies". Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Hope rests on the memory of God’s goodness to us and is strengthened by assurance that He sees our situation and knows what we need. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
As we begin our new sermon series "Songs of Hope," we are in a time that doesn't feel "normal." Our world is changing by the minute and we are feeling tensions rise in our city. Today we will study Psalm 46 to find our grounding and discover messages of encouragement, comfort, and hope. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Jesus did not hide the fact that following Him would mean His disciples will face real trials and persecution. Remaining faithful and true to Christian righteousness in the world is bound to bring challenge and opposition, so how do we cope with this and how do we realise the blessing in our lives that Jesus promises? Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Peace is in short supply these days. Wars abound, divorce is on the rise, and literally, conflict is in the streets. We are called to make peace in every environment we find ourselves. But how? Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Growing old doesn't guarantee growing wise. Jesus declared that to comprehend God more fully, we need to guard our hearts along the way. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Matthew 5:7 is the fifth beatitude of our series and in it our attention is drawn to the importance of mercy in the kingdom of God. It plays an integral part in the way the King has related to us, and in turn, should inform and inspire the way we relate to each other. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
Appetites are powerful. Whether they be for food, power, control, or money, our inner compulsions can drive us to have distorted views of life. In a single statement, Jesus gives us wisdom on how to direct our appetites in life, so that we yearn for that which will actually satisfy. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
The Beatitudes are both encouraging and challenging. An examination of the one beatitude: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," (Matthew 5:5) reveals the nature and benefit of Godly meekness and humility. Watch this and other messages in video at www.islandecc.hk/messages .
