Ecclesia Houston

This week a year ago, Hurricane Harvey devastated the city of Houston. In this message, Pastor Chris Seay leads us in reflecting on the many ways Ecclesia responded to love our city, in the midst of their pain and trauma. Through the stories of our community, we are able to witness the local church be the hope of the world.

It was a great blessing to welcome our brother, Dr. Richard Beck, to teach

a rich and important message on the true nature of spiritual warfare. The

"devil" exists in many forms; in all that opposes loving kindness, in the

empty promises of the world, in the idols of our own hearts, and in the

voice of accusation that seeks to keep us mired in shame. Our choice is

whether to succumb to that story, or to place our trust and allegiance in

the transforming grace of Christ, our perfect advocate.

Pastor Chris shared reflections on one of his favorite films, Steven

Spielberg's Amistad, and asked us to reconsider how we engage with

scripture. Are we reading the Bible solely to learn "facts", or are we

immersing ourselves in a rich and living library that is overflowing with

story, poetry, and shared history? Through his word, God tells us who we

are, and invites us to embrace our truest identity as beloved children,

that we would faithfully live out our part of the story.

This weekend in our gatherings, teaching pastor Sean Palmer reminded us of

the importance of community and how we are not meant to follow Jesus in

solitude. Our invitation is to know others and be known by them, allowing

the depth of our relationship, service, and hospitality to grow. May we all

accept this invitation to greater communion with one another.

Pastor Chris Seay shared his reflections on the film and story of Les

Misérables, which depicts God's welcoming arms and loving mercy with truth

and beauty. We are recipients of radical and undeserved grace. Will our

hearts harden in shame like Javert, or like Jean Valjean will our lives be

transformed as we turn our will over to God, humbled by the enormity of

this gift?

Our deep gratitude to Josh Carney, who shared a number of stories from his

family life and taught through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. In

Christ, we are recipients of extravagant, cosmic forgiveness. Can we truly

receive that love and mercy as a gift, and will it transform our own

capacity to forgive others?

Pastor Sean Palmer asked us to consider what the psalms of lament and the

film Bruce Almighty have to say about the nature of prayer and our

relationship to a Creator who invites us into intimate friendship. Whether

in rejoice or in anger, we are called to relate to God in honesty as a

Divine Friend; a friend who knows our needs better than we do; a friend who

longs for us to align our prayer and actions in joyful submission toward

God's redemptive movement.

It's always a joy to have Scott Erickson back with us. He shared a

beautiful and personal message about the dangers of comparison, the

vitality of true contribution, and how loving God, loving others, and

loving ourselves with genuine abandon can be infectious.

We were overjoyed to welcome Pastor Ed Seay (Chris' father) this weekend.

Ed invited us to return to the familiar and vital parable of the Prodigal

Son. Whether we have squandered the goodness of God's provision, or are

holding on to rigid resentments, all of us are welcomed back into the

Father's loving embrace, and a seat at the feast.

Pastor Chris Seay shares with us about the importance of embodying our six

Rhythms of Ecclesia globally. As a church we believe in being a community

in Houston that is real, kind, seeks God, seeks beauty, serves others, and

is hospitable. Pastor Chris shares stories with us about the ways Puerto

Rican brothers and sisters are living out the Rhythms in the aftermath of

Hurricane Maria.