Encounter Service 12/7/25

Today, on this first Sunday of Advent 2025, we are blessed to have a message from Pastor Jeff as he considers the third letter of John. This will conclude this entire series of these three letters of John. Following the first and second letters, this third letter appears to be written to a specific person, seemingly a friend, and likely a part of a local church in the area, maybe even in Ephesus itself. Let’s see what Jeff has for us today in Scripture as we consider John’s third letter to a fellow believer in his ‘neighborhood’.

Today we are blessed to have a message from Pastor Connor as he considers the second letter of John. Following the first letter, this second letter appears to be written to a specific congregation, with a familiar message of grace and truth, but more personalized. Let’s see what Connor has for us today in Scripture as we consider John’s second letter to a church in his ‘neighborhood’.

Today, with others around the world in more than 120 countries, we observe ‘Pure Religion’ Sunday, focused on orphans, the foster care system, and adoption. Pastor Connor shared a message of both significant need and also of great hope. What is clear from both the research as well as hands-on reality, the church and believers are the answer to the orphan crisis. What then does this mean for us as Jesus followers? Let’s explore and find out.

As we wrap up this sermon series focused on John’s first letter to the churches in ‘the neighborhood’, today we are blessed to have Pastor Connor and Pastor Jeff respond to a number of questions submitted by folks in the congregation. These are helpful responses to questions that many of us likely have as it relates to John’s teaching and thinking, particularly as it relates to our lives in 2025.

Today we are blessed to have a message from Guest Speaker Lucas Pulley, who is the Executive Director of the Underground Network in Tampa, Florida. The Network is a collection of about 170 ‘micro-churches’ in the Tampa area, and the Network can be seen as one regional church with dozens of gatherings. Let’s see what Lucas has for us today in Scripture, and some great connections to what Greg Koukl shared with us last month at the EAC Fall Forum, as we consider what it means to be ‘a church’ on mission for God’s Will.

Lead Pastor Connor Neigenfind

10-19-25

1 John 5:1-12, Lead Pastor Connor Neigenfind

Today we are blessed to have a message from Pastor Connor as he continues this sermon series on the first letter of John. This was an important letter from John to churches in his ‘neighborhood’ who he had taught and mentored in his middle and later life. It is a very important letter for several key reasons. Let’s see what Connor has for us today in Scripture as we continue this meaningful sermon series.

Today we are blessed to have a message from Guest Speaker Greg Koukl, from Stand to Reason Ministries. Greg asks us to consider the question of one of our most basic, and profound Christian beliefs – that there is only one way to reconciliation with God and eternal salvation, and that is through Jesus of Nazareth. But in a culture that prefers that ‘everyone can be right’ about virtually anything, we come up against challenges to this basic belief. What are we to make of all this, and how do we respond, and why? Let’s see what Greg has for us today in Scripture as we examine our own beliefs and understandings of our faith.