EFMC SUNDAYS

This sermon draws a powerful parallel between assembling a crooked bookshelf without directions and the way we often try to build our lives on our own terms—ignoring God’s instructions, clinging to control, and resisting surrender. Using John 12 as a foundation, it emphasizes that Jesus redefined glory—not through status or conquest, but through surrender, suffering, and obedience to the Father. Just as a seed must die to bear fruit, Jesus’ path to glory was through the cross, and He calls us to follow that same path of daily surrender. The message challenges us to examine what we’re clinging to—comfort, recognition, even good things like ministry or family—that may be keeping us from full obedience. Through examples like Peter and Judas, it shows that the condition of our hearts, not just our failures, determines the fruit our lives produce. In the end, true freedom and lasting impact come only when we let go of our own ambitions and allow Jesus to take root and bear fruit in us. The question remains: will we surrender to Him, or continue building something that eventually collapses under its own weight?

In this sermon titled "Gateway to the Best", the pastor Chris uses the graduation season as a heartfelt moment to remind the congregation—especially graduates—of the deep love and prayers of their church family. The message then transitions into the latest installment of the “Twice Told Truths” series, focusing on Jesus’ “truly, truly” statement in John 10:1–18, where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd and the Gate. Through cultural context, scriptural insights, and vivid imagery, the pastor contrasts Jesus’ sacrificial love and intimate knowledge of His sheep with the self-serving false shepherds condemned in Ezekiel 34. He emphasizes that every person follows the voice of their true master—whether Jesus or the destructive voices of the world—and challenges listeners to examine which voice they are truly following. Though we are often foolish, fearful, and prone to wander, Jesus knows us fully, values us immensely, and lays down His life to bring us safely home.

This sermon concludes a series on the book of James by emphasizing its enduring relevance and its call to authentic, resilient Christian living. The core question posed—“If you claim to believe like you should, why do you behave like you shouldn’t?”—challenges believers to align their actions with their faith, especially in the face of suffering, injustice, and delay. Drawing from James 5, the message explores the virtues of patience and perseverance, particularly for the oppressed, urging believers to resist grumbling and vengeance, and instead exhibit “hyper-standing” resilience rooted in the character of Christ. The imagery of the farmer waiting for the early and late rains illustrates living in the tension of the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom. The sermon stresses that spiritual maturity and strength do not come instantly or easily, but through prayerful endurance in hardship. It concludes by asserting that prayer—consistent, authentic, dependent prayer—is the only way to cultivate a life of peace, righteousness, and lasting transformation.

James 3:1-18 confronts the reality that our words have power—Whether we’re teaching, venting, joking, or offering advice, our speech reveals the source of where we are drawing our words from. James warns that the tongue is small but dangerous, capable of igniting destruction if left unchecked. It can’t be tamed by sheer willpower, because the problem runs deeper than habits—it’s a heart issue. What flows from our mouths reflects whether we are being shaped by God’s wisdom or by selfish ambition. True wisdom, James says, is humble, peaceable, and sincere—it comes from a life surrendered to God. Transformation doesn’t begin with better self-control; it begins by drawing near to Jesus, the Word made flesh, who not only speaks truth but makes us new.

This sermon, part of a series on the book of James, emphasizes that real faith is more than just belief or words—it must be accompanied by action. Drawing from James 2:14–26, Pastor Mark contrasts empty declarations of faith with genuine faith that results in obedience and good works, using examples like Abraham and Rahab to illustrate how faith is proven through trust-driven action, even when risky or uncomfortable. The sermon warns against the deception of “belief” that lacks obedience, comparing it to how even demons believe in God but do not follow Him. Personal anecdotes about trusting God in relationships and finances serve to illustrate modern-day “tightropes” of faith, calling listeners to respond to God not with mere acknowledgment, but with full commitment and trust. The message concludes with an invitation to live a life of real, active faith—one that places full trust in God and follows His lead.

In this sermon Pastor Chris uses humor and vulnerability to introduce the concept of "selective hearing"—both as a lighthearted relationship issue and a deadly spiritual condition that plagues the church. Drawing from James 1:19–27, he challenges believers to move beyond merely listening to God’s Word to actually living it out, emphasizing that true discipleship means being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. The sermon explores how pride, particularly expressed through unchecked anger and self-righteousness, stifles spiritual growth and prevents the Word from transforming hearts. It calls listeners to receive the Word with humility, recognizing themselves as deeply loved moral failures who are changed not by trying harder, but by allowing God's truth to shape their character and actions. Ultimately, James teaches that genuine faith is proven not by knowledge or emotion alone, but by compassionate action—especially toward the vulnerable—and by a righteousness rooted in God’s love, not human pride.

Rev. Bruce Cromwell, Ph.D. starts our series in the book of James with a powerufl message titled "Sharing and Suffering". Our text for this morning is James 1:2-18 a challenging passage on how we should view difficulties from an eternal perspective. Now because of Christ, everything is different.

The sermon titled *"The Re-Creation Story"* explores the profound significance of Easter as the heart of the Christian faith.Through John 20:1–18, Pastor Chris draws attention to the reactions of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John to the empty tomb, emphasizing that faith is not a result of human reasoning alone but a miraculous work of God in the heart. Mary, in her desperation and neediness, is the first to encounter the risen Christ—not because she was important by worldly standards, but because she recognized her complete dependence on Him. Jesus’ resurrection is portrayed not just as a historical event but as the beginning of a new creation—where broken, sinful people are called by name, transformed, and invited into the family of God as brothers and sisters. The message challenges listeners to move beyond simply being around Jesus to truly knowing Him, recognizing their deep need for grace, and allowing Him to recreate something beautiful out of their lives.

This Palm Sunday message emphasizes the profound paradox of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem—how He is simultaneously the humble servant and the triumphant King. Through vivid storytelling and a deep dive into Scripture, the Pastor Chris paints a powerful picture of Jesus riding a lowly donkey while receiving royal praise, confronting the listener with the truth that Jesus is not someone who can be liked casually—He demands full surrender. The sermon contrasts the joyful celebration of the crowd with the tension it creates among the Pharisees, priests, and Romans, each perceiving Jesus as a threat in different ways. Highlighting the immodesty of Christ—His unapologetic claim to be King and God—the message challenges believers to examine where they stand in the crowd: enthusiastic worshiper, cautious follower, skeptical bystander, or conflicted disciple. Ultimately, the sermon calls listeners to “wonder”—to reflect deeply and honestly on their response to Jesus, and whether they truly submit to Him as King, or simply observe from a distance.

This message explores the concept of time and God's timing in the context of suffering and unmet expectations. Pastor Chris reflects on the emotional weight of "What if?" questions and the pain that often arises from unfulfilled desires, emphasizing that unmet expectations can lead to a persistent, low-level sorrow. Through the story of Lazarus' resurrection (John 11:1-45), the sermon illustrates how Jesus’ actions—waiting before healing Lazarus—highlight a divine purpose beyond human understanding. Jesus responds to both Mary and Martha differently, offering truth to Martha and empathy to Mary, revealing His compassion and divine purpose. The message encourages believers to trust that Jesus’ timing is perfect, even when it doesn't align with our expectations. It reminds us that while death and grief are inevitable, through Christ, there is hope beyond the sorrow, as He is the resurrection and the life.