Ekklesia

07/24/2022 – Peacekeepers to Peacemakers

Today we welcome back Dr. Donna Battle to share what it means to be peacemakers in a world where peace has never been achieved for many. She explores the misconceptions we tend to make based in Philippians 4. (Watch this message on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dJbHC5J7C8)

07/17/2022 – The Only Enemy Left

Today Pastor Greg shares about some of his personal struggles with anxiety and how *bad* religion actually contributed to that problem. Plus, he'll be sharing his deepest, darkest secret from last week's Higher Ground Adventure Camp! (Watch this message on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYLbkMjC20I&t=1474s)

07/10/2022 – When Religion Behaves Badly

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, we usually focus on the wounded man and the kindness of the Samaritan. But Jesus includes two other figures in his story — a Priest and a Levite — who fail to act as they should. The church today still has many moments where we fail to act as we ought. What should our response be? Stay compliantly? Leave defiantly? Or is there a third option? (Watch this message on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq0SfFEOmWE&t=494s)

07/03/2022 – The Initiator of Hope

Today we are privileged to welcome back Dr. Telika McCoy from Mt. Peace Baptist Church, preaching from the story of Namaan's healing in 2 Kings 5, a message titled The Initiator of Hope. “Though 2022 presents social, political and economic challenges, God is able to keep us hopeful in challenging times. Are we looking to Jesus to heal the areas where we lack hope?” (Watch this message on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKPDQBXqZQ0&t=1692s)

06/26/2022 – When Freedoms Collide

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." At a conscious level, most of us desire the freedom Christ wants for us. But just underneath our knowing and awareness, we are absorbing and living out a distorted version of freedom. How are these two freedoms at odds?

Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_7N3Ho6uHc&t=1083s

06/19/2022 – "From Baptist to Anabaptist"

Ekklesia has long been a place of healing for wounded people. Sometimes even for wounded pastors. This Sunday, we have the privilege of hearing Pastor Josh's story. A former Baptist pastor, he will be sharing his story about how pastoring in 2020 and 2021 changed his life. He and his wife, Rudy, and their 4 children have been worshiping with us since summer 2021. Following this Sunday, they move to Harrisonburg, VA, where Josh has accepted a new senior pastor role.

Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VagWhxdT49s&t=1323s

06/19/2022 – Wisdom is Calling, but No One is Listening

If wisdom is calling on the heights and at the crossroads (Proverbs 8), and if the spirit of Christ is guiding us into all truth (John 16), it seems that no one is listening. No one is paying attention. None of us are being led. What can we do? How can we change? What will it take to help us better hear Wisdom’s call?

Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btle6zVDOKg&t=1419s

06/05/2022 – Pentecost

What is Pentecost? Why would tongues of fire show up on that day?

Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYhH6E9wOTI&t=2300s

05/22/2022 – The Way it Is

Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29; John 5:1-9. "The way it is" in our world is often in conflict with how it should be and how it will one day be. Looking at three of today's lectionary readings, how does God undermine "the way it is" (patriarchy, bad end-times theology, broken economic systems) with a new way? With the Kingdom way?

Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gAudVyzodE&t=1545s

05/15/2022 – We Talking 'Bout Practice

Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35. "We talking bout practice!?!?!" This week is the 20th anniversary of Allen Iverson's "practice" rant. It is also the 2000-something-th anniversary of Peter's vision revealing that no food and no person is unclean. What do these two stories have in common, and how can they help us follow Jesus better?

Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzmgCNfGc3Q&t=1791s