Ryan Lui continues our sermon series The Kingdom of Heaven by looking at Matthew 13:31-33. What does Jesus mean by saying the Kingdom is like a mustard seed and like yeast in flour? And how do these parables give meaning, direction and hope to our lives?

Matthew 13: 24-30; 37-43
Ken introduces our new sermon series, speaking from Matthew 13: 24-30 & 37-43. We trace back to the roots of the term: The Kingdom of Heaven, then take a look at Matthew 13:24-30.  How is it that weeds have grown among the wheat? Did the farmer plant weeds accidentally? Should we try to sort the weeds from the wheat? What do we make of this interesting parable about what the kingdom of heaven is like?

Gray Poehnell continues our Wisdom Series speaking from 1 Corinthians 1:20-25. No study of wisdom would be complete without looking at Christ who is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. Christ not only reveals God’s wisdom for living life to the full; He also gives us the power or the ability to actually live it out. Paul encourages us to keep Christ at the centre of our faith and not substitute anything else; for only then can we truly experience the life He has for us.

Elaine Dee continues our ⁠Wisdom Series speaking from Proverbs 1:7 & 9:10. The book of Proverbs teaches the way of Wisdom and it states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We will explore how the fear of the Lord re-orients and guides us in the way of wisdom. 

Who is your best friend? This morning we are going to consider how the Spirit of wisdom and understanding leads us into friendship with Christ and with others. And I am not just talking about friendship with nice, holy, respectable people but with those to whom God leads us into friendship that might not fit the definition of “saint”. We are told that Jesus was the friend of sinners. What does that mean for us? How many non-Christian friends do we have? Are we persistent in asking, seeking and knocking to receive and listen to the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding so that we might truly understand what it means to be a friend of God and of our neighbour and to act accordingly? Let’s talk.  

Alastair Rees-Thomas continue our Wisdom series. 

Decisions, decisions.  We are faced with many decisions in life, small and large.  We need much wisdom in our complex world in which loud, persistent voices clamour for our allegiance, our money, our values.  How do we find our way?  Dan Russell continues our series looking at what Proverbs says about wisdom for life decisions.  ALL SERIES INFO

Proverbs 30:24–28
There was a wise man many years ago named Agur. He found profound wisdom in some of life’s simple creatures. What can we learn from ant? Or maybe a grasshopper? Usually when we look for a model in life we look upwards. Those women and men of God who have blazed a path to glory – the heroes of the faith and influencers of history. Agur, on the other hand, looks down. And what he finds just may surprise us all.  SERIES INFO

Ken takes us on a quick look back over the summer series in Acts, highlighting the key points from each week. Some of our ECC family will share some nuggets they learned over the summer as well. Finally, we will close the book of Acts with a look at Paul's challenge in Acts 28, asking if we can have our eyes, ears and hearts attuned to God.

Aug 20: Alastair Rees-Thomas continues our Summer Journey taking a look at Acts 20, when Paul leaves Ephesus and journeys to Jerusalem.  Along the way he is constantly confronted with foes wanting to kill him or at the very least do him serious harm. On this journey, as on other trips, Paul was always encouraging the believers in their faith. And he warned them that after he was gone they needed to be on the alert of those who opposed the gospel and distorted it for their own ends and gain. So how do we react when our plans are upset? Do we trust God who has promised to go before us, come behind us and lay his hand of blessing on us? And if this journey of faith is a life worth dying for then let's live it to the full!

Aug 13: Dwight Dee continues our Summer Journey looking at Acts 19. This week we will visit the city of Ephesus, where Paul stayed for almost 3 years. What impact did Paul have as a result of his extended stay in the city? Dwight will share how Paul's radical message brought about radical transformation.