October 18th, 2026

“Drama in Jerusalem: Part 2”

Acts 21:27-40

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Balance & Budget
2. Bizarre Bulwark
3. Bravery

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you feel about being accused and blamed? Thoroughly and personally imagine the tsunami of blame landing on Paul in Acts 21:28. How can you relate?
2. When was a time you felt like a sheep amidst wolves?
3. How has God provided bizarre bulwarks (i.e. strange strongholds, and/or anomalous relief) in your life?
4. When was a time you tried to talk with someone (sincerely striving to honestly engage) even though they had an intense history of hating or blaming you?

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October 11th, 2026

“Drama in Jerusalem: Part I”

Acts 21:17-26

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Celebration
2. Concerns
3. Conciliate

Reflection Questions:

1. Read what Paul says about the “false brothers” and the “men from James” (i.e. the elders of the church in Jerusalem) in Galatians 2. What do you think? Too harsh?
2. Knowing “the history” between Paul and the elders in Jerusalem (see Gal. 2), do you find it strange that the elders in Jerusalem are so sincerely delighted to welcome Paul and hear his report about God’s love for the Gentiles?
3. How do you feel about people’s “concerns”? …especially when you historically/clearly don’t 100

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October 4th, 2026

“Spirited Tension”

Acts 21:1-16

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Curator
2. Care
3. Concede

Reflection Questions:

1. What kind of tension has God created and curated in your life?
2. Where do you see God creating and curating tension in the Bible?
3. Read Ephesians 5:15-21 …What kind of tensions exist in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs? What kind of tensions are involved in submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ?
4. What is something that you care a lot about, and subsequently you experience a lot of spirited tension with other people who also care a lot about this thing?
5. Where can you currently apply this portion of the living and active Word of God to your life, “And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”?

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September 27th, 2026

“The Serious Business of Joy”

Acts 20:17-38

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. How I Lived Among You
2. I Did Not Shrink Back
3. Cling to Grace

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to serve the Lord with all humility? What movie character best epitomizes and exemplifies what it specifically and sedulously looks like to serve the Lord with all humility?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 2:1-4. Call someone and say, “I just read 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 and I want to talk about it with you for at least 15 minutes.” And then talk with that person about 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 for 15 minutes. And specifically be sure to ask – and wrestle with – the question, “Why does Paul use words like ‘pain,’ ‘anguish,’ ‘affliction,’ and ‘tears’ in this specific situation?”
3. What are the top 2 or 3 things you get to do as an official member of the church?

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September 20th, 2026

“Teamwork”

Acts 20:1-16

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Collaboration
2. Communication
3. Conviction

Reflection Questions:

1. What was the craziest collaboration experience of your life? e.g. you came together with someone(s) completely different to pull off something incredible?
2. Who do you currently have the best communication with? e.g. Psalm 13:1 communication – where you can express your questions, fears, and doubts without being shut down for being technically wrong. OR you can say something invasive without the other person running away?
3. When you read the Bible are you shocked by how honest and communicative God is? Are you shocked by how honest and communicative God is inviting you to be?
4. What is the central integrating feature (and fixation) of your best relationships and team experiences?

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September 13th, 2026

“Outrageous Amnesia”

Acts 19:21-41

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Outrage
2. Amnesia

Reflection Questions:

1. What are the top 2 or 3 things that Jesus fails to prioritize, and it honestly makes you kind of upset? (e.g. social status, respectability, institutional rules, people pleasing, family harmony, etc.).
2. In what ways do you see a blustering and hysterical spirit in yourself?
3. When was a time you were so joyfully preoccupied that you forgot to be offended, defensive, annoyed, outraged, etc.?
4. In Hebrews 10:34 God says, “you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” REALLY?!???!!???

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September 6th, 2026

“The Way He Does It”

Acts 19:11-20

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Odd Means & Missed opportunities
2. Actually Knowing Jesus
3. The Expulsive Power of a Higher Affection

Reflection Questions:

1. What is a story in the Bible that truly fascinates you (specifically because it forces you to deal with the weird way God wins)?
2. If you found out that Alex Parman’s grilling apron could miraculously heal people, would you want to make that the main thing about ECPC?
3. Do you think anyone is attempting to superficially add the name of Jesus to their agenda these days (rather than surrendering to Jesus’s agenda)? What’s an example?
4. What specific manipulation resources would you love to see people voluntarily burn – because they have become intimately obsessed with Jesus of Nazareth?

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August 30th, 2026

“Did You Receive The Holy Spirit?”

Acts 19:1-10

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Devoid
2. Die
3. Delight

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you know if you actually have the Holy Spirit in your life?
2. How is the orphan mentality still present in your life? What are your preferred tactics for coping with fear and insecurity?
3. In Acts 19:9 Luke says, “some were stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way.” What are the chief characteristics of those most strenuously and chronically opposed to the actual presence and power of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Timothy 6:3-5)?
4. In what way is the Holy Spirit a Stone Cold Killer? …How do you feel about the Holy Spirit’s “death work” (see John 3:3-14 and Romans 6:3-11)?
5. 5. How do you imagine Paul’s 2 years in the Hall of Tyrannus? Think of 5 substantial vibes from this 24 month experience.

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August 23rd, 2026

“Appreciation & Awe”

Acts 18:18-28

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Extraordinary Appreciation
2. In Awe of What’s Been Accomplished

Reflection Questions:

1. What is something that you’re supposed to like (because it’s incontrovertibly good), but at first you didn’t like it? How, and why, did you end up liking it?
2. When was a time when you felt super, sincerely, and substantially, thankful? Why?
3. If you really, truly, and wholeheartedly wanted to say “Thank You” to God… how would you do it?
4. When was a time that you were super, sincerely, and substantially IN AWE of something that had been accomplished?
5. Have you ever FELT BLOWN AWAY by the fact that all the paradoxical prophecies about The Christ (e.g. Isaiah 53) ACTUALLY HAPPENED!?!?

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August 16th, 2026

“Good Gifts”

Acts 18:1-17

Rev. Tyler Dirks

Sermon Audio

Sermon Outline:

1. Friendship
2. Work
3. Stories

Reflection Questions:

1. When was a time you deeply delighted in an enriching, edifying, friendship (e.g. a time of significant commiseration and joyful camaraderie)?
2. When was a time you deeply delighted in good work? Perhaps you enjoyed the work so much, you didn’t want it to end when quitting time rolled around?
3. 3. How have you experienced the connection between good work and human dignity?
4. What are 2 or 3 of your favorite stories (from your life, from human history, from books, from movies, from the Bible, etc.)?
5. When was a time you actually felt mesmerized by the story of Jesus of Nazareth – namely His fulfillment of THE WORK (see John 6:29), and His insistence on having an eternal relationship with you (see John 14:2-3)?

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