Ecclesia Houston

Real Faith, Real Failure, Real Gratitude

podcast — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:53:17 +0000

In this message from our Lenten series on emotionally healthy spirituality, we explore the life of David through the lens of five hard spiritual truths: life is hard, you are not in control, your life is not about you, you are not that important, and you will die. These are not slogans for coffee mugs. They are the deep realities that shape mature faith. David teaches us how to name what is real, process pain instead of projecting strength, embrace confession, reject entitlement, and cultivate gratitude. Even in failure, David shows us the path back to God through repentance and honesty.

You Can’t Be Spiritually Mature If You’re Emotionally Immature

podcast — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:17:33 +0000

Lent isn’t about giving something up. It’s about becoming someone new. As we begin this Lenten journey, we’re exploring what it means to develop an emotionally healthy spirituality — because, as we’re reminded: “You can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” Through the story of King Saul, we see what happens when insecurity, fear, ego, and unmanaged emotion go unchecked. Saul had power, success, wealth — and no real health. No real friends. No inner stability.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

podcast — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:28:08 +0000

Lent is a season of reflection but it’s also a season about spiritual growth.

In this preview episode, Pastor Chris, Pastor Rylea, and Pastor Ericka introduce our upcoming Lent series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and why emotional maturity and spiritual maturity can’t be separated.

We talk about:

Why anger isn’t the problem and what we do with it is

Signs of emotional unhealth (overreacting, taking things personally, repeating patterns)

The difference between self-help and spiritual transformation

What it means to stop being a “one-year Christian 22 times”

How Lent can help break old habits and form new ones

This Lent, we’ll explore biblical characters like Saul and Joseph and examine how their emotional lives shaped their spiritual journeys.

We’ll also be inviting our entire community into:
• Practicing the Prayer of Examen
• Crafting a personal Rule of Life

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your faith, this season might be your invitation to move forward.

Episode Overview

This episode previews our upcoming Lent series: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

We explore the connection between emotional maturity and spiritual growth — and why Lent is the perfect season for introspection and intentional formation.

Key Quotes

“You can’t be spiritually mature if you’re emotionally immature.”

“I was a Christian for 22 years, but instead of being a 22-year-old Christian, I was a one-year-old Christian 22 times.”

“Our spiritual life and our emotional life are deeply intertwined.”

What We Discuss

Why emotions aren’t sinful — but unexamined emotions can be destructive

How resentment, insecurity, and anger show up in Scripture

Why self-help alone cannot change us

The role of community, communion, and confession

How faith evolves and adapts over time

Why growth is not linear

Lent Resources

During Lent, we are inviting our community to:

Practice the Prayer of Examen daily

Craft a personal Rule of Life

Use our Community Spiritual Formation Guide

What If We’re Climbing the Wrong Mountain?

podcast — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 19:00:00 +0000

As we head into Lent, we are invited to slow down, create space, and listen. In this message, we reflect on the Transfiguration in Matthew 17, the wisdom of Fred Rogers, and the tension between mountaintop moments and valley realities. We talk about why we are so tempted to stay on the mountain, why Jesus leads us back down into real life, and how prayer and fasting reshape our desires and our direction. Through stories of faith, failure, joy, and loss, this sermon explores what it means to stop climbing the wrong ladders and start listening to Jesus.

Bad Bunny & Culture: A Pastoral (and Puerto Rican) Take on the Halftime Show

podcast — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris sits down with Executive Pastor Ramon Huertas for a thoughtful conversation about Bad Bunny, art, and how followers of Jesus can learn to read culture with wisdom and humility. At Ecclesia, we believe formation happens not by avoiding the world, but by learning how to live in it with wisdom, courage, and grace. This episode is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and learn how to see what’s really there.

When Becoming Is Hard

podcast — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 18:42:12 +0000

What do you do when you want to be kinder, slower, and more loving, but real life keeps getting in the way? In this message, Pastor Chris explores why becoming the person we want to be is often harder than we expect, and how the way of Jesus and the example of Fred Rogers invite us into a different way of living. A practical and honest look at kindness, generosity, presence, and choosing love in a hurried and divided world.

Friendship, Vulnerability, and Faith

podcast — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:26:59 +0000

What if loneliness isn’t a personal failure but a signal that something sacred is missing? In this message, Pastor Chris explores why friendship may be one of the most holy and necessary gifts God gives us. Drawing from Scripture, cultural insight, and the life of Fred Rogers, this sermon invites us to rethink vulnerability, presence, and what it truly means to love one another well.

Neighborhoods, Not Empires

podcast — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:24:00 +0000

Pastor Chris contrasts the way of empires with the way of Jesus. Empires move fast, promise safety, and rely on fear and force. Jesus moves slowly. He notices. He draws near. He builds the Kingdom not through domination, but through love at eye level.

What Are You Really Looking For?

podcast — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:59:00 +0000

Ericka Graham explores one of the first questions Jesus ever asks: “What are you seeking?” Drawing from John 1 and the life and wisdom of Mr. Rogers, Ericka invites us to slow down, get curious, and reconsider what we are chasing in a loud, anxious world. Rather than offering quick answers, Jesus offers his presence. Rather than judgment, he invites questions. And rather than defining people by their failures, he names them for who they are becoming.

When The World Is Too Loud

podcast — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:51:49 +0000

In a week marked by grief, fear, and overwhelming noise, Pastor Chris reflects on what it means to stay human, connected, and curious when the world feels too loud. Drawing on wisdom from Fred Rogers, Scripture, and lived experience, this sermon invites us to name our feelings without shame, resist the pull toward withdrawal and outrage, and move toward one another with courage and compassion.

It's You I Like

podcast — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 20:06:17 +0000

What would change if we truly believed we are loved exactly as we are? As we begin a new year, Pastor Chris invites us into a radically countercultural way of living: resting in God’s love rather than striving to earn it. Drawing from the life and presence of Fred Rogers and the Gospel of John, we explore what it means to live as the beloved, to abide in love, and to carry that love into our relationships with others.

Neighborhoods, Not Towers

podcast — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:48:00 +0000

As Ecclesia closes out 2025, Pastor Chris invites us to imagine the kind of people we are becoming together in 2026. In a world shaped by division, power, and isolation, this message asks a simple but demanding question: what does it look like to be a truly good neighbor? Drawing from the life and wisdom of Fred Rogers, the teachings of Jesus, and the call of Scripture, we explore a posture of presence rather than domination, participation rather than distance. From the Good Samaritan to Jeremiah’s call to seek the peace of the city, this sermon reframes love as an active way of life rooted in neighborhoods, not towers. This is an invitation to live faithfully right where we are planted and to discover how God meets us, and our neighbors, in ordinary places.

Loving All In Advent

podcast — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Ericka Graham reflects on the candle of love and what it means to truly see one another as God sees us. Ericka explores how love multiplies when it is shared, how stories move us to action, and how faith calls us to run toward people in their lowest moments rather than away.

A Lifestyle of Generosity

podcast — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:17:47 +0000

Pastor Chris explores generosity not simply as something we do with our money, but as a way of life that shapes who we are becoming. From giving to those we love, to caring for people we may never meet, to the quiet beauty of anonymous generosity, we are reminded that God blesses us so that we might be a blessing. True generosity loosens our grip on comfort and opens us to joy, freedom, and deeper connection with others.

Why Less Is More This Christmas

podcast — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:36:37 +0000

"The dominant script of our culture is one of anxiety and scarcity. But the story of Jesus is one of abundance, generosity, and enough." – Pastor Chris This Advent season, Pastor Chris continues our Advent Conspiracy series with a powerful message on spending less, not just to save money, but to reclaim freedom, joy, and purpose. Drawing from Philippians 4 and 1 Timothy 6, and layered with stories from his own life, Pastor Chris invites us into a radical reimagining of Christmas: one where we resist the pressures of consumerism, live with margin, and give meaningful gifts that reflect the heart of God.

Transformational Advent

podcast — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 18:28:00 +0000

In this first week of Advent, we explore how the arrival of Jesus invites real and often uncomfortable change. Through the story of Herod, the wise men, and the themes of Advent Conspiracy, we are reminded that worship is more than songs or rituals. It is the offering of our whole lives. Like the baby in “The Luck of Roaring Camp,” the birth of Jesus disrupts our patterns and reshapes our priorities. This sermon invites us to embrace a season of transformation and worship fully.

Finding God in Our Pain

podcast — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:10:53 +0000

This week, Ericka Graham guides us through a heartfelt exploration of Psalm 22, the very words Jesus turned to on the cross, and reminds us why the Psalms still matter today. With raw vulnerability and powerful storytelling, she weaves together scripture, motherhood, Ruby Bridges, OCD, and the search for belonging into one unifying truth: There’s a Psalm for that.

How God Heals

podcast — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:59:00 +0000

Pain touches every one of us. Some of it was handed to us. Some of it we created. And some of it cut so deeply that it muted our voice and made us forget who we are. In this powerful message, Pastor Chris walks through the Psalms to show how God meets us in every kind of hurt and leads us toward healing, restoration, and a new song. Whether you are carrying wounds from your past, regret from your own choices, or a quiet ache that has slowly silenced your joy, this sermon holds a tender invitation. God offers rest that fits the shape of your life, restoration that reaches the deepest places, and a way forward that is full of hope.

When Life Is Hard

podcast — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:28:00 +0000

Life is hard, and even people of deep faith face seasons of fear, pressure, and uncertainty. Pastor Sean invites us into David’s story of going into the wilderness to learn how Psalm 63 becomes a prayer for anyone wondering how they’re going to make it. When fight, flight, freeze, and fawn aren’t enough, we’re invited to thirst for God, trust deeply, and fall into grace.

The Strength That Breaks You

podcast — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 18:45:00 +0000

In this message from our series Songs of the Shepherd King, Pastor Chris Seay explores how King David’s greatest strength—his big heart—was also what led to his greatest breaking. Drawing from Psalm 51, this sermon invites us to see how our own strengths, left unchecked, can become our undoing, and how God’s grace can restore us to rhythm again. From David’s story of failure and repentance to our modern rhythms of distraction and striving, this message calls us back to stillness, humility, and grace that outlasts our failures.

Vulnerability is Worship

podcast — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 20:51:55 +0000

We’re kicking off a new series called "Songs of the Shepherd King" exploring the life and songs of David, the unlikely king, the vulnerable poet, and the one “after God’s own heart.” In this message, Pastor Chris invites us into the honest and emotional world of the Psalms, a book that trains us in honest prayer, where nothing is off-limits before God.

Rebuilding Your Life

podcast — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 17:48:00 +0000

Life is full of seasons that require rebuilding. When children leave home, when loss changes everything, when dreams shift, or when the future does not go as planned, we face a choice to start again. Pastor Sean turns to the book of Zechariah to learn what it means to rebuild not just structures, but our very lives. Through stories of transition and faith, we explore how God calls us to break old patterns, live above the chaos, grieve what has been lost, and take responsibility for our response. Zechariah reminds us that rebuilding begins not with plans or blueprints, but with returning to God and trusting that His Spirit can make us His living temple.

Remembering Is the Way Forward

podcast — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:47:00 +0000

This week in our series on the Minor Prophets, we turn to the final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, to ask a deeply honest question: Will we ever learn? In a world that often feels like it’s falling apart personally, politically, and globally, it’s easy to fall into despair or hopeless repetition. But God’s invitation through the prophet Malachi is not just to repent. It’s to remember.

The Courage To Build Again

podcast — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 17:38:00 +0000

hen life feels like rubble and the past looks brighter than the present, how do we find the courage to start again? Ericka Graham invites us to look at the story of Haggai and how God called His people to rebuild the temple before they felt ready, to choose hope over cynicism, and to trust that His presence makes even small beginnings holy.

Returning to the Heart of God

podcast — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 17:30:00 +0000

Pastor Sean invites us to step out of hiding, confess what has been concealed, and experience the God who welcomes us back with joy. Through the prophet Zephaniah, we hear a call to face the sin we would rather ignore, not to shame us but to draw us back to the One who loves us. God’s invitation is not just to acknowledge what is broken but to come home to His heart, where judgment gives way to mercy and He rejoices over His people with singing.

When The Prophets Speak Louder Than The News

podcast — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:45:00 +0000

This week Pastor Chris continues in our series on the minor prophets called Disorienting Hope and he shares from a place few of us expected: the tiny Old Testament book of Obadiah. Though only 21 verses long, this prophetic word speaks directly into the brokenness of our modern world — where nationalism, tribalism, and indifference often drown out the call of compassion and Kingdom faithfulness.

Becoming the People of God

podcast — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 18:40:02 +0000

In a week filled with tragedy and noise, we pause to ask a deeper question: Who are we becoming? The prophets remind us that God’s concern is not just with our actions, but with the kind of people we are being formed into. Hosea’s marriage to Gomer—a story of unfaithfulness met with relentless love—stands as a living parable of God’s covenant with His people. Though we often place our hope in politics, wealth, or personal success, God calls us back to Himself, offering restoration and a new identity. This message invites us to reflect: Is our life a demonstration of the world’s values, or of divine love? And if we continue on the path we’re walking today, what kind of person are we becoming for eternity?

What's In Your Hand

podcast — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:36:00 +0000

Pastor Chris shares stories that remind us of the power of generosity, community, and faith in action. Pastor Chris invites us to consider how our gifts—whether small or great—can be used for miracles when we offer them to God first. He also introduces a bold new vision: transforming a vacant office building in southwest Houston into safe, affordable housing with wraparound services for families in need.

We Were Made to Gather

podcast — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 19:32:33 +0000

We weren’t made to do this alone. From the stars above us to the songs we sing together, God reminds us that gathering is not a performance but a spiritual practice. Ericka Graham invites us to reflect on why worship matters and how community brings light into our darkest places.

People Need People

podcast — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 18:41:23 +0000

We live in an age of connection and yet, many of us feel more alone than ever. In this message, Pastor Sean shares stories of sending his daughters to college, reflections on his own freshman prayers for friendship, and practical steps for building the kind of community our souls crave. Whether you’re longing for deeper friendships, curious about why relationships matter so much, or looking for encouragement to say “yes” to community, this teaching reminds us: people need people.

The 6 Rhythms of Ecclesia

podcast — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 16:40:59 +0000

Pastor Chris shares six rhythms that shape a meaningful life of faith: being real, being kind, being hospitable, seeking beauty, seeking God, and serving others. These rhythms invite us to live with honesty and vulnerability, practice everyday kindness, open our homes and hearts, notice God’s glory in creation and culture, prioritize His kingdom, and lift our eyes off ourselves to serve others.

Walking With God In Every Season

podcast — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:46:24 +0000

Pastor Chris explores what it truly means to walk with God—not through grand miracles or public recognition, but in everyday moments of connection, humility, and love. Through the story of Enoch, we discover how faith shapes who we become, helps us serve others, and frees us from fear—even in life’s hardest moments.

The Internet Trains You to Hate, Here's What God Invites You to Do Instead

podcast — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 01:32:58 +0000

The internet has become an enemy-creating machine. Scroll long enough and you’ll start to believe the lie that everyone who disagrees with you is someone to fear, shame, or destroy. In this week’s message, Pastor Sean challenges that narrative by exploring Psalm 23 and the life of David, who had real enemies and yet chose rest, trust, and the table of God. What does it mean to sit at the table in the presence of your enemies without needing to destroy them?

When Obedience Looks Like Trust

podcast — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:34:37 +0000

This week, Pastor Sean shares the story of Noah. A man who built an ark over decades with nothing but a single word from God to guide him. In a world obsessed with speed and control, we’re invited into the slow, steady path of trust. Explore what it means to walk with God through silence, confusion, and long seasons of waiting. Discover how the power of obedience isn’t about control—it’s about trust. Because what lasts forever…takes forever.

What If Your Story Isn't Over Yet

podcast — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:16:33 +0000

What if your story isn’t over yet? In this powerful message from our Faithful & Brave series, we turn our focus to Rahab—a Canaanite prostitute whose faith didn’t just save her family but earned her a place in the lineage of Jesus. This sermon explores what it means to live “at the edge of the inside,” where transformation, empathy, and radical inclusion are possible.

When Faith Costs You Something

podcast — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris takes us through the life of Moses, not as a distant Bible hero, but as a man who chose justice over comfort, courage over clarity, and calling over convenience. Drawing from Hebrews 11, personal stories, and modern-day injustices, this message challenges us to examine our own willingness to stand with the suffering, embrace the wilderness, and live a faith that costs something.

Faithful & Brave: Silence Does Not Mean Innocence

podcast — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:44:30 +0000

In this challenging and timely sermon, Pastor Sean continues our Faithful & Brave series by exploring one of the Bible’s oldest and most haunting stories: Cain and Abel. But this message goes far beyond ancient history. It confronts the dangerous idea that God's silence gives permission to our behavior and excuses in action when in reality, God expects us to know better—even when He doesn't speak out loud.

When Faith and Doubt Collide

podcast — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:22:14 +0000

Ericka Graham explores the complicated, beautiful intersection of faith and doubt through the story of Sarah . We reflect on her laughter, her trauma, and her influence.

What Kids Teach Us: Wonder, Wisdom, and the Way of Jesus

podcast — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:29:17 +0000

In a world that often prizes productivity and certainty, Jesus invites us to become like children: curious, imaginative, and full of wonder. Pastor Chris reflects on the gift and calling of caring for kids, not just as parents, but as a whole community. Through stories from Ecclesia, partnerships around the world, and the example of Christ, we explore what it means to trade indoctrination for imagination, information for formation, and passivity for presence.

Fathers Day - 2025

podcast — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:52:55 +0000

Pastor Chris and a few of our high school seniors share about what it means to be a great dad.

Is Your Life Big Enough To Live For? | Faithful & Brave | Sean Palmer

podcast — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:49:26 +0000

What’s a big enough life to live for? As we enter a new season—whether it’s summer break, a new job, or a quieter home—this message invites us to reflect on the deeper rhythms of life. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 11 and the powerful tradition of the Lord’s Supper, this sermon kicks off our summer series, Faithful & Brave, by reminding us that we’re called to live lives that are faithful to our sacred inheritance and brave enough to move into God’s future.

Becoming the Church Together

podcast — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 19:32:11 +0000

What does it really mean to be a Christian? Pastor Chris reminds us that following Jesus isn’t just about believing the right things—it’s about becoming a people who belong to each other. Drawing from Acts 2 and Acts 4, this sermon is a call to live out the Nicene Creed through hospitality, shared rhythms, and courageous community. Pastor Chris invites us to jump off the proverbial high dive and take one small step into a deeper life of connection, generosity, and grace.

Stronger from the Climb: Finding Grace, Resurrection, and the Holy Spirit in Everyday Struggles

podcast — Thu, 29 May 2025 18:03:22 +0000

What if resurrection wasn’t a one-time event, but a continual journey—messy, real, and full of grace? In this final sermon on the Nicene Creed, Ericka Graham reflects on interdependence, the Holy Spirit, and the kind of strength that only comes through struggle.

Get Your Hands Dirty: What It Really Means to Follow Jesus | What is a Christian?

podcast — Tue, 27 May 2025 18:18:25 +0000

This week’s message digs into the heart of the Nicene Creed, the incarnation of Jesus, and the call for every believer to live out a hands-on, mission-driven faith. Pastor Chris shares stories from a recent medical mission in Guatemala, including the powerful healing of a 12-year-old girl named Sara and reminds us that true Christianity isn't about staying clean and comfortable, but about stepping into the mess and loving radically.

Seeing Jesus Clearly

podcast — Wed, 14 May 2025 18:12:56 +0000

Who’s Really in Charge? Trusting God When the World Feels Broken

podcast — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:28:15 +0000

We Believe: Why Christianity Is a ‘We’ Faith, Not an ‘I’ Faith

podcast — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:01:09 +0000

Easter 2025

podcast — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:20:06 +0000

He is Risen!

Finding Joy in the Silence

podcast — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:49:59 +0000

As we continue from our Lenten series, Pastor Chris explores the spiritual discipline of silence and its power to reconnect us with God, ourselves, and one another. Drawing from voices like Blaise Pascal, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, and even a Buddhist monk, this sermon invites us to turn down the volume of our lives—externally and internally—and rediscover the presence of God in the quiet.

Rumination vs Self Awareness

podcast — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:04:00 +0000

The Hero Complex

podcast — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:42:36 +0000

Pastor Sean reflects on our deep desire to be heroes in our own stories—whether through success, beauty, influence, or achievement. But what if true purpose is found not in grand gestures, but in the small, everyday moments of faith? Through scripture, personal stories, and a prayer for daily surrender, Pastor Sean invites us to step away from self-centered striving and rest in the reality that we are already fully loved by God.

Ending the Hustle: Finding True Worth in Christ

podcast — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 20:07:02 +0000

Are you tired of constantly striving for more, only to feel like it's never enough? In this inspiring sermon, we explore what it means to end the hustle for worthiness and embrace God's grace. Through relatable stories, biblical wisdom, and the powerful contrast between Mary and Martha in Luke 10, we uncover the truth that our value isn’t in what we do—but in who we are in Christ. Join us as Pastor Chris shares how the freeing reality that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less. Be encouraged, find rest, and rediscover the joy of simply being in His presence.

Moving Beyond Ourselves

podcast — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 14:18:00 +0000

Breaking the Cycle | Preparing For Lent

podcast — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:43:02 +0000

Pastor Chris explores our repeated mistakes and the invitation Lent offers to break free from those cycles. Drawing from Genesis and the story of Abraham and Isaac, we confront the fear-driven choices that keep us stuck and discover how to be reshaped by joy instead.

Naming Your Own Beauty | Genesis

podcast — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 01:56:37 +0000

Pastor Chris explores the story of Jacob and Esau, uncovering how envy can keep us from fully living into our God-given identity. When we focus on what others have, we miss the beauty of what God has already placed within us. Join us as we dive into the Genesis narrative and discover how naming our beauty leads to freedom, purpose, and a life rooted in gratitude.

How to Die Well | Genesis

podcast — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:14:01 +0000

Pastor Sean explores the story of Abraham’s final days in Genesis 25 and uncovers key insights on how to live well so that we can die well. From owning our wrongs and responsibilities to being a force for reconciliation, we must consider the legacy we leave behind.

Radical Hospitality

podcast — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:11:40 +0000

What does it mean to truly serve others in a world that often prioritizes self-interest? Pastor Chris explore Genesis 24 and the story of Rebekah’s radical hospitality—offering water not just to a stranger, but to his ten camels, an act of selfless generosity.

The God Who Sees Us | Genesis

podcast — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:57:22 +0000

Pastor Chris explores the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, highlighting God's care for the broken and unseen. Through Hagar's story, we are invited to reflect on where we are from and where we are going in our own stories.

A Secure Attachment to God | Genesis

podcast — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:12:15 +0000

Through the story of Abram, Ericka Graham invites us to consider how we trust God, take risks, and deal with fear.

Our Genesis

podcast — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:19:12 +0000

Pastor Chris discusses a healthy outlook on reading the beginning of Genesis. The beauty of this text can often get lost in the arguments, and the discourse, but Pastor Chris invites us to engage with the beauty of Genesis 1 & 2.

God's Blessing For You | Genesis

podcast — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:48:42 +0000

What is God’s blessing for you? Through the story of Jacob, Pastor Sean invites us to reflect on this question and challenges us to be curious about who God is shaping us to be.

The Best You In 2025

podcast — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:53:49 +0000

As we look ahead to a new year, Pastor Wayne shares a message about the ways we must live and love in order to become the best version of ourselves that includes being humble, staying curious, and practicing gratitude.

Love All | Advent

podcast — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:23:06 +0000

Love is a word that is used loosely in our Western culture, so what do it really mean to love someone, much less to love all? In today's mesage Pastor Sean challenges us to a deeper love by being willing to sacrifice for those around us.

Give More | Advent 2024

podcast — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:27:00 +0000

How do you give gifts that matter? In a season where gift-giving is front of mind, it can be easy to be swept away into a consumer mindset. Pastor Chris invites us to give better gifts to the people we love.

Spend Less | Advent

podcast — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:25:43 +0000

Pastor Sean teaches on what and how we spend with and through ourselves in the Advent season.

Being Fully Present | Advent 2024

podcast — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 21:27:35 +0000

When was the last time you did anything fully? On this first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Sean challenges us to consider our presence as an act of worship. In an age of distraction, what would it mean to be fully present with the people in the room with us?

The Priesthood of All Believers

podcast — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:38:01 +0000

Pastor Chris shares a message that bridges our series in Acts with Advent that emphasizes our role in the Kingdom of God and that together we are the Priesthood of Believers able to make a tangible impact in our community and around the world.

For The Sake Of Love | Book of Acts

podcast — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:35:35 +0000

Today Ericka Graham concludes the series on the Book of Acts with a message about the ways that the Holy Spirit is a force for unity and love.

Power In The Kingdom of God

podcast — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:04:08 +0000

How do Christians view their role in advocating for and holding positions of power? In the wake of the election, Pastor Chris recenters our focus on continuing to be the people of faith that God has called us to be and to not be distracted by the allure of power.

On Common Ground | The Book of Acts

podcast — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:11:30 +0000

The Rest Of The Story | The Book of Acts

podcast — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:28:44 +0000

Who are you becoming? God calls us into transformation and renewal and urges us to leave behind the "old self" and embrace the new identity offered in Christ. Pastor Sean challenges us to examine areas in our lives where we might be clinging to a past belief or bias.

The Kingdom of God is for ALL People | Book of Acts

podcast — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:28:53 +0000

Pastor Sean continues our series in Acts with stories from Scripture and his own life. We get to hear how Peter learns that God builds no walls or barriers and that the Kingdom of God is an abundant, ever expanding movement of inclusivity and love.

Saul's Transformation | The Book Of Acts

podcast — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 18:02:25 +0000

Ericka Graham leads us through one of the most important biblical stories of our faith with the transformation of Saul to Paul. Ericka reminds us that through Jesus we have experienced this transformation alongside people in our lives.

Be Real | The Rhythms

podcast — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:44:04 +0000

What masks do you wear with God, others, or yourself? Ericka Graham closes out the series on the Rhythms of Ecclesia, with Be Real. In being real, we acknowledge our weaknesses and openly share with others during our times of celebration, mourning, and the things that lie in between.

Be Hospitable | 25th Anniversary Celebration

podcast — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:14:47 +0000

Today we celebrated 25 years of loving and serving our community in Houston and across the globe. Hospitality is at the core of Ecclesia's ethos, and Pastor Chris celebrated stories of hospitality in and around our community of faith.

Serve Others | The Rhythms

podcast — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 19:57:00 +0000

At Ecclesia, we believe that we are created to be open to sharing time, talents, and resources with others in love. Pastor Chris encourages us to see serving not as an obligation but rather as a life-giving joy.

Be Kind | The Rhythms of Ecclesia

podcast — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:35:22 +0000

What does it mean to truly be kind? It's more than being nice or polite. Kindness is something we give without expecting anything in return. This week Pastor Sean offers insights and stories into what true kindness looks like and how you can offer it to those around you.

Seek Beauty | The Rhythms

podcast — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 18:33:00 +0000

How do we orient our lives around beauty? Pastor Chris encourages us to take the time to reflect on the beauty in the world around us.

Seek First the Kingdom of God

podcast — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:07:38 +0000

Pastor Sean shares how Jesus invites us to seek the kingdom of God and what that looks like in our daily lives.

The Postures Of Ecclesia

podcast — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 19:06:13 +0000

Pastor Chris sets up our fall series by reminding our community of a few postures we hold as a community that is committed to unity, diversity, and rhythms of life.

Who Is Ecclesia?

podcast — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:46:05 +0000

Pastor Chris talks about the roots of Ecclesia, telling stories and sharing scripture that motivated him to start Ecclesia Houston 25 years ago.

The Shape of My Eyes | Dave Gibbons

podcast — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 19:57:28 +0000

Today our dear friend, Dave Gibbons, visited us as a guest speaker to share about his experiences growing up as an Asian-American, how the events of his life lead him to grow in God's love and grace, and his journey to discover forgiveness. These stories and many more are a part of his memoir, The Shape of My Eyes.

Peace | Fruit of the Spirit

podcast — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 18:44:35 +0000

Why do we care when things are broken? Pastor Sean concludes our series on the Fruit of the Spirit by speaking on Peace. We are invited to see the fragmentation in our lives as opportunities to seek repair and peace.

Experiential Knowledge | Fruit of the Spirit

podcast — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:41:24 +0000

Is knowledge alone enough for spiritual growth? Ericka Graham invites us to explore experiential knowledge that transcends our minds and engages our hearts.

It All Begins With Love | Fruit Of The Spirit

podcast — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:44:25 +0000

Pastor Sean invites us to examine how we embody the fruit of the Spirit by beginning with Love; it all begins with Love.

How Do We Cultivate The Fruit of The Spirit?

podcast — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:40:51 +0000

Kicking off our new series, Pastor Chris invites us to view our spiritual growth and maturity through the lens of a vineyard. He offers a few ways of living that help cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Finding Friendship

podcast — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 18:56:16 +0000

Pastor Sean continues the friendship sermon series by telling stories from his life as well as from Scripture. He talks about the different types of healthy friendships and what they look like in action.

The Gift of Friendship

podcast — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:23:30 +0000

Pastor Chris launches our new series around Friendship with a look at what the Scriptures and C.S Lewis say about the value of true friends.

How to Embrace Jesus in a Chaotic World | Beyond Us

podcast — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:46:05 +0000

If you look around, it feels like the world is going crazy, and the decisions we make are incredibly important to be the type of church and be the type of people that Jesus has called us to be. That means we tune out the noise, remember THE story, never give in to fear, and no matter what, be a blessing. Today Pastor Chris wraps up our series on Acts with a profound and timely message on what it looks like to follow Jesus when the crowds are stirred up and the world feels chaotic.

Empowered By and For Love

podcast — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:55:13 +0000

Pastor Ericka shares a message about how we, as people of God, are empowered by the Holy Spirit by love and to love every 'other' on our journey, even our enemies.

Does God Notice Me? | Beyond Us

podcast — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:46:19 +0000

This week Pastor Sean preaches on Acts 8:26- 40 and discusses topics of inclusion and our ability to see ourselves in scripture, and most importantly, that Jesus is for everyone.

How the World Changes | Beyond Us

podcast — Tue, 28 May 2024 23:03:07 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer challenges us to rethink how we view power. Through the book of Acts and the story of the Civil Rights movement, we are invited to see the way that real lasting change is made through everyday actions.

The Birth of A Church

podcast — Tue, 14 May 2024 00:02:32 +0000

Rochelle Palmer tells stories of mothers in her life with beautiful and tragic stories, and shares how Jesus and the disciples taught us how to journey through life holding grief and joy all at the same time.

Valuing People | Beyond Us

podcast — Mon, 06 May 2024 22:20:25 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues through our series in the book of Acts sharing and invites us to consider whether we value people or what a relationship can give us. Through the story of Peter's imprisonment and release, we see how the early Church began to grow.

Giving Beyond Us - For The City & The World

podcast — Wed, 01 May 2024 18:00:44 +0000

Pastor Chris invites us into a new initiative inspired by the actions of Barnabas from the Book of Acts.

Living a Resurrected Life | Beyond Us

podcast — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:17:43 +0000

Ericka Graham challenges us to believe and see the power of resurrection in our everyday lives. She guides us through chapters 3 & 4 of the Book of Acts and leads us to three important points: 1. God often invites us to heal, instead of offering us what we "want" 2. Resurrection is a beginning and not an ending 3. The church is not in the business of "charity," it is in the business of Resurrection.

The Kingdom of God is Within You | Beyond Us

podcast — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:08:28 +0000

Pastor Sean is continuing the sermon series on the book of Acts and shares stories from scripture in Acts 2. He invites us to consider that the Holy Spirit dwells in us all and that God's good news is good for ALL, no matter who you are, what you've done or where you're from.

Introduction to the book of Acts | Beyond Us

podcast — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 19:29:39 +0000

This week Pastor Chris launches a new series called 'Beyond Us" where we will be joining together to read through the book of Acts and learning what it means to be a Christian and be the church in our diverse context.

Easter at Ecclesia

podcast — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 18:50:33 +0000

He Is Risen! Ecclesia family we wish you a very Happy Easter as we celebrate Jesus' resurrection through story, song and worship.

A Mustard Seed || The Kingdom

podcast — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 20:50:45 +0000

What do a mustard seed and Palm Sunday have in common? Ericka Graham continues our series looking at the parables of Jesus and examines the theology of a mustard seed.

Virtue over Value | The Kingdom

podcast — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:23:10 +0000

Pastor Sean continues our series through the parables in the book of Matthew by focusing on the "Parable of the Unforgiving Servant". Jesus challenges us to choose into Kingdom living through virtue instead of value.

We Were Made to Celebrate | The Kingdom

podcast — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:42:12 +0000

Pastor Chris leads us through the parable of the wedding banquet and shows us how we were made to celebrate the joy and fulfillment found in accepting God's invitation to be part of His kingdom. We learn that our purpose is to experience the abundant life that God offers through a relationship with Him. Celebrating encompasses a life filled with gratitude, worship, and obedience to God's will.

Grace and the Work of God's People- the Kingdom

podcast — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:40:55 +0000

Pastor Chris invites us to reflect on our freely given, not earned, grace and what that means for how we live, work, and love as people of God.

Parable of the Talents- the Kingdom

podcast — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 20:36:28 +0000

Pastor Chris takes us to the Colombia/Venezuela border and shares about the work and lives of our partners at La Frontera Church. Continuing in our series on the parables of Jesus, Pastor Chris encourages us be the type of people who act our of faith and not fear and invest what we've been given to God.

Sowing Seeds in Faith

podcast — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:22:17 +0000

Our new series "The Kingdom" focuses on the parables of Jesus in the book of Matthew. Pastor Sean invites us into the parable of the sower to wrestle with the question "Does what I do or who I invest into really matter?"

The Bible Is Not Just Data

podcast — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:13:55 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer finishes our series "Hearing The Voice" with practical wisdom for reading the Bible.

Scripture & Our Reality

podcast — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:10:27 +0000

Pastor Chris invites us to read the bible with Jesus as the cornerstone and how that will inform the reflection of our shared humanity and belovedness.

Calling Us Back to God

podcast — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:24:32 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer explores the role of the prophets in the Old Testament and invites us to consider our own role in our world today. The prophets came with a Kingdom vision in a silencing culture to bring justice and call people back to God .

It's Not About You

podcast — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:06:17 +0000

Join us for week 2 of Hearing the Voice, series on reading, understanding, and growing in appreciation of The Bible. This week pastor Chris discusses the ways ancient cultures interpreted the events of their lives through the story of Abraham and Isaac and challenged us with the idea that our salvation isn't about us and that there is nothing we can do to earn God's love.

Our Story Reflected In Scripture

podcast — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 22:40:00 +0000

Pastor Sean reminds us of how the story of humanity (our story) is reflected in scripture and what that means for how we live and relate to each other.

The Bible is Better Than You Think-

podcast — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:24:25 +0000

A lot of us come to the Bible with different experiences and ideas. As we restart the new year, Pastor Chris kicks off a new series around re-discovering what it means to engage the Bible.

Finding God in the Mundane

podcast — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 21:56:34 +0000

Pastor Wayne Brown shares some of his story from the past year and invites us to consider how God may speak to us as we arrive in 2024.

On Presence in Advent | Advent Week 3

podcast — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 17:34:28 +0000

Pastor Sean explores what it means to spend less by spending more on presence and time with those that we love.

What Does it Mean to Love All? | Advent Week 2 |

podcast — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:35:09 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our Advent series with a simple question, what does it mean to love all? He unpacks 1 John 3:16 which offers a particular challenge: "If a person owns the kinds of things we need to make it in the world but refuses to share with those in need, is it even possible that God's love lives in him?" Pastor Chris offers a simple answer to this challenge and it is radical generosity. As you approach this season of Advent and begin to wait expectantly for Jesus, we invite you to love everyone by showing grace, peace, patience and generosity.

Searching For Jesus- Advent Week One

podcast — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:59:36 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer invites us into the season Advent by inviting us into the story of the Wise Men in Matthew. As you approach this season and begin to wait expectantly for Jesus, Sean invites you to Worship Fully with the time, talents and resources you have been given.

Reflections on Persecution and Righteousness

podcast — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 22:42:58 +0000

Today Pastor Chris delves into a powerful exploration of faith, sharing personal experiences of cultural exposure that reshaped his understanding of Christianity. The emphasis shifts our perspective from a traditional focus on morality and rule-keeping to a profound appreciation for justice and righteousness. The transformative impact of encountering different cultural perspectives is highlighted, illustrating how embracing diversity can save one's faith. Join us on this spiritual journey, recognizing that true Christianity involves a worldview centered on God's restorative justice and the belief that He is working to resurrect and make everything right.

Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness- the Beatitudes

podcast — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 21:31:25 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our series in the Beatitudes and challenges us to continue to hunger for justice even in the midst of seemingly impossible problems.

On Peacemaking- the Beatitudes

podcast — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 18:12:49 +0000

Pastor Chris continues our series on the Beatitudes as he reflects on the call for peacemakers, the pursuit of justice, and the importance of understanding differing perspectives. With empathy and insight, he examines how these biblical teachings can be practically applied to the multifaceted layers of the conflict happening in the Middle East, fostering understanding and laying the groundwork for reconciliation and peacebuilding.

On Grief and Mourning- The Beatitudes

podcast — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:28:24 +0000

Pastor Chris invites us to reflect on what the Scriptures say about why and how we mourn and grieve, as the people of God.

The Paradox of Blessing- The Beatitudes

podcast — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 14:43:00 +0000

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? Ericka Graham continues our series on the Beatitudes by sharing the paradoxes that Jesus presents in the Beatitudes and challenges us to redefine what we consider blessed.

Worthy Of Blessing- The Beatitudes

podcast — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:07:45 +0000

This week Pastor Sean Palmer introduces are new series on The Beatitudes and talks about what it means to be blessed.

Generosity Inspires Generosity

podcast — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:21:29 +0000

What do you have in your hands? Pastor Chris encourages us to consider the time, talents, and resources we have as gift to be given instead of things to hoard.

Our Work is Not Our Worth

podcast — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:52:09 +0000

Sean Palmer shares with us the profound truth that our worth is not determined by what we do, but by who we are at the core of our being. When work becomes our idol, we fail to live into the truth that God is the only one who is relentlessly faithful to us, and is the place where our vision and meaning lies.

Bringing God To Work - Vocation and Faith

podcast — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 16:44:00 +0000

How do we show up as followers of Jesus in our places of work? Pastor Sean challenges us to consider our skills & talents as gifts to be given to the people we interact with at our places of work.

How We Work - Vocation and Faith Series

podcast — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:08:23 +0000

Pastor Chris delivers a profound message that delves deep into the essence of hard work, shedding light on its significance in our lives and emphasizing the crucial importance of not just the work itself, but also the manner in which we undertake it.

Work Imagination - Vocation and Faith

podcast — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 19:40:00 +0000

As Christians our work imagination is simple: to please God. Today Pastor Sean Palmer talks about what it means to work and how we should leverage the gifts God has given us to please Him with our work.

All Work is Sacred

podcast — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 13:17:00 +0000

Pastor Chris & Ericka Graham kick off our new series that will challenge us all to view our vocation as sacred. Whether you work in an office, are staying home raising children or are retired, the work we engage with is sacred.

Moral Injury Pt. 2 | Rita Nakashima Brock - Tell Her Story

podcast — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:22:00 +0000

What do we do when are in conflict with our moral ethics? This week Pastor Chris continues teaching on the concept of moral injury and shares Rita Nakashima's writing and teachings on this idea, including the 10 step process we go through to repair our souls.

Moral Injury | Rita Nakashima - Tell Her Story

podcast — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 21:58:00 +0000

What do we do when are in conflict with our moral ethics? Pastor Chris explores the concept of moral injury and shares Rita Nakashima's writing and teachings on this idea. He provides a few suggestions for a path forward when we are in need of soul repair.

Phoebe - Tell Her Story

podcast — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 18:57:00 +0000

Guest speaker Rochelle Palmer invites us into her story of women in leadership & the Church. Through her story, Rochelle invites us to be a hospitable, welcoming & unified Church as we serve and care for others.

Sojourner Truth - Tell Her Story

podcast — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 14:39:00 +0000

The story and faith of Sojourner Truth inspire us to live a life of justice. Pastor Chris tells the story of Sojourner's fight for justice and trust in Jesus and invites us to re-examine how we live our own lives.

Hospitality - Tell Her Story

Eric Walley — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:58:47 +0000

Hospitality can mean different things to different people. For some it is opening their home, for others it is providing meals to those in need, and still for others it could mean something completely different. This week Lisa Trevino shares stories from her own life in connection with the woman that washed the feet of Jesus with her hair and tears to talk about the ways The Bible calls us to approach hospitality as we engage others in the world around us.

The Story of Ruth & Naomi - Tell Her Story

podcast — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 16:38:00 +0000

The story of Ruth & Naomi teaches about what it means to depend on one another and offer presence to each other. Ericka Graham continues in our series titled Tell Her Story, by inviting us into the story of Ruth & Naomi.

What Makes A Good Leader? - Tell Her Story

podcast — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:50:00 +0000

Ericka Graham shares the story of Deborah and Jael and invites us to reimagine how we view leadership and authority. These powerful women in Scripture teach us a lot about collaboration, humility & strength.

Tell Her Story - Hagar

podcast — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:55:00 +0000

Pastor Chris kicks off a new series called "Tell Her Story." Over the next several weeks we will be focusing on women in the Bible and their stories of faith and leadership. Today, Pastor Chris recounts the story of Hagar, Sarah & Abraham and invites us to reimagine how we balance the humanity of these figures of our faith.

Changing with God's Wind

podcast — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 16:36:00 +0000

Guest Speaker, Carlos Rodriguez, invites us to be open to change. Through his story of ministry, Carlos invites us to be open to God's movement in our life.

Our Friends in Argentina

podcast — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 15:14:00 +0000

Our friend Marcelo Robles joins Pastor Chris in sharing a message about hope and friendship and invites us to act in supporting our friends in Argentina.

Father's Day

podcast — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 19:14:00 +0000

Happy Father's Day! This Sunday we are excited to have Ed Seay, Pastor Chris's dad, join us to share a message for fathers. He shares stories of highs and lows of fatherhood and some things he has learned along the way.

Summer Selah

podcast — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 14:26:00 +0000

Pastor Chris invites us into a rhythm of rest through the Psalms.

Magic Kingdom

podcast — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 23:51:00 +0000

Pastor Mike shares that benediction is reminder that we are a beloved people whom God gathers, that then become a chosen people whom God sends.

A Conversation With Mike Yager

Jeremy Schroeder — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 13:45:24 +0000

Welcome to The Ecclesia Podcast, a place where we share stories and conversations about what it means to live in a holistic, Christian, missional community. In this episode, Pastor Chris sits down with Pastor Mike to discuss his time at Ecclesia as he prepares to move on to a new season planting his own church in SW Houston. At Ecclesia, our mission is to be a community that seeks to follow Jesus in all areas of life, and that includes our worship. We believe that there are many ways to worship God beyond just music and Sunday gatherings. If you're interested in learning more about our church community in Houston, Texas, please visit our website at www.ecclesiahouston.org. There you can learn more about ways to connect in small groups where you can share stories and remember together. Thank you for listening to The Ecclesia Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more thought-provoking conversations about what it means to live in holistic, Christian community.

Pentecost

podcast — Sun, 28 May 2023 14:11:00 +0000

The miracle of Pentecost remind us of who we are as a church. This story invites is to imagine a new world, requires community, and celebrates differences while uniting under a shared vision and spirit.

Remembering Time

podcast — Sun, 21 May 2023 16:41:00 +0000

How do you spend your time? As we consider our relationship to time, we have to reflect on how we spend time. This week Pastor Sean guides us through a way to think about time & faith.

Remembering Recap

Jeremy Schroeder — Mon, 15 May 2023 23:22:34 +0000

In this episode, our teaching pastors Chris Seay and Sean Palmer sit down to wrap up the series we just finished about remembering. Remembering is an important part of worship. We remember when we read scripture, share stories, sing, gather, and more. And in this practice we remind each other and ourselves of the ways we have experienced God in our lives which serves as a reminder of the ways God will continue to show up as we go about our lives.

Remembering Stories

podcast — Sun, 14 May 2023 17:45:00 +0000

Guest speaker, Rochelle Palmer, shares three stories from Scripture that shaped her story as she navigates grief, joy & friendship.

Worship Through Movement

Jeremy Schroeder — Tue, 09 May 2023 13:26:18 +0000

In this episode of the podcast Wayne sits down with Eric to have a conversation around the topic of worship through the act of moving your body. They covered things such as body positivity, what it means to embrace discomfort, and Wayne also shares about his own journey with exploring his own relationship with his body over the course of his life.

Worship through Contemplative Practice

Jeremy Schroeder — Tue, 09 May 2023 13:23:26 +0000

Welcome to The Ecclesia Podcast, a space where we share stories and conversations about what it means to live in a holistic, Christian, missional community. In this episode, our guests Alexandra and Misty join us to explore the topic of contemplative spiritual practices as a form of worship.

Re-membering Purpose - Teaching & Proclamation

podcast — Sun, 07 May 2023 15:54:00 +0000

One of the reasons we listen and engage with teaching and preaching each week is to re-engage with the stories & messages of the Scriptures. Pastor Sean invites us to consider why we need this continual act of engagement with the Scriptures through teaching and preaching.

Re-membering Community

podcast — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 16:24:00 +0000

We all walk through challenges, but we are better equipped for them when facing them together with friends and family. This week Pastor Chris continues our series on remembering by talking about the value of living life in community.

Remember - Worship

podcast — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 18:33:00 +0000

We live in a world that dis-members us from who we are. Worship re-members us, so that we can re-member the world. So, when we worship, we are reminding ourselves what God has done and not only that, but what God is doing and going to do.

Stories From The Turkey Earthquakes

podcast — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:30:00 +0000

Pastor Chris and our story team visited Turkey during Holy Week where they met with our friend Diego who is there working alongside local churches doing earthquake relief. This week Pastor Chris brings us a message from Turkey about what it looks like to join together as a global church and lean in when disaster strikes. You will also hear some of Diego's story as well as some of the story of Pastor Chenc, a pastor from Istanbul who is now running a tent city in Turkey.

Easter 2023

podcast — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 20:31:00 +0000

Pastor Chris leads us in an Easter message from Turkey offering us message of hope and resurrection.

Celebrating Surrender

podcast — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 19:23:00 +0000

When we live into what is rather than what used to be, we engage in the act of surrender. This Palm Sunday, Pastor Sean Palmer shares how Jesus showed up and reminded us what it means to surrender well.

Celebrating Change

podcast — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:40:00 +0000

Change is almost always a beginning and an ending if we have the courage to see it that way. Through the story of Jesus & Lazarus, Ericka Graham guides us into a new way of thinking about change.

The Sabbath and Busy Culture

podcast — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 17:29:00 +0000

In American culture we wear busyness and productivity as a badge of honor. Laptops and cell phones mean we are connected and available 24/7. But this is not how we are designed to function; in fact, God calls us to regular rest and reflection. On this 4th Sunday of Lent, in a season focused on caring for our souls to prepare ourselves for celebration of the resurrection and the coming of Jesus, join us as Sean and Rochelle Palmer share with us about how to engage with the celebration of Sabbath, a holy day of rest.

Celebrating Abundance

podcast — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 21:18:00 +0000

We live an era of abundance and can forget how to celebrate what God has given us. Pastor Chris continues in the third week of lent by inviting us to slow down in gratitude. He reminds us that as we feast on Sundays, to do so with a posture of intention, presence and thankfulness.

Stuck Between Challenges

Eric Walley — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 18:24:00 +0000

Partnering with Iglesia Para La Frontera

podcast — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 22:15:20 +0000

Join us for an special episode of The Ecclesia Podcast as we share stories and insights from our recent trip to Colombia where we met with our friends at Iglesia Cristiana Para la Frontera. Pastor Chris and Pastor Ramon sit down with HR Director Cassie O'Haver to discuss the transformative work that God is doing on the Colombia/Venezuela border through our partnership with this incredible ministry. Over a decade ago, the people of Venezuela were thrown into chaos, and the mass migration of Venezuelans created a new set of challenges for the already struggling country. But in the midst of this chaos and devastation, God was at work, providing a glimmer of hope embodied by our friends at Iglesia Cristiana Para la Frontera. Our team shares their experiences of traveling to the border, meeting the pastors and team at Iglesia, and witnessing firsthand their tireless efforts to provide food, shelter, medical care, education, and most importantly, hope for those most vulnerable at the Colombia/Venezuela border. Through this episode, you'll hear stories of resilience, faith, and community as we explore the transformative power of community and the ways this partnership makes an impact both internationally and at our home in Houston. Join us as we step boldly into God's purpose for our lives and learn how you can get involved in supporting this incredible ministry. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and encouraged to make a difference in the world around you. If you haven't already, please watch our video from this past Sunday that highlights some of the stories we heard during our time with our friends at Iglesia para la Frontera. You can find that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOawmv6INuM

"For the Border" | Stories of Faith, Trust, and Hope from Cucuta, Colombia

podcast — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 22:33:00 +0000

Feasting & Fasting

podcast — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 19:37:00 +0000

Pastor Sean prepares us as we approach the season of Lent. Sean reminds us that this season is about more than just intentional fasting, but intentional feasting. As people of faith, we are challenged to hold both in balance and to not slide more fully into one or the other.

Sacred Frames - The Sopranos Part II

podcast — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 20:33:00 +0000

Pastor Chris continues in our series called Sacred Frames by looking again at the show The Sopranos. Pastor Chris explores the themes of belonging and community as the show highlight's Tony Sopranos loneliness. Pastor Chris invites us to engage with each other and suggests that the Church continues to hold a place of belonging for each other.

Sacred Frames - Disney Shorts

podcast — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 20:57:00 +0000

This week Ericka Graham brings us a message about grace and showing up as our authentic selves through the lens of a couple of Disney short films.

Sacred Frames - Magnolia

podcast — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 18:02:00 +0000

In this week's installment of Sacred Frames, our dear friend Greg Garrett, who is a gifted author, professor, and speaker, brings us a message about the forgiveness of God through the lens of the movie Magnolia. Garrett describes Magnolia as a beautiful, hard, and true film that in its second act leaves you feeling like you are at the bottom of the ocean and will never know light or warmth again. But then God moves, and grace flows and we see as God sees, with a sympathy for the brokenness which enters into every human life. We see God makes the showers to fall upon the just and the unjust, and we discover how God is right there with us as we try to live into the toughest parts of being human.

Sacred Frames - The Sopranos

podcast — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 17:05:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay shares about the life lessons from the TV show The Sopranos and what the themes of the show have to teach us about who we are and who God is.

Sacred Frames - Arrival

podcast — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 21:33:00 +0000

Pastor Mike continues our series Sacred Frames exploring the intersection of faith and film; the redemptive themes coursing through a diversity of cinematic stories. Pastor Mike takes us through the story of the movie Arrival. The themes of relationships and pain throughout the film give us insight on how we relate to each other in relationships. How even in pain we trust that when we walk together, united even in all of our messy difference, the Holy Spirit will show us what we’re meant to see, what we’re meant to receive, what we’re meant to give.

Sacred Frames - To Kill a Mockingbird

podcast — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 20:51:00 +0000

What do we mean when we say "Love"? Pastor Sean Palmer begins a new series called "Sacred Frames". For the next few weeks, we will look at redemptive themes in cinema. This week Pastor Sean takes a look at the story of To Kill A Mockingbird to examine what it means to love your neighbor.

Hope Shows Up

podcast — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:25:00 +0000

As we enter 2023, Pastor Mike invites us to reorder our lives in this new year. He encourages us to continue showing up; to the discomfort of a new habit, to the inconvenience of messy relationship, to the often frustrating silence of prayer, eventually we will encounter God, perhaps in ways we could never have anticipated.

Love All

Eric Walley — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris finishes the last Sunday of Advent by inviting us to examine what it means to love all people. Pastor Chris invites us to reconsider the way we view God’s love, and in turn how that affects the way we love others in our life.

Give More

podcast — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 03:09:00 +0000

This week, Pastor Chris invites us to give more in this season of Advent, giving meaningful gifts to others and to being generous with our finances as we raise money for clean water. He suggests that we offer the gift of ourselves to others as a way of inviting deeper relationships.

Spend Less

podcast — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 17:47:00 +0000

Pastor Sean continues into the second week of advent and invites us to spend less on things this season and instead spend more of ourselves for the people in our lives.

Worship Fully

podcast — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 16:21:00 +0000

In a world that primarily values commerce, the invitation to worship fully this advent season is an invitation to embrace a set of values that honor God above the market. Pastor Sean, through the book of Exodus and the story of Moses, invites us to embrace a season and life that worships God more fully.

The Body of Christ

podcast — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 15:23:00 +0000

Ericka Graham closes out our series on the Theology of the Body by discussing what it means to be the Body of Christ. Ericka explains that we all have a connective call to the body of Christ that invites us to participate as our authentic selves.

The Body

podcast — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 22:54:57 +0000

There is nothing more human than the experience of living in a body. That comes with joy, pain, trauma, and everything in between, but those experiences are what tie us together as humanity. This week we are joined by Pastor Chris and Ericka to discuss and wrap up the current sermon series about the body and take a deeper look at what it means to be human.

The Mind, The Body & Reality

podcast — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 16:19:00 +0000

Our minds shape the reality we live in. How we view, care for, and develop our mind is essential to how we view ourselves, God, and our community around us. Pastor Sean Palmer continues in our series on the Theology of the Body talking about our mind and is importance to our faith.

The Nostoi Community

podcast — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 20:25:16 +0000

This week on the podcast Mitzi Mak & Manuel Sanchez discuss our beloved Nostoi Community. Our mission with the Nostoi Community is to empower our friends who are unhoused and in housing transition through loving relationships that support transformation, provide resources, restore dignity and bring hope to their lives.

People Are Not Products

Eric Walley — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 15:22:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our series around the Theology of the Body and explores the topic of sexuality. For many of us, our experience with this topic is connected to shame. Pastor Chris aims to offer new insight and perspective for how we view our own sexuality and how we view other people.

The Campuses

podcast — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 14:43:06 +0000

This week on the podcast Josue Trevino, Wayne Brown, & Alexandra Rieke discuss Ecclesia's multi-campus approach to ministry across Houston. Much like the chairs in our downtown venue, each of our campuses downtown, at Westside in Piney Point, and near Northside in Lindale are incredibly unique and diverse. This diversity is necessary to accommodate the different cultures and demographics of each of these areas, but more importantly is a beautiful celebration of the diversity found in the Kingdom of God. We hope to come alongside the work God is already doing in these communities and across Houston as we pursue Jesus in holistic missional community.

Trauma & Our Bodies

podcast — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 14:49:00 +0000

Over the past several years, many of us have endured the trauma of the pandemic and are beginning to experience those affects in our body. Pastor Chris continues our series on the Theology of the Body by examining the ways that trauma affects our bodies and looks at how the Scriptures point us to healing.

The Rhythms of Ecclesia

podcast — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 20:21:22 +0000

This week on the podcast Alexandra Rieke & Mike Yager discuss and breakdown the Rhythms of Ecclesia. We believe God is present in ordinary days and invites us into rhythms which bring about joy and peace. Together, as we live in pursuit of Jesus, we have found these rhythms guide us on a path to experience the divine in the midst of the ordinary and live in awe and wonder.

What is a Body For?

podcast — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 16:40:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer begins our new series around "The Body" by asking the question "What is a Body for?" Pastor Sean explains that the body is the mechanism to express our soul and that we would enact in our bodies what God is doing in our souls.

The Beginnings

podcast — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 20:48:38 +0000

This week on the podcast Pastor Chris & Pastor Sean sit down to talk about the early days of Ecclesia.

Connected with God's Story

Eric Walley — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:15:00 +0000

Unity Within Diversity

podcast — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 15:11:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our conversation on the distinct nature of Ecclesia as a church community. Through the prayers of Jesus and the unique teachings of Jeremiah Burroughs, Chris suggests some of the ways we find unity and cooperation within our great diversity, that certain doctrinal differences need not divide us, and that our differences in fact enrich our family.

People of the Here and Now

podcast — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 16:12:00 +0000

What does it mean to be a local church in Houston, TX? Pastor Mike Yager poses this question to us as we can become quickly default to the comforts of homogeneity over the messiness of inhabiting and navigating that diversity, clinging instead to those that look like us, live like us, worship like us, vote like us. Pastor Mike invites us to consider how we are seeking the welfare of our neighborhood, community & city.

A Missional Church

podcast — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 18:24:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our series "Who is Ecclesia?" by inviting us to have a posture towards life that allows us to be missional. Pastor Chris suggests that a life lived missionally would radically alter the way we view and interact with the world around us.

A Historical Church

podcast — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 03:43:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer introduces us to a new series we are calling "Who is Ecclesia?" Sean invites us to consider that our church has historical roots in a larger story beyond ourselves and our local community.

Misión Integral

podcast — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 15:54:00 +0000

Pastor Chris preaches from Argentina and shares about Ruth & Rene Padilla. Rene’s work and concepts of “misión integral” are formative to the formation of Ecclesia.

The Lonely Among Us

podcast — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 17:23:00 +0000

Pastor Mitzi Mak explores the life and ministry of Mother Teresa. She reminds us that if we desire to love and serve Jesus, that he can be found in the overlooked and lonely, for they are image-bearers of God.

Vulnerability, Truth & Courage

podcast — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 17:18:00 +0000

Pastor Chris introduces us to Houstonian Brene Brown as we continue our series focusing on the voices of women. Through her teaching of vulnerability, we gain insight into the life of Jesus and the action He calls us to take. Pastor Chris encourages us to not give up when faced with pain, but to continue serving and loving others with courage.

Prayer with Honesty & Hope

podcast — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 02:37:00 +0000

How do we pray with hope and honesty? Pastor Sean Palmer introduces us to beloved author Anne Lamott and her book Help, Thanks, Wow. Anne’s words on three simple prayers guide us into simple and universal types of prayers.

A Life Full of Joy & Laughter

podcast — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 14:36:00 +0000

Pastor Chris shares the story of Rena Quint, a holocaust survivor. Her story of survival and suffering led her to a dedication to living a life of joy. Rena’s story is inspiring and challenges us to examine the ways we view our own lives.

God’s Response to Sin

podcast — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 16:29:00 +0000

Guest Teacher Rochelle Palmer introduces us to poet & lyricist Fanny Crosby. Her prolific and influential songs and lyrics continue to impact generations of Christians and remind us that God’s response to sin is not punishment – God’s response to sin is Jesus.

What is Communion?

podcast — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 21:43:17 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer takes a look at Communion. What does this tradition mean in our lives and the life of our community? Pastor Sean introduces us to a journalist named Sarah Miles, the founder and director of The Food Pantry. Her story leads us into a deeper understanding of Communion.

An Embodied Faith

podcast — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 17:58:00 +0000

This week, Ericka Graham points us to the wisdom and teachings of an ancient mystic, Hildegard of Bingen (also known as Saint Hildegard). Through Hildegard’s “visions” that require an “embodied posture” towards spirituality, Ericka uses the story of “The Good Samaritan” to remind us that we too, are called to worship our God with our entire body, and care for the entire bodies of others too—even if it means finding good in our “enemies.”

A People of Justice

podcast — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:55:16 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer shares the story of Fannie Lou Hamer and how her faith led her to fight for justice. Her story, and the words of the scripture that she held dear, remind us that we too are a people of justice, and seeking justice does have a personal cost.

Hospitality: The Antidote to Loneliness

podcast — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 17:51:00 +0000

As we continue in our series focusing on women of faith, Pastor Chris features our friend Shauna Niequist and her book “i guess I haven’t learned that yet”. Through her book, Shauna introduces us to a faith that is humble, quick to listen and invites us into hospitality.

You Might Not Notice

podcast — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 16:42:00 +0000

Author Annie Dillard asks this question in her book “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek”: Why is there beauty? Pastor Sean Palmer invites us into the writings and faith of Annie Dillard to urge us to go outside and become aware of the beauty around us. The pace of our lives often leaves us with little time to intentionally slow down and seek beauty.

The Gospel According to Mary

podcast — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 15:21:00 +0000

Guest Speaker, Ruth Turley, powerfully urges us to view the Gospel as a message not about life after death, but about both, life now and life after. Through both the lens of the Latin American theological concept of Misión Integral, and the prayers of Mary, Ruth reminds us that the good news, the work of justice, and God’s liberation apply right now.

Engaging The Story of Scripture

podcast — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 19:24:37 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our series looking at the voices of women of faith by looking to the words of Barbara Taylor Brown. Barbara’s words invite to engage with the Bible by seeing ourselves in the stories of Scripture.

Exuberance

podcast — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 17:02:00 +0000

This week Pastor Chris shares a message about the playful, joyful, and beautiful nature of God, inspired by the book Divine Enjoyment by Elaine Padilla.

The Blessing of a Limp

podcast — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 20:57:38 +0000

In a return to our new summer series, seeking wisdom from the stories and voices of women throughout the Christian tradition, Pastor Mike Yager shares insights from the life and unique calling of Joni Eareckson Tada and the story of Jacob in Genesis; in both cases, journeys transformed by the reality of disability. A perspective often neglected, stories like that of Joni and so many others challenge the ableist assumptions within our culture (the church included), and are a resounding call to the vitality of vulnerability.

How We Respond to Tragedy

podcast — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:34:22 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay preaches from Uvalde in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. As we process this horrific tragedy, and other recent events that have left us similarly shaken, Pastor Chris seeks guidance from the words of Jesus to prompt us into healthy and meaningful ways to respond as people of hope in the midst of such grief.

A Lament for Uvalde

podcast — Thu, 26 May 2022 13:42:02 +0000

Following the horrific tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, our team gathered to shape and share this time of prayer and lament. We continue to pray for the families of the victims, and a community in the midst of deep trauma and mourning, but our response as a church will not end with prayer. Join us this weekend as Pastor Chris will invite us into specific ways that we will engage as a family in the days ahead. Lord, have mercy.

The Short Life of St. Agnes

podcast — Sun, 22 May 2022 22:26:30 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our new series exploring the vital stories and voices of women throughout the Christian tradition, inviting us to consider the tragic circumstances faced by Agnes of Rome. Through her story, and the teachings of Jesus, we are reminded that earthly pursuits do not sustain us, that conviction is costly, and that we worship a God who sees and joins us in places of pain.

The Gospel According to Anna Spafford

podcast — Sun, 15 May 2022 18:40:25 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay invites us into the beginning of a new series which will unfold over the course of the summer, exploring the stories and voices of women in Scripture and throughout Christian history. This week, we consider the story of Anna Spafford and how her response might help us reflect upon our own in facing the inescapability of grief. We hope you’ll continue joining us for more of these powerful, beautiful, and crucial stories of faith.

God as Mother: The Feminine of God

podcast — Sun, 08 May 2022 19:08:52 +0000

On Mother’s Day, Pastor Mitzi Mak shared vulnerable perspective from her own story, and invited us to explore the many instances in which the Scriptures speak to the feminine character of God. Today we pause to celebrate the many diverse forms of motherhood, wonder at the unique and miraculous experience of childbirth, and worship together our God who is nurturer, comforter, and protector.

Home, Not Alone

podcast — Sun, 01 May 2022 18:41:16 +0000

Pastor Mike Yager leads us to consider Jesus’ “Great Commission” and subsequent ascension as a call into shared purpose and connection as a new kind of community. In light of the invitations shared, how might you be called to more fully participate in the life of the church in this season?

You Can't Do It Alone

podcast — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 19:03:47 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer closes the series which has guided us through the Lenten season; utilizing Mike Mantel’s Thirsting for Living Water as a resource to help us consider our stories in light of God’s greater movement of redemption for all people, places, and things. Sean enters the story of the early church in Acts to examine our call to become the kind of genuine community through which the Holy Spirit would turn the world upside down.

Easter Sunday

podcast — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 17:51:13 +0000

It was a deep joy to gather and celebrate together at White Oak Music Hall. We extend our gratitude to all who took part, especially those who joined us so generously in serving the community, and our love to the entire Ecclesia family, wherever your Resurrection celebrations may have found you. Here, you can revisit our online service, including an encouraging message from Pastor Chris Seay. Our audio podcast feed will resume on its regular schedule next Sunday. He is risen!

Ukraine and The Bread of Life

podcast — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 22:18:08 +0000

On this Palm Sunday, as we enter into Holy Week, Pastor Chris Seay teaches from Lviv, Ukraine. We have connected with local pastors, and are identifying ways we can partner with efforts to care for those fleeing violence, and those continuing to defend their homeland. As we engage with Jesus’ story, today and throughout the week, we are reminded that the Body of Christ is always called to move towards in these times of extreme trial.

Hope in Action

podcast — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 18:00:34 +0000

Ericka Graham continues our Lenten series utilizing Mike Mantel’s Thirsting for Living Water as a resource to help us consider our stories in light of God’s greater movement of redemption for all people, places, and things. Ericka invites us to look at the story of Noah’s Ark with fresh eyes; as an invitation into a hope grounded in the reality of covenant.

The Dark Night of the Soul

podcast — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 17:50:30 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our Lenten series utilizing Mike Mantel’s Thirsting for Living Water as a resource to help us consider our stories in light of God’s greater movement of redemption for all people, places, and things. Sharing insights from his journey, and the wisdom of the Apostle Paul, Sean invites us to consider that even while doubt and despair may be agonizing to experience, God is always shining through in the midst of it.

A Story to Tell & A Gift to Share

podcast — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 17:58:39 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our Lenten series utilizing Mike Mantel’s Thirsting for Living Water as a resource to help us consider our stories in light of God’s greater movement of redemption for all people, places, and things. Chris invites us to make an honest assessment, and ask if we are fully living into the gifts that God has given us to use and share in the world for his glory.

Living A Great Story

podcast — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 20:52:23 +0000

Throughout the six weeks of Lent, we are looking to Mike Mantel’s new book Thirsting For Living Water as a companion to guide our reflection. Mike serves as the CEO of Living Water International, and invites us to consider our stories in light of God’s BIG story of redemption and renewal. Continue to join us throughout this series of teaching as we seek God’s direction and the ways we are being urged into transformation during and beyond this sacred season.

Beginning Our Lenten Journey

podcast — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:20:38 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay invites us into the observance of a sacred and transformative season of Lent, and introduces the new series which will guide us through this season. Join us in the coming weeks as we seek to grow in awareness for the ways that God has been orchestrating in the midst of our stories; helping us to gain perspective for the ways we are uniquely called to participate in the larger narrative of God’s redemptive work.

Together Again

podcast — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 19:25:10 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay concludes our series in the story of Joseph, speaking from Cúcuta, Colombia. For the first time in over two years, we have had the opportunity to connect directly with missional partners abroad, and are excited to share updates about the work God has been doing in a region beset by significant economic devastation in addition to the pandemic. Chris encourages us toward renewed intentionality in generosity and community connection as we continue to live out this important dimension of our calling as a church; serving the needs of our global family.

Back, and Forth

podcast — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:55:34 +0000

Pastor Mike Yager brings us to the closing episode of Joseph’s story, which has guided us over the past several weeks. As we witness an encounter of repentance and forgiveness between brothers, God is calling us to examine the places in our own past that reveal how God has been working throughout our stories to heal, shape, and urge us forward in faithfulness.

Setting Aside The Mask

podcast — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 23:20:57 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer leads us in our continued journey through the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. Through several encounters of veiled identity, we are reminded that while masks may help us get what we think we want, healing can only begin once they are removed.

Taking The Step

podcast — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 20:16:42 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our journey through Joseph’s story in the Book of Genesis. Though we will all face disappointment, or be forced to navigate frustrating and long seasons of waiting, there are critical rhythms that help us to remain attentive and ready to respond when God’s appointed time arrives.

Stuck

podcast — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 19:30:04 +0000

Continuing our mini-series on navigating disappointments and setbacks, Pastor Sean Palmer guides us to seek insight in the unfolding story of Joseph. Wrongly imprisoned, Joseph perseveres in faith; trusting in the presence of God which sustains us in hope during endless seasons of waiting and circumstances beyond our control.

Our Unmet Expectations

podcast — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 20:05:03 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our mini-series centered around navigating setbacks and disappointment; seeking guidance from the story of Joseph. On multiple occasions, Joseph’s circumstances changed dramatically and suddenly, but he nevertheless continued to walk and trust in a path of faithfulness.

How You Show Up

podcast — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 18:01:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our series on navigating setbacks and disappointments, as we seek guidance from the life and winding tale of Joseph. The obstacles and circumstances we face are so often beyond our control, and we are not immune to the effects brought on by the destructive choices of others, but we always have our own choices to make in response. May God bless and direct you in the choices in front of you today.

Dealing With Disappointment

podcast — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 19:59:24 +0000

As we begin this new year of possibility, we find ourselves navigating yet another Covid surge; which continues to disrupt our present realities and our dreams for the season ahead. Pastor Chris enters the stories of Nicodemus and Joseph to ask us to consider how the setbacks we experience may be God urging us into a time of soul rebirth.

By Another Route

podcast — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 04:54:27 +0000

Ericka Graham teaches from the Epiphany story of the Magi; led in faithfulness to follow a mysterious course toward the infant Christ. So much of our story in recent seasons has been unlike anything we could have anticipated. We pray that Ericka’s message will be of deep encouragement as you seek to see and follow the star guiding you along unexpected paths into and throughout this new year of hope, liberation, and renewal.

Labor and Delivery

podcast — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 18:17:57 +0000

Pastor Mike Yager leads in our continued celebration of the season of Christmastide; asking us to consider what happens after the decorations are put away, and after those gathered at the manger have departed. What happens after Christmas when we feel as though little in us has changed? Mike invites us to be attentive to the new life God is growing within us as we look ahead in hope.

Advent: Week Four - At All Hours

podcast — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 19:45:45 +0000

Throughout Advent and in celebrating the Christmas season, we have sought to be a community who Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Teaching Pastor Sean Palmer leads the final week; urging us to embrace and embody Jesus’ directive regarding the demands of love. Then, Community Pastor Mike Yager offers a final invitation to participate as we look to gather our best gifts for Jesus as a family, joining in the work of bringing clean water to communities desperately in need around the world. You can make your Advent offering HERE.

Advent: Week Three - Not The Christmas You've Been Sold

podcast — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 21:22:25 +0000

Advent: Week Two - Lavish Praise

podcast — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:43:28 +0000

In this second week of the Advent season, Pastor Chris Seay invites us to consider the story of a particularly extravagant gift extended to Jesus, and our call to generosity as springs from hearts of genuine worship. Our hope is that the whole Ecclesia family would join together in offering our very best gifts to Jesus in these weeks; partnering with efforts to bring clean water to vulnerable communities around the world. Continue to take part as we seek to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Visit ecclesiahouston.org/advent to learn more, and to give toward that community offering.

Advent: Week One - What Happened to the Good News?

podcast — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 18:44:26 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer ushers us into the Advent season with a rich call to generosity and justice. Join us throughout these sacred weeks; as we look to Christmas as a time that we as a family would worship fully, spend less , give more, and love all. Visit ecclesiahouston.org/advent for ways that you can take part as we await and celebrate Jesus’ coming.

Wander: Grateful

podcast — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 20:50:20 +0000

Episode 5: Grateful
The final episode in this contemplative series; Wander is an invitation to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. We thank you for taking part, and hope you will continue using this resource (and sharing it with others!) in future seasons.

Lost Enchantment: Once It's Found

podcast — Sun, 21 Nov 2021 21:16:30 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer offers an important word as our fall Enchantment series draws to a close. Engaging once again with the story of Moses, we are reminded that enchanted encounters with God, at their essence, are invitations which point us toward sacrificial love. Our sincere hope is that this series has been impactful, challenging, and has led you into a deeper attentiveness to the presence of God all around you.

Lost Enchantment: The Spirit Within

podcast — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 01:37:55 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our Fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith; offering a vital reminder from the life and ministry of Jesus on living in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. May the truth reverberate as you receive this message, that the Spirit continues to move in the world, and in you.

Wander: Letting Go

podcast — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 23:12:07 +0000

Episode 4: Letting Go
As the fall weather comes (at last!) to greet us, we invite you to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. New episodes will be released every other week throughout our Lost Enchantment teaching series.

Written and Produced by:
Mike Yager

Narration by:
Mitzi Mak
Mike Yager

Editing and Sound Mixing by:
Wes Cortiaus

“Can’t Help Myself (Empty Hands)”
Music and lyrics: Sandra McCracken
Performed by: Matt Broaddus

“Let Go”
Music and lyrics: Frou Frou
Performed by: Paul Pelc

Additional Music:

“From Here We Move Forward” by Carolino
“Endings” by Wil Pearce
“The Context Fades” by Async Ross

Graphic Design:
Dani Hooper

Lost Enchantment: Made To Serve

podcast — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 16:07:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues our Fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith, considering the ways that the Book of James, the life of St. Patrick, and Celtic spirituality guide us into lives of service. Chris also offers an important update on our newly opened campus in Lindale Park; operating as a community center that will meet significant needs for our neighbors and leading us into beautiful new relationships as we follow Jesus together.

Lost Enchantment: The Gifts of Contemplation

podcast — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 17:54:00 +0000

Continuing our fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith, Ericka Graham taught during our online liturgy at The Worship Table, while Pastor Chris Seay led at the downtown campus. We consider the rhythms of contemplation, curiosity, and attentiveness which help us to not miss the burning bushes all around us.

Wander: Specks of Dust

Eric Walley — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:20:14 +0000

Produced by:
Mike Yager

Written and Narrated by:
Alexandra Rieke
Mike Yager

Editing and Sound Mixing by:
Wes Cortiaus

“Gravity of Love”
Music and lyrics: The Brilliance
Performed by: Paul Pelc

“Heaven Is Here”
Written and Performed by: Dani Hooper

Additional Music: “Tranquility” by Lincoln Davis
“Under The Stars” by Analog Heart
“In Time” by Steven Gutheinz

Graphic Design:
Dani Hooper

Lost Enchantment: Liturgical Life

podcast — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 18:15:42 +0000

Community Pastor Mike Yager contributes to our fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith. Mike invites us to consider the liturgical rhythms which have guided Christ followers for centuries, and how ritual and sacrament might help us to develop an embodied faith.

Lost Enchantment: Blueberries and Failed Brakes

podcast — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 19:44:42 +0000

Our dear friend Gideon Tsang returns to contribute to our fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith. Gideon invites us to contemplate our spiritual practices, and how they can help to guide us from anxiety and the internal voice of critique toward gentleness and peace.

Wander: The Sacred Ache

Eric Walley — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 20:14:11 +0000

Written and produced by: Mike Yager Readings by: Mike YagerHannah Rodriguez Editing and Sound Mixing by:Wes Cortiaus “From The Rising Of The Sun (Psalm 113)”Music and lyrics: Sandra McCrackenPerformed by: Matt Broaddus “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”Music and lyrics: U2Performed by: Paul Pelc Additional Music: “The Myth of Balance” by Kurtis Parks“Waiting” by Acreage“The Part Where Things Start To Change” by Stephen Keech Graphic Design: Dani Hooper

Lost Enchantment: Experiencing Enchantment

podcast — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues the series that is guiding us through the Fall season, as we consider what it means to recover an enchanted faith in an age of skepticism. Sean shares from the early days of Jesus’ ministry, and the little moments in our Savior is simply among the crowd. How might we be missing similar moments of that presence in our own midst?

Lost Enchantment: It's All Sacred

podcast — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:56:36 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay follows up on the beginning of the sermon series which will guide us through the fall; helping us to rediscover an enchanted faith within an increasingly disenchanted age. Chris suggests a few possible remedies to the lies that attempt to put boundaries around God’s presence — practices of imagination and meaning-making that could profoundly change the way we see the world and our place in it as followers of Jesus.

Wander: Walking With God

podcast — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:30:24 +0000

Written and produced by:
Mike Yager

Readings by:
Mike Yager
Alexandra Rieke

Edited by:
Wes Cortiaus

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”
Music and lyrics: Anthony J. Showalter and Elisha Hoffman
Arrangement, guitar, and vocals: Paul Pelc
Piano and vocals: Matt Broaddus

“Near”
Music and lyrics: Paul Pelc

Additional Music: “Aura” by Kollen
“Before Dawn” by On Earth
“Motionless” by Steven Gutheinz

Graphic Design:
Dani Hooper

Lost Enchantment: Spotting The Whale

podcast — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 19:07:42 +0000

It was a joy to welcome back Dr. Richard Beck as we begin a new series which will unfold over the coming weeks through the fall. In an age of dis-enchantment and skepticism, we invite you to join us on this journey to reawaken a sense of wonder and grow in attentiveness to the presence of God that we may often miss, even when it’s right in front of us.

The Good and Blessed Here

podcast — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer looks to Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount; calling us to reorient our vision for “the good life” and grow in awareness of the good life that already is because of God’s presence with us in every moment.

Childlike

podcast — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 17:00:00 +0000

During these times of such distress, Pastor Chris Seay urges us to hear anew, and truly heed Jesus’ words that we come to him with the faith of children. Rather than dogma, curiosity. Rather than skepticism, trust. Rather than despair, hope. What invitation will you take with you today?

Depth in Practice

podcast — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Mike Yager invites us into the curious story of Moses, Eldad, and Medad in Numbers 11. The flourishing of a community means that everyone is taking part. Today, we ask if we are engaged in the kind of spiritual disciplines that help us to go deeper in our own relationship with God so that we would grow in our capacity to contribute toward the flourishing of others.

Made to Flourish

podcast — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 20:10:47 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay guides us in revisiting the formation of the church in Acts 2. In a time of continued challenge and disruption, often gathering in new ways, it is all the more important that we are faithful in listening for ways to care for one another and to root ourselves in a environment where we can flourish. Church is not a place we go, but a people we are.

Reimagining Justice

podcast — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 21:55:25 +0000

Concluding our summer sermon series in collaboration with our friends at Good Shepherd NYC, Pastor Drew Jackson offers a powerful word from the Prophet Joel on the vitality of repentance — a changing of our minds — to imagine a world beyond injustice, and how we might “wake up” to our part in God’s movement of restoration for all people. Drew serves as Lead Pastor of Hope East Village in New York City.

Reimagining Power

podcast — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 19:55:07 +0000

Ericka Graham continues our summer sermon series with friends at Good Shepherd New York, in which we have been reimagining various dimensions of faith and community in light of the lessons learned from Covid and the opportunities and challenges of returning back to rhythms of physical gathering. We pray that these weeks have been a formative blessing. Ericka invites us to shift our assumptions of power over the other to the kind of power modeled by Jesus: a power that is with and for others, lain down in humble love, that others may be lifted up.

Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines

podcast — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 16:29:02 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our summer teaching series in collaboration with friends at Good Shepherd New York. Sean teaches from the “Christ Hymn” in Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi; inviting us to consider sung worship as just one example of the spiritual practices which are amplified as we participate in them communally. Following a year of such isolation, how will we recommit to the richness of the kinds of practices that are best engaged together?

Reimagining Togetherness

podcast — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 20:21:31 +0000

Continuing a summer series in collaboration with our friends at Good Shepherd New York, dear brother and guest preacher Pastor Michael Rudzena invites us to consider how the challenges of the past year have altered our relationship to togetherness and isolation. Jesus is forever our model for a rhythm of life shaped by solitude and prayer, genuine community, and love taking action. Join us as the series concludes over the next few weeks.

Reimagining Time

podcast — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 18:42:22 +0000

Our series in collaboration with Good Shepherd New York continues to explore important dimensions of our lives and communities as followers of Jesus in this season of re-establishing rhythms. Our dear brother Gideon Tsang invites us to consider how our experience of time has been changed by the pandemic, and how Jesus calls us to the kind of mindfulness which will help us be more fully alive in the passing moments.

Reimagining Reconciliation

podcast — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 22:46:42 +0000

Pastor Chris continues the sermon series that began last week with our friends at Good Shepherd NY. We are joining together to reimagine critical elements of the Christian life as we navigate the losses and the possibilities brought on by the disruption of the pandemic. Chris guides us to consider the places we need reconciliation; within our own hearts, with God, and with the world.

Reimagining Hospitality

podcast — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 17:28:23 +0000

Beginning a summer teaching series in collaboration with our friends at Good Shepherd in New York, our dear sister Shauna Niequist offers a beautiful vision of hospitality as soul nourishing; drawing from scripture and the important lessons we have learned over the trials of the past year. Continue to join us as the Reimagining series continues over the coming weeks.

Good and Faithful

podcast — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer examines the faith of Abraham as a model for our lives of faith. Different than belief or knowledge, faith is the kind of trust that helps us focus on God through all circumstance, trial, and suffering.

The Life You're Made For

podcast — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 20:44:54 +0000

Drawing from the Book of Hebrews, Pastor Chris asks us each to seriously and faithfully consider how God is calling us to live into the fullness of who God has made us to be. No one has your unique combination of story and circumstance, talents, passions, and resources. How is God urging you to trust him in the next step; inviting you to move from belief to action?

Rest is a Gift

podcast — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 18:08:58 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer offers an important reminder as we enter into this Summer season; that rest is not a luxury, but a vital rhythm that grows our awareness for how much God cares for us. Whatever the coming weeks may hold for you, how will you commit to receiving this gift which is woven into the very fabric of creation?

The Practice of Patience

podcast — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 17:15:08 +0000

Pastor Chris reflects on the challenging practice of patience and invites us into practical steps of practicing patience in our relationship with God and others.

You Have To Give It Away

podcast — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 22:01:39 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer offered an important word on the key difference between greater and lesser goods. The “lesser” good of material blessings is fleeting; but the “greater” goods of virtue and selflessness actually increase as they are given away. May Sean’s teaching lead you into meaningful contemplation in the days ahead.

The Voice of Justice

podcast — Sun, 30 May 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues a series of teachings around crucial dimensions of faith and our call as followers of Jesus as we have returned to regular rhythms of gathering in person. Today, we look to the teaching of the Prophet Micah to help us reconnect with God’s call that we a people with hearts inclined toward justice; which begins with humbly opening our ears to hear the cries of the oppressed.

Twenty Seconds

podcast — Sun, 23 May 2021 18:47:51 +0000

On this Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Sean continued our conversation about the dynamics of re-connection during a season in which we have returned to regularly gathering in-person. The gift of the Holy Spirit confirms our adoption into the embrace of one covenant family; an echo of God’s declaration in Genesis that we are not made to be alone.

A Time To Reconnect

podcast — Sun, 16 May 2021 18:59:10 +0000

It was a great joy to officially gather back indoors for worship at both campuses this weekend, and we continue to be thankful for each small milestone on the path of renewal. Pastor Chris urges us to consider how the lessons of these difficult many months might lead us into deeper connection with God, and perhaps reestablishing connection with the kind of community in which we are seen, known, and valued.

Recovering Gentleness

podcast — Mon, 10 May 2021 04:57:02 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer extends loving rebuke toward our culture of such anger and obsession with power. Unraveling gentleness from assumptions of weakness, he calls upon the church to reclaim and choose gentleness in order to truly live into our witness of the good news.

Incomparable

podcast — Sun, 02 May 2021 18:34:14 +0000

As the Easter season unfolds, Pastor Chris continues an ongoing conversation about the things in our lives which we long to see transformed in the Resurrection life. He urges us to confront and examine the cancer of comparison as it manifests within us, and how Jesus guides our hearts from envy into contentment.

Get The Engine Running

podcast — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 21:08:09 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay guides us in hope as we continue observing the season of Eastertide; inviting us to reflect upon the practical ways that repentance and confession lead us toward a new way of thinking and being in the light of the Resurrection. Drawing from God’s revelations to the Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Chris asks us to look to our own valleys, where “dry bones” await the breath of new life.

The Question

podcast — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer teaches as we continue in this season of Eastertide. Astonished as Jesus calms a stormy sea, the disciples ask the vital question which continues to mystify us: “who is this?” If we profess that the risen Christ is the true and living God, how will that meaningfully change our minds and our lives, that this would indeed be a season of resurrection?

Revelation in Crisis

podcast — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Ericka Graham preaches on this Second Sunday of Easter, inviting us into the familiar story of “doubting” Thomas. She calls us to imagine how the hope of resurrection might continue to reshape the heartache and grief we have experienced over the past year, and how we can trust God with the sifting of our lives, that the risen Christ would lead us into renewed purpose and passion.

Easter Sunday: The Resurrected Life

podcast — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 00:27:31 +0000

Ecclesia, he is risen! As we we celebrate the Resurrection, Pastor Chris Seay invites us into the Easter story once again. We reflect upon the immense grief our world has experienced over the past year; looking forward as hope seems to be breaking over the horizon. How will the risen Christ guide us as faithful servants toward cultivating meaningful connection and community in this new world?

The Night Before: The Lamb

podcast — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 23:30:32 +0000

On Palm Sunday, Pastor Chris Seay concluded the brief series which has led us toward Easter; considering the practices observed by Jesus on the night he was betrayed. We are reminded once again, through the inauguration of a new kind of Passover feast, the importance of table fellowship as we live out faithfulness in community.

Hold Fast: Eye of the Storm

podcast — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 18:06:03 +0000

Join us for week three of “Hold Fast,” our Lenten podcast. In this episode, we revisit a story of peril faced by the Apostle Paul, and the trust in God’s promise which allowed him to persevere through great trial.

The Night Before: Parting Words

podcast — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues our brief series directing us into the practices engaged by Jesus on the evening he was betrayed. Knowing that he was about to depart, Jesus prays a prayer calling those remaining in world to be formed into a people of presence, unity, and sacrificial love; the people the church is meant to be.

Hold Fast: Growing Faith

podcast — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:01:11 +0000

Join us for week two of “Hold Fast,” our Lenten podcast. In this episode, Julie Ramos reminds us to keep our eyes on God at all times, especially through hardship, as He prunes our faith and gives us hope. He is always with us.

The Night Before: Divine Melody

podcast — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 19:15:10 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay continues a brief series guiding us toward Resurrection Sunday; exploring the things that Jesus did during the night he was betrayed. A curious detail tells us that Jesus sang a hymn with the disciples before departing to the Garden. Chris invites us to consider the ways that music connects us with God, with memory and story, our own bodies, each other, and with hope.

Hold Fast: Steadfast Love

podcast — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 20:40:36 +0000

Welcome to the first installment of “Hold Fast,” our Lenten podcast. In this segment, Pastor Sean reminds us of the deep, unending love of God as we look back on the difficulties of the past year. We invite you into a season of hope as we look forward with expectation to what God has in store for us in this season.

The Night Before: Dirty Work

podcast — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer begins a new series that will guide us toward Resurrection Sunday as the journey of Lent continues. Engaging with the practices undertaken by Jesus during the night he was betrayed, Sean leads us to consider first the vitality of serving others; following in the example of our Savior.

Ecclesiastes: While We're Young

podcast — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay concludes our series in Ecclesiastes, as Solomon honestly reflects upon his failures and calls us to learn from the wisdom of his experience. When we commit to being real with God, with ourselves, and with others, we help to cultivate space for others to do the same, and to create communities of truth and trust.

Ecclesiastes: 32 Degrees

podcast — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:28:51 +0000

In the wake of the widespread impact felt by Winter Storm Uri, Pastor Sean Palmer continues our time together in the wisdom and mystery of the Book of Ecclesiastes with a timely reminder that none of us are immune to disaster and suffering. We are called to be a people with instinctual empathy and solidarity in these inevitable times of trial, while also living fully and joyfully in these fleeting days under the sun.

Ecclesiastes: On Balance

podcast — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris continues our time engaging with the wisdom found in the Book of Ecclesiastes. As we look ahead to the season of Lent, traditionally a time of abstaining, you might be keenly aware of the things which have already been given up over the course of a challenging year. Chris urges us to shift our perspective about this invitation into fasting, and enter into these “solemn” weeks with surprising joy and gratitude.

Ecclesiastes: If One Falls

podcast — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris continues to walk us through key lessons from the Book of Ecclesiastes. As many of us seek to establish and practice new rhythms, the wisdom of Solomon reminds us that satisfaction will not be found in what we can accumulate or achieve, but primarily in the relationships that we have the opportunity to nurture.

Ecclesiastes: Vapor

podcast — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 21:23:06 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer continues the conversation we began last week; engaging with the book of Ecclesiastes and what it reveals about our search for meaning and purpose in life. Will we cling to the things we know will fade, or turn our attention and energy toward the things that will outlive these days under the sun?

Starting Over

podcast — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 19:00:00 +0000

As we continue seeking God’s direction to meet both the possibilities and the challenges of this new year, Pastor Chris invites us to examine our own patterns which are so often repeated and leave us feeling stuck. Learning from the past, and committing anew to discipline in the present, we pray for Jesus to show us the way as we step with trust into the days and months ahead.

The Choice of Connection

podcast — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 03:18:52 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay urges us to consider how the radical transformation of the Apostle Paul speaks to our role as followers of Christ in a time of division. Opposing hate is only the beginning. The more challenging work to which we are called amid the turmoil is choosing connection across places of disagreement and difference.

Your Authentic Self

podcast — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:39:00 +0000

Through the story of Jacob, guest speaker Ericka Graham guides us to understanding that acknowledgement of our true selves is the pathway to true belonging.

The Thing That Has To Change Is You

podcast — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 19:13:19 +0000

Pastor Sean brings us into the new year reminding us that without our willingness to change, 2021 won’t bring the changes we desire. Through the teachings of Jesus in the gospels, Sean shows us how a sober view of reality, being intentional, and choosing wisdom set us up to be people able to be changed.

Begin Again, Again

podcast — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 17:48:28 +0000

As we continue celebrating the joy of Christmastide, Pastor Mike Yager offers a message of hope as we look ahead to the new year. The Incarnation once again reminds us that God keeps his promises, and offers the invitation to trust anew today; releasing the weight that hinders us from living fully in the moment to which we have been called, and committing to do so in community.

Advent Week Four: Good News For Everyone

podcast — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 02:46:06 +0000

As we look ahead to our Christmas celebration, Pastor Chris Seay reflects upon the incredible transformations that have taken place in communities near and far due to your faithfulness and generosity. As we seek again to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all, we anticipate the ways that God will continue to change us, and the whole world, through our participation in this sacred season. To find out more, and to take part as we gather our best gifts to Jesus as a family to provide clean water around the world, click here.

A Thrill of Hope: Awesome

podcast — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 20:11:01 +0000

“Til he appeared, and the soul felt its worth…” When we think about the incarnation, are we struck by the same sense of awe that meets us in the presence of natural grandeur? God’s loving act of drawing near to us is as intimate as it is cosmic.

Advent Week Three: The Gift That Changed Everything

podcast — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay invites us to consider once again the tenets which guide us into living a different kind of Christmas. As we seek to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all, we anticipate the ways that God will continue to change us, and the whole world, through this sacred season. Join us in this ongoing Advent Conspiracy. To find out more, and to take part as we gather our best gifts to Jesus as a family to provide clean water around the world, click here.

A Thrill of Hope: Flesh and Bone

podcast — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 18:57:26 +0000

You've heard it so many times you've probably forgotten, but Jesus arrives in the strangest package, flesh and bone, skin and blood. But what on earth does that mean? Why does it matter that Jesus is human? And don't we need God to be more than that?

Advent Week Two: The Baby and The Dragon

podcast — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer invites us to remember what the apocalyptic vision of Revelation tells us about the world into which Jesus is born. When we neglect to see Christmas as the hopeful scene of a cosmic battle, it becomes easy to instead focus upon the sanitized and distorted version offered by a culture of accumulation and consumption.

A Thrill of Hope: A Weary Mom Rejoices

podcast — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 19:33:45 +0000

Welcome back to “A Thrill of Hope,” a podcast and simultaneously an invitation — an invitation to slow down, remembering all that is true of Christ: who He was and is, His coming, His kingdom, and His love. In this second installment, Julie Ramos confronts the sense of weariness she and many others have felt this year, as she reminds us of the promises of God fulfilled in Jesus’ coming and in our daily lives. She invites us to move, and to recognize the movement of God in our midst that restores our hope and leads us to rejoice.

Advent Week One: The Common Cup

podcast — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 23:06:17 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay invites us into the season of Advent, in which we remember and await Jesus’ coming. As part of a global family of faith, we believe that we are called especially in this season to share joyfully from our abundance, and we will continue doing so as a church family this year by partnering with efforts to bring clean water to places in desperate need. Chris enters the scriptures to remind us that generosity springs from a grateful heart, and suggests practices to grow us in gratitude.

A Thrill of Hope: Advent Disrupted

podcast — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 21:45:34 +0000

Welcome to “A Thrill of Hope,” a podcast and simultaneously an invitation — an invitation to slow down, remembering all that is true of Christ: who He was and is, His coming, His kingdom, and His love. In this inaugural installment, Pastor Sean highlights our seemingly innate desire for tradition, especially during this time of year. He asks what we are to do when our situation mandates that those traditions change or even cease. But is Advent the tradition, or is it possibly meant to be a disruption to the mundane?

You Say You Want A Revolution?

podcast — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 18:30:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer teaches from Matthew 16; inviting us to consider the ways that the religious and cultural expectations of the anticipated Messiah in Jesus’ day mirror our own gravitation to the conqueror rather than the suffering servant. The path Jesus has given us is not one of power and coercion, but instead the faithful obedience to take up our cross and follow him.

Undistracted Time

podcast — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:00:03 +0000

Ericka Graham invites us to look again to the story of Moses and the burning bush, offering the important reminder that practices which grow our mindfulness and attention are only a first step. It is when looking up in wonder and awe becomes a habitual discipline that we might hear God’s voice calling to us more clearly.

Kingdom Citizens

podcast — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay reminds us, navigating a climate of such division, that our true citizenship is not a question of nation or party-platform, but the belonging in which we all share as members of God’s kingdom. Teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Chris invites us to recenter our hearts and lives as we seek to walk the narrow path of Jesus’ expansive love.

Today

podcast — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer guides us to consider the difference between hope and optimism. God offers us an assured hope which dispels worry about tomorrow, and instead empowers us to live today as though heaven has already come. What are you waiting for?

Relationship, Not Rules

podcast — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 17:24:44 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay, with a special appearance from our brother Marcelo Robles, reminds us that the heart of Christianity is not a checklist of regulations, but an invitation into relationship with God. He urges us to consider how we might renew a sense of friendship with our creator, through intentional time, nurture, and care.

Stay Woke

podcast — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 21:04:42 +0000

Pastor Sean Palmer invites us into three parables that Jesus chooses to tell together, and the common theme that binds them; the mistakes made when we forget to live and prioritize our lives in a way that remembers that the Master is coming back! Meeting others with kindness and attentiveness, and seeking always to use our gifts to bless and serve, we live expectant that we will encounter the Divine.

Not Alone

podcast — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Pastor Chris Seay shares some of the lessons he has learned from the life and teaching of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who spoke pointedly to the Church in a time of great crisis. We ask God to guide us as we seek a balance between growth through solitude and the vital gift of community, as we learn to love one another well in all our imperfections, and as we abide in hope to be a faithful church in this ever-changing world.