ECC Stamford Messages

Jesus tells another brilliant, profound parable, which teaches us about God's justice and his grace

Jesus initiates a new conversation with his disciples after the rich young ruler left. He explains how, someone leaving their idols and choosing him and being savedisimpossible with man. But it is possible with God. Then he explains the benefits we have in his kingdomnow and forever.

A man who is seeking comes to Jesus asking to "have eternal life." Jesus responds in a way that teaches us not only about evangelism, but about what it means to genuinely follow him

After discussing marriage and divorce, the disciples ask if it's better not to marry, to which Jesus uses to talk about the unique blessing of singleness. Then, he receives little children, showing us his care and to illustrate childlike faith

Jesus continues to teach us God's design for us with gender, marriage, and sexuality. But he specifically for us this morning addresses the issue of divorce

Jesus heals people of their bodily brokenness, making what was broken beautiful and right again. Then, he teaches us about God's creation, gender, marriage, and sexuality.

Jesus heals people of their bodily brokenness, making what was broken beautiful and right again. Then, he teaches us about God's creation, gender, marriage, and sexuality.

Jesus continues to talk to us about radical, genuine, beautiful forgiveness. But he does so in a way we may not expect, by telling this pretty serious parable warning about being "unforgiving servants." In it we see the gospel, plus our only fitting response to the gospel in always forgiving others.

Guest preacher from the congregation: Mitch Pipes

After Jesus's teaching on "church discipline," and then before his Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus has this little dialogue with Peter, which is both fascinating and helpful to us as we consider the radical forgiveness Jesus calls us his people to.

We pick up where we left off in Matthew, and Jesusin the context of teaching us to be like children, and how God cares for his childrenhe addresses what happens when children in God's family sin against one another. How should that be handled? We dive into the famous "church discipline" passage, which really could be deemed addressing the issue of church family love, when sin is present. (Due to technical difficulties, the first handful of minutes of the message were cut off)

We look at how Lukewho carefully investigated and recorded what happened with Jesus for usat how he ends his gospel book, telling us what Jesus decided to do (and teach us) in that short time he was here on earth after his resurrection

We look at the resurrection account in Mark, specifically focusing in on why the women left the tomb with "trembling," "astonishment," and "fear"and see what it all means for us

We identify ourselves with the hundreds of Romans solders who mocked, spit on, and abused Jesus. We're them. But also, Jesus's grace and love and hope extends to sinners like them, and like us

We look at the famous Zechariah 9about "the King coming," "humble on a donkey"in it's entire original context, all to appreciate Jesus and Palm Sunday even more

Jesus's disciples ask about "greatness," and Jesus's redefines "greatness" for them and for usespecially in light of the coming kingdom of heaven.

We look at one of the least known miracles of Jesus, where he has much to teach us about himself, taxes and government, and his sovereign provision

After the Transfiguration, Jesus comes to the bottom of the mountain and faithlessness in his disciples has been on display. He uses the situation to not only lovingly heal, but teach us about faith

We continue where we left off in Matthew, right after the transfiguration, seeing what topic comes up and what Jesus decides to tell us about himself. We particularly get a glimpse into why we can know with more certain that everything about Jesus and his gospel is true.

After some weeks away, we continue going verse by verse in Matthew. We look in depth at the "transfiguration," the one time Jesus decided to revealto unveilwho he is and always will be and why it matters for us

After looking last time at Jesus's Great Commission, and how he specifically told us to "make disciples of all the ethne," we see that confirmed and elaborated on by Paul in Romans 15. We learn a lot about God's mission, and what our missional focus should be in reaching the peoples of the world who have never heard the gospel of Christ

We look at Jesus's Great Commission, seeing how it may be misunderstood, or overlooked, sometimes by us. And seeing the why, how, and what of missions itself from Jesus's commission

We spend a week reminding ourselves about who we are individually, and who we are as a local church together.

We remind ourselves of the gospel and then look at Ezekiel and James to be stirred on to not just hear, but do God's word

We get really practical together concerning prayer. First, we see from God's word 3 reasons whywe pray. Second, we talk about one big answer to how. Third, we conclude with a bunch of practical answers to whatwe can talk to God about. All following Jesus in Luke 10 and 11

We get really practical together concerning prayer. First, we see from God's word 3 reasons whywe pray. Second, we talk about one big answer to how. Third, we conclude with a bunch of practical answers to whatwe can talk to God about. All following Jesus in Luke 10 and 11

We kick off the year with a message on the importance of reading God's word. To do so, we're encouraged from Hebrews 1 that Jesus truly talks to us as we read his word. Plus, we're challenged from Hebrews 2 about our need to "pay attention" to what we've heard lest we drift from our Savior.

After spending a while during Christmas talking about Christman first coming, we dive into the very end of the Bible, in Revelation 22, to talk about his second coming

After spending a while during Christmas talking about Christman first coming, we dive into the very end of the Bible, in Revelation 22, to talk about his second coming

We look at why God came for us on Christmas. Meaning, what he intended to accomplish for us and our whole world

We look at why God came for us on Christmas. Meaning, what he intended to accomplish for us and our whole world

We go back to an Old Testament prophet to see God hint at his coming, seeing what he promised and why he came for us

We go back to an Old Testament prophet to see God hint at his coming, seeing what he promised and why he came for us

We conclude Matthew 16 with Jesus's call for us to deny ourselves in many ways, bearing our crosses. But also, he tells us we positively get to follow him and find that true life we're all searching for, and our very soils, in him

Jesus talks about his death, confusing his disciples' expectations. Peter decides to rebuke Jesus. Jesus responds. We see how it all applies to us Technical difficulties: We apologize there's no video of today's message, plus the audio cuts out in the middle. Thanks for understanding!

We finally conclude our third week in this climatic paragraphy by seeing Jesus give a promise and a responsibility to his church

We dive deep into how and why Jesus says, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." We dive into the questions, debates, and how it all applies to us

We dive deep into how and why Jesus says, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." We dive into the questions, debates, and how it all applies to us

We reach a climax thus far in Matthew as Peter confesses who Jesus is, and Jesus responds to him. We talk about how Peter's confession of faith relates to our faith in Jesus

Jesus once again encounters opposition, but this time uniquely from "the" single group of "Pharisees and Sadducees"two groups who often were opposed to one another, but this time come aligned against Jesus. Jesus answers their asking for a sign. Then Jesus tells his disciplesand usto beware of their "teaching."

Jesus heals many with disorders, pointing to what he'll do for this whole universe in the future. Then he repeats a miracle by feeding thousands. Both miracles show us pictures of our trust and our hope in him.

Jesus heals many with disorders, pointing to what he'll do for this whole universe in the future. Then he repeats a miracle by feeding thousands. Both miracles show us pictures of our trust and our hope in him.

Jesus goes north to talk to a Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon. In what he says, we encounter some of the more difficult words he ever spoke, but we also see his intentionality and grace.

Jesus clarifies to the people that true defilement isn't about man-made rules. Nor is "ceremonial cleanness" based on rules from the Old Testament anymore. Rather, true defilement comes from the heart.

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and scribes for adding their own ideas and traditions and ways of doing things, and thus voiding God's word. We're lovingly and firmly warned about us ever doing the same.

We look at another of Jesus's famous miracles, in his walking on water and then enabling Peter to do so. Then we finish chapter 14

We dig deep into Jeus's miraculous of the 5,000, seeing what it reveals to us about Jesus and his gospel

We dig deep into Jeus's miraculous of the 5,000, seeing what it reveals to us about Jesus and his gospel

We see two men who were rejecting for the cause of the kingdom in both Jesus and John the Baptist. But more particularly for us, we apply their stories by seeing how and why they were rejected, and considering how and why others, and we, could potentially ever reject God's kingdom and Jesus ourselves.

Jesus concludes his long set of parables with his disciples, teaching the Parable of the Net, and then giving one final teaching that shows us what we're to do now that we understand his parables

We listen to two very short, complementary parables, which both shed a lot of light on what entering into Jesus's kingdom by faith looks like in the hearts of all his people.