Edgewater Christian Fellowship

When we gather together, we do so to honor God, to seek His kingdom first, and to trust that He is present with us—Emmanuel, God with us. Life is full of unexpected events, and how we respond to them reveals the true state of our hearts. Easy days rarely show our character; it's the curveballs, the tragedies, and the moments of loss that expose what's really inside us. Whether it's a personal crisis, a national tragedy, or simply the daily grind, these moments test us and shape us for eternity. Reflecting on the story of David in 1 Samuel 30, we see a powerful example of how to respond when everything falls apart. David and his men returned to find their city burned and their families taken. The initial responses were deeply human: some wept until they had no strength left, others looked for someone to blame. These are natural reactions, but they don't bring healing or restoration. Pain is unavoidable, but misery is optional; it's all about how we steward our pain. David, however, chose a different path. Instead of looking inward in despair or outward in blame, he looked upward—he strengthened himself in the Lord. This was a hinge moment in his life, a turning point that prepared him to become king. He prayed, sought godly counsel, praised God, remembered God's past faithfulness, and sometimes simply waited in trust. These practices are not just ancient history; they are the blueprint for how we can respond to our own trials. We are called to cast our cares on Jesus, to surround ourselves with people who point us back to Him, to praise even when it's hard, to remember God's faithfulness, and to wait on Him when we have no words left. Communion reminds us that evil does not win—what looked like the darkest day in history became Good Friday because God turned evil to good. We live in hope, knowing that one day all evil will be destroyed and we will dwell with God forever. Until then, we don't waste our days in fear or bitterness, but we find our strength, rest, and victory in Jesus.

This morning, we explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of the “fear of the Lord.” While Scripture repeatedly tells us not to fear in the sense of dread or terror, it also calls us to a different kind of fear—a deep reverence and awe for God's majesty, power, and holiness. This isn't a fear that drives us away, but one that draws us near, bowing in humility before the One who holds oceans in His hand, spans the universe, and breathes out stars. At the same time, this God is the approachable Jesus, our comforter and friend, who walked among us and gave Himself for us. Holding both truths together—God's infinite greatness and His intimate nearness—transforms how we live. Understanding the fear of the Lord changes everything. It leads to radical obedience, as seen in Noah's willingness to build the ark without all the details, simply trusting the One who asked. It frees us from the need to control outcomes, reminding us that our job is obedience and God's job is results. This reverence also helps us accept correction, knowing that when God calls us to change, it's the voice of the all-knowing Creator, not just human opinion. It strengthens our faith in God's promises, because the One making those promises is the same One who created the stars and numbers the hairs on our heads. And it deepens our value for prayer, because we're not just speaking into the air—we're talking to the all-powerful, all-loving God who delights to hear and answer.

Suffering is a reality for every believer, and it's one of the most difficult things to reconcile with the goodness and love of our Heavenly Father. Yet, throughout Scripture and in our own lives, we see that God does not spare even His most faithful servants from pain. The story of Paul's conversion is a powerful reminder that suffering is not a sign of God's absence or lack of love, but rather, it is often a necessary part of our spiritual journey. Jesus Himself promised that in this world we would have tribulation, and the cross stands as the ultimate proof of God's love for us—not our circumstances. When we face suffering, it's not because God is indifferent or cruel. The cross of Christ demonstrates that He entered into our pain, suffered alongside us, and gave His very best for our sake. If we ever doubt His love, we need only look to Calvary. The paradox is that God allows suffering because we need it. It is the bedrock of our spiritual life, the means by which we are strengthened, grown, redirected, and given the opportunity to glorify God. Suffering exposes our weakness and brings us to our knees, where we discover that true strength comes from Christ alone. Like Paul, we learn that God's grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in our weakness. Spiritual growth rarely happens in comfort; it is forged in the fires of adversity. Through suffering, we learn to access the spiritual provisions God has given us—peace, endurance, character, and hope. Sometimes, suffering is God's way of waking us up, redirecting our lives, and shaking us out of spiritual complacency. He disciplines those He loves, not to harm us, but to move us toward His best for us. Looking back, we often see how God used painful seasons to bring about blessings we could never have imagined. Perhaps the greatest privilege suffering affords is the opportunity to glorify God. It is easy to praise Him in times of abundance, but it is in the valley, when we stand in His strength and declare His goodness, that He is most glorified. Our response to suffering becomes a testimony to the world and a source of encouragement to others. United in our suffering and in the grace of Christ, we remember that He is with us, and through Him, we can endure and bring glory to His name.

Today's sermon introduced a new series on marriage, using Ephesians 5:22-32 as the foundational text. Drawing from personal experience and the metaphors of Song of Solomon, I compared marriage to a garden—something beautiful, fruitful, and refreshing, but only if it is diligently tended. The heart of the message focused on the biblical command for husbands to love their wives with “agape” love, a love that is unchanging, selfless, and not based on reciprocation. I challenged the common idea that love is simply a choice, arguing instead that true agape love is impossible to muster on our own strength; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not a product of human willpower. The only way to cultivate this kind of love in marriage is to be filled with the Spirit, allowing God to produce His love in and through us. The sermon closed with a call to prayer and reflection, inviting both married and unmarried listeners to seek Christ and pray for the Spirit's work in their relationships.

In this sermon, we explored what it means to walk wisely as followers of Jesus, drawing from Ephesians 5:15-21. Using the analogy of dietary supplements, I pointed out that while physical supplements may help our bodies, the essential “supplement” for our souls is the Holy Spirit. We discussed how the “evil days” described by Paul are not just about the world's problems, but about how life can rob us of expectancy, hope, and purpose—leaving us sleepwalking through our days. The solution is to redeem our time, be filled with the Spirit, and let that filling overflow into praise, thankfulness, and submission to one another. True wisdom is found not in busyness or self-focus, but in living awake to God's presence, empowered by the Spirit, and oriented toward others.

The sermon explores how to find internal stability and peace in the midst of life's turbulence, using the Apostle Paul as an example. Despite facing immense hardship, Paul writes to the Philippians about a peace that “surpasses all understanding.” The message centers on three practices Paul outlines in Philippians 4:1-7: rejoicing in the Lord, letting your reasonableness be known, and bringing everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving. Each practice is unpacked, showing how they anchor us in our identity as chosen and loved by God, keep our perspective rooted in our eternal inheritance, and invite us to trust God with even our deepest anxieties. The sermon challenges us to bring the reality of the cross into every situation, trusting that God can work good even from our worst days, and to live as a community marked by this peace.

Today's sermon explored Paul's call in Ephesians 5:8-14 to “walk as children of light.” Using vivid comparisons between darkness and light, the message unpacked what it means to move from a life defined by fear, selfishness, and chaos to one marked by purpose, fruitfulness, and the radiance of Christ. The sermon challenged the idea that Christians are merely passive reflectors of Christ's light, instead affirming that, in Christ, we become light ourselves. It also addressed the tension between striving to please God and the mystery of His will, encouraging a life of intentional, Spirit-empowered action rather than paralyzing over-analysis. Finally, the sermon called for an “awake” life—one that expects God's abundance daily and is alert to opportunities for good works, both big and small.

In this sermon on Ephesians 5:1-7, we explored what it means to "walk in love" as followers of Jesus. The passage calls us to imitate God, not just in public or on Sundays, but in the everyday realities of marriage, parenting, and work—where our true character is revealed. We discussed how being a child of God means having His DNA, and that our lives should reflect Christ's love in both our actions and our words. The sermon challenged cultural ideas about love and sexuality, emphasizing that true love is selfless, disciplined, and rooted in God's design. We also examined the dangers of sexual immorality and careless speech, and the consequences these have on our lives and our inheritance in God's kingdom. Ultimately, we were reminded that God's wrath is not the opposite of His love, but rather His passionate response to anything that harms what He loves. Our call is to walk in love, following the example of Christ who gave Himself up for us.

In this sermon on Ephesians 4:25-32, we explored what it means to live out the radical transformation that comes from following Jesus. Using the metaphor of changing our wardrobe, we considered how putting off the "old self" and putting on the "new self" is not just about stopping bad behaviors, but about becoming something new—people who reflect the character of God. Paul's instructions are practical: don't lie, don't steal, don't gossip, don't let anger fester. But the heart of the message is that the gospel is not about mere behavior modification; it's about a deep, inner change that leads us to truthfulness, generosity, grace-filled speech, and forgiveness. We also looked at the danger of unresolved anger and how it can open the door to spiritual harm, and we ended with an invitation to seek freedom and healing in community.

In this sermon, we explored Paul's use of exaggerated contrast in Ephesians 4:17-24 to highlight the difference between the old life without Christ and the new life in Him. Using vivid examples from both Scripture and everyday life, we saw how futile thinking, darkened understanding, and a hardened heart lead to spiritual emptiness and disconnection from God. The sermon emphasized that the world's attempts to fill the void—through pleasure, achievement, or self-justification—are ultimately futile because we are created for communion with God. The only hope is to “put on” the new self, which comes through learning Christ, embracing His truth, and daily choosing to live out our new identity. The message closed with practical encouragement to feed our spirits with God's truth, reject the junk of the old life, and walk in the freedom and transformation Jesus offers.

SUMMARY: In this sermon, we explored Ephesians 4:12-16 and the central theme of maturity within the church. We began by asking why unity, diversity, and theology matter, and discovered that the answer is maturity—growing up together as the body of Christ. Maturity is not just about personal growth but about being equipped, building up others, and engaging in the real “game” of faith outside the church walls. We discussed the importance of being knowledgeable about Jesus, developing stability in our faith, and ensuring that every member is both connected and contributing. The ultimate goal is a church where each person finds their place, serves with purpose, and grows together into the fullness of Christ.

In this sermon on Ephesians 4:7-11, we explored the theme of unity and diversity within the body of Christ. While the church is one body, we are not all the same part—God has given each believer unique gifts to serve and build up the church. We discussed the importance of embracing the gifts God has given us, rather than wishing for different ones or doubting we have any at all. The passage also points to Jesus as our victorious King, who has defeated the powers of darkness and now distributes gifts to His people. We looked at the specific roles mentioned in Ephesians—apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers—unpacking what each means and how they function in the church today. The call is to discover, develop, and use our gifts, not by waiting for perfection, but by stepping out, trying, and learning as we go.

The second half of Ephesians builds on what God has done for us through the work of Jesus Christ and lays out the right response to His grace and goodness. We are instructed to “walk worthy” in light of all we have been given.

Paul Prays. It is brilliant. Our hope is this prayer provokes us to follow his example and pray.

In chapter three, Paul the author, pauses to give a snapshot of his life and current conditions to his readers. In this text we get a window into the mind and heart of one of the most influential leaders in world history and an example of a sold out believer for Jesus. 

In chapter three, Paul the author, pauses to give a snapshot of his life and current conditions to his readers. In this text we get a window into the mind and heart of one of the most influential leaders in world history and an example of a sold out believer for Jesus.

Jesus came to build the Church, a community united around Him and His work on our behalf. The text of Ephesians 2:11-22 reminds us of our state before Jesus and now the manifold blessings of being part of the Household of God through the Cross.

Ephesians 2:10 declares that we are God's workmanship—His “poiema,”. And God has works for each of us to walk out before we join Him in eternity. These works are good, planned by God, and they are life giving activities we can miss out on.

After the lights go out in Ephesians 2:1-3, exposing the three big problems in the universe, we find two glorious words – but God. In verse four the lights are back on and we see God's ways and God's work to rescue the broken world.

Ephesians One was a brilliant overview of God's plan, salvation and our eventual destiny with Jesus Christ. Chapter Two is a reminder of the miry clay we have all been rescued from. While dark, it is vital for the believer to never lose sight of our own desperate rescue or church becomes an exclusive club instead of a hospital to meet the Great Physician.

Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day; Paul would say this declaration is the most important thing you could ever do. More important than anything you have or anything you could be. Today, let's examine what Jesus has done and praise Him for conquering the grave.

A brilliantly simple section of Scripture that tells us the Gospel saves and seals us with the Holy Spirit when we hear and believe. However, this same section of Scripture has been complicated by 2000 years of theology; we attempt to bring clarity and comfort from these words.

Everyone asks at some time, if God created everything who created God? These are fundamental questions that often get asked by children when they are young. Dr. Ross explains using the space time continuum to demonstrate that God, the triune Creator, must transcend the created universe.

Some people have “miracle” testimonies and it can make the rest of us feel like we don't have a testimony. Paul corrects this by theologically telling us what happens when anyone believes in Jesus Christ.

We have a lens that interprets all that we hear and read. Scripture has a lens over it from 400 years of theological battles and 200 years of American culture. These two can distort what Scripture actually says. In this text we look at the Bible's Greatest Hit and if we hear this song Scripture sounds amazing.