Island ECC Podcast

If understood fully, disruptions in our lives are actually gifts to us. They remind us that we are actually not in control after all. But how can we actually learn to rejoice in the midst of life's unexpected turns?

Advent, which begins on this Sunday, is the season to prepare and wait for Christmas.  This is the first of four messages to dive into the words of O Holy Night – “the weary world rejoices”.  The message offers a perspective on how you can genuinely rejoice during times when you are waiting for what is longed for… as well as an interesting take on Mary and Joseph's preparation for the first Christmas.

We often experience righteous anger when we face injustice in the world. However, sometimes this righteous anger can get the better of us and leave us bitter and resentful like Jonah. In this sermon, we look at the final chapter of Jonah's story to uncover the warning signs of when our anger strays from its righteous roots. 

How does failure impact you? For most, personal failure has a devastating effect. It brings shame, regret, self-loathing, and a desire to distance ourselves from others. But God comes to us in our failures, and allows us to experience mercy in a way that heals our deepest wounds.

How does failure impact you? For most, personal failure has a devastating effect. It brings shame, regret, self-loathing, and a desire to distance ourselves from others. But God comes to us in our failures, and allows us to experience mercy in a way that heals our deepest wounds.

Jonah was desperate. He was drowning. He hit rock bottom in the most literal way possible. But then in a miraculous act of grace, God sent a fish to swallow him. A strange salvation, but one began to change Jonah. In desperation while inside of the fish, he prays. He remembered God, and that simple act opened the door for grace to begin to change him. When we are overwhelmed, we can do the same, because God listens to desperate prayers.

Jonah was desperate. He was drowning. He hit rock bottom in the most literal way possible. But then in a miraculous act of grace, God sent a fish to swallow him. A strange salvation, but one began to change Jonah. In desperation while inside of the fish, he prays. He remembered God, and that simple act opened the door for grace to begin to change him. When we are overwhelmed, we can do the same, because God listens to desperate prayers.

We all have a little bit of Jonah in us, desiring at times to live independent from God. At our core, we prefer telling God what we'd like, rather than allowing him to tell us what to do. So what can we learn from the hard-hearted prophet?

We all have a little bit of Jonah in us, desiring at times to live independent from God. At our core, we prefer telling God what we'd like, rather than allowing him to tell us what to do. So what can we learn from the hard-hearted prophet?

Just as a caterpillar is not meant to remain a caterpillar, we are not meant to stay where we are today. When we are willing to die to ourselves, we will be transformed into the kind of being who truly understands God and delights in His ways.

Just as a caterpillar is not meant to remain a caterpillar, we are not meant to stay where we are today. When we are willing to die to ourselves, we will be transformed into the kind of being who truly understands God and delights in His ways.

Being generous is often associated with greater overall health and life satisfaction. People who share their wealth tend to be happier, more fulfilled, and enjoy better relationships. In contrast, those who hold back may experience increased stress, anxiety, and a sense of isolation from genuine community. So, why is being generous so challenging? In this sermon, we explore Jesus' teachings on money to better understand the barriers that make it difficult for us to give.

Being generous is often associated with greater overall health and life satisfaction. People who share their wealth tend to be happier, more fulfilled, and enjoy better relationships. In contrast, those who hold back may experience increased stress, anxiety, and a sense of isolation from genuine community. So, why is being generous so challenging? In this sermon, we explore Jesus' teachings on money to better understand the barriers that make it difficult for us to give.

Usually when our spiritual lives begin to stagnate, the first warning signs can be seen in our habit of prayer. They start becoming mechanical and routine, lacking any sort of passion or conviction. But is there a prayer that has the power to revitalise our prayer lives? In today's sermon we examine the most powerful prayer ever prayed and how we can pray it as well. 

Usually when our spiritual lives begin to stagnate, the first warning signs can be seen in our habit of prayer. They start becoming mechanical and routine, lacking any sort of passion or conviction. But is there a prayer that has the power to revitalise our prayer lives? In today's sermon we examine the most powerful prayer ever prayed and how we can pray it as well. 

Our days are often full of worry. We fall into a routine of trying to control everything, our schedules, our work, our relationships, doing our best to hold it all together. And it's exhausting. We need a Fresh Start. We need a way to step out of the cycle, loosen our grip, and trust God more deeply with our lives. Today, we're going to explore practical ways to grow in faith and experience the peace God promises, even in the midst of life's chaos.

Our days are often full of worry. We fall into a routine of trying to control everything, our schedules, our work, our relationships, doing our best to hold it all together. And it's exhausting. We need a Fresh Start. We need a way to step out of the cycle, loosen our grip, and trust God more deeply with our lives. Today, we're going to explore practical ways to grow in faith and experience the peace God promises, even in the midst of life's chaos.

Throughout Jesus's life, even for His closest followers, it was common for people who saw Jesus not to really see Him. In this message, we'll explore what we know about truly seeing and loving people around us, and how that honest approach can help up so love and see God clearer.

Throughout Jesus's life, even for His closest followers, it was common for people who saw Jesus not to really see Him. In this message, we'll explore what we know about truly seeing and loving people around us, and how that honest approach can help up so love and see God clearer.

Over and over in scripture, we are told to be “awake”. The tendency is for us to be spiritually drowsy, missing out on an adventure and “sleeping through” the reason we are on this planet.

Over and over in scripture, we are told to be “awake”. The tendency is for us to be spiritually drowsy, missing out on an adventure and “sleeping through” the reason we are on this planet.

There is plenty to be mad about in our world today. It seems that there is rage everywhere. What angers you? And more importantly, how do you handle it?

There is plenty to be mad about in our world today. It seems that there is rage everywhere. What angers you? And more importantly, how do you handle it?

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

Strongholds are subtle. Built over time, and strengthened without our intention, often we are unaware of the strongholds that the enemy has in our life. But rather than just coping, or swatting them away, how about destroying them? That is precisely what we are told to do.

Strongholds are subtle. Built over time, and strengthened without our intention, often we are unaware of the strongholds that the enemy has in our life. But rather than just coping, or swatting them away, how about destroying them? That is precisely what we are told to do.

The popular reality show, Survivor,  had a tagline of “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast”. This would be a fitting tagline for our lives as followers of Christ. To be aware of the enemy, and to be determined to outwit him. Do you have a strategy?

The popular reality show, Survivor,  had a tagline of “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast”. This would be a fitting tagline for our lives as followers of Christ. To be aware of the enemy, and to be determined to outwit him. Do you have a strategy?

When it comes to temptation, do you have a battle plan? Are you equipped to fight back? Are you sitting around waiting for temptation to come your way and see how it goes? No way! So, let's get ready to counterstrike because we are not victims, but victors in Christ!

When it comes to temptation, do you have a battle plan? Are you equipped to fight back? Are you sitting around waiting for temptation to come your way and see how it goes? No way! So, let's get ready to counterstrike because we are not victims, but victors in Christ!

Satan is the father of lies. His main tactic is deception. However, he is not as powerful as he claims to be. We also have the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth to guide us. Spiritual warfare is true, but Christians are on the winning side.

Satan is the father of lies. His main tactic is deception. However, he is not as powerful as he claims to be. We also have the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth to guide us. Spiritual warfare is true, but Christians are on the winning side.

We all “believe” in invisible things, like oxygen and love, for example. But when it comes to a mysterious spirit world, many of us think it sounds a bit too fanciful. Angels and demons? Really?But the unseen world is real, and by pretending it's not (or hyperfocusing on it), we run the risk of being influenced unknowingly.

We all “believe” in invisible things, like oxygen and love, for example. But when it comes to a mysterious spirit world, many of us think it sounds a bit too fanciful. Angels and demons? Really?But the unseen world is real, and by pretending it's not (or hyperfocusing on it), we run the risk of being influenced unknowingly.

We've all got them – people in our lives that drive us crazy. People that seem to sap the energy, rob our joy, and leave us often feeling angry, guilty, frustrated, and confused. What does God say about dealing with the annoying people in our lives?

We've all got them – people in our lives that drive us crazy. People that seem to sap the energy, rob our joy, and leave us often feeling angry, guilty, frustrated, and confused. What does God say about dealing with the annoying people in our lives?

God has made us all unique, so there's no wonder that in relationships we will come face to face with others who are in different spiritual seasons and have different preferences and practices. Today we'll look through the lens of Paul's words to the Corinthians to see what wisdom from God he had to share regarding a church full of spiritual imbalances.

God has made us all unique, so there's no wonder that in relationships we will come face to face with others who are in different spiritual seasons and have different preferences and practices. Today we'll look through the lens of Paul's words to the Corinthians to see what wisdom from God he had to share regarding a church full of spiritual imbalances.

Relationships are beautiful, yet complex. We thrive when we're on the same page and in harmony with one another. But when that gets complicated because we feel wronged by a person, bitterness can creep in and create a toxic relationship… with ourselves. Resentment is a powerful emotion that sends us down a downward spiral. There's only one thing that can pull us out… and that's what we're talking about today. 

Relationships are beautiful, yet complex. We thrive when we're on the same page and in harmony with one another. But when that gets complicated because we feel wronged by a person, bitterness can creep in and create a toxic relationship… with ourselves. Resentment is a powerful emotion that sends us down a downward spiral. There's only one thing that can pull us out… and that's what we're talking about today. 

Repairing relationships is one of the toughest things we'll do in life. And yet, it's required from us all. And though we love building new relationships, maintaining damaged relationships can be daunting.A few practical skills can greatly assist us along the way.

Repairing relationships is one of the toughest things we'll do in life. And yet, it's required from us all. And though we love building new relationships, maintaining damaged relationships can be daunting.A few practical skills can greatly assist us along the way.

Discouragement can take a toll. On our own mental health, our sense of joy in life, and it will even affect our relationships. Having a personal strategy to combat discouragement will bring blessing to you and those near you.

Discouragement can take a toll. On our own mental health, our sense of joy in life, and it will even affect our relationships. Having a personal strategy to combat discouragement will bring blessing to you and those near you.

This may be the most confusing descriptor of God in all the Bible, but unless we understand His jealousy, we can't really understand God Himself.

This may be the most confusing descriptor of God in all the Bible, but unless we understand His jealousy, we can't really understand God Himself.

Have you ever observed someone who is a Christian and thought, “They don't really act like one?” Or have you ever been personally disappointed in your own ability to maintain a vibrant faith? As we learn more about The Lord who Sanctifies, we will gain a deeper understanding of how spiritual growth happens, and what we can expect from God in that journey.

Have you ever observed someone who is a Christian and thought, “They don't really act like one?” Or have you ever been personally disappointed in your own ability to maintain a vibrant faith? As we learn more about The Lord who Sanctifies, we will gain a deeper understanding of how spiritual growth happens, and what we can expect from God in that journey.