The ECC Podcast

How do I break free from this cycle? Jesus promised that when he sets us free, we are truly free. Yet, many Christians wrestle with cycles of sin, dysfunction, or struggle. We know that's not God's best for us, but we often don't know how to break free. Join Matt Swords, Jim Ehrman, and Kevin Eshleman as they discuss both practical tools and spiritual principles for walking in freedom in every area of our lives.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman talks about the importance of continuing to take steps so that we do not stagnate in our spiritual journey.

How can I grow in boldness to share Jesus with others?God designed us to live boldly, yet so often we struggle with fear of what others will think of us. This fear can prevent us from sharing about Jesus with others. How can we overcome our fears in order to walk in greater boldness? Join Emily Given and Jim Ehrman as they discuss practical tools for a life of boldness rooted in love.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman reminds us of the power of sharing our God stories with others.

How can I reach my neighbors for Jesus (without being weird)?Many of us interact with our neighbors weekly, if not daily, yet it can be hard to know how to introduce faith topics in a way that doesn't feel awkward or forced. We know sharing the gospel is important, but we just feel stuck. Join Heidi Zimmerman and Dan Gulnac as they talk about practical, natural ways we can disciple our neighborhoods with Jesus.

Pastor David Burr teaches us how to share the gospel in small ways that can have a big impact.

Why should I share my story? We all have stories to share--stories of the way God invaded our hardest moments with his comfort, our weakest moments with his strength, our most desperate moments with his provision. These stories carry great power, both for ourselves and for others. Join Jim Ehrman and David Burr as they discuss the power of story and why sharing our stories matters so much.

Barry Wissler teaches on the need for the generations to value one another and work together in order to reach the world with the gospel. 

Many of us feel intimidated by the idea of sharing our faith, but perhaps that's because we've put too much pressure on ourselves to get results. If we share our faith with no result, we start to feel like we've failed. Join Matt Swords and Chris Weber as they discuss a healthier view of evangelism that removes the pressure so we can see others the way God does.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman teaches on the importance of sowing the seed of the gospel generously.

What happens when we worship? Worshipping God is an essential part of our faith. But do we know what we are doing when we worship? Do we ever pause to ask why it matters? Join Jim Ehrman and Kevin Eshleman as they talk about the purpose of worship and what makes some worship songs better than others.

Pastor Jim Ehrman explains God's holiness in an unusual way.

How do I grow in creativity even if I'm not artistic? As humans made in the image of our creator God, creativity is a core part of who we are. This doesn't mean we're all supposed to paint or write poetry, but it does mean we're all wired to think creatively, to come up with new ideas and solutions. Yet it's so easy to go through our days without engaging or developing our innate creativity. Join Emily Given and Oliver Denlinger as they talk about the human mandate to create and practical ways we can engage with and cultivate the gift of creativity that God's put inside each one of us.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman teaches on God's glory displayed in all of creation and especially in us, who are made in his image to be creative.

When we sin, it's easy to get caught in shame. We start to think and feel badly about ourselves. We might even feel like we are a lost cause, like we'll never overcome our struggle, like we'll never live the way God wants us to. But shame is a liar. The enemy wants to catch us in our vulnerability, turning our repentance into condemnation, but God wants to pour his mercy on us so we can be free. Join Matt Swords and Jim Ehrman as they discuss practical tools for stepping out from under shame so we can receive God's mercy and the power to change.

Pastor Chris Weber teaches us what true repentance looks like and how it transforms our lives.

What happens when we remember and recount the stories of God's faithfulness in our lives?It's so easy to forget the work of God in our lives--the ways he's spoken, healed, delivered, and so forth. Yet remembering God's past faithfulness imparts strength and faith into our present season. So how do we build strategies for remembering, and how can we use our testimony to impact others? Join Dan Gulnac and David Burr as they talk about practical tools for recording your history with God and ways they've seen testimonies impact their own lives and the lives of others.

Pastor Matt Swords speaks on the importance of remembering and recording our history with God, which will strengthen our current walk with God.

How do we cultivate a heart of praise in the middle of the battle?In life's hard seasons, praise is essential. Yet praising God in those seasons can feel very hard; often, it is the last thing we want to do. How do we overcome that and instead cultivate a heart of genuine praise? Join Dan Gulnac and Mark Calkins as they talk about the power of praise, not only to transform our hearts but also to empower our spiritual warfare.

Pastor Heidi Zimmerman reminds us of the power of praising God in the middle of challenging circumstances, before we know how it will end.

How do we grieve hardship without losing sight of God's love and goodness?We all face seasons of loss and grief, when life doesn't go how we thought it would. For some people, such seasons cause them to turn away from God, but the Bible shows us that we can grieve honestly while still clinging to God's love and goodness. Join Emily Given and Dan Gulnac as they talk about what it looks like to navigate seasons of lament in a way that draws us closer to God.

Pastor Dan Gulnac teaches on the importance of learning to lament when we face detours and disappointments in life.

How do we step into childlike faith?Jesus made it clear that walking in childlike faith is an essential part of the kingdom of God. Children demonstrate a purity and simplicity of heart in their ability to trust God and believe what he says. Many of us, as adults, need a fresh impartation of that kind of faith. Join Heidi Zimmerman and Laura Taylor as they discuss practical tools for becoming like a child in the way we approach and partner with our heavenly Father.

Pastor Laura Taylor gives us a glimpse of Kids' Camp 2026 and reminds us that there's no junior Holy Spirit.

How do I strengthen myself in the Lord during hard times?David knew how to pray in the middle of hard times. His psalms are a mix of raw honesty, praise to Lord, and faith for God's provision. We all face hard seasons, and we can learn so much from David's prayers as we seek to strengthen ourselves in God. Join Dan Gulnac and Kevin Eshleman as they discuss practical tools for bringing our struggles to the Lord and receiving his strength.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman teaches us how to strengthen our hearts in the Lord in the midst of challenging seasons.

How do I pray with authority in order to see situations change?Jesus came not only to save us, but also to invite us into his kingdom work. When we give our lives to him, he gives us authority to advance his kingdom in his name. Yet, many of us feel like we don't know what that means or how to really walk it out. Join Jim Ehrman and Chris Weber as they discuss practical tools for exercising our God-given authority in prayer.

Pastor Jim Ehrman reminds us of the authority we've been given and shows us how to step into it in prayer.

What does it look like to use the Psalms as a prayer tool?Sometimes, we face seasons so hard or complex that we struggle to find the words to pray. In those moments, what does it look like to use the Bible's book of songs and prayers--the Psalms--to give words to the cry of our hearts? What practical tools can help us engage in prayer when we feel least able to pray? Join Matt Swords and Dan Gulnac as they talk about how to cultivate a practice of prayer in the Psalms that will equip us to pray in life's hardest moments.

Pastor Dan Gulnac shows us how to use the Psalms to help us pray.

How do I transform my Bible reading from duty to delight?We know we should read the Bible, but many of us struggle to do it consistently. Or we do read it, but it feels dry and lifeless. Yet, we know the word of God brings life, so how can we change our stale reading habits into a buffet in his presence? Join Emily Given and David Burr as they talk about how to find life and fulfillment in our Bible reading.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman reminds us why we read the Bible.

Why is relationship with the Holy Spirit so important to the Christian life?So many Christians try to live a good life on their own strength, but God sent his Spirit so that we wouldn't have to. God doesn't invite us into a life of sin management, but of transformation from the inside out. And the Holy Spirit is an essential part of that. Join Dan Gulnac and Barry Wissler as they discuss why the Holy Spirit is the answer to your problem. 

Barry Wissler shares on the power of receive through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

How can I step into greater boldness in my Christian life?The Holy Spirit comes to us not just as a comforter and teacher, but also as one who emboldens and empowers us. Many of us want to live with boldness and radical obedience to the Lord, yet we struggle with fear of what others will think--or what God might ask of us. Yet Holy Spirit-led boldness helps us step into our calling. Join Matt Swords and Oliver Denlinger as they discuss how the Holy Spirit empowers us into greater boldness in our walk with Christ and the joy we experience when we say yes to him.

Pastor Oliver Denlinger teaches on the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an essential part of the gospel.

What impact does confession have on my life?The Bible tells us to confess our sins to God and to one another in order to receive forgiveness, healing, cleansing, and wholeness. Yet, confession feels hard. Many of us have been hurt and condemned when we confessed. This misrepresents God's heart. He invites us to confess our sins because he knows that what we've done is not who we are, and he loves us enough to set us free. How would your life change if you started to agree with God's truth over your life? Join Heidi Zimmerman and Cheryl Pfautz as they discuss the power of confession to genuinely change our lives.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman teaches on the power of confession to unlock healing and breakthrough in our lives.

After receiving deliverance, how do I steward that freedom every day?When God heals our hearts and delivers us from oppression, he gives beauty in places of ashes, joy in place of mourning, righteousness in place of sin. He makes us mighty so we can advance his kingdom. Part of stepping into that call is learning to steward our freedom every day. Join Matt Swords and Kevin Eshleman as they discuss the daily practices that help us live in the freedom Jesus purchased for us.

Guest speaker Jake Kail teaches us that trauma can open us up to demonic oppression, but Jesus can set us free.

How do I break agreement with demonic influence in my life?The Holy Spirit empowers us to live free from demonic oppression. Yet we all experience attacks from the enemy, who wants to deceive us into agreeing with his lies. The good news is, evil spirits have no authority over believers in Jesus, and when we can recognize their attack, we can break their influence. What does that look like practically? Join Emily Given and Matt Swords as they discuss how to walk that out in our daily lives.

Guest speaker William Wood teaches on recognizing the influence of evil spirits in our lives so that we can be free.

Why should I seek the Lord for more?God calls us to seek him--to set our focus on him, listen for his voice, and rest in his presence. This requires us to intentionally create margin in our lives for him. Often, this is not easy or comfortable. Our lives are very full, and change feels hard. Perhaps we wonder, Why does this matter so much? What will I gain by seeking the Lord in this way? Join Jim Ehrman and Heidi Zimmerman as they talk about what happens when we invite God's greater work in our lives.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman invites us to respond to God's call to focus, listen, and rest in this special season of grace.

How can you share your faith naturally and impactfully?We all know sharing our faith is important, yet many of us feel very intimidated about doing it. We struggle to know the right words or to find a natural, non-awkward way to bring it up. But God asks us to share his good news as an overflow of our identity in him. Join Jim Ehrman and David Burr as they discuss practical ways to share the gospel that are genuine and natural, as well as effective.

Pastor David Burr shares about evangelism as an overflow of who we are.

How does taking communion impact my life?Communion, or the Lord's Supper, is a normal part of church life, but do we know why we take it and how it impacts us as believers, both corporately and personally? God is inviting us into a greater revelation of the power of Christ's blood shed for us and what we step into when we participate in communion. Join Matt Swords and Chris Weber as they discuss the meaning and impact of communion in our lives.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman explains the power of the cross and what Jesus offers us in the new covenant of his blood.

How do we overcome fear in our day-to-day lives?Fear is a normal part of life, but the Bible tells us that God's love is powerful enough to displace or cast out fear in our lives. Whether we fear disappointment, inadequacy, rejection, the unknown, or something else--Christ's sacrifice on the cross made a way for us to overcome fear. Fear is a liar, and we no longer need to listen to its voice. Join Heidi Zimmerman and Kevin Eshleman as they discuss practical tools for living in victory over fear every day.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman outlines four types of fear that we face and the freedom from fear we can find in Christ.

How do we fix our eyes on Jesus in the middle of the storm?Understanding what Jesus did on the cross will change the way we think and live. He didn't just die for forgiveness of sins, but also to fulfill God's covenant promises to us. Now, we find victory in our lives by looking to Jesus. Join Jim Ehrman and Wes Seigrist as they talk about how to cultivate a practice of looking to Jesus in the midst of every problem.