The ECC Podcast

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.

Pastor Chris Weber teaches us the power of seeing according to covenant, because our victory is found in the way we view Christ.

How should I process and steward a prophetic word after I receive it?When we receive a prophetic word, we are responsible to test the word to see whether it was from God and then steward the word by engaging it with faith. Through prophecy, God invites us on a journey with him toward the fulfillment of that word. Join Emily Given and Dan Gulnac as they talk about how to effectively steward the prophetic words we receive.

Guest speaker Richie Seltzer delivers a powerful call to give our whole hearts to the Lord and boldly share the gospel.

How does understanding covenant change the way we think and act?We tend to think in terms of contracts, not covenants, but understanding what a covenant is and what it means that God has made a covenant with us changes everything. Join Matt Swords and David Burr as they discuss the implications of the new covenant and how understanding it changes the way we live.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman outlines the power of covenant and what it means that God had made a covenant with us.

What does it look like, practically, to surrender our need to understand and embrace mystery in our walk with God?We are wired to seek understanding, yet that can often get in the way of our faith and our ability to trust God when we don't understand. How do we let go of our need to understand and the sense of control that understanding brings in our lives? What does it mean to embrace what we can't comprehend? What do we gain by learning to live in mystery? Join Jim Ehrman and Chris Weber as they discuss practical ways we can embrace the mystery of the gospel.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman reminds us that God and his ways are beyond our intellectual capacity to understand, and to walk with him, we need to learn to embrace mystery.

How should we view and honor singleness within a culture that celebrates marriage?Those who are single, widowed, or divorced often feel marginalized in a church culture that celebrates marriage and family. But they are essential parts of us, and their voices and purpose should not be defined by their relationship status. How do married people prioritize and hold space for those who aren't currently married? What does it look like for the unmarried to view their singleness through God's eyes? Join Dan Gulnac and Emily Given as they share practical tools toward a better view of singleness in the church.

Pastor Jim Ehrman teaches on what it really means to be the body of Christ and how we hold space for those on the margins.

What intentional practices can help us cultivate mutuality in our marriages?Healthy marriages are guided by the Spirit, focused on Christ, and fully committed to submitting to one another in love. This requires both husbands and wives to address their own dysfunctions and learn to lead their marriages together, for the glory and mission of Christ. Too many of us get stuck in the power struggle of marriage, but if we want healthy marriages, we need to learn to shift from a me-focus to a we-focus. Join Dan Gulnac and Chris Weber as they discuss practical tools for taking our marriages to the next level.

Pastor Dan Gulnac uncovers the heart of a healthy Christian marriage.

How can parents and children break through misunderstanding to build meaningful connection?When relating to our parents or our children, we can so easily trip over the generational disconnect. We struggle to understand them, and we feel misunderstood by them. But, God created us to live in families because we need intergenerational connections and perspectives. Join Heidi Zimmerman and Jim Ehrman as they talk about how to build bridges, rather than walls, to connect with the generations within our families.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman reminds us to reach past outward impressions and assumptions to see and minister to people's hearts.

How can we intentionally build genuine, life-giving friendships?We all want strong friendships, but sometimes these connections can seem difficult to find. Too many of us end up living in isolation. Yet God makes it clear that we need one another. We are his body, and we are called to grow and work together. Relationships with others are a central part of the Christian life. Join Laura Taylor and Matt Swords as they talk about practical ways we can build godly friendships that will bring strength and encouragement to our lives.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman shares on the importance of intentionally building relationships with others in the body of Christ.

How do I properly discern and steward a prophetic word?The Bible is God's objective word, by which we judge everything else. Yet the Bible also includes many examples of and instructions about the subjective word--including prophetic words we may receive from others. Both objective and subjective are needed, but how do we find the proper balance? How do we process disappointments when the prophetic falls short? And how do we discern and steward prophetic words in a healthy way? Join Jim Ehrman and Mark Calkins as they discuss a balanced stewardship of the prophetic.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman shares from his heart on the need for both objective and subjective revelation. 

How do we persevere in prayer even when we feel weary?Many of us struggle to continue praying for something if we don't see results quickly. The Old Testament prophet Daniel knew how to persevere in prayer because he understood the power of praying according to God's promises. How would our prayer lives change if we knew how to pray like Daniel? Join Matt Swords and Chris Weber as they discuss keys to strengthening our hearts to keep on praying when we haven't yet seen the breakthrough.

Pastor Dan Gulnac reminds us of the power of persevering prayer.

How do I know if I'm on my phone too much, and what can I do about it?Our phones can be amazing tools for the gospel, but if we're not careful, they can very easily become distracting and addictive in our lives. God wants us to live healthy lives--connecting with others, experiencing peace and grace in every situation, and hearing and discerning his voice clearly. To live like that, we need to be honest with ourselves about our relationship with our phones, and we need a clear strategy for healthy boundaries. Join Jim Ehrman and Dan Gulnac as they discuss what it looks like, both individually and corporately, to engage with technology and media in a healthy way.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman encourages us to consider the digital distractions we've allowed in our lives and create healthy boundaries.

Your Spiritual Wake Up CallHow can I experience personal revival in my relationship with God?God invites us to approach him with confidence, because he wants us to experience his love, healing, and redemption in our lives. He wants to awaken us so that we can be fully alive in our relationship with him and in our purpose on earth. Yet for many of us, personal awakening or revival feel elusive. Join Matt Swords and Heidi Zimmerman as they share from their own journey and what they've discovered about living in personal revival.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman clarifies the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of the enemy.

Why does fasting matter in my walk with God?For many of us, the idea of fasting is intimidating, but the Bible tells us it is an important part of our growth with God. When God invites us to fast, we can trust him with that journey. He will show us what to fast and what to pursue as we fast. Join Matt Swords and Chris Weber as they talk about why fasting matters and how to get started.

Pastor Jim Ehrman reminds us of the importance of living in light of the second Advent of Christ.

2025 | Christmas Eve Service

How do we live above the voice of condemnation?The truth is, we have all sinned and fallen short. We have all done things we should not have, and as a result, the voice of condemnation can sound very convincing. Yet, the Bible tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. His life and love set us free from the power of sin and death. So how do we stop listening to condemnation and start living in the freedom Jesus died to give us? Join Matt Swords and Jim Ehrman as they talk about tools for overcoming the spirit of condemnation in our lives. 

Pastor Kevin Eshleman teaches on the power of God's love to redeem and restore so that condemnation has no hold in our lives.

What can we do to cultivate supernatural joy in our daily lives?Joy, unlike happiness, is not dependent upon our circumstances, but is rooted instead in God's goodness. As a result, we can experience joy even when our lives feel like they are falling apart. And that joy gives us the strength we need to persevere and overcome. Joy is a free gift from God, but it's not automatic. We need to learn how to step into joy every day. Join Matt Swords and Oliver Denlinger as they explore practical ways we can cultivate supernatural joy.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman explains the difference between joy and happiness and where we can find real, lasting joy.

How do we step into the peace of Christ when our circumstances feel very unpeaceful?We all know Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the one who brings true peace in our hearts and lives, but how do we translate that knowledge into the chaos we often experience internally and externally? The Bible promises us that God's peace transcends what we understand, and it protects our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:7). Join Kevin Eshleman and Jim Ehrman as they talk about how to live in God's peace every day.

Pastor Chris Weber speaks on the power of Christ, the Prince of Peace, to bring true peace in our hearts and lives.

How do we hold on to hope when the waiting is long or when what we hoped for didn't happen?In life, we face many experiences of deferred and disappointed hope. These are crucial moments in our faith journey because they test our ability to persevere in faith even when we are weary and we don't understand. Join Jim and Amy as they talk about the difference between faith and hope and how to cultivate resilient hope even in the hardest seasons.

Pastor Kevin Eshleman shares on the importance of holding fast to hope, even when the waiting is long.