How to start 2021 well grounded.
A message from Elder Wade Hutcheson.

In this message, we will talk about an important choice we have to make this Christmas. In Matthew 7:13-23, Jesus begins to wrap up the Sermon on the Mount with a challenging application.
Does Jesus know me? Does faith in Jesus make a difference in how I live?

In this message, we will learn about a different kind of gift exchange in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:7-12, we discover that God gives us the gift of answered prayer and expects us to give the gift of ‘doing unto others’ in return.
Do I pray like I really believe that God always answers prayer? What should ‘doing unto others’ look like in my own life?

In this message, we will see what Jesus has to say about judging others in the Sermon on the Mount. Should we judge others? If not, how do we deal with people who disagree with us?
Am I hypercritical or judgmental? How should I approach addressing people who I disagree with?

We will see what Jesus has to say about anxiety in the Sermon on the Mount. We live in a confusing, stressful, and anxious world. How does Jesus encourage us to respond? What hope is there for our worries and anxieties?
What am I anxious or worried about? How does Jesus want me to view my worries and anxieties?

We will return to the Sermon on the Mount and consider what things we treasure or value. What values control our lives? What do we live for?
Is my treasure in heaven or on earth? Who or what really controls my thoughts and actions?

We're thinking about how God calls us to treat others. In Matthew 5:33-42, Jesus talks about how a citizen of God’s kingdom should view oaths and retaliation. He will call us to take an approach that is different from the rest of the world around us.
Is honesty important to God? How are Christians supposed to treat other people?

Have you ever experienced someone praying that seemed to have a “direct line” to Jesus?

Have you ever heard someone praying and you wanted to go wake them up? What was the difference

Have you ever tried to build something without a set of instructions/plans? What was the result?

Have you ever impromptu prayed for someone? What was the result?

Have you shared the Gospel this past week? Have you even tried to share the Gospel?

Turn on the news, look on social media, or just drive around and see all the yard signs… it seems like everyone is focused on the upcoming election. But have you thought about what will happen after the election? This Sunday, we will look at what we should do after the election. How can we prepare to respond in a God-honoring way, regardless of the outcome? Paul’s words in Colossians 4:2-6 may give us an answer.
Should there be a difference between how I act before the election vs. after the election? How should Christians respond to a contentious political environment?

We're talking about growing spiritually. Jesus expects us to grow to become more like Him through spiritual disciplines like giving, praying, and fasting. But how we actually do or practice those things is important.
Why should I want to grow spiritually? How do I give, pray, and fast? Do I do those things?

We're talking about loving our enemies. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus challenges us with some of the most radical words in the entire Bible.
Why is it hard to love my enemies? How can I do that in my own life?

We’re continuing our series on the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus talks about how a citizen of God’s kingdom should view divorce. Divorce is a painful issue and one that must be treated with care. Still, marriage is extremely important to God and Jesus has some challenging truths to teach us about marriage and divorce.
What does the Bible say about marriage and divorce? Why is marriage important to God?

We're returning to the Sermon on the Mount. At the beginning of the year, we started looking at these words from Jesus, but our study was interrupted by the pandemic in March. Let's catch-up and review what we learned back in January, February, and early March.
What is the Sermon on the Mount about? How should a follower of Christ live?

This is the the last week of our “Now What?” series.

We are going to talk about moving forward. What’s next for our church? How should we live for our Lord during this time? We will listen to the words of John the Baptist in John 3:25-30 to help us answer those questions.

Who should get the credit for what happens in a church? Is my life supposed to be about me or someone else?

A sermon from ESBC elder Daniel Long.

We continue seeking the answer to the question “Now What?” How should we live in this confusing time? What should we do?

This week, we talk about justice. Many people talk about justice nowadays (or speak against a perceived lack of justice). But what does God think about justice? And what does He expect us to do about it? Isaiah chapter 1 (especially verses 16-18) will help us answer those questions.

What does God think about justice? How should I respond when others cry out for justice?

We're going to continue seeking the answer to the question “Now What?” How should we live in this confusing time? What should we do? This week, we talk about how we should respond when someone does or says something that we disagree with. Should we respond with outrage? Ignore it? Paul touches on some principles in 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 that should help us.
How do I respond when I disagree with another’s words or actions? Who is the ultimate judge over every person?

We continue seeking the answer to the question “Now What?” How should we live in this confusing time? What should we do?

This week, we are going to think about what we should do when God feels distant. With all the craziness in the world today, we can sometimes wonder if God is really with us. In Psalm 19, we will discover where and how we can see God at all times.

Do I feel close to God or does He seem distant? What should I do to get closer to God?

A lot has changed in the world, our country, our community, and our church over the past 5 months. It has left many of us thinking, “Now what? What happens now? What do we do?”

For the next few weeks, we are going to consider what happens, what we should do, and how we should live in this unique time. We’re going to start by looking at the church. Some people are comfortable coming into the church building, some prefer the safety of joining us online, the church is scattered… now what?

While the effects of a pandemic on this scale is unprecedented, the church has been scattered before. We are going to look this week at Acts 11:19-26 and see what God does when He scatters His people. Discovering what God has done for His church before will help us to see what we should do now.

How is church different now? How might God be using this moment for His purposes?

What is 'restraint'? What it is not? How do we need restraint in our daily lives to best glorify God?
A sermon from elder Tom Toone.