Recent Blog Posts
“From Baptist to Anabaptist”
06/19/2022 – "From Baptist to Anabaptist" Ekklesia has long been a place of healing for wounded people. Sometimes even for wounded pastors. This Sunday, we have the privilege of hearing Pastor Josh's story. A former Baptist pastor, he will be sharing his story about...
Wisdom is Calling, but No One is Listening
06/19/2022 – Wisdom is Calling, but No One is Listening If wisdom is calling on the heights and at the crossroads (Proverbs 8), and if the spirit of Christ is guiding us into all truth (John 16), it seems that no one is listening. No one is paying attention. None of...
Pentecost
06/05/2022 – Pentecost What is Pentecost? Why would tongues of fire show up on that day? Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version...
The Way it Is
05/22/2022 – The Way it Is Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29; John 5:1-9. "The way it is" in our world is often in conflict with how it should be and how it will one day be. Looking at three of today's lectionary readings, how does God...
We Talking ‘Bout Practice
05/15/2022 – We Talking 'Bout Practice Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35. "We talking bout practice!?!?!" This week is the 20th anniversary of Allen Iverson's "practice" rant. It is also the 2000-something-th anniversary of Peter's vision...
The Folly and Great Wisdom of Sheep
05/08/2022 – The Folly and Wisdom of Sheep Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30. Scripture uses a lot of Shepherding imagery to describe our relationship to God, but also to call out our tendency to act like sheep. To act foolishly and against our...
The “God-card”, Tears of Joy, and not-so Doubting Thomas
04/24/2022 – The "God-card", Tears of Joy, and not-so Doubting Thomas Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31. Using all four of this week's lectionary texts, we touch on three questions. When is it right and when is it wrong to play the "God-card"?...
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
04/17/2022 – He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! AHe is Risen. He is Risen indeed! Sometimes places tell stories. The geography of Jesus' journey on Holy Week can teach us a lot about God's Kingdom and about the significance of Mary Magdalene's presence at the tomb. What...
Lent Week Six – A Donkey and a Warhorse
04/10/2022 – Lent Week Six - A Donkey and a Warhorse It's passover week. Jerusalem is crowded. It's the time of year when Rome sends a military procession into Jerusalem as a reminder of who's in charge. Against this backdrop and in sharp contrast, Jesus rides into...
Lent Week Five – With Perfume and Her Hair
04/03/2022 – Lent Week Five - With Perfume and Her Hair Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8. In John chapter 12 Mary wipes jesus's feet with perfume and her hair. This is a peculiar story, but it can teach us a great deal about intimacy and...
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