Between a Rock and a Hard Place

When God seems distant in life’s difficult circumstances, will we doubt his nearness and love? Does God care when we’ve been wronged and we long for vengeance? Where do we turn in the inevitable seasons of sorrow, longing, pain, or spiritual drought? In “Between a Rock and Hard Place,” we will survey the Psalms that give us a snapshot of the range of human emotions experienced by God’s people. We will find that the Psalms offer us a prescription for the soul that will equip us to navigate life’s challenges with honesty, trust, and a deepening faith in the LORD our Rock.

Series Playlist

Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
The Way of Joy
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  • The Way of Joy

    The Way of Joy

    Apr 7, 2024 • 42:37

    Speaker: Richard Meservey Series: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Scripture: Psalm 1

  • Seeking God in Dry Seasons

    Seeking God in Dry Seasons

    Apr 14, 2024 • 43:37

    Speaker: Jeff Wortman Series: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Scripture: Psalms 42-43

  • Praying in Sorrow and Anger

    Praying in Sorrow and Anger

    Apr 21, 2024 • 48:05

    Speaker: Richard Meservey Series: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Scripture: Psalm 137

Upside Down Kingdom

“Upside Down Kingdom” is a Lenten sermon series that focuses on the key events of Passion Week from the perspective of the Gospel of Matthew. Together we will unpack the significance of these events in light of Matthew’s emphasis on the Kingdom of God’s arrival in Christ. It is a kingdom unlike anything in this world, in both its character and in its establishment, and at its center is Israel’s rejected Messiah to whom has been granted “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).

Series Playlist

Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
The Triumphal Approach
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  • The Triumphal Approach

    The Triumphal Approach

    Feb 18, 2024 • 42:46

    Jesus’ purpose in Jerusalem did not meet anyone’s expectations or demands, so within just a matter of days the very voices that praised him fell silent and the ones shaken by his arrival called for his execution. What is our response to his arrival, presence, and self-revelation in our own…

  • Cleansing the Temple

    Cleansing the Temple

    Feb 25, 2024 • 41:47

    Speaker: Richard Meservey Series: Upside Down Kingdom Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17

  • A Supper Like No Other

    A Supper Like No Other

    Mar 3, 2024 • 35:42

    Speaker: Karl Bowden Series: Upside Down Kingdom Scripture: Matthew 26:17-30

  • The Divine

    The Divine "No"

    Mar 10, 2024 • 1:01:31

    Jesus shows us what true humanity looks like. He freely said “yes” to God’s divine “no,” and the result of that decision changed everything. He invites all people, not just to accept his atoning sacrifice, but to make his own God-united humanity our own, that by his work in our…

  • Life by the Sword

    Life by the Sword

    Mar 17, 2024 • 43:07

    God is in control of human history. He calls men and women to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, for salvation. Jesus invites us to join him in his commitment to the will and word of God. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Upside Down Kingdom Scripture: Matthew 26:47-56

  • Peter's Bold Rejection

    Peter's Bold Rejection

    Mar 24, 2024 • 57:05

    The work of Jesus provides both restoration for past failures and power for future boldness. The work of the disciple is not to try harder or dig deeper, but to surrender over in watchful prayer to the will and work of God. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Upside Down Kingdom Scripture: Matthew…

  • The Sunday of All Sundays

    The Sunday of All Sundays

    Mar 31, 2024 • 37:18

    This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: That Christ died according to the Scriptures for sinners—even sinners like you and me; that Christ is risen from the dead—that he has forever broken the power of sin and death, that his victorious life can be yours today; that Christ will come…

Treasures

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2, NLT)

Epiphany is a Christian feast commemorating the visit of wise men to the Christ child (Matthew 2), pointing to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the messiah’s physical manifestation to the Gentiles. But what do we really know about the wise men who visited Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus? History is replete with all manor of traditions, some with merit, others without. At the very least, we know this: The magi were men who knew and believed the word of God, sought after and recognized the messiah, and presented themselves to God. As such, their example has much to offer those today who would seek how to live out a wise life.

Treasures is a sermon series that dives into the lessons contained in Matthew 2. The wise men had gifts to offer the newborn king who had come to offer treasures of his own.

Series Playlist

Treasures
Treasures
Wise Men
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  • Wise Men

    Wise Men

    Jan 14, 2024 • 40:07

    The wisdom of the magi was not in their expertise in astrology, philosophy, or the magical arts, but in their awareness of, faith in, and obedience to the truth of the Scriptures. They didn’t follow a star; they followed the word of God. Their journey was not to a place,…

  • Herod the Not So Great

    Herod the Not So Great

    Jan 21, 2024 • 43:19

    The arrival of the Messiah resulted in the formation of two camps: one full of praise and welcome, the other full of hatred and opposition. You and I have the opportunity to pick which camp we belong to, but choose wisely! Though receiving Jesus is risky and at time uncomfortable…

  • The Worthy Child

    The Worthy Child

    Jan 28, 2024 • 39:31

    The wise men didn’t see it all, but they saw enough. While everyone else was “deeply disturbed” by the news of the messiah’s birth, the wise men seek him, rejoice upon finding him, worship him, and offer him their treasures. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Treasures Scripture: Matthew 2:9-12

  • Deliverer and Delivered

    Deliverer and Delivered

    Feb 4, 2024 • 42:24

    Despite the tragedy we see in the world around us, we can be certain that God is at work to bring renewal and restoration. That work is always centered on his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the faithful deliverer that leads his people into the deep, covenantal love of the…

  • The Embarrassing Messiah

    The Embarrassing Messiah

    Feb 11, 2024 • 42:14

    A Messiah from Nazareth would be nothing less than a national embarrassment to his people. But Matthew is not embarrassed about it at all. He wants us to see this clearly. Jesus didn’t come from where anyone expected him to come. He didn’t come in the way anyone expected him…

Signs of the Season

“The Lord himself will give you the sign.” (Isaiah 7:17, NLT)

In the time of Isaiah, the people of God were in need of hope for better things to come. Fortunately for them, and for all the world, God had a plan in mind to rescue not only his people, but all who call upon the name of the Lord. To all peoples in darkness came a promise of a great Light coming.

Signs of the Season is an Advent sermon series that considers some of the key promises made by the prophet Isaiah concerning the coming of Immanuel, the hope of all the nations, and the signs associated with his arrival and work.

Series Playlist

Signs of the Season
Signs of the Season
The Sign of God
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  • The Sign of God

    The Sign of God

    Dec 3, 2023 • 43:13

    The sign of God at Christmas means that Yahweh himself delivers and saves. It means that he keeps his promises and is true to his word. To the hard-hearted, the coming of Immanuel portends certain doom. But to the faithful, who welcome and receive him in their weakness and finitude,…

  • The Crisis of God

    The Crisis of God

    Dec 10, 2023 • 34:46

    The greatest gift of all time presents the greatest crisis of all time: Will you, or will you not, receive him? Many will not, and for them there will only ever be trouble and anguish and dark despair. But for those that do—who set him apart in their hearts and…

  • The Light of God

    The Light of God

    Dec 17, 2023 • 41:06

    How does God shine light into darkness? How does he bring hope to despair? How is his grace made available to man? It is all offered exclusively in “the child who is born to us, the Son who is given to us.” God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing…

  • The Reign of God

    The Reign of God

    Dec 24, 2023 • 36:28

    Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary, the babe of Christmas, is the Stone upon which you can build your life; the Son who offers peace between God and man; the Light that reveals and transforms our darkness; and the King of kings and Lord of all lords—the very promise and…

Ready or Not

Like a street light indicating what is about to happen, the apostle Peter penned his letters to the churches under his care in the hopes that they might be prepared for when it does. To him, and to the rest of the early church, the return of Jesus Christ was an imminent certainty, the single most important Day in the history of the world. Peter’s pastoral concern was for the readiness, holiness, and hope of the people of God.

Peter’s writings are no less instructive or relevant to the church today. We live under the constant awareness of how near we are to the end of time. But whether the end is tomorrow or another 2,000 years from now, the attitude and posture of the people of God remains the same. “Ready or Not” is a sermon series intended to recalibrate the mind and heart of Christ’s followers to think and live rightly in these last days.

Series Playlist

Ready or Not
Ready or Not
A Ready Hope
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  • A Ready Hope

    A Ready Hope

    Nov 12, 2023 • 49:03

    The early church did not wait around for things to get bad before they began living as though they were in the end times. They lived with the conviction that Christ truly could return any minute. Theirs was a ready hope that kept their minds and hearts sober and watchful…

  • A Holy Hope

    A Holy Hope

    Nov 19, 2023 • 45:44

    A hopeful people are a ready people—sober, alert, and watchful for the Master’s imminent return. A ready people are a determined people—determined to live a certain way in the present as a response to the past and with anticipation of the future. A determined people are a holy people, who…

  • A Certain Hope

    A Certain Hope

    Nov 26, 2023 • 46:03

    The Christian hope is one that is certain, because it is built upon the objective reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in history and its fruit can be seen in lives that are transformed and made holy in love. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Ready or Not Scripture: I Peter 1:18-25