Pastor Chris continued our series, "The World Was Not Worthy Of Them" with the beginning of a reintroduction of our calling and identity as Houston's Holistic Missional Christian Community. He discussed the foundation of the early church, our unique witness to this great city, God's love for the whole of creation, and how we begin to offer the fullness of our lives in gratitude. 

Pastor Josh Hilburn continued our conversation about living lives of courageous faith, a people set apart. He invited us to consider our misconceptions about the meaning of "blessing", how we might begin to shift our view of sacrifice instead to investment, and grow into greater peace with the often slow and inefficient movement of transformation in our world and relationships. 

Pastor Chris entered the scripture in Hebrews, introducing the central thought that will guide us into the fall. How are we, as followers of Christ, called to live lives of courageous, magnetic, truly sacrificial faith, and to be a people willing to meet potential hardship and suffering with joy and obedience for the sake of the kingdom. We also celebrated over twenty-five baptisms of community members. 

Pastor Chris Seay continued our series on the great hymns of faith by addressing one of our favorites: "Come Thou Fount." Chris invited us all to tune our hearts to the God's landscape of blessing, love, & mercy, and called us to remember and trust God's saving help in our own seasons of wandering.

Guest teachers David & Maxine Madison called us to consider the "signs and wonders" that we are called to as the living hands of Christ in the world; the everyday miracles that the Spirit performs through God's people. 

Our guest teacher, Pastor Jason Shepperd, walked through the feeding of the four-thousand in the Gospel of Mark, offering a message on the gathering together of our giftedness and resources, and how we might be more attuned with our call to respond without hesitation and with radical compassion when we see a place of need.

Our friend, Pastor Marcelo Robles, visited us from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and taught on our call to open our eyes; to see the brokenness and need around us as an invitation to ever greater presence and service as a people filled with the richness of Christ.

Guest teacher Nish Weiseth invited us to consider how we anchor our trust in the goodness of God, even as we experience times of great trial. Through rhythms of scripture, prayer, and community, we begin to grow in the ways that we're able to recognize his goodness all around us.

Pastor Chris Seay continues our series on the origins and relevance of classic hymns, addressing recent pains in our nation and world, and heartbreak in our own community. Facing the brokenness that surrounds us, our call is never to despair, but to live by sacrifice and generosity as those under the protection of Christ; both lion and lamb. 

This week, a young brother in our community was taken from us far too soon. Hudson Adams, 19,  was serving as a camp counselor when he contracted a rare amoeba that attacked his brain in sudden and aggressive fashion. We stand beside the Adams family in devastation over his loss, and were grateful for the opportunity to host an overwhelming outpouring of love in his memory and for those he has left behind. His joyful, humble, selfless spirit will be deeply missed by the countless lives he has touched.

Guest teacher Gideon Tsang continued his conversation from last weekend on resurrection as a pattern lived out in imitation and participation. Especially following a dark week; a week of loss, fear and anger, how are we called in Christ not simply to receive, but to participate in God's work of resurrection and renewal? 

Our guest teacher Gideon Tsang considered the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, and the imitation to which we've been called. As we surrender to God's image within us, we can begin to see and embrace our beauty, and live as mirrors to reflect the light of Christ into the world. 

Pastor Josh Hilburn made a call for us to reconsider the ways we attempt to be saviors and problem solvers, and instead, to simply embrace our role as servants of all. As we serve in humility, as we continue to show up in presence, reminding the hurting and marginalized that we won't abandon them, we're reminded of the God who tells us without fail; "I'm here."

Pastor Chris invites us to consider the whole of God's creation, singing out in praise; that in all that we eat and drink, and as we experience the wonders of the world and creatures he made, we would be ever reminded of his divine and majestic artistry and continually submit to him in awe and gratitude, caring well for the gifts with which he's entrusted us. 

Guest teacher Darren Sloniger spoke about our tendency to follow Jesus half-heartedly, desiring to keep a foothold in this world, and encouraged us to consider what it might look like to truly take up our crosses daily to follow Him in love and faithfulness. 

Pastor Chris returned to our series exploring the backgrounds of classic hymns, offering the story behind "Just As I Am" by Charlotte Elliott. As we humbly submit the fullness of our lives before God, just as we are, we're reminded that God's heart is for all people, that no one is left out, and that He has made us to carry out the work of Christ in the midst of our brokenness. 

Our guest teacher, Paul Unsworth from Kahaila in London, invited us to consider our preparation to enter the promised land as a people consecrated before God. As we ask God in faith for the extraordinary that only he can orchestrate, and as we learn to reach out in humility to invite the help of unbelievers, we begin to see the greater fullness of his story at work in his people, and all around us. 

Pastor Chris taught from Lusaka, Zambia; calling our community to consider how we gather together resources and offer our unique giftedness to engage the work of the Gospel, impacting families and communities in ways that are far beyond what any one of us can do alone. He also offered an important update on an exciting new development for the future of our Ecclesia family.