The Christian Citizen
Sermon Series

The life God envisions for his people is not one of isolation or extraction. The work of Jesus is not intended to pull his followers out of society, to have no part in civic life. Instead, he calls those who belong to him to embody his presence in the world, before the world, as we pass through the world as witnesses, salt, and light.

But how is the Christian to balance the needs, expectations, and requirements of life lived in two kingdoms? How do we reconcile competing authorities? How can we exercise the type of participation in the affairs of the world as Christ commands, without confusing or conflating them with the affairs of heaven? There are no simple answers to these questions, but there are biblical answers.

The Christian Citizen is a sermon series that examines biblical principles for how Christians can live obedient lives of witness and influence as “temporary residents” (I Peter 1:17) passing through this world. Grounded in a confidence in the providential goodness and power of God, believers are exhorted to be in the world, but not of the world, living out the realities of the kingdom of God amidst the nations.

Series Playlist

Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Trusting the God of Providence
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  • Trusting the God of Providence

    Trusting the God of Providence

    Oct 13, 2024 • 47:27

    The reaction of the church in Acts to the growing tension and hostility it faced in the public sphere was to pray. Their prayer centered on the sovereign God of providence, superintending his world. It acknowledged not only who he is but that they too had a part to play.…

  • Embodying Kingdom Values

    Embodying Kingdom Values

    Oct 20, 2024 • 46:18

    The church is the physical embodiment of Jesus Christ in the world by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Peter refers to its individual members as “temporary residents and foreigners” who are in the world, but not of the world. As such, they are called to not only live…

  • Blessing That Leads to Blessing

    Blessing That Leads to Blessing

    Oct 27, 2024 • 43:19

    God is not just concerned with what Christians will do at the ballot box, but who Christians will be. Not one human heart has ever been transformed by the outcome of an election. Heart transformation only comes about by the grace of God at work through the Spirit filled and…

  • The Priority of Unity

    The Priority of Unity

    Nov 3, 2024 • 47:49

    Speaker: Richard Meservey Series: The Christian Citizen Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

  • Is Government a Good Thing?

    Is Government a Good Thing?

    Nov 10, 2024 • 40:50

    Speaker: Richard Meservey Series: The Christian Citizen Scripture: Romans 13

  • Faithful Presence

    Faithful Presence

    Nov 17, 2024 • 44:33

    The church awaits the return of Jesus to establish his kingdom upon the earth in a final, climactic way. But it is not idle in its waiting. Rather, it remains busy, putting to work what has been entrusted to it, in order to see hearts transformed and the kingdom established.…

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Sermon Series

In this sermon series, we will explore the profound impact of personal relationships in bringing others to Jesus. Each week, we’ll dive into scriptures that reveal the importance of being a neighbor in the biblical sense—reaching out to others with intentionality and love, and guiding them toward a life-changing encounter with Christ.

Together we’ll discover that being a neighbor is about more than just proximity; it’s about embodying Christ’s love and being active participants in God’s mission. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” will challenge us to reflect on how we can become instruments of God’s grace in our communities, inviting others to experience the hope and salvation that Jesus offers. Join us as we learn from these biblical examples and find practical ways to live out our calling to be true neighbors, drawing others closer to the heart of God.

Series Playlist

Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
The Good Samaritan
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  • The Good Samaritan

    The Good Samaritan

    Aug 25, 2024 • 37:27

    What is the one essential thing that matters most when it comes to this business of eternal life? It is to trust, to follow, and to be with Jesus. He has done for us what no one else can do. By his work on the cross, he releases us from…

  • The Woman at the Well

    The Woman at the Well

    Sep 1, 2024 • 34:54

    Sermon #2 of the series, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” from John 4:1-26. Speaker: Robert Jackson Series: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Scripture: John 4:1-26

  • The Samaritan Believers

    The Samaritan Believers

    Sep 8, 2024 • 40:54

    The unprecedented circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the Samaritans into the Christian church demanded the exceptional methods of Acts 8:17. Perhaps it was the only way the two sides of the Samaritan curtain could have ever found both Christ and each other. Who is your Samaria? Who does God want…

  • The Ethiopian Eunuch

    The Ethiopian Eunuch

    Sep 15, 2024 • 49:55

    The account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch reinforces the truth that deep intimacy with Jesus, coupled with radical yieldedness to his will, always results in eternity-impacting encounters. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

  • Saul and Ananias

    Saul and Ananias

    Sep 22, 2024 • 44:31

    New life in Jesus changes all of our relationships. He reconciles sinners back to the Father, incorporates them into the community of faith, then equips and sends them to be his witnesses in the world. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Scripture: Acts 9:10-19

  • Loving in Deed and Truth

    Loving in Deed and Truth

    Sep 29, 2024 • 44:30

    Speaker: Richard Meservey Series: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Scripture: I John 3:18

Roots
Sermon Series

During his earthly ministry, Jesus famously taught the lessons of his kingdom through the use of parables. In fact, Mark 4:34 states that “in his public ministry he never taught without using parables” (NLT). The Synoptic Gospels record at least 35 of them, which have been cherished by the church and used for millennia to help her understand the things of God.

While this might be a well known fact about the teaching ministry of Jesus, how much Jesus drew from the truths of the Old Testament in his parables is often overlooked. In this light, his teaching is less a matter of new revelation and more a matter of restating existing revelation with the clarity and application that his person and work represent. All truth is God’s truth, and the lines of revelation can be traced throughout the Bible from cover to cover.

“Roots” is a sermon series on the parables of Jesus with an eye toward their connection to the truth of God revealed in the Old Testament. The goal is that we would have a more holistic understanding of what Jesus taught, and how key teachings of the Old and New Testament come together in him.

Series Playlist

Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
The Parable of the Sower
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  • The Parable of the Sower

    The Parable of the Sower

    Jul 7, 2024 • 41:18

    Jesus used parables to communicate the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, which gave his listeners the opportunity to choose whether to draw nearer to him or withdraw further from him. The question is not whether truth is being revealed, but whether hearts are open to receiving it. Jesus didn’t…

  • The Wise and Foolish Builders

    The Wise and Foolish Builders

    Jul 14, 2024 • 40:31

    The teachings of Jesus come with a challenge: Will you listen and do what he says, or not. The difference between those answers is the difference between being wise and being foolish, between blessing and catastrophe, between life and death. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Roots Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

  • The Lost and Found

    The Lost and Found

    Jul 21, 2024 • 51:36

    God is not the grouchy old man who offers salvation purely out of pity for the misery of man’s lostness. He is also not the benevolent benefactor, whose charity is impersonally extended to those in need from a distance. He is a Father who has sent his Son and Spirit…

  • The Rich Man and Lazarus

    The Rich Man and Lazarus

    Jul 28, 2024 • 46:56

    Jesus taught that one’s eternal fate is fixed at the point of death, and that fate is determined by choices made in this present life. How are you using every moment today in preparation for the future? God helps those who repent and call upon the name of the Lord…

  • The Parable of the Persistent Widow

    The Parable of the Persistent Widow

    Aug 4, 2024 • 39:35

    We live in an evil, broken world—full of hardship, suffering, and injustice. But the Scriptures call those who belong to God to live (and pray) in faith—faith that says even though God may not do what is right in the timing or manner we demand, he will certainly do it…

  • The Parable of the Wedding Feast

    The Parable of the Wedding Feast

    Aug 11, 2024 • 43:02

    The wedding feast that God has prepared for his son at the end of time is open to all who will come, but only if they come in the right manner. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Roots Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

  • The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

    The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

    Aug 18, 2024 • 49:43

    Those who await the return of Christ must never give up nor give in. We must seek first the Kingdom of God, pursue holiness, be about the Father’s business, and make wise, eternal investments with every moment of life. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Roots Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

God’s Will
Sermon Series

One the common things you might hear someone say in Christian circles is, “I want to know what the will of God is.” This is a fine thing to want. Indeed, God himself does will certain things for his creation, and he wants us to know what those things are. He is not a distant, aloof deity unconcerned with the affairs of the world. He is near, and he is committed to seeing his purposes and designs for his creation fulfilled.

So there is no need to have angst over this issue. God has made his will known in the scriptures. Granted, you won’t necessarily find the specific answers to every particular question you might have directly in the Bible, but the Bible provides the essential framework by which we can know and enter into the general will of God, which has bearing on his specific will for each of the particulars of life.

In Colossians 1:9, the Apostle Paul writes, “We have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.” God wants us to have “complete knowledge” of his will, and this new sermon series, “God’s Will,” offers the starting point for that to come to pass.

Series Playlist

Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Repentance and Faith
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  • Repentance and Faith

    Repentance and Faith

    Jun 9, 2024 • 44:07

    Jesus taught that the difference between who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven and who will not boils down to who does his Father’s will. At the center of the Father’s will is to rightly acknowledge and honor Christ as Lord, but it has to be more than mere lip…

  • Trusting Obedience

    Trusting Obedience

    Jun 16, 2024 • 46:27

    While the will of God before all else is for us to receive the fullness of Christ through repentance and faith, God’s interest and purpose for our lives does not stop there. The Scriptures affirm that he has plans for us and promises to guide us in the paths we…

  • God's Will for Us to be Holy

    God's Will for Us to be Holy

    Jun 23, 2024 • 28:40

    Speaker: Karl Bowden Series: God’s Will

  • Secret Place in God

    Secret Place in God

    Jun 30, 2024 • 44:49

    Speaker: Karl Bowden Series: God’s Will

God the Spirit
Sermon Series

“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” – John 14:17, NLT

The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person within the Triune Godhead. He is not an energy, or force, or power. He is not a something, but a divine Someone. He is no less God, or personal, than the Father or the Son. This is the catholic (ie. universal) faith: “That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.”

The Spirit can be known from the first pages of the Scriptures. He is present in the creation of the cosmos. He anoints persons for holy tasks. He illuminates the minds of the prophets. He comes upon the Messiah and rests. He is the agent of new birth and the power for holiness. He speaks, he abides, he can be grieved. The scriptures say all this and more.

“God the Spirit” is a sermon series devoted to knowing the Holy Spirit more intimately–that we might see more clearly who he is and how he operates; that we might be more attuned to his voice and open to his work; that he might reign in our hearts and use us for his purposes in bringing glory to the Father and the Son. He leads into all truth, and the truth will set you free!

Series Playlist

Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
Elizabeth City EMC Podcast
The Holy Spirit
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  • The Holy Spirit

    The Holy Spirit

    May 5, 2024 • 43:19

    The Holy Spirit is not a power, force, or emanation of God, but a divine person, co-equal to the Father and the Son. The goal for the Christian, therefore, must never be to treat him like a thing to know about and use, but as a person to draw close…

  • Symbols of the Spirit

    Symbols of the Spirit

    May 12, 2024 • 55:21

    The Bible offers certain symbols that reveal various dimensions of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Together they affirm that he is the breath of life from God, who comes to cleanse, renew, and purify those upon whom he rests because of their union with Christ. Speaker: Sean…

  • The Phenomenal Spirit

    The Phenomenal Spirit

    May 19, 2024 • 56:42

    The supernatural phenomena of Pentecost wind, fire, and speech in Acts 2 are all about the fullness of God’s presence and power available to the church through the person of the Holy Spirit. All of God, in all of us, for all the world. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: God the Spirit…

  • The Speaking Spirit

    The Speaking Spirit

    May 19, 2024 • 58:30

    The Holy Spirit is a divine person who speaks and has something to say. The primary means by which the church can hear his voice are the scriptures and prayer. Reading the Bible and praying are not disciplines we add to the spiritual life. They themselves are the spiritual life.…

  • The Abiding Spirit

    The Abiding Spirit

    May 26, 2024 • 52:50

    The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost changed the calculus forever. It was a watershed moment in the history of humanity, redefining the way that God and man relate to one another. It opened up all the possibilities of heaven: life greater than death, real transformation and power for…

  • The Giving Spirit

    The Giving Spirit

    Jun 2, 2024 • 45:34

    True Holy Spirit spirituality does not result in states of ecstasy or detachment, nor any form of disembodied individualism. The work of the Spirit in the Christian life is to incorporate embodied persons together under the Lordship of Christ. This is expressed and manifested through a variety of gifts, services,…

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