Isaiah begins chapter 5 singing a love song for his Beloved concerning his vineyard. Isaiah’s Beloved is the Lord his God; the vineyard is Israel (Isa. 5:7). But despite God’s loving care and faithful protection, his vineyard did not produce good fruit. Instead, they produced bitter grapes due to the corruption of their sinful hearts. […]
Over the years, ever since our church’s first worship service held on August 18, 1944, God has shown himself faithful to the assembly of his saints gathered here at ECC. He has continued to lead his children along every step of the way by his sovereign grace. And as we look towards the future, our […]
The true people of God have always been persecuted by those who oppose God. But, as the Bible tells us, “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). As we consider the death of Stephen, the first martyr of […]
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said: “The most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also.” Why? Because only in the word of God do we discover man’s real need and God’s […]
Throughout the Bible, God often gave his rebellious people powerful reminders of his holiness through judgment. For instance, after Aaron and his sons were set apart as priests, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire and were consumed. Why? The word of the Lord after their death says it all: “Among those who are near me […]
As Christians, we love to hear inspiring stories of believers who lived boldly for the cause of Christ. We are deeply moved by the passionate witness of missionaries, evangelists, and martyrs. But what about us? Can we be so bold? Can we be like Peter and John, who stood before the Jewish council that crucified […]
Who are the people of God today? Who can say, “The Lord is our God and we are his people”? Scripture declares that, after the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, God graciously chose a people for himself out of all the nations of the world to be his treasured possession, obeying his […]
One of the most convincing proofs that the risen Lord Jesus had poured out the promised Holy Spirit can be seen in the events following Peter’s sermon on Pentecost. Luke not only records that those who received Peter’s words were baptized were added to the church (v.41), but he also gives a comprehensive portrait of […]
Over the course of redemptive history, there have been several pivotal moments that revealed who our God is and what his saving purposes are for the world. For instance, the giving of the Law at Sinai, the building of the temple, and the ascension of the risen Lord Jesus. However, before the final moment in […]
