First Congregational Church of Essex

The Word of Life

(Pardon the poor audio quality for the first 16 minutes of this sermon. It gets corrected half way through.)In a world filled with competing voices and endless sources of information, how can we know who to trust, what is true, and how we are called to live?In 1 John, the Apostle John writes to those seeking clarity about who Jesus is, what he has done for us, and how we are called to live in response to the gospel—with lives marked by holiness, love, and mercy.Join us this summer as we journey through John’s first letter. Together we'll discover the truth of the gospel, learn how to walk in the light, and walk in love, as Children of God.

An Invitation to Prayer

Feel free to take out your journals or something to write on for this message, as we practice rhythms of prayer, reflection, and Scripture meditation.

On Being Set Free

Many of us are plagued by guilt and shame. How does the gospel speak freedom over these burdens? Join us this Sunday as we reflect on I John 1 to explore freedom in Christ. 1 John 1:8-10

Armor of God

As we conclude Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we reach its climax: the call to stand firm against the Enemy. We’ll see how the tools God gives us are weapons against the kingdom of darkness, not against other humans. And we’ll learn what it means to live in the victory Christ has already won through the cross and the empty tomb.Eph. 6:10-24Video Credit: The King of Kings (2025) - Angel Studios(Clip used only for educational purposes)

A Home That Considers Christ

This week in Ephesians, we come to one of the most misunderstood and misused passages not only in the letter, but perhaps in all of Scripture. Yet when read carefully in its context, we begin to see something surprisingly beautiful: a vision of relationships transformed by the Gospel and shaped by the self-giving love, humility, and submission of Christ. Eph. 5:22-6:9