Sir Thomas More wrote, “A drowning man will grasp a straw.” Fear will cause us to hope in all kinds of things. In this passage from Isaiah, God gives King Ahaz a sign that reveals Ahaz’s misplaced hope. But today that same sign offers us the only real hope there is: The hope of Immanuel, “God with us.” More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267…

Executive Pastor Raimie Bateman encourages us today that we are all are designed to echo the original goodness of God. To share in His joy, share that joy with others, and do good for others; good which God can magnify beyond our wildest expectations. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram o…

Humans crave significance. We want to know that our lives matter. That we matter. Unfortunately, most of us think that the way to significance lies through personal achievement and success, at whatever cost. But the Apostle Paul shows us another way. The way of love. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM u…

Ever walked into a room and realized you weren’t dressed for the occasion? Or put on a pair of jeans only to discover they’re no longer “in”? Or missed the memo about the company dress code? Even in churches, it can be hard to know what to wear. But the only dress code mentioned in Scripture isn’t about clothing. It’s about the virtues that charact…

Presidential elections are a big deal. For months leading up to the election, we’re blanketed with messaging about the significance of the election: what it would mean for our country if this leader vs. that leader were elected. And when election night comes, many of us will sit up late into the night and early morning to find out what the future o…

“Love your enemies.” Sounds like a terrible idea, doesn’t it? Sounds crazy, even stupid. The only reasonable move is to love the people on your team, not the opposition. But love–at least the way God loves us–isn’t reasonable or calculated. To love people God’s way is to love people who are against you as though they’re on your team, even when they…

Loving people is hard work. Oftentimes in the struggle for personal survival and success, loving other people feels like an inconvenience. It’s easy to settle for good intentions and best wishes, rather than put someone else’s needs ahead of our own. But to love others doesn’t mean simply to toss positive emotions toward someone else. Love acts. Mo…

Life is a story. Sometimes it’s a comedy. Sometimes it’s a tragedy. Sometimes it’s a story of triumph. At other times, a story of failure and disappointment. But love has the amazing ability to rewrite our stories. When you know how God loves you, it changes the plotline to make you the person God created you to be. More info https://www.ebc.org or…

What brands do you wear? Nike? Under Armor? Tommy Hilfiger? Whatever’s on sale? The best brands communicate that organization’s values and qualities that set it apart from the rest. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, you have a brand. It’s the same as his: love. And when we wear it well, the world knows we’re his. More info https://www.ebc.org or c…

A big problem many of us face today is identity theft. In today's message, Easton's Music and Recovery Pastor Steve Johansson encourages us that no one can rob us of the identity for which God has created us when our lives are rooted in Him. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook…

On a journey, the destination is the purpose; it’s the reason you take the trip to begin with. For followers of Jesus, the journey is to become people so transformed by the gospel that our lives radiate God’s message of faith, hope, and love to our community and beyond. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), D…

It’s been said that the church is more like a battleship than a luxury cruise ship. In the church, we’re on a mission to make a difference by sharing the message of Jesus with the world. And on this ship, there are no passengers; only crew members. On this journey, we all have a part to play. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), em…

The journey of life isn’t easy. Life isn’t fair. Things don’t work out the way they’re supposed to. Bad stuff happens… a lot. Having someone (or someones) to travel with is essential to a successful journey. Which raises the question: who are you traveling with? More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on …

If you put the wrong kind of fuel into your car engine, it will ruin your engine overtime, which will ultimately prevent you from being able to get where you want to go. In a similar way, if you try to run your life on the wrong kind of fuel, it will damage your heart and keep you from becoming more of who God has created you to be. In 1 John 4, th…

What do you fear most in life? Global warming? Global conflict? Stock market crisis? The wrong person elected president? Or maybe your fears are more personal: failure, heartache, terminal illness, or the loss of a loved one. There are a lot of reasons to be afraid in today’s world (as there always are), and fear has become a sort of global pandemi…

What’s the longest you ever had to wait for something? Have you ever waited too long for something? Whether we consider the length of time we’ve waited to be exorbitant depends on what we’re waiting for. Waiting an hour for a meal at a Michelin star restaurant? Perfectly reasonable. Waiting an hour at McDonalds? Not so much. But how long would you …

There’s a lot of bad news out there. (It doesn’t matter what year you’re reading this, by the way; there’s always more bad news.) Some of it’s close to home. Some of it’s far away. It’s enough to make you wonder, where is God? More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come see u…

Pastor of Worship Steve Johansson shares the final message of a two part series examining what worship is, where it comes from, and where it can take us. Today's message is titled "Spirit and Truth." More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come see us in person at Easton Bible…

Pastor of Worship Steve Johansson shares the first message of a two part series examining what worship is, where it comes from, and where it can take us. Today's message is titled "More Than a Song." More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come see us in person at Easton Bible…

When you’re young, life can feel like endless possibilities. But as you get older, the truth becomes clearer: life is harder than you imagine, shorter than you think, and you don’t get many second chances. As Jesus closes his Sermon on the Mount, he challenges us to put into practice all he’s taught about living in light of God’s kingdom. Doing–not…

The most difficult person to get to know is yourself. We’re masters of self-deception. But, as Jesus shows us in Matt. 7, having an accurate assessment of yourself is crucial if you want to make a positive difference in the world and experience the kind of life God wants you to have. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (offi…

Parenting is hard. Scratch that. Parenting is nigh unto impossible. We want what’s best for our kids. But how do you even know what that “best” is? Today, parents are faced with never ending decisions about kids’ sports, schools, friends, phones, social media, homework, peer pressure, dating, and the list goes on and on. So, how do you raise kids w…

What about me? That's a question we hear (and speak) a lot. Today, our Executive Pastor, Reverend Raimie Bateman, shares that Jesus leads us to know that a meaningful life comes when we can ask "What about You?" More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come see us in person at …

People can be difficult, to put it mildly. And yet, there’s really no avoiding them. In this passage from his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us the key to dealing with difficult people. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come see us in person at Easton Bible Church. Tha…

Have you ever wondered if there was more to life than what you were experiencing? As great as life might be when you get the job or marry the love of your life or experience some other incredible high, that high only lasts so long. In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses the question we all face at some point: What is life for? And he makes the astounding cl…

Shakespeare wrote that all the world’s a stage. In today’s world of digital media, it can feel as though we have to constantly perform because someone’s always watching. Even at church. But God wants our hearts, not a performance. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come s…

If you’re a parent, you want to set your kids up for success. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses tells the Israelites how they’re to raise their children so that they’ll experience the kind of lasting and true success that only God can give. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come s…

What does it mean to be perfect? Most people would probably say that “to be perfect” means to never make a mistake, never do the wrong thing, and never make the wrong choice. But in Jesus’ estimation, the highest standard of perfection is demonstrated in love for one’s enemies. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc…

Who can you trust? Looking at social media or listening to politicians, it can feel like everyone’s only out for themselves. And if other people can’t be trusted to honor their commitments or do what’s in your best interest, it’s tempting to play by the same rules ourselves. But what a world collapsing under the weight of our collective distrust ne…

Everyone knows it’s wrong to murder. But what about getting angry with someone? Or insulting them? How bad is getting mad really? In this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that the root issue behind murder and blind rage are the same: the inability to see the image of God in the other person. More info https://www.ebc.org or cal…

Have you ever been faced with the reality that your best wasn’t good enough? In this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns that if we ask the question, am I good enough for God to love me? We won’t like the answer. Thankfully, there’s a better question he wants us to ask. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (off…

Longtime Easton Pastor, Dr. Joe Scro joins us for the final message of our Find Forgiveness Live Differently series. He will share a message titled "A Time to Forgive." More info at ebc.org or message us. Thank you for subscribing. #eastonbiblechurch #hainesportnj #sundaylivestream #lifechange #gratitude #Jesus #forgiveness #jesuschangeseverything …

Reverend Darin Pesnell joins us for the fourth message of our Find Forgiveness Live Differently series with a message titled “Godly Sinners” based on Psalm 32. More info at ebc.org or message us. Thank you for subscribing. #eastonbiblechurch #hainesportnj #lifechange #hope #forgiveness #jesuschangeseverything #findforgivenesslivedifferently…

There are moments when we catch a glimpse of Jesus. Such snapshots can be indelibly impactful. When you see that His actions reveal His character and the power His presence has in the lives of those present, you can't help but want to be more like Him. The self-reflection which ensues can be a key decision point in your day and even your life becau…

At some level we all experience brokenness. At EBC,, we believe that people can experience growth and new life by working through the healing path God has given us in the Bible. So whatever struggles are holding you back in your relationship with God, others, or even yourself, come as you are and find a God who loves you, has a plan for you, and wa…

We all aspire to be something–someone special. Yet when we take an honest inventory, we realize that we just can’t seem to get there. For me, I’m never satisfied with my level of understanding, physical fitness, intelligence, and depth of relationships. There’s just so much in life where I feel like a failure. For example, in my relationship with J…

What do you hope for? At one level, most of us probably have a vague hope that our lives will have meaning, for love and happiness, that justice will win out, and that we’ll enjoy our lives and not suffer too much. (Basically, we hope our lives don’t stink!) But without a basis for our hope, our hopes amount to little more than wishful thinking. Wh…

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’—Matthew 21:10 Who is Jesus? For some Jesus was the Messiah, the king God had promised from the line of David. For others, he was a prophet, a teacher, or a miracle worker. For others, he was a dangerous heretic or a madman who had to be stopped. When Jesus enters Jer…

Have you ever felt like you were dispensable… maybe disposable or replaceable? Sure, your mom thinks you’re special, but you’re just one of more than eight billion people on the planet! It’s easy to feel like your life doesn’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things, that the world is just too big for your life to make any real difference.…

Easton's Pastor of Family Ministries Luke McAlack shares from the book of Acts Chapter 1 verses 6-11, that we have been granted the power to be witnesses to the Gospel; beginning with ourselves, family, community, and people from every background because God loves us and God loves each and every person we meet. More info https://www.ebc.org or call…

Has anyone ever tried to convince you to do something a different way? It could be how you cook a particular dish or how you drive or how you parent or how you exercise. And getting that kind of advice isn’t always solicited or welcomed! But sometimes it’s the advice we need. As part of our current series, over the next few weeks we’ll be unpacking…

Institutions exist for the sake of existing. Movements exist for the sake of making a difference. When Jesus calls us out of the hopelessness of sin and death, he’s not calling us to be part of an institution. He’s calling us into his movement to change the world. More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us o…

Privilege, power, and popularity are the subtle drugs of celebrity. There’s nothing inherently wrong with having status or being famous. But when being seen as powerful or important becomes essential to your identity—either who you think you are or who you wish to be—the temptation to do whatever it takes to gain that level of prominence can become…

Have you ever had someone love you enough to tell you the truth about you? One of the most courageous acts in life is to see yourself as you really are. And the degree of honesty you have about who you are will determine the degree to which you grow in life. In Matthew chapter 3, Matthew introduces us to a man named John the Baptist who told people…

Have you ever known the right thing to do… and did the wrong thing anyway? Both behavioral psychology and neuroscience suggest that our brains operate on two different wavelengths. There’s the reasonable, rational, conscious part of your brain (left-side) and the automatic, intuitive, reactionary part of your brain (right-side). Jonathan Haidt comp…

So far in this series, we’ve seen that Easton’s mission (and ours) is to help people experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus (cf. Matthew 28:19-20), and that we’re here both for believers and non-believers (cf. Acts 2:42-47). As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we become who we were created to be, which in turn reveals Jesus to an…

Depending on who you ask, there are some Christians who think that the church’s primary purpose is to serve believers. For them, church equates to bible studies, fellowship dinners, small groups, and programs designed exclusively for Christians. For other Christians, church is essentially an outreach event. What really matters is getting more peopl…

In a message entitled "Purpose through Change," Easton's guest speaker Ramie Bateman of teachthestory.org shares from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 5 that change in life is inevitable. And through change we are able to grow into our real purpose when we embrace those changes through the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. More info https://www.ebc.org …

Have you ever wondered why churches exist? Or perhaps more specifically, why does our church exist? Is it because we needed someplace to go on Sunday mornings? A place to make friends or network? Someplace to learn about God and the Bible? At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus lays out a clear mandate for all believers and, by extension, all church…

Pastor of Adult Ministries Colin Baker encourages us to be strong and courageous through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with a message from the Book of Joshua. Have a Happy and Blessed New Year! More info https://www.ebc.org or call (609.267.4755), email (office@ebc.org), DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or come see us in person at Easton Bible …