The Ecclesia Podcast

Welcome to The Ecclesia Podcast, a place where we share stories and conversations about what it means to live in a holistic, Christian, missional community. In this episode, Pastor Chris sits down with Pastor Mike to discuss his time at Ecclesia as he prepares to move on to a new season planting his own church in SW Houston. At Ecclesia, our mission is to be a community that seeks to follow Jesus in all areas of life, and that includes our worship. We believe that there are many ways to worship God beyond just music and Sunday gatherings. If you're interested in learning more about our church community in Houston, Texas, please visit our website at www.ecclesiahouston.org. There you can learn more about ways to connect in small groups where you can share stories and remember together. Thank you for listening to The Ecclesia Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more thought-provoking conversations about what it means to live in holistic, Christian community.

In this episode, our teaching pastors Chris Seay and Sean Palmer sit down to wrap up the series we just finished about remembering. Remembering is an important part of worship. We remember when we read scripture, share stories, sing, gather, and more. And in this practice we remind each other and ourselves of the ways we have experienced God in our lives which serves as a reminder of the ways God will continue to show up as we go about our lives.

In this episode of the podcast Wayne sits down with Eric to have a conversation around the topic of worship through the act of moving your body. They covered things such as body positivity, what it means to embrace discomfort, and Wayne also shares about his own journey with exploring his own relationship with his body over the course of his life.

Welcome to The Ecclesia Podcast, a space where we share stories and conversations about what it means to live in a holistic, Christian, missional community. In this episode, our guests Alexandra and Misty join us to explore the topic of contemplative spiritual practices as a form of worship.

Episode 5: GratefulThe final episode in this contemplative series; Wander is an invitation to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. We thank you for taking part, and hope you will continue using this resource (and sharing it with others!) in future seasons.

Episode 4: Letting GoAs the fall weather comes (at last!) to greet us, we invite you to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. New episodes will be released every other week throughout our Lost Enchantment teaching series.Written and Produced by: Mike YagerNarration by: Mitzi MakMike YagerEditing and Sound Mixing by:Wes Cortiaus “Can’t Help Myself (Empty Hands)”Music and lyrics: Sandra McCrackenPerformed by: Matt Broaddus“Let Go”Music and lyrics: Frou FrouPerformed by: Paul PelcAdditional Music: “From Here We Move Forward” by Carolino“Endings” by Wil Pearce“The Context Fades” by Async RossGraphic Design: Dani Hooper

Produced by: Mike YagerWritten and Narrated by: Alexandra RiekeMike YagerEditing and Sound Mixing by:Wes Cortiaus “Gravity of Love”Music and lyrics: The BrilliancePerformed by: Paul Pelc“Heaven Is Here”Written and Performed by: Dani HooperAdditional Music: “Tranquility” by Lincoln Davis“Under The Stars” by Analog Heart“In Time” by Steven GutheinzGraphic Design: Dani Hooper

Written and produced by: Mike Yager Readings by: Mike YagerHannah Rodriguez Editing and Sound Mixing by:Wes Cortiaus “From The Rising Of The Sun (Psalm 113)”Music and lyrics: Sandra McCrackenPerformed by: Matt Broaddus “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”Music and lyrics: U2Performed by: Paul Pelc Additional Music: “The Myth of Balance” by Kurtis Parks“Waiting” by Acreage“The Part Where Things Start To Change” by Stephen Keech Graphic Design: Dani Hooper

Written and produced by: Mike YagerReadings by: Mike YagerAlexandra RiekeEdited by:Wes Cortiaus “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”Music and lyrics: Anthony J. Showalter and Elisha HoffmanArrangement, guitar, and vocals: Paul PelcPiano and vocals: Matt Broaddus“Near”Music and lyrics: Paul PelcAdditional Music: “Aura” by Kollen“Before Dawn” by On Earth“Motionless” by Steven GutheinzGraphic Design: Dani Hooper

Pain touches every one of us. Some of it was handed to us. Some of it we created. And some of it cut so deeply that it muted our voice and made us forget who we are. In this powerful message, Pastor Chris walks through the Psalms to show how God meets us in every kind of hurt and leads us toward healing, restoration, and a new song. Whether you are carrying wounds from your past, regret from your own choices, or a quiet ache that has slowly silenced your joy, this sermon holds a tender invitation. God offers rest that fits the shape of your life, restoration that reaches the deepest places, and a way forward that is full of hope.

Life is hard, and even people of deep faith face seasons of fear, pressure, and uncertainty. Pastor Sean invites us into David’s story of going into the wilderness to learn how Psalm 63 becomes a prayer for anyone wondering how they’re going to make it. When fight, flight, freeze, and fawn aren’t enough, we’re invited to thirst for God, trust deeply, and fall into grace.

In this message from our series Songs of the Shepherd King, Pastor Chris Seay explores how King David’s greatest strength—his big heart—was also what led to his greatest breaking. Drawing from Psalm 51, this sermon invites us to see how our own strengths, left unchecked, can become our undoing, and how God’s grace can restore us to rhythm again. From David’s story of failure and repentance to our modern rhythms of distraction and striving, this message calls us back to stillness, humility, and grace that outlasts our failures.

We’re kicking off a new series called "Songs of the Shepherd King" exploring the life and songs of David, the unlikely king, the vulnerable poet, and the one “after God’s own heart.” In this message, Pastor Chris invites us into the honest and emotional world of the Psalms, a book that trains us in honest prayer, where nothing is off-limits before God.

Life is full of seasons that require rebuilding. When children leave home, when loss changes everything, when dreams shift, or when the future does not go as planned, we face a choice to start again. Pastor Sean turns to the book of Zechariah to learn what it means to rebuild not just structures, but our very lives. Through stories of transition and faith, we explore how God calls us to break old patterns, live above the chaos, grieve what has been lost, and take responsibility for our response. Zechariah reminds us that rebuilding begins not with plans or blueprints, but with returning to God and trusting that His Spirit can make us His living temple.

This week in our series on the Minor Prophets, we turn to the final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, to ask a deeply honest question: Will we ever learn? In a world that often feels like it’s falling apart personally, politically, and globally, it’s easy to fall into despair or hopeless repetition. But God’s invitation through the prophet Malachi is not just to repent. It’s to remember.

hen life feels like rubble and the past looks brighter than the present, how do we find the courage to start again? Ericka Graham invites us to look at the story of Haggai and how God called His people to rebuild the temple before they felt ready, to choose hope over cynicism, and to trust that His presence makes even small beginnings holy.

Pastor Sean invites us to step out of hiding, confess what has been concealed, and experience the God who welcomes us back with joy. Through the prophet Zephaniah, we hear a call to face the sin we would rather ignore, not to shame us but to draw us back to the One who loves us. God’s invitation is not just to acknowledge what is broken but to come home to His heart, where judgment gives way to mercy and He rejoices over His people with singing.

This week Pastor Chris continues in our series on the minor prophets called Disorienting Hope and he shares from a place few of us expected: the tiny Old Testament book of Obadiah. Though only 21 verses long, this prophetic word speaks directly into the brokenness of our modern world — where nationalism, tribalism, and indifference often drown out the call of compassion and Kingdom faithfulness.

In a week filled with tragedy and noise, we pause to ask a deeper question: Who are we becoming? The prophets remind us that God’s concern is not just with our actions, but with the kind of people we are being formed into. Hosea’s marriage to Gomer—a story of unfaithfulness met with relentless love—stands as a living parable of God’s covenant with His people. Though we often place our hope in politics, wealth, or personal success, God calls us back to Himself, offering restoration and a new identity. This message invites us to reflect: Is our life a demonstration of the world’s values, or of divine love? And if we continue on the path we’re walking today, what kind of person are we becoming for eternity?

Pastor Chris shares stories that remind us of the power of generosity, community, and faith in action. Pastor Chris invites us to consider how our gifts—whether small or great—can be used for miracles when we offer them to God first. He also introduces a bold new vision: transforming a vacant office building in southwest Houston into safe, affordable housing with wraparound services for families in need.