To Be a Blessing

ā€œOur mission is to belong and become,ā€ Pastor Bryan reiterates in his sermon at the beginning of the night.

ā€œBut.ā€ He pauses. ā€œThe question is: what are we becoming?ā€

And how do we know if we are going in the right direction?

When we look around the sanctuary on the night we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we look around to see familiar and unfamiliar faces. Faces of those who have been at EKKO since the humble beginnings in a small apartment and others of those who have prayed between the tight corners in the warehouse we eventually outgrew. And there are the new faces of those who have just stepped through the borrowed doors of our building just months, weeks, or days before. Itā€™s a beautiful mosaic of new and old faces, belonging together under one roof commemorating what God has done in and through our church in the ten years EKKO Church has existed.

For most of us sitting between these walls in the sanctuary, weā€™ve found home here.

At EKKO, we found more than friends. We found co-laborers and we have together been equipped to become the people God intended for us to be.

Belonging to a tribe provides a safe place for us to be transformed.

ā€œWe belong here. So what kind of people are we becoming?ā€ Pastor Bryan asks us again.

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes to the church, ā€œAnd in him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.ā€

We are becoming a dwelling in which God lives.

We are becoming a church.

In an adapted story that Pastor Bryan shares that night, he tells a story about a woman named EKKO who receives a vision from the Lord to build a church in her city. Throughout the story, we listen as she painstakingly gathers the resources to build this dream that God had given her, only to give it all away when disaster strikes nearby towns and communities.

Not once, but twice does she end up relinquishing all of her gifts for the sake of others.

While we listen to the story, itā€™s easy to wonder why God had given her this dream to build a church, when circumstances for it to come into fruition keep derailing her plans. It is only at the end of her life when she is able to see the dream come to life in the shape of a building being built and used by the people. If God gave her this vision to build a church, why is it that she is only able to see it come into focus at the end of her life?

As the story closes, it ends with this:

It is said to this day that Ekko had actually accomplished her task of building a church three times during her life rather than simply onceā€”the first two being more beautiful and radiant than the last.

This parable illustrates this idea that itā€™s easy to think of a church as a tangible building we could call our own. But in the end, the church that God desires is not necessarily a wonderful building, but rather a people who are attentive, mindful, responsible, and response-able to the needs of His heart.

The church God dwells in is made up of a people who desire the things that God desiresĀ and cares for the things that God cares about.

And like the character in the story, we build a church that God wants to dwell in when we become who we were meant to be: a blessing.

God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your fatherā€™s home for a land that I will show you. Iā€™ll make you a great nation and bless you. Iā€™ll make you famous; youā€™ll be a blessing. Iā€™ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you Iā€™ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.ā€ (Genesis 12: 1-4 MSG)

For our tenth anniversary, we planned to give 100% of the tithes and offerings received that night toward blessing the world. We did this intentionally to remind ourselves that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing. At the start, we partnered with charity: water to fund a $20,000 piping system that would provide clean water for a school of 700 students in Rwanda.

Photo from charity: water

But that night, we actually tripled our goal by raising $60,000, securing clean water for 2,100 students in three different schools in the Gicumbi District of Rwanda. These systems allow students to drink clean water in their schools, use running water for toilets and handwashing, supply potable water to the students and teachers, and thereby improving overall health.

While this act of radical generosity continues to astound us, we are reminded that the success of the night isnā€™t in how much money we raised.

It isnā€™t even in how much weā€™ve grown as a church or have survived the last ten years.

Our success as a church is that we are becoming a blessing to Godā€™s world.

In the weeks leading up to our anniversary, we also introduced a new expression of giving at EKKO: our Missions and Outreach Fund. (Read more and find out about which organizations we gave to this year here). As we enter into the new year, we plan to introduce more opportunities and channels that we can give our time, money, and gifts towards to bless the world.

We are becoming a generous and kind people that are mindful of the things God cares about.

We are living out the blessing He is making us to be.


ā€œBuilding a Churchā€
By EKKO Church, adapted from Peter Rollins

ā€œIt has been said that many years ago there was a church called Ekko who received a vision in which God spoke to her as a dear friend. In this conversation, God asked that Ekko dedicate her life to the task of building a church in her city.

Ekko began to grow and the desire to build a beautiful new building, a facility that would accommodate its growth, began to be pressing. Now, at this time new buildings were extremely costly, the only facilities being built were by well-to-do churches in well-to-do-cities. Ekko was not birthed with a silver spoon in its mouth, hence the task seemed impossible. She would have to raise a vast sum of money to purchase the land and acquire the help of architects, get permission from the city and deal with contractors. All to build a beautiful building, a lasting church, in the city.

However, the impossibility of the task did not sway her in the least. After having received her vision, Ekko sold the few items she possessed and lived a minimalistā€™s life, working hard with her hands, so as to make and save as much as possible for the funds needed to build this church. But raising the money proved to be a long and difficult task, it took longer than initially planned to save, and the job market constantly shifted, requiring Ekko to work different jobs and sometimes even part-time gigs to make it through the month. But gradually, over the next ten years, the money began to accumulate and enough was saved for the initial phases of the building journey. The new church was in view!

Shortly before the commissioning of the first set of blueprints, a dreadful fire ravaged a nearby town, destroying many peopleā€™s homes and livelihood. When the news reached Ekko she gathered up what she had raised and spent it on food for the hungry, material to help rebuild lost homes, and basic provisions for the dispossessed. Eventually, the town began to recover from the fire that had befallen it and so Ekko left and returned to the city in order to start over again, all the while remembering the vision that God had planted deep in her heart.

Many more years passed slowly, extracting their heavy toll on Ekko. But there were now many who had been touched by her love and dedication, so although people were poor, the money began to accumulate once again.

However, after nine more years, disaster struck again. This time an earthquake devastated the city, stealing the lives of thousands and leaving many children without families or support. But now Ekko was tired and very ill, yet without hesitation, she used the money that had been collected to buy medicines for the sick, homes for the orphaned, and land where the dead could be buried safely.

Never once did she forget the vision that God had imparted to her, but the severity of the earthquake required that she set this sacred call to one side in order to help with the emergency. Only when the chaos from the earthquake had settled did she once again take to the drawing boards, driven by her desire to build a powerful and beautiful church so that many people could belong and become who God had intended them to be.

Finally, shortly before her death, Ekko was able to gather together the money required for the new church building. Although she was, by this time, close to death, Ekko lived long enough to see the first church being built and used by the people.

It is said to this day that Ekko had actually accomplished her task of building a church three times during her life rather than simply onceā€”the first two being more beautiful and radiant than the last.ā€

The Dwelling Place

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.ā€ (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)

Although many of us have accepted Christ in our hearts, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we dwell with Him daily. Often, we don’t know how to host, stay, or abide with God.

Do you feel like you’ve let God in, but it doesn’t feel like He has stayed “in”?

Do you love God, but you’re not sure how to keep Him there?

“It’s one thing for God to visit and enter, but it’s a whole different thing to have Him dwell in us,” Pastor Bryan says.

In Genesis, God creates the first dwelling place and places Adam and Eve in the garden where He communes with them.

God never had a problem creating a space or placing us in a space where we can meet Him.

The problem, rather, is us.

The problem is whether we want to maintain our relationship and dwell with God.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?'” (Genesis 3:8-9 NIV)

God doesn’t want to just comeĀ to visit you. God wants to make us His dwelling place.

So how do we dwell with God deeply? How do we let God in daily?

In order to dwell with God, we must be willing to go the distance and go a little deeper, each and every day of your life.

How do we do that?

We give Him access and authority, and we abide with Him.

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the waterā€™s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, weā€™ve worked hard all night and havenā€™t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesusā€™ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simonā€™s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Donā€™t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:1-11 NIV)

Having God dwell in you requires that you give Him access.

“He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”

You have to let Jesus into your “boat.”

Your boat is your everyday life.

The mundane workings of your daily rhythms.

Your job.

Your schedule.

Your relationships.

You have to let Jesus into those areas of your life.

“Encounters happen at a bush, but Dwelling happens in a boat.”

ā€” Pastor Bryan H. Kim

Having God dwell in us, requires us to give Him authority.

“… he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, weā€™ve worked hard all night and havenā€™t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ā€

What Simon is saying to Jesus is: Weā€™ve worked hard all night, like weā€™re supposed to, but havenā€™t caught anything. We are disappointed and feel tired from failure. Can’t you see that we are cleaning our empty nets?

What do empty nets look like in our lives?

ā€œI donā€™t want to forgive again God, wonā€™t it happen again?ā€

ā€œI donā€™t want to pray again God, I donā€™t know why itā€™s not happening.ā€

ā€œI donā€™t want to try again God, itā€™s too embarrassing, itā€™s too tiring.ā€

ā€œI donā€™t want to love again God, it hurts too much.ā€

“I donā€™t want to fish again God, Iā€™ll fail again.ā€

ā€œI donā€™t want to try living for you again God, Iā€™ll fail you.ā€

Often these are rooted in these fears (adapted from “The Wisdom of the Enneagram”):

1. What if I try and prove that somethingā€™s ā€œwrong with meā€?

2. What if I obey and this proves I am not valuable, lovable?

3. What if I am exposed as unaccomplished, worthless?

4. What if this shows Iā€™m not as unique as I hoped others to view me as?

5. What if I end up helpless and inadequate?

6. What if Iā€™m left to myself again, without support or guidance?

7. What if I canā€™t handle the pain and the suffering that comes from this?

8. What if Iā€™m harmed or controlled?

9. What if I lose what I love, those I love, and experience separation?

But having God dwell in you, your boat, your life, means to give Him authority, ā€Ø even when it hurts, doesnā€™t make sense, or seems foolish.

It means saying: “But because You say so, I will…”

It means trusting in His authority. His word.

Having God dwell in you, requires you to Abide with Him.

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesusā€™ knees…”

If we want God to dwell in our hearts, we must abide with Him. We must fall at Jesus’ knees.

God wants to dwell in us, will we give Him access and authority. Will we abide with Him?

What is the boat you need to invite Him into? How is He taking you farther and deeper?

In order to dwell with God, you must be willing to go a little distanceĀ and go a little deeper each and every day of your life.

Pray with us this week:

Come, Lord.

Speak, Lord.

Stay, Lord.

I will obey.

I am Your dwelling place.


You can listen to the sermonĀ The Dwelling PlaceĀ from the Ephesians series that inspired this post here.

All images and materials are copyright protected and are the property of EKKO Church unless otherwise noted and credited to their maker. Please do not copy or distribute without permission.

To read more about the Enneagram, check out “The Wisdom of the Enneagram.”

Time’s A-Wastin’ Pt. II

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.ā€ (Ephesians 5: 15-21 ESV)

A coupleĀ of weeks ago, we talked about how when we lack the understanding of what God’s will is or what the bigger picture is, we get discouraged, distracted and deflated. We don’t make the best use of our time and we waste the seasons God has placed us in.

Edmon De Haro

We waste time by “binging” on wine (or screens) because we’re bored and want to kill or fill our time, instead of seeing time as precious.

Time is a Holy Gift from God: It is God’s possession. It is Holy. Remember the Marbles in the Jar example?

Instead, we are to look at our current season, the time frame we are in and ask: Why am I here? What is God’s assignment for me today?

And to this, we are to respond: “I get it, I understand.” I am alert, aware and anticipating your direction.

We received the charge to Worship & Worship. Because by worshipping with others and worshiping by ourselves, we become primed for God’s will.

But this week, we talk about the second part of Paul’s instruction:

“…but be filled with the Spirit… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Give Thanks.

Say Thanks.

Take Thanks.

Give Thanks: Thanksgiving is tangible; It’s love expressed. We give thanks by doing what we did on Anniversary! We literally give thanks.

We sought to raise $20,000 in partnership with charity: water for clean water in Rwanda, and that night we announced that we doubled that amount. But when we counted everyone’s giving (including those who were serving and gave later), we actually tripled that amount and raised $60,000 in one night!

That means we went from being able toĀ provide clean water to 700 students to 2,100 in one night!

When we give thanks, we begin to understand the Lord’s will. We say, “Ah, this is what my gifts are for, our time and talents as a Church, my resources and money. I understand Lord, I’ll be on the lookout for more of your will now in my own private life.”

Say Thanks: Saying thanks gets you in “range” to God’s voice. It’s like increasing the bars on your data. It helps you to “hear” God’s voice clearly. It does this by changing your posture from one of pride, to one of humility.

And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8 ESV)

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” (Psalm 100:4 NIV)

Say thanks throughout the day. Pray this with us this week: Thank you, Jesus, for loving me, without condition. Thank you for the price you paid for my life. Thank you for ransoming me from slavery to darkness. Thank you for delivering me from evil. Thank you for protecting me from myself. Thank you for watching over me each day, and each night, in this world. Thank you for being my God. I worship you with gratitude. I thank you. In Jesusā€™ name, Amen.ā€Ā  (Reeves, Canyon Road)

Then say what you’re thankful for. “Lord, today, I am thankful for…”

Take Thanks: Take communion. Participate in the Eucharist.

After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you…” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.ā€ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.ā€ (Luke 22: 17-20 NIV)Ā 

Every time we take communion, we are thanking God for His son, Salvation and for the Sending.

Three types of communion:

Holy Communion: Some Christians call communion the Holy Communion because this reminds us that we are called to live as His Holy people. To live wisely, making the best use of our time, to understand and do His will. We are in Koinonia; fellowship around Christ, for Christ, because of Christ.

Eucharist: When we take communion, we are thanking God for His salvation. Some traditions call it the Eucharist, to thank God for delivering us from evil, sin, and bondage and into a relationship with Him. “Eucharisto” is Greek for thank you.

Mass: When we take communion, we are thanking God for His holy purpose of sending us into the world to bless it. Some traditions call it mass, because it reminds us that when we take Christ’s body, all of our hunger is satisfied, and we are given the power and strength to feed the hungry and thirsty in our world. This is the meal that ends with us being sent out, commissioned.

When we take thanks by communion, we are reminded of whose we are and who we are. To live wisely, make the best use of our time, and to live out God’s will.

Recently, Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message Bible translation, passed away.Ā His son Leif said at his father’s funeral that his dad only had one sermon. That he had fooled everyone for 29 years of pastoral ministry, that for all his books, he only had one message. It was a secret that his dad had let him in on early in life, a message that Leif said his dad whispered in his heart for 50 years. Words he had snuck into his room to say over him as he slept as a child:

“God loves you. God is on your side. He is coming after you. He is relentless.”

When we take communion, we are inspired to live for His Kingdom. Because every time we take communion, when we break the bread and drink from the wine, we hear God whisper to us:

“I love you. I’m on your side. I’m coming after you. I am relentless.”


You can listen to the sermon Timeā€™s A-Wastinā€™ Pt. II from the Ephesians series that inspired this post here.

All images and materials are copyright protected and are the property of EKKO Church unless otherwise noted and credited to their maker. Please do not copy or distribute without permission.