Elements City Church Podcast

As we continue to look at Jesus - we realize that He accomplished WAY more than you and I can every imagine on the cross! He expressed one final phrase: "It is finished." That friends, was a declaration of victory. The Gospel of John makes explicit what all the gospels declare—the cross, the ultimate symbol of defeat got flipped that day and is now the ultimate symbol of God’s victory! "Tetelestai" is the greek term that means 'it is finished' and was used in the 1st century as a term to finalize sales = 'paid in full'. That’s the gospel = Jesus paid a debt we couldn't pay and he made a way, when we had no chance to find our way back to God.

onight we examine this question, this cry, that Jesus utters from the cross and we see it as the deepest revelation of the “passion of the Christ.” Up to this moment, Jesus has been unbelievably calm. So when he starts to shout here - this is something way beyond physical or emotional suffering. It’s infinite spiritual suffering he's enduring. His cry in Matthew 27:46 is quoted from Psalm 22:1. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he's hanging on to Scripture. He's persisting through with God's plan. Psalm 22 starts in darkness, foretelling of this day (thousands of years before), but it ends with the hope that is still unfolding today! Jesus shows us we can take life's inevitable "why's" to God as our ultimate WHO. He can handle them and help us work through them.

As we begin this series looking at the words of Jesus from the cross, we examine his first phrase: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Is there a greater struggle at times, then forgiveness? Most of us are reluctant to forgive even the smallest of offense. But early on Jesus taught his followers that forgiveness matters. Here again, he models it's strength. Forgiveness is what Jesus extends. Forgiveness is what followers of Jesus do.

We're grateful to have Pastor Jamie Benjamin from Greater Faith Church in Tucson with us this evening. His message invites us toward leaning into the necessity of the rhythm of repentance. Repentance is the call toward embracing godly sorrow and seeking God's healing in ourselves, our families, our relationships and even our city and country.

As we wrap up our series through the relationship seasons of life, we zero in on marriage. What does the Scriptures have to say about the role and call of marriage and all it's meant to be? We know God created this union, among many reasons, to eventually give us a fuller understanding of his relationship with the church—his holy bride. We lean into Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5 tonight. And we unpack 7 practical and wise actions to help you build and grow a healthy marriage.

Though the Scriptures don't necessarily have guidance for what we call 'dating', they much wisdom and truths for relationships and the process of evaluation. So we look into some principles to help us navigate this season of dating. Be one who champions others and not just your own self interest (see Philippians 2). Let the way of love lead you (see 1 John 4). Love sends. Love sacrifices. Love stays. Have wise evaluation around character and chemistry in those you date. And choose to have commitment precede intimacy.

We all have a relationship status: Single. Dating. Married. Tonight we examine God's wisdom for us who are single or single again. It all begins by getting our most necessary relationship right - our relationship with God. Human love can be very significant, but human love can NEVER be supreme. Get this relationship right and it will influence every other one in a healthy way. Friend: for however long your single-season may last – make it count! Live with an undivided attention and run after God, trusting Him to bring you the relationship you desire when it's best. Waiting on God might be hard, the only thing harder, is wishing you had. Each season has a calling upon our lives and God desires us to grow and leverage our lives no matter our relationship status.

As we finish up our look through Psalm 23, we see the crescendo of the entire passage. God's goodness and love will follow us all our days and we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever, as one under His care. We must each choose whether we'll submit to being under His care or not. If we do, we can experience God's Goodness and LOVE as his "divine sheep dogs", hemming us in as we travel life with our Shepherd. Jesus is your Good Shepherd = HE delivers protection, provision, peace, providence, His presence, and ultimately brings us home to paradise!

We all will log time in the valleys of life. God can and will build your faith in the valleys if you let Him. We love to enjoy the mountain tops. But, faith gets built in the valleys of life. You’re never alone and God can bring healing and hope as you follow him through and lean on His power.

As we continue in Psalm 23 - we see (v.2-3) speak to God as our Good Shepherd and His care over us – his passion to provide, nurture, take care of and call us to experience godly ‘REST'. This Psalm doesn't begin with work, activity or assignments - it begins with a call to rest.

One of the most beloved Scriptures in all the Bible is Psalm 23. David writes this so that we may know God as our Good Shepherd. This intimate and relational imagery frames then entire Psalm. David wants us to live understanding this truth as reality. Our series take-away is: "Your success (growth and quality) as a sheep will be completely dependent upon your proximity to the Shepherd." Living in the proximity of our Shepherd helps us battle back against worry and build up our contentment.

No matter what your circumstances are God is still God and God is still good! Listen to some of our church community share how God has worked in their lives in 2017 and our prayers for 2018!

Christmas is a season that calls us to grow. To grow in WONDER, grow in COMPASSION, and also be a part of the ever-growing REACH of Christmas. The reach outward to impact many and bring them home to life with God, as well as, the reach inward to transform us connected to Christ, step by step to reflect Him more. The reach of Christmas launched that Holy Night and no one is beyond it's ever-expanding reach even now.

Christmas calls us to grow our compassion capacity – as we remember that God moved with His absolute best expression of compassion in the giving of His Son Jesus! Our culture says that ruthless competition is the key to life; Jesus shows that relentless compassion is the purpose of life.

When Jesus was born - all was not merry and bright. Christmas is a gift. A gift that invites us to grow in the wonder of God. The single most astonishing story every told still calls to us to experience WONDER…even if not everything is wonderful. Choose to grow your wonder this season by intentionally & creatively making the celebration of Christmas > the obligations of Christmas.

Jesus continues his teaching on treasure (Matthew 6:19-24) by telling us we cannot serve both God and money. Why is he driving this home, calling us to choose? Because he's seeking our undivided loyalty. When it comes to treasure: God’s not looking for donors – he’s looking for disciples...those immersed in His eternal vision and fueling its reality. We're invited to adopt some new mindsets about our resources as we seek to make eternal investments and not just earthly ones. It's there our joy will grow and compound.

We all make investments. It's not a matter of if, but where. Jesus is challenging us to make sure we’re investing in Eternal things and not just earthly things. Invest where there is no time-limit, no fading, no theft, no rust, no entropy. We can invest where there is no expiration date - into the things of God where His influence and impact can change lives. When we invest our temporal resources into eternal matters - we will experience a compounding joy.

As we wrap up our series in the Old Testament book of Joshua, we're going to see in the last chapters, Joshua's last challenge. He's going to challenge them (and us) that our spiritual fervor and commitment is ultimately our choice to make. We decide – one way or another. In the plethora of 'things' seeking our allegiance and devotion - God is asking us to choose Him. He chose us and now he asks us to choose him. Jesus desires and deserves absolute love, not optional love. We must choose – this day and the next day, and the next day...(repeat)

Tonight's story is one of failure. We all have 'em. It's ultimately about our biggest challenge and one we couldn't overcome on our own. It introduces us to a rhythm we need in our lives as we face our own sins, failures and mistakes. We don't minimize sin, but we do MAXIMIZE JESUS. It's only there that we are fueled by gratitude and can move forward, and not be haunted by guilt and held back. Repentance moves us to worship our great and graceful God. A regular rhythm of repentance keeps us relational right with God.

Jericho falls through God's intervention. The impossible happened. It reminds us of what Jesus said "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Impossibility just isn’t in God’s vocabulary. One of the deepest theological messages of Joshua ch.6 is that God is teaching us to trust Him instead of trusting our own cleverness. God is still in the business of breaking down walls today. You never know what God will set in motion with one small step of obedience.