Elements City Church Podcast

As we wrap up our year and begin looking into the next, reflection is so much a part of this season. Tonight we want to reflect on the Scriptures for 3 key things to carry with us as we navigate 2015 with God. God Has You. Love Matters Most. Live On Mission.

Anticipation is a predominant feeling and sense that arises around Christmas. On that Silent Night so long ago, the anticipation of humanity had grown cold, but God delivered a Savior that exceeds all expectations. He gave himself to be with us and to show he is for us.

What we lean into at Christmas is God's GREAT gift to us in Jesus! God has given us everything we need and now in response, we can bring him everything we need to. You can bring the highs, joys, celebrations of life to God this Christmas. You can also bring your burdens, trials, hardships and doubts. We can bring it ALL to the ONE who gave His ALL.

We're looking into how the Christmas story proclaims God's desire to work THROUGH US, to shine the light of Christmas. The Light of Christmas burst onto the scene on the original Silent Night and it changed everything. Its light still is expanding and shining. We are now called to let our light shine through our good deeds that will point people toward our Great God!

There are so many mixed messages and stories floating around this season. But the simple Christmas story is one of profound Good News! In order to appreciate this Good News, we have to understand the previous dominate news of the day. As we do, it frees us to embrace the reality that Christmas declares: God is FOR us.

As we begin our journey toward Christmas, we lean into the greatest interruption in history. Interruptions are a part of life…there are tough interruptions, good interruptions and then there are God interruptions. The incarnation was a divine interruption into history that initiated the greatest gift of all time. In Christmas God broke the silence and declared His presence. At Christmas we remember: God's interruptions are his divinely timed interventions.

We love the extraordinary. We’re fascinated by it and drawn to it. Yet most of us would consider our lives ordinary. But what if there is a way for the ordinary to become extraordinary? There is and it starts when we use our life’s story to bring God glory.

Tonight we look into the call of following Jesus. It's a serious calling and deserves our commitment. But it's not meant to be a solo journey. We need community to anchor and grow our commitment. We want to be a gathering of Christ followers who live out the truth: No One Stands Alone. We're better together.

Tonight we examine a bit more of the calling we have as a church. Slogans are catchy and good, but a mission is so much more. We have a mission: inviting people into a life-giving and life-changing relationship with Jesus. We are to herald a proclamation for everyone and an invitation for each individual as we ourselves, follow Christ. It’s not about our religious activity for God, it’s about our relational proximity to Jesus!

As we wrap up our sermon series on Blind Spots - we look into the book of Micah. It's a book that challenges us to not grow numb or become blinded to the injustices in our world - but rather to step forward, step up and show that God's love is a love with action. Love Does. We may never be superheroes, but we can be HEROIC...in big ways & in small ways. Live by the principle: do for ONE, what you wish you could do for ALL.

This week we're examining the book of Jonah and God's message throughout. Jonah had a clear calling to chase after, instead he ran from it. When he did get realigned and pursued it, God did some amazing things. Jonah's heart in some ways had become insulated and protected. His 'bubble' of was safe and known and was his foremost desire, but God will always call us to live outside our bubble. God is bigger than any bubble we create, generate or seek to protect. God's mission to reach all people with his compassion will call us to greater things.

Most of us live comfortable lives. And although there is nothing inherently wrong with comfort, it can be hazardous to our spiritual growth. The prophet Amos reveals the danger of getting too comfortable and calls us to engage with the hurt and suffering around us.

Tonight, we look into the book of Malachi, about the drift in our devotion to God that can occur when our gratefulness becomes compromised. We can drift into being half-hearted about our faith. God desires more and deserves more than leftovers and second best. He brings His best to us and it's His LOVE that is always seeking to refine us and stir our faith.

As we conclude our Freeway series, exploring the not so perfect guide to freedom, we see that freedom shares. The freedom that we have been given in and through Christ is not meant to only be an experienced thing, but a shared thing. Why? Because: rescued people help rescue people. What we care about, we will share about. Learn 3 practical tips to helping you invite others to experience the grace you've found in God.

Labels are a part of our world and if we're honest, a part of our past. Choose wisely who you listen to. Labels can become more than an accessory, maybe they've begun defining your identity. Maybe we're meant to have new ones trump the old ones with ultimate truth. In our freedom we have in Christ, we're invited to anchor our lives to our God given labels of love. Friend, let the ONE who created you, be the ONE who speaks into you. He speaks labels of fact! ...everyone else is just giving opinion.

God is not held back by your history; he actually wants to propel you forward into a renewed destiny founded in Him. As we continue our #Freeway series we lean into the biblical practice of repentance and how it can help us move forward and not remain stuck in our spiritual journey. Repentance isn't about condemnation, but always about the process of transformation. We're to learn to own our responsibility and then move forward trusting in God’s reliability.

In order to step into the life of freedom that God has for us, we must know and embrace our new identity as a child of God. This means recognizing that we don’t have the strength to move forward on our own and that’s okay. Christ’s strength is all that we need.

None of us have a perfect life, but despite non-perfect circumstances and scenarios, we all can experience freedom. We want to put in motion some steps in this series to help us minimize the fears of life and maximize the freedom we’ve been given through Jesus. Consider this your "not-so-perfect-guide-to-freedom" = Freeway

In week 2 of our #RethinkingRich series we're boldly going where many don't want to go. We're talking budget:) We're also looking at some key principles: 1) it's wise to know the condition of it, if you're in charge of it. 2) We're managers, not owners. 3) Tomorrows generosity comes from today's responsibility. And as we live in the shadow of God's generosity, we richly respond back to him (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-12). We also have a little Elements family chat so that there is no mystery to where we are and where we're wanting to go as we pursue our mission. Be a part of the mission with us!

As we launch into a new series all about Rethinking Rich - we discover that 'rich' is a moving target. Our world pulls us to pursue riches (Get Rich) but God actually desires that we aim our lives at living richly (Be Rich). We examine the Scriptures that have some great encouragement to those of us who seek to live richly. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) We also examine a great principle that will enable you to begin practicing now! Week 2 we'll dive into some very practical tips and tools to living richly.