Elements City Church Podcast

Have you ever wondered what was the payoff to following Jesus? Is it becoming a better person? Is it going to Heaven? Is it a pain-free, problem-free life? When you follow Jesus you will be a better person, and you will go to Heaven! But your life will certainly have pain and problems, and that’s ok. Because the payoff in following Jesus is so much better — it’s a faith so confident in God that it overcomes any fear.

Today we examine the early story of Jesus calling his first followers and how they met that moment and how Jesus invited them each to trust him with their next step. Each one of us will find ourselves at one of 4 phases in this FOLLOW process Jesus is inviting us into. Each phase begins with a single next step. Step forward friend.

The best question we must ask ourselves is: am I following Jesus? — not what do I know, not how well do I pray, not how consistently do I attend church, not how much scripture I know, not even how obedient am I, not have I committed…but am I actively, intentionally engaged in the process of following Jesus? Jesus doesn’t invite us into following steps of religiosity, but into a relationship with him and discovery of our next steps with him.

Thanks for tuning into worship tonight in our online service. Worship along and prepare to take communion from home at the end of our time together. Lean into the love of God that is bound to you, friend. And thanks for sharing some love in serving folks this weekend via Serve Sunday. Enjoy the 'big game' tonight and join us next Sunday at 5pm for service online or in-person!

As we conclude our series, the pastor’s calling and the church’s calling are to nurture people into Christoformity—to nurture people into TOV. The purpose of the church is conformity to Christ. That is the sum total of God’s plan. We can take individual strides in that process, but it’s within ‘community’, where God does his best work in transforming us more and more into the likeness of His Son.

As we continue to look to grow a TOV culture we must remember: if we’re seeking Jesus we’re seeking justice and we’re looking to serve. Jesus said, I’ve come not to be served, but to serve… it was his ordinary outlook. TOV (the goodness of God) is meant to be ordinary and natural…an overflow of the heart of God being formed within us as his followers. We need a "spirituality of ordinariness." A life of seeking justice and looking to serve others is not heroic in the kingdom of God, it’s meant to be normal.

Part of fostering a TOV culture, the goodness of God, is curating a culture of truth telling. Being able to be authentically true and building truth into relationships. In a world where falsehoods, fake news and spin can shape and influence our connections, truth still matters. We must cultivate truth in ourselves and in our relationship with God and others. We want to be people of truth and love. We want to live under the truth of Jesus and walk in his way of truth.

Tov is the Hebrew word used to describe something that is good. As we continue to explore what a Tov culture can look like at Elements we look at what it means to be a church devoted to putting people first. As we remember the grace Jesus showed to us we can then help create a grace-filled culture where people can come — mistakes and all — and be welcomed, loved, and empowered to grow into Christlikeness.

TOV - part of being and doing godly good is anchored to cultivating a culture within ourselves and within our churches that display consistently: Empathy and Compassion. The mark of empathy is to feel another’s pain; the mark of compassion is having the desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering of another. Notice and respond. In a culture that cultivates empathy and compassion, people will not be made to feel invisible - they will be seen and heard.

TOV is hebrew for 'good'. The theme of actively doing ‘tov’ (doing good) runs throughout the Bible. We’re to have the good fruit of God and His goodness reproducing itself from within us…as we follow after Jesus - he’s reproducing himself within us and impacting others through us. The gospel is about God’s tov coming to us in Jesus, who is tov, and thus making us into agents of tov.

Jesus calls us all to relationship with Him in different ways. We look at four different statements Jesus makes to His followers at different stages in their journey. As we look forward to 2022, what call do you sense Jesus is giving you?

Tonight we remember the birth of our Savior. It is the greatest gift ever given. It's a gift that comes wrapped in prophecy to prove the validity, wrapped in history and wrapped in a bit of mystery. What's true about any gift is that it only becomes your gift, when you unwrap it for yourself. Jesus came for you, so you might unwrap the beauty of a relationship with him.

As we continue to look into this ‘indescribable’ GIFT of Christmas - not only is Jesus wrapped in prophecy fulfilled, the history of the moment, but he is also wrapped in mystery. The mystery of the incarnation and his mission that takes him from the wooden manger to the wood cross to offer redemption to all who trust in Him. Jesus ultimately and and with clarity is the one who reveals God in all his fullness.

Jesus not only came wrapped in prophecy that was then fulfilled to provide a certainty to our faith. He came wrapped in history - stepping into a precise moment to ensure the gospel was fulfilled, heard and able to spread. Part of the power of God is the precision of God’s activity. Part of HIs sovereignty is his divine punctuality. At the right time, God provides, rescues and intervenes. Look closely and I bet you can see his perfect timing across the landscape of your life as well.

As we shop, look up, seek out or ask for gifts in this season of the year -- let's do ourselves a favor and REMEMBER the GIFT of the Savior we were given that first Christmas! A gift wrapped like none expected or delivered like any thought, but wrapped in prophecy that delivers a foundational certainty to our faith.

As we close out our series, The Stories of Jesus, we look at the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. By following the narrative flow of Mark 11:12 through Mark 12:44, a clear picture develops of the type of worship God wants from His people. No longer do the people of God need access to any buildings to experience His presence; they just need to come to Jesus.

The parable of the ‘friend at midnight’ is a parable about prayer. The how of prayer & the why of prayer. We’re to have a rhythm of asking, seeking and knocking as we pray and engage with God. We’re to persist in prayer because of this truth: God is continually good, permanently interested, and forever for your best. He’s available and He’s able.

In week two of our latest series, The Stories of Jesus, we look at the parable of the talents. What kind of attitude must we have if we are to be found as faithful followers of Jesus? And how can we develop a heart to use what God has given to us to build His Kingdom in our personal areas of influence?In week two of our latest series, The Stories of Jesus, we look at the parable of the talents. What kind of attitude must we have if we are to be found as faithful followers of Jesus? And how can we develop a heart to use what God has given to us to build His Kingdom in our personal areas of influence?

As we begin a new series, The Stories of Jesus, we look at The Parable of the Two Sons. Followers of Jesus quickly understand God desires our obedience to His commands, so what is it that prevents many believers from being obedient? In this message we consider how our minds are wired and quickly look at practical ways to renew our minds in order to grow in obedience.

“Do it again” is the phrase a little child will scream as soon as a parent has finished spinning them around. It’s the call the prophet Micah is echoing for us to carry on in as we seek to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Do it again, day after day. Make it a way of life and your very lifestyle.