Advent: Start Reading Next Monday!
- by Element Christian Church
RSVP for Agape Thanksgiving Meal!
- by Element Christian Church
Christmas For Kids 2016
- by Element Christian Church
Christmas For Kids Ministry needs volunteers to take children shopping for Christmas and to commit to being part of an ongoing ministry to these children during 2017.
What: We want to reach out to children in our community of friends and neighbors who may not have a Christmas without our support. This isn’t about purchasing gifts, it is about offering relationship, building trust, and demonstrating Jesus’ love to hurting families or those who may not know Him.
When: Our kickoff Christmas breakfast and shopping spree will be Saturday, December 17 at 8:30am, beginning at Element. We ask that you pair with your GC, Women’s Ministry member, or other Element members to continue throughout 2017 ministering and building relationship with the children (see attached brochure).
Why: Christmas for Kids began at Element 8 years ago to assist children who need assistance but do not receive government or other charitable organization Christmas gifts. The ministry has grown but we have not seen solid relationships built, which is why we are expanding with a focus that extends throughout 2017. We are asking Element to commit to growing this ministry beyond just a one day shopping event. We want to make a difference in these children’s lives and in our communities.
We really can't do this every year without your generous donations. You can write a check and and turn it in at the small Christmas Tree at the Welcome Center, or donate online here.
Download our Brochure with ways to get involved with Christmas For Kids! and ways to be involved in kid's lives through out the next year!
If you have questions or family recommendations, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Christmas For Kids 2018
- by Element Christian Church
Help us bless Delta High School!
This year, in lieu of Christmas for Kids program, where we take kids shopping, we want to bless our new neighbors: Delta High School, by providing a Christmas gift on their last day of school.
This gift will include a movie ticket pass, some candy, and an Element bookmark.
We really can't do this every year without your generous donations. You can write a check and and turn it in at the small Christmas Present at the Welcome Center, or donate online here, and select "Christmas for Kids!" in the first drop down box.
If you have questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Supporting GoBags
- by Trevor Carpenter
"And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" (Matthew 25:40 ESV)
Take a moment to envision with me a common experience in any city in the US.
You're in middle school and come home from school to find someone from Child Protective Services (CPS) and a police officer waiting for you. They tell you that your single parent made a mistake, and you're going to have to go with CPS so that they can find you a safe place to sleep tonight.
Situations like this happen often, but there other times when the situation has no criminal or law enforcement element.
A teenager might have the wherewithal to know what to grab on the way out of the house. But what if it's a crime scene now, and you cannot even enter your own home? What if all you have is your backpack for school and a skateboard?
Here in the Santa Maria Valley, we have this outreach that helps prepare people like the CPS staff with the most basic of items that they can have ready for situations just like this. They call them GoBags.
At Element, we've helped put together these GoBags in the past, and we're doing it again. During the month of November, after each service, there will be a table set up where you can get any questions answered, and pick up a large zip lock bag with all the instructions. You can choose between making up a bag for an infant, toddler, school-aged child, or a teenager.
All we ask is that you go purchase the items on the list and return the bags to us within the month of November. These are regular items that you would need to make that first few nights not as bad as it could have been. The list has common items for their first nights such as: Pajamas, a Toothbrush, Socks, a Blanket, and a small toy or coloring book. We ask that these are new items for safety and hygiene reasons.
Then just bring the filled bag, along with the original instruction card, to the GoBag booth before or after the service you attend.
Again, we’ll be doing this all of November. Please take the time to consider how supporting children with GoBags can and does impact our community here in the Santa Maria Valley.
"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'” (Matthew 19:14 ESV)
Take a moment to envision with me a common experience in any city in the US.
You're in middle school and come home from school to find someone from Child Protective Services (CPS) and a police officer waiting for you. They tell you that your single parent made a mistake, and you're going to have to go with CPS so that they can find you a safe place to sleep tonight.
Situations like this happen often, but there other times when the situation has no criminal or law enforcement element.
A teenager might have the wherewithal to know what to grab on the way out of the house. But what if it's a crime scene now, and you cannot even enter your own home? What if all you have is your backpack for school and a skateboard?
Here in the Santa Maria Valley, we have this outreach that helps prepare people like the CPS staff with the most basic of items that they can have ready for situations just like this. They call them GoBags.
At Element, we've helped put together these GoBags in the past, and we're doing it again. During the month of November, after each service, there will be a table set up where you can get any questions answered, and pick up a large zip lock bag with all the instructions. You can choose between making up a bag for an infant, toddler, school-aged child, or a teenager.
All we ask is that you go purchase the items on the list and return the bags to us within the month of November. These are regular items that you would need to make that first few nights not as bad as it could have been. The list has common items for their first nights such as: Pajamas, a Toothbrush, Socks, a Blanket, and a small toy or coloring book. We ask that these are new items for safety and hygiene reasons.
Then just bring the filled bag, along with the original instruction card, to the GoBag booth before or after the service you attend.
Again, we’ll be doing this all of November. Please take the time to consider how supporting children with GoBags can and does impact our community here in the Santa Maria Valley.
"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'” (Matthew 19:14 ESV)
Agape Thanksgiving Dinners - November 22nd
- by Element Christian Church
As we mentioned two weeks ago, Advent is just around the corner. Advent means arrival, coming into a place, or even coming into being. We want to take a concentrated look during the Christmas season about what the arrival of Jesus meant, and still means, to all of us.
We want to encourage all of you to join us on Sunday, November 22nd for a shared meal in people’s homes as we kick off our Christmas Advent Season. This will be a Thanksgiving type dinner with a time of reflection and joyful celebration.
The dinners we have done on past years during the month of November are called Agape meals. Agape is a Greek word for love that was used to translate a Hebrew word for love that was only ascribed to God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we are told that we are first given love by God in order to love like God loves. Agape dinners are designed to encourage people to see that a dinner in, and surrounded by, community is not a one-time yearly event, but a symbol of Jesus in our daily lives as we are united and growing as His disciples in grace and love.
Just like the Agape meals encourage us to share the love of Jesus year round, so Advent does the same thing. Advent reminds us that Jesus’ incarnation was not just good news for those that lived 2000 years ago, it is also good news for us today.
This year we are combining the kick off of Advent and the Agape meals together in order to better understand God’s grace as we live with one another. We will hand out Advent journey guides at these meals so we can all take this ride together. We will have several host homes throughout Santa Maria, Lompoc and Nipomo and would love for you to join in.
If you are not comfortable joining one of our Gospel Communities for a meal, we would still encourage you, at the start of Advent, to grab some journey guides, invite your family and/or neighbors over for a meal and spend time with them, getting to know them better.
Signup here to join a Gospel Community/Host Home
Coming Soon To An Element Near You
- by Element Christian Church
This year at Element we are doing something we have never attempted, we are celebrating a season of the church calendar called Advent. This will be arriving to you in the form of an Advent booklet that we have been painstakingly putting together for the last few months. On November 22nd we will all take this Advent journey together as a church. It will start in a time of sober reflection that should (and will, in our case) lead to a time of loud joy.
Advent takes place over the four weeks that lead up to Christmas, with each week being a reflection of Christmas (Christ’s) fulfillment. Why are we doing Advent this year? I would love to explain.
As a culture, even in churches, we tend to forget what Christmas truly entails. We buy gifts, run to parties, eat too much, possibly drink too much, and when Christmas is over we feel the presence of Christ less than when we started. This should never happen as the point of Christmas is Jesus, the word Christmas even starts with “Christ.”
So, prepare the way…and prepare yourselves. There will be more coming.
Advent 2015
Advent takes place over the four weeks that lead up to Christmas, with each week being a reflection of Christmas (Christ’s) fulfillment. Why are we doing Advent this year? I would love to explain.
As a culture, even in churches, we tend to forget what Christmas truly entails. We buy gifts, run to parties, eat too much, possibly drink too much, and when Christmas is over we feel the presence of Christ less than when we started. This should never happen as the point of Christmas is Jesus, the word Christmas even starts with “Christ.”
So, prepare the way…and prepare yourselves. There will be more coming.
Advent 2015
Ch…Ch…Ch….Changes
- by Christie Marangi
I have to admit, I love change. For those of you who haven’t heard, Children’s and Youth ministry here at Element are going through some changes. Our beloved Youth Director, James, is flying out of the nest and spreading his wings (like one of his many animal t-shirts, he has to own an eagle one, right?). He will be heading to Washington, and as a result of that flight, we are taking this time to do something that we’ve been contemplating for a long time, merging the Children’s and Youth ministries under one heading:
This is an exciting time, and the best decision for our church (in my humble opinion), but I’d be lying if I didn’t say change is hard and nerve wracking. First of all, who wants to try to fill James’ shoes? Certainly not me, that’s why I’m not even going to try. We have amazing leaders in the youth program, and that isn’t changing. The relationships your kids have developed will stay constant.
And the Junior High? They’ll still get to do all those weird youth games on Sunday morning just like always (even the ones I don’t understand, like the Goldfish Game). There will still be service projects, Music, and Youth Trips. ? Check. Thursdays? Check.
The things that are changing are all for the better. We want to turn ministry to families on its head. We want you, as parents to be empowered to teach your kids spiritual truths, and then turn to Element for support in that job. That’s how God laid it out in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
As Element itself focuses on Gospel Communities, eFamilies will be placing a large emphasis on Student Communities. At Element we want to, "transform community into Gospel Community" as evidenced by our mission statement. The understanding of GCs will start from the youngest child up. We want our students to experience community at their level, and then transition from student community to a contributing member of a church Gospel Community upon graduating from high school.
Our hope is that our student communities relationships will flourish and grow with the leaders they already know, and that will give the students the confidence to start new relationships with those outside of their circles to show Jesus to the people around them.
My hope is that I can serve as a resource to you as parents. I trust that with the Youth leaders’ help, we can add on to the foundation that Jesus has laid through James, and continue to see this ministry flourish and grow (to a point that we have trouble fitting the students into classrooms). My desire is to equip the leaders that are working with your kids to build relationships with them that model the love of Jesus as a supplement to the relationships that you hold with your children. My desire is to work with you to lead your kids to love Jesus, and your kids in turn to lead others to love Jesus as well.
I do love change, but I love change with purpose. The best change of all is to see people come to Christ and to witness that magnificent transformation. I’m excited to take this journey with you and see what changes Jesus has in store in the lives of the students at Element.
If you want to sign up and get involved from the beginning, sign up here. We have lots of ways to be involved, both on the front lines, and behind the scenes.
This is an exciting time, and the best decision for our church (in my humble opinion), but I’d be lying if I didn’t say change is hard and nerve wracking. First of all, who wants to try to fill James’ shoes? Certainly not me, that’s why I’m not even going to try. We have amazing leaders in the youth program, and that isn’t changing. The relationships your kids have developed will stay constant.
And the Junior High? They’ll still get to do all those weird youth games on Sunday morning just like always (even the ones I don’t understand, like the Goldfish Game). There will still be service projects, Music, and Youth Trips. ? Check. Thursdays? Check.
The things that are changing are all for the better. We want to turn ministry to families on its head. We want you, as parents to be empowered to teach your kids spiritual truths, and then turn to Element for support in that job. That’s how God laid it out in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
As Element itself focuses on Gospel Communities, eFamilies will be placing a large emphasis on Student Communities. At Element we want to, "transform community into Gospel Community" as evidenced by our mission statement. The understanding of GCs will start from the youngest child up. We want our students to experience community at their level, and then transition from student community to a contributing member of a church Gospel Community upon graduating from high school.
Our hope is that our student communities relationships will flourish and grow with the leaders they already know, and that will give the students the confidence to start new relationships with those outside of their circles to show Jesus to the people around them.
My hope is that I can serve as a resource to you as parents. I trust that with the Youth leaders’ help, we can add on to the foundation that Jesus has laid through James, and continue to see this ministry flourish and grow (to a point that we have trouble fitting the students into classrooms). My desire is to equip the leaders that are working with your kids to build relationships with them that model the love of Jesus as a supplement to the relationships that you hold with your children. My desire is to work with you to lead your kids to love Jesus, and your kids in turn to lead others to love Jesus as well.
I do love change, but I love change with purpose. The best change of all is to see people come to Christ and to witness that magnificent transformation. I’m excited to take this journey with you and see what changes Jesus has in store in the lives of the students at Element.
If you want to sign up and get involved from the beginning, sign up here. We have lots of ways to be involved, both on the front lines, and behind the scenes.
Baptism Stories - September 6, 2015
- by Element Christian Church
Last Sunday was our Baptisms, and we had 9 people baptized! If you didn't make it, or missed reading the stories, this weeks blog is simply a link to them. Please read them, be excited for them, and always stand amazed at the goodness of our great God.
The Big Goodbye
- by Element Christian Church
This is James, and if you haven’t heard yet; I’m moving to Washington. I have felt this leading for over a year, maybe even closer to two years. Last year I went to Aaron and talked about this call in my life; he and the elders gave me the freedom to explore. After almost a year, and some craziness, I found a job I’m really excited about: I’ve been hired as the director of High School Ministry at Bethel Church in Richland Washington.
I was hoping that God would send me to the woodsy forest area of Washington, but He has His own plan and is sending me to the high desert with rivers. To be honest this has not worked out like I planned, my plan put me leaving a few months ago and settled me in the cool forest part of the Pacific Northwest, needless to say it’s been a little frustrating. In my plan failing God has been at work. God has provided better than what I envisioned. With this post I would like to simply share some of my heart with you.
I have served as Director of Youth Ministries at Element for 7 years, and for each week of those 7 years I have looked forward to Thursday night as my favorite night of the week. In my 7 years I have grown a lot…I started this job when I was 19. I have learned a lot, I have failed a lot, and I have loved getting the chance to minister to your children. Sometimes (lets be real) as parents it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of teenagers to the point that we don’t actually get to enjoy them. Let me remind you; you have awesome kids! The group that we have right now is a fun one, I have loved being involved in their lives and getting a front row seat to watch them grow in their love of Christ!
Children are a blessing; we say it often because we forget it often. Let me encourage and challenge you to enjoy the blessing God has placed in your life, lead them, teach them, and grow with them. Your children have been a wonderful blessing to me, and I will miss them greatly.
Leaving Element has nothing to do with me being mad at anyone who goes to Element (or especially) the leadership here. I love Element and I love its leadership. I’m excited to see what God has in store for Hailey and me, but I am terrified to leave (not because I worry for Element, but selfishly I’m worried for me). I’m hurting in leaving these great relationships that have developed over the years. I want to thank you for letting me speak the truth of Christ into student’s lives and into your lives.
As I said, I have been working on moving for just about a year now, Christie and the team has been coming up with plans when I step out of youth. The plan they have is a brilliant one (and I’m not just saying that because that’s the right thing to say when you leave). I truly believe this plan is the best option for Element and our ministry to you, your children, teenagers, and all the families that come to Element.
With the plan there is going to be some restructuring, with all restructuring there will be hick-ups because it’s a time of growth, Element’s ministry to families is growing, please be patient and helpful in this stage of growth. Ultimately I believe these changes will platform Element, and you as parents, to better minister to youth and children so get involved!
There is so much to say, but I’ll end with these two things; 1. God is very good and I can’t wait to see what He does through Element and our ministry to Santa Maria. 2. Thank you for being patient with me as I have grown.
I will truly miss you all and the family that Element has been.
Humbly,
James.
I was hoping that God would send me to the woodsy forest area of Washington, but He has His own plan and is sending me to the high desert with rivers. To be honest this has not worked out like I planned, my plan put me leaving a few months ago and settled me in the cool forest part of the Pacific Northwest, needless to say it’s been a little frustrating. In my plan failing God has been at work. God has provided better than what I envisioned. With this post I would like to simply share some of my heart with you.
I have served as Director of Youth Ministries at Element for 7 years, and for each week of those 7 years I have looked forward to Thursday night as my favorite night of the week. In my 7 years I have grown a lot…I started this job when I was 19. I have learned a lot, I have failed a lot, and I have loved getting the chance to minister to your children. Sometimes (lets be real) as parents it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of teenagers to the point that we don’t actually get to enjoy them. Let me remind you; you have awesome kids! The group that we have right now is a fun one, I have loved being involved in their lives and getting a front row seat to watch them grow in their love of Christ!
Children are a blessing; we say it often because we forget it often. Let me encourage and challenge you to enjoy the blessing God has placed in your life, lead them, teach them, and grow with them. Your children have been a wonderful blessing to me, and I will miss them greatly.
Leaving Element has nothing to do with me being mad at anyone who goes to Element (or especially) the leadership here. I love Element and I love its leadership. I’m excited to see what God has in store for Hailey and me, but I am terrified to leave (not because I worry for Element, but selfishly I’m worried for me). I’m hurting in leaving these great relationships that have developed over the years. I want to thank you for letting me speak the truth of Christ into student’s lives and into your lives.
As I said, I have been working on moving for just about a year now, Christie and the team has been coming up with plans when I step out of youth. The plan they have is a brilliant one (and I’m not just saying that because that’s the right thing to say when you leave). I truly believe this plan is the best option for Element and our ministry to you, your children, teenagers, and all the families that come to Element.
With the plan there is going to be some restructuring, with all restructuring there will be hick-ups because it’s a time of growth, Element’s ministry to families is growing, please be patient and helpful in this stage of growth. Ultimately I believe these changes will platform Element, and you as parents, to better minister to youth and children so get involved!
There is so much to say, but I’ll end with these two things; 1. God is very good and I can’t wait to see what He does through Element and our ministry to Santa Maria. 2. Thank you for being patient with me as I have grown.
I will truly miss you all and the family that Element has been.
Humbly,
James.
Spamalot – What Is Your Quest
- by Jonathan Whitaker
"What is your quest?”...”To seek the Grail!"
In my attempt to treat my wife to an evening of culture, I recently took her to see a local production of Spamalot. For those of you not acquainted with the finer works of the Broadway stage, Spamalot is a theatrical adaptation of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. If you are a fan of the movie, you won't be disappointed. The play is exactly what you'd expect. It has all of your favorite characters and scenes, but they are now set to music. A song from Life of Brian even makes the bill.
I am sure, for those of you who have not seen the musical, it is a safe bet you have at least seen the film. The rest of you, seriously, get Netflix and join the human race. Regardless of which camp you fall into, you should understand one important point about the plot: King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are on a quest from God to find the Holy Grail. The Grail, just so we are all on equal footing, is the cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper (Matt. 26:27).
In the play as in the film, when King Arthur is given this quest, God appears in the clouds in all of His kingly regalia, complete with flowing white beard. As any of us would do in this same situation, the knights commence groveling and averting their eyes (Matt 17:1-13). That's when God gives King Arthur his purpose: to find the Grail. Arthur is to use his quest to set an example in dark times.
The irony was not lost on me that -- much like God does for King Arthur in the play -- Jesus set each one of us on a quest as He ascended into the heavens. That quest is to make disciples of the nations and baptize them in His name (Mark 16:15-19). And we, like the Knights of the Round Table, often find ourselves on many "holy" misadventures that distract us from the quest to which we were charged.
Take King Arthur for example. Here is a man who was the leader of the band, the man who received the primary instruction from God, yet he often found himself far from the path on which he started. Shortly after consulting a blind oracle, King Arthur found himself lost in a dark forest embroiled in an epic struggle with the Knights Who Say Ni. After matching wits with the fearsome Knights of Ni, Arthur uses all of his skill to produce a shrubbery, which appeases the Knights. Now, I don't mean to suggest that Arthur was not devoted to the task of finding the Grail, but his efforts, noble as they may have been, didn't get him any closer to his goal.
Like Arthur and the Knights of Ni, Christ followers devoted to the Great Commission of Jesus often find themselves engaged in Godly side quests that don't get them closer to their charge of winning souls. What do I mean? Christians do a lot of good for a lot of people. We give money to the poor, we work in food pantries, we lead Bible studies, and we are generally good citizens; all good things. However, as noble as those quests are, what they aren't is the quest that Christ charged us with: to make disciples of the nations, teaching them to obey all He commanded and baptizing them in His name.
So, what can we do about it? First, keep fighting the side quests! Give to the poor; lead a Bible study; slay the Black Knight; defeat the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. But when you do, remember that all of those good works need to serve the Gospel. Take the time to tell people that Christ died in their place when you are out on your side quests. You will have to be brave, like Arthur and his Knights (except Sir Robin). The Gospel is offensive and its enemies are many. However, you need not fear your enemies, because God promises to go with you on your quest (Matt 28:20, Ps 23). Arm yourself with the Word of God, because like Excalibur, it cuts right to the marrow of those whom God has called.
Let me encourage each of you: God has called you by name. You are on a quest. Be brave like Sir Lancelot when he took Swamp castle, so his steed Concord would not have died in vain. In our case, be brave and obey Christ to tell others about the gospel, because Jesus died that we might live.
In my attempt to treat my wife to an evening of culture, I recently took her to see a local production of Spamalot. For those of you not acquainted with the finer works of the Broadway stage, Spamalot is a theatrical adaptation of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. If you are a fan of the movie, you won't be disappointed. The play is exactly what you'd expect. It has all of your favorite characters and scenes, but they are now set to music. A song from Life of Brian even makes the bill.
I am sure, for those of you who have not seen the musical, it is a safe bet you have at least seen the film. The rest of you, seriously, get Netflix and join the human race. Regardless of which camp you fall into, you should understand one important point about the plot: King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are on a quest from God to find the Holy Grail. The Grail, just so we are all on equal footing, is the cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper (Matt. 26:27).
In the play as in the film, when King Arthur is given this quest, God appears in the clouds in all of His kingly regalia, complete with flowing white beard. As any of us would do in this same situation, the knights commence groveling and averting their eyes (Matt 17:1-13). That's when God gives King Arthur his purpose: to find the Grail. Arthur is to use his quest to set an example in dark times.
The irony was not lost on me that -- much like God does for King Arthur in the play -- Jesus set each one of us on a quest as He ascended into the heavens. That quest is to make disciples of the nations and baptize them in His name (Mark 16:15-19). And we, like the Knights of the Round Table, often find ourselves on many "holy" misadventures that distract us from the quest to which we were charged.
Take King Arthur for example. Here is a man who was the leader of the band, the man who received the primary instruction from God, yet he often found himself far from the path on which he started. Shortly after consulting a blind oracle, King Arthur found himself lost in a dark forest embroiled in an epic struggle with the Knights Who Say Ni. After matching wits with the fearsome Knights of Ni, Arthur uses all of his skill to produce a shrubbery, which appeases the Knights. Now, I don't mean to suggest that Arthur was not devoted to the task of finding the Grail, but his efforts, noble as they may have been, didn't get him any closer to his goal.
Like Arthur and the Knights of Ni, Christ followers devoted to the Great Commission of Jesus often find themselves engaged in Godly side quests that don't get them closer to their charge of winning souls. What do I mean? Christians do a lot of good for a lot of people. We give money to the poor, we work in food pantries, we lead Bible studies, and we are generally good citizens; all good things. However, as noble as those quests are, what they aren't is the quest that Christ charged us with: to make disciples of the nations, teaching them to obey all He commanded and baptizing them in His name.
So, what can we do about it? First, keep fighting the side quests! Give to the poor; lead a Bible study; slay the Black Knight; defeat the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. But when you do, remember that all of those good works need to serve the Gospel. Take the time to tell people that Christ died in their place when you are out on your side quests. You will have to be brave, like Arthur and his Knights (except Sir Robin). The Gospel is offensive and its enemies are many. However, you need not fear your enemies, because God promises to go with you on your quest (Matt 28:20, Ps 23). Arm yourself with the Word of God, because like Excalibur, it cuts right to the marrow of those whom God has called.
Let me encourage each of you: God has called you by name. You are on a quest. Be brave like Sir Lancelot when he took Swamp castle, so his steed Concord would not have died in vain. In our case, be brave and obey Christ to tell others about the gospel, because Jesus died that we might live.
Pray for our youth at camp this week
- by Element Christian Church
Our Jr. High & High School students are away at camp this week. Here is a picture of them leaving early Monday morning. We ask that you keep them and their leaders in your prayers this week and as they return on Friday
Download Volunteer Opportunities Workbook
- by Element Christian Church
Did you miss the Volunteer Information Workshop we had a few weeks ago? Interested in knowing some of the many areas around Element we need help with? Jesus is gracious and good, His work on the cross in service to us teaches how to be servants ourselves. Element "happens" because so many people sacrifice financially and also give of their time and talents. Most of what happens around Element is done by volunteers, and for that, we thank you!
We've put together a booklet that has some of the common areas of service at Element, with brief descriptions as well. You can download it by clicking on the link above. If you're interested in checking out any of the areas, you can either fill out this online form, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fill out the paper form in the booklet and visit the Welcome Center on Sunday!
We truly are grateful to all of our volunteers, and for you for considering how you can help us take the Gospel further!
New Sermon Series Starts This Sunday: Coloring Book All Stars
- by Element Christian Church
Join us on Sunday as we start a new series called Coloring Book All-Stars!
2015 Mother's Day Video: Child Dedication Means...
- by Element Christian Church
Element's 2015 Mother's Day video. Mom's speaking about what child dedication in front of the church body means to them.
April Baptism Timelapse Video
- by Element Christian Church
Did you see the timelapse video from our Baptisms? A camera was set up in a tree in the corner and captured the whole afternoon, watch in timelapse fun and read the stories of those who got baptized here!
Important Conversations
- by Jonathan Whitaker
Recently, I stood in a pulpit in small town rural Virginia. Staring at me, as I gathered my composure to give my talk, were most of the living relatives on my father’s side. A sense of deep relief washed over me as I began to eulogize my grandfather, who lay next to me draped in the American flag. I smiled because we have a God who saves, and because of an important conversation I had with this man whom I loved, I knew that he was with the Lord.
Two years ago, when I was serving with you at Element, I received a call from my dad. He said, “Son, your grandfather is in the hospital and he may not be with us for many more days. You should try to call him if you can.” My grandfather was 92 at the time. For me, he had always been there, and it seemed like he would always be there. What would I say to him? I knew Jim Whitaker as a moral man, a good provider and a loving grandfather. I knew that after he retired from the Air Force he worked as a gentleman farmer for 50 years in central Virginia. He was a hard worker. I knew that he had struggled with alcohol for a period in his life, which he blessedly overcame. But there was one very important thing I didn’t know about my grandfather: was Jesus Christ his savior?
I was a wreck. How could I let a man I love pass, without introducing him to Jesus? I have shared my faith with hundreds of strangers, but the thought of confronting my own grandfather about the state of his soul was terrifying. I had considered this dilemma before; I even prayed that God would send someone to talk to him, to get through to him, to lead him. As I cried thinking about the hopelessness of dying without the sweet salvation of Jesus Christ, I started a conversation with God. I asked, “God why won’t you send someone to minister to my grandfather?” The answer came softly and swiftly. God’s reply was clear: “I send you.” My answer came when I turned on the radio, and KLove was on, which Jennifer will tell you, I don’t listen to KLove that often (I must have been driving her car). On the radio a young woman gave her testimony about how glad she was that a stranger had given her the gospel; of course she was glad, she was saved! I felt that God told me then and there that I had nothing to fear.
God made a promise to Israel through the prophet Isaiah that applies to all who serve the Lord, and should give us strength when He sends us to proclaim the Gospel. “You are my servant; I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand” (Isaiah 41:9-10).
When I got home, I called my grandfather at his hospital bed. He answered the phone with a weak but clear voice. I told him that I loved him and wanted to be with him in heaven. I told him that Jesus was my Lord and savior and that I believed in His sacrifice for my sins. Before I could go on, my grandfather stopped me and said, “I have believed those things for a very long time.” I had never known that about my grandfather, but in an instant God gave me peace. It turns out the Holy Spirit had been at work answering my prayers long before I was even alive to pray them.
What important conversations are you waiting to have? My grandfather lived two more years, but he could have only lived two more hours. None of us know the hour, but, for those of us who love the Lord, while we are here we can’t waste a minute. For everyone who calls Jesus Lord, believing in His resurrection, God is faithful to save. If you are waiting for the right time to tell someone about Jesus, don’t wait; now is the right time. If you are waiting to confess your sin and ask forgiveness from God and those you’ve hurt, don’t wait; now is the right time. If you are withholding forgiveness, don’t wait; now is the right time. Trust God. You can be assured that He has gone before you in what may be the most important conversation of your life. “Fear not, for I am with you.”
Two years ago, when I was serving with you at Element, I received a call from my dad. He said, “Son, your grandfather is in the hospital and he may not be with us for many more days. You should try to call him if you can.” My grandfather was 92 at the time. For me, he had always been there, and it seemed like he would always be there. What would I say to him? I knew Jim Whitaker as a moral man, a good provider and a loving grandfather. I knew that after he retired from the Air Force he worked as a gentleman farmer for 50 years in central Virginia. He was a hard worker. I knew that he had struggled with alcohol for a period in his life, which he blessedly overcame. But there was one very important thing I didn’t know about my grandfather: was Jesus Christ his savior?
I was a wreck. How could I let a man I love pass, without introducing him to Jesus? I have shared my faith with hundreds of strangers, but the thought of confronting my own grandfather about the state of his soul was terrifying. I had considered this dilemma before; I even prayed that God would send someone to talk to him, to get through to him, to lead him. As I cried thinking about the hopelessness of dying without the sweet salvation of Jesus Christ, I started a conversation with God. I asked, “God why won’t you send someone to minister to my grandfather?” The answer came softly and swiftly. God’s reply was clear: “I send you.” My answer came when I turned on the radio, and KLove was on, which Jennifer will tell you, I don’t listen to KLove that often (I must have been driving her car). On the radio a young woman gave her testimony about how glad she was that a stranger had given her the gospel; of course she was glad, she was saved! I felt that God told me then and there that I had nothing to fear.
God made a promise to Israel through the prophet Isaiah that applies to all who serve the Lord, and should give us strength when He sends us to proclaim the Gospel. “You are my servant; I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand” (Isaiah 41:9-10).
When I got home, I called my grandfather at his hospital bed. He answered the phone with a weak but clear voice. I told him that I loved him and wanted to be with him in heaven. I told him that Jesus was my Lord and savior and that I believed in His sacrifice for my sins. Before I could go on, my grandfather stopped me and said, “I have believed those things for a very long time.” I had never known that about my grandfather, but in an instant God gave me peace. It turns out the Holy Spirit had been at work answering my prayers long before I was even alive to pray them.
What important conversations are you waiting to have? My grandfather lived two more years, but he could have only lived two more hours. None of us know the hour, but, for those of us who love the Lord, while we are here we can’t waste a minute. For everyone who calls Jesus Lord, believing in His resurrection, God is faithful to save. If you are waiting for the right time to tell someone about Jesus, don’t wait; now is the right time. If you are waiting to confess your sin and ask forgiveness from God and those you’ve hurt, don’t wait; now is the right time. If you are withholding forgiveness, don’t wait; now is the right time. Trust God. You can be assured that He has gone before you in what may be the most important conversation of your life. “Fear not, for I am with you.”
Let's All Give Up in 2015 (Part IV)
- by Jonathan Whitaker
Ok, sorry this is a long one. But you have come this far...
Jesus is Lord! By faith you declared Christ's Lordship on the day you were saved by God's grace. But, what is faith? Faith is "...the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Logically, there must be an object of that hope and a cause for that conviction. In our case, it is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, by which He conquered death and took his seat at the right hand of the Father in heaven. (Mark 16:19)
Our hope in the Lordship of Christ is grounded in the fact that He has proven worthy of His title as Lord. You and I know that because Jesus is Lord, we are immeasurably blessed. The only sane response to the Lordship of Christ by a redeemed sinner is nothing short of obedience.
Hebrews 10:26-29 (paraphrased) doesn't mince words with believers: " For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins...How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?"
These verses aren't saying that you can lose your salvation. Just as you could not earn your salvation with your works, you cannot lose it for your sin (Eph. 2:8-9, Heb. 10:19-22).
The fact remains that when Christ followers deliberately choose disobedience over obedience to Jesus, we make His sacrifice seem ridiculous. Take that one step further: not only do we deserve judgment because of disobedience, but we are incapable of assuaging God's judgment by our works. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousnesswere through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." (Gal. 2:20-21)
Sounds like a Catch-22. God has given us the law to obey. We cannot fully obey it, and even if we could, we would still fall short of righteousness. There must be something more.
There is. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." By the same faith that saved you, Jesus can transform you into an obedient servant. Remember that faith has to have an object. As stated above, the object of saving faith is the belief that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day (Rom. 10:9). What about faith that allows us to be obedient to Christ?
This question reveals God's great love and provision to all who believe. "You shall love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deut. 6:5-6). Loving God is the object of our faith that compels the believer to be obedient.
From ancient times believers have demonstrated their faith, not by works, but by trusting in God's work.
The common tie among all of these ancient believers is not the work that they accomplished, but what God did. "...God was able..." "...the reproach of Christ (was) greater wealth..." Even Rahab, a prostitute, not even a Jew, believed the promises of the God of Israel. Her faith not only saved her life and demonstrated the condition of her soul.
It is worth noting that all of these people lived long before Christ. Two of them lived before there was a law, and yet they were saved through the same means by which you and I are saved: faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3 tell us that Abraham (simply) believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. If none are righteous except for Jesus and there is no other name by which we are saved, what must that mean (Rom. 3:10, Acts 4:12)? It means that Abraham believed God would save him because he could not save himself. Abraham believed God the Son would die for his sins. While he may not have understood the particulars of how God would save him, he had faith (looking forward) that God would save him (Heb. 11:8-10).
When people of faith trust Jesus to be Lord, He makes them very useful for the Kingdom. Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Joseph, Jacob, Paul, Timothy, the list is endless, all submitted to Christ's Lordship and out of their faith Christ accomplished mighty works through them.
On the day of your salvation Christ began a new work in you. And you can be sure that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6). Will you faithfully trust Him? In 2015, I hope you will join me as I seek to yield my will and desire and place my faith in the Lordship of Christ. Surely He can do a better job with my life than I can.
Jesus is Lord! By faith you declared Christ's Lordship on the day you were saved by God's grace. But, what is faith? Faith is "...the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Logically, there must be an object of that hope and a cause for that conviction. In our case, it is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, by which He conquered death and took his seat at the right hand of the Father in heaven. (Mark 16:19)
Our hope in the Lordship of Christ is grounded in the fact that He has proven worthy of His title as Lord. You and I know that because Jesus is Lord, we are immeasurably blessed. The only sane response to the Lordship of Christ by a redeemed sinner is nothing short of obedience.
Hebrews 10:26-29 (paraphrased) doesn't mince words with believers: " For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins...How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?"
These verses aren't saying that you can lose your salvation. Just as you could not earn your salvation with your works, you cannot lose it for your sin (Eph. 2:8-9, Heb. 10:19-22).
The fact remains that when Christ followers deliberately choose disobedience over obedience to Jesus, we make His sacrifice seem ridiculous. Take that one step further: not only do we deserve judgment because of disobedience, but we are incapable of assuaging God's judgment by our works. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousnesswere through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." (Gal. 2:20-21)
Sounds like a Catch-22. God has given us the law to obey. We cannot fully obey it, and even if we could, we would still fall short of righteousness. There must be something more.
There is. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." By the same faith that saved you, Jesus can transform you into an obedient servant. Remember that faith has to have an object. As stated above, the object of saving faith is the belief that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day (Rom. 10:9). What about faith that allows us to be obedient to Christ?
This question reveals God's great love and provision to all who believe. "You shall love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deut. 6:5-6). Loving God is the object of our faith that compels the believer to be obedient.
From ancient times believers have demonstrated their faith, not by works, but by trusting in God's work.
- "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead," (Heb. 11:17-19)
- "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." (Heb. 11:24-26)
- "By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." (Heb. 11:31)
The common tie among all of these ancient believers is not the work that they accomplished, but what God did. "...God was able..." "...the reproach of Christ (was) greater wealth..." Even Rahab, a prostitute, not even a Jew, believed the promises of the God of Israel. Her faith not only saved her life and demonstrated the condition of her soul.
It is worth noting that all of these people lived long before Christ. Two of them lived before there was a law, and yet they were saved through the same means by which you and I are saved: faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3 tell us that Abraham (simply) believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. If none are righteous except for Jesus and there is no other name by which we are saved, what must that mean (Rom. 3:10, Acts 4:12)? It means that Abraham believed God would save him because he could not save himself. Abraham believed God the Son would die for his sins. While he may not have understood the particulars of how God would save him, he had faith (looking forward) that God would save him (Heb. 11:8-10).
When people of faith trust Jesus to be Lord, He makes them very useful for the Kingdom. Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Joseph, Jacob, Paul, Timothy, the list is endless, all submitted to Christ's Lordship and out of their faith Christ accomplished mighty works through them.
On the day of your salvation Christ began a new work in you. And you can be sure that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6). Will you faithfully trust Him? In 2015, I hope you will join me as I seek to yield my will and desire and place my faith in the Lordship of Christ. Surely He can do a better job with my life than I can.
Let's All Give Up in 2015 (Part III)
- by Jonathan Whitaker
I have a question for all of you teachers out there, if I were to go to your school today, where would I find my permanent grade-school record? The permanent grade-school record is the single most important document in the record of a human's life. We are taught from a young age that if we mess up, step out of line just a bit, the consequences would be a mark on our permanent record. We all know it's out there, serving as an open indictment against each one of us. Worse yet, everyone knows the intimate details of your record. your teachers know it, your parents, your boss, your in-laws. The only escape from your permanent grade school record is death itself…Sweet release!
Hopefully by now we all know that a mark on our record was a farce, an empty threat, used by adults to scare us straight. But, to our core as humans we know that there is a standing record against us. That record, as most of you have already guessed, is sin. We are born with a sin nature; we are selfish right from the womb; sin is inevitable. Sin is the real permanent record... or is it? Well that all depends, is Jesus your Lord?
I offer you the permanent record conundrum because I want you to understand blessing, true blessing from its deepest, most elemental meaning; the blessing that comes from having the biggest burden in your life removed from your shoulders, permanently. Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins."
When Jesus is Lord of us He removes the greatest burden in our lives: sin. We may not feel it from day to day, but remember that the wages of sin is death and once we are dead, we face judgment (Rom 6:23, Heb 9:27). For believers, the reality is that we no longer have a sin burden, Jesus has removed it from us (but He doesn't stop there). In fact, not only are we free from the consequences that we deserve, but He also burned the record. "I will not remember your sins," that means there is no nagging about what you did ("sure I forgave you, but I will never forget"). Your sin is forgotten, as if it never happened.
What a great deal. The only thing closely comparable to this level of amnesia in my life is when Jennifer asks me to do the dishes. You want to talk about a spiritual level of forgetting something, man that's it.
We no longer have to fear the sin-burden that was killing us. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you...when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you" (Isaiah 43:1-2). Some of you (you know who you are), will read Isaiah and say, "but he was addressing Israel," and you are right, he was, but take heart! Our Lord is the Lord of a new covenant, and to us he declared, "I will remember their sins and their lawlessness no more" (Heb 10:17).
Christ, the Lord and Creator, was the only sacrifice that could lift the burden of sin. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by a single offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." When you and I trust Jesus as our Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, then we are among those who are being sanctified. The natural response to a person who has blessed you is gratitude. So naturally, the same is true for us with respect to Christ, we understand the true meaning of blessing because of the Lordship of Christ.
For the believer, there is only one right response to Christ's blessing: obedience. Christ did not save us for our sake; He saved us for His sake (Is 23:25). We use the terms, "bought us with His blood," and "paid our debts," etc. So when Isaiah 43 says, "you are mine," do you know what it means? We are His. We literally are His possession (Ex 19:5).
That puts a different spin on it. As a response to grace we should want to obey Jesus, but as His possession He should expect us to obey. My kids belong to me, and yes I love them and am generous with them, but I also expect them to do what I say. Sometimes they surprise me and bless me with obedience because they want to please me, but even if they don't I still expect obedience. As we are His possession, Christ should expect the same of us.
As I conclude I want you to meditate on obedience as a response to grace. Hebrews 10:25-30 says, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”..."The Lord will judge his people”…”It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The ellipsis (...) in this paragraph should give believers pause.
Remember, as a believer your permanent record is expunged. The days of choosing sin and death are in the past. Just as Jesus was faithful to forgive and forget our sin, He should rightfully expect our obedience. How strange to Jesus that His precious ones, bought with His blood, would choose sin over obedience.
These stern words are not meant to scare you to the straight and narrow, but if they do, great. Just as God knows that we are incapable of saving ourselves, He knows we are incapable of even obeying Him. Like salvation, God has also made possible our obedience.
Join me for one last blog about 'giving up' because I have good news, by faith, Christ has transformed the lives of believers throughout history. Our works are worthless to God. Our faith in His finished work is a precious thing to Him. Here comes the real New Year's resolution: in 2015, I want to yield my life in faith to the Lordship of Christ.
Read Hebrews chapter 11 and you will understand what I mean.
Hopefully by now we all know that a mark on our record was a farce, an empty threat, used by adults to scare us straight. But, to our core as humans we know that there is a standing record against us. That record, as most of you have already guessed, is sin. We are born with a sin nature; we are selfish right from the womb; sin is inevitable. Sin is the real permanent record... or is it? Well that all depends, is Jesus your Lord?
I offer you the permanent record conundrum because I want you to understand blessing, true blessing from its deepest, most elemental meaning; the blessing that comes from having the biggest burden in your life removed from your shoulders, permanently. Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins."
When Jesus is Lord of us He removes the greatest burden in our lives: sin. We may not feel it from day to day, but remember that the wages of sin is death and once we are dead, we face judgment (Rom 6:23, Heb 9:27). For believers, the reality is that we no longer have a sin burden, Jesus has removed it from us (but He doesn't stop there). In fact, not only are we free from the consequences that we deserve, but He also burned the record. "I will not remember your sins," that means there is no nagging about what you did ("sure I forgave you, but I will never forget"). Your sin is forgotten, as if it never happened.
What a great deal. The only thing closely comparable to this level of amnesia in my life is when Jennifer asks me to do the dishes. You want to talk about a spiritual level of forgetting something, man that's it.
We no longer have to fear the sin-burden that was killing us. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you...when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you" (Isaiah 43:1-2). Some of you (you know who you are), will read Isaiah and say, "but he was addressing Israel," and you are right, he was, but take heart! Our Lord is the Lord of a new covenant, and to us he declared, "I will remember their sins and their lawlessness no more" (Heb 10:17).
Christ, the Lord and Creator, was the only sacrifice that could lift the burden of sin. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by a single offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." When you and I trust Jesus as our Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, then we are among those who are being sanctified. The natural response to a person who has blessed you is gratitude. So naturally, the same is true for us with respect to Christ, we understand the true meaning of blessing because of the Lordship of Christ.
For the believer, there is only one right response to Christ's blessing: obedience. Christ did not save us for our sake; He saved us for His sake (Is 23:25). We use the terms, "bought us with His blood," and "paid our debts," etc. So when Isaiah 43 says, "you are mine," do you know what it means? We are His. We literally are His possession (Ex 19:5).
That puts a different spin on it. As a response to grace we should want to obey Jesus, but as His possession He should expect us to obey. My kids belong to me, and yes I love them and am generous with them, but I also expect them to do what I say. Sometimes they surprise me and bless me with obedience because they want to please me, but even if they don't I still expect obedience. As we are His possession, Christ should expect the same of us.
As I conclude I want you to meditate on obedience as a response to grace. Hebrews 10:25-30 says, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”..."The Lord will judge his people”…”It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The ellipsis (...) in this paragraph should give believers pause.
Remember, as a believer your permanent record is expunged. The days of choosing sin and death are in the past. Just as Jesus was faithful to forgive and forget our sin, He should rightfully expect our obedience. How strange to Jesus that His precious ones, bought with His blood, would choose sin over obedience.
These stern words are not meant to scare you to the straight and narrow, but if they do, great. Just as God knows that we are incapable of saving ourselves, He knows we are incapable of even obeying Him. Like salvation, God has also made possible our obedience.
Join me for one last blog about 'giving up' because I have good news, by faith, Christ has transformed the lives of believers throughout history. Our works are worthless to God. Our faith in His finished work is a precious thing to Him. Here comes the real New Year's resolution: in 2015, I want to yield my life in faith to the Lordship of Christ.
Read Hebrews chapter 11 and you will understand what I mean.
Let's All Give Up in 2015 (Part II)
- by Jonathan Whitaker
Have you ever felt truly worthy of something? Most of us married guys would look at our wives and say, "I'm lucky to have her." But few of us, if we are being honest, believe we are worthy of such a wonderful creature. It's true: you and I are slobs, and she is an angel sent from heaven (most likely to endure us as some sort of punishment). If you work hard for 40 hours a week and fulfill your obligations to your employer, certainly you are worthy of a paycheck. What about your salvation: are you worthy of that?
When Christ is our Lord, the scripture tells us we are worthy, but not by our own merit. (Col 1:11-14). Christ is worthy to be called Lord, and because He is worthy, we can be made worthy through Him.
How does one go about becoming a lord? It's like the peasant woman from Monty Python said, "How did you become king? I didn't vote for ya!" There are a few ways. First, you can inherit your title by hereditary succession. Second, you can be declared lord by the authority of the one who is in power. A lord can also claim the title by winning a great victory. Christ, interestingly enough, is qualified as Lord on the merit of all three avenues I just described. And no, Aaron, the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur had nothing to do with it.
As Son of the living God, Christ is worthy to be called Lord. He is heir to the majesty on high (Heb 1:2). If God and Jesus were like earthly father and son, Jesus would qualify outright as the first born of many brethren to assume the title of Lord (Matt 3:17, Rom 8:29). Our earthly affairs in no way compare to the already established Lordship of Christ as God the Son. However, Matthew chapter 1 covers all the bases and establishes that by His birthright Jesus should be the political king of Judah. Take a minute to read it. Had the Babylonian Captivity never taken place, Joseph would have been King on the throne of Judah when his adopted Son Jesus was born. Whether by His heavenly or earthly lineage, Jesus is worthy because of his heredity.
Jesus is also qualified to be called Lord because God, the creator of Heaven and Earth and the ultimate authority, bestowed that title upon Him. Philippians 2:6-11 says, " Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Because of Christ's obedience to God the Father, God saw fit to impart His Son's lordship by divine decree. Jesus is worthy because God said He is worthy.
If you did your homework from last time, you already know the third reason Jesus is qualified to be called our Lord. As the winner of the great victory over sin and death, Jesus has become our Lord and Savior.
Hebrews chapters eight and nine are a tale of two covenants. The first covenant was made between God and Israel, when God brought them out of slavery in Egypt (Heb 8:9). The history of Israel has been rebellion against this covenant. Before we start feeling high and mighty, we must realize that we have also run roughshod over God's law. The second, more excellent covenant is enacted by Christ and supersedes the old covenant.
Anyone who has ever attempted a study of Leviticus can tell you that the law is vast and complex. In Hebrews eight and nine, Paul reveals that the law (old covenant) was merely a copy or shadow of heavenly things. When God instructed Moses to construct a tent from a pattern, each intricate piece was a brush stroke in a portrait of God's plan of salvation. That portrait was never intended to save men from their sins, but to point to the One who would. In Galatians, we learn that those who rely on the works law are condemned by it (Gal 3:10-11). The work of a man has never saved anyone; on the contrary, Christ's New Covenant is accomplished by Him and has the power to save men (Heb 8:10-12).
Work is clearly not the currency of salvation. Ancient Israel understood this. Under the old covenant, the Priests would make offerings for the sins of the people using the one thing that does satisfy sin debt: blood (Heb 9:22). Temple sacrifice was a bloody affair, necessarily so, because it was merely a picture of a salvation to come, not salvation itself. If the blood of goats and bulls could satisfy sin, then temple sacrifice would be a footnote in the Bible. As it stands, the only blood that would satisfy the eternal condemnation of sin was the blood of God Himself (Heb 9:14).
Because Jesus quenched sin with His own blood once and for all we can be glad. His death ended the bloodshed forever and secured a great victory. With His victory in a battle we could not have won, over a foe against whom our weapons were insufficient, Jesus is worthy and rightfully our Lord…and because He is worthy, all who believe that God raised Him from the dead and call Him Lord are worthy.
When Christ is our Lord, the scripture tells us we are worthy, but not by our own merit. (Col 1:11-14). Christ is worthy to be called Lord, and because He is worthy, we can be made worthy through Him.
How does one go about becoming a lord? It's like the peasant woman from Monty Python said, "How did you become king? I didn't vote for ya!" There are a few ways. First, you can inherit your title by hereditary succession. Second, you can be declared lord by the authority of the one who is in power. A lord can also claim the title by winning a great victory. Christ, interestingly enough, is qualified as Lord on the merit of all three avenues I just described. And no, Aaron, the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur had nothing to do with it.
As Son of the living God, Christ is worthy to be called Lord. He is heir to the majesty on high (Heb 1:2). If God and Jesus were like earthly father and son, Jesus would qualify outright as the first born of many brethren to assume the title of Lord (Matt 3:17, Rom 8:29). Our earthly affairs in no way compare to the already established Lordship of Christ as God the Son. However, Matthew chapter 1 covers all the bases and establishes that by His birthright Jesus should be the political king of Judah. Take a minute to read it. Had the Babylonian Captivity never taken place, Joseph would have been King on the throne of Judah when his adopted Son Jesus was born. Whether by His heavenly or earthly lineage, Jesus is worthy because of his heredity.
Jesus is also qualified to be called Lord because God, the creator of Heaven and Earth and the ultimate authority, bestowed that title upon Him. Philippians 2:6-11 says, " Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Because of Christ's obedience to God the Father, God saw fit to impart His Son's lordship by divine decree. Jesus is worthy because God said He is worthy.
If you did your homework from last time, you already know the third reason Jesus is qualified to be called our Lord. As the winner of the great victory over sin and death, Jesus has become our Lord and Savior.
Hebrews chapters eight and nine are a tale of two covenants. The first covenant was made between God and Israel, when God brought them out of slavery in Egypt (Heb 8:9). The history of Israel has been rebellion against this covenant. Before we start feeling high and mighty, we must realize that we have also run roughshod over God's law. The second, more excellent covenant is enacted by Christ and supersedes the old covenant.
Anyone who has ever attempted a study of Leviticus can tell you that the law is vast and complex. In Hebrews eight and nine, Paul reveals that the law (old covenant) was merely a copy or shadow of heavenly things. When God instructed Moses to construct a tent from a pattern, each intricate piece was a brush stroke in a portrait of God's plan of salvation. That portrait was never intended to save men from their sins, but to point to the One who would. In Galatians, we learn that those who rely on the works law are condemned by it (Gal 3:10-11). The work of a man has never saved anyone; on the contrary, Christ's New Covenant is accomplished by Him and has the power to save men (Heb 8:10-12).
Work is clearly not the currency of salvation. Ancient Israel understood this. Under the old covenant, the Priests would make offerings for the sins of the people using the one thing that does satisfy sin debt: blood (Heb 9:22). Temple sacrifice was a bloody affair, necessarily so, because it was merely a picture of a salvation to come, not salvation itself. If the blood of goats and bulls could satisfy sin, then temple sacrifice would be a footnote in the Bible. As it stands, the only blood that would satisfy the eternal condemnation of sin was the blood of God Himself (Heb 9:14).
Because Jesus quenched sin with His own blood once and for all we can be glad. His death ended the bloodshed forever and secured a great victory. With His victory in a battle we could not have won, over a foe against whom our weapons were insufficient, Jesus is worthy and rightfully our Lord…and because He is worthy, all who believe that God raised Him from the dead and call Him Lord are worthy.
Element's Mission
OUR MISSION: To Glorify God by teaching and living out the Scriptures, transforming community into Gospel Community, and planting churches.
