Element Church Insider

Holy snowstorm out of NOWHERE Batman!  Woke up this morning to snow blowing sideways (it does that in Wyoming) and by the time second service began, it had moved on.  Definitely affected our 1st service attendance but picked up throughout the day!  Another GREAT day today at Element.  Here are my ruminations.

— I was moved to tears in worship today as we were singing “Jesus Paid It All”.  As we sang the bridge “Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead”, I looked around to see people…specific people, whom God has saved and set free here at Element Church lift their hands in praise to their Savior.  It was just ANOTHER reminder of the PRIVILEGE I have to be a part of what God is doing.

—  I texted Pastor Adam after 1st service today and said “Bro, the band sounds AMAZING!”.  Seriously, they were ON today.  I am so appreciative of the caliber of people we have that lead us to the throne in worship each week.  SO good!

—  Had Joe Sangl as a guest speaker today.  That dude preaches on money in a way I’ve never heard anyone preach before.  Clear, compelling and convincing.  Sat on the front row all four services and got something EVERY time!

—  This was our fourth time having Joe here, and I am confident EVERY time that he is going to bring a fresh, challenging and encouraging word from God on the matter of money.  He did just that today.

—  We continued our series called “The Year Of The Comeback” today and Joe spoke on the issue of coming back in the area of our finances.  He spoke from portions of Genesis 39-45 and the story of Joseph.  GREAT insights.  Here are some excerpts:

• Principle #1:  Joseph was faithful with what he could control.
• Joseph didn’t have control of being put into slavery, but he DID control what he did once he was IN slavery.
• Money will not do for you what ONLY God can do for you.  (That’ll hunt)
• No matter where you are in your life or your finances, God is with you. (See Joseph)
• No matter where you’re at, if the Lord is with you you’re in a great place. (YEP)
• The Lord is with you and is that enough?  (GREAT question)
• He applied what he had to where he was.  The same can be true for you in your finances.
• A budget is not telling yourself “no”, it’s being able to say “yes” to what is BEST in your life.
• When God blesses you with SOME, that amount INCLUDES what He wants you to give back to HIM!  (That is straight GOLD there)
• When you have margin you don’t have to look 5 or 10 minutes, days or months down the road…you can look 5 or 10 YEARS!
• You can live life with margin, which allows you to live life on a MISSION!
• Principle #2:  Joseph used his gifts to help others.
• Sometimes God allows you to go through a burden so you can eventually be a blessing to others with the same burden.
• Principle #3:  Joesph was ready when it was time for the comeback.
• One of the reasons God takes people through tremendous challenges is to equip them for the COMEBACK that is coming later.
• You’ve GOT to be ready, and the way you get ready is being faithful with what you have NOW.
• God blesses us in times of abundance to prepare us for the times of famine.
• If you don’t save when times are good you won’t be positioned to prosper when times are bad. (SO good)
• If God blessed you with a million dollars, would you be able to handle it in a way that honored HIM?  (WOW! Such a GREAT question)
• Principle #4:  Joseph forgave those who wronged him.  (Joe did a FANTASTIC job unpacking this issue here and how it plays into our freedom, even financial freedom)

—  I love sitting in on each service cause there was a golden nugget each time he didn’t say in the others.  You can thank me for adding them all here.  HA!

—  We did a cool “next step” today in the service.  Joe had people write down on a card what their financial goals were for 2012.  Whether it is starting to give God our first fruits/tithe to Him, saving money, paying off debt, buying a house or WHATEVER the goal might be.  We then had them put them in stamped envelopes, sealed them and address them to themselves.  We’re gonna mail them back to each person this summer as a personal accountability reminder of what their goal was.

—  Had TONS of envelopes turned in.  LOVED the idea and praying that this would help people take their next step in their finances.

— By the way, I filled one out as well!  With God’s help, we WILL achieve it!

—  We have over 160 people signed up to attend the Financial Learning Experience tomorrow night @ 6:30 with Joe.  It’s not too late to register.  You can register HERE.  It’s from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, childcare IS provided and Joe will be teaching on the financial principles and tools that helped him overcome the financial hole HE had created in his own life.  It’s HIGH energy and SO practical.  Whether you are DESPERATE for help or just need need some confirmation and encouragement you need to be at this event.

—  A new season of Community is starting in February.  If you are not connected into Community here at Element, we have some GREAT groups starting up that you could be plugged in to.  We have groups that go along with The Year Of The Comeback, spiritual formation groups, classes and more.  Check out all of our Community opportunities HERE and sign up to get plugged in.

—  That’s bout it folks.  Can’t wait for the Financial Learning Experience tomorrow night.  This will be my FOURTH time to attend and I get something new every time.  Thanks Element for being who you are…I LOVE you guys!

Till the end,

Jeff

AWESOME day at Element Church today!  Took on a deep subject and hope that God brought healing and wholeness to those who sought it.  Here are my ruminations on the day.

—  TONS of hands went up today asking for prayer to deal with unresolved conflict, unreconciled relationships, hurt or pain in their life.  Maybe I shouldn’t be, but was shocked at how many people acknowledged that.  Praying for forgiveness, healing and hope.

—  We are SLAMMED today in second service.  Literally running out of chairs.  This is AMAZING but it also brings a problem.  2nd service is BY FAR our most popular service to attend for new comers to Element.  It would be a TRAGEDY for someone to come to church and not have a seat available for them, OR feel so uncomfortable squeezing everyone in that they don’t come back.

—  We want to have as MANY seats available at our most POPULAR time to attend church.  In order to do that, we need some people who call Element Church “home” to consider moving to first or fourth service (8:30 AM & 6 PM).  Next Sunday (January 22nd) we are going to be extending our time of worship in fourth service.  Since we don’t have any time limitations at 6 PM, we are going to add some more time of singing to God in praise.  If more worship is something you are seeking, fourth service is a GREAT option for you.

—  By the time our first three services were over, we already had 140 more people than this same Sunday last year, AND WE STILL HAD ONE MORE SERVICE TO GO! Unreal.

—  KEEP INVITING PEOPLE!  We will do whatever we can to make sure that people you invite and bring to Element Church feel VERY comfortable as they hear a VERY dangerous message.

—  Had The Tour today.  LOVE seeing new people get connected into the ministry of the church.

—  Continued our series called “The Year Of The Comeback” today.  Asked the question “How can I live in peace with everyone?”.  Preached from Matthew 5:21-26.  Here are some excerpts on the day:

• God’s best is not based on what’s happening TO us, it’s on the condition of our heart.
• A person who’s living out God’s best doesn’t do so because everything in their life is perfect, they do so because the Perfect One is EVERYTHING in their life.
• The best God has is a heart condition, and a heart condition from HIM is always followed by a change in physical conduct in us.
• A lot of living in peace with everyone has much more to do with OUR heart condition than it does THEIR personal conduct.
• When I see people through my view of Jesus, I realize how horrible of a person I am and am able to view them as better than myself.
• When I see people through my view of Jesus I’m not comparing myself to THEM and what they did to ME, I’m comparing myself to JESUS and what I did to HIM!
• As long as you think you’re better than someone else, you’ll never go and be reconciled to them.
• Until you’re willing to reconcile the problems you have in your relationships Jesus won’t accept any practice of your religion.
• I don’t think forgiveness comes from the state of our heart.  I think forgiveness CHANGES the state of our heart.
• Forgiveness is not forgetting what was done to me, it’s letting go of my right for revenge.
• The cross is not only our avenue to be forgiven, it’s the ONLY avenue by which we must forgive.
• It’s hard to stay mad at someone when I’m caught up in the love of Jesus, and the love of Jesus was perfected on the cross.

—  As I said, TONS of people responding saying they needed prayer for reconciliation, restoration, healing and forgiveness in relationshps in their life.

—  Don’t forget about Joe Sangl being here this coming weekend and the Financial Learning Experience we are hosting on Monday, January 23rd at 6:30 PM.  The event is FREE and childcare is provided.  You can sign up to attend HERE.

—  In my opinion, there isn’t ANYONE better out there than Joe when it comes to teaching on money management, and God honoring principles when it comes to our finances.  If you want some good, solid, practical advice on money management, you need to be at the Financial Learning Experience.

—  Our Winter Community Season kicks off in February.  We’ve been talking about it each week at church.  There are some GREAT community opportunities for you to plug in.  Make sure and check out our Community page HERE to get signed up and connected.

—  I forgot to mention today that we are offering a group SPECIFICALLY on the issue of relationships that we talked about. It’s called The Bait of Satan and you can get more information on it and other Year Of The Comeback specific groups HERE.

—  That’s about it!  Thanks for checking out the blog, and thank you Element Church for allowing me to lead you.  You guys are AMAZING!

Till the end,

Jeff

GREAT to be back in the saddle again this week after having a friend fill the pulpit last week.  MAN, seems like it was last year that I last preached. (insert courtesy laugh at my corny joke here)  Awesome day at Element Church today.  Here are my ruminations on the day.

—  25 people acknowledged to us they said “YES” to Jesus, accepted Him as Savior and experienced LIFE in Him!  WOO HOO!  If only for the ONE!

—  LOVE seeing people accept Christ as Savior.  The miracle of new life should NEVER wear out on us.  It is AMAZING!

—  2011 was the most fruitful year we’ve EVER SEEN at Element Church.  Salvations, giving, attendance were ALL record years.  But I believe that 2012 is going to be EVEN GREATER.  No reason NOT to believe that.

—  I saw WAY too much Bronco paraphernalia in church today!  How can we expect God to bless us with THAT going on.  HA!

—  I got some Bronco bashing in today.  I’m sorry, I just can’t help it.  It happens naturally.  LOTS of Bronco jerseys in the crowd today.

—  Kicked off our new sermon series today called “The Year Of The Comeback”.  Preached from Revelation 2:1-7. Been praying over this series that it would be LIFE CHANGING for people.  Here are some excerpts from the day:

• The past is a dangerous place to live.  Past failures can define us, past successes can distract us.
• The year of the comeback is not about us having the best YEAR of our lives.  It’s about being the FIRST year of the best possible life we can live.  It’s not about being better this year, but living out God’s best for our lives.
• I can be better than what I am today without having to live out the BEST that God has planned for my life.
• I don’t want to go through the motions, I want to live my life with spiritual momentum.
• Repentance is not just something you do one time so you can be saved, it’s something you do continually so you will stay strong.
• People who don’t take sin seriously don’t take Jesus seriously.
• Jesus didn’t save us so we could be stuck in our sin, He saved us so we could have power OVER sin.
• Slavery to sin is broken through submission to the Gospel, and the power of God is found in the pursuit of righteousness and holiness in HIM.
• We are saved by the WORK of Christ alone, but we’re also saved to do the WILL of Christ alone.
• You’ll never live with momentum FOR Jesus until you’re live on mission WITH Jesus and His mission is lived out through the local church.
• When I talk about serving I’m not talking about you being on our roster so we can have church on Sunday morning, I’m talking about you being on mission with Jesus so you live your life with spiritual momentum.
• Most of us don’t need to know more, we need to do what we already know.

—  We will be hosting Joe Sangl and his Financial Learning Experience (FLE) coming up on Monday, January 23rd.  Joe has been with us the last several years and SO MANY people have found financial freedom through his leadership and teaching.  You can sign up to attend the FLE and get all your information HERE.  At the FLE you will learn about budgeting, saving, retirement, insurance and MUCH more.  I don’t know of ANYONE better than Joe right now who is teaching on money management.

—  That’s all I’ve got for today.  Element Church, I love you guys!  Thanks for allowing me to lead you.

Till the end,

Jeff