Summer @ Elements '23
practices & rhythms of following Jesus
Summer Worship Night
August 6, 2023
The right perspective of worship sees the Church as entering into the eternal worship that is already taking place. We do not initiate it - we join it. As we wrap up our summer together, we sing our hallelujah with the saints of old and alongside our brothers and sisters from every nation, tribe and tongue.
Practice of Fasting & Feasting
July 30, 2023 • Pastor Jack Schull • Mark 6:16–18
The spiritual practices of fasting and feasting are always trying to guide us in a Godward direction - to help us experience him, commune with him and connect with His grace more profoundly. Fasting is exercising the beauty of restraint in order to crave for our Heavenly Father more. Feasting is learning to savor the goodness of God, His gifts, the relationships He’s blessed us with - to grow our gratitude for all He’s done and is actively still doing.
Practice of Serving
July 23, 2023 • Pastor Jack Schull • John 13:1–17, Mark 10:41–45
In a world so often focused on self-promotion and ‘seeking to be served’, we’re invited to a counter cultural norm. We’re to follow the Savior who took up a towel, went to a cross, emptied himself and allowed the Father to Lift Him Up after he ‘came not to be served, but to serve.’ The practice of serving is the way of our Savior and is non-negotiable for any of His followers.
Practice of Confession
July 16, 2023 • Pastor Jack Schull • Psalm 32, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 139:23–24
The practice of confession is a necessary practice for a broken and sinful people. Now, many don’t want to admit the guilt of our sinful state - they want to keep it generic as for all of humanity. But if the grace of Jesus is personalized for the forgiveness of OUR sins, we must admit that they are indeed, ours. The practice of confession is for our inner soul cleansing and for maintaining intimacy in relationship with God and others. Confession is also a practice we can engage in for the anchoring our soul to the truth of God.
Practice of Hospitality
July 9, 2023 • Pastor Lyle Thompson
In a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christianity, how can we continue to invite people to experience the life-changing nature of the Gospel? By rediscovering the effectiveness of Hospitality we can engage the lost around us with the Good News of Jesus one meal at a time.
Practice of Community
July 2, 2023 • Pastor Lyle Thompson
Jesus spoke of Community in terms of Family. In fact, the Church is meant to be a family system. What fears hold us back from going all in on a familial community? What do we gain from it? Tonight we explore how this sort of community can become transformative for followers of Jesus.
Practice of Scripture
June 25, 2023 • Pastor Lyle Thompson • 2 Timothy 3:14–17, 2 Timothy 4:1–4, Psalm 119:11
Jesus modeled for all His followers what life in the Kingdom of God looks like. Central to being formed into a follower of Christ is knowing the Scriptures. We live in a culture that rejects authority in favor of autonomy, so how do we change our mindset in order to submit ourselves to the authority of Scripture? By understanding the type of authority Scripture has in our lives we are better equipped to trust the Scriptures as an act of trusting God in order to be formed into the image of Jesus.
Practice of Gratitude
June 18, 2023 • Pastor Jack Schull • 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, Luke 17:11–19
The theme of thankfulness and gratitude is all over the Scriptures and is meant to be a practice that is all over us and our living. Gratitude is something that can awaken us to the blessings of our Creator. Tonight we examine 3 ways you and I can weave the rhythm of gratitude more and more into our lives. Create a habit of ‘circling back’ to give thanks to God with a grateful heart.
Practice of Prayer
June 11, 2023 • Pastor Jack Schull • Matthew 6:5–8, Philippians 4:5–7
The heart behind prayer (even if you’re not a christian) is that you’re seeking help, influence, guidance, divine activity with someone/something greater. For Christians, we seek those things yes — but the deeper heart of prayer is truly about connection with our Creator (prayer is relational in nature Jesus showed). So, Be Still and KNOW.