Element Church Podcast - Sermons

We face battles every day. Whether it’s the struggle of being moral in an immoral world, being prepared to share the gospel, or just facing the constant negative chatter in our minds, each day brings a new fight. This week, Pastor Ryan walks us through the armor of God (or the armor of hockey) and gives us practical challenges to get us ready for the battles ahead.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Can you submit to someone you don’t agree with (as long as that person is not causing you harm)?  Whether it be a spouse, an employer, or some other kind of leader, what does it take to submit to their authority despite your differences?  In today’s message we’ll take a look at a difficult idea, that “it’s not about me”.  As we continue our series looking at the letter the apostle Paul wrote to the churches of Ephesus, we’ll see how he explains what it looks like to be a follower of Christ in the context of some different relationship situations.  We’ll find value in shifting our mindset to respect and learn from people we disagree with, and ultimately how to live in abundance as we relate to others.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Do you ever ignore annoying issues hoping they will miraculously fix themselves?  How does that work out for you?  What about with bigger issues?  Sometimes the lack of motivation to make positive changes is related to a lack of understanding that there is a better way to live.  In today’s message we’ll take a look at four practical steps we can take to take ownership of our faith and our lives and start to make some positive healthy changes.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever tried to pour something out of an empty bottle?  Have you ever BEEN that empty bottle, trying to pour yourself out on behalf of others but find the people around you just suck you dry?  In today’s message we continue looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus and see how the words of encouragement he shared with them also apply to us.  Ultimately we’ll see that as we draw nearer to God, his unlimited resources are available to satisfy our needs and empower us to do all that we’re called to do.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever gone looking for something but along the way discovered you weren't even in the correct region to be looking for that thing?  How is that similar to searching for hope?  Do you sometimes find yourself looking for hope in all the wrong places?Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

If you're a home-owner, do you find yourself looking for more DIY plumbing repair videos on the internet than you usually do?  More generally, do you find yourself searching for information and advice most relevant to your immediate circumstances?  In today's message we'll begin to take a look at a letter, written by a man named Paul to a church in the ancient city of Ephesus, which spells out some basics about living a life of faith in Jesus.  Ultimately we'll learn some practical questions to help clear away spiritual obstacles, and also discover a simple idea about experiencing a relationship with God that goes beyond simply just knowing about Him.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Join us this week as guest speaker, Joe Andrist, speaks on, "Spiritual Fitness." The gospel of Matthew illustrates the importance of putting God's priorities ahead of man's priorities and growing spiritually. Unfortunately, many people fail to exercise spiritually on a regular basis. Drawing on metaphors with physical fitness, Joe demonstrates spiritual exercises, challenges us to be honest, well-nourished, and precise with our goals, and ultimately, to take short, obedience steps of faith to achieve spiritual change.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

If the God of the Bible is supposed to be about grace and protection, how do we square that with the times in our lives when we face pain and suffering?  If you’ve been with Element for a while, you know that we are big about helping hurting people find healing.  Ultimately we’ll see that God is neither silent nor absent in the midst of our pain, and we’ll find hope by drawing near to Him as we navigate a broken and fallen world.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Do you ever feel like you have gas in the tank and a powerful engine, but somehow still can’t get to where you want to go?  Do you feel like you do all the right things to learn the knowledge and skills needed for life, but somehow there’s still a connection missing?  In today’s message we’ll revisit some old messages and be reminded of a point Jesus made to his closest followers about staying connected to himself.  We’ll rediscover some practical advice about connecting the information we have with the skills God has given us to make a difference in the world.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Do you take reality seriously?  If so, what kinds of doubts does reality cause you to face?  In today's message we'll take a look at stories of two people who wrestled with doubt based on their own real life experiences.  Ultimately we'll discover that, though our life circumstances cause us to face things we don't understand, we can bring our doubts to Jesus and find hope and practical ways of dealing with them.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

How do you balance things in life?  Do you delicately stabilize things for a moment only to have something come out of nowhere and disrupt everything?  Have you considered that maybe fulfilling our purpose is better than finding balance?  In today's message, we'll be challenged to consider that maybe balance is the wrong objective.  We'll discover practical, even easy, ways to develop healthier and more productive habits.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever wondered how a good God can possibly exist when you or those you care about continue to experience pain?  Do you find it impossible to think about comfort when the only thoughts filling your mind are about what you've lost?  As we wrap up this series, we'll consider the idea that there may perhaps be a purpose to our pain.  We'll look at some passages in the Bible where the author writes about God being able to do miracles and give us comfort, but then a little later we read about the adversity the author continues to endure.  While this juxtaposition may be uncomfortable, we will find relief through a fellowship of suffering.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

What have you committed to "muscle memory"?  We gain muscle memory by doing the same thing over and over again.  Sometimes this can help us develop useful skills, but sometimes we can also develop harmful habits.  In today's message we'll consider that the weight we carry due to wounds inflicted by others can cause us to develop a form muscle memory which prevents healing.  We'll look at the writings of the Apostle Paul about why forgiveness is so essential to healing and gain new perspectives on what forgiveness is and how to do it.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Do you feel experiences of hurt and pain are like weights holding you down?  If you've carried that weight for a long time, do you identify with that pain?  In today's message we'll reevaluate our relationships with our burdens and see what the Bible says about how Jesus welcomes us to find relief from them.  Ultimately we'll learn some things about forgiveness and what influence that has on releasing us from some of the burdens we may have brought upon ourselves (next week we'll talk about the burdens brought upon us by others).Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

If you sprain an ankle or break a finger, are you more likely to see a doctor or pretend the injury doesn't exist?  What about when it comes to a broken relationship, addiction, or loss of a loved one?  In today's message we'll take a look at the role of community in the healing process and we'll learn some practical ways to BE the church.  Incidentally, we'll see that every time the Bible refers to the "church" it's referring to a group of believers that are trying to follow Jesus.  Scripture tells us that the primary activity of the church is to one-another one another.  For healing to happen, we have to care for one another.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever made a decision that was supposed to be inconsequential but instead turned out to be monumental?  Maybe a decision was made for you that moment changed everything!  Sometimes those are changes for the better, but often those are changes that damage us.  In today's message we begin a series looking at what to do when life hurts.  We'll see that healing is possible and learn practical ways to take some first steps.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever felt like your need for prayer has been based on what kind of week you’ve had?  Maybe when you're feeling confident and successful you're more willing to go to God in prayer, but maybe in your darker moments you feel unworthy?Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

What's your biggest pet peeve?  What bothers you the most?  Maybe bad drivers.  Maybe shoppers that stop in the door way of busy stores to look for their cars from a distance.  Maybe relationships when other people don't live life the way you would prefer.  In today's message we'll see a prayer of unity that Jesus prays for us and learn some things about his intention for that unity.  In a very vivid way, we'll see what happens when ME takes priority over WE.  The result is not just disunity and brokenness, but it's that we can no longer fulfill our purpose.  Ultimately we'll be challenged to become people who see the value of WE over ME.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Do you ever wonder if Jesus really understands how you feel?  If he was never married, how can he relate to having fights with his spouse?  If he never had children, how can he relate to taking them to the doctor for vaccinations, and seeing the pain and fear and betrayal in the eyes of his child?  In today's message we'll take a look at a moment in Jesus' life where the Bible records his most candid prayer for us.  We'll him express fear and pain and anxiety and we'll see him turn that into anger against the evil that opposes him.  Ultimately one thing we'll see in particular is the role emotion plays in Jesus' Garden prayer.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

What is the right way to eat a Cinnabon?  What does that have to do with prayer?  If you’ve never thought that there may be a right and wrong way to eat a Cinnabon, then you might also not consider that there may be a right or wrong way to pray.  In today's message we'll see how Jesus responded to his disciples when they asked him to teach them how to pray.  We'll learn some practical things to keep in mind, and also learn more about God along the way.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)