One of the sad things about people who call themselves Christians, is that they are afraid of their worries and doubts. Too many people try to push any doubts out of their minds as if even having a doubt is a sin (as if it makes us not steadfast in our trust in Christ). Being steadfast doesn’t mean we don’t have questions, it means that we believe that ultimately we know (whether we fully understand it or not) who the ultimate answer truly is. Faith in God is not faith untroubled by anxiousness or doubt, it is a faith in spite of it. An elderly woman asked the great church reformer, Martin Luther, about faith though she has doubt, he said “tell me, when you recite the creeds, do you believe them?” She says “yes, most certainly,” his response was “then go in peace, you believe more and better than I.” DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

Element Christian Church of Santa Maria

Songs of Ascent Week 6: Psalm 125 - Steadfastness

This week, Michelle sits down with Allison and discusses what steadfastness has looked like in her life, and specifically the past couple of years of marriage and moving to rural Texas to be with dying father. 00:00 Intro 01:31 Psalm 125 2:45 Allison’s story WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

Talking Element S2E6. Stories of Community: Steadfastness with Allison Anderson

1Peter 3:15…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…The word for “defense” is where we get our modern word apology. Apology meant a defense like you would make in a court of law. The Biblical understanding of APOLOGY is not trying to defend God (or apologize for Him), it is witnessing about the goodness of God. Psalm 124 is an excellent model of how TRUE witnessing takes place because it does not argue God’s help or try to justify it; it is a testimony of God’s help in the form of a song. We are to see it and ask, “How do people sing with such confidence that ‘God’s strong name is our help’?” When we understand it, our lives have so much more substance that cause many of our complaints to subside. DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

Songs of Ascent Week 5: Psalm 124 - Witness

This week, Michelle sits down with Kaylah and discusses what it has looked like to be a witness in her life. And Michael and Michelle discuss how ways to engage on missionally with the Gospel. Link to further article with table: https://saturatetheworld.com/2020/09/22/joining-god-mission/ 00:00 Intro Michael & Michelle talk about mission 00:45 Weekender & Paul in Athens 02:32 Diving deeper into idols 10:27 Kaylah Intro 12:05 Trouble Waters 15:32 How has community helped shape your witness? WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

Talking Element S2E5. Stories of Community: Witness with Kaylah Ailman

The people making the ascent to worship God in these Psalms of Ascent endured multiple hardships. They walked and prayed what they did because they knew that God is a rescuer of those who cry out. We know that He is the God of the Passover, the God of the Exodus, and ultimately of Easter; the God of slavery, death, life, freedom. The cross is where the reality of our image bearing becomes a restored reality. Peterson writes, “If God is worth our attention at all, he must be a God we can look up to—a God we must look up to…The moment we look up to God (and not over at Him, or down on Him) we are in the posture of servitude.” As servants we serve Him as peacemakers, calling the world to understand not only who made them, but how they were made to live. DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

Songs of Ascent Week 4: Psalm 123 - Serving

This week, Christie sits down with Jessica and Robert to see how Serving and Community go hand in hand for this couple. And Michael reads a story. Download GC Handbook: https://audio.ourelement.org/training/2021_GC Handbook_final.pdf WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

Talking Element S2E3. Stories of Community: Worship with the Allen & Janet

From the very beginning of the Scriptures, we see that God built us to be worshippers, it goes deeper than our DNA; worship is the fabric of our existence. Creation was made to glorify God because when God is most glorified, we live in the most joy. Once we begin to understand that our lives do not make sense apart from worship, we will take more seriously what we worship. There is a quote that has been attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will come out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” Chaim Stern wrote, “The gods we worship write their names on our faces.” DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

Songs of Ascent Week 3: Psalm 122 - Worship

This week, Michelle sits down with Allen and Janet to see how Worship and Community have grown over the past year. And Michael makes a meta appearance. Download GC Handbook: https://audio.ourelement.org/training/2021_GC Handbook_final.pdf WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

There is no literature, ancient or modern, that is more realistic and honest in facing the harsh facts of life than the Bible. The Scriptures never once portray a life lived worshipping God as free of difficulties or pain. As a matter of fact, our God comes in the person of Jesus and is despised and rejected for us, to rescue us from our own rebellion. What God promises is that He will be with us even in the midst of our struggles. Peterson writes, “On every page of the Bible there is recognition that faith encounters troubles.” In The Lord’s Prayer Jesus says, “deliver us from evil;” that prayer is answered every day in the lives of those who walk in the way of faith. DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

Songs of Ascent Week 2: Psalm 121 - Trust

This week, Michelle sits down with Judy Lees and sees where God has grown her trust in Him this year. And Michael makes an appearance to discuss what Gospel Community is. Download GC Handbook: https://audio.ourelement.org/training/2021_GC Handbook_final.pdf WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

Talking Element S2E2. Stories of Community: Trust with the Judy Lees

The Songs (or Psalms) of ascent are 15 psalms that pilgrims would sing or recite on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast days. This is week one of our series: discipleship starts with repentance. DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

Songs of Ascent Week 1: Psalm 120 - Repentance

This week, Michael, Michelle and Jon sit down and discuss Michelle’s new role, where Element is headed with Gospel Communities, as well as where they succeeded in repentance within Gospel community, and where they missed the mark. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

Talking Element S2E1. Stories of Community: Redemption with the Gees and Storytellers GC

This week we look at the minor prophet: Habakkuk. What truths about who God is do you tend to forget? What things about God do you need to have repeated? Talk about what it would be like for you to walk “on the heights” with Jesus. DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE WATCH RELATED TALKING ELEMENT EPISODE

12.6) Habakkuk (The Minors)

Questions Discussed: - What’s our next series and next for Talking Element - How has God brought Russ to better understanding the Gospel? - Assumptions of what God should do. - Rejoicing: repeat, remind - How do we not focus on the priorities not salvation worthy? WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE WATCH This Episode of Talking Element

Episode 49 of 'Talking Element' – The Minors: 12.6) Habakkuk with Russ Sharer

Element Christian Church of Santa Maria, CA (Orcutt, VAFB, Lompoc and the Santa Maria Valley) Download Element's weekly sermons with sermon notes. Visit http://www.ourelement.org/media/messages for more. #ourelement. #ourelementsm.

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Element Christian Church of Santa Maria

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