Sunday Reflections

Here are some thoughts from a great day:

• We had the most unique service we have done since Elevate started. We called it the HOPE Encounter.
• We talked about being still and knowing that Jesus is God!
  
• I know it was probably hard and a bit awkward for some people to sit in silence for a few minutes but it is was needed.
  
• Some people say they feel like they can't hear God's voice. Maybe it's not that He isn't speaking, it's you have so much noise in your life that you can't hear him.
• God spoke to Elijah with a "gentle whisper" not in the winds, an earthquake, or the fire. (1 Kings 19:10-13).
• We also reflected on the price that Jesus paid for us at the cross through the Lord's Supper.
• God's approval is not won through what you DO. God's approval was won 2,000 years ago at the cross!
• Jesus substituted His perfection for our imperfection, his righteousness for our sinfulness.
• Is what you are living for worth Christ dying for the way He died?
• Someone gave me their ipod for the next 40 days as they focus on hearing from God.
• Someone else gave me a big hug after the service and thanked God for Elevate and how God has used this church to change his life.
• Someone else sent me a text about how God was challenging them in a major way through the message in certain areas of their life. Their are other stories too.
  
• These are the type of things that I live for and why we started Elevate Church: To see lives changed by the power of the Gospel and lead people to become passionate followers of Christ!
• Naomi has been singing a song that she learned in E-Kidz. I am grateful for those who serve in our E-Kidz ministry and teach our kids about Jesus!
  
• I am very grateful for all of those who make Sunday's at Elevate happen each week. You all are a huge blessing!
  
• I love that clip from Elf. Buddy the Elf is so funny. That has to be one of my favorite Christmas movies.
• Who are you inviting to our Christmas service this coming Sunday? Pray now and invite your friends and family. It is going to be an incredible service we are calling an Out of This World Christmas!
  

Random Friday

Here are some random Friday thoughts:

• I can't wait until Sunday! It will be the most unique service we have ever done at Elevate Church. We are calling it the HOPE Encounter.
• Our first ever Christmas service will be on Sunday, December 20th and it's called Out of this World Christmas. I can't wait to share what God has put on my heart to share on this day!
• I am going to get a haircut today. I am way over due!
  
• I heard that in 2005 there were over 500,000 Bibles sold a week in America. Our problem is not access. Our problem is when we don't read the Bible with a holy anticipation for what God wants to say to us. That changes when you realize that God's Word is "living and active; Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12
  
• You need to stop right now and watch this. It is a video from Matt Chandler. He is a pastor in Texas and he did this video before his brain surgery. You can follow the updates at their church blog.
• I love this post by Perry Noble about the Urgency of the Gospel. Heaven is real. Hell is real. Everybody will spend eternity in one of those places. What are you doing to make a difference? Read this and this to see how much Jesus cares about those who are far from Him and the measures taken to reach them.
• If you haven't already, start praying for who you can invite and be sure to invite them next week for our Christmas service.
  

Out of This World Christmas

I am very excited about our Christmas service on December 20th called Out of this World. We will take a look at a Christmas that truly came from out of this world.

Begin praying now who God would have you to invite to this special service. Then go invite them!

Christmas time for many people is a lonely time as they think about loved ones they have lost in the past. For others, it is about shopping, lights, Christmas trees, family dinners, and pretty much everything but the one it is truly about: Jesus.

Whether you are a Christian or not, it is easy to get so busy in the season that we miss what it is truly all about.

I am looking forward to us taking some time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the One who came and truly changed the course of history.

It is quite amazing that a little peasant boy born in a barn would alter time the way that Jesus has done. Seriously, think about it: over 2,000 years later and we are still talking about Him!

I can't wait for our Out of This World Christmas service!

Baptisms

We baptized six people this past Sunday at Elevate. We borrowed a portable baptismal and had a Baptism Bash at someone's home. It was a great time and it makes everything we do worth it! Seeing people put Jesus first in their lives and walk in obedience to Him is so awesome!

Below are a few pictures from the celebration.

Sunday Reflections

Here are some Sunday thoughts:

• It was the third week in our HOPE series and Chris shared about Seeing in a Blurry World.
• He did a great job and here are a few points from the message:
• "God will get you where He wants you to go" (Isaiah 45:2-3).
• "Delayed obedience is disobedience."
• "Be aware of blind spots in your life."
• "The result of clarity is seeing Jesus even in hopelessness."
• We had some receive Christ! That is awesome.
• After the service, we baptized six people at our Baptism Bash! It was so much fun.
• I know I say it a lot but I am so grateful for volunteers that serve at Elevate every week.
• I am so excited about the next two weeks at Elevate.
• Don't miss our HOPE encounter on Sunday, December 13th. It is a service like we have never done.
• Then we celebrate our first Christmas service on the 20th called An Out of this World Christmas.
• Remember what I said Sunday morning: Pray every day this week for the people you plan to invite to our Christmas service. We are providing invites this coming Sunday for you to use to invite friends and family.

Random Friday

Here is some Random Friday stuff:

• Week three of our HOPE series is this Sunday! It has been so awesome to see what God has been doing over the last few weeks.
• We also have our Baptism Bash right after the service. If you need to be baptized, don't put it off. Take the Plunge! Send me an email to sign up: Kevin@ElevateSanDiego.com
• December 13th is our HOPE Encounter. Get ready for a powerful worship service and a great time for all of us to truly experience hope!
• Our Out of this World Christmas service is on December 20th. It will be our first Christmas celebration as a church. I'm really looking forward to that day!
• I know I say it a lot but it's true: I am excited about what God is doing and can't wait for the next few weeks.
  
• If you are a pastor and not excited about what God is going to do at your church, then you can't expect others to be excited either.
• This a great post by Perry Noble about praying for your pastor. We are in a war and could use a lot of prayer!
• I love the "Church Math" post by Tony Morgan.
• Georgia beat Georgia Tech and South Carolina beat Clemson. I think that means Georgia and South Carolina should play in the ACC Championship. :-)
• In case you didn't know, the National Championship is being played this weekend by Florida and Alabama. :-)
• I love the Christmas Season!
• Pray for Matt Chandler. He is a pastor in Texas that is having brain surgery today. Here is an amazing post by his wife about everything that is happening right now.
• "Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." - C.T. Studd
• That is a great quote above. Elevate doesn't exist to be a nice cozy place for Christians but a place for people desperately in search of Hope to find the source of Hope: JESUS!
  

The Hope of the World

Jesus said that He would build His church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it! (Matthew 16:18)

It is His church and He is the one who is building it.

He didn't say He was building his non profit 501 (c) 3. He is not building a para church ministry.

I have nothing against ministries that have been created separate from the church. My problem is that the reason that many of these organizations have started is because many in the church have forgotten this fact: The Church is the Hope of the World!

It brings so much freedom to realize that it's not my church. It's not about the name of Elevate or the name of any other church. Elevate Church belongs to Jesus! It is His church and He is the One advancing His kingdom through it.

If you are a follower of Jesus, remember during this Christmas season that within you is the greatest hope anyone could ever find. Share it with others and let others see Jesus and His church being built through you.

Jesus and His Church is the hope of the world!