Element Church Podcast - Sermons

Family are like fish, you throw them out after 3 days.  If you laughed at that, then unfortunately you can probably relate.  As we look forward to family gatherings (either with delight or with dread), we want to keep in mind healthy ways to address conflict.  The truth is, relationships often end in bitterness when we don’t deal with conflict.  Unforgiveness and bitterness is not the best way to live, and Jesus invites us to live better than that.  In today’s message we’ll look at one story Jesus tells about family conflict and drama and gain some ideas that will help us navigate the tension of this season.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or is it? Whether there’s stress on your relationships, your job, or your holiday plans, the Christmas season isn’t always as happy as the internet says it is. This week Pastor Ryan gets real about one of the leading causes of death and invites us to seek help and feel hope.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or is it? Whether there’s stress on your relationships, your job, or your holiday plans, the Christmas season isn’t always as happy as the internet says it is. This week Pastor Ryan opens our “Triggered” series with a look into the anxiety and the loneliness of the holiday season and how we can use our community to get us through.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

How does the strength of our community affect our own personal well-being and ability to make a difference in the world?  In today’s message we’ll take a look at some situations where Jesus was not able to be effective in his hometown due to the dispersions cast by those in his community.  We’ll also see some practical applications of how we can find encouragement through those whom have run similar races we may be running and are cheering us on.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Our devices give us so many advantages, but they can also be barriers to actually building relationships within our communities.  In today’s message we’ll take a look at an exchange between Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro.  Jethro’s message to Moses was essentially to involve more people in his personal community to help carry the responsibilities of leading the nation of Israel.  We’ll see what Moses does with this advice and we’ll consider how we can implement similar principles in our own lives.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Your community can help raise you up or it can break you down, it all depends on who you surround yourself with. Throughout this series we will explore the importance of being vulnerable and building a core group to do life with. This week, join Pastor Ryan as he explores the stories of a man who had everything, a man who sacrificed everything for the Kingdom, and the importance of standing through the storms of life together.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Jesus told his disciples he was retiring and being replaced by…the Spirit of God?  As one might expect, instead of meeting this announcement with celebration, Jesus’ disciples responded with confusion and distress.  Fortunately, Jesus also explained how this transition is actually better for us.  Despite the fact that we sometimes feel silence from God, Jesus tells us that the Spirit is there to guide us in our relationship with God.  In today’s message we’ll see the details of what Jesus was talking about and also learn some practical ways to cut through the silence.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Life is busy – for everyone, all the time, life is busy. But it’s important to find time and space to be with God. This week, Pastor Ryan preaches about the story of the prophet Elijah and how God showed up in the midst of Elijah’s silence.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

If you have asked questions about whether or not God is listening, or where he is in your circumstances, or if he even cares, then you don't want to miss our new series, "Hide and Seek".  Over the next few weeks we'll take a deep dive on communicating with God and learn some practical ways to improve our conversation with him.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever been handed a tool but absolutely no instruction how to use it?  If the Bible says that we are called to do great things but gives us no instruction on how to use that calling, then how are we supposed to live the life Jesus wants for us?  In today’s message we’ll pick up some practical ways of learning to use the tools in our lives.  But they won’t come easy.  Ultimately, we have to own our growth and personally put the effort into bettering ourselves.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

No one has it all together. Everyone can have “a week” – a week where the highlight was the alarm going off early on Monday morning. Here at Element, we believe that you can belong before you believe and that everyone receives God’s grace.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

As Pastor Ryan continues to dive into our core values as a church, we confront the truth about dealing with difficult people. It’s easy for us to ask: “What Would Jesus Do?” but it’s much harder to accomplish the same feats. Instead, we have to ask: “What Did Jesus Tell Us To Do?”Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Authentic community sets the church apart. Here at Element, we believe that life is better together. Going through life alone is not what we are called to do as people who have been called by God to be set apart.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever wondered what Element is really about? This week, Pastor Ryan kicks off a new series diving into our core values as a church. Over the next five weeks, join us as we clearly define who we are and what we’re about.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

As we wrap up our Reality Check series, Pastor Ryan addresses the practice of worship. What is worship to you? What sets your heart on fire or ignites your sense of wonder or draws your soul towards God? Tune in as Pastor Ryan dives into different parts of scripture to find different examples of worship and shows us how we can apply this teaching in our own lives.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

Have you ever wondered how a loving God can allow us to suffer deep pain? Have you ever asked yourself why God lets a place like Hell exist – and why he allows so many people to spend eternity there? This week, Pastor Ryan dives into the truth about Hell, and the fact that it is 100% preventable.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

This week we’re kicking off our Reality Check series with a video from Pastor Carl Kuhl at Mosaic Christian Church! Pastor Carl explores the paradox of grace and truth and how we can apply it in real life today.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

What would you do if you were 100% sure God was with you? As we close out our Courageous series, we look at Joshua as he stands up to disagreement and discouragement in the face of the unknown. In this message, Pastor Ryan explores how we can address our fears and embrace the opportunities God has for us on the other side of what scares us.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

What do we do when God speaks and the details don’t make sense? This week Pastor Ryan continues the story of Joshua and his trust in God – even when he doesn’t know the results, or what hangs in the balance of his decision to be courageous.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)

What are you really afraid of? In this series, Pastor Ryan is going to break down the courage it takes to address our fears and embrace opportunity. This week we explore 3 ways to keep going through life when God is silent and how to deal with our fears on a real and practical level.Support the show (https://elementchurchlaurel.com/give)