Four Months Ago...

Four months ago we held our first service at the theater. We did ALL that we could to make it the biggest and best worship experience we could as a young fledgling church. I watched our first service on video tonight and MAN have we come a long way. I am definitely glad we did previews cause...well, just believe me when I say it's good we practiced. I chuckled at the set up we did and where we are at now. I think we'll keep laughing at our progress. Check out the difference in appearance from July 1st to Oct. 28th.





What a GREAT God we serve that allows us to be creative and expand our ideas and ministry. God doesn't want us to remain the same. I think God LOVES seeing his people create and innovate in His church. I think His heart swells when His people can try and connect the Gospel with their culture and new ways that they can relate too. The Gospel NEVER changes. The presentation and methods will ALWAYS change. And hopefully at Element Church, they will always get better. That last picture is our surfboard Sunday. (They are supposed to be stain glass windows) That's what we get for trying to be creative.

Building altars!

We have to be careful! I say it again WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL! There is a danger out there in the church world and I think it can become an altar. Something comes along and BOOM "We should do that. Look how everyone loves it." People get excited over something done in church and we think "That's it, that's the ticket." And we sometimes don't ask if it should be in the church. I'm not pointing to anything specific or some "technique" in church but in this whole chase to be relevant and reach the culture there is SUCH a danger. I'm all for being relevant and reaching the culture. I'm all for pushing the envelope and CRUSHING the box. HOWEVER, where do I draw the line. I read this in my devotions this morning, check it out.

Exodus 32:3-5 "All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!" Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!”

Aaron saw how excited the people were so he offered them what they wanted. BUT IT WASN'T RIGHT. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY LIKED IT! Anyway, I just think we need to be creative, relevant and reach the culture without JUST offering what makes the people excited. There needs to be a filter in which we run everything through. "If we do this, can and will it bring glory to God and draw people into HIS presence." It's such a fine line. I want to be careful as I try to be relevant. I have one person to please and that's it.

Following Christ,

Jeff