Beyond President's Chapel @ Elim Bible College

What if worship has less to do with the song you sing and more to do with the life you live when no one is watching? God is not simply after our songs, talents, or religious activity—He is after our whole lives. True worship means becoming a living sacrifice and choosing to give God our best in every moment. Anything we value above Christ can become an idol—even success, ministry, relationships, comfort, or spiritual experiences. Jesus must be enough, so tear down the idols, leave the excuses behind, and live a life that points to Jesus.

Why return to a prison when Christ has already opened the door? In Jesus, believers are truly free from the power of sin—but that freedom must be intentionally lived out. We must choose what we surrender our hearts and minds to.

When sinful patterns begin to take hold, the way forward includes godly sorrow, genuine repentance, renewed commitment, and godly accountability that leads to changed habits. This message gives hope that the chains have already been broken. Don’t pick them back up—walk in the freedom Christ died to give you.

What if God never intended you to fulfill His calling in your own strength? The Holy Spirit does not only dwell within believers—He desires to empower them for God’s mission. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is presented as the “promise of the Father,” giving believers power to witness, minister, and operate in spiritual gifts. And this promise was not just for the apostles—it is presented as available to all believers. This teaching will help you theologically understand what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and encourage you to seek after it!

Water baptism is more than going under water—it is a bold declaration: “I belong to Jesus.” Baptism pictures the gospel: the old life is buried with Christ, and the believer rises to walk in new life. It does not earn salvation; it is a response of faith and obedience to Jesus. Baptism is not the finish line—it is the beginning of a life fully committed to following Christ.

Who is Jesus to you? In John 8, Jesus makes the extraordinary declaration, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” revealing Himself not merely as a teacher or Savior, but as the eternal God and Lord of all. Through the seven “I AM” statements in John, Jesus reveals that He is everything we ultimately need. But knowing about Jesus is not enough; His lordship calls for total surrender and a growing relationship with Him. Like branches connected to a vine, our life and fruitfulness come from abiding in Christ—and the fruit He produces through us is meant to bless others. There is always more of Jesus to know, more of His life to experience, and more of ourselves to surrender to the great I AM.

What if being chosen by God is not simply about receiving His blessing, but becoming a blessing to others? From God’s covenant with Abraham to the Great Commission, God has always desired to reach every nation, tribe, people, and language. We have been called a kingdom of priests—a bridge through which others can come to know Him. The greatest danger may not be openly saying “no” to God, but becoming comfortable, indifferent, and unwilling to go. Jesus is still building His Church, and He invites us to be part of it. The question is: Are we willing to surrender our plans and say, “Lord, whatever You ask, I’m willing”?

Dr. Danuta Case, president of Elim Bible College, introduced Hosea 6:3 as the year's Bible verse and inspired students to deepen their personal relationship with God amid challenges. She emphasized the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him, encouraging students to become Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered servant leaders who think critically and know God personally.

Nicole Delk shares a powerful message on what it truly means to stay connected to Christ and bear lasting fruit. Using the biblical image of the vine, she highlights how real spiritual growth flows from abiding in Him through daily obedience and love. With a creative team-building illustration, this sermon brings to life the importance of unity, dependence on Christ, and intentional faith. It challenges believers to examine their walk and step into a more purposeful, impactful life. Be inspired and equipped to live out your faith in a way that produces lasting fruit.

Ann Pretorius shares her journey from being a farmer to leading major ministries in Africa, sparked by a miraculous healing that showed her God still works powerfully through ordinary people. Through their evangelistic ministry Jesus Alive, she and her late husband preached the gospel, trained leaders, and reached communities across Africa, while also developing humanitarian work that provides food, education, and long-term sustainability. She recounts intense personal trials, family tragedy, danger, persecution, and her husband’s death, but emphasizes perseverance, forgiveness, and relying on God’s strength. Her message highlights that faith must be both proclaimed and demonstrated through action. The core challenge is to live boldly for God’s purpose: think big, don’t shrink back from hardship, and use your life to bring both spiritual and practical transformation, trusting that God can multiply even small acts into lasting impact.

The message emphasizes Christ-centered worship, calling believers to move away from self-focused, preference-based worship to being fully satisfied in Jesus and His cross. True worship isn’t about style, feelings, or personal benefit, but about honoring God regardless of circumstances. Using examples like Mary’s sacrificial offering versus Saul and Ananias & Sapphira’s self-driven actions, the speaker shows that God values heart posture over outward acts. Worship rooted in love and surrender is accepted; worship driven by pride, image, or gain is not. The challenge is to examine our hearts, let go of preferences and self-focus, and become deeply satisfied in what Christ has done. When we truly grasp the cross, worship becomes a natural response in every part of life.