Element Christian Church of Santa Maria

Growing in Christ-likeness is the result of God’s gracious working as well as our direct efforts.

Christmas Eve Service, 2011

Our Great God is a gift giver, offering us love and redemption.

He is our great Shepherd (our senior pastor).

His righteousness makes us saints as well.

Mary is a tough subject for Protestants. Protestant Christians do not focus on Jesus’ mother much at all (unless it’s a Mother’s Day sermon). In part, this is an overreaction to the improper emphasis upon Mary among other religious traditions, but in other ways it is a travesty.

The term “saint” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word Hagios. Many times translations do not always represent the true power of words they are translating. In a real sense, because God is pure, that purity would make His priests also pure. Hagios in its true and proper meaning is “to dedicate, to consecrate;” more specifically to consecrate to God. In the New Testament this word also indicates a consecration to God which results in God’s righteousness being laid upon a person.

When we become Christ followers, we accept the gift of eternal salvation from our Creator. Through the process of sanctification God transforms our lives to mirror His image, an image we were created in. In order to understand God’s character it is important that we seek Him regularly through the study of His Word. Acknowledging that the creation is not greater than the Creator, and His ways are greater than our ways, it is imperative for all Christ followers to seek an understanding of God’s ways.

In our lives, you and I will know hurt and uncertain tomorrows. We may suffer and experience tragedy, yet we can face the future expectantly. We may have to wait a while for the full experience of the good that God intends for us, but God is fully committed to every one of His children.

The most hope filled place in the universe turns out to be the humblest and the least exclusive. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are determined that their circle should be ceaselessly inclusive.

The Cinema. Today's modern day pulpit... telling today's story through the digital story form. We'll watch these popular movies and follow up with an expository exploration of the narrative themes and spiritual parallels of these movies.

Special Guest Speaker: Dave Kraft