Elevate City Church

Why is Jesus delaying his return?

This very real, felt question isn’t limited to first-century believers. Just look at the world around you. Evil is rampant. There’s violence and mass shootings and terror. There’s brokenness and pain and suffering. The innocent are oppressed while the wicked prosper. High rise moguls get rich while the assaulted are shunned. We can’t help but wrestle with the same question. What’s taking Jesus so long to return and right all wrongs?

Peter for 7 chapters has been laboring and preparing to answer this question. To give us a living hope in a world that’s falling apart.

Today in 2 Peter 3 we're going to see how to make it to the end of this journey, no matter the storms that come or how tattered this ship gets, still sailing with King Jesus until I arrive at the sea shores of Heaven.

Don't miss this message from our NowGen Director, Caden Dulmage.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.church

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQ

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home

In 2 Peter chapter 1, we see Peter give a reminder for the early church and for you and me that in this Christian life, those that want to stand resilient, must learn to step out of comfort the of shallow Christianity, ditch the life jacket, and dive into the endless pursuit of knowing the God of the universe.

Tune in to this powerful message from Pastor Thomas on how to suffer well as a christian in today's culture.

1 Peter 4:12-19

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.church

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQ

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home

After listening to this message you will leave thinking different.

Tune in to this message to learn how to suffer well and impact the world instead of being impacted by the world.

Resilient Christians see earthly suffering as an opportunity to store up heavenly blessing.

Sermon on 1 Peter

1 Peter 3:8-22

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity...

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.ch...

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrE...

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home

Do you want to know how to have relationships that are life-giving and long-lasting?

The reality is that Jesus knows how relationships are supposed to work, and His ways are the best ways for us. Don't miss this powerful message from Pastor Joey on Resilient Relationships.

If you want a relationship that is resilient you need a so that eternal perspective.

Sermon on Relationships / 1 Peter 3:1-7

1 Peter 3:1-7

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity...

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.ch...

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrE...

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home

God’s glory is worth it. Living in obedience to the will of God, is worth it. Living as outcasts in the midst of a world that stands against our convictions, is worth it.

Submitting to leaders that we don’t like or agree with, is worth it.

Living counter-cultural lives, even if it costs us our reputation is worth it.

And that’s where we find ourselves today in 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 11-25…

Asking: How do we live in a world that is not our home, in a place that we don’t belong, submit to authority that we do not prefer, and in all of it follow Jesus, live by this Book, and glorify God???

Resilience describes something that is able to spring back into shape after bending.

It’s the ability for someone to be bent by the pressures of this world but not break.

To go through difficulty, and and pushed and pressed and pulled by circumstance and instead of crumbling, bounce back even stronger than before.

Our whole goal through this series is to be a people who know how to follow Jesus in a world that is falling apart.

Sermon on 1 Peter 2.

1 Peter 2:11-25

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[b] whether it be to the emperor[c] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity...

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.ch...

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrE...

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home

Tune in to this powerful message from Pastor Joey McLaughlin on how a Christian's identity determines their activity in this world.

1 Peter 2:1

1 Peter 1:13-25

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.church

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQ

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home

1 Peter 1:1-12

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

How to follow Jesus in a world that is falling apart.

Luke 24:13-21

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.

GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.

Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.

Jesus Over Everything.

Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.church

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQ

Podcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567

Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.

https://www.elevatecc.church/home