Elevate City Church

In these four weeks our church is diving into unpacking questions and verses about the Holy Spirit and what is the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit? Why has the church forgotten about or swept under the rug the person of the Holy Spirit. But because of this,  most of American church is actually missing a whole part of who God is.

John 14:25-27 

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…

The Spirit inside you, is better than Jesus beside you. 

The Spirit inside you, is better than Jesus physically walking beside you.

A Barna study reported that 60% of people who regular attend church, don’t think there is a Holy Spirit. The biggest problem in the church today is that we have no idea who God is.

The first thing that is absolutely imperative for you to know about Him tonight is that… The Holy Spirit IS God. Genesis 1:1-2 

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Life with the Holy Spirit isn’t as much about a new way to be human as it is returning what it meant to be human in the first place. To have God’s spirit in 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

Earlier this year in 2022 our church went through a series entitled Jesus People, hitting our culture and values statements as a church. Such as Jesus is our message, adventure is our attitude, love is our language, etc. We want to be a church full of Jesus People so we need to figure out what makes a Jesus People. How does a Jesus People live, walk, speak, GO! This week Pastor Joey unpacks and challenges us to live out the value statement "Passion is Our Posture" and looking into the 7 Hebrew Words for Praise.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. What does your posture of worship communicate about what you value most?

1. YADAH  Yâdâh, yaw-daw ́: To revere or worship with extended hands. To hold out the hands. To throw a stone or arrow. PSALM 67:3— May the peoples praise (yâdâh) you, God; may all the peoples praise (yâdâh) you.

2. HALAL
Hâlal, haw-lal ́: To boast. To rave. To shine. To celebrate. To be clamorously foolish. Let them praise (hâlal) his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. —PSALM 149:3

3. ZAMAR  Zâmar, zaw-mar ́: To make music. To celebrate in song and music. To touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument. I will sing a new song to You, O God;
On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises (zâmar) to You. —PSALM 144:9

4. Tôwdâh, to-daw ́:  An extension of the hand. Thanksgiving. A confession. A sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving for things not yet received. A choir of worshippers. In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?  Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises (tôwdâh) to You. —PSALM 56:11–12

5. Bârak, baw-rak ́:  To kneel. To bless God (as an act of adoration). To praise. To salute. To thank. Praise (bârak) the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise (bârak) the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits . . .
Praise (bârak) the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise (bârak) the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
Praise (bârak) the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise (bârak) the Lord, my soul.
(Psalm 103:1–2, 20–22)

6. Tehillâh, teh-hil-law ́:  Laudation. A hymn. A song of praise. A new song. A spontaneous song. But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises (tehillâh) of Israel. —PSALM 22:3  7. Shâbach, shaw-bakh ́:  To address in a loud tone. To shout. To commend, glory, and triumph. One generation shall praise (shâbach) Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. —PSALM 145:4  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

Earlier this year in 2022 our church went through a series entitled Jesus People, hitting our culture and values statements as a church. Such as Jesus is our message, adventure is our attitude, love is our language, etc. We want to be a church full of Jesus People so we need to figure out what makes a Jesus People. How does a Jesus People live, walk, speak, GO! This week Pastor Joey unpacks and challenges us to live out the value statement "Generosity Is Golden."

Acts 20:35 "remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 17:25: "He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things"

You are breathing in and out the generosity of God.

Genesis 1:29: And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”

James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…

And yet all of that is but a glimmer of what God has given you in Jesus. 

John 3:16 For God so Loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  Generosity is love in action. For God so loved the world that he gave. 

You can give without loving, but you can not love without giving. 

God crazy loves us so he generously gives us Jesus. 

God is a generous God, and that’s why Jesus people are generous people.

Generosity is not about what God needs, Generosity is not about what the church needs, Generosity is about what your soul needs.

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

Earlier this year in 2022 our church went through a series entitled Jesus People, hitting our culture and values statements as a church. Such as Jesus is our message, adventure is our attitude, love is our language, etc. We want to be a church full of Jesus People so we need to figure out what makes a Jesus People. How does a Jesus People live, walk, speak, GO! This week Pastor Joey unpacks and challenges us to live out the value statement "Give My Best," through acts of serving.

Ephesians 2:10 says it like this, we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. God made you and saved you for a good work! God’s got a good work for you. 

Mark 9:33-35

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

AKA: Greatness comes through service. 

We live in a world obsessed with greatness, addicted to greatness, chasing greatness, but going about getting it in all the wrong ways. Jesus flips the path to greatness on his head. Want to be first? Be last. Want to be great? Start to Serve. Being a Jesus person does not remove the desire for greatness… it reframes the definition of greatness. Greatness is now synonymous with service. This is an upside down kingdom we are apart of.

Philippians 2:3-7 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant

We have a king who came not just wrapped in flesh, but wrapped with a towel on his arm as a servant. Servant is Jesus identity… which means as Jesus people servant is our identity. We are servants. Church was never intended to be a place we just watch service, it’s meant to be a place we are a part of service. Church is not a spectator sport. Church is a participatory activity.

Earlier this year in 2022 our church went through a series entitled Jesus People, hitting our culture and values statements as a church. Such as Jesus is our message, adventure is our attitude, love is our language, etc. We want to be a church full of Jesus People so we need to figure out what makes a Jesus People. How does a Jesus People live, walk, speak, GO! This week Pastor Joey hit on the importance of Loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind. 

Matthew 22:34-40 

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

When you read through Matthew 22, ask yourself these 2 questions. 

What is most important? 

What am I fighting for?

Don't miss this message from Pastor Joey and begin to fight for relationship in your life, loving God the Father with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.

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

Pastor Vince from Verve Church in Las Vegas joins us this Sunday to speak about what it looks like for us to live our life on mission!

Luke 15:4-6, 4  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

“Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep silent.” (Jeremiah 4:19).

They are senseless children; they have no understanding.” (Jeremiah 4:22). And God says, “If u will return, O Israel, return to me…” (Jeremiah 4:1)

John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He was sent to pursue God’s senseless children who had wandered off. We are sent to pursue God’s senseless children who have wandered off.

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

This summer here at Elevate City, we are taking a deep dive into the book of Galatians and Paul's journey through the days of the early church. This week Pastor Joey McLaughlin takes us through Galatians 6 and asks of to ask to 2 questions to ourselves.

What am I living free from? And what am I living free for?

Jesus didn’t set you free to stay the same. What are you going to do with the freedom you now have? I am free for what? To be the most generous person on the planet, to be a walking billboard for Jesus, to get out from under societal expectations and pursue the God dream for my life?

Galatians 6:1: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. You’re set free from sin, but sin isn’t done trying to make a slave of you. Because Galatians 6:1 indicates GOD’S HEART FOR THOSE CAUGHT IN SIN IS NOT REJECTION IT’S RESTORATION. To be a Christian, is to be a forgiven sinner, who is a work in progress. To know, I am a work in progress that God is still restoring.

Being free doesn’t make us immune from sin it simply gives us the

strength to confront it. 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Freedom means you don’t have to conceal your sin, you can confess your sin.

What should you do now that your free?

You should confess and be restored...and if you are restored you should be engaged in restoration. Gently. You're free, to help others get free. You’ve enjoyed freedom it’s time to lead others into it. You’ve experienced freedom its time to help others taste it. If we had a culture of confession and gentle restoration start to grow at this church there wouldn’t be enough space for the people it would attract. If people really knew it was ok, to not be ok, but not ok to stay that way. That sin didn’t have to stay concealed because that creates slavery, but sin could be confessed and cared for because that’s where freedom is found there would be no limit to the move of God we’d see happen here. Galatians 6:2: Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Don't miss this conclusion to this powerful series in Galatians about what it means for us to Live Free in Jesus and what do we do with that freedom.

This summer here at Elevate City, we are taking a deep dive into the book of Galatians and Paul's journey through the days of the early church. This week Pastor Joe Baker takes us through chapter 5 of Galatians as we look to answer "What does it mean to live free?" And more specifically, "What does Freedom in Jesus feel like?"

Galatians 5:1: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Paul says it’s FOR freedom you’ve been set free. Not for religiosity, not for mediocrity, not for complacency, but for FREEDOM you’ve been set free. One echo throughout this whole book of Galatians has been this reminder, that we are saved or Justified by Grace alone, thru faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. And that no longer do we need to earn God’s favor by works or religious rituals. Paul first calls us to live free from the shackles of the Law or free from religiosity.

Galatians 5:13: For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh..." The world tells us to be true to ourselves and follow all of our desires... Jesus says to die to ourselves and desire God above all. Ephesians 4:21-24: "when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Without Jesus, freedom is your desire. With Jesus, freedom is your destiny. Come to Jesus and you’ll find freedom. Freedom is genuinely wanting the things that lead to flourishing.

Check out this awesome message from our Campus Pastor Joe Baker and make sure to go back through and check out our 1st 4 weeks of our Living Free series through the book of Galatians.

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

This summer here at Elevate City, we are taking a deep dive into the book of Galatians and Paul's journey through the days of the early church. Today Pastor Joey takes us into Galatians 4 and the idea of God as our Father and the perfection of our earthly Father and how that changes our lives and our view our life completely. The ultimate question from today to unpack is am I seen as a Son or a Slave, and do I see God as my Father or my Master?

Galatians 4:3-5

3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

God’s pleasure with us isn’t based religion towards Him but relationship with Him. Jesus at the end of his life..Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Seeing God as your father isn’t A way to see God its THE way to see God. Galatians 4:6-7: 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

The gift of adoption is we can cry out and our father comes, he runs, he shows up…he listens when we talk. Religion is :"I messed up. Dad's gonna kill me.” The Gospel is: "I messed up. I need to call Dad." Galatians 4:8-9

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Don’t settle for life as a slave when God’s offer is for you to be his son.   This world is one giant orphanage and God sent his son Jesus to stand at the door and knock to extend an invitation for you to be in his family… 

But no family is created without blood. That’s why Jesus died.

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

This summer here at Elevate City, we are taking a deep dive into the book of Galatians and Paul's journey through the days of the early church. In this message Pastor Joe takes us through Galatians Chapter 3 as we focus on the outcomes of our faith but the object of our faith — the foundation of our faith — the focus of our faith — which is trusting in the promise keeping God. This message is about us trusting in God and believing that he will deliver on His promises.

Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? / Galatians 3:5-6 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

By referencing Abraham here in chapter 3, Paul is appealing to historical rhetoric and religious reason for the Jewish people of the day that Paul was writing to — it’s a big deal.

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in (through) you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God makes three promises to Abraham: 1) The promise of a land of his own; 2) the promise to be made into a great nation; and 3) the promise of blessing.

Genesis 15:5-6 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Abraham even tho he was 99 years old at this point, believed God, he had faith that God would deliver on his promise and because of that:: righteousness was credited to him. 

Galatians 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The vehicle by which we receive salvation is faith — the byproduct of that faith is action. 

Faith in Jesus is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. You also need a foundation of faith to free you from the pursuits of this world. 

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles…

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