Eric Ludy Sermon Podcast: Church at Ellerslie

The word "smashing" has two meanings. To crush. And, something that is beautiful. It's interesting how the Christian life is built to reveal those two "smashings." On one hand, we are called to crush the spiritual powers that oppress the weak. And on the other hand, we are called to be beautified by the Holy Spirit, to be a Bride, holy and blameless. When we get these two "smashing" dimensions of the Christian life humming, the power of the Kingdom of Heaven is revealed on earth.

God is doing something in the world right now. As believers, this is what we have been praying for--this is what we have been aching to see. But, now that it is here, are we ready to receive it? Are we ready to change our lives in order to get in stride with it?

The Church finds itself in a unique and exciting time in Christian history. And there has likely never been a time more apropos to rise up in the authority, the power, and the majesty of Jesus Christ. A functional, faith-filled, fervent Church is an absolute dread to the Devil. It's high time we cause a panic in Hell. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

A strange delusion has settled upon the world. A delusion so strong that it could almost be termed "mind-control.” And “mind-control” is a fitting term for it, because biblically speaking, the mind was designed by God to be controlled. However, if God is not invited in to be the mind's “controller” then something other than God will move in to that preeminent position. The question this message presents is, “Has anything other than God claimed that control position in your life?” 

The Church of Jesus Christ has struggled with contention and division for two thousand years. Paul's letters to the church at Corinth show us that contention and division isn’t a new issue facing the Church. But, it’s important to note that if this problem isn’t new that neither is the solution. This is a message about that ancient solution. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

Most believers know that Christianity is supposed to be a relationship between God and man, but, even with knowing that, most believers never enjoy a real vibrant relationship with Him. If you are desiring to fan a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Living God, it is our hope that this message helps you better understand how to reach the top step.------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

One of the most difficult issues to discuss today in the Church is that of abuse. It’s awkward, strained, and difficult. It’s emotional, confusing, and complex. And that’s just the way the Devil likes it. Which is why a message like this is necessary. This message dives into this hairy matter, counteracting the most common Devilish lies (associated with abuse) with the power of Biblical Truth. We hope you are richly encouraged by this important meditation. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

As Christians, we sometimes struggle with understanding the difference between a capital “F” Faith that we place in Christ for Salvation and a lowercase “f” faith that we place in Christ for handling each of our life’s daily challenges. Both versions of faith are of great importance, but when the distinction between the two is never supplied to the believer, it can lead to confusion and even non-action in a time when vigorous faith action is required. Using the imagery of scaling Mt. Everest, this message is designed to help a Christian understand the practical function of faith in both their eternal life and their daily life today. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

If there was a sub-title to this message it would be, “the sad disappearance of chasing butterflies and blowing bubbles in the Church.” Let’s face it—the rigors, the challenges, and the seriousness of this world seems to demand that we all grow up and pitch in to help steer this world from the edge of eternal destruction. And it would be a reasonable conclusion that there’s simply no time now to splash in puddles, catch fireflies, and skip rocks down at Chatfield dam anymore. Right? After all, Christianity is a serious business. But, this serious business of Christianity was never intended to be lived out by boring, stale, dull, unenthusiastic adults. It was meant to be lived out by born again believers set on fire with awe, wonder, thrill, and worship. It was meant to be lived out with unmuted childlikeness. May it not be said of us that the pterodactyl has flown its last flight.  ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

The Christian life is all about new beginnings, fresh starts, and resurrected Life. But the resurrected Life that we enjoy as believers was discovered in and through the death of Christ. And that’s a key pattern in God’s Kingdom: Life always rises out of death, or it could be said, death always precedes Life. From Noah to Abraham to Moses to Jesus Christ—the greatest stories in history all draw from this same redemptive theme of Life emerging out of death and beauty rising forth out ash. May our life stories prove this same miracle.------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

God’s leadership over our lives takes us through peaks and valleys. It takes us through rivers, deserts, and over rickety wooden bridges. But whatever the terrain and the altitude, He simply asks that we trust Him implicitly. Conceptually, this idea of “trusting God” doesn’t seem like it should be a difficult task. But, come to find out, spiritual staying-power and soul loyalty is something that demands God’s assistance. The enemy will hit us from every side to try and take us off God’s directed course. However, the simple believer that is willing to follow through storm, wind, hail, and hell’s bluster, will find that God is ALWAYS faithful and true to His Word. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

Much like the Christian life, the Golden Plover is created to do something that, apart from God, could never be accomplished. God designed this humble little bird to fly 2,500 miles non-stop from Alaska to Hawaii every year. But, biologically, mathematically, and aeronautically this feat is not just improbable—it’s impossible. As believers, like the Golden Plover, we were created for the impossible. The question is, are we, like the Plover ready to head out over the stormy ocean waters and watch what God will do when we trust Him to lead us to the Promised Land. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

In the CrossFit world of athletic fitness, a WOD is a “Workout of the Day.” A "Hero WOD" is an amped up version of a WOD. It’s a commemorative workout that honors a fallen hero. Performing a “Hero WOD” is a wonderful way to the describe the daily Christian life. It’s intense, it’s difficult, it’s sweat-inducing, and it is all done to honor the Ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ. This message emphasizes the athletic dimensionality of the Christian experience—pointing to the exercise of prayer as one of the chief ways the Christian can honor “The Fallen and Resurrected Hero” and change the world while they are doing it.  

This is a message about seeing the impossible happen—where two completely opposite things like bitter and sweet stop their bickering and backbiting and finally join forces to form something neither on their own ever could. That’s the make-up of a Latte. And, supposedly—for those that like lattes—this unique blend of contrasting flavors is kind of a special thing. Reconciliation is like that. It is a ministry that God has entrusted His Church in order to see two opposing factions drop their differences and, instead, embrace their similarities. Reconciliation is a miracle every time it happens. It’s about time we, as the Church, begin utilizing this amazing Reconciliation ministry that we have been entrusted to serve up a few more short fat tall skinny lattes. 

The Kingdom of Heaven appears upside down to us here on Earth. For instance, to be great, you must become small. To go high, you must first go low. To get strong, you must embrace weakness. This is not how we naturally think and reason, which is why many of us struggle with adapting to the Kingdom Life of small, low, and weak equating to great, high and strong. On this Resurrection Sunday, Eric reminds us of how God Himself demonstrated this phenomenon in and through the life, death, and resurrection of His beloved Son. 

Procrastination is not a friend of functional Christianity. Rather, it’s a sworn enemy. Everything that makes Christianity work is based on “doing” and “action”. God goes out of his way to explain to us in the Scriptures that we can’t be tares, we must be wheat. We can’t be virgins without oil, we must be virgins with oil. And we mustn’t be goats that doddle, but sheep that do. Christianity was never meant to be a mere mental game where we sit around and muse and conjecture about theology. It was intended to be actually vigorously applied and lived out. And for that to happen, procrastination can no longer be invited into the storyline of our lives. ------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

This is a message at the very heart of our Ellerslie Training. The Five Fingers is an illustration that is often used in our teaching to explain the most central, salient, and foundational Truths that make up the Christian life. These are the five points that we as believers unite on and separate over. This is what Christianity is all about. Hint: It all has to do with Jesus. 

There are things in life that are naturally attractive to us as humans (ie. flowers, sunsets, and poetry). Tribulation is definitely not on that list. In fact, we will go to great lengths to avoid it. But, as believers in Christ, it is essential that we recalibrate our thinking regarding this very important thing known as tribulation. Because according to God’s Word, tribulation is the Holy Spirit’s primary tool used to fashion the saints of God into Christ-showcasing men and women.------------» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

The average human when given a choice between becoming a small or a great person, without hesitation, would select great. Why not? Isn’t it the goal of life on this earth to become someone special? But, when you contrast that native instinct for the “great” life against the Christ model—there is a stark difference seen. Christ, when He came to this earth, chose the small life, the small things, and the small people to pour Himself into and out for—and in so doing, made the greatest impact any life has ever made. It appears that God's recipe for accomplishing great things on this earth is through the surrendered embrace of the small. 

Potato farming demands faith. The potato farmer needs to trust that the potato is actually growing though he can’t see it growing underneath all the dirt. Most of us steer clear of this sort of faith. We prefer things we can see, smell, hear, and touch. But, God is in the business of potato farming faith. And it is this sort of faith that Eric is charging the Church of Jesus Christ to return to full force. We’ve been twiddling our thumbs long enough in the land of mediocrity. It’s time to venture into the land of the impossible—believing that our God intends to do amazing, miraculous things on this earth. He’s simply waiting for His Church to start thinking and living like He is indeed the Almighty Sovereign King of Kings. // NOTE: This message is an amalgamation of quite a few Ludy sermons from the past on the theme of revival. Because of this, it's possible that some of the attributions were lost in translation. So, it's only appropriate to give special thanks to the classic books on revival that were potentially paraphrased and unwittingly partially quoted without attribution. Where would we be without all the examples of heroic faith that have gone before us?