Element Christian Church of Santa Maria

Hebrews 10:24-25 ("not neglecting to meet together"), was frequently cited during COVID to argue for in-person church attendance. However, this misses the deeper Biblical context. In the New Testament era, churches were small house gatherings where everyone knew each other intimately (which is different from today's mobile, anonymous church culture where people can attend services while remaining essentially unknown). The passage is primarily about living in authentic Christian community. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 FALL MISSIONS UPDATE

Two verses—John 1:12 and Revelation 3:20—are commonly used together to teach that salvation comes through asking Jesus into your heart. However, understanding these passages in context reveals a different message. John 1:12 defines "receiving" Jesus as believing in who He is—your Messiah, Savior, and Substitute—not a prayer formula. It's about trusting His work for you at Calvary. Revelation 3:20, written to the church at Laodicea, isn't a Gospel invitation at all. It's addressed to believers who have become self-sufficient and lukewarm, leaving Jesus on the outside of their lives. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

In Luke 14:25-27, Jesus uses shocking language—calling His followers to "hate" their families—to emphasize that discipleship requires total allegiance to Him above all else. The Greek word translated "hate" (miseo) is comparative, meaning we're to love Christ more than even our closest relationships. Jesus isn't anti-family; He's calling us to properly order our loves. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Today we re-start a series addressing how Christians and non-Christians alike misinterpret Scripture by reading verses out of context. Many of our issues with the Bible stem from cultural misunderstanding rather than textual problems. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" is often misunderstood about Jesus trying to keep people out of what they perceive to be heaven (our own personal pleasure factory). Instead, Jesus is trying to reframe our understanding of how we approach God from ritual and sacrifice to Jesus’ sacrifice for us. When Jesus claimed to BE these three things, He was making a revolutionary statement that relationship with God now comes through Him personally, not through law-keeping. Heaven isn't a "pleasure factory" but rather restored relationship with God, and while Jesus's exclusivity offends modern culture, it's actually inclusive - anyone can come to the Father through Christ, whereas previously only the high priest could enter God's direct presence. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Ending the book of Philippians, we should reflect on what we have learned over the last 34 weeks. For instance, we are to stand fast in one spirit, to strive together for the faith of the Gospel, to be of one mind, to shine as lights in the world, and to know we are a part of God’s grand symphony of grace. We’ve been encouraged to rejoice in the Lord, and to not place confidence in the flesh. Paul has urged us to follow his example of knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. He has also reminded us that our true citizenship lies in heaven, and of the hope that results from that understanding. Paul exhorted us to stand fast in the Lord, to let Jesus guard our hearts, and to meditate on things that are worthy of praise. He taught us that Jesus, who began the work of salvation in us, would carry that work on to completion. We also learned of Christ’s great example of humility, where he humbled himself, took on flesh, and became a servant. Finally, we learned what true contentedness looks like and that true joy comes not from our circumstances, but from our relationship with Jesus and in the sustaining power of the Gospel. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Today we finish the book of Philippians and there are two main themes: God’s glory and Christian fellowship. Paul ends his letter with, “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” This closing emphasizes that God’s glory is the ultimate purpose of all things. He reminds us that God Himself is the most God-centered being in the universe. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

In Philippians 4:14-19, we explore the fundamental difference between transactional accounting and Gospel accounting. Paul thanks the Philippians for their financial support during his imprisonment while introducing a radical perspective on why and how we give. Rather than viewing their gift as creating obligation or debt (as was customary in Greco-Roman culture), Paul frames their generosity as participation in God’s economy—a system that operates on grace rather than transaction. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Knowing Proper Ambition – Selfish ambition can be understood as a “motivation to elevate or to put one’s own interests before another’s.” Paul says, “In humility count others more significant than yourselves.” There is a good type of ambition and it is the motivation to see God’s glory shine and people come to know Him. It was ambition for God that led Paul to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Romans 15:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known… WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Paul writes that he has “learned” to be content whether in plenty or in need, with the source of his contentment being Christ who strengthens him. Our society often confuses wanting (which can be healthy) with coveting (which enslaves us). True contentment isn’t found in achieving our dreams or accumulating wealth, but in understanding our worth comes from God alone. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Paul’s instruction in Philippians 4:8-9 challenges believers to carefully examine what occupies their thoughts. Rather than simply adopting cultural values, Paul takes six Hellenistic virtues and reframes them through the lens of the Gospel. He is relating truth to those who knew and understood their culture in a way that shows all truth is God’s truth. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Paul’s teachings in Philippians 4:4-7 provide a foundation for stability in an increasingly unstable world. Unlike modern approaches that focus on techniques and methods for dealing with anxiety, Paul presents the Gospel as our “nuclear option” - applying the big eternal truth to small daily circumstances. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

Philippians 4:4-5 explores Paul’s recurring theme of joy that “bubbles out” even in the midst of his imprisonment. Paul doesn’t simply command joy as an emotion we must manufacture; rather, he roots joy in the truths of the Gospel. Unlike the world’s pursuit of happiness through self-fulfillment, Christian joy comes from recognizing we were designed for relationship with God. When we understand that “the Lord is at hand” (present with us) and trust in His goodness, we can experience joy that transcends our current circumstances and helps us view life in light of eternity. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SUMMER MISSIONS UPDATE

2025, like most years, hasn’t been easy. Yet God remains at work—we may have been “roughed up,” but in His hands, we are neither forgotten nor abandoned. Paul wrote Philippians while imprisoned in conditions of unspeakable horror: overcrowded prisons with suffocating air, sleepless nights in chains, underground chambers devoid of light, corroding iron shackles, and appalling filth. Yet Paul wasn’t deterred by these devastating circumstances. Instead, he found something far more devastating: the life he used to live before Christ. Paul demonstrates three key principles: what he left behind, what he pressed toward, and how we can follow his example. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE

Philippians 4:1-3 serves as the culmination of Paul’s argument from the previous chapter. Throughout Philippians, Paul has emphasized the importance of phronesis - “a pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting” shaped by the Gospel. In these verses, Paul addresses a specific conflict between two women in the Philippian church, Euodia and Syntyche, urging them to “agree in the Lord” - to adopt the same mind of Christ in their relationship. Paul doesn’t take sides, dismiss their concerns, or force an artificial friendship; rather, he calls them to view their disagreement through the lens of the Gospel. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE

Today we will see how Paul addresses the way believers should handle disagreements within the church, emphasizing that mature Christians seek God’s guidance together through prayer when differences arise. Paul calls the Philippians to imitate his example and the examples of other faithful believers like Timothy and Epaphroditus, who embodied Christ-like humility and service. He warns against following “enemies of the cross” - those who claim to be Christians but reject the Gospel’s true meaning, serving their own appetites, glorying in shameful things, and focusing solely on earthly matters. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE

Philippians 3:12-16 explores Paul’s understanding of what truly matters in the Christian life. Paul teaches that we should not focus on externals (appearance, possessions, status, etc.) but on knowing Christ deeply. Paul openly shares his past - including his religious credentials and even his persecution of Christians - but views it through the lens of the Gospel. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE

In our confused and chaotic culture where truth seems relative and basic Christian beliefs are controversial, we need clarity. The answer to cultural confusion is found in one profound truth: Jesus Christ is Lord. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that Philippians 1:6 may very well be described as the fundamental (or key) verse to all of Paul’s letter to the church in Phillipi. He said it’s one of those “magnificent, fundamental, profound statements which lead us into the very depths of Christian doctrine and Christian theology.” In this verse we have a window into the Biblical teaching of salvation; the whole doctrine of salvation kind of compressed into just one little verse. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE

Father’s Day can be hard for those who aren’t fathers or those who are single. This Father’s Day we are talking about singleness and how it can be a blessing and not a curse. Yes, marriage and fatherhood is beautiful, but singleness can be as well. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE FIND THIS WEEKS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SONG LIST, NOTES, AND MORE AT YOUVERSION 2025 SPRING MISSIONS UPDATE