In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

From JC Elliott to the Church, of the Stocktonions:

To all the family members at Exodus, to all who are visiting, to everyone who is listening on the World Wide Web, in your house, while you are eating, or working. To you who believe in Jesus with all your heart, and mind, and strength, and also to you who are skeptical about Jesus, and whether or not what he said and who he was is real.

Grace and Peace to you… because its all about grace and peace isn’t it? Its all about the love and the life that comes from Jesus. It’s all about the grace, the free gift that we have received from our Savior. You haven’t done anything to receive this gift, you are not worthy, but you have more worth than you know. Because he has purchased you with his life, sacrificed for you. And the peace its about peace too. In this world, in this day we have gone so far away from peace, with the fast paced lives we lead, with everything that the world tells us we need to be or need to have its good to know that there is a peace there, the peace of God. So brothers and sisters Grace and Peace to you. May the grace of God and the Peace of Jesus always be with you.

Over the past two years, I have had the pleasure of being your pastor. The word pastor simply means Sheppard. I have had the privilege of shepparding you, tending for you, caring for you, all for the Good Sheppard. These past years have been some of the best, caring for you, crying with you, learning with you, and growing closer to God with you. Every time I think about you guys and where we have come from and where we are as a church and as a family, I have to thank my God for the good work I see in you. Since the beginning I have hoped, and prayed that this Grace and Peace would grab a hold of your lives. That you would realize how this can change your lives.

This is my prayer for you, that you grow closer and closer to Jesus every day of your lives that you realize what he has done for us.  That you would wrestle with finding out who he is. I pray that you can come to realize that being a Christian is more than checking a box on myspace, or coming to Church on Wednesdays and Sundays, but it is total life devotion, every minute, every day. And the freedom that come with that type of faith.

I want to encourage you brothers and sisters to live your faith out. We are called to be lights in the world, to show the world what Jesus has done for us, by living it out! What good is it to say we have Jesus inside of us if he doesn’t show through? Remember the words of Paul you are citizens of Heaven, not the world. You are a part of an Exodus, we leave the world-view that people of this world have. You are not the money you make or the friends you have. We are leaving that way of thinking. For us, its all about Christ, and living as Citizens of a different kingdom.

And I say this with a heavy heart, many lives as the enemies of the Cross of Christ, they live differently. Their God is their pride, their money and their shame. They glorify, themselves, and they strive after the things in this world. It is our duty to show this world that lives as an enemy of the Cross that there is a different way. Many are held captive to sin, as a slave is held captive to a slave master.  We need to tell the world that there is a way to get out of slavery. To enter into a new way of living and thinking, and his name is Jesus. We need to tell people both with actions and words. Show them how much they are loved by God and Tell them why you have suck love inside you.

Remember friends Kristos Kurdos, for us to Live is Christ to die is gain. There is nothing this world can take away from us, because we have given up our lives,  and we know that this world does not have the final answer. So live your lives with this eternal perceptive.

Because we have hope in Jesus, remember what Jesus has done for you:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We can find our hope in him, our trust in Jesus.

We should live our lives like this, shining like the stars in the Heavens, letting Christ shine through our actions.   

A part of this is being a family, being united in Christ.

 I know some of you have had problems with other brothers and sisters. There are people in your life right now, in this room, that you are not in perfect Christ union with. There are people that have wronged you, and maybe you have wronged them. As you look over all the relationships in your life, examine them, and to those who you are in a disagreement with, make peace.

It breaks my heart when I hear of brothers and sisters fighting and feuding, it breaks my heart, because everything in the body is connected. So if you are having problems with someone, it hurts us all. Everything is connected. So today mend up those broken relationships have one mind in Christ. He is everything and the center it all. So What? You made a mistake, they make a mistake, strive to have one mind in Christ. Do not let the enemy have a stronghold in your life, or in this body.

Keep your thoughts on things that are holy, pure, good, and admirable. Remember thinking and doing. The mind will control your body and you body will control your mind. Keep your thoughts on things above, do not indulge in lust, or deceit, or temptations, but keep your mind on that which God has deemed good. And do, you students have been blessed with amazing Godly leaders. Every adult in this family loves you so much. They care for you and they want to see you grow in Jesus every day. Follow their example, follow my example, think and do.

I don’t say this as if I have already achieved Christ-likeness. I still have a very far way to go. There are parts of my life that Jesus Christ still needs to mold and shape. But I press on for the goal which is mine in Christ. I press on, every day through thick and thin. Because lets be honest, it’s not easy some days to be a Christian. Some days it’s hard, some days I feel like I just want to throw in the towel. Some days, I don’t want to forgive those people that have wronged me. Some days I don’t feel like having and attitude like Christ. But I press on, I realize that my feelings are not always the truth. I know the truth is in Jesus. I have come to realize that my thoughts and feelings don’t always line up with my convictions and beliefs. I know that Christ is the way to live my life, and even though I don’t feel that way certain days, I press on, everyday every hour to become more like him. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, I will say it again and again rejoice!!! Remember the good gift you have been given through Jesus! You have received this free gift of new life, being freed of sin, Rejoice! We have the ability to worship the God of the universe, our lives should be full of joy, the joy that comes from knowing the LORD Jesus Christ. That is what we have. That is why in all parts of the world where Christians are in prison, being beaten, starved, killed they still have joy. Joy is not always a feeling but a knowledge an epignosis. A knowing that goes beyond all understanding. So my friends have this joy, this rejoicing.

Twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays we have the opportunity to have worship together. We sing and dace and play music for God.  Don’t let this time of worship, as a family. And a body of Christ pass you by. Rejoice, dance, sing, many times we just listen and we don’t really participate. It is not the band, it is not even the music, it is the worship with us all. When we worship in service we are celebrating what Jesus has done in our lives. So friends, jump! Dance! Sing! Give worship to God  and glorify him for everything he has done for you. He is everything don’t let this time we have together go to waste. Every time we worship we can experience a little bit of heaven, do not forget this. Do not take this for granted, people all over the world are arrested for meeting in groups and celebrating Jesus, because of the passion they have, and we can do this with no threat of being arrested. We should rejoice.

But beware of what Paul calls the dogs, beware of the men and women who tell a different message. They are the people that do evil, the people that Claim to have Christ inside of them but just put guilt and shame and rules and call it God. We worship by the spirit of God, we offer freedom in Christ, no guilt, and do not let them affect you, we rely on the fact that Jesus died for us. For us we put no confidence in our own attempts to become righteous. But we know that only Jesus’ sacrifice can save us.

I used to think like them, I used to believe that I could earn my salvation. That if I did certain things like coming to church, being “good” and telling people about Jesus, reading my Bible for an exact amount everyday, and getting a certain number of people to believe in him that I would somehow earn my way to righteousness. But now I realize that everything I used to try and do is all skubalon, its crap, worthless. The only thing that matters now to me is Jesus and following him with all my heart, soul, and flesh. And all I do for him now is not to obey a bunch of rules but because I want to be more like him and enjoy more of his presence. I want to know him, suffer with him, and share in the mighty experience of the cross so that in one way or another I will experience the living God here on earth.  

Before I conclude, I want to remind you how proud of you I am. I have seen you all grow so much in God. From years ago, you were babies in the faith, now you are mature, standing on firm ground. You are my crown of Joy, I feel many times like a proud father. I hear and you tell me all the things you want to do with your life with Jesus. I love when you tell me you want to be a missionary in a 3^rd world country, or that you want to tell Mexican orphans about the love of Jesus. I find it joy when I hear you want to become worship leader, or become closer to God. I love having conversations where you tell me you want to be baptized because of what Jesus is doing in your life, the talks where you tell me you want to grow closer, and that it is like your soul is crying out because you want to be more and more connected with your heavenly Father.

I used to see teenagers when I looked in the crowd, I do not anymore, beyond brothers and sisters, I see godly men and women who want, who desire, who can’t get enough of Christ. I want you all to know that I love you and even if no one in the whole world is proud of you. I am proud of all the work Jesus has done in your life. You are the crown of Joy I receive from my work.

So brothers and sisters keep fighting the good fight, keep straining toward the goal, keep doaing what you are. Follow Christ in all that you do. Put you minds on him. Learn from each other, grow with each other. And remember we are all connected, we are a family and a family sticks together in everything, you are all my brothers and sisters. If you do not have a family you have one here. If you feel lost in the world, welcome home. If you are ignored, and teased, if you are tired, and weary, this is a place for healing. Let Christ healed your life, and welcome to the family. 

With all the joy and fullness of Christ within me, I end my letter, and I thank you for all of you that have prayed for me, and have been concerned about me. I have everything I need, I am content with everything, I have Jesus and that is more than enough for me. I also have you my family beside me through thick and thin,  It is with a full heart  from your love and the love of Jesus that I end this letter.

Grace and Peace brothers and sisters, Amen.

In Him,

JC

PS I stole the Ideas from Rob Bell.

in the middle of the talk I show this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z8AddFYCnA&NR=1

In Him,

JC Elliot

And how did Paul act how are we suppossed to follow him.

In Him,

JC

In Him,

JC

In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

What does it look like for us?

In Him,

JC Elliott

Why our lives should shine like the stars.

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In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott

-JC

In Him,

JC

In Him,

JC Elliott

In Him,

JC Elliott