First Church Charlotte

September 23, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms "I've Ruined Everything" This is the 3rd message from the series, "How to Talk to People About God" As was mentioned last week, a person that has expressed frustration with their life is typically not ready for a life change. When a person is angry, they are usually not ready for a life change. When a person expresses our title, "I've Ruined Everything", they are no longer looking outward to blame, but have taken responsibility themselves, and are usually at a place in their lives to take a step towards eternity and God. As Paul the Apostle showed us, how he spoke to unbelievers and how we should use the four "L's". • Listen instead of having to be correct. • Use their Language instead of churchy language. • Look for where is God working in their lives. • Leave them with a promise. (Leave them wanting more.)

September 20, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms “A hero is who we all wish we were if we didn’t have our own personal limitations.” “I think we aspire to everyday heroes because we wish to be them… In moments of great tragedy we see people drawn to firefighters or emergency workers or the people who went beyond their job. They rushed in where angels fear to tread.” “We’d like to believe there’s like a hero gene in all of us.” Is there a hero gene in all of us? The bible is full of surprise-heroes… whether it is young David facing Goliath or Gideon finding out that the angel of the Lord thinks he is a mighty man… Jesus invites you to believe that “great works” are possible. (John 14:12) Speaking spiritually, that is hero-language… Your world needs a hero! What does a spiritual hero do? 1) We uphold the promises of God by our words. (Hebrews 1:2-4 & Isaiah 62:6) 2) We plead for justice on behalf of another. We speak God’s justice into a broken world as witness that we are of and from another kingdom. (Isaiah 59:14-

September 16, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms Frustration about feeling stuck in life is real, and we should not rebuke others when they go through it. The frustration phase of a person's desire for change is an opportunity for God's people to witness to hurting people. Angry and frustrated people are usually not ready for a big life change. Life changes usually come from brokenness instead of anger. 1. Listen and give up your need to be right. 2. Use their language. 3. Be sensitive and look to see where God is working already. 4. Lead people with encouragement. Share your testimony not your advice.

September 13, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms We live our lives with an incomplete understanding of the world... of ourselves... but we have a sense of God... of eternity... of the transcendent power of love... I believe that God is threaded through our lives... we are marked by his presence... and his absence... There is no escape from the nature of our creation... we are the canvas upon which God paints... I believe that this is true whether or not we admit it. In fact, I believe that you could deny this, reject this, turn away and return to your life ... and the life you then lived would speak this truth back to you. Here is a true thing: We almost never know what would make us happy. I’m going to list 5 things that motivate… Fame, wealth, beauty, genius, and power... 1. Fame 2. Wealth 3. Beauty 4. Genius 5. Power So What's the Problem? You find it everywhere, from the petty supervisor to the bitter gym coach. Small people driven to mindless, unethical behavior, drunk on just a few drops of power. They o

September 9, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms • According to teachings in New Testament of the Holy Scriptures, the purpose for preachers is to equip believers concerning speaking to others about God. • How do we talk to people about God without sounding condescending or crazy to them? • Listen to people and relate to them, instead of telling them our version of truth without first getting to know them. When speaking to people, that are outside our normal circle, learn about their beliefs and what they find important, to first find common ground.

September 6, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms When we identify with Jesus Christ, we can stand secure upon the promises of God, and believe that all things will work towards our good. When we have given ourselves to the Kingdom of God, the storms of our lives will also bring revelation that God is in control, and our testimony will be birthed out of our trouble.

September 2, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms

August 30, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms “Life as a journey and not a destination” is an essential truth for most of us… The very same phrase that Aerosmith used in a song published in 1993 was used in 1920 by Methodist pastor and theologian, Lynn H. Hough in a Sunday school lesson outline on the New Testament letter of 1 Peter: “life is a journey and not a destination.” However, we may want to hear the rest of the quote to make sense of it: Life is a journey and not a destination; that the heart must be set upon those matters of character which are eternal and not upon those matters of sensation which pass away. (Steven Tyler left that part out) The Psalms of Ascent consist of 15 psalms, from 120 through 134. Four of these songs are attributed to King David (122, 124, 131, 133) and one to Solomon (127), while the remaining ten are anonymous. These psalms were sung and prayed by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. They were traveling to the temple in celebration of the three main festivals of the Hebrew peop

August 26, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms During times of uncertainty, many seek prophecy to help understand what is happening. Biblically, all prophecy is a word or teaching from God, shared by a prophet, to a specific audience. 1. Prophecy is usually not understood by the generation in which it was given. 2. Prophecy usually serves as a witness for the future. 3. Prophecy is sometimes used to expose humanity's failings and to give divine warning. 4. Prophecy is mostly used by God as a way for instilling hope to humanity. Living prophetically should never instill terror, but instead should provide hope for the hearers.

August 23, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms • To wish is to be human. Desire can be about anything. • We can also live in discontent when we only long for our wishes and forget to be thankful for what we have. • It is easy and dangerous when we believe that we are entitled for what we want & it turns into resentment when not achieved. • Marketers will speak the language of discontentment and entitlement. • If I had that, then I will be happy, but the happiness doesn't happen. • We are not good judges of what makes us happy. • It isn't wrong to want nice things, but when we think that the temporal things of this world will fulfill us, we enter into folly. • Once we get our eyes get off of our desires and realize how good God has been to is, we proceed by praising & thanking God. • Once a person achieves riches & status will find themselves on the other side of the things of this world and will then look for meaning. • Meaning cannot be easily described because as human souls, we are eternal beings, we can only be s

• There is a tendency to think of "Break Through" as the demonstration of God's power. • Many times, God's power will be manifested in a way that requires us to see it through eyes of faith. • What does the next level look like to us? Wisdom, Knowledge, and the Discipline of self are fruit of the Spirit. • The healthiest relationships are not built on the highs, but are instead built on commitment. • Signs of Spiritual breakthrough: ○ If you awaken to a love for the Word of God. ○ When you feel less pull to the things of this world system. Not just deliverance, but transformation. ○ When you awaken to seeing people in your life like God sees them and love them like God loves them. ○ An inexplicable joy that in the flesh doesn't make sense. ○ A burst of energy and creativity for doing something for God.

August 16, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms • Jesus authenticated Himself as divine by healing people. • Healing was given in the New Testament as a Spiritual invitation and as an evidence that the Kingdom of God is here now. • Jesus used a physician as a witness. Medicine is not an enemy to faith. Physicians simply help give the body an opportunity to heal. There are things that only God can do such as emotional & spiritual healing. • Healing gives a testimony that cannot be argued against. • Healing is ultimately up to the will of God & isn't a right for a believer, True faith accepts God's will for our lives, much like Jesus surrendered to the will of God concerning the Crucifixion. • Four things that can hinder our healing: 1. Unconfessed sin. 2. We can simply cope with the problem instead of asking God for healing. We can then use our suffering as identity. 3. Failing to surrender to what God wants. 4. Lack of faith. When our faith is wavering, we should ask help from believers that we are close to

August 12, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms By faith, we can grow in grace as we walk with God and understand our work in the Kingdom and move out of our comfort zone and not be focused spiritually.

August 9, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms As believers, we strive to value our lives in terms of the spiritual… The thing that most represents the things of this world is money. But what gives money value? That does not mean that the money has no value. It means that the money only has value in the system that values it.  If you were in a wilderness neither the dollars or the gold would help you at all. If, however, you were in the “system” you could turn the paper or the gold into shelter and food.  Because in a “system” that values money, you can turn money into anything… But if the “system” is gone, the money has no value…  We separate the worldly from the spiritual… Jesus used the worldly to teach about the spiritual… Are you ready for a surprise? Your money is a test. Hoarding This is not about savings or having life insurance policies. It’s wise to save rather than spend everything. Proverbs 30 says even tiny ants are wise enough to store something from summer to get them through the winter. This is about ho

August 5, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms Initially, through faith, God saves us from sin and with His Holy Spirit, gives us the power to overcome. The initial work is God. Afterwards, God saves us unto good works and we grow in grace and love for God and for people. Reaching the next step in your walk with Jesus Christ doesn't come accidentally and happens in steps, much like how we grew physically. • The next step will require spiritual discipline such as prayer, worship, the study of God's Word and controlling our pride and ego. • It will also require connection to both God and to people around you. • The next step will also require spiritual confidence; which naturally comes as your connection with the Lord strengthens. Just as the Lord told us that we being the branches, will bear much fruit, as long as we stay attached to the tree. (God)

August 2, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms • When worlds collide – brute force is not always the victor • When Kingdoms clash, the fittest does not always survive • We wrestle not against flesh and blood • The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, flesh and blood, but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds • Imaginations are cast out, thoughts are arrested & taken captive Paul wrote This Tractate (Treatise) to Rome – an amazing matrix of Jewish and Gentile Christians – Don’t let the evil you encounter drag you down – overwhelm you – You OVERCOME IT!!!! The Greek word for Overcome – NIKE: to prevail over an opponent, to be victorious, to conquer You are either the victim or the victor – either overcome or are overwhelmed. • Overcome with Praise • Overshadow any enemy – Greater is he that is in me • Overflow with the presence of God – David “My cup overflows” beyond the brim • Overrule your flesh Do not overstate your troubles Do not over-react to life’s problems Do not go overboard with the

July 29, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms Most of us that want to do something for God, struggle with Spiritual confidence; which is linked to our confidence in our relationship with the Lord. We should acknowledge and repent of our weaknesses, and thankfully walk in our strengths. Most of all, keep your attention on God and the mission and not ourselves.

July 26, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms • Bethel is a place of heaven connecting with earth… • Bethel is where the desperate individual, pursued and threatened, becomes aware of the world above this world… • Bethel is a place of dreams... not a place of mission. • Bethel means the House of God, yes… • But notice, Bethel is not heaven... Bethel is solidly on earth... but it has a heavenly ladder As a church, we want to be a place of connection… But Jacob must pass through Bethel... he cannot stay there... and later, Jacob must return to Bethel… Ai is first mentioned in the book of Genesis in connection with the life of Abraham. Ai means, “a heap of ruins.” Israel suffered a tragic defeat at Ai. 36 men died. Because of hidden sin… There are two traps for the person who is trying to overcome a spiritual setback. 1.) Fear 2.) Discouragement • Fear or anxiety often leads to sin. • Fear will immobilize your spiritual life. • Fear will also make God’s Word unproductive in our lives. Why are both of these things

July 22, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms Our words are a reflection of what we believe. Praise and prayer gives us the correct context to the Creator and to ourselves. The believer holds onto truths that can only be perceived through faith. Action comes first, and then it is followed by motivation. Trying to motivate yourself first usually fails.

July 19, 2020 | Pastor Nathan Elms The church is the original, "Can you help me get home?" program. We are all cast-a-ways from the presence of God. Except for the grace of God, we are all runaways. We cannot have look at people where they are presently, because they might be dreaming of Heaven. If people want to be helped, they can then be helped, but know that God will not give up on people or you. When Jesus sees a sinner, He doesn't see an enemy, but instead he sees a lost child that He wants to guide home. We all need to be born again & cannot earn salvation for ourselves. Every person bears the image of God; which gives value and identity. At some point we have to choose to come home to God. All the Kingdom of God is helping lost children find their way home. The church is a program to helping you get back home to God.