Eric Ludy Sermon Podcast: Church at Ellerslie

One of the challenges facing the modern Church today is a lack of understanding in how to engage in the spiritual battle that surrounds us as Christians. We either prefer to bury our heads in the sand, or we over- demonize everything. Either way, we can easily miss Christ and the provision He made through the Gospel for addressing our greatest foe. This messages reminds us of the power that we have been granted through the Gospel—through our position in Christ—to trample upon the enemy and the powers of darkness. May we walk daily in the reality that Christ “spoiled principalities and powers, made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Oftentimes when we tell the story of David, we focus on the many ways David was a picture of Christ. But a rich layer to the story of David is actually found in the character of Jonathan and how his actions toward David mirror how we enter into covenant with Christ. This message speaks to the beauty of covenant with Jesus and what it looks like to dethrone self for His exaltation and honor. May we be a people who gladly give up our best and our all so that He may fully give us of His life.

Christ declared that there was only one sign that He would give: the sign of Jonah. But what exactly was the sign of Jonah? This message dives into the rich story of Jonah and the repentance of Nineveh, which showcases Christ and His work of salvation on so many levels. May the Lord continue to open our eyes to how all of Scripture testifies of Christ and turns our hearts to feast upon the glories of Calvary.

Ever since the Tower of Babel, humans have demonstrated their love for building things on their own, apart from God. But when we look at our lives, our marriages, our families, and our ministries, we find that we do not have what we need to build them strong. This message reminds us that God is the Master Builder and it is through dependence upon the Spirit that every arena of our lives is established. It is only when we let go of the flesh and grab a hold of God that our efforts prosper!

Do you ever find yourself shying away from impossible situations? Our natural inclination is to choose the path of least resistance, but God has called us as believers to choose the impossible! We can have absolute confidence that as we choose the narrow way, God will come through and glorify Himself in the most challenging circumstances. May this message stir you to greater confidence to walk in the Impossible and proclaim God's ability to come through.

We aren't typically attracted to the life of a soldier, but as Christians, every one of us is enlisted! The moment we enter into Christ, we are brought into a military unit under the command of the Lord of battles. The heavenly soldier is a cheerful sufferer and loves his job. He can imagine no greater privilege than to live for the glory of his King. May we obey God’s commands without hesitation, not because we are fulfilling a duty, but because we are serving the one we love.

We aren't typically attracted to the life of a soldier, but as Christians, every one of us is enlisted! The moment we enter into Christ, we are brought into a military unit under the command of the Lord of battles. The heavenly soldier is a cheerful sufferer and loves his job. He can imagine no greater privilege than to live for the glory of his King. May we obey God’s commands without hesitation, not because we are fulfilling a duty, but because we are serving the one we love.

Our finite minds have such difficulty grasping the depths of the love of God—it’s so far beyond all that we can imagine! And yet this deluge of love from the Father is the daily reality of the children of God. What keeps us from knowing it more fully? This message reminds us of God’s immense love for His people and how the Gospel is driven by this motive of love.

This is a unique and deeply personal peek into the heart of a pastor. Eric Ludy approached this message very differently than a typical sermon, bringing a warmth, familiarity, and vulnerability to it that lent an endearing and unforgettable luster to this particular Sunday morning. It’s impossible to listen to this message without being impacted.

What would it look like for the Church to fight on the offensive, rather than the defensive? We often have a passive stance in bringing the Gospel to the world, but effective evangelism happens when we use wisdom and creativity. Just as the Salvation Army brought the Gospel to the East End of London with an unexpected (and very effective!) tactic, this message inspires us to ask God for how we can proactively approach our generation. We have all been placed in this generation by God and are being built for such a time as this. Look out, world!

“Bramwell, these are our people—the people I want you to live for.” William Booth made this statement to his young son as God was leading their family to minister in the East End, the worst part of London. In the same way, we have been given a commission to pour our lives out for the lowest and the neediest. This message reminds us of God’s desire to spend His people for the weak of this world. If you need a strong push to get outside of your comfort zone in ministry, this is a good place to begin.

If Jesus was not the Son of God, would it change much about what we believe? The truth is, it would change everything. The divinity of Christ is under major attack in the emergent movement and often treated as an inconsequential detail. However, the entire Gospel unravels if we compromise on this point. This message reminds us of the significance of Christ being God and the power that it gives the Gospel. May the privilege of having Immanuel, “God with us,” never cease to inspire awe!

Have you ever noticed that the closer you grow to Christ, the more challenging life seems to get? One of the paradoxes of Christianity is that the grand and glorious Cross is both a place of life and of death, a place of victory and of suffering. This message declares the Cross of Christ to be the epicenter of all of history and exhorts us to keep it at the center of our lives. May we never lose the wonder of that day on Calvary and of the life that Jesus brought us through His death.

How important is the doctrine of Hell? For as little as we teach on or think about Hell, it is an essential component of the Gospel. Without a real Hell, the Cross and Resurrection lose their triumphant power. This message given on Resurrection Sunday reminds us of the Hell we have been saved from and the power of being resurrected with Christ. Let us not be afraid to look full in the face of death and Hell, for they have lost their sting for the believer!

How does a place like Ellerslie get started? Some dreams are realized rather quickly, and others take two decades to come to fruition! This message chronicles the story of the founding of Ellerslie and with humility and richness, captures the heart of what takes place in the training programs. Unlike other messages, “The History of Ellerslie” is given in the format of teaching as opposed to preaching in order to simply share the beauty of the testimony God has been building at Ellerslie. It is a refreshing reminder of the faithfulness of God and a celebration of what He has done here in the last four years.