Elmwood Church - Sermons

Fleeing From Idolatry

Unpack Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 10:14–22 that idolatry divides our allegiance from God. While the Corinthians faced the specific temptation of participating in idol feasts, the deeper danger remains for us today: treasuring created things above the Creator. Because God alone deserves our total loyalty, we are called to flee from every form of idolatry and run to Christ, who remained faithful to us even when our hearts were divided.

What Disqualifies Us From the Prize

This sermon reflects on 1 Corinthians 10 and Paul’s warning to run hard after the lasting prize of Christ. Through the cautionary example of Israel in the wilderness, we are reminded that persistent, unrepentant sin and idolatry can pull us away from faithful endurance. Yet God is faithful, providing a way of escape from temptation and calling us not only to flee from sin, but to flee toward Jesus, the true prize our hearts were made for.

Becoming All Things

Empty me. Fill me. Use me.  What if the key to reaching the people around you started with a simple three-line prayer? This message unpacks how Paul's radical approach to connecting with wildly different people can inspire all of us to slow down, show up, and let God do something wonderful through our ordinary lives. Spoiler: you're going to mess it up — and that's actually the best news you'll hear all week.

A Legacy of Motherly Faithfulness

In this Mother's Day message, we turn to Exodus 2:1–10 and the story of Jochebed — a mother whose courage and trust in God changed the course of history. Her willingness to defy Pharaoh and entrust her son to God's providence points us forward to Jesus, who embodied that same courage and trust on the cross. Whether you are a biological mother or called to invest spiritually in others, this message is a reminder that faithful women have always played an essential role in God's saving work — and that your ordinary obedience matters more than you know.

Laying Down Our Rights

In this message, we dive into 1 Corinthians 9:1–18, where the Apostle Paul sets a radical example for the church in Corinth — and for us today. Rather than demanding what he was rightfully owed, Paul willingly laid down his right to financial compensation so that nothing would get in the way of the gospel taking root in people's lives. Paul's pattern points us back to Jesus, who gave up the glories of heaven and laid down his life for ours. So what are you willing to lay down so that Christ can be formed in others? This message challenges us to loosen our grip on our rights — especially our right to a full schedule — and make ourselves genuinely available to the people around us.