Eric Ludy Sermon Podcast: Church at Ellerslie

A 3 Part Sermon SeriesThe constant declaration of the Christian life is, “I can’t, but God can!” Our lives were made to be inhabited by the living God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to be used as a “glove” upon His hand. This enabling power of His life, called grace, supplies all we need for life and godliness. Grace is far more than a mere hug of God. In fact, the topic of grace is so immense, even this three-part sermon hardly begins to describe the depths and majesty of it. But don’t let that deter you—Pastor Eric Ludy provides a primer on grace, giving you a basic Scriptural understanding, lots of content you can study later, and an encouragement to stop trying to manufacture the Christian life and let God do it in and through you.

A 3 Part Sermon SeriesThe constant declaration of the Christian life is, “I can’t, but God can!” Our lives were made to be inhabited by the living God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to be used as a “glove” upon His hand. This enabling power of His life, called grace, supplies all we need for life and godliness. Grace is far more than a mere hug of God. In fact, the topic of grace is so immense, even this three-part sermon hardly begins to describe the depths and majesty of it. But don’t let that deter you—Pastor Eric Ludy provides a primer on grace, giving you a basic Scriptural understanding, lots of content you can study later, and an encouragement to stop trying to manufacture the Christian life and let God do it in and through you.

A 3 Part Sermon SeriesThe constant declaration of the Christian life is, “I can’t, but God can!” Our lives were made to be inhabited by the living God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to be used as a “glove” upon His hand. This enabling power of His life, called grace, supplies all we need for life and godliness. Grace is far more than a mere hug of God. In fact, the topic of grace is so immense, even this three-part sermon hardly begins to describe the depths and majesty of it. But don’t let that deter you—Pastor Eric Ludy provides a primer on grace, giving you a basic Scriptural understanding, lots of content you can study later, and an encouragement to stop trying to manufacture the Christian life and let God do it in and through you.

A 3 Part Sermon Series Christianity is built upon one simple thing: faith. But for faith to be operative it needs an object to focus itself—an object of salvation. In this three-part sermon on faith, you’ll discover the four key truths about faith and how faith and doubt cannot coexist in a believer’s life. May our lives be built firmly upon the rock of faith and boldly declare, “Watch what my God will do!”

A 3 Part Sermon Series Christianity is built upon one simple thing: faith. But for faith to be operative it needs an object to focus itself—an object of salvation. In this three-part sermon on faith, you’ll discover the four key truths about faith and how faith and doubt cannot coexist in a believer’s life. May our lives be built firmly upon the rock of faith and boldly declare, “Watch what my God will do!”

A 3 Part Sermon Series Christianity is built upon one simple thing: faith. But for faith to be operative it needs an object to focus itself—an object of salvation. In this three-part sermon on faith, you’ll discover the four key truths about faith and how faith and doubt cannot coexist in a believer’s life. May our lives be built firmly upon the rock of faith and boldly declare, “Watch what my God will do!”

A 3 Part Sermon Series At Ellerslie we desire to have one focus: Jesus and Him crucified. In the early church it is said as the disciples were “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” We want every message to be about Jesus: exalting Him, glorifying Him, and increasing our faith in Him. Charles Spurgeon called it being a man of “one subject.” The Majestic Jesus is a message focused on the amazing reality that Jesus is God! Starting with the preservation of the God-ness of the Bible, Pastor Eric Ludy builds a case to show Jesus as the incarnate Word, the “I Am” throughout Scripture, and the “divine condescension” that wrapped itself in human flesh. Become awed at the beauty and majesty of Jesus as we see Him afresh throughout the Word of God.

A 3 Part Sermon Series At Ellerslie we desire to have one focus: Jesus and Him crucified. In the early church it is said as the disciples were “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” We want every message to be about Jesus: exalting Him, glorifying Him, and increasing our faith in Him. Charles Spurgeon called it being a man of “one subject.” The Majestic Jesus is a message focused on the amazing reality that Jesus is God! Starting with the preservation of the God-ness of the Bible, Pastor Eric Ludy builds a case to show Jesus as the incarnate Word, the “I Am” throughout Scripture, and the “divine condescension” that wrapped itself in human flesh. Become awed at the beauty and majesty of Jesus as we see Him afresh throughout the Word of God.

A 3 Part Sermon Series At Ellerslie we desire to have one focus: Jesus and Him crucified. In the early church it is said as the disciples were “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” We want every message to be about Jesus: exalting Him, glorifying Him, and increasing our faith in Him. Charles Spurgeon called it being a man of “one subject.” The Majestic Jesus is a message focused on the amazing reality that Jesus is God! Starting with the preservation of the God-ness of the Bible, Pastor Eric Ludy builds a case to show Jesus as the incarnate Word, the “I Am” throughout Scripture, and the “divine condescension” that wrapped itself in human flesh. Become awed at the beauty and majesty of Jesus as we see Him afresh throughout the Word of God.

A 3 Part Sermon Series There has been a resurgence of individuals who argue that righteousness and godliness come through obeying the law, keeping the festivals, and using the name “Yeshua” instead of the common English translation, “Jesus.” This return unto the law is a dangerous trend that the apostle Paul fought virulently against—for “salvation by grace through faith” is the message of the entire New Testament. “The Koine Jesus” examines how God purposely and deliberately chose the Koine Greek language (the language of the Gentiles) to reveal His grand Gospel in and through the New Testament. The Gospel isn’t just for the special few, but for the “common people” of this earth.

A 3 Part Sermon Series There has been a resurgence of individuals who argue that righteousness and godliness come through obeying the law, keeping the festivals, and using the name “Yeshua” instead of the common English translation, “Jesus.” This return unto the law is a dangerous trend that the apostle Paul fought virulently against—for “salvation by grace through faith” is the message of the entire New Testament. “The Koine Jesus” examines how God purposely and deliberately chose the Koine Greek language (the language of the Gentiles) to reveal His grand Gospel in and through the New Testament. The Gospel isn’t just for the special few, but for the “common people” of this earth.

A 3 Part Sermon Series There has been a resurgence of individuals who argue that righteousness and godliness come through obeying the law, keeping the festivals, and using the name “Yeshua” instead of the common English translation, “Jesus.” This return unto the law is a dangerous trend that the apostle Paul fought virulently against—for “salvation by grace through faith” is the message of the entire New Testament. “The Koine Jesus” examines how God purposely and deliberately chose the Koine Greek language (the language of the Gentiles) to reveal His grand Gospel in and through the New Testament. The Gospel isn’t just for the special few, but for the “common people” of this earth.

A 3 Part Sermon Series Scripture is under attack, and countless individuals—even within the Church—doubt the authenticity and supernatural construction of God’s Word. This three-part series examines ten simple proofs of the construction, preservation, and accuracy of the Word of God. This message will supercharge your faith, give you greater confidence in the Word of God, and cause you to fall in love with Scripture all over again.

A 3 Part Sermon Series Scripture is under attack, and countless individuals—even within the Church—doubt the authenticity and supernatural construction of God’s Word. This three-part series examines ten simple proofs of the construction, preservation, and accuracy of the Word of God. This message will supercharge your faith, give you greater confidence in the Word of God, and cause you to fall in love with Scripture all over again.

A 3 Part Sermon Series Scripture is under attack, and countless individuals—even within the Church—doubt the authenticity and supernatural construction of God’s Word. This three-part series examines ten simple proofs of the construction, preservation, and accuracy of the Word of God. This message will supercharge your faith, give you greater confidence in the Word of God, and cause you to fall in love with Scripture all over again.

A 3 Part Sermon Series This sermon was an experiment. Back on September 14th of 2014 we tried something completely unorthodox at our church. Eric presented three sermons on a Sunday morning instead of one. Since the classic Ellerslie sermon measures out to around 90 minutes in length, the idea of three Ellerslie sermons each measuring out to around 30 minutes proved a roaring success. With the same great content now in bite-sized pieces, the series model is ideal for short Bible studies with small groups. This particular message, Embracing the Inconvenient, was the perfect theme for launching a new era at Ellerslie. It’s one of the most basic truths that defines who we are and what we do.

A 3 Part Sermon Series This sermon was an experiment. Back on September 14th of 2014 we tried something completely unorthodox at our church. Eric presented three sermons on a Sunday morning instead of one. Since the classic Ellerslie sermon measures out to around 90 minutes in length, the idea of three Ellerslie sermons each measuring out to around 30 minutes proved a roaring success. With the same great content now in bite-sized pieces, the series model is ideal for short Bible studies with small groups. This particular message, Embracing the Inconvenient, was the perfect theme for launching a new era at Ellerslie. It’s one of the most basic truths that defines who we are and what we do.

A 3 Part Sermon Series This sermon was an experiment. Back on September 14th of 2014 we tried something completely unorthodox at our church. Eric presented three sermons on a Sunday morning instead of one. Since the classic Ellerslie sermon measures out to around 90 minutes in length, the idea of three Ellerslie sermons each measuring out to around 30 minutes proved a roaring success. With the same great content now in bite-sized pieces, the series model is ideal for short Bible studies with small groups. This particular message, Embracing the Inconvenient, was the perfect theme for launching a new era at Ellerslie. It’s one of the most basic truths that defines who we are and what we do.

Peter’s famous quote in Church history, “Desiderio Domini”, expresses a tender affection toward Jesus that is rare within the Church today. This message powerfully enunciates that ancient ache of Peter. For by and large there is something missing in the modern rendition of Christianity, and this is a call for the return of this tender ache—the deep and pleading, tear- filled longing for the full majesty and glory of God to once again be revealed on this earth.

“God loves you.” If we understood what this statement really meant, we would fall flat on our faces in worship day in and day out. But somehow it has lost its significance to us as the Church. We do not truly understand God’s love for us, and as a result, we lack the ability to pour out that same love upon His Church around us. This message calls us to a greater standard of love for one another as we walk in the love and tender mercies of God toward us.

If we’re honest, it’s hard enough to grasp that God is for us, let alone that He actively intercedes for us. The whole idea of the Holy Spirit interceding on our behalf is a bit of a mystery to us. However, it is one of the most precious, day-by-day interactions we have with God. This message attempts to bring understanding to this beautiful reality and clarify how He works on our behalf moment by moment.

Tithe. Some of us cringe at the word! There has been a lot of abuse of this concept in God’s Church, but that should not keep us from fully submitting to His Word on giving. This message, a result of God dealing with and refining Eric’s perspective on tithing, casts a vision for how God intended His Church to work in the area of giving. Let it encourage you afresh to offer all that you are and all that you have unto Jesus to be spent for His purposes alone.

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.

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.

Is your relationship with God an intimate love of the heart or an acknowledgment of the mind? Most of us long for intimacy with God while not know how to begin to cultivate it. This message explains the inner workings of intimacy, the vast treasure of a loving relationship with Christ, and how to access the depths of all of it. If we want to draw out the sweetest waters of salvation, we must be willing to put in the effort to gain them—so let us draw near today!

In John's gospel, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees one day and declared that all Scripture testifies of Him. The fulfillment of prophecies assure us of the canonicity of the Old Testament, but what provides us confidence in the canonicity of the New Testament? This message delves into the book of Revelation and reveals the heavenly witness to the validity of the Word of God in the New Testament. What a privilege we have as believers to have so many reasons to believe the testimony of our Lord and His life on this earth!

Throughout Scripture we see that there is a pattern passed down through righteous men that they are expected to build and live according to. But what is the pattern, and does it have anything to do with us? This message is about becoming eyewitnesses of the pattern—the righteousness of Christ—and living in accordance with what we have seen. Let us be faithful to build our lives in light of the Example laid out before us!

Do you ever wonder what living by faith is supposed to look like practically? In our zeal to trust God in all things, we can sometimes assume it means never working a job or never going to the doctor because "God will come through." But does God ever use humble means to supply for His children, even if it doesn't look very supernatural? This message attempts to answer that question and lead us onward in a mature faith that depends on God's providence, no matter what form it takes.

Have you ever read Acts and felt like you needed more power in your spiritual life? But if we're honest, we're not quite sure we know what that would look like or if we'd be comfortable with it. This message presses us to cry out for more of the Spirit of God, while also reminding us of the process of growing up to be ready for walking in the full power of the Spirit. May we not be quick to ask for external evidences of power when we have not proven the power of God in our inner lives.

Have you ever noticed a laxness in your soul after gaining victory... a slowness to turn from sin and a tolerance of small compromises? It is in those moments that we are in desperate need for an “egkrateian” growl: a fierce determination to “let not sin therefore reign.” This message is about kicking out sin and keeping it out, giving no space for the flesh to take territory in our souls. Let us set our faces like flint and maintain a growl against anything that would keep us from Christ.

"Yes, Sir. Right away, Sir. Whatever you say, Sir." These are the words of a yes-man—the sort of man we typically deem weak and brainless. But is there a right way to be a yes-man? This message examines the principle of control and authority, shining light upon who really holds the voice of power in our souls. As Christians, are we submitted to the voice of God alone, saying, "Yes, Lord, whatever pleases You?” Or are we bowing to the voice of the world, shutting out the wisdom of our Shepherd's words?

How many of us have given thought to the fact that one day we will reign alongside of Christ? Most of us have no clue how to rule a nation! And yet in the book of Proverbs we have been given access to the wisdom of the King of all kings in order to govern our every affair with excellence. This message highlights the purpose and value of the proverbs and how we can begin right now to access and apply their wisdom to our lives. Let us train in the small matters that we may rule our domains as Christ rules His kingdom!

In the protestant reformation the men of God declared 'Five Solae' or "Only's" which the Church must stand upon. Indeed the Church in every generation needs to be often reminded what it is that we're standing for. We must stand for the solae of the gospel. Which is ultimately, standing for Jesus Christ alone.

If we were to imagine what a true man looks like, a ruddy shepherd boy would not be our first pick. That is, unless we understood what it truly meant to be a ruddy shepherd boy. After all, it was a ruddy shepherd boy who destroyed the giant, Goliath. This message is a call for authentic, faith- filled Christianity that is willing to be built in the way that God chooses, for He delights to use humble, faithful, and child-like men and women to accomplish His purposes.

Like its unusual title, this message packs a unique punch in the arena of appetite. Cultural trends encourage us to overindulge in the food we eat instead of enjoying it with self-control and gratitude. Like many sins, the real core of gluttony is an attitude of self-entitlement, demanding that we have what we want when we want it. Allow the Spirit of God to reveal the remnants of entitlement in your soul so that you can properly enjoy the pleasures God has given.

The idea of faith is at the cornerstone of Christianity. But the fact that God is unchanging and eternal is at the cornerstone of faith. Simply put, God is always the same. And whereas this may not seem like that big of a deal at first, it's a game-changer to the soul when you actually stop and begin to really ponder it.

For thousands of years, Jews have trembled to speak the name of God. Because of Christ, Christians have not only the privilege of speaking His name, but bearing His name as their own. Looking in depth at the meaning of Yahweh, this message unveils the power and beauty of the unspeakable name which has been given to us in Christ Jesus. May we walk in a manner worthy of this glorious name.

"...in the name of Jesus, amen!" Have you used the word "amen" at the end of a prayer, unsure of what you were actually saying? This short Biblical word is traditionally used as a declaration of an agreement in prayer, or as a period placed on the end of a prayer to indicate that it was finished. Although these are proper uses of the word, we see throughout the pages of Scripture that "Amen" is actually a name of God, and it means that He has performed, currently is performing, and always will preform what is promised. This message directs our eyes towards the cross to behold the the faithful, merciful, and saving God. Oh, Believer, what do you say in response to what God has done? Let us not be afraid to boldly declare "AMEN!".