When I’m preparing my messages, I have a specific audience in mind.
It’s a guy who is coming to Elevation for the first time this week.  In fact, this will be his first time in church in years, and he’s far from God.  His friend kept inviting him until, one Sunday-this coming Sunday as a matter of fact-he’s decided to give it a try.
Of course, there are hundreds of people who resemble this description who attend Elevation every week-men, women, boys and girls…and when I stand to preach, I narrow down my audience, picture this person in my mind, and let it fly.

Yes, it’s my responsibility to edify those who already know Christ through my preaching, and to feed and disciple the flock of God.  But I’ll always tilt the playing field toward the guy or gal who is far from God.  Eternity hangs in the balance for them.
That’s why I’m so basic sometimes, rather than parsing Greek and demonstrating exegetical competency ad infinitum.
That’s why I scream loudly and look like I’m on the verge of exploding at random points in my sermon every single week, every single service.

For those that serve at Elevation, picture that guy this coming Sunday as you do what you do.  It puts it all in perspective.

Guest Blog: Larry Brey, Connections Pastor

Because of the rapid growth Elevation has experienced, churches from all around the country are contacting us to find out what’s going on.  To provide a quality response we started Backstage:Elevation, an opportunity for churches to spend a Sunday at Elevation and get a behind the scenes look at the church.  This has been an extremely rewarding process for us as we openly share successful principles as well as failures in a way that helps others.  The experience really represents Pastor Steven’s heart for us to have a maximal Kingdom impact through keeping our hands open and freely giving.  It’s an awesome privilege to play a small part in other churches successes.  Recently we had some great churches at various stages of development spend a Sunday morning at Elevation.
To our Elevators…we wanted you to know how much your sacrifice as volunteers is impacting not only our church, but many churches across the country.  You are part of a great move of God that extends beyond our city.  Keep it up, you’re making a difference!

Remnant Church – Pastor Mark McGovern, San Francisco, CA
A new church plant moving to the San Francisco area from Indiana
“What are the top three things you will take away and apply in your church?”
1)    Vision.  Everyone has to know it, say it, eat it, breathe it, sleep it, live it day in and day out.  Everything is done because of vision.
2)    Culture. The culture must facilitate and reinforce the vision.  The culture eliminates the wrong people and connects the right people.
3)    Pipe and drape.  I never knew Elevation was such a strong believer in it.  Used very well to create a “packed out concert” feel that ultimately made the worship experience better.

South Bay Church – Pastor Andy Wood, San Francisco, CA
Pastor Andy and his team are currently in South Carolina preparing to head west and spread the Gospel.
Here’s how Pastor Andy described his experience:
“When I say experienced, I mean I experienced it. My wife Stacie and I spent the whole drive back from Charlotte to Columbia remembering it like a good movie. We (the south bay dream team) got to experience a team of crazy committed volunteers who arrive at dark thirty with an optimistic attitude anticipating what God is going to do that day!”

“As we move forward with starting a church in the San Francisco Bay Area it was great for our staff team to experience Elevation and be inspired by the possibilities of what God can do in such a short period of time!! Thanks Elevation.”

No doubt, if you’re going to be a leader, you’re going to pay a high price.
I’ve always heard that the higher you go in leadership, the higher price you’ll pay.  That’s true, but I would qualify it: it’s not that you necessarily make more
sacrifices as you ascend in leadership.
Mainly, I’ve noticed that God requires you to make more intense sacrifices as your influence increases.  In other words, you pay a different kind of price.

For instance, I paid a high physical price when we were starting Elevation.  (Some of our core team members paid an even higher one, by the way.)
The other day, I was detailing for someone what my weekly schedule was like during the launch phase of Elevation, and we just laughed.  How did I survive that?  But the physical price was part of that phase.  The load was heavy because there weren’t many people to share it.

The phase I’m in right now isn’t quite as physically demanding.  I have a lot more help.  I’m much more in control of my schedule.  Don’t get me wrong, certain seasons within the year are very demanding, and Sundays are more taxing than they’ve ever been.
But honestly, the price of leadership I’m paying these days is more of an emotional price.  Leading at this level involves a great deal of isolation.  It requires a high tolerance for painful decisions.  Relational conflict is a part of every single day, as are scrutiny and criticism.  Change comes fast and furious, so you never feel at home in your old skin very long before you’re morphing again.

In my limited experience, there’s always a price to pay in order to walk in the greatness of God.  And that price goes up every single day.
But so does the reward…

Guest Blog: Chunks Corbett, Executive Pastor

This post will be short and sweet.

Elevation Church is a church with several locations. In fact we will be adding a 3rd in the fall and I’m hopeful to add a 4th by Easter 09.

But having multiple locations (especially if they are portable) is not glamorous. Here are a few questions that I would think through before adding campuses:

1.    Are we at capacity at our current location?
2.    Would adding another location open seats up at our current location? (Would it cannibalize our current site?)
3.    Is God leading our church toward a strategy of having multiple locations?
4.    Will we use video or live preaching?
5.    Not all Pastors are right for video, is ours?
6.    What is the density of our current campus related to where we want to add another campus?
7.    Can we add another service where we are and get the same effect?
8.    Do we have the leadership to pull off another campus?
9.    Will another site be a step of faith or foolishness?
10.    What would you define as success for another campus? Define this by using metrics for attendance, salvations, giving, etc.
11.    Will another site make us more effective at reaching people for Christ?

Those are just a few. Multiple locations is very effective but also trendy. Asking the right questions beforehand may keep you from making a mistake or confirm the direction God is leading his church.

Thanks for your remarkable generosity, Elevation. When God laid it on my heart to give all of the money from the sale of our new worship CD on release day to Wade and Ferris for medical expenses, I just knew you’d step up. You did.
As a result, we’re going to be able to bless the Joyes with over $17,000.
They are ecstatic. So am I.
I’ve always wanted one of the first words that come to mind when people think of Elevation to be generosity. I think we’re getting there.
Keep it up.

If you haven’t picked up a CD yet, it’s available online.
Click here.
Or pick it up at the resource center on Sunday.
(Note: The funds for Wade and Ferris have already been apportioned. All future sales will support the ongoing worship ministry of Elevation.)
I’m very proud of these songs, and even more proud of the people I pastor. You’re exceptional.

Keep praying for Adleigh and Liana.
And to all of you who allowed me to pray with you in our services Sunday, I’m standing in faith with you, believing God to make the Sun Stand Still in your situation, and to cover you with His grace.

Guest Blog: Larry Hubatka, Creative Pastor

An encore wouldn’t be an encore unless people starting screaming and yelling for more. During our current series called Encore we tried to track all the screaming and yelling to hear what people were excited about. I’ve posted the top 15 songs and series below.

Now that we’re back in the swing of things let me add a little plug about this weekend. Going back to visit an old series is fun, but don’t think for a second it means we’re not going to bring something fresh to chew on this Sunday.

As a matter of fact, this Sunday’s message would’ve fit perfectly in a series we did forever ago called Stars, but lucky you, you get it fresh out of the oven. What could be better, a new message, your favorite worship songs and Pastor Steven ready to preach after almost a month off?

See you Sunday.

-Larry Hubatka, Creative Pastor

Here are the top 15 songs:
Glorious One
Solid Rock
You Never Let Go
I Am Free
To Know Your Name
We Have Overcome
Sun Stand Still
Mighty to Save
Let God Arise
This City
Take It All
We Shine
God Of This City
Song of Hope
Jesus Paid It All

And the top 15 series:
Bringing Sexy Back
Sun Stand Still
Breakout
80’s Rock
When Life And Truth Collide
Confessions Of A Pastor
My Generation
Made
Entourage
Deep
iTunes
What Should I Do With My Life?
Old Time Religion
Shoulda Coulda Woulda
Dominate

Me and Elijah B watched some TV on the 4th…as you can see, he really liked this part.