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777 S Barker Rd
Brookfield, WI 53045
www.elmbrook.org

★ ★

 general Church OVER VIEW 



I have personally visited Elmbrook Church  several times over the pass couple of years praying that a good change would come to this mega church.  I First  visited under the leadership of Pastor Mel Lawrenz and I have also visited under the leadership of the new Pastor, Phillip Griffin.  Phillip Griffin has taken over within the pass year as Senior Pastor and can comes from  First Wesleyan Church in Battle Creek, MI. There is a diffident change happening here with in the church. Is it for the better or for the worst only time can tell. I can just pray that Pastor Griffin takes this church back to a biblical foundation and away from the liberalism that has tarnished this once God fear bible believing church.  I can give you my over all opinion and what I have observed  at the church and you can make that decision for your self. 

One positive note I would like to address before starting is that Elmbrook does seems to have a great program setup for those with disabilities both physical and mental. It is too bad this church is so liberal in their theology because I think many other churches could learn a thing or two from Elmbrook when it comes too how to treat the disabled. They need Christ just as everyone does. He knows not bounds to who should be part of hearing the word of God nor should a church limit those from hearing and participating in doing so. So I do say Elmbrook does do a GREAT job in this area. 


Elmbrook is your typical Mega-Church in also most every sense of the word. You will find a coffee shop, a book store, a huge gym, and of course a huge mega auditorium. The church its self has three stories in some parts with class rooms, nursery's etc. Not that their is anything wrong with this type of style of church. I personally find it a little too big for my liking. I have attend churches of all different sizes over my years of travel and I have found that I personally like knowing the people I go to church with. Elmbrook is so big that you can simply get lost in the crowd and disappear without anyone really getting to know you.  Also you will find the typical seeker sensitive thinking with in the church its self. They are very much geared for the seeker not the believer. This can be seen very much in their bible studies and new membership classes.  I would use great discernment in what you take away from Elmbrook. For example, in their book store they sell such books as the SHACK , and books by Rick Warren like the Purpose Driven Church, and Purpose Driven Life. Again  I would be very cautious on what you take a way from Elmbrook  because if they are selling this type of new age material in their book store. One could conclude that if they are selling it in the store they must be preaching it in the pulpit and in their bible study  classes. 

When you first walk in to Elmbrook Church for a Worship service  you are greeted by a friendly set of greeters at the door. However once you pass through those doors you are left on your own to find your way about the church. Which if you are a first time visitor can leave you with a cold unwelcoming feeling.  If you are going to attend for a worship service you will find that the worship center or in this case the auditorium is pretty large and you can choose weather or not to set on the first floor or second floor for service. 

Once seated and ready for service you will find that the worship part of the service is filled with much of the contemporary Christian music you find on K-LOVE or any other Christian radio station, not music found that shows any special worship or zeal for the Love of Christ and God nor what His Son has done for us.  From what I have seen and heard in the worship services I would classify their overall worship music as styled to set a  mood instead of actual worship. This emotional mood setting is  used in many churches to get a feeling generated for what ever topic the pastor is preaching on that service. Where this is intended or on purpose is it what I have observed being done. 

When It comes to the actual preaching of the service you will find that the Pastor, depending on who is speaking, will speak for about 25 to 30 minutes. Sermon delivery is okay. I found the messages  to be pointed but could have had some more meat in the sermons themselves, shallow in the theology. There seems to be a lack of overall challenging from the pastors to have the congregation  grow in their understanding of terms and biblical languages. I don't know if this due to the high rate of turn over they experience being a mega church or if this is a simple preaching style adopted by the pastors. On the other hand if you are a new Christian this may be a style of preaching you may need because of it's simplicity of langue and terms. I would however not recommend  a firm growing believer to stay long because you will only be frustrated by the lack of growth with in the sermon presentations and for other theological issues that I will cover in the later sections. 

When the sermon is finished and the pastor dismisses the congregation from the service you will find that you are quickly on your own again. The people there seem to quickly leave and go about their own business and have very little fellowship with other believers unless you are directly connected with someone. 

Over all Elmbrook Church is a place to visit but I would not suggest making it a church home if you are looking for a long term house of God to continue to grow in.  I would again be very cautious of their trend toward new age teachings and  lack of proper biblical judgement on what materials they allow to be sold in their book store. These two issues alone should steer solid bible following and Christ honoring Christians from this church but there are more issues as will be shown  in our next section.  Because of these issues and the liberalism that has taken over Elmbrook we can only offer at best Elmbrook 2 out of 5 stars for a church to attend. 

Break Down Points 

  • Doctrine / Statement of faith 

Elmbrook's  statement of faith overall is very simplistic and leaves a lot to be desired. Leaves a lot of questions about Soteriolgy and Christology. Also there is  lack of scripture references backing what they believe and why. 

  • Worship
Music is very modern radio style worship. No hymnals. Music is set to get people in a mood and an emotional high for what ever the preaching topic will be like. 

  • Sermons / Preaching

Sermons and preaching last about 25 to 30 minutes. Topical in style. Some verse quoting. Could use more supportive verses. Also there is a lot of 3 point preaching. Not very in-depth preaching for the studied Christian. Your typical mega church preaching, on the lighter side of subjects not very deep on theological exhortations.  

  • Doctrine

Over all Elmbrook's doctrine is biblical, However you will find their stands on many issues very liberal. This should be a warning to anyone looking at Elmbrook for a home church that if you are conservative  in your theology  and you follow your bible you WILL NOT be ACCEPTED. 

  • Points of Concern

  1. One major point of concern is that Elmbrook has on staff TWO women Pastors. The bible is very clear on the issue of women NOT to be allowed to be Pastors over the church holding authority over the men in the congregation . As stated in 2 Timothy 2:14, and Titus 1:5 along with several other verses.  Elmbrook church however has allowed this to happen and actually promotes this sin on their meet the pastor section by listing these Two women as Pastors with titles as such. If the leadership of Elmbrook can not discern the word of God correctly in this area than how can we trust them to do so correctly in larger areas?
  2. Another area of concern is the new age mysticism that is creeping slowly into the church. You will find books being sold in their book store that are not based in biblical truths. As I mentioned early, books by Rick Warren and William P. Young. There is also books being sold on the promotion of subjects such as  "Christian" Yoga and competitive prayer. If books like these are be promoted and sold in the book store how far does the apple fall from the tree when it comes to being what is taught in the pulpit and classes of Elmbrook? 
  3. Cookie cutter theology model of a mega church. Elmbrook seems to be following a trend a late. If you are not of certain theology on secondary non essential issues of doctrine you may find yourself getting the cold shoulder. This trend seems to be happening a lot through out mega church models. Especially those following Rick Warren's PDC and PDL models. 
  4. Elmbrook also seems to be trending toward the social justice gospel and moral relativism instead of preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

  • Positive Points 


  1. New Pastor, We are praying that Pastor Griffin is working on making changes that will bring Elmbrook back to the bible. 
  2. Great Special needs Ministries for all ages.
  3. Location is central to freeway access.
  4. Offer many programs both during services and during the week.