Blessing God Is Our Joy [+FAMILY WORSHIP!]
Good morning Immanuel. Our blessing of God is grounded in God’s blessing of us.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3).
We praise what we most delight in. I share a house with a dear friend who, any time he meets someone, will within minutes bring up his favorite TV detective show to see if they’ve seen it. We’re all a bit like this with our favorite things—books, movies, songs, restaurants. My housemate is not under contractual obligation with the production company to tell everyone to watch Broadchurch. He just can’t help himself. He wants others to share what he’s enjoyed.
We do it with people, too. When someone stuns us with a wonderful expression of kindness or a genuinely worthy achievement, we have to tell others about it. Such praise is not a requirement; it’s a compulsion. We can’t not praise the praiseworthy. C. S. Lewis nails it: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”
This is what Paul is talking about. Our blessing of God is grounded in God’s blessing of us. But we mustn’t think that this is some sort of transactional arrangement, as though we bless God so that he blesses us, our praise of him simply feeding coins into the meter so that we can remain parked in his favor. No. We praise God for the very way he is. Praising him is something we get to do; it is the reward, not the fee.
This Sunday at Immanuel
Sunday Morning 🎉
FAMILY WORSHIP - All are welcome to join us for worship on Sunday during our 9 am and 10:45 am Family Worship services! Classes for babies through 3-year-olds will be available in iKids. Children aged four years and older are invited to join us in the worship center! Pastor Sam Allberry continues our series, “The Good News in Three Dimensions.”
Seminars
9 am: Studying the Bible Together, led by Tom Cox in the Church Office
9 am: Exit Signs: The Gospel of Christ in the Book of Exodus, led by Dr. Russell Moore in the Cafe
9 am: Student Seminar led by Vince Greenwald in the gymnasium (grades 5-12)
On the Horizon
HOPE SMILES DENTAL OUTREACH - One of Immanuel's very own members, Ryan Shinska, is an integral part of the Hope Smiles team and is happy to invite you to an exciting new opportunity! Join us on Saturday, October 28th from 7 am to 2 pm at Immanuel Nashville's gymnasium for a Dental Outreach event. For more information or to get involved, please contact Ryan Shinska at ryan@hopesmiles.org.
DISCOVER RECEPTION - New or newish to Immanuel? Formerly known as the Discover Luncheon, the new Discover Reception is an opportunity to connect at 10:45 am in the cafe for an overview of Immanuel and a time for Q&A. Our next Discover Reception is November 12th. RSVP here.
Engage…
SUBMIT SOME FEEDBACK - Jesus cares about the challenges you navigate on a day-to-day basis and the questions you have. Please share some feedback with us so that we can better serve you, our city, and far beyond. We'd love to hear from you!
This is what came to mind after reading Sam’s post: Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song
Moody Church had Friday/Sumday Night Sing. Also Crystal Lake Evangelical Free Church. What town are these churches in you mention?