Let All Nations Rejoice + This Sunday!
Good morning Immanuel. In Christ, the church is for you and for me! Let's gather, proclaim His gospel, and welcome one another for the glory of Christ.
“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1).
God’s plan has always been to unite people of all backgrounds as one family in Christ for his glory. The Bible paints a beautiful picture of all nations coming together to worship the living God and share in the joy of Christ. This worship around the throne of God is where the universe is ultimately heading, and that is the reality we can experience today through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 13, we catch a glimpse of that beautiful reality coming to life.
The church of Antioch was a shining example of how the blood of Christ brought various ethnic groups together. The church of Antioch played a significant role in early Christianity. In fact, it was at Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” At the time of the early church, it was the third largest city in the Roman empire in both size and importance, making it a strategic base of operation for Paul and Barnabas to begin their first missionary journey.
Luke tells us that among the church leaders in Antioch was a man named Simeon, who was known as Niger. Niger, in Latin, means “black.” John Stott believed that Simeon “was a black African, and possibly none other than Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross for Jesus” (Stott, The Message of Acts, 216). Luke’s inclusion of this detail about Simeon, “who was known as Niger,” is a powerful testament to the gospel’s power to create a new, multi-ethnic family in Christ. As Christianity spread across the world, God was using a group of unlikely partners, diverse in background but united by faith in the risen Jesus.
Let the church today follow in the footsteps of the saints before us and imitate their faith. Let us celebrate the rich gospel heritage of the church. Let us come together and rejoice in God’s wisdom, proclaim His gospel, and welcome one another for the glory of Christ.
September 17, 2023 - This Sunday at Immanuel
Sunday Morning 🎉
SPECIAL GUEST DR. GAVIN ORTLUND - We welcome you to join us at our 9:00 AM or 10:45 AM service as we continue our sermon series, “The Good News in Three Dimensions.” We are honored to have our friend Dr. Gavin Ortlund preaching the gospel to us!
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)
Engage
On the Horizon
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS - Our next monthly Young Professionals Fellowship is September 21 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Invite a co-worker, or come and meet a friend! Food will be available, with a suggested optional donation of $10 to help cover the costs. RSVP here.
NEXT STEPS DAY - Our upcoming Next Steps event is on Saturday, October 21, from 9 am-2 pm in the cafe. During this time, we will cover the material for all four sessions. Coffee and lunch will be provided. You may RSVP here.
TGC23 NATIONAL CONFERENCE - Thinking about attending the Gospel Coalition National Conference (September 25-27)? Immanuel folks are privy to a $20 registration discount using the code COUNCILCHURCH. Immanuel’s very own Barnabas Piper, Sam Allberry, and Ray Ortlund will be a part of the event lineup for TGC23. Register today and save!
🙏🏼