Midweek Updates + Tonight @ Immanuel!
Good morning, Immanuel! We are one body in Christ. Check out the Pulse and catch up on our midweek updates.
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Seven times in these verses, we read the word one. Paul is very clearly making a point, drawing our attention to something. He wants us to see the unity in God so that we live in the unity that comes from God.
What do I mean by saying that there is “unity in God? We see that there is one Lord (that’s Jesus), one Spirit, one God, and Father of all. Paul is pointing us to the unity within the Godhead, the oneness of the Trinity. These three persons are ONE, and there is only one of each. And he is showing us that all believers worship and follow this ONE God. We all look to the same savior. We are all animated, enlivened, and empowered by the same Spirit. And we all share a single heavenly Father who is God over all and through all and in all. So it is from this Godhead, this three-in-one, that the church is ONE:
We are one body–a single spiritual organism, the body of Christ, brought together and given life by the Holy Spirit.
We have one hope–in the good news of Jesus Christ, sent by the Father as our savior, our atoning sacrifice, the one who intercedes on our behalf, and the one who now sits at the right hand of God the Father until he will return, make all things new, and rule in righteousness forever.
We share one faith–the truth of the words, promises, and doctrines handed down to us from the Scriptures and by the prophets and apostles.
That we have one baptism is not a commentary on method or form but a declaration that we are baptized into the people of God, the family of God.
Because God is one, therefore we are to be one. Or rather, because God has worked from his oneness, we have been made into one new man.
CELEBRATING SUNDAY…
Sunday Worship: Our time on Sunday was a blessing! If you missed Pastor Sam Allberry’s message, you can catch that here!
Bonus: In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam used an illustration of a newly hatched iguana being chased by snakes. We’ve tracked down that video for you here if you are interested!
Dr. Russell Moore - Looking to catch up on Dr. Russell Moore’s Exodus seminar? Check it out here!
TONIGHT…
Wednesday Night at Immanuel - Join us tonight at 6:30PM for a three-part mini-series titled “Living in the Light of the Resurrection.” Pastor Sam Allberry will lead our time on the topic of Transformation. We hope to see you there!
On the Horizon…
Marriage Foundations Seminar - If you are preparing for marriage or are newly/newly-ish married, join us on Saturday, April 13, from 9 AM - 1 PM for a marriage foundations seminar. It will be led by Chad Karger, a member of Immanuel who has nearly thirty years of experience in counseling, spiritual direction, and coaching. We will introduce you to the Prepare-Enrich inventory as a resource for walking through foundational marital and relational matters. Lunch will be provided. Please Register HERE. Contact Barnabas Piper with any questions: Barnabas@immanuelnashville.com.
DISCOVER RECEPTION - New to Immanuel? Join us on April 14th at 10:45 am in the cafe to learn about Immanuel and how you can connect. Sign up here.
Thank you for helping me see how profound and yet understandable the unity is that is ours in Christ!