One Family in Christ for God’s Glory
God’s plan has always been to bring people of all backgrounds together as one family in Christ through the gospel.
“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 into one family in Christ for His glory. The Bible envisions all nations worshiping the living God and sharing the joy of Christ—a reality we glimpse today through the Holy Spirit and see fully in Acts 13.
The church in Antioch exemplified how Christ’s blood unites diverse people. It was here the disciples were first called “Christians,” in a city that was the Roman Empire’s third largest and a strategic base for Paul and Barnabas’s mission. Among its leaders was Simeon, called Niger, meaning “black” in Latin. John Stott suggests Simeon may have been Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’s cross. His inclusion highlights 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.
As the gospel spread, God used diverse believers, united by faith in the risen Jesus. May we, like them, celebrate the church’s rich heritage, proclaim His gospel, and welcome one another for the glory of Christ.
TONIGHT - “Friendship” in the Sadler Chapel!
Adults - Join us tonight at 6:30 pm in the SADLER CHAPEL as pastor Sam Allberry continues our Wednesday Nights at Immanuel, exploring the Biblical theme of friendship. Please come to Sadler from the steps on 44th Avenue. Wheel chair access to Sadler is available via ramp off Park Avenue. All are welcome!
City Groups - Students are encouraged to join us tonight in the gym for City Groups! Doors open at 6 PM, Bible study starts at 6:45 PM, and will wrap up by 7:45 PM.
THIS WEEK IN SADLER CHAPEL
As Immanuel continues to inhabit our newly acquired space, here are events happening in Sadler Chapel this week:
Wednesday, January 22 - 6:30 PM - Wednesday Night Fellowship (Pastor Sam Allberry)
Thursday, January 23 - 6:30 PM - Young Professionals Fellowship (Pastor Barnabas Piper)
Sunday, January 26 - 12:00 PM - Community Group Leaders Lunch (Pastor Barnabas Piper)
Sunday, January 26 - 7:30 PM - College Night (Pastor Vince Greenwald)