Thankfulness + Ray Ortlund This Sunday!
Good morning, Immanuel. Thankfulness crumbles idols.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
Tim Keller wrote “…anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. Anything that is so central and essential to your life, that should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living” is an idol.
Idolatry is easy when we are generically vaguely thankful. It’s impossible when we focus our attention on the Giver Himself. Every good gift is from our Heavenly Father. Ecclesiastes 9 tells us, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” He approves because he is the Giver! When we take this to heart, instead of created things becoming objects of worship, they become reminders of God’s creativity, kindness, and generosity. And they lift our eyes from object worship to thankful worship of the Creator.
Our mission at Immanuel is to make the real Jesus non-ignorable in our city and far beyond. Your generosity makes resources like the Daily Pulse possible. If you would like to support the ministry of Immanuel financially, please consider giving to our Tenth Generation Campaign. We appreciate your partnership in the gospel!
This Sunday at Immanuel
Sunday Morning 🎉
WORSHIP & HOLY COMMUNION - Join us at 9 or 10:45 am for worship as Immanuel's very own, Pastor Ray Ortlund, continues our series, The Good News in Three Dimensions! Join us also as we celebrate Holy Communion in both of our services.
Seminars
9 am: Studying the Bible Together, led by Dr. 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 Pastor Vince Greenwald in the gymnasium (grades 5-12)
On the horizon…
ADVENT SERMON SERIES - Our next sermon series will begin next Sunday! As we prepare, here are a few good resources heading into this Advent season:
Liberating! Hope inducing! Thank you Barnabas, thank you Lord 🙏🏼