The Church Is For Building Up + This Sunday!
Good morning Immanuel. The Church is a social environment of truth spoken in love. It is in this gospel culture that we grow up into maturity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God!
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…(Ephesians 4:15)”
The body of Christ is the kind of social environment where the truth of who Jesus is for us is proclaimed in love by everyone!
What does that look like? I don’t have to theorize. I praise God that I have a stockpile of memories to demonstrate this point from!
For instance, I have lost count of the number of times that a brother has looked me in the eye after I confessed some sin and said something like this, “The Bible says, ‘there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ T.J., God is not holding your sins against you.” That is speaking the truth in love.
[Many of us] could give personal examples of times when a brother or sister in Christ spoke true words of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God lovingly into our lives—words like these:
“Jesus died for your sins.”
“You’re not that person anymore; you’re a new creation in Christ Jesus.”
“Jesus won’t waste your life.”
“God loves you. And He delights in you too.”
That’s the truth spoken in love! That’s the enlivening blood of Christ flowing into every part of the body of Christ! And that’s God’s remedy for a doctrinally stormy, scheming, and deceitful world!
It’s within this social environment of truth spoken in love—this gospel culture—that we grow up into maturity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God! And the result is that we are no longer blown about by the latest wind of doctrine that’s taking the world by storm!
This excerpt was taken from a sermon preached by Pastor TJ Tims on April 23, 2023, at Immanuel Nashville.
April 30, 2023 - This Sunday At Immanuel
Sunday Morning
SERMON - This Sunday, we are happy to have Dr. Russell Moore preaching from Ephesians. All are welcome!
FAMILY WORSHIP - This Sunday is Family Worship! Children three years old and younger are welcome to attend iKids. Children four years old and up are invited into the corporate worship service as we worship Christ together.
CHILD DEDICATIONS - We are happy to celebrate child dedications this Sunday at our 9 am service! Our children are a blessing, so consider coming to our 9 am service to share in the joy!
Seminars
9 am: Studying the Bible Together led by Dr. Tom Cox in the Staff Lounge (ongoing)
9 am: No First Word Seminar
9 am: Student Seminar led by Vince Greenwald in the gymnasium (ongoing for grades 5-12)
The last week of the Student Seminar is May 21st, before the summer break.
10:45 am: Next Steps Class 2 Make Up, led by Dr. Tom Cox in the Staff Lounge (ongoing)
Next Steps will run through the month of May before the summer break. If you are interested in attending Next Steps in May, sign up here.
College Lunch - Led by Vince Greenwald in the Cafe after the 10:45 am service
Need this. Love this. Thankful. 🙏🏼