The Daily, Tonight at Immanuel, & Family Gathering Video

Good morning, Immanuel. Who doesn’t need more friends like Jesus? Check out the Daily and catch up on all the latest updates!

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

Photo by Papaioannou Kostas on Unsplash

Recently, I listened to the Beatles’ song “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and the first line struck me: “What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?” In other words, “Is my value to you only dependent upon my performance for you?” If that’s what friendship is, we don’t want anything to do with it. So many of us have felt the searing pain of friends walking out on us. We wonder, is it worth pursuing friendship again, or would it be better to put on a smile, keep a safe distance, and only take calculated risks that minimize the potential for loss because we can’t fathom the pain of betrayal again? C.S. Lewis said it well, “To love anything at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.”

We can live our lives in functional aloneness, thinking we are basically ok, until we find ourselves in a position where we need a true friend. What if you had a friend who actually knew the deepest, darkest parts of you, and rather than walking away, they walked towards you? What if they saw what you could be and then patiently, consistently, and courageously walked with you toward that? What if you had a friend who would never push you out? Who would never stand up and walk out on you? That would set you free, wouldn’t it? Who doesn’t want that kind of friend?

I have good news for you. Jesus is just that kind of friend. Jesus knows the deepest parts of us, and he hasn’t walked away. He values us simply because he loves us. Jesus doesn’t recoil at our ugliness and our mistakes. He swells up with compassion and moves closer to us. He isn’t quick-tempered but rather patient, calm, and steady.

We all need the friendship of Jesus. We need to know what it’s like to be perfectly loved, to be able to admit our deepest failures and to know deep in our souls that he will never walk out on us. Imagine how his friendship might transform how we treat our friends. Who doesn’t need more friends like Jesus? You can enjoy his friendship today.

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CELEBRATING SUNDAY…

• Sunday Worship: This past Sunday, we completed our series in 2 Timothy. Pastor TJ Tims helped us better understand the friendship of Jesus. You can check it out here!

• Sunday Family Gathering: Did you catch the latest Tenth Generation Update? Find out about a new development here form our Family Gathering.

TONIGHT…”ENJOYING THE TRINITY”

• Wednesday Night at Immanuel—Join us tonight at 6:30 PM as Sam Allberry will continue our discussion on “Enjoying the Trinity” in the cafe. We hope to see you there!

On the Horizon…

• RETREATS: SAVE THE DATES—Our Women’s & Men’s retreats are on the horizon! The ladies will meet on September 27th & 28th at Deer Run Retreat with guest speaker Jani Ortlund. The men will meet on October 25th & 26th at Deer Run Retreat with guest speaker Ray Ortlund. Sign-up info is coming soon!