Therefore "Remember" + This Sunday At Immanuel
Good morning Immanuel. Remembering where we have come from, by the grace of God, is good for our souls.
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11-12)
There are 41 commands in Ephesians, but only one lives in the first half of the letter—therefore, remember. Remembering where we have come from, by the grace of God, is good for our souls. Through remembrance, we go from receiving gospel doctrine to embodying gospel culture.
Here's what I mean by that. Where do we get the expectation, energy, and blueprint to bear with the obliviousness of others in a church? We get it by remembering how Jesus saved us from our obliviousness to God. We were all once strangers to the covenants of promise. We weren't even looking for him! And where do we get the energy and blueprint to pull near to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are not like us? We get it by remembering that we could not have been more unlike Jesus when he pulled us in. I have more in common naturally with the worst person that you can imagine than I do with the son of God.
When Paul wants to build peace, unity, and reconciliation in the church, he begins by calling us to remember the grace of Christ to us. Or, to put it another way, we go from believing gospel doctrine to embodying gospel culture by remembering the grace of God given to us. Because remembering God's grace puts us in a posture of humility. And humility is what peace requires.
January 20, 2023 - This Sunday At Immanuel
Sunday Morning
HOLY COMMUNION - This Sunday is Holy Communion at Immanuel. Join us as we taste and see that the Lord is good!
SERMON - Pastor TJ will continue our sermon series in Ephesians!
Seminars
9 am: Studying the Bible Together led by Tom Cox in the Staff Lounge (ongoing)
9 am: First Word Seminar led by Russell Moore in the Cafe
9 am: Student Seminar led by Vince Greenwald in the gymnasium (ongoing for grades 5-12)
10:45 am: Next Steps 3, led by Tony Shepherd in the Staff Lounge (ongoing)
College Lunch immediately following the 10:45 am service in the Cafe.
No Discover Luncheon in January. Discover Luncheon resumes in February. Please make sure to RSVP for the next one on February 12.
Engage
WOMEN’S RETREAT - There’s still time to register for the Immanuel Women’s retreat! The retreat is from March 3rd to 4th at Deer Run Camps & Retreats. The cost is $85 per person. You can learn more and register here.
ONLINE PRAYER MEETINGS - Every week, Jenn Ross, an Immanuel Discipleship Group leader, facilitates two online prayer meetings that everyone is welcome to join. The Zoom meeting times and links are below:
Every Thursday afternoon from 12:00-12:45 pm
Every Sunday morning from 7:30-8:00 am
On the horizon
BAPTISMS AND DEDICATIONS - Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 29, 2023, for Baptisms and dedications at Immanuel!
If you are interested in talking to a pastor about baptism, fill out our baptism form here.
MEN & WOMEN’S DG GROUPS - If you are interested in signing up for a Discipleship Group where you can follow Jesus together with an older, more seasoned believer, sign-ups are open:
Remembering, thank you TJ 🙏🏼