9/23/18 - The Faithful Church - Colossians 1:1-14

What risk are you willing to take? When people think about you, would you say that you are a risk taker? Faith is about risk isn’t it? We can chose faith or we can chose safety. We can opt for predictability or take a chance. Would your life be characterized as a life of faith, or, more importantly faith in what or who? Are you someone who is thought of as a person of love? Or is that one trait that really doesn’t make it to the top ten.

When Paul and Timothy thought of the church in Colossae they regularly thanked God for their faith in Christ. When Paul and Timothy thought of the Christian fellowship in Colossae they regularly thanked God for their love for all the saints.

Those in Colossae were motivated by the hope laid up for them in heaven. The gospel was constantly bearing fruit where ever it was preached and Colossae was the most recent example of the power of the Good News effecting and changing yet another group of lives - faith in Christ and love for the saints. (Col 1:3-8 )

Because of what Paul and Timothy had heard about the goings on in Colossae they prayed and prayed and prayed for them. They did not cease praying for them. What did they pray is a model for us: “Heavenly Father fill them with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Paul and Timothy pray this for a few reasons. Paul petitioned God for even more spiritual maturity in this opening prayer. We are praying this so that, 1) you would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 2) you would bear fruit in every good work, 3) you would be increasing in the knowledge of God. The outcome of your growing maturity would be joyful thanks to God who qualified them (and us) to share in the inheritance of the saints. (9-12)

The reason we pray this for you is because God has rescued you from the dominion of darkness and transferred you to His kingdom. (13-14)

When you pause and reflect on your prayer life does this sound like how you pray or could today be the beginning of a new and more biblically based prayer life?

As we enter into Colossians for the next few months may we be motivated by the gospel and set our hearts right through the model of prayer Paul provides. “Father would You fill me with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I want to know Christ and love the saints.”

Christ’s Church is a faith-filled, loving fellowship focused on knowing Gods will driven by the gospel.

9/16/18 - Healthy Christianity  - Titus 2:1

Click here to download Sermon Audio.

What you believe matters, because we all live theologically. If you say you believe in prayer, but you don’t pray (or you think of it as “the least you can do”), then you don’t actually believe in prayer… you just believe in the idea of prayer. This is why the Apostle Paul instructed both Timothy and Titus to teach “what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1 , 2 Timothy 4:1-5 ). The biblical term “sound doctrine” literally means “healthy teachings.” So it begs the question: is your understanding of Christian teachings healthy, or sick?

9/9/18 - The Body of Christ  - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Click here to download sermon audio.

This week begins a new ministry season at Emmanuel, and there’s a lot happening! Awana is taking registrations and Sunday School resumes today. Youth Group kicks back into gear meeting at the church tonight for 7-12 graders. The various women’s Bible Study groups are meeting again, there are monthly men’s breakfasts and a new football league for guys to play in on Saturday mornings. Small Groups that’ve taken a break during the summer are meeting again too. There’s a lot happening… but why? Why do all these things? Everyone’s busy enough, why should the church add to the busyness?

Harvest Festival

October 27th @ 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Shorter days and falling leaves are sure signs that autumn is on its way. Come join us for an afternoon of fun at the EBC Harvest Festival and Trunk or Treating. This family-oriented day will take place on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bring the kids dressed in their favorite fun costume to Trunk or Treat.

Other activities include picking a pumpkin from the patch, pumpkin, pumpkin bowling, fun games, a bounce house and many other activities.

Any questions contact Katie Simmons.