Message (Page 16)

In Ephesians 5:30, Paul tells us, “In all things give thanks.” We need to be thankful all the time…for lots of things…for the daily things. One woman put it this way…she said, “I’m thankful…For the husband who is grumpy when his dinner is not on time because he is here with me, not with someone else…For the teenager who gripes about doing dishes because that means she’s at home and not on the streets…For the taxes that I pay, because…

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 Parent’s we make plans for so many things as it pertains to our kids. What we want them to do before graduation, in college and after graduation. I was convicted this week as I began to think about what my expectations spiritually of my own children are before they graduate high school. What goals do I have…

Thom Rainer of Lifeway recently wrote an article titled “Seven Reasons Some Church Members Don’t Want Their Churches to Grow.” I felt the reasons were valid and I wanted to share them with you. As a church grows, there is also sense of loss. But these losses should be outweighed by the blessings of fulfilling the Great Commission. The seven reasons are: loss of familiarity, a growing church becomes a different church over time; loss of memories, a growing church’s…

Recently there has been a new Netflix Series that has caused a lot of attention. 13 Reasons Why is very culturally relevant for today. It is based off a novel that follows a high school student, Hannah Baker, who takes her own life. Before she does she records 13 tapes (yes cassette tapes, hello 80’s) with the 13 reasons why she chose to take her life. Nyla Watson, one of our Teachers and Youth Parents post a link this week…

Recently, Bro. Roger shared with me an article by Tejado Hanchell. Tejado serves in a church that has been around for over 80 years …kind of like Emmanuel. His church has had its struggles, but it has survived. Research suggests that between 3,500-4,500 churches close their doors (or die) each year. Church “deaths” occur for a few simple (and oftentimes avoidable) reasons. One of Tejado’s church members gave him a newsletter from 1959. In the newsletter was a list…ten ways…

This past Sunday was a special time of worship in or church family, as we looked at the hands of Christ and how He expressed His love for us through His hands and what that means for each one of us as followers of Christ. It was a good day to be in the house of God! Many thanks to our Worship Choir as they led us in a beautiful time of worship. Thank you goes to each one that…

The last couple of weeks, I mentioned that there have been times when thought is given about Sunday nights. Discussions are held. Do we continue to have services on Sunday nights? People vote by their attendance and attendance is low. So, do we cancel Sunday night services like many churches have done? I love Sunday nights… they are special…that is why I want to continue having them. We have worship…we have prayer…we have fellowship. Some churches have gone to having…

Easter is a beautiful and holy time in the life of a Christian. It is a time we gather with joy unspeakable because of the wonderful gift of life that Christ has given us evidenced with His resurrection. It is a day in which every true believer should desire to be with his or her brothers and sisters in church worshiping together as one. It is what we do. This is holy week and in it we see the actions…

Last week, I mentioned that there have been times when thought is given about Sunday nights. Discussions are held. Do we continue to have services on Sunday nights? People vote by their attendance and attendance is low. So, do we cancel Sunday night services like many churches have done? I love Sunday nights… they are special…that is why I want to continue having them. Recently, Pastor Jeremy Freeman wrote about Sunday nights. His church does have Sunday night worship. Jeremy…

Our Easter Celebration service theme this year is Christ’s Hands Of Love. We will look at the hands of Christ and how those hands have changed lives. The hands of Christ lifted up the fallen, healed those whose minds and bodies were racked by disease and suffering. Christ’s hands were quickly opened to welcome the unlovely and the repentant. His hands opened wide to be the sacrifice for your sins and mine on the cross and it was His hands…