Message (Page 22)

After a hurricane, a TV news crew was filming the destruction, and in the middle of the devastation and debris, one house stood while all those around it were destroyed. The owner of the house left standing was cleaning up the yard when the reporter asked him, “Sir, why is your house the only one standing? The man replied, “Well, I followed the building code, and I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a Category…

The last three weeks, I have shared from an article by Dr. Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources. In his article titled “Seven Indicators Of True Church Discipleship,” his sixth indicator of discipleship was “members are involved in ministry and missions.” We are to be involved in activities that cause us to look beyond ourselves and care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. Involvement in church is the key! We get out of…

Holiness is a quality in our life we strive to obtain. It is a characteristic of God that we desperately desire in our lives. In fact it just sounds good, “holy”. But what is it? Is it that closeness to God we experience when we truly have let God have control of our lives? Yes. Or what about those times in worship when our bodies actually quiver from words that were spoken or sung? Yes. Holiness is about God. In…

The last two weeks, I have shared from an article by Dr. Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources. In his article titled “Seven Indicators Of True Church Discipleship,” his fourth indicator of discipleship was “members are generous with their giving.” I am thankful that Emmanuel is a giving church. You have given sacrificially over the years and Emmanuel is blessed because of that giving. We know that we cannot out give God. We may have our…

God knows. Many of us have said this phrase, sometimes in a light-hearted manner, sometimes to console. But you know what, it’s true. God knows. Two words that have great impact on our lives. I am not saying this in order to bring guilt like God knows what you are doing or thinking (He does). Rather I am talking about God knows what you and I go through and it matters to Him. He knows what it is that brings…

Story has it that one time three high school kids played hooky from their morning classes. They told their teacher they were late getting to school because their car had a flat tire. She said they would have to take a makeup quiz for the one they missed. So, she seated them apart from each other and gave them a one question quiz… “Which tire was flat?” Ouch! They were busted! Numbers 32:23 says “Be sure your sins will find…