Midweek Updates (5/31)

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• We will be looking at Acts 4 this Thursday at Midweek Service.  6:45 – 8:00 PM.  Put in your prayer requests ahead of time on the ‘Prayer Wall’ in the IBC App.
• This Sunday we will hear from Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8.
• Want help praying for others?  Sign-up for Prayer Trios here.
• Thanks to all who came out for the first Cleaning Day last Saturday as we get ready for the Kids’ Corner remodel.  Our next one is 6/3.
• This week on the IBC Podcast you can hear part 2 on faith and fitness with Bryce.
• You can register for the Summer Retreat here.  We will gather in Cedar Lake, IN, 7/7-9 to think about “Sanctification” together.
• Sign-up to be part of the Serve Tour 8/4 and 8/5 here!  The evening of the 5^th there will be a Chicagoland worship service that would be great to have IBC people at!

52 Doctrines

Week 22

Sin as Rebellion – Because the Bible portrays people as responsible beings, called to respond in faith and obedience to God’s revelation, the Bible often portrays sin in terms of defiance and rebellion toward God the King. Isaiah 1:2 is one of many passages that describes sin in terms of rebellion against God: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.”  Seen in this light, sin is personal and willful disobedience, the raising of a clinched fist toward the One who made us.  Sin is not only a physical act of rebellion against God, such as lying or stealing, but it is also a matter of the heart.  The physical displays of sin are the fruit of what has been birthed in the heart of a person (Matt. 15:10-20).  Because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, all of humanity has inherited a sin nature that inclines them toward sin and rebellion. Human beings are enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17), continually living with the propensity to transgress God’s commandments whenever possible.  It isn’t until one experiences salvation through the work of Christ that he or she is able to overcome sin’s enslavement through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:2).

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

Midweek Updates (5/24)

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• This Thursday at Midweek Service we’ll hear a testimony of what God did at the Women’s Retreat, sing and pray together, and study Acts 3.  Come at 6:45 PM.  We’ll finish by 8:00 PM.  There’s also Kids’ Club!  If you want to submit prayer requests ahead of time, use the ‘Prayer Wall’ on the IBC App.
• This Saturday we’re having the first of several Cleaning Days at The Meeting Place to get ready for the big remodel this summer.  Come by between 8:00 and 11:00 AM.  You’ll notice this is mentioned on the IBC App in ‘Events’ and on the ‘IBC Fellowship Group’.
• This Sunday the Sermon will be on Proverbs 7.  On the IBC App if you tap ‘More’ in the bottom right-hand corner you can listen to previous sermons and the play list for Sunday!
• You can also find the IBC Podcast on the IBC App.  Today’s episode is on faith and fitness with Bryce, who is also heading up our softball team this year!  Email him ASAP if you want to be on that but haven’t let him know yet.
• It’s time to register for the Summer Retreat!!  Go here and do it now.  It’s going to be a blast!

52 Doctrines

Week 21

Gods Providence – Providence refers to Gods continuing work and involvement in His creation. This includes, in various degrees, Gods preservation of the created order, His governance, and His care for His people (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; Gen. 8:21-22). Christians believe the whole cosmos is contingent upon God, incapable of existing apart from Him. Christians also believe in Gods personal and direct intervention in the world – as opposed to a hands-off approach to creation – that affects not only the natural order but also the individuals and events within human history. Gods sovereignty over all of life encompasses the free actions of human beings. Proverbs 19:21 says, Many plans are in a mans heart, but the LORDs decree will prevail. In ways we are unable to comprehend fully, the Lords plan goes forward through the choices of human beings as moral agents. Even freely chosen sinful actions are factored into Gods overarching plan, as is the case with the crucifixion of Jesus – an event both purposed by God through foreknowledge and yet also carried out by the wicked decisions of human beings (Acts 2:23). Knowing that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28), we trust in His promise to fulfill His plan, even when we do not understand our present circumstances.

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

For the Sake of the Name,
Pastor Nathan

Midweek Updates (5/10)

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• This Thursday is our first Midweek Service.  Come to The Meeting Place at 6:45 PM.  We’ll sing a couple songs, pray together, look at Acts 1 together, and be done by 8:00 PM.  Kids’ Club will run during this time for kids 12 and under.
• Proverbs 5 should be a fun text to be in this Sunday for Mother’s Day!
• Sign-up for the Women’s Retreat (5/19-20) here.  Room and board is free!  Email Katie or Tori at women@immanuel-baptist.net with questions.
• This week’s IBC Podcast is part 2 on “The Asian American Church Experience.”  Listen on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts.

• Interested in being a part of this church but aren’t a member yet?  Start going through Joining the Mission and plan to come to the next Mission Class on 5/21.

52 Doctrines

Week 19

Creation out of Nothing – The Bible teaches that God created the universe – everything both visible and invisible – out of nothing (sometimes expressed in the Latin phrase, creation ex nihilo). This means that before God created anything, nothing else existed except God Himself. God alone is eternal; every created thing has a beginning. Therefore, the eternal God rules over all of His creation and He alone is worthy of worship. Denial of this doctrine has implications for Gods sovereignty over and providence in creation. Because God created out of nothing, creation has meaning and purpose and points us to the Creator.

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

Midweek Updates (5/3)

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• If you had to miss the Sermon last Sunday, you can always listen here.  This coming Sunday we’ll be in Proverbs 4.
• This week all the Small Groups will be finishing up our study of Ephesians if they haven’t already.  Starting next week (5/11) we will be having our Midweek Services on Thursdays at 6:45 PM in place of Small Groups for the summer.
• The Women’s Retreat will be a low-key time of fellowship and sharing as our ladies explore what it means to build connections as sisters in Christ.  It will be held at the Chicagoland Baptists Building (1356 N. Rockwell Ave, Chicago IL 60622; just 15 minutes from The Meeting Place!).  It starts Friday (5/19) at 6:30 PM and goes through Saturday (5/20) at 1:30 PM.  Staying overnight is optional and it will be easy to go back home to sleep if you want to.  The cost is FREE (includes meals and lodging).  To sign-up, go here.  The retreat will also feature an opportunity to sign-up for our upcoming discipleship match (if you haven’t already).  For any further questions, please reach out to Katie or Tori, or email women@immanuel-baptist.net.
• C’mon church!  One more spot on the Bargfredes’ meal train.  Let’s do this.
• This week’s IBC Podcast is about the “The Asian American Church Experience, Pt. 1.”  Listen on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts.

• Interested in being a part of this church but aren’t a member yet?  Start going through Joining the Mission and plan to come to the next Mission Class on 5/21.

52 Doctrines

Week 18

God is Omnipresent – Gods omnipresence refers to His presence in all time and all places simultaneously. Because God exists apart from and outside of time and space, He is not limited by their constraints (1 Kg. 8:27; Acts 17:24). He is present with us wherever we are, and sees all that occurs; nothing escapes His attention (Ps. 33:14; 139:7-10; Isa. 57:15; Jer. 23:23-24; Matt. 18:20). Gods omnipresence is a deterrent for sin, and a source of great comfort and hope for believers.

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

Midweek Updates (4/26)

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• This Sunday we’ll be looking at probably the most famous Proverb…
• Put Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:00 PM as a recurring event on your calendars from 5/11 until 8/17.  We will be having Midweek Services over the summer instead of Small Groups.  There will be Kids’ Club during that time too!
• Ladies: let Katie and Tori know you’re coming to the Women’s Retreat 5/19-20!  Email them at women@immanuel-baptist.net.
• Summer Retreat is 7/7-9 on “Sanctification” in Cedar Lake, IN.
• We still have two spots to fill for the Bargfredes’ meal train.  Maybe you’ve never participated in stuff like this because you think it’s only for certain types of people or chefs.  But consider blessing these members of the body.  You could even just order GrubHub.  Click here to sign-up.
• This week’s IBC Podcast is about the “Order of Service.”  Give it a listen on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts and see if it helps you appreciate more what is happening every Sunday when we gather.

• Interested in being a part of this church but aren’t a member yet?  Start going through Joining the Mission and plan to come to the next Mission Class on 5/21.

52 Doctrines

Week 17

God Is Omnipotent – God is all-powerful: there is nothing God cannot do so long as it does not contradict His own nature or law. God has power and authority over the universe He created, from the largest solar system to the smallest particle. Affirming that God is all-powerful does not mean that God can sinsince that would go against His perfect moral nature. As Christians, we rest in the belief that the God who has all power is good, and we gain great comfort by knowing that an all-powerful God is working for our good and joy.

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

Midweek Updates (4/19)

We’re excited to announce that we have a new IBC Church App!  Download it and start familiarizing yourself with it.  We’ll keep improving it with the goal of eventually centralizing all our communication within this.  Let us know what you think of it.

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• This Sunday the sermon will be on Proverbs 2 – “Giving It All You’ve Got.”
• Secret Church is this Friday!
• Small Groups end in a couple weeks and our first Midweek Service for the summer will be 7:00 PM on 5/11 and every Thursday after that until 8/17.
• Mark your calendars for the Women’s Retreat 5/19-20!  Email women@immanuel-baptist.net for more info.
• And make sure you’ve blocked off 7/7-9 for the all-church Summer Retreat!
• There are two spots left to take the Bargfredes a meal.  Sign-up here.
• On this week’s IBC Podcast – “Proverbs with Theo.”  Listen on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts.

• Interested in being a part of this church but aren’t a member yet?  Start going through Joining the Mission and plan to come to the next Mission Class on 5/21.

52 Doctrines

Week 16

God Is Omniscient – Scripture teaches that God is all-knowing. He is the One who has perfect knowledge (Job 37:16), and this knowledge extends to all things past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. His knowledge is complete, and as He is outside of time, He has known from all eternity whatever will come to pass. In response to Gods omniscience, we admit our finite knowledge and trust His decisions as wise and good.

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

Midweek Updates (4/12)

Last week was a great time focusing on prayer!  I’m praying the Lord keeps drawing us into a lifestyle of continual prayer…

Here are this week’s Announcements:

• Prayer Meeting starts at 9:30 AM on Sundays and wraps up by 9:55.
• This Sunday we begin our next preaching series in the book of Proverbs!
• After service we finish up our Spring semester of Adult Sunday School studying the topic of “The Fear of Man.”
• Pray for our Youth who will be going to a retreat at Streator this weekend…
• The Wedding Shower for Masic & Elise, Austin & Kristen, and Josiah & Katie is this Saturday (4/15) from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at The Meeting Place.  Come one, come all and celebrate these couples!
• There are still a few spots left to take the Bargfredes a meal.  Sign-up here.
• Secret Church is 4/21 at Evan and Helen’s.  Have you let them know you’re coming?
• We’re having a Women’s Retreat 5/19-20!  For more info or questions about getting involved in women’s discipleship, email women@immanuel-baptist.net.
• On this week’s IBC Podcast – “Art with Alexis.”  Listen on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts.

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• Interested in being a part of this church but aren’t a member yet?  Start going through Joining the Mission and plan to come to the next Mission Class on 5/21.

52 Doctrines

Week 15

God Is Infinite – God’s infinity means that there are no boundaries on His qualities and existence (Job 11:7-9; Ps. 147:5). For instance, God is infinite when it comes to space and time, meaning He is not confined by material space nor is He restricted by time since He is timeless (Ps. 90:1-2). God’s infinity also extends to His knowledge of things as well as His power to do all things according to His will.

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

Midweek Update (4/5)

There’s a lot going on!

Holy Week at Immanuel:

• Jesus cleared a way for broken people to come and pray!  Hopefully Fasting is helping you feel your weakness and the daily prayer guides are giving direction to your times of prayer this week.
• The Good Friday Service starts at 6:30 PM at The Meeting Place.  We will be looking more specifically at why it was necessary that Jesus should die.
• On Saturday we’ll meet at 9:00 AM at the playground at Sheridan Park to prayer walk around that area that we’ve adopted this year to make sure everyone there hears the good news.
• Come at 8:45 AM on Easter Sunday with a breakfast dish to share if you can.  And no worries if you can’t.  Just come!  There will be plenty of food!

Here are some other Announcements:

• This week’s IBC Podcast is just a short overview of Holy Week.  Subscribe on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts.
• The Bargfredes are adjusting to baby Anneliese (Ah-nuh-lease-uh).  Let’s Take them a Meal!  Sign-up here.
• We’re having a church-wide joint Wedding Shower for Masic & Elise, Austin & Kristen, and Josiah & Katie on 4/15 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at The Meeting Place!
• Thank you to all the members who participated in the IBC Womens Ministry survey!  After overwhelming write-in participation, one thing is especially clear: IBC women are hungry for life-on-life discipleship.  We hear you and we’re rolling out a few options to help make this happen!
  • If you would like to be matched with 2-3 sisters in the church to pursue a deeper relationship, please fill out this form.  Well be offering some optional resources and plans for each grouping soon, but the main point is to simply join women to share life and go deeper in pursuing each others spiritual good.  If this is already happening for you in a meaningful way, that’s awesome!  We encourage you to stay with that grouping!
  • There will be a Women’s Retreat at the Chicagoland Baptists building 5/19-20.  Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
  • Some ladies expressed interest in a Women’s Accountability Group to fight against sexual sin.  No matter where you are in the fight, if you’re interested, please send an email to women@immanuel-baptist.net simply saying, “I’m interested.”  There is no need to give further details right now.  Please know that your response will be reviewed by one woman and your information will be kept entirely confidential.
• Interested in being a part of this church but aren’t a member yet?  Start going through Joining the Mission.

52 Doctrines

Week 14

God Is Just – God establishes standards for His moral creatures that are in accordance with His righteousness, and His moral creatures will be judged according to those righteous standards (Lev. 11:44-45; Rom. 2:5-11; 2 Cor. 5:10). It would be an injustice if God were not to uphold His righteousness, for such a failure would require God to violate His own righteous character. Since humanity has sinned by failing to live up to Gods righteous standards, God has taken it upon Himself to make provision by being both just and the justifier of those who place their faith in Christ (Rom. 3:25-26).

Adapted from The 99 Essential Doctrines by The Gospel Project

For the Sake of the Name,
Pastor Nathan