Growing Together Blog

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Saturday, 27 March 2010 20:16

This week we remember … we remember both the greatness of our sin and the greatness of God’s love.  We remember our forgiveness in Christ and our fellowship within His body, the Church.  Enter into the joy of this week by joining us for our times of worship together.  Tonight is the concert, Portraits of Grace, tracing the hand of God in our redemption.  Good Friday has a special dramatic presentation to prepare us for communion and remembering the Lord’s death.  Next Sunday – Easter, Resurrection Day – begins with a fellowship at 9:30 AM (children in their departments and adults in the Fellowship Hall) followed by a service of praise at 10:45 AM.  In the evening, we will have a service at the church with singing and testimonies for those who can come.  But we are also providing a devotional guide for you to use at home if you can’t make it back or if you care to have another family join you for a time of personal reflection.  This guide is available to you this morning.  Let’s all celebrate this season with heartfelt gratitude and worship. -- Sparky

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 19 March 2010 12:33

One of the things that all of us appreciate about Immanuel Baptist Church is its commitment to missions and our Missions Program. But we must always remember that its not really the “program” that has made a difference but the “people” who are involved. From those who give (the congregation) … to those who go (the missionaries) … and those who guide (the Council and Missions Pastor). Through the years we have been especially blessed with quality people who have surrendered their lives to serve the Lord in foreign lands and locally.

On this day, we honor two of our missionaries – Don and Bea Crane. For more than four decades this couple has poured their heart and soul into the work of the kingdom of God under GEM (Greater Europe Mission). Their preparation and orientation began in 1969, and the Cranes arrived on the field in 1971.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Thursday, 11 March 2010 22:49

The Gospel of John is beautiful in its profound simplicity.  Jesus’ words in John 16:28 – “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father” – can be used to understand what John has done.  In chapters 1-10, we see Jesus who “came from the Father.” The stories and signs John chooses expose us to the Son of God revealing the Father through His works and words.  In chapters 11-21, we see Jesus “returning to the Father.” The events and signs John records show the Son of God glorifying the Father through the cross and tomb.

As we approach the Easter season, examine the flow of John 11-20.  These chapters are “framed” by two resurrections – Lazarus (11) and Jesus (20).  The thread running throughout is the glory of God as His plan from all eternity is fulfilled in the sacrifice of His Son on the cross.  And we could summarize this section with the statement, “Jesus’ death brings life.”  Examine what happens chapter by chapter as Passion Week approaches and unfolds before us.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 05 March 2010 14:40

How Close Are You to Jesus? That heading caught my attention as I was looking through a publication called Revive.  How can you measure that?  Are there things that I can do to encourage intimacy with the Savior?  The editors of that magazine provided a list of questions for personal evaluation.  Here are just a few for us to consider.