Why Emmanuel?

Do you feel alone in an uncaring, unholy world? At Emmanuel, you can be welcomed by friendly people who have gathered to worship the Lord. There's an old saying that it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. While there is darkness in our world, it gives us an opportunity to show off just how good Jesus is. As a church, we gather for His good news, and we are sent out to be salt, light, and messengers of the good news of Jesus Christ to people in our lives. If you are interested in being part of a church that seeks to follow the Lord Jesus together as a family, come join us!

 Why do our services feature traditional elements and music?

Sometimes visitors are surprised when they come to our services to find that things feel, well, traditional! But we don't do them for the sake of being traditional or just to do them! Each of these things has a purpose. Let's take a moment to look at why:

1) hymns. Colossians 3:15 says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” The primary reason we gather is to worship. Not only do we want to worship God from our hearts, but also to give Him the honor of public worship through song. The songs we sing correspond to what Colossians 3:15 has to say about “church music.” a) they are instructive. They reflect the teachings of God's Word. b) they are sing-a-ble! These songs have a melody! c) these songs are for the whole church. They are “one another” songs. You were not meant to need earplugs to attend church! Neither were you meant to sit out while a performance was given. The music we sing to the Lord is not meant to be over repetitive or devoid of subtstantial doctrine. It ought to get the word of Christ stuck in your head as you remember the melody!

2) Public prayer time. This feature is still common in many churches across America, but sometimes our visitors are not familiar with it. In 1 Timothy 2:1-3, the Apostle Paul told young pastor Timothy about what ought to happen in church: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” We call this “Praise and Prayer.” And that is because if you have a praise report for what God has done or a prayer request, we want to hear it! This is one way we are being obedient to God. Some people don't feel comfortable talking in public. That is okay. Please understand you have something to contribute by silently agreeing in prayer.

3) Scripture Reading. Paul wrote to young pastor Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Here not only do we see the why behind knowing Scripture, but the how! God says Scripture can make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus! That's extremely important. But Paul points out Timothy has known these since he was a child. Why was that? Presumably not only did his mother and grandmother who were believers share Scripture with him, but he might have also had other regular opportunities in times of public worship. This is one reason why we take time to read not only the portion of Scripture that our sermon is taught from, but also another portion, so we can see Scripture is not a collection of 66 books with different authors, but one book, with one Divine Author.  He has a message to share that even a child can understand, but they need the opportunity! This is why we try to read Scripture before children attend Children's Church. Pastor John reads Scripture from the King James Version because he wants to share God's preserved Word in English with you to build up your faith, not minister from a version that omits or adds to what God said that may lead you to doubt.

4) Sermon. Paul had this to say to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Are you starting to get the idea that God has a reason why we ought to do things certain ways? One of these is the sermon. It is first and foremost a setting out of Scripture so the hearers may profit in at least one of the ways Paul mentions. Our time spent in the service on the message is not an obligation we rush through or a motivational talk devoid of reference to God's Word. It is meant to be a banquet the pastor worked to prepare, in which the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to make His Word come alive.

Some churches might have mistakenly given you the impression that “church” has to be reinvented. But God wasn't silent on these matters. In addition, saints who have gone before us offer reminders and examples of what church is all about. The penmen of the 1689 London Baptist Confession wrote: “In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his Word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his Word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.”