Emmanuel Church Plant - 2013

1 John 5:4-5 says For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Trinity Church is planting this church, Emmanuel, by faith – by a faith that has overcome the world – by faith in One who has overcome the world – the Lord Jesus Christ.  How did Jesus manifest that faithfulness?  By giving Himself away.  And so Emmanuel is not being established as much to be a place for those who will become members to have a safe haven, a refuge and maybe “our own church.”  No, it is being established by people who love you and are giving a part of themselves away for the world – to see another church, another branch of the Vine which is Christ, planted, extended – and given away for the world and the glory of Jesus Christ.

We have come to worship – we have come to give ourselves away.  In this first formal service of worship, establish a pattern and priority that will define Emmanuel.  Be like Jesus and give yourselves away.  Give yourselves away in your marriages, in your families, in your friendships, in your relationships with hard people, and to the world.  Give yourselves away like Christ – with great faith in the Father who raises the dead – with great faith in the One who promises Victory because He attained Victory already through the Cross.

Our ability and desire to give ourselves away like Jesus comes from faith in God who has overcome the world.  The only thing that can overcome the world is from God.  Our faith is born of God because it is what overcomes the world.  The confession of faith is not just a general faith in God, but in Jesus, the Spirit-Anointed King, the Son of God now installed at the Father’s right hand, the King of kings and Lord of lords – over this world.