Using Romans 12 and Matthew 16, we wrap up our summer “complicated” series. We’ll hear from both Jesus and from St. Paul about what following Jesus entails. Some of it, particularly as Paul describes, is pretty simple and pretty straight-forward. But in other ways, as Jesus describes it, it’s complicated, it’s difficult, and it can feel far beyond what we can possibly do. And that’s where the Holy Spirit at work in us comes to the forefront. We’ve heard much of this throughout the summer readings and on this Labor Day weekend it serves as a wonderful way to wrap up the series.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option. PLEASE NOTE that our live stream is now on the home page of our website. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

September 3rd – The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Psalm 26:1-8
Epistle: Romans 12:9-21
Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28
Sermon Title: “Following Jesus: It’s Complicated (or is it?)”

What is God’s will? Not an easy question and certainly no easy answers. But we see again, through God’s Word, how God’s will is carried out. Paul in Romans 12 provides some wonderful guidance with regard to knowing God’s will. And in Matthew 16, Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear Peter proclaim, as prompted by the Holy Spirit, that Jesus IS the Christ, the Promised One. We’ll see how that plays into better understanding what God’s will is.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option. PLEASE NOTE that our live stream is changing platforms – it will be streamed on the Immanuel website home page: www.immanuelloveland.org. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

August 27th – The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Exodus 1:8-2:10
Epistle: Romans 12:1-8
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20
Sermon Title: “God’s Will: It’s Complicated”

We’ll be hearing the story of Joseph and his brothers from the end of Genesis – and what a life Joseph led! It was filled with ups and downs (actually a lot more downs on the front-end!) but Joseph continues to trust the Lord. As we look at Joseph’s life, we get a glimpse into how God works which, as we’re discovering this summer with so many aspects of our lives, is complicated!

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page (8:00am service only through Labor Day): https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

August 20th – The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Genesis 45:1-15
Epistle: Romans 8:26-30
Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28
Sermon Title: “How God Works: It’s Complicated”

What scares you? With our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, we’ll look that question square in the eyes because it’s something that all of us deal with at some level. Complicated for us as followers of Jesus? It was for Elijah of the Old Testament and for Peter and the other disciples in the first century and you can count it being no different for you and me today. We’ll also be installing and dedicating our school staff on Sunday in worship.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page (8:00am service only through Labor Day): https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLove.... Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

August 13th – The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:9-18
Epistle: Romans 10:5-15
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
Sermon Title: “The Things That Scare Us: It’s Complicated”

Our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, continues with a focus on the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000. We’ll be walking through that miracle and, in the process, we’re going to learn a lot more about Jesus, His heart, and the ways in which He chooses to work. It’s pretty cool to see how Jesus does what He does and the part we get to play in that.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page (8:00am service only through Labor Day): https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

August 6th – The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-5
Epistle: Romans 9:1-5
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon Title: “The Job Jesus Gives Us: It’s Complicated”

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This Sunday in our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, we hear Solomon asking God for wisdom and reflecting more on what we’re asking the Lord for in our lives – do we ask for wisdom and what does that look like? Romans 8 is packed with promises and assurances that the love we know in Jesus is a love that no one and nothing can take away from us. God’s love is real and plays into the wisdom we seek from God. The Gospel reading is filled with little parables about the Kingdom, reminding us to set our sights on life in the Kingdom, which we experience right now and how that interplays with wisdom and with love. Wow – it’s complicated!

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page (8am service only through Labor Day): https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

July 30th – The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: 1 Kings 3:3-12
Epistle: Romans 8:31-39
Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Sermon Title: Wisdom and Love and the Kingdom of Heaven: It’s Complicated

For our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, the focus this Sunday will be on Jesus’ parable of the weeds in Matthew 13 and the question of “Why evil?” We hear the wisdom Jesus shares in this parable and how that plays out – but it’s still confusing and very complicated. So we’ll be asking, What’s Up With the Weeds?

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

July 23rd – The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Isaiah 44:6-8
Epistle: Romans 8:12-25
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Sermon Title: What’s Up With the Weeds?! It’s Complicated

For our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, we continue for another week in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul begins Romans 8 right where we left off last week, with the ongoing struggle in which we’re engaged as we strive to live our lives as followers of Jesus. In this chapter he sets up the “flesh” versus the “Spirit” and challenges us to consider on which of those we are setting our minds. He lays out the pros and the cons in pretty convincing fashion. We’ll put our own minds to work on this to hear what the Lord is expecting of us.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

July 16th – The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Isaiah 55:10-13
Epistle: Romans 8:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Sermon Title: Where is Your Mind Set? It’s Complicated

Our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, takes us to Romans 7 and the classic sinner-saint struggle. The question, even for us as Christians, is “Why do I do what I do?!” This is asked especially when it comes to the temptations to which we fall and the less-than-Christlike-attitudes and actions that we sometimes demonstrate. We’ll delve into that struggle. What Jesus offers in the Matthew reading is great comfort and encouragement, especially in the midst of our struggles, as He invites us to come to Him when we’re burdened.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

July 9th – The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Psalm 145:8-14
Epistle: Romans 7:15-25a
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30
Sermon Title: “Why Do I Do What I Do? It’s Complicated”

With our nation’s Independence Day celebration right around the corner, our summer series, Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated, will have us thinking about the real freedoms we enjoy as followers of Jesus. To get us there, we’ll be taking a deep dive into Romans 6:12-23 where St. Paul talks about slavery and freedom in multiple ways.

If you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option on Immanuel’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLovelandCO. Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them.

June 25th – The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Summer Series: Life in the Spirit: It’s Complicated
Old Testament: Psalm 13
Epistle: Romans 6:12-23
Gospel: Matthew 10:40-42
Sermon Title: “Slavery and Freedom in 2023: It’s Complicated”