Ruth 2:1-12, 1 Peter 4:7-11, Luke 10:25-37  

This week we close our series on Going Deeper as we talk about how we as God's people should always be growing. It's important for us to always be growing in this life of faith.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Acts 2:42-47

John 10:1-16

How important are relationships? How has 2020 affected your relationships? God has always reached out to His children. Not trying simply to teach us, but to walk with us day after day. How do we open our heart to our master and friend?

As we continue to explore our role as a church in the lives of God’s people, we go deeper into the biblical image of being friends of God. Today we are reminded that, while our ultimate goal is to join our Savior in His heavenly kingdom, discipleship is not about the destination, but the journey. If you have ever been on a trip with a good friend you have looked back at the end of the trip and realized that you enjoyed the journey with your dear friend more than the event at the end of the trip. Many of the most powerful moments in the lives Jesus’ disciples came as they talked along the way to the places Jesus was going. The same remains true today. For disciples who are friends of God it is about the journey, not the destination.

The call to discipleship is not a static calling. Certainly, we are justified in the once for-all-time event of the cross of Calvary through our baptism, but this is the start of a grand adventure, not the conclusion. This invitation to know and be known by God is the invitation to a relationship that grows, develops, and matures over time. Once you begin the journey of truly knowing God, you never reach the end. There is always more to experience, know, and discover in the vastness of God. This is our quest at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. Today, we explore the reality that we need to understand the nature of our relationship with God if we are to start going deeper in Him.

What does it mean to have a Radical Love for the God who radically loves us?  

Our God is the God of love and justice. That is rare in our world! Because of our Almighty King’s justice, we can let go of our need to avenge the wrongs done to us. Jesus opens our heart to lovingly let go of our bitterness and lovingly share God’s gracious truth with those who are cruel to us.

There is a lot of talk in our world about the need to love yourself. If you don’t love yourself how can you love anyone else? Doesn’t God’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself” presuppose that you love yourself first? Of course it does. The challenge comes when we begin to look into our hearts and lives for virtues and actions worthy of our own love. We know all of the faults and selfish intentions behind even our best acts of love. When we look deeply into our souls, we often find things that cause us to despair rather than rejoice. How then can we love ourselves at all? These are the questions with which we will wrestle today.

The Father has loved the Son, and the Son has loved all people,

Immanuel Lutheran School chose a Bible verses for this year. It’s words are filled with great things for all of God’s people. 

Based on the Book of First Peter.