We Are Emmanuel

What is most important to me is my truth. What I feel is my reality. My experiences are my existence. Whatever Jesus said thousands of years ago, might be interesting, but it's hardly relevant to my life right now. Into the context of the deeply personally defined ideas of truth of today, Jesus makes a startling claim, “I am the Truth’. Not even, I am true, but I am truth itself. Truth about life. Truth about existence. Truth about me and truth about you, is found in him.

On Tuesday, we continued our weekly podcast 'Live Lunch' where we unpack our Sunday teaching and answer your questions live. We had Matt Carvel along with our hosts George Benson and Yohaan Philip discussing Jesus’ claim that He is the Way. What does He mean and how do we know this is true?

Jesus. One of many spiritual sages over the span of human history, offering a path to enlightenment, right? Another voice from many that we can listen to as we see fit. None should be elevated above others - they’re all equally valid. So goes many people’s attitudes to the words of Jesus. But Jesus said, ‘I am the Way’. He didn’t see himself as offering an alternative, but the definitive and exclusive way to eternity. How can such an emphatic claim be taken seriously in the pluralistic world of today?

Religion. Famously the ‘opium of the masses’. A trick. An illusion. A way to control people. Although some may see the claims of Christianity as a trap, Jesus in his own words claims, ‘I am the Door’. In a world of a myriad of options, could this be a door worth opening? What is behind it? Is this another confidence trick or a promise that can be trusted?

On Tuesday we continued our weekly podcast 'Live Lunch' where we unpack our Sunday teaching and answer your questions live. We had Tobi Ford-Western along with our hosts George Benson and Matt Carvel discussing the topic of death; what is it? how do we deal with it? and what does Jesus' death mean for us today? Find out more about Live Lunch at https://WeAreEmmanuel.com/LiveLunch Join us Live and ask your questions on Instagram: https://instagram.com/weareemmanuel Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:43 Updates & Guests 02:57 Preach Summary 04:53 Jesus IS the resurrection? 07:31 Why Have a Physical Cross In Churches? 09:27 Why We Should Focus on the Resurrection 14:16 Importance of Grief 15:02 How To Handle Death 19:10 Christian Perspective of Death 22:28 Creatures of Hope 24:46 End

To many, the idea of giving your life to Jesus would be the end of the type of life we really want to live. It’s a death to my own autonomy, it’s death to certain relationships or habits or behaviours that I enjoy. It’s ‘game over’. And perhaps that’s why Christianity is only for people who mess up their lives and are really desperate. But Jesus says to come to Him is not ‘game over’, it is life only just beginning. He is the resurrection and the beginning of life that lasts forever. Whatever we enjoy about life now is actually just a taste of the eternal life that Jesus offers us. In our short time on earth, understandably our instinct is to grab hold of all the good things that we can, but Jesus raises the dead. That changes the landscape, entirely. Why snatch all we can out of life, when we can come to the one that gives life that lasts forever?

Another oft imagined perception of Jesus is a moral teacher who dispensed guidelines for life. The moral, ritualistic context of the Feast of Tabernacles, complete with shining lamps, is the backdrop for Jesus’ mighty claim, ‘I am the Light of the World’. The religious leaders are quick to jump on Jesus here, challenging the authority of his testimony. Jesus replies, ‘you judge according to the flesh’ and instead appeals to the witness of His Father. Jesus is not a moral system. In fact he set himself as a fulfilment of the religious system of the Bible. He is not just a light that helps us navigate the world, He is the light - the source of life itself. Notice v12, when we receive Him, we won’t just avoid the darkness but will obtain the ‘light of life’ itself.

On Tuesday we continued our weekly podcast 'Live Lunch' where we unpack our Sunday teaching and answer your questions live. We had Neville Jones and along with our hosts Yohaan Philip and Matt Carvel discussing the topic of what it looks like to see Jesus as the Good Shepherd over our lives and the practical ways to outlive that. Find out more about Live Lunch at https://WeAreEmmanuel.com/LiveLunch Join us Live and ask your questions on Instagram: https://instagram.com/weareemmanuel Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:43 Introducing our Guest 01:10 Lunch Recommendation This Week 01:41 What's on Matts Mind? - The Roman Empire! 02:00 Neville's anger towards sheep 03:04 Sunday Preach Summary 06:49 Misuse of Authority 08:29 Does Authority mean Suppression? 09:33 Are we made for submission? 11:20 What the Culture says about Authority 13:27 Why Jesus' Authority is GOOD 15:24 What it looks like to be a 'sheep' 17:19 Practical Tips on Following Jesus 19:10 We Need to CHOOSE the Good Shepherd 20:41 How to hear the voice of

We live in an age that is highly sensitive to ‘toxic leadership/authority’ figures, and understandably so. Toxic authority and the abuse of power is horrific. If Jesus demands people submit to his leadership, then he must be toxic too. Yet, Jesus boldly and graciously claimed, ‘I am the Good Shepherd’. Could this really be good news? Is this an authority that avoids the toxicity we have become so familiar with?

On Tuesday we continued our weekly podcast 'Live Lunch' where we unpack our Sunday teaching and answer your questions live. We had Christina Omoloso and Tobi Ford-Western along with our hosts Yohaan Philip and Matt Carvel discussing the topic of Jesus truly being the bread of life and what that practically looks like for us as Christians. Find out more about Live Lunch at https://WeAreEmmanuel.com/LiveLunch Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:52 What is LiveLunch 01:47 What is Virtual Jesus? 03:25 Student Update & Freshers Events 04:09 First week of Virtual Jesus Highlights 04:54 Sunday Preach Recap 5:49 How Does Jesus Satisfy (Practically) 11:48 How To Respond To Difficult Verses In The Bible 14:48 How To Desire God 21:14 Dangers of Not Seeking Jesus 23:22 Next Week Sneak Peak

Jesus said many things that people today find hard to swallow. Some of what the Bible says is simply, ‘yuck’ to many modern hearers. It may be surprising to realise that the hearers in Jesus’ day also found his message distasteful and unpleasant! Crowds that had gathered soon turned away when Jesus said, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. Jesus may have been cancelled at the time, but his offer to satisfy us, spiritually and eternally is still held out to all today.

While some might be sceptical, most people today accept that Jesus was a real person in history. But they leave him there, consigned to history, a relic, of interest only to the historian. He might have been a good teacher, but little more. But this harmless, good teacher of history is a ‘Virtual Jesus’. He doesn’t exist. Jesus, faced with the religious leaders of his day, boldly claimed to be divine, with the words, ‘Before Abraham was, I AM’.

Summer in the Psalms // Psalm 121 - Stu Gibbs by Emmanuel

Summer in the Psalms // Psalm 1 & 2 - Glen Scrivener by Emmanuel

Summer in the Psalms // Psalm 91 - Andrew Wilson by Emmanuel

Steve Walford shows us that Psalm 23 teaches a lot about life, particularly comparing life to a long-distance walk with ups and downs, with Jesus leading and guiding us. He emphasises that Jesus is always with us, even in the darkest valleys of life. Jesus knows us personally, leads us to the best places, is always with us, and lavishly provides for our needs. Steve invites us to embrace Jesus as our shepherd and follow Him in our walk through life.

Matt Carvel looks at the public and private reactions to Jacob's death, as well as the ongoing fragility of the relationship between Joseph and his brothers.

The main focus of Sunday's passage is Jacob's journey to Egypt and how his family navigates living in a foreign land. Matt parallels between Joseph's family navigating Egypt and how Christians navigate a world that may be hostile to their beliefs. When Pharaoh asks Jacob how old he is, Jacob responds with a negative view of his life. Matt highlights the significance of Jacob blessing Pharaoh, indicating that Jacob understands his purpose as a carrier of God's blessing. He encourages Christians to recognise their role in carrying God's blessing to the world, even in foreign and hostile environments.

This week on live lunch, Tobi Ford-Western, George Benson and Rachel Jeffs discuss the different ways that God speaks through our circumstances. How do we know when God is moving in our lives? What does this look like?

In this talk, Tobi Ford-Western looks at the need for biblical tools to navigate through physical and spiritual famines. He highlights the character development of Joseph, who has learned humility and maturity through his hardships and challenges. The story of Joseph is not outdated but rich in wisdom and guidance for navigating the challenges of the present day.