Emmanuel Church

Is Jesus the Lord of your life, or is He just a safe category you wrap your life around? In this sermon on Matthew 13:44-46, we examine the absolute worth of the gospel. Jesus presents us with two scenarios: a man plowing a field who stumbles upon a hidden treasure, and a merchant searching for fine pearls. Though their journeys are different, their responses are identical: they joyfully give up e...

This Sunday, Pastor Matt Lushko challenges us to take a deeper look at the tiny mustard seed and microscopic leaven in Matthew 13. God doesn't wait for us to have perfect, giant faith before He uses us; He takes our small, ordinary steps of obedience and uses them to transform our lives and expand His kingdom. Whether you're training for a spiritual "Iron Man," serving behind the...

In this deeply moving message from Matthew 13:24-43, we unpack the Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat to discover Jesus' radical answer to the problem of evil. Pulling back the curtain on a question that serves as a major stumbling block for many, we learn that God's delay in purging evil from the world isn't a sign of weakness or blindness, it is a reflection of His breathtaking, radi...

We often assume our hearts are "good soil," but what do our Mondays actually say about our Sundays? After a funny family trip update, we dive into Matthew 13 to look at the Parable of the Sower. Pastor John breaks down the four types of hearts: hardened, shallow, divided, and receptive -and challenges us to stop ignoring God's conviction in a hyper-distracted world.

Today, we jump into our brand-new 12-week series, The Parables of Jesus. Pastor John kicks things off by diving into why Jesus taught in parables in the first place. These timeless stories act as a mirror, revealing the true posture of our hearts. While a hardened heart hears only a simple story, a heart open to Christ receives the deep secrets of the Kingdom. Let's ensure our eyes see, our ea...

Today, we shine a spotlight on the next generation! Our NextGen Director, Erin Conner, speaks on stage to celebrate what God is doing in the lives of our kids and students. From newborns to high school seniors, she shares powerful stories of how our little ones are already developing faithful, servant hearts. Erin also welcomes four graduating seniors to the stage to share their testimonies and mi...

What does it truly cost to follow Jesus? In this final message of our Jude series, Pastor John shares the incredible story of "Mario" - formerly an Imam named Muhammad—who lost everything to follow the Truth. Many religions operate on a "pyramid" of works, where you must climb and achieve to earn God’s love. But the Gospel is a "canopy." It is the story of God climbin...

In this message from Jude 17-21, Pastor John pushes back against the cultural narrative that faith is blind and science is the ultimate savior. The reality is that science can explain how things happen, but only the Gospel can tell you why you exist. Our faith isn’t a fantasy—it’s historical, it's reasonable, and it’s rooted in a living Savior.

In a study of Jude 11–16, we are warned that the greatest threat to the church often comes from within—"hidden reefs" that look like believers but live for themselves. Through the examples of Cain, Balaam, and Korah, we see that sin always stems from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life. We can’t fight a spiritual war with flesh and blood tactics. We must be...

In Jude 1:8-10, we see a warning against 'dreamers' who claim Christianity but reshape God’s commands to match their desires. Statements like 'God wants me to be happy' can subtly lead us to a faith that doesn't recognize the need for the cross. If we don't have to deny ourselves, the cross has no purpose. As a church, we get to learn how to stand firm and defend the true G...

Drawing from the book of Jude, this sermon emphasizes that the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not need to be restored or updated, but rather protected and remembered. The message specifically contrasts biblical doctrine with the teachings of the LDS church, challenging the claims that Christ’s original church failed or that humans can eventually become gods. By examining scripture, we see that Jesus...

In this message on Jude 3–4, Pastor John explores what it means to "contend for the faith" in a world filled with subtle deceptions. By comparing Scripture with various man-made doctrines, Pastor John warns that adding anything to the finished work of Jesus whether it be works, earthly mediators, or traditions, robs us of the true freedom found in Christ.

Today, Dr. Dave Pitkins kicks off our new series in the book of Jude. This one-chapter book serves as a "postcard from God," packed with urgent and essential truth. Focusing on just the first two verses, Dr. Pitkins explores what it means to be called, loved, and kept by God. We are reminded that God’s Word is sufficient, nothing needs to be added to His promises. You don’t have to work to earn Hi...

The Resurrection: Lord of all or not at all? This Easter, Pastor John delivers a candid message on why we can't "shrink" Jesus to fit our lives. Using the account of Matthew 28, we dive into why the resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and why it disrupts our authority, our truth, and our future.

Our NextGen Director, Erin Conner, shares a powerful call to "fight" for the spiritual victory and emotional healing that Jesus died to give us. She walks us through her own journey of tearing down worldly strongholds and past traumas, showing how the "abundant life" of John 10:10 is only found when we move from our own striving into a total trust in Christ. Watch as we learn how to pull up the "t...

What role do you play in the mission of God? In this message from Romans 16, we’re reminded that the church isn’t built on a stage, it’s built on faithful servants behind the scenes. From overlooked names to everyday people, God uses all of us to advance His kingdom. You weren’t saved to sit, you were saved to serve.

In Romans 15, Pastor John explains that the Gospel is a free gift of grace that should move us from being "consumers" to mature servants on mission. Maturity is marked by a transformed character and a commitment to "instruct one another" rather than relying on a top-down leadership model. Instead of chasing a temporary life of status, we are called to a "priestly service,&...

Identifying Your Stage of Growth In our study of Romans 15, Pastor John walked us through the "Spiritual Wheel." Whether you are an Infant needing care, a Child moving past self-centeredness, a Young Adult learning to GO and listen to God, or a Parent feeding and releasing new disciples. There is a next step for everyone.

Don't Let Your Preferences Outloud the Gospel! Pastor John uses a simple illustration of traffic cones to explain a profound truth: the church is not called to divide over opinions. Based on Romans 14, this message challenges us to lay down our "right to be right" for the sake of making disciples. Watch to discover:-The difference between core convictions and personal opinions.-How t...

Are you a citizen of the world or a citizen of Heaven? In this study of Romans 13, Pastor John explores the challenging call to honor authority while keeping our ultimate allegiance to Jesus Christ. We often swing between isolating from the world or placing all our hope in it, but Paul offers a third way: Gospel Transformation. We learn that human policies don’t change hearts; hearts change polici...

Have you ever stopped to ask your family, your coworkers, or your friends: "What is it like to experience me?"This week, Elder Gary Arblaster dives into Romans 12 to challenge our perspective on what it truly means to live a Christian life. It’s more than just a Sunday morning routine; it’s about becoming a "living sacrifice." From spiritual warfare in our homes to using our un...

GATHER with us as we dive into the powerful truths of Romans 11. In this message, Pastor explores Paul’s defense of God’s unchanging love for His chosen people, reminding us that God has never—and will never—forsake them. Often, we view God through the lens of our own experiences and forget the abundance He offers. Today, we are challenged to shift our perspective: let our lives be filled with mor...

This sermon challenges believers to GATHER for truth and worship rather than comfort, to GROW from spiritual spectators into mature disciples, and to GO into their communities as active missionaries. Along with a celebration of the commissioning of the True Vine team and an example of how our church is fulfilling God's purpose. The message reminds us that we are all called to participate in Go...

Is it possible to be "around" the Gospel your whole life and still miss Jesus? In this message, we explore the difference between a religion based on works and a relationship based on faith. Paul makes it clear: Salvation is not about what you do; it’s about what Christ has already done. Because the Gospel is the only hope for the world, we are called to a new urgency—to pray for the los...

We all have dreams, for Pastor Matt, it was the NBA. But what happens when our plans for fame and fortune don't align with God's sovereign purpose? In this special ordination Sunday message, Pastor Matt shares his personal journey from chasing basketball dreams to leading men's ministry. Diving into Romans 9, we explore the "Potter and the Clay" and discover that God isn’t ju...