Immanuel Fellowship Church

God Anoints Normal People Like You | 1 Samuel 16 Feel unqualified for God's work? Its a more common sentiment than you may realize. This week, we open our "Hard Mode" series from 1 Samuel 16 with a discussion of the truth that God specializes in using ordinary people. Discover how David, the forgotten youngest son tending the sheep, became God's chosen king. We also talk about what his anointing m...

This week we land out our "Earthly Kings" series. We'll examine one of Scripture's most difficult passages where God commands Saul to execute judgment on the Amalekites and Saul's partial obedience leads to the loss of his kingdom. This message addresses the cultural elephant in the room (divine judgment warfare), explores the theological necessity of God's justice, and challenges us with the core...

What is your need for control costing you? This week, we continue our "Earthly Kings" series with  1 Samuel 14. Guest preacher Matt Swaringim contrasts King Saul's chaotic, control-driven leadership with Jonathan's faith-filled surrender—and reveals what happens when we choose control over trust in God. If you struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or just trying to hold everything...

This week in Matthew 9:35-38, Pastor Jim challenges believers to examine their hearts regarding the Great Commission. After 30+ years in ministry, he shares his own wake-up call at age 60 that transformed him from a busy church leader into an active worker in God's harvest field. In This Sermon:  • Why the harvest is plentiful but workers are few • Four indicators of having Jesus' heart for the lo...

How do we make disciples and reach the lost in today's world? The answer lies in being driven by the same compassion that moved Jesus. This week, Guest Pastor Brandon Hughes unpacks Matthew 9:35-38, where Jesus sees the crowds as "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Discover how Christ's compassion should fuel our evangelism and discipleship efforts. This sermon explores three p...

What can God do with your small step of faith? In this sermon from 1 Samuel 14, we continue our "Earthly Kings" series by exploring the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer facing impossible odds against the Philistine army. When Israel's situation seemed hopeless (600 soldiers against thousands!) Jonathan took one small step of faith that changed everything. Key Topics Covered: ✓ What biblical...

What do you do when circumstances feel hopeless and God seems silent? This week, in 1 Samuel 13, King Saul faces impossible odds against the Philistines and makes a tragic choice that reveals the difference between earthly kings and our true King, Jesus. This sermon explores why we turn to lesser solutions in desperate times and how real hope is found only in trusting God, even when the cavalry do...

Feeling stuck and longing for a fresh start? This week we close our "New Days" series with a  sermon from 1 Samuel 12.  We'll talk about why we keep seeking renewal in worldly solutions instead of trusting the God who has always been faithful. Discover how to identify your modern idols, remember God's track record in your life, and find the lasting renewal that only comes through Christ. Practical...

This week we continue our New Days series in 1 Samuel. Listen as we wrestle with one of life's hardest questions: If God is sovereign and all-powerful, why does He allow evil? The answer unfolds through the dramatic story of 1 Samuel 11, where a timid Saul is transformed by God's Spirit into a deliverer of His people. When the Ammonites threaten the city of Jabesh Gilead, promising to gouge out ev...

"Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." These famous words of Jesus to a wealthy, successful religious leader named Nicodemus still echo today. In our series finale, Pastor Sam challenges the materialist worldview that says we are just physical machines. If you're feeling spiritually dry or like your life is missing that core sense of meaning, come discover why your spiri...

"My mind is like a dangerous neighborhood. I don't go there alone." For many, this quote describes the daily reality of anxiety, depression, and the "noise" we use to drown out our thoughts. But what if your mind was designed to be a powerful tool for God’s Kingdom? Using the story of Daniel’s exile in Babylon, Pastor Sam discusses how our physical choices and spiritual habits create a "renewed mi...

Are you more than just your thoughts? This week, Pastor Sam kicks off our "Who Am I?" series by diving into the theology of the body. In a world that tells us to define ourselves through digital curation, Psalm 139 offers a different path. You can be fully known and fully loved by a Master Builder. Whether you struggle with body image, anxiety, or simply feeling at home in your own skin, this serm...

Why does the resurrection of Jesus actually matter? This Easter we explore how Christ rising from the dead addresses humanity's deepest longing for justice against death and offers real hope for eternal life. From 1 Corinthians 15, discover why Christianity stands on historical claims, not abstract philosophy, and how the resurrection proves God's love in action. Whether you're questioning faith,...

This Palm Sunday sermon explores the profound implications of Jesus' kingship through the lens of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Drawing from John 12:12-19, the message examines three distinct responses to Christ's authority: the Pharisees who didn't want a king and guarded their own autonomy, the crowds who wanted the wrong kind of king focused on temporal deliverance rather than spiritual t...

In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 10, we explore how God works through our failures, fears, and faithlessness to accomplish His perfect plan. Pastor Sam walks us through Israel's demand for a king and Saul's reluctant leadership, revealing how we often fall into the same traps—envying worldly solutions, operating from fear instead of faith, and placing our hope in human leaders rather than Go...

In this powerful sermon from our "New Days" series in First Samuel, Pastor Craig explores how God interrupts our ordinary lives for His extraordinary kingdom purposes. Walking through 1 Samuel 9-10, we discover the story of Saul's unexpected anointing as Israel's first king while he was simply searching for lost donkeys. This message challenges us to examine areas where we've become passive in our...

In this powerful sermon on 1 Samuel chapter 8, Pastor Jesse explores the pivotal moment when Israel rejected God's direct leadership to demand a human king like surrounding nations. Despite Samuel's warnings about how kings would take their sons, daughters, fields, and flocks, the people persisted because they wanted to fit in rather than remain God's holy, set-apart people. The message challenges...

Are you stuck in the same sin patterns, convinced "it's just who I am"? This powerful message from 1 Samuel 7 reveals how God calls us to smash our idols and step into the new day He has for us. We explore why real repentance takes time through Israel's 20-year journey, the difference between godly sorrow and worldly grief, how to identify and destroy the idols controlling your life, and why you n...

In this sermon from our "Faithful" series in 1 Samuel, we explore chapters 5-7 and discover an important truth: God's faithfulness is not the same as fairness. When the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant, God demonstrates His power and authority in unexpected ways, showing mercy to His enemies while holding His people to a higher standard. We examine how God acts as a missionary even in j...

Ever feel like you're trying to use God as a lucky charm instead of actually pursuing a real relationship with Him? In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 4, we dive into one of Israel's darkest moments—when they treated the Ark of the Covenant like a rabbit's foot, hoping it would magically fix their problems. This sermon tackles something we all struggle with: the temptation to hide our failures...

In this powerful sermon from the Book of Philemon, discover how God uses your unique story to transform lives for His glory. We explore how three radically different men—Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus—were brought together through Christ's transforming power, and what that means for us today. Whether you feel your testimony is "ordinary" or dramatic, God is working through your life story to set peo...

Struggling to hear God speak in the chaos of everyday life? Sam's powerful sermon from 1 Samuel 3 reveals the key to recognizing Gods voice and living as His faithful servant. Discover why God speaks to those who are listening and how you can develop a heart posture that hears Him clearly. In this message we explore understanding general versus special revelation, why being near God isn't the same...

Ever wondered why God allows spiritual leaders to fail? Or struggled with trusting church leadership after being hurt? This powerful sermon from 1 Samuel 2 tackles one of the hardest questions we face as believers. In this message, Pastor Sam dives deep into the story of Eli's sons—corrupt priests who abused their position and hurt God's people. We'll explore why the Old Testament sacrificial syst...

What does surrender really mean in a world that prizes control? Through Pastor Jim's powerful message, we journey into the heart of true spiritual surrender – not as defeat, but as the gateway to freedom. Drawing from the compelling story of Lieutenant Hiro Onoda's 30-year resistance, Pastor Jim illuminates how we often wage futile battles against God's best for us. He masterfully weaves together...

Ever feel like you're stuck in the same spiritual patterns year after year? You know you should grow in your faith, but the thought of actually doing something about it brings up more anxiety than excitement? In this message, we dive into Matthew 6 and Jesus's radical call to "seek first the kingdom of God." But here's what makes this different—it's not just another guilt trip about spiritual disc...