• Discussion of various items (soya, carsticks)
• Mention of cattlemen
• Announcement about a game or event
• Care groups being relaunched/restarted
• Call to worship from Psalm 47
• Opening prayer/invocation
• General welcome and greetings
• Worship and praise to God
• Creation and majesty of God
• Holiness and attributes of God
• Praise and adoration of God's name
• God's power and glory
• Invitation to worship and behold God
• God's uniqueness and holiness emphasized throughout the passage
• God's rescue and provision through His Son
• Humanity's failure to be like Jesus despite heart's desire
• Need for Holy Spirit's transforming power
• Worship and praise of God's holiness and sovereignty
• Sin, redemption, and the love of Jesus Christ
• Discussion about a song or hymn with lyrics "If ever I love thee" and Jesus being mentioned
• Introduction of Jim from the Langley Food Bank, who shares updates on the organization's new developments
• Mention of 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Isaiah 43:18-19 as scripture references related to new beginnings
• Description of a new executive manager at the food bank (Josh Mace) and a new location for the organization
• Explanation of the new facility, including its size, features, and impact on service provision
• Statistics about the number of people served by the Langley Food Bank in June and July
• Donations of expired tuna and other food items were made to the food bank
• Discussion of a pastor's efforts to introduce clients to church and Jesus Christ
• Prayer for Jim, a guest speaker, and the Langley Food Bank ministry
• Announcement of an offering for Cascade Christian Counseling
• Singing of hymns, including "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"
• Discussion of a summer highlight from the New Testament
• Upcoming children's worship time schedule changes
• Prayer for the church family and community
• Blessing and gratitude for various members and their circumstances
• Prayers for specific individuals, including health and well-being
• Prayers for the greater world, including leaders, conflict zones, and educational institutions
• Request for God's blessing and guidance on the church's ministry
• Praying for focus on Jesus and trusting in Him
• Reading from Acts 18, specifically verses 1-28
• Paul's journey from Corinth to Ephesus and other locations
• Apollos' arrival in Ephesus and his role in spreading the gospel
• The author sharing a personal anecdote about playing with Legos as a child
• The concept of individual parts coming together to form a beautiful whole is discussed as an analogy for the church
• Reading stories in Acts shows what an active church community can be like and how it benefits one another
• A healthy church utilizes spiritual gifts for the building up of the body
• Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos are presented as examples of using their gifts to facilitate each other's ministries
• Background information is given on Priscilla and Aquila's lives, including their expulsion from Rome due to a decree issued by Emperor Claudius
• Shared commitment to the scriptures and love for Jesus
• Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila's ministry together in Corinth
• Nazarite vow mentioned in Numbers 6:1-20
• Description of a Nazarite vow, including abstaining from wine and grapes, avoiding contact with the dead, and not cutting hair
• The word "Nazarite" comes from Hebrew meaning "consecrated" or "set apart"
• Distinction between "Nazarite" and related terms such as "Nazareth", "Nazarene", "watch", and "branch"
• Personal anecdote about being in seminary
• Bible knowledge exam question about where Paul got his hair cut
• Connection to Acts 21 and Nazarite vow
• Paul's cultural practice as a Jewish missionary
• Importance of understanding Paul's connection to his Jewish culture despite being a Christian
• Balance between Paul's identity as a Christian and his cultural practices as a Jew
• Mission and identity
• Being a Christian and a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
• Living on mission like Paul in Ephesus
• Proclaiming the same message and standing firm on God's word
• Discerning what is really important and what can be less so
• Paul leaves Ephesus
• Apollos arrives in Ephesus, described as an eloquent and capable speaker
• Priscilla and Aquila recognize Apollos' potential but also his limited understanding of Christian teachings
• They take him aside to explain the way of God more accurately
• Apollos is introduced as a Jew from Alexandria who is knowledgeable about scriptures but has a limited understanding of baptism
• He is sent to Achaia (Greece) and specifically to Corinth with support from Ephesian believers
• The brothers and sisters in Ephesus write to the church in Corinth to welcome and support Apollos.
• Jesus is refuted and proved from the scriptures to be the Messiah in public debate
• Apollos' significance in the Corinthian church leads to divisions among believers who follow different influential figures (Paul, Apollos, Peter/Cephas)
• Paul emphasizes that he and Apollos are servants of Christ through whom Corinthians came to believe
• The growth of faith in Corinth is attributed to God, not just Paul or Apollos
• Apollos eventually left Corinth due to his relationship with Paul, but returned later
• Apollos' role in the early church and possible authorship of the letter to the Hebrews
• Tradition surrounding Apollos' ministry in various locations, including Corinth, Caesarea, and Smyrna
• Discussion on the importance of spiritual gifts in building up the body of believers
• Reference to 1 Corinthians 16:16, where Priscilla and Aquila host Apollos and explain God's way more adequately
• The significance of this story as an example of how God functions through his church
• Making space in one's life for others and for opportunities
• Inviting someone into one's life, even a stranger or an acquaintance
• Having room in one's schedule for unexpected events or conversations
• Intentionally building gaps in one's time to allow God to work
• Noticing the example of Priscilla and Aquila who made space in their lives for Paul
• The pressure to constantly be busy and active
• Balancing parenting responsibilities with making time for God or others
• Creating space in life for relationships and spiritual growth
• Prioritizing what is most important in one's life
• Asking questions and seeking guidance on how to make time for what truly matters
• The church family welcomed and ministered to strangers who opened their homes and lived together.
• The Emmanuel youth program partners leaders with students from grade 8 onwards for five years, doing life together and discipling them.
• Intentional prioritization of relationships between leaders and youth is necessary for a healthy, functioning church.
• Care groups are another place where God builds lives by living together, and several care groups have been meeting for over 25 years.
• The importance of being involved in community and living life with others
• The value of a group of friends who have been a support system for many years
• The need to be able to disagree with others and engage in critical thinking and discussion
• The balance between giving reasons for one's faith and doing so with gentleness and respect
• God grows the church and transforms individuals into Jesus' image through relationships and listening to others.
• Genuine, authentic, and meaningful listening is essential in understanding how God works through others.
• Listening leads to learning and teaching, as demonstrated by Priscilla and Aquila's encounter with Paul.
• Searching the scriptures and seeking truth is a pattern of discipleship emphasized in the New Testament stories.
• Searching the scriptures daily is a crucial practice for spiritual growth.
• Intentional relationships are necessary for discipleship and mentoring.
• Simply spending time with others in casual settings (e.g. hockey games, Starbucks) is not enough; deeper engagement with scripture is required.
• Scripture should be used to guide discussions about God's teachings in the present moment.
• The early church followed a pattern of intentional scripture-based teaching and learning.
• Quotes from Clement of Alexandria emphasize the importance of toil and dedication to seeking truth through scripture.
• Following Jesus as a guide
• Importance of living in accordance with God's word
• Emphasis on following Jesus' teachings and example
• Discipleship and relationship with Jesus
• Pursuing spiritual growth and utilizing gifts given by Jesus
• Sent out to serve others, with the idea being descriptive rather than prescriptive
• The church's focus on using its members' spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ
• The large number of volunteer positions available at Emmanuel Church (over 330)
• Approximately 60% of the congregation are volunteering in some capacity
• The average volunteer takes on around 2.29 roles, effectively doing the work of almost two and a half people
• The emphasis on community service and the blessing that it brings to the church
• God's role in equipping and empowering members to serve and grow the church
• Discerning who needs to be talked to or invited into one's life
• Identifying a suitable Bible study or care group to participate in
• Recognizing God's work and praying for more of it in one's life
• Asking questions about discipleship, space, relationships, and intentionality
• Praying for guidance and humility to hear God's answer
• Experiencing the presence and glory of God
• Meeting with someone for prayer and fellowship after worship
• The speaker describes Jesus Christ as the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain
• Jesus will reign at His Father's side with wisdom, mercy, and justice
• Angels will cry out in praise of Jesus, hailing Him as the ruler of the world
• The earth will be fixed on Jesus and He will reign as King of all kings and Lord of all souls
• A reference to a shield, sword, and fire within the believer is made