Immanuel Gurnee
100 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 5 years ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsWelcome to Immanuel Church Gurnee's podcast. This is the place where you can hear all of the Sunday sermons.
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Episodes
THRIVE: Trust Jump (9/23/18)
October 04, 2018 21:00 - 38 minutes - 70.2 MBHave you ever watched a small child jump into a swimming pool? It’s truly amazing. They’ll leap as far and as high as their little legs will allow, completely unconcerned about anything else in the world. Most of the time, the one thing that makes this possible is a set of arms waiting for them inside that water, ready to make the catch. It’s an incredible picture of trust; a picture that helps us understand the secret to a thriving life and the nature of a relationship with our Heavenly Fat...
THRIVE: Be Blessed (9/16/18)
September 18, 2018 16:44 - 36 minutes - 66.9 MBWhat’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a blessing? For many people, that word has something to do with position, possessions and prosperity. If we have a good job, we’re blessed. If we have a nice house, we’re blessed. If we make good money, we’re blessed. The problem with that logic is the number of people in the world that consider themselves blessed and have none of the above. Are these individuals playing by different rules? Absolutely.
THRIVE: Choices, Choices, Choices (9/9/18)
September 10, 2018 21:59 - 33 minutes - 61.8 MBChoices can be overwhelming, especially when those choices have to be made from a multitude of options. For as long as we might sit and wait for one of those options to jump out at us, we will ultimately still have to make that choice. Thriving in life works much the same way. We can’t just sit and wait for it to happen, we have to choose it.
Friendships Money CAN Buy (9/2/18)
September 04, 2018 20:12 - 37 minutes - 68.6 MBInvestments. Some of us spend our entire lives trying to make the right ones. We dream about a huge return somewhere down the road. With just the right move now, our future can be secure and promising. And most of the time, those investments are in things. What if we did it differently?
Celebration Sunday (8/26/18)
September 04, 2018 20:09 - 20 minutes - 37.7 MBAre we there yet? It doesn’t take long for that question to come up on a road trip. Why? Because any trip is always understood in terms of the destination. We know we’re not done moving until our “here” is “there.” While there are mile markers to celebrate along the way and good things that happen in the moment, if we haven’t reached the destination, there’s still ground to cover. Immanuel has seen incredible things over the last year, but we’re not there yet. Amazing things await us, just a...
WITH: Life With (8/19/18)
August 21, 2018 15:30 - 36 minutes - 66.6 MBAn online poll asked the question: Do you ever go to the movie theater alone? 32% of the almost 2000 participants said, “I prefer to go with someone else.” 11% felt that going to the cinema alone was “totally weird,” and would never do it. Have you ever wondered why so many of us feel this way? Perhaps it’s because the best experiences are best when they’re shared. Even the least consequential parts of life (like movies) feel funny when we can’t talk to someone else about what just happened....
WITH: Better With (8/12/18)
August 21, 2018 15:23 - 35 minutes - 65 MBWhen you’re sick, where do you go? When you have a toothache, who do you call? Have you ever noticed that healing rarely happens in isolation? We need a doctor to heal physically. We need a counselor to heal emotionally. What if healing spiritually is no different? It would only prove God right because that’s exactly how he designed our path to wholeness: with others.
WITH: Think With (8/5/18)
August 07, 2018 15:43 - 37 minutes - 67.8 MBHave you ever said these words before? “I’ve never thought about it like that.” Do you realize that you’ve never, ever said that to yourself? It’s always because someone other than you offered their perspective or experience to you. Suddenly you understood some idea more deeply and with more clarity. It seems that the best learning happens with other people. New discovery. New understanding. New meaning always come within the context of community, including learning about God.
WITH: Adventure With (7/29/18)
July 31, 2018 19:42 - 34 minutes - 62.7 MBWhile we often cite individuals as the heroes of discovery, it is rarely one single person’s work. We talk about Benjamin Franklin as if he alone discovered electricity, but scientists named William Gilbert and Thomas Browne were already experimenting and writing about it when Mr. Franklin flew that kite. Think about explorers Marquette and Joliet discovering the ability to transport goods on the Mississippi from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. They did it together. “Finding God” is n...
WITH: Together With (7/22/18)
July 25, 2018 14:51 - 43 minutes - 79.7 MBIn 1988, a review of research was published indicating that social isolation is on par with high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise or smoking as a risk factor for illness and early death. It’s safe to say that a lack of social interaction is literally bad for our health. And in a society that is increasingly isolated, it seems like we’re all at risk. Community is written into the very fabric of what it means to be human––maybe this is why God sees it as vitally important too.
The N Commandments: Doubt Not (7/15/18)
July 17, 2018 15:23 - 40 minutes - 73.5 MBHave you ever had doubts about Christianity? Do you ever wonder if it’s true...if Jesus was really Jesus? We often throw these kinds of questions at the people we look up to spiritually. Because their faith gives us faith. But what happens if the person’s faith you are depending on goes down? You go down too. The good news is that Jesus anticipated our doubts and made space for our wrestling. He wants the faith to be our faith.
The N Commandments: Judge Not (7/8/18)
July 09, 2018 16:02 - 39 minutes - 72.1 MBOne of the things religious people are accused of on a regular basis is being judgmental. Have you ever wondered––honestly wondered––if that accusation is warranted? Are they true? Are we so busy sizing everyone else up that we’ve become nothing more than this? Or are we all just misunderstanding what Jesus meant when He said, “Do not judge?” Love seems to say so.
The N Commandments: Worry Not (7/1/18)
July 03, 2018 16:01 - 31 minutes - 57.7 MBFive hundred years ago, Michel de Montaigne said: “My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.” We laugh at the sobering truth in that statement, but why are so many of us perpetually worried? It’s as if we have a worry muscle that’s as involuntary as our heart beating or our eyes blinking. And stopping it or changing it doesn’t come from a process, just a person.
The N Commandments: Sin Not (6/24/18)
June 27, 2018 21:15 - 42 minutes - 77.8 MBSin is perhaps the most loaded word in the Christian worldview. The debate about what it is and what it isn’t has raged on for generations. And over time, many of us have come to think of it as the thing that makes God mad at us and warrants His punishment. But how does that jive with a God who sent his son to the world He so loved? Sin is worse than breaking a rule that God put in place, it’s actually something that breaks us. The good news is this: God is for you.
The N Commandments: Fear Not (6/17/18)
June 19, 2018 14:40 - 45 minutes - 83.4 MB“Don’t be afraid.” That sounds absurd, doesn’t it? But Jesus said this all the time––it was one of his favorite commands for his followers. Is it even possible though? We all try and want this to be true of us, but life is all kinds of scary. That said, it’s unlikely Jesus would have said it if it weren’t possible. And one day, Jesus would make sure we knew that.
The N Commandments: Unhitched (6/10/18)
June 11, 2018 19:00 - 37 minutes - 69.2 MBWhen you hear the word “commandments,” what comes to mind? For most people it’s probably a number: 10. Even if you haven’t been to church in a long time, you remember hearing about The Ten Commandments at an early age. And while they, and the other 600+ commands in the Old Testament are important, seeing the connection to Jesus and the New Testament can prove difficult. Is there any connection at all? What does the Old Testament have to do with us today? The answer may seem complicated, but ...
The City: A Place Without Worry (6/3/18)
June 04, 2018 17:46 - 45 minutes - 83.6 MBDing! Another notification comes through on your phone, reminding you of the appointment that starts in fifteen minutes. Helpful? Yes. Harmful? Yes, too. Because for the next fifteen minutes, what are you thinking about? It’s probably not the person or task that’s right in front of you. This plays out on a much larger scale in almost every facet of our lives...and we…are...tired. In the City on a Hill however, tomorrow can wait. Not because we don’t care, but because we know who’s there.
The City: A Place Without Pretense (5/27/18)
June 04, 2018 17:36 - 40 minutes - 74.7 MB“They’re so spiritual.” “They’re so deep.” Many of us long for words like those to be said of us. We’re hungry for that sort of recognition and appreciation. The trouble is that someone someday is going to out-spiritualize us and steal our glory, leaving us with a hollow and longing feeling inside. In the City on a Hill, though, there’s a deeper reward; a longer lasting reward. It just doesn’t come from the other people in town…
The City: The Place Without Enemies (5/20/18)
May 22, 2018 16:42 - 40 minutes - 73.9 MBIt’s a common assumption that anyone without enemies must have defeated all of them. They proved their value by winning. This assumption is baked into our sports, our movies, and even our churches. In the City on a Hill however, there are no enemies. Not because they’re defeated, but because they’re loved. And when an enemy is loved like a neighbor, it changes them... and you.
The City: The Place Without Evens (5/13/18)
May 15, 2018 21:34 - 35 minutes - 65.8 MBPlay fair. That’s what we all grew up believing was the cardinal rule of friendship and citizenship. What’s interesting then, is that the play is irrelevant...it’s all about fair. So if they’re nice, you’re nice. If they’re mean, you’re mean. As long as everything is even, everything is excusable. In the City on a Hill however, the rules of friendship and citizenship are a little different. And fair? Not really part of the equation.
The City: The Unhideable Shineable Place (5/6/18)
May 07, 2018 21:56 - 41 minutes - 76.7 MBThe accent gives it away. If it doesn’t reveal where you’re from, it at least shows that you’re not from “here.” It really has nothing to do with what you say, just how you say it. And for most, that’s okay. We have a sense of pride when it comes to our hometown. We might wear a t-shirt or hang a flag to make sure everyone knows it. How about when it comes to your faith though? Does the world know where you come from? Where you live? Do you represent your city?
Family Circus: Model Family (4/29/18)
April 30, 2018 21:20 - 48 minutes - 88.8 MBWe might spend all our lives trying to be like the families we see on television. We try to mimic their practices, their relationships and their way of life. And for most of that life we’ll be frustrated because those families are fictitious and literally live in a fairytale world. The good news is there’s a model out their that if followed well, makes for an unbelievable family dynamic. The challenge is in how to get a group of people to imitate just one.
Family Circus: How Family (4/22/18)
April 23, 2018 15:49 - 39 minutes - 72.8 MBValuing the idea of family and doing family well do not always go hand-in-hand do they? Most people will say they think family is important and good, but those same people may struggle with how they’re actually supposed to get their family to live up to the hype. Regardless of the components that make your family up, how are you supposed to function? What makes a family thrive?
Family Circus: Who Family (4/15/18)
April 17, 2018 20:41 - 46 minutes - 84.8 MBIf you’ve ever wished you came from a different family tree, you’re certainly not alone. And if you’ve ever found yourself feeling abandoned, unloved and hurt by the people in that tree, you don’t have to stay there. You may not be able to change your biology, but you can redefine your family. Change the definition and suddenly the “who” in your family might look drastically different.
Family Circus: Why Family (4/8/18)
April 10, 2018 15:01 - 37 minutes - 69.3 MBFamily has become one of the most loaded words of all the words our society uses. Some of us have been hurt by it. We’ve been ashamed of it. We’ve even run from it. So why did God create the idea in the first place? He certainly didn’t have pain and suffering in mind. In fact, he was thinking quite the opposite. Family––whether it’s biological or social––has a much, much grander purpose.
Easter Sunday (4/1/18)
April 09, 2018 16:31 - 34 minutes - 63.1 MBWe'll be exploring what it means to live every day with the power of the resurrection within us. Nothing is the same when that's our reality.
The Reason for You: Never the Same (3/25/18)
March 26, 2018 19:00 - 43 minutes - 78.9 MBMost people would say they’d like to make a difference with their lives––they want to leave the world a better place. But most people have no idea what they should actually do or where to begin even if they do. It’s a daunting task to say the least. But the problem isn’t the task, it’s the definition. What’s the difference that makes a difference? The answer is beyond our earthly thinking and imagination.
The Reason for You: Inflowance (3/18/18)
March 19, 2018 17:49 - 41 minutes - 76.5 MBAre you a leader? Before you answer too quickly, think about John Maxwell’s definition: Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another. All of us, in some sense have an area in our lives where we influence others. And it’s time we start stewarding those positions well. But how? What does a great leader look like? What do they do? Look no further than Jesus himself.
The Reason for You: Special Forces (3/11/18)
March 12, 2018 20:23 - 38 minutes - 71.2 MBBeing “used by God” feels big and overwhelming. Have you ever wondered how God could ever use you? It’s easy to think He would only use pastors or the super-spiritual people in the world. But the truth of it is that none of us have what it takes to properly serve the creator of all things...but He does. And He equips us in a way that fits perfectly with the way He designed us, so we can serve Him. What’s even more amazing, is that this is true for everyone.
The Reason for You: Holy Macro (3/4/18)
March 05, 2018 22:23 - 40 minutes - 74.3 MBBeing “used by God” feels big and overwhelming. Have you ever wondered how God could ever use you? It’s easy to think He would only use pastors or the super-spiritual people in the world. But the truth of it is that none of us have what it takes to properly serve the creator of all things...but He does. And He equips us in a way that fits perfectly with the way He designed us, so we can serve Him. What’s even more amazing, is that this is true for everyone.
R3: Structural Shift (2/25/18)
February 26, 2018 19:43 - 34 minutes - 64.1 MBWho is forgiveness for? Most often the answer to that question is “the people we like or love.” That’s fair, but it’s also predictable. It’s going along with how humanity has done things for its entire history. Forgiving our enemies? Forgiving people that are different than us? What would happen if that became the way people thought and operated? Everything would change. People would change. But for that to happen, forgiveness has to go beyond the people just like us...it’s way more difficul...
R3: More Than An Agreement (2/18/18)
February 21, 2018 23:17 - 37 minutes - 68.5 MB“I forgive you.” While it isn’t always easy to think or say, we’ve all managed to sputter those words out at some point. The question we all have to ask ourselves though, is did those words make any difference? Did something change? Are we treating the forgiven person differently from the moments, days, weeks, or months before “I forgive you?” Or did we simply make a verbal agreement of some sort because that’s what grownups do? According to the Scriptures, it’s way more difficult than that.
R3: The Crux of Us (2/11/8)
February 12, 2018 21:48 - 40 minutes - 74.3 MBWhat defines a Christian? What are the actions, attitudes, and values that people who follow Jesus are known for? This is a different question than, “what is the definition of Christianity?” isn’t it? Unfortunately, much of the church-going population has lived in such a way that we might not like the answer, or would be confused by how different it is from what the Scriptures tell us we should be. Because our focus, our mission, is not about winning an argument...it’s way more difficult tha...
The Straight Dope: Un-Human (2/4/18)
February 05, 2018 18:05 - 35 minutes - 64.7 MBThe way Jesus did life was not normal. Which means if we are to be like him in the way we do life, we can’t be normal either. We can’t settle for just being human. We have to become something more by becoming more than our nature. Jesus was fully God and fully human but he was better at being human...he was un-human. We must become the same.
The Straight Dope: The Well-Known Secret (1/28/18)
January 30, 2018 21:55 - 33 minutes - 62.1 MBFormulas are important. They help us figure things out, predict outcomes, and make sense of complexity. And it’s the promise of those things that consistently drive us to make everything formulaic...including our faith. We want to crack the code––learn the secret. And every once in awhile we think we figure out the recipe to God, or at least the recipe to get God to do what we want him to. The truth, however, is that God’s not really a secret or a formula to be uncovered. The mystery is real...
The Straight Dope: Solo (1/21/18)
January 23, 2018 22:38 - 36 minutes - 67 MBIf someone were to sit you down and ask what makes you a good person, what would you say? You’d list things like charity, kindness, and the fact that you’ve never stolen anything or murdered anyone. You’re right, those make you a good person. But if the stakes were raised and you had to name the things that make you a righteous person, what now? Maybe you would list the same things as before, but know this: you can’t make you righteous. You need someone else.
The Straight Dope: Does it Matter? (1/7/18)
January 23, 2018 22:36 - 40 minutes - 73.5 MBThere’s a rumor going around that all things spirit are good and all things material are bad. So everything you can see, taste, touch, hear and smell is of no use in the grand scheme of things. There’s a problem though: the rumor’s just a rumor––matter matters. In fact, everything matters and can be used to make its Maker look good.
The Straight Dope: Fully Full (1/14/18)
January 23, 2018 22:34 - 39 minutes - 72.3 MBIt’s easy to spend most of our day looking for something to make us feel whole and complete; like the day was worth it. It might be an episode of our favorite show, a good meal, or even the company of someone we love. Is it possible we do the same thing when it comes to our faith journey? Do you ever find yourself searching for something to make it feel whole and complete? Something to make it worthwhile? If you are, just know you don’t have to.
Relational Ministry: Random Acts of Kindness (12/31/17)
January 02, 2018 22:13 - 33 minutes - 61.6 MBHave you ever felt like you're living on auto-pilot? We see the same baristas every morning, the same co-workers every week and the same cashiers at the grocery store every weekend. What if God has more in store for those interactions than mundane small talk? What if the Kingdom starts with small acts of intention?
Xmas: Just Us (12/24/17)
January 02, 2018 21:50 - 26 minutes - 48.3 MBWe are unaware of what’s most constant. And for a long time, during the holidays, we’ve mistaken unawareness of something for a lack of something. We’ve maybe allowed the hustle, bustle, and mind-boggling activity of Christmas to make us calloused to the real meaning in all of it. The good news is that no matter how hard we try...we just can’t seem to take Christ out of Christmas.
Xmas: Just Waiting (12/17/17)
December 18, 2017 20:25 - 36 minutes - 66.3 MBFor Christmas people, December 25 is the center and pinnacle of the year. They look forward to it and, instead of seeing December 26 as the day after Christmas, they see it as the 363rd day before it. All year is about anticipation and the hope that comes during the holiday season. Even if you aren’t one of those kinds of people, by now you’re anticipating the joy of what’s just one week away. Isn’t it interesting how that acts as a metaphor for life in general? We’re always waiting, aren’t ...
Xmas: Just Branding (12/10/17)
December 14, 2017 17:32 - 41 minutes - 76.8 MBIn the movie Beaches, Bette Midler’s character says, “Enough about me, let's talk about you...what do YOU think of me?” And while we may never say that out loud, it’s certainly the question constantly running through our minds––especially at Christmas time. “How do I look? What do people think? Make the appearance. Build my brand.” The holidays can feel like one long audition for the part of “accepted member of society,” can’t they? And often, it seems like we don’t have the stuff to make th...
Xmas: Just Commerce (12/3/17)
December 04, 2017 17:43 - 33 minutes - 62 MBIn 1973, the O’Jays released the most covert Christmas song ever: For the Love of Money. At least that’s what the long lines, countless Amazon deliveries, and maxed out credit cards seem to indicate this time of year. Which makes one wonder what Christmas is really all about. Is it just money? Is it just about the big parties, huge gifts and company bonuses? If we let it be, yes. But Christmas could be about so much more, and you get to decide what that more... is.
Xmas: Just Work (11/26/17)
November 28, 2017 17:59 - 33 minutes - 62.2 MBThe weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be some of the most difficult. We’ve experienced the joy in one holiday and now wait––hoping to survive––until the next one arrives. Work feels monotonous. Family obligations are just...obligations. And something inside us longs for more meaning to all of it. So how do we make the every-day parts of our lives better? It starts with one simple truth: we can’t.
Mind the Gap: They Thrive (11/5/17)
November 08, 2017 16:20 - 32 minutes - 59.5 MBWhat do you call it when you get more than you need? When you get more than you thought you would? Bonus! More for us, right? There’s no such thing as too much fun, too much sleep or too much money in our world. This requires the assumption though, that extra and bonus are the same thing. Is it possible that God gives us extra to benefit someone besides us? Is it possible there’s a deeper purpose for the extra than just having it?
Mind the Gap: Marginal Thrive (10/31/17)
October 31, 2017 14:36 - 37 minutes - 67.8 MBWe have a tendency to think that everything we do or consume should be done or consumed at maximum capacity. Eat all you can eat. See all you can see. Spend all you can spend. Unfortunately it’s usually only at the maximum level that we realize it may not have been the wisest thing to do. In fact, sometimes we go over the max, causing more trouble than good. What if God means for us to live just shy of maximum, and discover the best life is in the gap.
A Wonderful Life (10/22/17)
October 23, 2017 17:32 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBIn the classic Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey was the richest man in town, but he didn't know it. In fact, he was quite miserable "doing the right thing," but becoming weary and worn because of it. It literally took divine intervention for George to see the kind of life that he had been given. The interesting thing is that he had access to this life the whole time. He was missing it even though it was right there for the taking and the enjoying.
Who Needs God: I Do (10/15/17)
October 16, 2017 21:27 - 27 minutes - 49.8 MBThere is an important difference between these two: (1) I don’t believe. (2) I don’t want to believe. Did you lose faith over something that happened? Something you read? Or did you decide to stop believing because faith got to be inconvenient and then you began gathering data to support your unbelief? Is it possible this isn’t a matter of existence as much as it is of resistance? Perhaps it’s time to take another look…
Who Needs God: In-Justice for All (10/8/17)
October 10, 2017 15:58 - 40 minutes - 74.9 MBOne of the most common arguments against the existence of the Judeo-Christian God is the existence of evil. How can we be expected to believe in a just and good God/Creator when there often seems to be little justice or goodness in the world he supposedly created? The problem of pain is the biggest problem of all for most people. However, injustice in the world calls into question the justice of God, not the existence of God...so let’s talk about that.
Who Needs God: The God of Jesus (10/1/17)
October 02, 2017 19:08 - 34 minutes - 64 MBWhen we consider God––who He is and what He’s all about––where do we start? Jesus said, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” So maybe we should start with Jesus…maybe what we’ll find is that God is more knowable than we thought.