IBC Small Groups

Spiritual Gifts

There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. (1 Cor. 12: 4-5)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12: 4-6)

Identify your spiritual gifts HERE.

GOING FOR THE GOLD

It is fun to see my children get excited and pull for certain athletes during the Olympics. I am personally amazed at the dedication of each athlete, and I love hearing the back stories of athletes. One characteristic of each athlete is dedication. They each are dedicated to their training because they each have a hunger to win.

 
Paul speaks of the same dedication in the Christian faith. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

 
August 5th we are beginning a new sermon series entitled “Going for the Gold.” This series will set the course for the next year, remind us of our high calling, and inspire us to live for Jesus like never before. I am anxious to begin this journey Sunday with each of you.

-Allen Bonnell

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in Heaven,

Let your name be honored and set apart as Holy.

Please, we want your Kingdom to fully come to earth.

We want your will to be done here as it is already done in heaven.

We ask that you continue to give us food for our bodies

and provide for the physical needs we have.

We also ask that you forgive us,

and restore us to the right relationship with you that our sin has hindered.

We will forgive others like you have forgiven us.

Keep us from Temptation,

you know how weak we are.

Please spare us from the evil one in this world

who wants to kill steal and destroy.

You alone can do these things,

because you have the power.

It is your kingdom.

You are glorious!

You are eternal, unchanging God!

Bless your name!

So be it.

Loving Creator

we honor you,

and we honor all that you have made.

Renew the whole world

in the image

 of your love.

Give us what we need for today,

and a hunger to see the whole world fed. Strengthen us for what lies ahead;

heal us from the hurts of the past;

give us courage to follow your call in this moment. For your love is the only power,

the only home, the only honor we need,

in this world and in the world to come.

Amen.

Dear Father always near us, may your name be treasured and loved,

may your rule be completed in us-

may your will be done here on earth in

just the way it is done in heaven.

Give us today the things we need today,

and forgive us our sins and impositions on you

as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.

Please don’t put us through trials,

but deliver us from everything bad.

Because you are the one in charge,

and you have all the power, and the glory too is all yours-forever-

which is just the way we want it!

O Father in heaven (may Your name be glorified!)

May Your reign be established and Your will accomplished

In this earth, just as it is in Your heaven.

Please give me today just what I need for today,

And forgive my sins, in exactly the same way

That I forgive those who have wronged and hurt me.

Please lead me, not into testing and trial,

But rather delivering me from the Evil One.

For the rule, and the authority, and the glory

Are all Yours forever. Amen.

Dear Father always near us,

may your name be treasured and loved,

may your rule be completed in us -

may your will be done here on earth

in just the way it is done in heaven.

Give us today the things we need today,

and forgive us our sins and impositions on you

as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.

Please don't put us through trials,

but deliver us from everything bad.

Because you are the one in charge,

and you have all the power,

and the glory too is all yours - forever -

which is just the way we want it!

Fall Discipleship Electives

Our Sunday night discipleship electives will begin August 12th at 5:30 pm. Our discipleship electives are small group settings that target specific areas of discipleship for adults. You will find our discipleship electives to be a freshening time of discovering new
truths from the Scriptures. We have four electives we are offering the first 6 weeks.

PLACE – a 6 week discovery of who we are in Christ and His purpose for us in His Kingdom. A spiritual gift assessment will be a component of the class. Taught by Pastor Nathan. The cost is $12.

Nehemiah – Taught by Heather McVey. The cost is $14. In this Bible study, Nehemiah’s heart for the oppressed, suffering and poor is a beacon whose light shines on the current call of the church to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Ruth – Taught by Sarah. The cost is $14. This 6-week study delves into the virtuous character of Ruth, her unique relationship with her mother-in-law Naomi, and her blossoming love with Boaz.

1 Timothy – Exploring the personal letter of 1 Timothy – “Fighting the Good Fight.” Taught by Pastor Allen

Being a Vessel to Bless Others

"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:24-25 

One of the reasons God entrusts money to us is to bless other Christians by meeting their needs. God uses the transfer of money within the Body of Christ to build unity among Christians. Sometimes we withhold money that God has designated for someone else. He wants to bless through us, but His will cannot be accomplished through us if we are disobedient. 

This was the case for a business owner who tells of the time when God told him to forego a company bonus one year. God directed him to share his year-end bonus with an employee to show his appreciation for him. He wrestled with God for three full days before obeying the Lord on the matter. When he finally met with the employee to give him his check, the man said he had been praying about a financial need he had three days earlier. He had decided to borrow the money to meet his need. The amount of money he borrowed was the exact amount the business owner gave him. 

God had already planned to provide for the employee through the business owner, but because he was hesitant, he almost missed the opportunity to be an instrument of God in this man's life. Even so, he could have prevented the man from having to borrow money. It was an important lesson for the business owner. 

How many people do we let down because we feel the "harvest" God provides is all ours? In America, the pressure is always on to move up the ladder of material accumulation. Jesus warned us about this. If our focus is on accumulation, we will not look for opportunities to be God's vessels of financial blessing to others. Ask the Lord if you have an open hand when it comes to finances.

Pray for the Persecuted

Many Christians facing severe persecution live in remote or restricted areas with little or no access to today’s modern communication technologies. So it’s hard to know the exact number of our brothers and sisters who are being martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.

A recent article from the Voice of Martyrs (http://www.persecution.com) states that "According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith. David B. Barrett, Todd M. Johnson, and Peter F. Crossing in their 2009 report in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research (Vol. 33, No. 1: 32) estimate that approximately 176,000 Christians will have been martyred from mid-2008 to mid-2009. This, according to the authors, compares to 160,000 martyrs in mid-2000 and 34,400 at the beginning of the 20th century. If current trends continue, Barrett, Johnson and Crossing estimate that by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually".

However accurate these numbers may be, one thing is known for sure — the death of every martyr is precious to the Lord.

These dear saints are from every corner of the globe and every walk of life. Their persecutors are demonically inspired souls who seek to destroy and devour any and every follower of Christ. Each Christian man, woman and child who is slain is done so in hopes of quieting and quenching the work of God.

However, with the vicious torture or the brutal killing of every martyr, somehow more light floods the darkness, more fuel is added to the passionate flames of fellow believers, and more glory goes to the Worthy One who was slain. Many of these precious brothers and sisters are given the opportunity to be granted “mercy,” “freedom” and “life,” if they will simply deny their Savior; but most refuse. They boldly stand firm, unashamedly knowing that their true mercy, true freedom, and true lives are found in Christ alone!

Let us, the Christian Church as a whole, look the other way no longer!

Let us, each and every individual believer, no longer make excuses for not knowing more and not doing more! After all, these are our brothers and sisters. This is our Christian family being brutalized, and to them this is literally life or death.

If any of these saints had been born under different circumstances, in a different place or in a different time, perhaps they would have been spared the hardship of such intense persecution. Perhaps they would have been sitting in the next pew or row at church on any given Sunday. Perhaps they would have been on the worship team or served in the children’s ministry at your own church.

However, in the Lord’s sovereign and perfect will He has placed them where they are, and He has placed us where we are. They face the constant threat of being beaten, tortured or killed; whether on their way to or from work, church or school, or even while in their own homes. At any moment the attack could come.

What if it were your closest Christian brother or sister who was facing such harsh and violent cruelty? What would you do? You would do more than just think about them every now and then! You would do more than just feel bad for them! You would do more than just say a quick prayer whenever you happened to think about them! 

Let’s break the silence and get on our knees regularly on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters. The most important thing that we can do for them is PRAY! In fact, that’s what the majority of our persecuted family asks for — our prayers! Praying is both the least and the most we can do. It’s the least we can do because it’s so simple, yet it’s the most we can do because it has the biggest impact.

Let’s be the silent majority no longer, but rather, lift them up in prayer to our Great and Gracious God! Let’s pray for our fellow believers just as Jesus prayed for His followers as recorded in John 17: that they might be kept from the evil one, sanctified by the truth of God’s Word, that they may be made complete in oneness with the Lord, that they may be where our precious Lord Jesus is, that they may behold His glory, and that the love of God would be in them as God Himself is in them.

Let’s remember all of our fellow believers facing persecution as if we were bound and suffering with them, as we join together in prayer asking that the Lord would cause them to grow stronger in spirit day by day, that the Lord would protect and provide for their families, that they would be bold and wise, as well as loving and compassionate to all (including their persecutors). In Jesus name, Amen!

A Year In Senegal

Becoming a Christ-Follower

1. Know that God loves you.
Gods love is a real kind of love that does something wonderful for us. When God saw man's hopeless, desperate sinful condition, he decided to help man. He lovingly gave His only Son to die and be crucified for us on Calvary. Even though Jesus was innocent, He paid the price for our salvation. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

2. Know that all have sinned.
Everyone has committed at least one sin and that makes us all sinners. We all stand guilty before God. Rom 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," 

3. Repent for your sins.
Jesus often started his sermons with the theme of repentance. 

4. Know that Jesus Christ is the only way.
There are people that teach that there are different ways to God and Heaven. This is not true. Jesus said that He is the only way. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is the only bridge between God and man. 

5. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior today.
By inviting Jesus to come into your life today, all your sins will be forgiven, because Jesus will cleanse you from all sin with His precious Blood. God the Father will accept you as His own. God brings salvation and everlasting life. Spiritual growth is then developed by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Please make this decision now and pray this prayer:
Dear Jesus, I invite you to come into my life right now. Please forgive all my sins and cleanse me with your precious Blood. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Dear Jesus reveal Yourself to me, and become real in my life from this moment. Write my name in the Book of Life and give me life everlasting. I ask this in Your wonderful Name Jesus, Amen. 

 

If you just prayed this prayer, share your experience with someone and find a Bible-believing church to attend regularly.

Preparation for Greatness

J Deroncourt bending man

  "He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze." - 2 Samuel 22:35 

   David was a mighty warrior, and God described him as a man after His own heart. God took David through a training ground that could be looked on as cruel and unusual punishment by many a person. God chose him at a young age to be the next king, yet King Saul rejected him and hunted him down. David was a fugitive for many years. He had uprisings in his own family, and he had relationship problems. He had a life of extreme ups and downs. He certainly did not have a life free of problems; he made mistakes. He was human like all of us, yet he learned from his mistakes and repented when he failed. This was David's training ground; it made the man. Without these hardships, it is doubtful David would have accomplished what he did.

   Toward the end of David's life, he recounted his relationship with God. It is a sermon on God's ways of dealing with a servant leader. It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me Your shield of victory; You stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn (2 Samuel 22:33-37). 

   God was David's source for everything. God gave him the ability to achieve the many extraordinary things in his life. It was a lifelong training ground that moved him from one plateau to another, often dropping into a ravine of despair and hopelessness from time to time. These are God's ways. They drive us deeper and deeper into the heart of Him who has prepared a way for us. Let God take you to the heights or depths He desires for you. He never promised smooth sailing during the trip, but He did promise to be the captain and companion along the way.

Rush Of Fools at Immanuel

Check out the whole album HERE!!!

The Goal of the Christian Life

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - John 12:24

   The goal of the Christian life is death, not success. A popular teaching says that if we follow God, we will prosper materially. God may, in fact, bless His people materially, but few can make this claim among third-world countries. Wealth must never be the goal of a person's life, only a by-product.

   A missionary to a Middle-Eastern country has shared a motto among their ministry team: "God does not require success, but radical, immediate obedience." Jesus' obedience gained Him the cross. It did not gain Him popularity among the heathen, the religious or financial success, or a life of pleasure. His obedience resulted in His death on the cross. This is the same goal Christ has for each of us--death of our old nature so that He might live through us. That may not sell well among outcome-based Christian workplace believers, but it will result in an eternal reward that far exceeds any earthly reward. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Rev. 22:12).

  The Christian life is a paradox--the first will be last, death in return for life, and we are encouraged to offer praise to God to overcome a spirit of heaviness. It requires faith in a God who operates from a different set of values that are sometimes difficult to measure from human standards. Let death work in you a life that only God can raise up. 

Prayer Warriors

“God shapes the world by prayer. The more prayer there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil …” E.M. Bounds

Immanuel Prayer Warriors meet every Monday at noon 

to storm the gates of hell!

VBS Coming soon!

Two words: Real life.

   In this day and age, it’s vital that we teach our children that the Bible is more than just a dusty book of stories. We need to show them God’s Word connects to every area of our lives and is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago, so they will know its amazing message of salvation is true!

   With IncrediWorld Amazement Park, children will learn about our amazing Creator God and His incredible world! They'll discover that God's fingerprint can be seen throughout His creation as they explore the amazingly designed features in the animal kingdom. And they'll uncover His plan of salvation that unfolded in Genesis and continued with Jesus's death and Resurrection.

Our Goal

   If you asked the children of your church and community how they felt about the Bible, what would their response be? Would they consider the Word of God relevant to their lives and interesting to learn from? Or would it seem irrelevant and trumped by “science”?

 

    A recent survey by America’s Research Group revealed that an alarming number of young people are leaving the church after they graduate because their questions about the Bible had not been answered. Respondents indicated that Sunday School materials were shallow and irrelevant. Of those polled, 86% had begun to question the Bible by their high school years. Of those who said they did not believe all the accounts in the Bible are true, 82% cited doubts about the Bible’s authority or its trustworthiness.

    We trust that the Lord will use this VBS to help reverse this sad trend by equipping today’s children with the answers they seek.

For more info about VBS CALL 606-528-4975

Love story

Share your story of God's love with us.

Dustin Rife - Student Pastor

We have extended the call to Dustin Rife to become our new student pastor. Pastor Nathan will be working closely to Dustin in the transition.

Allen first met Dustin in 1999 in Clintwood. Virginia where Allen was serving as student pastor. Since then, Dustin has received bachelor's from Liberty University and his master's from Liberty Theological Seminary. Dustin is married to Kristen Darden. They have one child, Dylan, with their second child due in June.

Dustin loves the outdoors, mountains, white water rafting, rappelling, caving, hiking, camping, skiing.

Interests include Bible study, survival skills, old cars - especially Corvettes. Dustin has lead a team of four men backpacking through the mountains of Asia handing out Jesus film, radios that broadcast the gospel weekly, and Bibles. He has also taken mission trips to Nicaragua and to the Gulf-Port Mississippi to provide relief work to the victims of Katrina.

For the past four years Dustin has served as Resident Director at Liberty University. In part his responsibilities included the supervision of academic, social, physical and spiritual well-being of 250 students. 

Be praying for Dustin, Kristen, Dylan, and the baby on the way as they move to Corbin. You can email Dustin at dtrife@liberty.edu.His email address here at Immanuel is drife@ibccorbin.com.

Rush of Fools Concert

For ticket info contact Kathy at Immanuel.

kdowning@ibccorbin.com

606-528-4975

Marriage Amendment

Jesus said, "for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh".   Mathew 19:5

 

The Flight of Geese

"Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord." - 2 Chronicles 30:12 

A major corporation conducted a study on the flight of geese. In their study they found that geese fly in a "V" formation with one goose in the lead. After a period of time, this goose relinquishes the lead to another goose. During flight they noticed head movements of the leader that seem to give signals to the other geese flying, perhaps to let the others know how he was doing. They estimate that the formation flight pattern reduces wind drag due to the lift the other birds receive and believe it increases their performance by up to 70 percent. Whenever one goose drops out, another goes with it. These two geese do not catch up to the original pack, but join another group later. 

Independence is one of the strongholds of the workplace. The entire system feeds the desire within us to gain recognition from our individual achievements. We wrongly believe financial independence frees us from needing to depend on anyone else. The fact is dependence on others is a good thing. It can bring us into a unity of spirit that accomplishes much more with less effort while meeting needs for each of us. Christ talked a lot about unity among brothers and sisters. He said that others would know we are Christians by our love for one another and by our unity. We need to depend on others so that we don't go it alone. By walking together we increase our strength. By going it alone we must carry a load we were never intended to carry. God did not create us to go it alone. By joining together we accomplish more for Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord today if there is an independent spirit within you that prevents you from joining others in the mission He has called you to. 

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders

Kerri Jones - Faith Story

"Since becoming a Christian the hurt and regret has been lifted from my heart and I can live with happiness that my story will touch someone else".

"One of the biggest changes in my life is I find myself praying all the time, whether it be for strangers or prayer request. I look forward to reading the Bible and building a stronger relationship with my
savior every day".

"My small group with Shane and Jocelyn Sams has been an unbelievable help in my life. It allows us to hold each other accountable for each other’s actions and discus the Bible together".