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Emmaus Church - Jacksonville

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Emmaus Church - Jacksonville

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Emmaus Church of Jacksonville
"The family of God living on mission" Authenticity, creativity and a love for all people are things that mark us.

EMMAUS is a growing community of Christ followers who are seeking to show the love of Jesus to people in a tangible and relevant way. We desire to love as Christ did and share His love with all people. We believe that it is relationship that people need, not religion.

10/21/2026

The Narrow Way of Grace

Scripture
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV)

When Jesus invites us to enter through the narrow gate, He is not pointing us to a life of rule-keeping. These words come at the close of the Sermon on the Mount, where He has spent His entire message showing that real righteousness is a matter of the heart, not outward behavior. The Pharisees looked like they were walking the narrow road, but their confidence was in their own effort, not in God. They kept the rules, but their hearts were far from Him.

Throughout the sermon, Jesus keeps pressing the same point. Anger, lust, judging, giving, praying, and fasting are never simply about outward obedience. They are matters of the heart. Jesus is calling us to a righteousness that comes from God, not from ourselves. Paul explains the same truth in Romans 3, reminding us that we are made right with God through faith in Christ. Trying to earn our way to God only leads to exhaustion. Receiving His grace leads to life.

So when Jesus says the road is narrow, He is pointing us to Himself. In John 10 He says it plainly, “I am the gate.” He is the way to life. Any road that depends on our own goodness, discipline, or spiritual track record will eventually collapse under the weight of our imperfections. But the way of grace sets us free. Christ’s righteousness becomes ours, and His goodness is credited to our account. The road isn’t narrow because God makes it difficult. It’s narrow because so few are willing to stop trusting in themselves.

“For Christ the Lord is a low gateway: he who enters by this gateway must humble himself, that he may be able to enter with head unharmed.”¹
Augustine of Hippo

Augustine understood that the only way through this gate is to bow low. You can’t carry your pride, your record, or your self-reliance through it with you. Today, Jesus invites you to choose the narrow way, the way of grace. Let go of striving, humble yourself, and trust Him fully. The wide road may look easier, but it cannot save you. Only Jesus can. So bow low, step through, and find the peace, rest, and life your soul has been longing for.

Reflection
1. Where are you tempted to rely on your own goodness instead of trusting fully in Jesus?
2. What step can you take today to depend less on your own effort and more on God’s grace?
3. What pride or self-reliance do you need to lay down to walk through the gate of grace?

Prayer
Ask God to help you trust Jesus as the narrow gate and the source of true righteousness. Pray for a humble heart that rests in His grace and the strength to walk the path that leads to life.

Footnote
¹ Augustine, Tractates on the Gospel of John 45.5, trans. John Gibb, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, vol. 7, ed. Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1888).

10/20/2026

The Joy of a Generous Life

Scripture
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Some people are givers and some are takers, and Jesus invites us to consider which one we are becoming. In this part of Luke, often called the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus offers a series of simple but powerful teachings that read almost like proverbs. Here He lays out a principle that reaches far beyond money. “Give, and you will receive.” Generosity always leads to blessing. That’s not because we can manipulate God or earn His favor. It’s because giving aligns our hearts with His and opens us to the life He wants for us.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35 (NLT)

Jesus promises that when we give, God responds with abundance, more than we ever offered. But this is not a prosperity formula. He’s not saying give ten dollars and God will give you twenty. He’s revealing a deeper truth. You cannot outgive God. Whenever we open our hands, He opens His. The overflow He describes may come through joy, peace, relationships, spiritual growth, or new opportunities to bless someone else. God’s generosity always exceeds ours, but He decides the form it takes.

Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 9 when he says that those who sow generously will reap generously. God supplies seed to the sower, not so we can grow richer, but so we can keep giving. Everything we have is a gift from God, and we are simply stewards of His resources. That perspective changes everything. Instead of asking how much we can keep, we begin asking how we can use what He has entrusted to us for His Kingdom and for the good of others.

So how well are you stewarding what God has placed in your hands? Where is He inviting you to grow in generosity? Jesus makes it clear that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain when we live with open hands. Take Him at His word today. Give freely, give joyfully, and trust Him to fill you again so you can keep blessing others in His name.

Reflection
1. In what area of your life is Jesus inviting you to practice greater generosity?
2. How have you seen God bless you in unexpected ways when you chose to give?
3. What is one step of generous living you can take this week?

Prayer
Ask God to give you a generous heart and help you see everything you have as a gift to steward. Pray for joy in giving, and trust that He will provide all you need as you bless others.

10/19/2026

His Unshakable Kingdom

Scripture
“When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: ‘Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.’ This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.”
Hebrews 12:26–29 (NLT)

It’s easy to lose sight of the power and majesty of our God. When He speaks, creation responds. According to Exodus 19, Mount Sinai trembled violently at the sound of His voice. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that a greater shaking is still to come, one that will shake not only the earth but the heavens as well. Everything temporary, fragile, or corrupt will be removed, and only what is eternal will remain.

“We are modern people, and modern people, though they cherish great thoughts of themselves, have as a rule small thoughts of God.”¹
J.I. Packer

Packer is right. We tend to shrink God down to a size we can manage. But the God of Sinai is not small, and as followers of Jesus, His greatness should not frighten us. Rather, it should fill us with gratitude. We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, a Kingdom that will stand long after this world passes away. While everything around us feels uncertain, unstable, or constantly changing, God’s Kingdom remains solid and unmovable. That’s why we can give thanks even when life feels shaky. Our hope is rooted in something eternal.

And gratitude is only part of our response. The writer of Hebrews also calls us to worship with holy fear and awe, because our God is a devouring fire. Moses used those same words to describe the Lord in Deuteronomy 4:24. The God who loves us is the same God whose voice shook a mountain. His holiness is not something to take lightly or treat casually. Small thoughts of God lead to small worship, but when we see Him as He truly is, reverence and wonder follow. His holiness is not meant to drive us away but to draw us into deeper worship and surrender.

So today, lift your eyes from whatever feels unstable and remember the God who never changes. You belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, no matter what is happening around you. Let that truth steady your heart and fill you with gratitude. And don’t settle for small thoughts of God. Draw near to Him with reverence and awe, and worship Him as the holy, mighty, unshakable King He is.

Reflection
1. What areas of your life feel shaky right now, and how does the promise of an unshakable Kingdom bring you comfort?
2. In what ways might you be holding small thoughts of God, and what would it look like to see Him as He truly is?
3. How can you make space this week to slow down, worship, and let God fill you with a deeper sense of awe?

Prayer
Thank God for giving you a place in His unshakable Kingdom. Ask Him to steady your heart, enlarge your view of His majesty, and fill you with holy awe as you draw near to Him in worship.

Footnote
¹ J.I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 83.

10/18/2026

Emmaus Church is a non-denominational, missional Church that provides expository teaching/preaching through books of the Bible. In this message, Vic Cuccia shares one important word James wants us to hear: patience.

10/18/2026

Church picnic today following the service! Bring a chair/blanket and a side!

10/18/2026

Tell of His Greatness

Scripture
“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.”
Psalm 145:3–7 (NLT)

David never gets over the greatness of God. He sees God’s goodness and glory so clearly that praise becomes the natural overflow of his heart. When he says the Lord is “most worthy of praise,” he means that nothing in this world compares to the goodness, faithfulness, and power of our God. His greatness is beyond measure. We cannot fully grasp it, but we can respond to it. Praise becomes our way of saying, “God, You are better than anything this world offers.” C.S. Lewis noticed that praise does more than express our joy in God. It finishes it.

“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”¹
— C.S. Lewis

David also reminds us that God’s greatness is meant to be passed on. “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts.” That is both an invitation and a calling. The people around us need to hear how God has shown up in our lives. They need to know that He still works, still speaks, and still moves in power. When we tell the stories of how God has helped us, carried us, or changed us, we are putting His greatness on display.

David takes time to meditate on God’s miracles and wonderful works. Maybe that is something we need to return to more often. Life moves quickly, and it is easy to forget the ways God has answered prayers or led us forward when we did not see a way. Taking time to remember strengthens our trust and fuels our praise. Gratitude grows when we look back and see the fingerprints of God in our story.

So today, take a moment to think about God’s goodness in your life. Remember the blessings, the answered prayers, the quiet moments of comfort or guidance. Praise Him for those things. And look for someone you can encourage by sharing even a small story of His faithfulness. God is truly great, and the world needs to hear how good He has been to you.

Reflection
1. What is one specific way you have experienced God’s greatness or goodness recently?
2. How might remembering God’s past faithfulness strengthen your faith today?
3. Who could you encourage by sharing a story of something God has done in your life?

Prayer
Thank God for His greatness and goodness, and ask Him to help you remember the ways He has worked in your life. Pray for a heart that praises Him freely and the courage to share His goodness with others.

Footnote
¹ C.S. Lewis, “A Word About Praising,” in Reflections on the Psalms (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1958).

10/17/2026

Joyful, Prayerful, Thankful

Scripture
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 (NLT)

Paul gives us a picture of what a healthy, vibrant walk with Jesus looks like. He tells us to always be joyful, not because life is always easy, but because joy is rooted in something deeper than circumstances. Happiness comes and goes, but biblical joy is a settled confidence in who God is and what He has done. It is the quiet strength that comes from knowing our lives are held in His hands. Even on the hard days, joy is available because God never changes.

Paul also reminds us to stay connected to the Lord through prayer. “Never stop praying” does not mean we live every moment on our knees. It means we live every moment aware of God, talking with Him, listening for His leading, and inviting Him into the details of our day. And as we walk with Him, we are to cultivate a thankful heart. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to all that God has given us. What do you have to be thankful for today?

“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer.”¹
— Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence, a monk who spent his days in a busy monastery kitchen, found no gap between his work and his prayer. That is what it means to never stop praying. Paul then turns to the Holy Spirit, warning us not to stifle what He wants to do in us and through us. Our relationship with God is supernatural. He still speaks, guides, convicts, and empowers His people. So we stay open to His leading, test everything, hold tightly to what is good, and stay away from anything that pulls us toward evil.

Living joyful, prayerful, and thankful is not a burden we carry alone. It is the natural result of walking closely with Jesus. God doesn’t just call us to this life; He gives us the strength to live it. Today, rest in that promise. His Spirit is within you, ready to steady your joy, guide your prayers, and remind you of His goodness. Lean into Him and trust that He is at work, even in the ordinary moments of your day.

Reflection
1. Where do you need to lean into joy today, trusting God beyond your circumstances?
2. How can you stay more prayerfully aware of God throughout the day?
3. Where do you sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to grow or take a step of obedience this week?

Prayer
Ask God to fill you with His joy and help you stay prayerfully aware of His presence. Pray for a grateful heart, a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom to cling to what is good and turn from anything that draws you away from Him.

Footnote
¹ Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, Fourth Conversation (online edition, ed. Lightheart, 2002).

10/17/2026

Men's Breakfast tomorrow
8AM @ Emmaus

10/16/2026

Alert and Thankful

Scripture
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:2–6 (NLT)

Paul begins with a simple but powerful invitation to devote ourselves to prayer. He calls us to stay alert to what really matters and to keep our hearts thankful. That combination changes how we see the world. When we’re alert, we recognize the subtle ways this world tries to pull us into distraction or dissatisfaction. And when we’re thankful, our hearts stay rooted in all we already have in Christ. Gratitude keeps us grounded, centered, and aware of God’s steady presence in our lives.

Paul then asks the Colossians to pray for him, not for comfort or release, but for opportunities to share Jesus clearly. Even in chains, his purpose hasn’t changed. He wants to make Christ known. That kind of perspective comes from walking closely with the Lord. Circumstances don’t decide his calling, and the same is true for us. God has placed each of us exactly where we are, with people around us who need hope, truth, and love.

That’s why Paul urges us to live wisely among those who don’t yet believe. People notice how we live. They notice our patience, our peace, and the quiet strength that comes from trusting God. And nothing speaks louder than love. Love disarms defensiveness. Love creates space for questions. Love softens hearts that would never respond to arguments. Jesus said the world would know us by our love, and when our lives reflect His heart, the door to the gospel opens naturally.

“Love, and the unity it attests to, is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world.”¹
Francis Schaeffer

That’s also why Paul tells us to let our conversations be gracious and attractive. Our words should lift, encourage, bless, and invite. You cannot argue someone into the Kingdom, but your love can make them hungry for the God who changed your life. So today, stay alert, stay thankful, and step into every opportunity God gives you. Live for Him, love like Him, and trust that He is working through you more than you realize.

Reflection
Where do you need to stay more spiritually alert instead of being pulled into distraction?
What are you thankful for today that reminds you of God’s goodness?
Who might God be inviting you to love, encourage, or speak kindly to this week?

Prayer
Ask God to keep you alert to His presence and to fill your heart with gratitude. Pray for opportunities to point people to Jesus, and ask Him for words full of grace and love for everyone you meet.

Footnote
¹ Francis A. Schaeffer, The Mark of the Christian (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1970).

10/14/2026

Our Shelter and Refuge

Scripture
“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.”
Psalm 9:9–11 (NLT)

David reminds us of something we all need to hear: the Lord Himself is our shelter. Shelter is what keeps us safe when the storms come, what protects us from the elements, and what helps us stand when life gets hard. Many who are oppressed in this world lack physical safety or support, yet David says that even for them, God becomes a shelter. He sees those who are overlooked. He holds close those who feel forgotten. And even in the hardest seasons of life, the Lord remains a refuge for all who run to Him.

Because God is our shelter, He is also the One we can trust. Everything in this world can fail us, but the Lord never does. Those who know Him learn to place their trust fully in Him. David says that God does not abandon those who search for Him. He may feel distant at times, but He never leaves us to face the storm alone. His presence is the solid ground beneath our feet.

“The Lord may hide his face for a season from his people, but he never has utterly, finally, really, or angrily forsaken them that seek him.”¹
— Charles Spurgeon

So how do we respond to a God like this? David tells us to praise Him. To lift our voices in gratitude for His protection, mercy, and unfailing love. Praise reminds us of who He is and helps us see beyond what we are facing. It shifts our focus from our circumstances to His steady and faithful character.

And as we praise Him, our lives begin to bear witness. David urges us to tell the world about God’s unforgettable deeds. When He shelters us, carries us, or comforts us in trouble, those stories matter. They point people to the goodness of God and remind us that He is active, present, and deeply involved in our lives. So don’t keep your story to yourself. Tell someone this week what God has done for you.

Reflection
1. Where in your life do you most need the Lord to be your shelter right now?
2. How have you experienced God’s faithfulness in past seasons of trouble, and how can that strengthen your trust today?
3. Who in your life needs to hear about something God has done for you, and how might you share it this week?

Prayer
Thank God for being your shelter and refuge. Ask Him to deepen your trust in His faithfulness, and pray for the courage to praise Him in every season and to share His goodness with those around you.

Footnote
¹ C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, vol. 1, exposition of Psalm 9:10.

Address

3425 Sans Pareil Street
Jacksonville, FL
32224

Opening Hours

Tuesday	7am - 8am
Thursday	7am - 8am
Sunday	9:30am - 11am

Website

http://www.emmauschurchjacksonville.com/

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