First Christian Church Champaign

This Resurrection Sunday we press past tradition, pressure, and going-through-the-motions to put one question in front of you and not let you dodge it. If you feel stuck, ashamed, distracted, or convinced you’ve gone too far, you’ll hear why the empty tomb isn’t just a headline—it’s a turning point. Through a bold call to prayer and a simple, gripping picture of what Jesus has done, this episode i...

Storms don’t wait until you’re ready—and when they hit, whatever you’re clinging to gets exposed. In this message from 1 Timothy 1:18–20, Paul’s charge to Timothy becomes a wake-up call for anyone navigating pressure, doubt, or drift: hold on to faith and a good conscience, or risk a shipwreck. From a “Perfect Storm” moment in history to the raw reality of real-life trials, this episode confronts...

Winning the Fight Within | Week 3 by First Christian Church Champaign

Winning the Fight Within | Week 2 by First Christian Church Champaign

What if the people closest to you became exactly like you—would that be good news? In this kickoff to “Winning the Fight Within,” we step into 1 Timothy and discover the real battle isn’t out there, but within: the fight to unite grounded belief with genuine action. Paul’s opening words to Timothy confront a culture of “right beliefs” with unchanged lives and call us to stop treating Jesus like a...

Sacrifice and submission. If we're being real, those words probably made a few of you uncomfortable. So we're opening it up. These are answers to your questions, your pushback, your "but what about…" moments.

Ever pour your heart into something… only to realize you totally missed the assignment? That’s the question behind this message on marriage. Is it about chasing a feeling—or becoming faithful, formed, and changed? From a fifth-grade Harry Potter fail to one of the most tension-filled passages in Ephesians 5, this talk goes after the “why” beneath the vows—and the kind of love, respect, sacrifice,...

A new year invites us to rediscover prayer as the heartbeat of a vibrant life with God. Prayer is not a task to perform but a relationship to enjoy; a way of opening ourselves fully to God’s presence and aligning our hearts with His will. This series calls us to move beyond routine and into a life marked by honesty, dependence, and trust. As we learn to pray with wonder, we begin to live with free...

Before anything can be harvested, it has to first be planted. This is a simple truth that we sometimes forget. And just like corn or beans, souls require similar care. The first step is planting seeds, expecting an abundant harvest.

Found people find people. Before we even open our mouths or invite someone to church, we must pray for God to prepare hearts and minds to encounter Jesus. What if we prayed incessantly for one life in our lives to come to know Jesus - until He answers? fcc-online.org/onelife

10:30A Live Bible Study - Exodus 32:25-35

9:00A Live Bible Study - Revelation 8:6-13

In this sermon, we discuss the importance of understanding context when reading the Bible. The host reflects on a personal anecdote about feeling out of touch with modern slang to highlight the importance of context in communication. We delve into why context matters in biblical study, the significance of different translations, and how to choose one that best suits you. The episode provides pract...

Start 2026 with a fresh spiritual focus! Join us as we explore the transformative power of Jesus-centered Bible reading. Discover how engaging with God's word can lead to incredible spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him. Get inspired by a 10-minute overview of the Bible's grand story, understand why it's crucial to make Bible reading a top priority, and commit to a year of spiritual...

Join Stephen as he delves into a heartfelt sermon about the ups and downs of Peter's life with Jesus, offering a relatable reflection on our own faith journeys. Learn what it truly means to run to Jesus, share your story, and embrace the community of broken yet hopeful believers at church. Through Peter’s example, discover how Jesus is with us in every high and low, ready to guide and lift us up....

Join us as we explore Luke 2 in our series, Sounds of This Season. This episode delves into the true meaning of joy versus happiness, emphasizing that joy is 'functioning hope.' Learn how cultural misconceptions often equate joy with happiness, and discover how the Gospel provides everlasting joy. Hear stories, analogies, and powerful reflections on the transformative power of placing hope in Jesu...

Pastor Eric Friedmann fondly recalls humorous memories of Christmas past and sets the stage for a new mini-series titled 'The Songs of This Season.' He reflects on the unexpected origins and deep meaning behind popular Christmas carols, starting with 'Silent Night.' By delving into the context of Jesus's birth, Friedmann emphasizes that spiritual stillness and true peace are found not in the absen...

In this final sermon of the 'The Relentless Pursuit' series, we dive into the essence of disciple-making according to the teachings of Jesus in Luke chapter 9. The message emphasizes three key principles: denying oneself, dying daily by taking up one's cross, and demonstrating devotion by following Jesus wholeheartedly. The sermon challenges cultural Christianity and calls for a return to committe...

Join us as we continue our series on discipleship with a focus on the power and importance of being a witness for Jesus Christ. This week's message delves into the significance of sharing and demonstrating God's love and truth amidst various challenges such as fear, busyness, and feeling unequipped. We explore practical steps and biblical examples, noting the essential role of the Holy Spirit and...

In this week's episode of The Relentless Pursuit, we delve into First Corinthians chapter 12 to understand the importance of serving with our spiritual gifts. Pastor Eric emphasizes that every Christian is endowed with unique gifts meant for the common good of the Kingdom of God. Through personal anecdotes and scriptural exegesis, he challenges believers to move beyond consumption and fully engage...

As Thanksgiving approaches, Pastor Jordan Dunahee reflects on gratitude and shares a personal story about his connection to Illinois basketball. He humorously describes a game's 'Money Grab' segment, drawing a parallel to life's struggles with money and how the world's system is broken compared to God's economy. As part of the 'Relentless Pursuit' series, he emphasizes the significance of generosi...

There is something at the center of our shared human experience, something deep in our souls, that longs to cry out to something beyond ourselves. Every person—man, woman, and child, Christian, Buddhist, or even Atheist—will find it hard not to exclaim their gratitude to a ‘Higher Power’ for the greatest joys in life, or beg that same ‘Power’ for deliverance in their most dire time of need. For th...

Some call it “The Word of God.” Others simply say “The Word” or “Scripture.” But the most recognized name—without question—is “The Bible.” If someone asked you, “What is the Bible, and what is it even about?” how would you respond? This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we provide some basics to understanding the big picture of what the Bible is all about.

In the early 17th century, poet John Donne asserted in one of his writings that, “no man is an island…” Meaning that no person, no matter how gifted or resourceful, can ever truly be self-sufficient—we can’t live this life on our own. Thousands of years before those words were written, God proclaimed it was “not good” for man to be alone. This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we pull back layers ab...

Have you ever thought about how many things you trust without fully understanding them? Microwaves cook our food in seconds, but most of us can’t explain how. Cars take us miles with the push of a pedal, yet few could build one from scratch. We trust these things work, even if we don’t fully grasp how. The same goes for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of disciples. This week in The Relentl...