First Church

What if fear isn’t actually the problem in your life? What if it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do…but it’s just focused on the wrong things? Even the fear of death… what if that’s not the real issue?

Jesus isn’t meant to be part of your life. He’s meant to be what everything else is built on. And when He’s not… things don’t hold together the same way. Jesus raising from the dead isn’t just something to believe. It’s something that should reshape how we live. This message walks through what that actually looks like.

You’ve made changes. Taken steps. Started fresh. But it’s not happening the way you thought. Little by little can feel invisible. This message explains why it’s not.

Have you ever thought about how easy it is to be around faith without letting it reshape your life? What if being near Jesus and being transformed by Jesus are not the same thing?

Have you ever felt frustrated with church and wondered if it’s even worth it? What if the expectations we carry into faith shape the way we experience it?

Why do the harshest thoughts about ourselves show up when we’re already tired or overwhelmed? The ones that replay our mistakes and tell us the worst is coming. This message looks at how Jesus shows us to respond when our minds start spiraling.

Divorce, burnout, financial stress, faith crises — they rarely happen overnight. They build slowly through unresolved small issues. In this message, we unpack how quiet neglect can drift us off course and how small, faithful steps can change the trajectory of your marriage, family, finances, and faith.

Stress doesn’t disappear just because you believe in God — but it does change when you trust Him. This message gets real about anxiety, control, and what it looks like to actually trust in anxiety.

Loneliness is rising, but the solution isn’t trying harder alone. Discover why God designed you to need others and how biblical community unlocks healing, growth, and purpose.

The danger isn’t always doing the wrong thing; sometimes it’s doing nothing at all. Could playing it safe be costing more than we realize?

A lot of us want our lives to matter—but we’re not sure where to start. We feel like impact should be bigger, louder, or more obvious than what we have right now. This message explores what following Jesus’ command for our life looks like.

Most conflict doesn’t start with hate, but with misunderstanding. Learn how seeing what others see, letting go of what doesn’t matter, and fighting for what does can heal complicated relationships.

This message, A New You, dives into the real struggle we all face: doing what we don’t want to do and feeling stuck in cycles we hate. Pastor Bob Merritt reminds us that the battle inside doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means God is at work.

Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we’re ever asked to do—and one of the most freeing. In this message, we explore what forgiveness really means, what it doesn’t mean, and why holding onto hurt can quietly trap us.

Relationships get complicated fast, but healing starts when we take responsibility for our part. This message explores how to ask for forgiveness, make real repair attempts, and stop focusing on everyone else’s faults before dealing with our own. If you want clearer and healthier relationships, this is a practical place to begin.

This message invites an honest look at what gets in the way of seeing ourselves clearly through the grace of Jesus. It challenges us to confront hidden sin and pride, learn how to love one another like family even when we disagree, and rediscover the joy of belonging to God’s family—especially if we’ve ever felt like outsiders.

Christmas reminds us that Jesus often shows up in ways we don’t expect. Many of us struggle with faith not because we doubt God’s existence, but because He hasn’t met the expectations we placed on Him. This message invites us to lay down those expectations and discover who Jesus truly is—and why that changes everything.

Life is messy, especially at Christmas. This message looks at how God doesn’t avoid our problems—He works through them, turning weakness and frustration into something meaningful.

Christmas doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. Family tension, distractions, and old hurts can quietly drain the joy from the table. In this message, we look at Jesus’ surprising words about becoming like children—and how presence, joy, humility, and forgiveness can heal dysfunction and restore what really matters this season.

What do you do when you’re praying for good things and nothing is happening? This message tackles “expectation frustration” — the gap between what you hoped for and what life is giving you. We’ll explore why God sometimes delays, how to recognize the wrong doors, and how to stay close to Him when you feel stuck. If you’re in a season of waiting, this message will give you clarity, hope, and direct...

We all keep going back to things that promise to fill us, but the satisfaction never lasts. Jesus calls this out in John 4 and offers something better—living water that truly satisfies. This message shows why He’s worth trusting with your whole life.

If your faith only works when life feels good, it’s not the faith Scripture calls us to. Real faith holds steady when everything visible is falling apart. Check out the message to be encouraged to deepen your faith!

In this message, Pastor John shares four essential truths every parent should teach their kids: how to handle emotions, understand consequences, stay coachable, and remember that later is longer.

Great families don’t happen by accident — they’re built with intention and a clear plan that honors God. This message challenges us to stop coasting through life and start building homes that last for eternity.

We all have stories of hurt—but what do we do with them? This message explores how God can meet us in the places we’d rather avoid and bring healing where we least expect it. If you’ve ever struggled to move on, this is worth watching.