Salem First Friends Church

What happens when one of the important foundations of your formation—your bible reading, your thoughts about God, or your life experience—get out of alignment with the others? How do we handle the theological problems, or tensions, that we encounter in our lives? 

The next sermon in our Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World series focuses on our willingness to live with the mystery that is inherent in the majesty of God, and how our understanding of Him will never be complete. 

A sermon series about slowing down to build a resilient faith for a chaotic world wouldn't be complete without a focus on the practice of Sabbath, so that's what we're digging into with this episode. 

Do you consider yourself a theologian? Well, you should! Any person who has thoughts about God is doing (basic) theology.

In the next message in the series Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World, we'll unpack how we are invited into slow growth in the good soil... and how God himself chooses to go slowly and linger.

We're starting a new series! Based on themes from the book Slow Theology, our fall series Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World will help us learn how to slow down in order to live well in disordered world.

Returning to the devotional thoughts of Rev. Harold Winn and the Wise Words from a Friend theme, we explore what Paul means when he writes that we should "judge nothing before the appointed time."

On the Sunday that we celebrate the baptisms of nine people at FFC, we take a look at baptism in the context of the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.

The story of Jesus blessing children isn't just about the Messiah having a soft spot for kids. It's a reminder of the only possible posture by which we enter into his kingdom. 

In a well-known parable, Jesus talks about a Pharisee and Tax Collector who were praying at the same time... and which one walked away justified. 

In this episode, we take a long look at the "Parable of the Persistent Widow" that Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 18 to encourage them that they should always pray, and never give up. 

Following on from the beginning of Jesus' remarks about the day of the "Son of Man" last week, we now see the rest of those thoughts as Luke 17 concludes, including the short (but powerful) three-word verse: "Remember Lot's wife!" 

Jesus surprises his listeners when he proclaims that the Kingdom of God is "in their midst." And then, he begins to unpack some ideas about the day of the "Son of Man." 

We're back in our sermon series Open Invitation, a tour through the gospel of Luke, for a few weeks! In this message, we discover a story about Jesus healing ten men with leprosy... but only one offers gratitude and worship in response. 

Guest preacher David Williams (from Malone University) blesses us with a message about the example of service that Jesus gives us with a towel and basin... reminding us what true greatness looks like. 

It's the weekend of America's 250th birthday celebration! In this message, we discuss what it looks like to properly and faithfully steward the blessing of citizenship in our nation while focusing on our deeper citizenship as participants in God's kingdom. 

Guest preacher Linda Leon (Flourish Ministries) follows up on last Sunday's message about human limitation by focusing on the meaning and purpose behind the practice of Sabbath. 

As humans, we are designed with limitations. But, this isn't a defect. It's a blessing. 

Guest preacher Jeff Bartolet brings a message about the harvest fields of mission and the need for more workers. 

As the floodwaters finish receding, Noah sends two birds out from the ark. What does this scene have to teach us about looking and listening to God's presence and direction in our lives?

Most people are familiar with the "David vs. Goliath" story. But, where did David get the courage to face that giant?!? That's what we're exploring as we revisit that famous scene. 

To conclude the series, Success and the Shape of Life, we look at one particular passage and the suggestion that knowing Christ is a good barometer for a "successful" life. But, what does "knowing Christ" entail according to the apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 3?

Jesus releases his followers to walk in the world as sheep among wolves, and to do so while being "as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves." What does Jesus mean by the strange metaphorical pairing of these animals?

Influence is everywhere! Being influential is now even a vocation! Are Christians called to be influential? What does a successfully influential Christian life look like? 

When it comes to living a "successful" life, how we handle and process our pain is of the utmost importance.