First Assembly NLR Audio Podcast

Long-term illness is a topic the church doesn't often address.  In this message, Pastor Rod answers some questions about long-term illness as we look at a famous healing in the Bible.

You can't "kind of" follow Jesus.  It's all or nothing.  Reaching out to others is part of the deal - whether that's here in the US, or some remote corner of the world.  That's what missions is about.  We creatively build bridges and strategically partner with other bridge builders in order to lead people to Jesus.  

Our mission as followers of Jesus is to be "bridge builders", to share the Good News about Jesus, whose death on the cross bridged the gap between God and man. Having walked across that bridge ourselves and discovered the love of God, we have an obligation and an assignment to help others walk across the bridge, too.

It's often hard to tell someone the truth.  Really, we should be grateful that someone loves us enough to tell us the truth.  But that's not always the way it is in life, is it?  The old saying, "the truth hurts," is often true.

Are you trying to live your life without God?  Are you wondering why life isn't going like it seems it should?  Just like a car, we can't run on empty...

In life, in business, in society, even in the church world, there's a subtle, and sometimes not so subtle pull toward self-promotion.   But there's a principle: you can't exalt Jesus while promoting yourself.

When you spend time with God, you act differently, you feel different, and people can notice the change.  But God's presence has a purpose!

Have you been fighting a major battle?  You've been trying to win on your own and failing miserably.  Why?  There are some battles you just can't win by yourself.  We need each other.

Have you ever felt lost, not on the road, but in life?  The times, the seasons in your life when nothing seems to make sense, when things aren't coming together and you can't seem to find direction.  God knew we would have times in our lives when we feel lost, lonely, confused, and afraid - full of questions and searching for answers.  

This episode examines how Moses reacted when his people dissappointed him and turned away from God.

Who is your enemy, or what is your enemy? It could be depression, sickness, or fear. When things are going wrong, when we are under attack, we have an alarming tendency to become enemy-focused.   We focus on our enemies instead of on God. But God has a plan for our enemies!

When the circumstances in your life are overwhelming, when it looks like there is no way out, keep going!  God has something to say to you!   

God is a God of mercy and love.  But, looking at the Word of God, it is clear there is also a time when God judges wickedness.  What are some things we can learn from Moses and the plagues that struck Egypt?

  We want God's plan as long as it is easy, and makes sense.  We want it to be logical, detailed, and complete with every step clearly laid out in advance.  But what happens when we don't know all the details?  Like Moses, will we find it hard to obey God at first?    

Sometimes we all have "wilderness" times:  when we feel horribly alone and forgotten.  We might wonder if God even knows where we are...

We are obsessed with speed.  We want what we want - and we want it now!  Are we that way with God, too?  Are we even impatient with our Heavenly Father who knows what is best for us?  In this message, Pastor Patrick Lander continues the story of Moses and his impatience with God's plan.

We often wonder "why?"  We search to find a reason, meaning or purpose in difficult circumstances, unjust decisions, and unreasonable people. When there are no good answers, it forces a difficult decision: Will you trust God despite circumstances?

There is a final level of stewardship that we don't often see in America - sacrifice.  What does it mean to sacrifice?

Sometimes, Christians mistake obedience for generosity.  If you tithe, you are simply being obedient to what the Bible teaches.  But being generous takes you to the next step!

Stewardship acknowledges: everything I have comes from God.  What is the starting point of stewardship?  What must we do first if we want to be good stewards of what God has given us?

Jesus taught a lot about money and stewardship.   15% of Jesus' teaching was on the subject of money and our possessions, more than all His teachings on Heaven and Hell combined. He spent so much time on the subject because He knew that the whole area of money and finances is a difficult area for people to obey God.  There are some powerful Kingdom principles about money that can and will alter yo...

If you are a Christian, you are a square peg.  You will never quite fit with society because you live by a different set of values.  No matter how hard you try, you won't ever completely fit - and you're not supposed to.  But, what does that look like?  How do you live that out?

Real love - putting others first - caring about others - sacrificing your own interests, opinions and agendas for the sake of others - is a counter-culture way to live.  What does God say about love in the Book of First John?  It's one of the hardest, most convicting passages in the entire Bible.

Our world is obsessed with love and the search for love.  Songs, TV shows, books, and movies have covered the topic over and over.  We were designed by God for relationship, and we long for it.  But so many people look in the wrong places.

Sin isolates you.  But the good news is, even in that isolation of sin, Jesus sees you. He does more than just see you.  He comes to your aid. In this message, Pastor Patrick Lander continues our look at the book of First John.