First Assembly NLR Audio Podcast

There are many different kinds of people, but Jesus brings us together.  We may not have anything else in common, but we have Jesus in common.  It's all of us - together.  Connected by Jesus.  We are family - the family of God!

When you think of Easter, what image or picture comes to mind?  It's OK to think about food, family, and fun.  But the day honors something so much more important than that.  In this message, Pastor Rod Loy talks about three pictures that tell the story of Easter.

In this final message in the series, Pastor Rod Loy looks at the final section of the 23rd Psalm - a promise of what the Good Shepherd has prepared for us.

The Lord protects you from enemies and harm and positions you for blessing.  Your Good Shepherd prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Jesus even faced death before you, so you would not have to fear death.  What a wonderful, Good Shepherd.

When things are going your way, if feels like anything you try is going to succeed.  You love those times and wish you could make it last forever.  But, inevitably, something comes wrong.  Difficulty comes.  Challenges and obstacles arise.  You're in a deep, dark valley that seems like it will go on forever.  What do you do?  How do you survive?  Will you survive?

No matter how far you've wandered and left the flock, the Good Shepherd seeks you out.  The word "restores" is present tense, not past tense.  It's something God does now, immediately.  There's not a waiting period to be restored by God.

Are you stressed?  The world today is a busy, stressful place.   But we can find rest. Jesus, our Shepherd, prepared the way for us so you can find rest and peace.

The 23rd Psalm might be the best known chapter in the Bible.  This Psalm is on greeting cards, crafts, rugs, pictures, and paintings.  The words are very familiar.  But familiar words don't always mean understood words.   In this series, Pastor Rod Loy will transform a passage that can seem rote and remind us that it is one that is rich with meaning.

We should look at life with a "long lens."  A long lens, like a telescope, lets you see what you can't see at a casual glance.  A long lens lets you see trouble or opportunity way out on the horizon that you can't see now.

Accountability is vital to growth and change.  But if you want to ruin your life, avoid accountability.  Don't let anyone challenge your decisions and actions.  Don't allow anyone to ask you the tough questions.  What is the result when we live without accountability?

Our society encourages us to compare ourselves with others - the way we look, how much stuff we have, the products we use.  But the problem with comparison is - whether you win or lose, in the end you'll always lose.

Your words have power.  When you open your mouth before you engage your brain, it leads to disaster.  In this message, Brian Dollar talks about the power of our words, and some steps we can take to help us think before we speak.

In our world today, there is an epidemic of selfishness.  Everywhere you look, people are consumed with living for themselves.  Why is this a problem?

Holding onto a grudge is refusing to forgive.  Instead of forgiving, you carry the hurt or offense with you.  This one issue keeps people locked in the past - in a cycle of bitterness, anger, hurt, and regret.  What steps can we take to forgive?

Many of us make chasing what feels good their life strategy. The thought is, if it feels good, how could it be wrong?  "If it feels good, do it" could be the theme of our society.   We are a culture motivated by convenience and feeling, instead of principle.  What does this produce in the long run?  How are we supposed to live?

Do you want to ruin your life? Do you want to be miserable and unhappy?  Probably nobody would answer "yes" to those questions.  But, every day, we all face decisions and choices that could lead to that end.  In this series, we are going to look at eight of the most common mistakes people make.  In this message, Rod Loy talks about what the Bible says about authority, and what happens when we take...

What makes a church healthy?  We can look to the church in the Book of Acts for an example of what a church is supposed to be.

The gap between expectation and reality is where people become disappointed and disillusioned.  When reality doesn't match your expectation, that's when you struggle the most.  So what do you do when life is disappointing? 

In the crazy hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, slow down and give yourself some gifts.

God speaks to us many ways:  through the Bible, through impressions, through emotions, dreams, and many other ways.  You can't limit God or the way He speaks. He still speaks to His people.  But some people may say "Why don't I hear from God? Why isn't God speaking to me?"  In this message, Pastor Rod Loy looks at some possible answers to those questions.

When God speaks to us, what does He say?    In this message, Pastor Rod Loy looks at what else God says when he speaks to us.

When God speaks to us, what does He say?    While we can't tell specifically what God will say to an individual, we can look at His pattern of interacting with people through Scripture.

Leah Campbell's song from our series, God Speaks.

God is speaking.  God wants you to listen for and hear His voice.  God wants you to know Him and His plan for your life.  If you are ready and willing to listen, you can hear Him.  But how does God speak?  Is it a booming voice from the heavens?   He actually uses several different ways to speak to us.

We know that God spoke to people in Bible times.  What if God spoke to us in our every day lives?  What if God wants to tell you something - personally, individually, specifically, just for you?  Is that possible?  What if God is actively speaking to His people and would speak to you?  Would you like that?   How does God speak to us today, and how can we listen?