First Assembly NLR Audio Podcast

Sometimes you hear people who say Christians shouldn't have problems. If people had enough faith, they wouldn't have difficulties.   We know this isn't true, though, because Jesus said that we would have problems in this world.  He also said He would be with us during our problems.  But what happens when we feel like we go from one problem to the next and everything seems to be getting worse?     

Forgiveness is a huge issue.  We have all been hurt at different times, and it seems difficult to forgive.  We usually don't want to forgive the person that hurt us. Why should we forgive?  What's the point? What does the Bible say about forgiveness?  

American Christians seem to believe that anything that puts us in difficult situations must be wrong -- it must be of the devil.  We think difficulty is because we have a lack of faith, an attack of the enemy, or have caused the wrath of God.  The fact is, sometimes doing right puts you in the fire. How should you react?  In this message, Rod Loy looks at the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedne...

It's one of the most famous stories in the Bible.  Daniel is thrown into a lion's den by evil men.  We all face lions in our lives.  No, not literal hungry beasts trying to eat us, but we all face impossible situations, illnesses, addictions, disease, or lies from people who mean to do us harm. Rod Loy looks at how Daniel survived his night with the lions and what it has to tell us today as we fac...

There is a common theme in the Bible.  People reject God and the Word of God.  They don't want to hear any warnings or know that they are wrong.  They want to do their thing, their way.  The same pattern is apparent in people today:  people fail and walk away from their relationship with God.  How can you make sure that you stay close to God?

Pride is a dangerous sin.  Pride is the underlying sin that causes many people to fail.  It's easy to spot in others, but hard to admit in our ourselves. What happens when we let pride take over our lives?  

If you are a parent, you've heard the excuse at one time or another: "But Dad, Mom, everyone is doing it."  Every parent has a standard answer to that!  But even if everyone is doing it, does that make it right? Unfortunately, this peer pressure is not limited to students.  Everyone faces it at some point. In this message, Rod Loy looks at what you should do when "everyone else is doing it."    

We are all born with names.  But society, and sin, put different names on us. Liar, drunk, disappointment, rebel, junkie, loser.  There are many names we can be tagged with in our lives.  What name are you known by?  By what name do you want to be known?  God can give you a new name.  

Fitness and health are topics not normally mentioned in church.  After all, how we treat our bodies is a "secular" issue, right?  It doesn't have anything to do with God or church.  Or does it?    

We live in a world where people are measured by what they have.  If you drive the right car, wear the right clothes and have the right things you will be loved and accepted.  That's the message our culture wants us to believe.  We all know, however, that when you get caught in that mode, you can never escape.  No matter what you have, you want a little bit more.  But stuff doesn't make you happy. ...

The primary reason so many churches are struggling in America is that they are unhealthy.  We hear a lot of talk about people concerned about the state of the church in America.  What you don't hear is a lot of people saying "I am committed to changing.  If the church is going to be healthy again in America, it starts with me.  I am going to be a healthy part of a healthy church."   In this messag...

Are you ready for change?  Are you ready to find and fulfill God's purpose for your life?  We're not talking about a New Year resolution - with God's help, living according to His Word and its principles, you can be radically changed - a brand new you!

Every January 1, millions of Americans will make their list of New Year's resolutions.  A New Year's resolution is a vow to change, improve, or grow in a specific area in the coming year.  But, life is busy and your busy schedule and packed priorities quickly edge out all those good intentions.  Why is that? Why can't we change?  Why do we keep giving up?  Why is it another year--and same old me?

For a couple of days in December every year, everything focuses on one thing: Christmas.  Offices are closed, the mail isn't delivered, stores shut down, schools are out.  What's the big deal?  In an increasingly secular society, why does everything shut down and everyone stop for Christmas?  

You don't need anyone to teach you how to celebrate victory -- you've got that down. It comes naturally. You throw your arms in the air and run around the room. You shout. You high-five. You may even dance a little victory dance. You know what to do when you win. But, what do you do when you don't win? What do you do when not only do you not win, but you suffer a horrible defeat? What do you do wh...

It's in our darkest hours that who we are really comes to light. Rod Loy looks at the story of Paul and Silas in prison and asks the questions: "Who am I chained to?" and "What song will I sing in the dark?"

David was a little guy - a young shepherd boy.  Goliath was a big guy.  It's the classic story of big problem, little me.  But really, it's not David who had the big problem, even though everyone thought he did.  Goliath was actually the underdog.  In this message, Rod Loy looks at what happens when we face big problems.    

These are challenging times to raise kids. While there are many excellent books for parents, the Bible remains the best guidebook. Rod Loy examines five principles for raising life-long followers of Jesus.

Prejudice: It's an ugly subject, and it makes people uncomfortable. In the book of Acts, the apostle Peter received a very clear message from God on this subject. Pastor Rod Loy looks at this passage and asks the question: Is there room for prejudice in the church?

It can happen when you least expect it. Everything is rocking along fine. Your business is doing well. Your relationships are solid. Your family is together. Then, it all changes. Rod Loy examines what to do when you find yourself under attack.

How do you increase your hunger and desire to grow? Rod Loy looks at what it takes to become what God wants us to be.

One of the central themes of the Bible is this - nothing is impossible for God.  God is not intimidated by our difficult circumstances.  What seems impossible for us is entirely possible for God.  He has no limitations.  In this message, Rod Loy looks at the story of Jehoshaphat and the army of Israel.  Surrounded by enemy armies in battle, he put the choir in front of the warriors.  What was that...

In this special podcast, we feature our Music and Creative Arts Pastor, David Richards, as he speaks about what he learned during his fight with cancer.  

The Bible is our guidebook for living.  In the story we look at today, we discover that there have always been people who created their own gods.  It's not a new conflict.  It's not a new way to think.  In fact, these gods are put to the test over and over, with the same result.  Rod Loy looks at the story of Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal.

What is a miracle?  Is it a grilled cheese sandwich bearing an image of the Virgin Mary?  Is it finding a good parking spot at the mall?  Is it your boss finally giving you a raise?  We look for miracles in a lot of different places.  Are they real? Do they still happen?  Rod Loy looks at the subject of miracles.