First Assembly NLR Audio Podcast

Some people make following Jesus sound easy. They claim being a Christian will result in an easy life, low stress, and big barrels of money. All of that sounds great - everyone would sign up for that deal. But is it true?  As we continue our series, "Upside Down", we will take a look at another unconventional statement in the Bible. In a moment where Jesus was teaching His disciples, we discover t...

In today's world, winning matters. More than that, winning is the only thing that matters. On the sports team, your child needs to be the best. In school, your grades need to be the highest. At work, your production needs to outshine the competition. People push and pressure each other to be first.  As we continue our series, "Upside Down", we will continue looking at unconventional passages in th...

One of my favorite thinking exercises is to approach a problem from a completely different perspective. I take my assumption or knowledge, turn it upside down and force myself to find a new, creative solution. I call it "upside-down thinking."  As we begin our new series, "Upside Down", you will discover some upside-down statements in the Bible and learn how to apply them to your life. In this mes...

Pastor Parker, Pastor Randy, and Missionary JT Espejo were trapped in Sudan. For 13 days we prayed and believed the Lord would miraculously deliver them to safety. God did exactly that!  Pastor Rod learned numerous lessons from the journey during and after the team's time trapped in a warzone. This journey taught him about parenting, what truly matters, and his relationship with the Lord. In this...

Everyone lives with expectations. You have expectations for your children, future, and career. Your plans and dreams are based on those expectations. But what happens when your expectations aren't met? What do you do when reality disappoints you?  In this message, you'll discover how David's emotions in a disappointing season led to an unrealistic reaction. His extreme disappointment exposed his m...

Everyone dreams of what their life and family will be like. How many kids will you have? What position will you accept? When will you retire? You often dream about the future and God's plan for your life. But what happens when your world falls apart and your dreams die?  In this message, we will continue to learn from the life of David. Looking at a moment in David's life where his greatest dreams...

Everyone loves to win. Celebrating an accomplishment or experiencing a victory seems to make every minor inconvenience in life disappear. But experiencing a great loss or walking through a painful season emphasizes the struggles you already face. What do you do when you lose?  In this message, we will look at a story where David suffered a tragic loss. Instead of rejoicing in the victory of battle...

As Pastor Parker and Pastor Randy have told the story of our team's escape from Sudan, God's divine intervention has been on full display. Miracle after miracle prove that their safe return is one only God could have orchestrated. If you missed either of the first two messages, we encourage you to watch them. In this message, Missionary JT Espejo will finish the story with his unique perspective o...

In this message, Pastor Randy will pick up the story when our team had two major obstacles between them and safety - the desert and the Red Sea. Their faith was strong because they believed what God had done once, He could do again! You will be moved by the story of supernatural favor and divine protection.

We prayed, we cried, and we believed. Now we get to hear the miraculous story of Pastor Parker, Pastor Randy, and JT's escape from Sudan. You will be inspired and reminded of God's faithfulness in spite of difficult and uncertain circumstances. The moments of unexplainable rescue and protection will cause you to say, "Only God."

When someone does you wrong, revenge can be very tempting. You aren't alone in that temptation. In the story we look at in this message, David was consumed by the thought of revenge. We will learn the consequences of revenge and how to overcome the desire for it.

Decisions can be difficult. Deciding where to eat and what to wear may seem challenging, but it pales in comparison to major life decisions. When the question is who you should marry, which position you should accept, or where you should move, you look for a sign from God. Major decisions cause you to search for God's will.  In this message, we will look at a story where David was faced with an in...

At some point in life, we all face discouragement. Whether it's a heartbreaking doctor's report or an unexpected family crisis, life includes discouraging challenges. No matter how hard you try, at some point, you will be discouraged. In this message, we continue our series, "Running on Empty". We will look at a story where David was trapped in a cave and fighting for his life - nothing was going...

Have you ever been in a desperate situation? Maybe you are in one right now. You feel stuck, overwhelmed, and helpless. When you find yourself in a desperate situation, you make decisions you never thought you would.  In this message, we begin our new series, "Running on Empty". We will learn lessons from the life of one of the most famous people in the Bible - David. Throughout his life, David ex...

Have you ever been betrayed? Have hateful words or actions changed your life? Maybe you've learned the people closest to you can hurt you the most. Facing the attack of a once-trusted friend and learning to move on is painful. In this message, we will rewind to Jesus' final moments before His crucifixion and the Easter story. Understanding the pain Jesus experienced at the hands of His closest fol...

Do you feel like things in your life are finished? Does it seem like you have no hope? In the case of Jesus, what looked like the biggest possible loss was really a win.  The end was really only the beginning. In this message, we look at the one day that changed the world forever!

What do you do when challenging times come? What is your response to the unexpected? In this message, we look at the faithfulness of God. No matter what challenge has come your way, no matter what difficulty you face, whether expected or unexpected, you can lean on the faithfulness of God. He is always with you!

At First NLR, we believe the Bible is our guidebook for living - the entire Bible. Every section of Scripture holds key lessons and meaningful words that God wants His people to learn. As a biblical Christian, you can't ignore verses, chapters, or books that include difficult truths.  In this message we continue our series, "One Day that Changed the World." We look at a lesson Jesus gave His disci...

Following Jesus and making it to Heaven often seems difficult and complex. How many prayers must you pray? How much of the Bible must you memorize? Sometimes it seems daunting! But if the path to Heaven was held in a single sentence - only 19 words - would it seem easier to reach?   In this message, we will continue to learn from the final 24 hours Jesus spent with His disciples before His crucifi...

Has there ever been a day that changed your life? In a matter of moments your life was different - things would never go back to the way they were. You look back on that day with pain or happiness. Either way, those life-altering moments tell a monumental part of your story. This message starts our new series - "One Day that Changed the World." We look at the final 24 hours Jesus spent with His di...

In this message, we finish our series by looking at the blessings God makes available to each of us through His Holy Spirit. If you are in a season of difficulty, this message will encourage you to keep going and challenge you to trust the Lord. In spite of your hurt and pain, the Holy Spirit can guide you through. 

In this message, we will learn about the gifts of the Spirit and how God uses His people to accomplish His plan. Many people are confused about what the gifts of the Spirit are and how they work because they approach this topic through the lens of their tradition instead of looking at what the Bible says. we encourage you to watch ready to learn and prepared to be inspired!

In this message, we will take a look at Jesus' final words to his disciples and the events that directly followed. Many people have a variety of opinions about these events, but we look at what the Bible says! We encourage you to watch with an open mind and prepared heart!

This message kicks off our new series: "The Holy Spirit." Over the next four messages, you'll learn about The Holy Spirit and His role in your life. Depending on your church background, you may have different ideas. We'll base our study on the Bible! In this message, we start with a look at the practical role The Holy Spirit should play in the life of a biblical Christian. From the words of Jesus,...

In this message, we'll conclude our series on healing by tackling some difficult questions:   Does miraculous healing actually happen? Why don't we see more miracles here in America?  Why are some people healed when others aren't?  Why isn't everyone healed? What are some things that keep you from a miracle? Is going to a doctor or taking medication a lack of faith?  How do you restore your faith...