First Christian Church Champaign

In this sermon, we discuss the importance of understanding context when reading the Bible. The host reflects on a personal anecdote about feeling out of touch with modern slang to highlight the importance of context in communication. We delve into why context matters in biblical study, the significance of different translations, and how to choose one that best suits you. The episode provides pract...

Start 2026 with a fresh spiritual focus! Join us as we explore the transformative power of Jesus-centered Bible reading. Discover how engaging with God's word can lead to incredible spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him. Get inspired by a 10-minute overview of the Bible's grand story, understand why it's crucial to make Bible reading a top priority, and commit to a year of spiritual...

Join Stephen as he delves into a heartfelt sermon about the ups and downs of Peter's life with Jesus, offering a relatable reflection on our own faith journeys. Learn what it truly means to run to Jesus, share your story, and embrace the community of broken yet hopeful believers at church. Through Peter’s example, discover how Jesus is with us in every high and low, ready to guide and lift us up....

Join us as we explore Luke 2 in our series, Sounds of This Season. This episode delves into the true meaning of joy versus happiness, emphasizing that joy is 'functioning hope.' Learn how cultural misconceptions often equate joy with happiness, and discover how the Gospel provides everlasting joy. Hear stories, analogies, and powerful reflections on the transformative power of placing hope in Jesu...

Pastor Eric Friedmann fondly recalls humorous memories of Christmas past and sets the stage for a new mini-series titled 'The Songs of This Season.' He reflects on the unexpected origins and deep meaning behind popular Christmas carols, starting with 'Silent Night.' By delving into the context of Jesus's birth, Friedmann emphasizes that spiritual stillness and true peace are found not in the absen...

In this final sermon of the 'The Relentless Pursuit' series, we dive into the essence of disciple-making according to the teachings of Jesus in Luke chapter 9. The message emphasizes three key principles: denying oneself, dying daily by taking up one's cross, and demonstrating devotion by following Jesus wholeheartedly. The sermon challenges cultural Christianity and calls for a return to committe...

Join us as we continue our series on discipleship with a focus on the power and importance of being a witness for Jesus Christ. This week's message delves into the significance of sharing and demonstrating God's love and truth amidst various challenges such as fear, busyness, and feeling unequipped. We explore practical steps and biblical examples, noting the essential role of the Holy Spirit and...

In this week's episode of The Relentless Pursuit, we delve into First Corinthians chapter 12 to understand the importance of serving with our spiritual gifts. Pastor Eric emphasizes that every Christian is endowed with unique gifts meant for the common good of the Kingdom of God. Through personal anecdotes and scriptural exegesis, he challenges believers to move beyond consumption and fully engage...

As Thanksgiving approaches, Pastor Jordan Dunahee reflects on gratitude and shares a personal story about his connection to Illinois basketball. He humorously describes a game's 'Money Grab' segment, drawing a parallel to life's struggles with money and how the world's system is broken compared to God's economy. As part of the 'Relentless Pursuit' series, he emphasizes the significance of generosi...

There is something at the center of our shared human experience, something deep in our souls, that longs to cry out to something beyond ourselves. Every person—man, woman, and child, Christian, Buddhist, or even Atheist—will find it hard not to exclaim their gratitude to a ‘Higher Power’ for the greatest joys in life, or beg that same ‘Power’ for deliverance in their most dire time of need. For th...

Some call it “The Word of God.” Others simply say “The Word” or “Scripture.” But the most recognized name—without question—is “The Bible.” If someone asked you, “What is the Bible, and what is it even about?” how would you respond? This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we provide some basics to understanding the big picture of what the Bible is all about.

In the early 17th century, poet John Donne asserted in one of his writings that, “no man is an island…” Meaning that no person, no matter how gifted or resourceful, can ever truly be self-sufficient—we can’t live this life on our own. Thousands of years before those words were written, God proclaimed it was “not good” for man to be alone. This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we pull back layers ab...

Have you ever thought about how many things you trust without fully understanding them? Microwaves cook our food in seconds, but most of us can’t explain how. Cars take us miles with the push of a pedal, yet few could build one from scratch. We trust these things work, even if we don’t fully grasp how. The same goes for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of disciples. This week in The Relentl...

While what comes to our minds when we think about God is foundational, it is equally important to know what comes to God’s mind when He thinks about us. In fact, the whole of the Christian story could be summed up in God’s opinion of us; that in His eyes, we were worth dying for. Our identity in Christ is the new reality that we are called to live from when we have stepped into the Kingdom and acc...

Everything in life has some sort of starting point. Races begin on a starting line, ball games commence with a first pitch or kick-off, speeches have introductions, and even your car has an ignition to get things going. It’s no different in our faith journey with Jesus. God relentlessly pursues us, and we call that story and good news, “the gospel.”

One more bite. One more episode. No big deal, right? The everyday choices we make might not feel important, but they shape our future more than we realize. Discover how we can break the cycle of choices keeping us stuck from living the life we want.

Between work, family, and everything else, choosing your priorities can be tough. Finding time for God may feel like just another task. But what if faith isn’t about fitting Him in? What if there’s a better way to live?

Sometimes it’s easy to treat our faith like a transaction—doing our part and expecting God to do His. But trusting God means stepping into something much greater than a simple exchange.

Christian-ish | Week 1 What happens when following Jesus leads us out of our comfort zone? What do we do when God’s Word feels challenging? Let’s find out in this message.

We all have soapboxes or areas of passion. The things, if given the choice to talk about, you would and could all day long! For this two-week mini teaching series, some of our pastors will share a message on a topic of their choosing that will challenge and stretch us in our faith.

We all have soapboxes or areas of passion. The things, if given the choice to talk about, you would and could all day long! For this two-week mini teaching series, some of our pastors will share a message on a topic of their choosing that will challenge and stretch us in our faith.

The closing credits are upon us. It’s been quite the journey through John. It’s time to end with the beginning in mind as we wrap up this series.

Fishing has to be one of the most frustrating activities. One day you catch everything, and the next day, at the same spot, with the same bait, at the same time, you come up empty! Doesn’t faith feel like that at times? As we get to the final stretch of our study through John, we see Jesus having one of the most popular conversations in all of Scripture, teaching us how to not come up empty in our...

In movies, when a character looks at the camera and speaks to you, it's called a fourth wall break. This weekend, we'll explore a similar moment in the Gospel of John. Why did John write his account of Jesus' life as he did, and what does it mean when he invites us, the readers, into the narrative?

We can all relate to the phrase, "I'll believe it when I see it." This week, we'll take a look at how one of Jesus' disciples struggles with doubt and how Jesus responds with peace.