First Christian Church Podcast Ministry

JESUS, BC Jesus, Before Christmas Our Advent series will embrace the reality that Jesus didn’t begin to exist on Christmas morning. He always existed. He is God well before Christmas morning came. Our study will help us to appreciate the beauty of what the Old Testament points us to and help us to understand what we are celebrating on Christmas. Because of Jesus' birth – we have life. Today, we st...

It'll happen fast. It always does. Thanksgiving is in the past, we'll be in the throws of Christmas and all of its glitz while facing the eve of a New Year. This year, we paused to position ourselves in a posture of gratitude as we enter the season. We were really thrilled to welcome Phil Roberts as our guest speaker for Gratitude Sunday. He is the Assistant to the President for Seminary Developme...

It's just a matter of time till we experience chaos in our lives, isn't it? The stress of our finances. The condition of the world. The distressing view of the economics that lie ahead. The impending holiday season. A few things that unfold expectedly and before we know it...CHAOS. The Old Testament book of Habakkuk gives us some insight on some reminders we need to hold on to as followers of Jesu...

The first Sunday in November is recognized as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe from Bushnell University is our special guest speaker. Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe is the Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Bible & World Christianity. With Dr. Agam's perspective on world missions, we gain a further understanding of the concerns of the persecuted ch...

What happens when people encounter God's Word? Our special guest speaker Mike Kildal (Chaplain, Mercy Medical Center & Redeemer's Fellowship) will continue our series through the book of Acts. After Paul preaches his message during the first missionary journey we see four different responses when people encounter God's Word. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse stu...

Paul preaches a message during his first missionary journey. Interesting to note, Peter and Paul preached the same gospel, and the same gospel was preached some fifteen years after Pentecost as was preached on that first day. The challenge of his message for his audience is the same challenge for today...Whose salvation will you embrace? God's salvation? Or your own? ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are...

As we study the book of Acts together, we're identifying an exciting shift. The church has now recognized and embraced this reality: the Gospel is for EVERYONE. And in embracing this reality, the church SENDS its followers into the world to share the hope of the Gospel. This shift serves as an encouragement and inspiration for how we should live out our daily lives. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are?...

Part of following Jesus involves living a life that withstands persecution. In chapter 12 of Acts, Peter is imprisoned and we see the church begin to earnestly pray. That begs the question...what is earnest prayer? As we investigate the church's response to Peter's imprisonment we see an important lesson about earnest prayer and resisting God. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a ver...

The followers of Jesus Christ in the early church in Antioch were called Christians. It was a title given because of their identity, their priority, and their action. Would that be an accurate way to describe you? ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New Testament Book of Acts. This book records for us the acts of the apostles after the resurrection o...

Today marks the conclusion of the narrative that details the interaction and relationship of Cornelius and Peter. It's a long narrative that has crucial implications for the church in Jerusalem. It's not just that the story of Cornelius is an exceptional situation (as with the Ethiopian eunuch) but the acceptance by the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God. A whole new ethnic group was being welcomed...

What if someone asked you this question? Are you ready? Pastor Darren gives us practical insight on how to answer such a question.

What would happen to each of us if we truly believed the Gospel was for everyone? And what if, when we say 'everyone' we meant, EVERYONE? This is the eye-opening epiphany that Peter has as a result of his interaction with Cornelius, the centurion. What unfolds is transformational, even to this day. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New Testament Bo...

Everything Peter thought he knew about the Kingdom of God and the Gospel is about to change in Acts 10. In fact, what is about to happen in Acts chapter 10 shifts his whole perspective on the Gospel and what the kingdom of God looks like. His vision opens up his mind to a world where everyone is valuable to God. What would happen to each of us if we truly believed the Gospel was for everyone? ACTS...

What we are reading today is transitional information. In a few chapters, we will follow, pretty exclusively, the life and ministry of Saul/Paul. But first, for a few chapters, we will focus on the region abroad and the impact of the Gospel. Luke, the author, is bringing us back to the subject of Peter’s work in preparation for a monumental shift in Peter’s life coming in chapter 10. Something hap...

We have been recently introduced to Saul and as part of his introduction we know are being introduced to Ananias. Ananias was once a target of Saul's and now becomes a dear brother. In fulfillment of Acts 1:8, we'll see that God uses people to reach people. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New Testament Book of Acts. This book records for us the a...

In the middle of the day a blinding light interrupts Saul's day of persecuting Christians and in the midst of this blinding light Saul asks the two most important questions perhaps any of us should ever ask...1) "Who are you, Lord?" and 2) Lord, what do you want me to do?" How God answers these questions just might change your life. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse...

We rest our attention on Philip today as he is carried up from Samaria to Ethiopia and as we study him today it becomes clear: oftentimes God's plan will make no sense to us. And, if we want to see God move in unusual ways, we may need to meet God in unusual places. Today…the Scattering Continues. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New Testament Boo...

"Focus Please" Pastor Darren Dickson 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We are officially at Phase 2 now of the Book of Acts. And like any sequel to a novel or a movie franchise, there are familiar faces that we have grown with over the course of the narrative. But also, we see now plot lines develop and new characters now join the narrative to move the narrative along. The narrative in this case is the expansion of His kingdom throughout the world through a Spirit-em...

Today we see the martyrdom of Stephen. Stephen’s death might seem sad, maddening, and sort of meaningless at first glance. His young ministry of power and eloquence was cut abruptly short. His ministry also seemed to end in failure. No one was immediately brought to faith. All that came forth was more persecution against the church. But as always has been the case, the blood of the martyrs became...

Today we spend time finding Jesus in the Old Testament. This happens as we dive into Stephen's sermon. His defense in Acts chapter 7 is in response to the accusations that he is teaching blasphemy. The events we study this week and next week directly lead to the Gospel being spread outside of Jerusalem, albeit at a pretty high cost for Stephen. We now are positioned to see the shift into phase two...

Today we identify a shift in the book of Acts. For the first six chapters, we see phase one of the Book of Acts: the Church STARTS. We now are positioned to see the shift into phase two: the Church SCATTERS. In this shift, we are introduced to one of the early church leaders, Stephen, and his faith. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New Testament B...

Today is known as Pentecost Sunday. Maybe you celebrated this in your church through the years, or maybe not. Pentecost Sunday is celebrated on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) from Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks. Today as we rest our attention on Pe...

Today we see the church come full circle. They have been filled with the Holy Spirit and have been empowered to preach the Gospel. Now they suddenly face both internal obstacles and external opposition. The unity they have been able to protect thus far is threatened and we witness how they address this threat. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New...

Today we see that there was strength on multiple fronts as the ruling council amped up their disapproval of the apostles and their teaching. The testimony of the apostles is met with the council's strong reaction and we witness the bravery of the early church apostles as they withstand persecution with honor. ACTS: What Makes Us Who We Are? In 2022 we began a verse-by-verse study through the New T...