First Pres Orlando Sermons

Dr. David Swanson | Our prayers are often prayed from the dark places - the depths - of life.  We sometimes fear that we cannot cry out as if that is a sign we lack faith.  To the contrary, God wants us to cry out to Him and He is faithful by His presence. Psalm 130

Dr. Case Thorp | How intercessory prayer forms us for wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9-12

Dr. David Swanson | Paul indicates through this text that prayer is something to be learned - something that we mature in as our life in Christ grows.  We should not expect to do algebra on the first day of school, but learn over time as Christ sanctifies us by faith. Ephesians 3:16-19

Dr. David Swanson | We now begin to delve into the prayers of Paul, starting in Ephesians 1.  It is here that we quickly realize that Paul does not ask for the same things we ask for.  He is thinking deeper, richer, fuller than our minds tend to go.  He is asking for the things of God. Ephesians 1:15-19

Dr. David Swanson | As we establish the basics of prayer, we have to understand at the outset not to always expect the answer we want. Sometimes the answer is no. When it is, we continue to trust in the grace and goodness of God. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Dr. David Swanson | Solomon's dedicatory prayer in the temple helps set the tone for why we pray.  We are addressing the Lord, the Creator of the Universe.  We have that access and ability, and as such, there should be an urgency about us in that endeavor.  We pray for God's people, for His Church, for forgiveness, and for the lost. 1 Kings 8:22-23, 30, 35-36

Rev. Tanner Fox | The only thing missing from God's good creation in Genesis 2 was another person for Adam to share it with. Though Adams' horizontal relationship with the Lord was good, he still experienced the sense of feeling incomplete. This week we will look at the idea of Biblical friendship and how we need the relationships to be known and loved, particularly in times like these....

Dr. David Swanson | The enemy has power, the enemy is wicked, the enemy has tactics, schemes and deception. God gives us the armor as protection - offensive & defensive. Prayer is essential in conquering the enemy. We need to be aware and alert to the enemy's schemes, while we continue boldly proclaiming the gospel. Dwell on the glory & grace of God. Ephesians 6:10-24

Alexa Rossi | Our unity with Christ requires formation into his likeness. We must grow into his stature in affections, actions, and thinking as displayed in relation to our neighbors. We must throw off the old self which is made possible in the accomplished work of Jesus and put on the new self which we find embodied in the ways of Jesus. Ephesians 4:17-32

Dr. David Swanson | The family unit is the building block of culture, and the primary metaphor God uses to describe His church and His people. ---Husbands + Wives | Parents + Children | Roman Empire + Slavery --- Equality, Justice & True Brotherhood in the Body. Ephesians 6:1-9

Tyler Wilson | Paul's moral commands for marriage point us to the reality of God's grand story. We are called to submit due to our sinful hearts, called to be faithful in light of Christ's pursuit of us, and called to be sanctified in light of the great and glorious return of Christ. Marriages can remind us of the great truths of the gospel. Ephesians 5:21-33

Dr. Jack Peebles | God’s example of love in Jesus is the way of the Christian. While the world in which we live seems as decisive as it’s ever been, and it’s easy to get caught up in the “cancel-culture” that pervades the world of social media, we are called to walk a different path- one of goodness, righteousness, and truth. Yes, we are called to hold one another accountable (through relationship...

Jonathan Wagner | Overcoming the barriers that prevent us from following God and remaining together in our calling. Exodus 3:3-10

Dr. David Swanson | Sermon is on getting engaged - participating - in the Kingdom work of God EVEN IN COVID - my role is to equip - but they have been scattered - so what might God be calling them to do? Ephesians 4:1-16

Dr. David Swanson | In life, we can often run into cases of mistaken identity where we think a person is someone they are not - or they are not someone that they are.  In our faith, we can at times have a misguided perception of who God is based on bad experiences or bad theology.  Paul aims to correct that while explaining the reality of God's power within us. Ephesians 3:20-22

Dr. Case Thorp | Paul refers to the mystery of Christ several times in this passage. What is this mystery, and how does it continue to play out in our own personal ministry as it did in Paul’s, and certainly did in Jesus earthly and sonic work? Ephesians 3:1-13

Rev. Tanner Fox | Ephesians 2 tells us that thought we were far off, we are now citizens, saints, and belong to the household of God! We are brought near by the blood of Christ and brought nearer as we begin to assume and resemble the lifestyle of Christ. The walls of hostility crumble and love for God and neighbor grows all the more as we are built into the structure of the body of Christ, of whi...

Dr. David Swanson | With all the things that tear us down in this life, we must remember that God made us perfectly - we fell in sin - but in Christ, He has remade us as His work - again. Ephesians 2:1-10

Dr. Jack Peebles | Ephesians 1:15-23

Dr. David Swanson | Ephesians 1:3-14

Dr. David Swanson | On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember the power of the Holy Spirit alive in us.  We must learn to be attuned to what God says - how He leads and nudges - by His Spirit.  It may be strange, but when we love, we are willing. Luke 19:1-10

Bret Allen | Part of being human is being self aware.  Aware of what motivates you, what compels you, what you are truly living for, what the good life is for you.  We can begin to see the answer to this question when we reflect on our life, on the decisions we make, on what satisfies us and what we try to avoid.  There are many compelling motivations we could have: fear, wealth, pleasure, fame/po...

Dr. David Swanson | Too often, we get bound up in our past so much that we cannot embrace the future God has for us.  God actually has a memory problem.  He forgets our sins - and we have to learn to as well.  We learn, yes, but they do not define us. Jeremiah 3:31-34

Rev. Tanner Fox | The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The best time to know how to experience God’s presence and peace is before a crisis. The second best time to plant a tree and to seek the presence of Jesus in our lives is right now. God has promised his presence to his people and yet scripture tells us that we must seek it, abide with him, remain in him, take his yoke up. We will lo...

Dr. David Swanson | Worldly wealth, as this parable declares, has a sly way of deceiving us.  We think it holds far more than it does.  With wealth comes weeds and we have to constantly be fighting so our hearts will not be choked out from how we offer all to Him. Matthew 13:18-23