First Pres Orlando Sermons

Dr. David Swanson | Psalm 119:9-16 Lenten Series: The Road to Maturity The Psalmist asks, "How can I keep my way pure?" The implication is that his way is NOT pure and he is prone to sin and disobedience. This is the first part of maturing in Christ: We must recognize there is a problem and then craft ways to address it.

Dr. Jack Peebles | Revelation 2:12-17 In a world when truth is relative, John encouraged the church to stand clearly for the Word and not be afraid to discipline those who taught what was false.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 2:8-11 This was a letter of encouragement to a church that was suffering. Unlike the others, there is no complaint - just affirmation - as they endured.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 2:1-7 This begins the first of the seven letters – addressing the waning love of God's people for Christ and a call to renewal.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 1:4-18 Revelation opens with a stunning glimpse of the glorious Christ and his promised, victorious return. Though not all our questions will be answered in this study we begin with confidence in God's ultimate victory.

Dr. David Swanson | Acts 3:11-26 Things right now aren't great in our world and what seems to be sorely lacking is leadership – people who are willing to create and engage and participate in their communities. We are ALL leaders and we can take a page from ACTS 3 as we learn how to do that in today's context.

Dr. Paul Gibson | 1 Peter 1:6-7 Our faith in Christ grows the most during the crucibles/trials of life. The trials of life turn up the heat (crucible) so that God can shape us into who He wants us to be. If we want to grow as Christians, we must embrace the trials and not stand outside the fire.  How are you going to embrace the trials that might come your way in 2024?

Dr. Paul Gibson | Psalm 136 As we close out 2023 and look forward to 2024, Dr. Paul Gibson leads us in reflecting on what God has done for us this year.

Dr. David Swanson | Isaiah 9:6-7 The prophecy of Isaiah tells us exactly who Jesus is in four sweeping terms: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

First Pres presents: Behold! The Messiah A worship concert where the power of music and faith converge as we celebrate the reason for the season, and proclaim the glory and wonder of Christ’s birth in Handel's Messiah.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Isaiah 7:14 How is it that God is with us? What kind of God would He be if He wasn’t sitting, high and exalted above all things? But if He is that kind of God, then how could He possibly be “with us?” How could He be so humble, so small, so weak, so like us? The gods of old were worshiped as gods, far off, transcendent, powerful, but never near. The new gods, our gods, are almost...

Dr. David Swanson | Isaiah 40:1-5 Like God's people, we can reach a point in our hurt and pain such that we become discouraged. The mere knowledge that help IS coming is enough to strengthen us as we trust in God's goodness and plan.

Dr. David Swanson | John 10:7-10 Discouragement is the tool of the enemy, while thanksgiving for the abundance of God is its antidote.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Luke 19:1-10  While the Rich young ruler seems to remain a slave to his riches, the story of Zacchaeus reveals a picture of freedom. Zacchaeus is made new and begins to see that he was made for God and others, not money.

Dr. David Swanson | Matthew 19:16-26 The rich young ruler (RYR) gives us a snapshot of how we live with money: we get addicted to the feeling of "having." Wealth is not bad, but the RYR got hooked on it – and could not let it go. In Christ, there is FREEDOM. 

Dr. David Swanson | Ephesians 4:29 Our speech is often unworthy of God's ears, often talking about others in negative ways instead of focusing on the person in front of us, or better, on God.

Dr. David Swanson | Psalm 51 Our discussion to this point has been forgiving others, but now we come to arguably the harder part: receiving God's forgiveness. (Keller Ch 9)

Dr. Jack Peebles | Luke 17:3-4 & Mark 11:25 Thinking more practically about how we forgive, we consider inward issues outward issues and the command to even forgive our enemies.

Dr. David Swanson | John 3:16-18 & 3:36 God's wrath is necessary, a necessary act of love as He moves against that which would destroy us. If we fail to see the sin, we will only think God vindictive – but someone HAS to move against sin to defeat it.

Dr. Case Thorp | Matthew 18:21-35 The story of the unforgiving servant reveals the pain we endure when we FAIL to forgive – and the blessing when we do.

Dr. David Swanson | Jeremiah 29:1-10 The third part of our look at belonging involves place or "stabilitas" – the security of investing in a place. We’ll learn from Hebrews 11 – always on a journey towards "home" – the promised land – we never arrive – but place becomes a placeholder for what we will one day know.

Dr. David Swanson | Exodus 20:12-17 The second part of our look at belonging is about people. As we journey mree deeply into belonging to God, we journey with a people, a people uniquely set apart for God's Kingdom and pleasure. We "belong" to the Body of Christ, to the people of G9d, as first outlined in the second half of the ten commandments. What does it look like to belong to o...

Dr. David Swanson | Exodus 20:1-11 As we think about the three elements of belonging, presence with God is where we begin. The first four commandments help us frame what that looks like and HOW we can experience the presence of God in more meaningful ways. We BELONG to God.

Dr. David Swanson | Lev 24:1-9 We recognize all the ways God is present to us and we celebrate that!

Rev. Tanner Fox | Leviticus 21:1-4; 22:1-3, 31-33 With Jesus as our Great and only High Priest, what are these rules and prohibitions for the priests good for? How should they be seen or used in the church today? The NT reminds us that the call to be holy as God is holy remains in place. And we are even told that, in Christ, we are a royal priesthood. As a royal priesthood, it is good for us to as...