First Pres Orlando Sermons

Even in the darkness, we have to learn to watch for the Lord - to see His hand, to find small lights illuminating perhaps just a small patch of ground ahead. It is like watching for the first shoots of growth on a tree to tell us that winter will soon pass once more. (Psalm 130)

God puts so much emphasis on marriage that he placed it at the beginning of Scripture (Genesis 2:20-25), in the middle of Scripture (Jesus' first miracle in John 2), and at the end of Scripture (Revelation 21). Therefore, a holy marriage is one of the greatest testimonies of God's love we can give to this world. If we want our families to be holy, we must first start by striving to make...

Reflections on the purpose, meaning, significance, and beauty of the Church from my Sabbatical.

All of us will grieve at some point in time. If we don't, it will surely manifest itself in other forms. We need our tears and we need to find the mystery of God's tenderness even in that grief.

Theodicy is the presence of God in human suffering. No doubt, we struggle to understand the presence of God when we suffer, so the next few weeks will look at that idea. First, we cannot assume He is not with us in the darkness because, in Christ, God entered our darkness to overcome it.

When we come to the table to partake in the Lord’s Supper, we participate in the story of redemption God has been working from the beginning, finds its culmination in Christ Jesus, and foreshadows the eternal feast that is to come for the family of God.

We all want it! And would do anything to get it! REST. What is REAL rest? And how do we get it? 

As this series draws to a close, we remind ourselves once more that even in the darkness of this world or the darkness we face, secular hope is a facade that crumbles. Only Christian hope - Easter hope - endures.

The resurrection points us to the day when all will be made right - and just - where injustice is answered. As Christians now, however, we should not wait until then, but work towards justice for all now.

In The Parable of the Sower, we will examine his complete obedience to his calling, his total disregard for where the seed landed, and his complete dependence upon God for the increase.

Separation of church and state is not the same as separating the state from God. The people of God are called into the public square to participate in the outbreaking of God along with the call to support space for the common good of all (even other religions).

The resurrection enables us as Christ followers to find hope within suffering. The suffering we are taught to do in culture is a lonely, and rarely cathartic journey. Yet, as Paul demonstrates, Christ followers are empowered to do more than move through their suffering, but for their suffering to lead to purpose, joy, fruit, and more. 

We have seen deep division and relational brokenness for several years now. Easter offers hope to heal even those divisions – even the deepest relational divides.

We need to understand how resurrection hope is offered to people like Peter, those who betrayed Jesus, for it becomes our hope as we fight our sinful nature.

Christ is in us and He is the hope of glory. Thus, we become the spreaders of that glory as temple of the Holy Spirit. His glory indwells us and HIs church, and as He does so, that glory points us to the ultimate hope of the world.

The Kingdom of God reverses the patterns of our world which tend to define us, and by reversing them, we are set free - to serve, not be served - to be last, not first - to move down, not up. it is the way of Jesus and it is the hope of our salvation.

Dr. David Swanson | We yearn for someone to come and take control of all the wrongs we see and make them right. It's our hearts yearning for what only Christ can do and be - the inaugurator and King of the true Kingdom - the eternal Kingdom. Christ is the one we hope for, we see Him at Easter, and we yearn for His return. Future hope gives present strength.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Kelly, Ch 1: Our hope is grounded in certainty, in a historical resurrection

Dr. Swanson | We continue to think about the impact of Easter not just for one Sunday, but for the whole of life. As we live in a post-pandemic, more fearful, and divided world, we need to understand how Easter hope transforms our view on world events and calms our fears. 1 Peter 1:3-9

Dr. Swanson | As we think about living in this Easter season, we are reminded of how our culture teaches us to seek our glory, but the story of Easter is God's glory - and His alone. So let's decrease that He might increase. Isaiah 26:8-13

Case Thorp | Walking with the risen Christ necessitates presence, worldview, and hospitality. Luke 24:13-36

Dr. Swanson | As we come to the empty tomb, we find the answer to the question asked by so many: How do I know God is real? We know He is real by what He shows us at the empty tomb - a reality predicted and fulfilled - one questioned on Friday, but accomplished on Sunday.  John 2:13-21

Dr. Swanson | Palm Sunday helps us answer our most pressing question of this age: what is going to become of us? We see so much that is wrong, we want to know, "Where is this going to end?" As Jesus instructs the disciples, he offers some needed clarity around those questions. Mark 11:1-11

Dr. Swanson | Suffering creates a unique bond among us in life. It is the common denominator of the human experience. As we look at those who gathered at the cross, we find some unique similarities - and hope in our own fraternity of suffering. John 19:16-27

Dr. Swanson |  The odd thing about the trial of Jesus before Pilate is that while Jesus was being examined by Pilate, Pilate was also being examined by Jesus. The Word is always examining our hearts - and are we ready for that examination? Perhaps the question is not "What will I do with Jesus?" but "What will Jesus do with me?" John 18:28-40