firstChristian Norfolk | Sunday Messages

Celebrate what God has done among us in 2025 and look ahead to where He is leading. Hear powerful stories of life change, worship together, and celebrate with anticipation how God will use us to show his love to our neighbors in the year ahead. 

Kiah Jackson | One thing is faith that moves. Faith isn't just belief, it's trust lived out in real life. Jesus invites us to receive the gift of faith and live like we trust him every day.

Tim DeFor | How would you describe the greatest Christmas gift? How can you describe a gift that is impossible to deserve, outrageously expensive, and freely given? If it was given to you, how would you respond? It may surprise you that it all is wrapped up in the biggest little word.

Randall Coffin | Why does Christmas joy so often feel fragile and fleeting? What if joy isn't something we manufacture, but something we receive? To receive this Joy, the answer might be in the Christmas song "Joy to the World" in the line that says, "Let ev'ry heart prepare him (the Lord) room."

Tim DeFor | Have you heard this interchange? "What do you want for Christmas?" "World Peace." What people mean is the end of all wars and violence. But what if that is aiming too low? Jesus came to give us peace, but the peace he came to give, and what he wants from us is so much more than that. And we can be part of making it.

Tim DeFor | What do you want for Christmas? Children and adults alike are asked by friends and family each year. But have you wondered what Jesus wants from Christmas? What if this year, we give Christmas back to Jesus by receiving his hope and sharing it with others? Great! But how do we do that? It is simple, but not always easy.

Tim DeFor | Can one personal encounter change your life for good? We hear stories of how an outcast has one chance meeting with a benefactor and their life is transformed forever. Stories like this can give us warm feelings, but Jesus wants something even better. He invites you to see yourself in the story, and be changed for good.

Tony Burke | We all want to win at life, but drifting without direction and chasing passions that don't deliver only hold us back. Even some of our favorite things can become distractions that keep us from real freedom. God calls us to something better: a life where every thought, choice, and action is aimed at one goal—reflecting the greatness of the God who made us and His Son who saved us.

Randall Coffin | Freedom in Christ doesn't lead to selfish living, but to gospel-centered serving. When our hearts beat for the lost, we'll gladly adapt our approach to our audience to win some for Jesus.

Tim DeFor | Learning about God can radically change your worldview, bringing freedom from superstitions and religious legalism. But what if living out your freedom harms others' relationship with God? How can followers of Christ live out the freedom in a way that reflects the heart of Christ?

Tim DeFor | Jesus can dramatically change your life, but do you change your situation to fully honor God? Paul answers questions from a church wrestling with marriage, singleness, and calling—and you will be surprised by how his response still applies to your life today. 

Tim DeFor  |  Is your freedom really freeing you? Our culture says, "Do what you want—my body, my choice, my business." But Paul flips that idea upside down, asking whether what we call freedom is actually leading us toward slavery or freedom. This message will push you to rethink what it means to be truly free. Freedom in Christ cannot be bought, but experiencing it will cost you.

Tim DeFor | We love courtroom drama. Who wins or loses? Who is guilty or innocent? Will there be justice? But what do Christians do when conflict happens within the church? This message will challenge you to look deeper at what's really at stake when conflict arises and invite you to discover a better way.

Randall Coffin | No one likes walking through spider webs—but the real problem isn't the web, it's the spider. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul confronts a church trying to look graceful while ignoring the sin spinning destruction in their midst. True holiness means going beyond surface cleanups and dealing directly with sin before it spreads.

Tim DeFor | Followers of Christ want to mature, but what does a mature Christian look like? What would maturity look like in your everyday walk with Christ? Paul challenges some common misunderstandings of what victory in Jesus looks like, and it will challenge you too. 

Tim DeFor | What do you do when someone points out that you have a blindspot? Many of us will ignore it, become defensive, listen to voices that reinforce our views, and rely on our preferred "experts." But none of this is helpful, especially when it comes to spiritual maturity. So when confronted with our own immaturity, what can we do to grow?

Tony Burke | Sometimes life feels like you're walking a trail you don't recognize. You're not sure how you ended up here or which way to turn next. You think, ' If only I had a map, I could find my way out.'  But the good news is this: the one who designed the trail knows exactly where you are, and He has already sent a guide to lead you safely home.

Randall Coffin | The cross appears foolish to those who don't believe. Yet it is in the "foolishness" that the true power of God is revealed.

Tim DeFor | Everyone longs to belong, to be seen, and to know we matter. But so often, that longing gets tangled up in comparisons, divisions, or trying to prove ourselves. These can spread through even the best of churches, stunting growth and sacrificing maturity. But there is a cure, and it isn't what you think.

Tim DeFor | We're all chasing the good life, but busyness leaves us burned out and laziness leaves us empty. God offers something better—a rhythm in which we can discover the life we didn't know we needed.

Tim DeFor | Following Jesus takes faith. Especially since Jesus says whoever wants to be his disciple must take up their cross and follow him. So, why would anyone be bold enough to follow Jesus if it could cost everything?

Tony Burke | God has entrusted us with resources and finances, and wise stewardship means protecting and managing them for the good of His kingdom and His people. So if that's true, why do some people overflow with joy when they give with bold, even lavish, generosity?

Tim DeFor | Having things in common helps build bonds and reduce potential conflict. So, it would be logical to use cultural connections as bridges to welcome people into God's family. Then why would God intentionally use the most dissimilar people to introduce them to Jesus?

Randall Coffin | It's been said that people hate change. That's not entirely true. We change when we want to change. When we receive Christ, change is inevitable.

Kiah Jackson Church isn't just about Sundays—it's about living out the gospel every day, together. Let's be more than a crowd. Let's be a family.