The LVfirst Podcast

This Sunday, we continued our “Cool for the Summer” series by revisiting the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. We reflected on how David’s real battle began before he faced the giant, when he was offered Saul’s armor and had to decide whether to trust in appearances or in God. We recognized the ways we, too, try to wear “someone else’s armor” through comparison, imitation, and imposter sy...

This Sunday, we explored the history and heart of campmeeting as a Methodist tradition rooted in evangelism, joy, and relationships. We looked at Ezra 6 and the rebuilding of the temple, noticing how God transformed opposition and fear into celebration and renewed worship. We then turned to stories of Jesus—from the Samaritan woman and Zacchaeus to the synagogue leader’s daughter—to see how encoun...

This Sunday, we continued our “Cool for the Summer” series by diving into the story of Gideon in the book of Judges. We reflected on the names and labels that have been placed on us, and how they can become limiting scripts that keep us stuck “threshing wheat in a winepress” – living in fear, insecurity, and self-doubt. We heard how God met Gideon in his pit, called him a “mighty warrior” before h...

This Sunday, we talked about how God meets us in wilderness places where there are less distractions and we can truly encounter His presence. This week, we're inviting you to challenge yourself to practice humility and slow down from our busy lives to encounter God in new and authentic ways. 

This Sunday, we explored the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and God's profound question, "Where are you?" We learned that God is constantly moving toward us in a desire for restored relationship. God's kindness leads us to repentance, and when we name the things that shame us, shame loses its power. Through Jesus, we are invited to come out of hiding and to experience the fullness of God's Spir...

This Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday by digging into Acts 2 and asking what it really means to be a Spirit-filled church. We looked at how the Spirit came like a rushing wind and tongues of fire, but we focused even more on what the Spirit did: He enabled the disciples to speak real, native languages so that everyone there heard the good news in their own tongue. We learned why it matters t...

This Sunday, we explored how we can often get trapped in our nostalgia and "declinism" — the belief that everything was better "back in the day." The Ascension story challenges that and reveals Jesus' radical vision: to launch the Kingdom of God for all people, everywhere. The Ascension isn't about waiting for Jesus' return, it's about bring heaven to Earth by the Holy Spirit working through us.

This Sunday, we read the Gospel story of the wedding at Cana. In this story, we found a profound truth — that often we only turn to Jesus when something in our lives gives out. In this story, Mary the Mother of Jesus shows us that we can bring our problems to Jesus before they give out, because He can give us more than enough. Our job is simple obedience - to bring our troubles to Jesus and to do...

This Sunday, we took a look at Joshua 1 where God commands us to be strong and courageous when facing life transitions. We found that true strength and courage don't come from having everything figured out, but from knowing that God goes with us.

This Sunday, we took a look at the story of the Walk to Emmaus where Jesus appeared to two disciples on Easter Sunday. We examined the things that occupy our minds and conversations and often keep us acknowledging Jesus' presence. The reality is that when we focus on our disappointments and problems, we blind ourselves to the hope and presence of Jesus walking with us.

This Sunday, we discussed the common uncertainty we feel after we celebrate Easter. We looked at Jesus' encounter with Peter in John 21 and how we are called beyond comfortable patterns into active mission. When we are uncertain about our next steps spiritually, the answer is always the same: go out to love and serve others.

This Sunday, we dove into the story of "Doubting Thomas" and how we can often find ourselves in a similar mindset. We talked about how we live in a world that demands proof before trust and how that mindset can follow us into our faith. When we dig into Thomas's story, we find that faith requires a shift from seeking proof to actively trusting God with what we know and don't know.

This Sunday, we took a look at John's Gospel account of the resurrection and reflected on Jesus' question to Mary, "Who are you looking for?" We were challenged to turn away from the empty places in our lives and to recognize that what we've been searching for is actually a who. A living savior who brings resurrection - right here and right now.

This Sunday, we explored Jesus' demonstration of servant leadership during the Last Supper as he washed his disciples' feet. At the very peak of His influence, Jesus chose to serve rather than be served. It is this same selflessness that Jesus calls us to — to use our influence and privilege to serve others rather than expecting to be served.

This Sunday, we dug into Jesus' challenging question, "Do you also wish to go away?" Pastor Adam noted that following Jesus requires commitment beyond seeking convenience and comfort. We have to clarify our faith and acknowledge that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Our faith is a choice we have to make repeatedly. It is not something that is forced upon us. True discipleship calls for u...

This Sunday, we walked through John 8:2–11, the story of the woman caught in adultery. We dug into Jesus’ response: - He bends down to write in the dirt instead of playing their yes-or-no game. - He says, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” exposing their guilt in the matter. - One by one, the accusers drop their stones and leave until only Jesus and the...

This Sunday, We continued our “Jesus Asks” series by looking at one of Jesus’ most powerful questions from John 11: “Do you believe this?” We learned that when Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He isn’t just talking about a distant, someday hope, but a present reality we can live in right now. We explored the difference between understanding and believing—how Jesus doesn’t ask, “Do...

This Sunday, we explored Jesus' profound question to the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda: "Do you want to be made well?" We were challenged to examine the areas of brokenness in our lives that we've normalized instead of addressing directly. We learned that Jesus meets us in our brokenness and invites us into a process of healing that requires taking ownership and walking forward in faith. 

This Sunday, we started our journey through the Gospel of John in our Lenten series, Jesus Asks. We looked at Jesus' — "What are you looking for?" Rather than following Jesus from a distance, we are invited to "come and see" — to abide with Him and experience the abundant life He offers to us.

This Sunday, we talked about the loneliness epidemic in modern culture. Using the story of the paralyzed man whose friends carried him to Jesus, we looked at how community is necessary for us to move beyond cultural divisions and form authentic relationships.

This Sunday, we talked about the pervasive anxiety and need for control that characterizes modern life, using the story of Mary and Martha to illustrate the difference between trying to be "over it" ourselves versus allowing Jesus to be "over it." True peace comes not from managing our anxiety through control, but from surrendering to Jesus as Lord and sitting at His feet like Mary rather than fra...

This Sunday, we wrapped up our January series, Resolve, by challenging ourselves to embrace bravery as a resolution we can all keep throughout this year. The story of Peter walking on the water teaches us that it's better to find out than to miss out—better to take that awkward, uncertain step toward Jesus than to remain safely stuck. When life gets overwhelming and we begin to sink, Jesus is righ...

This Sunday, Pastor Deanne lead us in a message about the power of curiosity. Genuine curiosity, rooted in a desire to understand rather than merely acquire information, is essential for our spiritual growth and building meaningful relationships.

This Sunday, we explored the transformative power of understanding our identity as beloved children of God. On this baptism of the Lord Sunday, we looked at Jesus' baptism from a new perspective — not as washing away sins (because Jesus was sinless) — but as a way of Jesus identifying with humanity so that we can find our identity in Him.

This Sunday, we explored the journey of the Magi as we looked at what it means to experience lasting change in our lives. Change is inevitable, but purposeful change requires following something greater than ourselves — Jesus.