First Christian Church Champaign

What if you’re within arm’s reach of Jesus—and still miss who He is? In Luke 19, Jesus stops for the least likely person in Jericho: Zacchaeus, the wealthy chief tax collector everyone loves to hate. While the “religious crowd” mutters and writes him off, Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name, invites Himself to his table, and sparks a repentance that proves real change isn’t remorse—it’s a new way of lif...

What if the resistance you feel from people around you isn’t something you can argue through—but something you have to pray through? In Colossians 4, Paul writes from prison and calls the church to two simple, confronting practices: devote yourself to persistent prayer for open doors, and live “seasoned with salt” so your life creates thirst for the goodness of God. This message challenges the way...

How do you obey the Great Commission without turning faith into a megaphone moment—or staying so “relational” you never actually speak? In this kickoff to Asking For a Friend, the message walks through Acts 26 as Paul stands before King Agrippa—one of the last people you’d assume would ever be interested in Jesus—and shows a simple, practical path for reaching your “one life”: assume they’re intri...

What if the reason the “good life” keeps fading is because it was never meant to last? In this final message of He Promises, we open 1 John 2:15–17 and face a stark choice: love the world and its passing desires—or do the will of God and live forever. John names the pull we all feel—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—and exposes how they promise satisfaction but leave us re...

What if the change you’re asking God for won’t come through trying harder—but through surrendering deeper? In 2 Corinthians 5:11–18, Paul points to a life so transformed by Christ’s love that it looks “out of your mind” to a world obsessed with what’s seen. This message compares the Holy Spirit’s work to Michelangelo chiseling David from a cracked block of marble: not a quick fix, not a “front doo...

What if the thing you’d rescue in a fire isn’t a “what,” but a “who”—and what if God says you are that treasured possession? In Deuteronomy 7, Moses reminds Israel that God set His affection on them not because they were impressive or “numerous,” but simply because He loved them with steadfast hesed. Yet the passage also includes an “if,” raising the tension between unconditional love and the call...

We all love God’s promises—until they come slower, look different, and stretch our faith further than we want. In this kickoff message, Eric opens Genesis 3 and the Bible’s first great promise: after sin shatters God’s shalom, God steps in and promises a Savior who will crush the serpent’s head. From there, he traces how God’s promises often include waiting, why God takes His covenants seriously,...

What if your loudest praise isn’t reserved for stadiums, concerts, or a night out—but for the God who gives you breath? In Psalm 150, Steven finishes the Book of Psalms with a challenge to stop holding back and learn “hallelujah” as a shout, not a whisper. Through a story from a packed Mexican pub during a World Cup match, he paints a picture of contagious, communal celebration—and asks why the ch...

What if God can handle the parts of you that don’t sound “theologically correct”? In Psalm 13, David brings his unfiltered “How long, O Lord?”—the ache of delay, the fear that God has turned His face, and the heaviness that won’t lift—and he doesn’t stop at venting; he asks, “Consider me. Answer me. Light up my eyes.” This message explores how to bring real emotions to God, how to ask for help wit...

Where do you run when life feels unsafe—when fear hits, attacks come, and danger feels close? In Psalm 91, this message challenges the assumption that God promises a pain-free life and instead shows a deeper promise: protection through His presence. Walk through “dwelling” in the shelter of the Most High, learn what it means to abide, and confront the subtle lie that if God loves you, nothing hard...

What if your restlessness isn’t random—but a sign you’re being led by the wrong shepherd? This message opens with Psalm 23 echoing through unexpected places (from Coolio to the Titanic), then invites you to sit under David’s most famous confession: “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” Walk through green pastures and quiet waters, face the darkest valley with a Shepherd who stays near, and se...

What if the gap in your faith isn’t what you believe—but what (and who) you’ve actually let in? This message sits in Psalm 139, where David refuses a distant, “facts-about-God” spirituality and instead prays with bold honesty, “Search me… know me… lead me.” Explore the tension of an all-knowing, ever-present, all-powerful God—and the often-overlooked truth that His love governs it all—then conside...

What if the thing you’re really chasing isn’t a new tent to try on, but a home you were made to live in? Psalm 15 asks a piercing question—who can dwell with God—and it pulls us up toward a holiness that feels breathtaking and impossible all at once. If you’re tired of searching, tired of trying to prove you belong, and you’re ready to trade self-reliance for something steadier, this message is an...

Most of us know what it’s like to see the check engine light and hope it goes away—but what happens when the warning isn’t under your hood, it’s in your soul? In Psalm 6, David refuses to shrug off what’s going on inside of him and instead turns toward the only One who can heal, deliver, and save. If you’ve been carrying consequences, ignoring conviction, or assuming God is angry or distant, this...

What do you reach for when everything feels like it’s burning down around you? Psalm 46 doesn’t offer a pep talk—it points to a refuge that can’t be shaken, a place of strength when the world is loud, the wars feel endless, and your soul is tired. This week, lean into the words, “Be still and know that I am God,” and consider what it looks like to stop striving, stop fighting alone, and run to the...

Have you ever wondered why some people stay steady through chaos while others get blown around by every new season? Psalm 1 draws a vivid line between two paths—and invites you to consider where your life is being rooted. In this opening message of Summer in the Psalms, we’re challenged to see how ordinary, daily choices shape what we become, and why true happiness isn’t found in getting everythin...

What if the greatest threat to your faith isn’t doubt—it’s distraction? In this message from 1 Timothy 6:17–21, Paul’s final words land like a charge: turn from “godless chatter,” place your hope where it actually holds, and let faith become more than a thought. If you’ve felt the tension between what you believe and how you live, this episode invites you to step into a kind of faith that moves—he...

There’s a real fight happening—whether you feel it or not—and what’s at stake is bigger than comfort, confidence, or getting through another week. From a prank that nearly turned deadly to Paul’s charge in 1 Timothy 6 to “fight the good fight,” this message presses one question: what are you holding onto when the hits keep coming? The surprising path to victory isn’t trying harder—it’s a “good con...

What’s the one thing your life is quietly advertising—your work, your interests, your money… or Jesus? In 1 Timothy 5:24–6:10, Paul presses on what becomes “obvious” over time, exposing the subtle ways controversy, unhealthy interests, and the love of money can shape us without us noticing. This message invites you to take an honest look at what you’re chasing, what you’re consuming, and what you...

What if the thing you dismiss as “just practice” is actually shaping everything people will see in public? This message takes you into 1 Timothy 5 to wrestle with what it means to honor spiritual leadership without excusing it, to handle accusations with wisdom instead of impulse, and to slow down before we hand anyone a platform. If you’ve ever felt tension between grace and truth, grown tired of...

Family is everywhere in our culture—marketed, idealized, and joked about—yet real family is always a little messy. In this message from 1 Timothy 5, we’re invited to see the church as a faith family where words are meant to heal, needs are met with wisdom, and care is expressed with both compassion and conviction. If you’ve ever wondered what the church should do when people are hurting, when expe...

In 1 Timothy 4, Paul’s words to a young pastor expose a question every believer has to face: are you actually being nourished by the truth, or have you just learned how to look the part? This message presses into the quiet drift toward spiritual emptiness—where faith becomes occasional, convenient, and performative—and calls the church back to daily surrender, diligent training, and a life that sh...

So much of what shapes our lives doesn’t arrive as an obvious lie—it shows up as something that sounds close enough to be true. In this sermon from 1 Timothy 3–4, you’ll hear why the church is called God’s household and what it means to be a pillar that holds something steady when everything around it shifts. If you’ve ever felt the slow pull of distraction, doubt, or distorted “truth,” this is an...

What if the most important “qualifications” in the church aren’t impressive titles, influence, or gifted words—but the quiet evidence of a life actually changed by Jesus? In 1 Timothy 3, Paul’s vision for elders and deacons confronts our obsession with looking the part and invites every believer to pursue a deeper kind of maturity—one that shows up at home, in habits, and in the unseen places wher...

What if the most controversial lines in Scripture aren’t meant to silence anyone—but to silence the noise? In this message through 1 Timothy 2, we step into ancient Ephesus and uncover how a powerful culture was shaping worship, identity, and even the way people showed up in church. It’s a raw invitation to examine what’s forming you, what’s distracting you, and what surrender actually looks like—...