First College Ruston: Recent Episodes
College Pastor
Luke 19
- Zacchaeus had the desire to see Jesus
- Jesus had a great desire to see Zacchaeus
- Freedom is found in surrender
Conviction vs Shame
Tune in this week as our Ministry Intern, Ben Poole preaches through Jesus' encounter with Pilate and Barabbas. This week we will see how Jesus takes our place.
Matthew 19:16-20
- What must I do to have eternal life?
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We cannot do anything good enough.
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We must fully surrender and follow Jesus.
- When we follow Him, we will inherit eternal life.
- Healing and forgiveness requires faith
- Jesus has the power to forgive sins and heal
- When we are healed and forgiven, God receives the glory
Luke 5:17-26
Hear the good news that Jesus seeks us out just as he sought out the woman at the well. Like her life was changed, ours can be changed through Him.
Religion doesn't save us. We must be born again. Looking towards Christ is the only way to salvation and hope.
- Jesus came to proclaim the Gospel
- Jesus invites us to follow Him
- Jesus' invitation demands a response
Ecclesiastes 7
Living wisely is a good things, but we will still struggle with the effects of a sinful world and our limited wisdom. The wisest thing we can do is fear God.
Ecclesiastes 4 & 5
Our contentment is not found in money. It is found in an eternal relationship with Christ.
Sin leads to evil, wickedness, and death. God will judge the sinful and righteous. Ultimately, Christ is the answer to a world full of sin.
Time is fleeting, but God is in control. Trust Him, enjoy the gifts He has given us, and live for eternity.
If true contentment does not lie in anything we can do, then what can we do to find it? It can only be found in the Lord!
As we begin the sermon series on Ecclesiastes, we are told that all in this life is vanity. This may begin a sense of hopelessness, that is unless you know the One in who you can put your hope in. A life in Christ, not the world, is filled with meaning and hope.
God is the reason why we could ever do any good. Abiding in Him allows us to pour into others and treat others as God does: with deep compassion, kindness, and love that is inaccessible anywhere else.
Idols are more than just wooden statues, they are things of the world. God calls us to put Him on the throne, not the world. Live for eternity, not for the temporary!
Interview panel with guest speakers Katie and Cody about their experience serving as Journeymen with the IMB.
Doubt is something we all struggle with even as believers. Here we look at what Jesus says about doubt.
Through our walk with Christ, it's important to hold to Jesus Christ, our Anchor in the storm, when distracted. Through this, we can stay focused on Christ and His mission.
We were once dead, and now we are alive. We no longer are slaves to sin and have been set free by Jesus' blood on the cross. Feel comforted that the Spirit of God is with you.
God sends us to proclaim, pray, and trust His provision. Be devoted to pray and and share the Gospel this week.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A few of our students went on mission in France over Thanksgiving break, and some of them share their experience.
The Gospel changes everything in our lives, from big picture things to day to day things, such as our interactions with our leaders, with others, and with God.
Jesus Christ will return one day, although we don't know the day or hour. Scripture shows us we can have hope in His return, as well as what kind of response we should have for the second coming of our Lord.
How can we live a life pleasing to God? We do this by loving others. By this, all will know we are disciples of Jesus.
Only through a relationship with Jesus Christ can we began to live a life pleasing to God. Hear how to live out the Gospel that has changed your life.
How do we grow in our faith? Allowing God's Word to transform us will change our lives forever. Develop and pray for a great love for God's people. Hold fast to the Lord the Gospel that saves you.
The Gospel changes who we are and how we live so that the world around us sees and hears the Gospel proclaimed! 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
How does the world get turned uside down? Through this message, we will see how the Lord can turn our world and the world around us upside down through the message of the Gospel!!!
Our college intern, Thomas, speaks tonight out of First Corinthians, and reminds us not only that God and sin incompatible, but also that God loved us enough to pay the ultimate price to give us victory over sin.
Concluding our sermon series through the Book of Exodus, we find Israel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sea on one side, treacherous wilderness on the other, and Egyptian army closing in on them to boot. In this moment, the people of Israel are suddenly not so sure that God's plan will end well for them. Spoiler alert: God was in control the whole time, and He's still in control.
Continuing in our series through the book of Exodus, we see the need for the nation of Israel to stop and reflect. The Lord's instructions to both remember and teach future generations of His faithfulness leaves Israel with a bold call to action, which rings true to us today as followers of Christ.
Continuing in our series through Exodus, we go through the story of The Passover, and it's connection to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Continuing in our series through Exodus, we read through these ongoing encounters between the prophet Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt, and of course the plagues that come to pass.
As we continue through our series in Exodus, we see that this plan to get Israel out of Egypt isn't going to be as straight forward as we might've hoped. Despite this, we see that God is faithful and steadfast, holding true to the word that he has promised to Moses and his forefathers.
Continuing in our series through Exodus, tonight we go through God's calling for Moses. Through this passage we learn about many of the ways we commonly respond to God's call on our life, but also see a glimpse of what is possible when we respond to God's calling with obedience.
Tonight we start a new sermon series through the book of Exodus, wherein we see God's faithfulness and provision for us, as his children
In view of the Valentine's Day season, we host a panel of married couples who attempt to answer some of our most burning questions about how to find and maintain a righteous relationship and marriage.
Finishing our series in the Book of Psalms with Psalm 48, we are reminded that we are to praise God simply because of who He is and because it is what we were created to do, along with the rest of creation. No matter where we are in life, our God is stable and constant, and he deserves all praises.
Continuing our sermon series through the book of Psalms, we take a look through Psalm 57. This Psalm is written by David, during a particularly tough portion of his life, and there is much to be learned from the way he responds to his circumstances.
Today we continue our series in Psalm 51, where in King David repents for some of the terrible things that he did in his lifetime. Through this Psalm, we are able to see how we should approach God with our struggles and sins, and give us insight as to some of the next steps in our spiritual walks.
Due to technical difficulties, we lost the first 15-25 seconds of this message and Chase's classic "How's it going guys?" but you're still in for a treat.
In tonight's message, we go through Psalms 42 and 43, where the psalmist cries out in agony to God who seems far and distant from him, a circumstance that you may relate to in your own life. Tonight's message revolves around the psalmist's reaction to his circumstances, therein how we are to respond to God when he feels distant from us.
We resume our journey through the book of Psalms in chapter 16, where King David shines light on how we ought to give glory to God in all seasons of life, including the good times.
We begin 2023 with a new sermon series through the book of Psalms. Beginning in Psalm 1, we learn how we can praise God through a life of righteousness. Join us in the remainder of this series, where we learn to praise God through all seasons of life.
College pastor Chase Sanders takes us through the remainder of 1 John where we see the author summarize many central points in this epistle and we see words of encouragement for the future.
Join us in the new year as Chase begins another sermon series!
College pastor Chase Sanders takes us through 1 John 4, where the dominant theme is love. In our society, love usually implies a sort of warm fuzzy feeling you get from someone else or the satisfaction received from material goods. The love described in the text lends itself to a much greater and deeper version of the love we see in our day to day lives. Facing the truth found in 1 John 4 is sure to make you rethink the word "love" and ask yourself if you love others genuinely.
College pastor Chase Sanders takes us through the remainder of 1 John 3, where the Apostle Paul touches on a couple key points that should affirm and signify our relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, tonight's sermon is sure to make you reflect on actions past and and encourage you in the present pursuit of of abiding in Christ.
This week college pastor Chase Sanders finishes out 1 John 2 and takes us into chapter 3. In this text the disciple John addresses the christian audience who has accepted Christ into their life and now must take steps in maturity. The word outlines many things that children of God do, and many things that children of God do not do. No matter where you find yourself in your journey with Christ, tonight's word and message are sure to challenge us and spur us on to strive forward in the pursuit of holiness that is in Christ Jesus.
College pastor Chase Sanders is back and takes us through the remainder of 1 John 2. Up to this point in 1 John, we have seen what it looks like to walk in the light with Christ, and we have taken up the call to be 'bout that action, but what action exactly? In this sermon we break down the action and opposition that the church at Ephesus was facing, and see how we, as modern Americans face many of the same obstacles and opposition.
College pastor Chase Sanders is back and takes us through the remainder of 1 John 2. Up to this point in 1 John, we have seen what it looks like to walk in the light with Christ, and we have taken up the call to be 'bout that action, but what action exactly? In this sermon we break down the action and opposition that the church at Ephesus was facing, and see how we, as modern Americans face many of the same obstacles and opposition.
Tonight our college intern Thomas Schwartzenburg continues in our study of 1 John, taking us through chapter 2, verses 1-11. These verses challenge us to walk obediently with Christ, and begin to frame what that intimate relationship with Christ looks like. As readers, we can't go any further in our study of 1 John without stopping and asking ourselves "Am I bout that action?"
College Pastor Chase Sanders begins a new sermon series on 1 John. Starting in chapter one, Sanders unpacks what it means for us to walk in the light in the context of our crazy 21st century world.
Continuing the sermon series "Big Questions", college pastor Chase Sanders poses us with our biggest question yet: what does God have to say about my life?
Many of us struggle to find our purpose in life, but in Christ, we have a newfound purpose, displayed for us in scripture. Continuing the series "Big Questions" college pastor Chase Sanders takes us to 2 Corinthians 5 where apostle Paul clearly lays out his purpose and goal for the church and people of Corinth: a people who were seeking purpose in their lives, and were susceptible to influence from the voices of those around them. In many ways, we are in the same boat as the Corinthians and must first establish our purpose in Christ, then maintain vision and focus in that identity. Tune in as Chase brings words of wisdom to help us along this journey to live in our purpose in Christ!
Every college student toils with basic questions "Who am I?"; "What is my Purpose?"; "Does God have plan for my life?" and others. College pastor Chase Sanders starts a multipart series in an attempt to tackle some of these existential questions that keep us up at night, and weigh heavy on our hearts.
To kick off the school year, college pastor Chase Sanders takes us through Colossians 1:24-29 to remind us of our mission in Christ. Despite popular opinion in our college town, we are not here to simply get a degree or live the dream life. (whatever that means) In the letter to the church at Colossae, Paul lays out our mission explicitly: to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in everything we do, but how do we go about living out this mission laid before us? Tune in to find out!
Justin Shipley speaks on Hebrew 12:1-2 and how we can only reach our true potential by pursuing a relationship with Christ, and how often times we hinder ourselves from our potential by not eliminating sin in our lives.
BCM Intern Zach Brown comes and delivers the Word on Jonah 2, and what our response to being saved should be.
In this new sermon series, Chase breaks down Jonah 1, and how we as believers (or nonbelievers) need to respond to God's call.
This week, Chase goes through Romans 12:3-8, speaking on what service should look like as the body of the church.
In this message, Chase speaks on the Great Commission in Act 1:1-8 and how we as believers are called to live on mission-- everywhere and all the time.
In this sermon, Chase dives into Romas 1:1-2 and how we as believers need to live a live of worship, and what that looks like.
Chase breaks down 2 Timothy 3:14-17 and how knowing that the Bible is inspired by God should spur us on to read His Word and lived transformed lives.
Chase continues to define what the Church should look like. This week we take a deep look at Ephesians 4:1-16 and what true Biblical Community is and what it is not.
Chase Sanders speaks on Acts 2:42-47 and how we have as the 21st Century Church may have gotten things a bit twisted, and what we can do to get back to what Christ intended the Church to look like.
Chase Sanders speaks on Acts 2:42-47 and how we have as the 21st Century Church may have gotten things a bit twisted, and what we can do to get back to what Christ intended the Church to look like.
Chase speaks on Colossians 3:18 - 4:6 and how we need to live as Christ lived in every aspect of our life -- relationships, prayer, wisdom, and more.
This week, Chase runs us through Colossians 3:5-17, saying how we are called to put to death our old self and live in a new life with Christ.
Chase speaks on Colossians 2:16-3:4, and how we as believers need to obey God to grower closer to Him, not obey Him so that man will approve of us.
Chase dives in Colossians 2:1-15, speaking about how we as believers need to know God and His Word so that we will not be swayed by false teaching.
Chase speaks on Colossians 1:24-29 and how we as believers need to live on mission... and that's not just the job for pastors or missionaries.
Chase Sanders continues his study of Pauls letter to the church in Colossae, highlighting four essential ways that outline Jesus as the foundation for our faith. Chase leaves us challenged to reevaluate the view we hold toward Christ Jesus both as individuals and members of the Church.
Chase delivers a good word on Colossians 1:1-14 on how we as believers need to put Christ above ALL in our life. Specifically, we as believers need to be filled with the knowledge of His will, walk in a Gospel-Worthy manner, and be strengthened for endurance.
First College student Thomas Schwartzenburg reads through the story of Job and explains how the ancient and seemingly outdated text is not only relevant, but should shape our view of a powerful and eternal God.
Our college pastor candidate, Chase Sanders, delivers the Word on John 17:6-19. We look at how Jesus prays and how that should affect how we pray and live. The bottom line up front is that we are called to live on mission, so live that way!
Justin speaks on how all Christians are called to live on mission for Jesus, day in and day out. Our own Katie Walker also updates us on her future, as she is going to France with the IMB's Journeymen program to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ!
Justin speaks on Hebrews 5 and how vital knowing the Word is to our every day life.
(Disclaimer: The first few minutes of the sermon were not recorded.)
This week Justin dives in to Hebrews 4 to show how our faith in the Lord leads to obedience, rest, and confidence. He also shares about how he pranked his old man.
Palmer Miley speaks on Hebrews 3 and how important it is that Jesus is both THE Apostle and High Priest ... and what that means for our life.
A dive into Hebrews 2, looking at how we shouldn't just profess Christ with our mouths, but practice Him day in and day out.
The story of all that has ever been. How mankind was right with God, how we have fallen, how Christ redeems us, and how we can pursue the Truth in an ever-changing world.
Sermon on Mark 5:1-20 about Jesus's passion to chase us down no matter where we are at in life.
With the school year wrapping up, what do we do now? Pursue Christ. Love the Church. Be On Mission.
Part sermon, part interview, all missions. Why we need to emphasize living on mission day in and day out. Featuring Louisiana Tech student Katie Walker.
James 2:14-26
If we truly have faith then it will be evident in how we live every single day!
A continuation on our look into James.
Scripture:
James 2:1-9; 12-13
2 Kings 2:23-25
Disclaimer: First part of sermon went unrecorded due to technical difficulties. Topics discussed were how Christians cannot tolerate racism, how the young and the old often feel a disconnect.
In 1 Peter 2:1-10 Peter gives believers three ways Christians receive and identity in grace: redemption, responsibility, and response.
Jesse explains how we find Unity in Humility. Paul encourages the Philippians to pursue unity in humility through relationship with others, recognition of the humility of Christ, and remembrance of the Gospel.
Dr. Chris Craig, First Baptist Ruston's Senior Pastor, joins us for an interview with Garrison.
To shine light you need to walk in the light. Gaining perspective from Matthew's teaching in Matthew 5.
Practically, what does it look like to spend time in prayer? How can we learn to pray with more focus and structure? Join us as we dive in to this question and more in this next episode in our "How to" series.
How to Pray video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yufSo6tE5ZI
As we begin our "How to" series we will look at how to press on in spiritual disciplines when we are struggling to do so.
The Lange bros jump on the podcast today to discuss college life during the midst of the coronavirus craze. The goal of this is to encourage you to know that you're not alone, and to challenge you to make the best of this time.
What does it look like to follow Jesus? Do you bear the marks of a follower? Join us as we dive into Eph. 4
Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Have you really accepted Him as your Lord and Savior? This episode breaks down how we can place our faith in Jesus by looking at two crucial passage in Matthew and Luke.
What is the gospel? It is the life giving truth for the believer and nonbeliever. Join us as we walk through the good news of Jesus Christ in a way that helps nonbelievers understand, and also teaches believers how to share it effectively.
Merrick and Emily are back to talk about some practical aspects of dating. Specifically, they will look at 3 common pitfalls in dating, as well as 3 challenges regarding this to do it right.
Merrick and Emily share their dating story along with practical tips they learned in the process.
Panel discussion on "The Marriage Struggle." So many people are either scared to get married or have lost faith in marriage so we’ll discuss the grounds for marriage as well as how to go about it God’s way.
What does it mean to be pure in today's world? What is God's standard of purity? How can we be pure? All these are answered as we look at Matthew 5:27-30
We all struggle with trusting the Lord, but why? Why do we when God has shown us so many reasons why we can trust Him? Listen as Jesse Edmiston brings truth in Genesis 15 regarding trusting God.
Is the Bible God's word? How can we know this? What evidence do we have regarding this?
If you believe the Bible is God's word, do you live like it?
We'll discuss the above along with some principles on how to devote your life to God's word
All of us struggle with insecurity, putting up a front, and seeking the approval of others. So, how can we break out of this? How can we break free from the idol of our image?
Ultimately, how can we make our lives about Christ and not about ourselves? We will look at four foundational truths in Col. 3:1-4 that can help us seek Christ and His glory over our own.
What is the sin that is addressed most in all of Scripture? Idolatry! It was a massive problem for God's people then, and it's just as big of a problem for us now. So, what do the idols of today look like? How do we still worship them? What can we do about it? We'll look in Daniel ch. 3 to gain insight on how to fight the idols of our day.
We all struggle in growing in our faith, but why? How can we break out of the funk?
Hebrews 10:32-12:14 shows us some helpful tools to fight the battle well.
In this sermon we will look at the story of Gabriel coming to Mary. We will see some core truths about the God who can do anything, and a major question for us in light of that.
In this sermon, we will look at three questions from the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1 that will challenge our faith during the midst of life's circumstances.
Peter ends his first letter reiterating necessary attitudes we all must have. He then encourages his readers as to why the faithful life is worth living.
1 Peter 3:13-17. When the world opposes us, we have an incredible opportunity to grow, but how? Peter helps us learn and apply this difficult, yet timely truth.
1 Peter 1:12. Peter warns his audience of the consequences our lives have on others. Truthfully, we live as an advertisement for what Christianity is all about, and the way we live will either honor or tarnish it. Peter's words are a must hear for all believers and nonbelievers alike.
1 Peter 2:11. What has the greatest potential to derail your walk with the Lord? How can we battle against it? What steps can we take?
1 Peter 2:4-10
Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith.
Our identity in Him as the new people of God has tremendous implications for how we view ourselves and live.
1 Peter 1:22-2:3
God's word is our primary necessity, but why? What makes God's word so powerful?
What role should the word of God play in your life?
1 Peter 1:13-21. Peter moves from praising God to challenging others to live for Him. Our new identity show cause us to live different. If we are His, our lives should prove it.
1 Peter 1:3-12. Through Christ, we have been born again. This comes with tremendous benefits that involve the past, present, and future. In Christ, we can take courage in His plan in the midst of whatever we are going through.
Do you realize what would happen if you surrendered your life to Christ?
Do you realize that God has incredible plans for you?
Psalm 81 - The psalm of missed opportunity, but also, the psalm of a new opportunity
Psalm 62. Life isn’t always easy, so how can we place our faith in the Lord in the midst of difficult times?
How can we live a life that is pleasing to God?
Who can be holy as He is holy?
Ultimately, how can we live a life fully devoted to the Lord?
Psalm 15
Last week we saw that the blessed person delights and meditates on God's word. This week, we are going to look at how we can delight in God’s word, and why we should do so.
Psalm 19:7-14
By nature, we run to things that cannot fulfill us, but God has given us the means to be fulfilled through His word. Listen in as we introduce the new series: Broken Cisterns Restored. (Jeremiah 2/Psalms 1)
Who is supposed to do missions?
What does it mean to be called to do missions?
Should we just send the elite?
This is a stirring panel on the mission and calling of every believer, and the ways that we can serve.
Does being a Christian mean that I won't have struggles or hardships? We'll look at the life of Paul, and see how this is a misconception to the core.
2 Cor. 12:9-10
Is it rational to believe in God and be in line with science?
The Big Bang theory and evolution are often used as proofs against God’s existence, but is that really what they state?
We’ll discuss the origin of the universe and of mankind in this podcast.
Misconceptions: I know I’m saved because I prayed a prayer, got baptized, go to church, etc. These aren’t how God tells us we can know. So, how can we? We’ll look at 1 John 5:1-5 to gain clarity into this important topic.
Does Jesus really command us not to judge people? What does he mean when he says not to judge? How can we biblically confront others? We'll look at Matthew 7:1-5 and see what Jesus is and isn't saying when he tells us not to judge others.
In this episode, we look at two core truths about God’s love as seen in the parable of the “prodigal son”, or as you will learn, the parable of the two losts sons.
Luke 15:11-32
So often we aren’t content with where we are in life, but we look to all the wrong places to find contentment. Here in Phil. 4:10-13, Paul shows us where true contentment can be found.
How can we rejoice always?
How can we truly not be anxious about anything?
How can we keep our minds pure and holy?
Philippians 3:1-11. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Do you know what this means? Can I be confident this is the faith I have? Paul explains this and it’s importance in this passage.
How can we truly live a gospel worthy life?
How can we live others focused rather than self focused?
What should the genuine concern of our hearts be?
Philippians 2:12-18. We are called to work out our salvation. What does that mean? What does it look like? What is Paul calling us to do?
Are you sure you’re a follower of Jesus?
The truth about Christ’s Lordship, and what that means for followers of Christ.
Why are you here? What do you plan to accomplish? What will mark your time in college?
Introduction to our fall Philippians study
What does the Bible have to say about marriage? Are gender roles really a thing of the past or are they still for today? We'll look at Gen. 1-3 and Eph. 5 to gain a gospel perspective on both of these topics.
Does singleness have a purpose? Does singleness mean second best? NO. Rather, God ordains singleness for a period of time for all of us, and it is for a specific reason.
Do we really need to go to church, be in a small group, or be around other believers to be good followers of Christ?
Jesus is the source and standard of true love. It is impossible to find love in its truest sense apart from a relationship with Him.