First Church of Christ: Recent Episodes
Nancy Nelson
First Church of Christ presents weekly worship messages. Get into the Word of God with biblical messages to apply to our every day lives.
For a number of decades there has been a lot of discussion concerning topics of the supernatural like healing, speaking in tongues, and prophesying. It can create a lot of confusion.
Recently I heard about a church that has time set aside in its worship services for people to come and to be prayed for. On one occasion recently a gentleman came forward and happened to end up with the pastor who asked him what he desired prayer for. The man replied, “I need prayer for my hearing,” and before he knew it the pastor had his hand on the man’s ears and was boldly praying for his hearing. At the end of the prayer and with the worship music playing in the background the pastor asked the man, “How’s your hearing?” to which the man replied, “I don’t know, it’s not until next Wednesday at the courthouse.”
Confusion over these topics isn’t just limited to churches in our culture; there was confusion in the First Century as well. And as we continue our study of the book of 1 Corinthians in our “Journey to Deep,” in this 14th chapter we will encounter some true frustration from the Apostle Paul. If you haven’t already done so, turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 14.
We continue our series, “The Journey to Deep,” today as we walk through Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. This week we are going to dig into chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, so grab your Bible or electronic device and turn to chapter 12.
The opening verse of this passage in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 actually puts us on a pathway which leads us to this “Journey to Deep.” Look at 1 Corinthians 12:1: “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.”
Paul is trying to put this church on solid footing and point them in the right direction, so in this section he announces how each of them have been spiritually gifted by God and how they need to be using their God-given gift in order to build up the body of Christ, which is what we refer to as the church. Paul wants to make it very clear that the church understands the importance of moving from sitting to service.
A couple of weeks ago I was flipping through the television channels one evening and I happened upon a program that was giving the viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how a live taping of a Hollywood television shows takes place. It’s a process that takes about four hours, and they shoot numerous takes of numerous scenes. All the while the studio audience has to laugh hard as if it is the first time they’ve ever heard the lines.
But one of the things I learned about the process is that the hardest working person on the set is not one of the actors or characters. The success of the taping is in the hands of the Warm-up Comic, a standup comic, who for hours must entertain the audience, keeping the crowd alert and laughing. One of the best in the business is a comedian named Ron Pearson.
One of Ron’s talents is balancing things, so during the taping of the show he would balance a glass on his chin, then some time later he would balance a microphone, then sometime later, in between scenes, he would balance a small stool on his chin. But toward the end of the taping, he had the stage crew hand him a 12-foot industrial ladder and, standing right in front of the studio audience, he somehow lifted it, placed it on his chin, balanced it in the air while simultaneously juggling bowling pins. In all of my years of watching entertainers I have never seen such an incredible display of balancing skills.
Well, today we’re going to find out just how important balance is in the Christian life. In fact, some of these subjects are pretty heavy and weighty. We’re in the third lesson of a study of the book of First Corinthians and today, again, we are going to try and cover the themes found in three chapters: 1 Corinthians 8, 9, and 10. The apostle Paul is going to challenge the church in Corinth to do a better job of balancing things. I’ve divided it into four balancing acts. So, get your note page out and get ready as we dive in, take some notes and fill in some blanks on this Journey to Deep.
When our kids were little, like most parents, we would take them in for a check-up at the doctor’s office a couple of times a year. The first thing you do when you get to the doctor’s office is you…? You wait. It’s not a hard question. You go to the waiting room, and you wait. That’s what it is called, so that is what you do there. Then they take you in. The first thing they do is they measure your child—check their height, check their weight—and then they put those measurements on a chart so we can see how our child has grown and how they’ve matured over the years and since the last time they visited. It’s a way to measure their maturity to make sure everything is developing the way it should. If they’re not growing, if they’re not maturing, you know something is wrong.
In some ways this is what 1 Corinthians does for us as believers. Paul provides these marks of maturity. It allows us to gauge our growth as believers. He planted this church three years earlier, and now he is challenging them to go on this “Journey to Deep” because they weren’t growing as they should. Instead, he’s received these reports of immorality and division within the church. So now he is writing, and he is challenging them to grow in their walk with God.
And so, we’re going on this journey together, as a church, as well. If you have your Bibles, open to 1 Corinthians 5. You have some notes in your worship bulletin, so please pull those out and follow along, because we’re going to go from chapter 5 through chapter 7 and there is a lot of material here.
In chapters 5 through 7 Paul talks to us about moving…as believers…from compromise to commitment. His primary focus is sexual immorality. There is this sexual immorality in the church that has compromised the church, has compromised these believers. They are looking more and more like the culture, so he addresses that.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is written to a specific group of people with unique challenges in their community. But the primary message of 1 Corinthians is evergreen—followers of Jesus are held to a standard of integrity and morality as we seek to represent his new way of life to our communities. Paul addresses a variety of experiences and seeks to help the church see them through the lens of the Gospel message. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are what unifies a diverse body of believers and allows us to live in a completely new way fused with the hope of God’s Kingdom.
Together we will be challenged to move to a deeper level of Christian maturity, as individuals and as a church. A 10-week series beginning Sunday, September 12, The Journey to Deep will take you down a path to a more mature spiritual life.
Last week Karen introduced us to a challenge initiated by our Mission’s Team to raise $2500 to provide a clean water well among a people group where it’s desperately needed through a partnership with IDES – International Disaster Emergency Services. In many of the world’s poorest places, families have to walk miles every day to get water that is often dirty and unsafe for consumption. Through our combined efforts we can provide a source of fresh clean water in the name of Jesus to satisfy the physical thirst of a group of individuals, and at the same time pave the way for an open door to share the Good News of the Gospel with people who may be thirsting just as much or more spiritually. Jesus Christ is the living water.
As a basis for today’s message, I want us to use the word “well,” W-E-L-L, as an acrostic. We’re going to look at those four letters and what they mean to those who are thirsting spiritually.
Forgiveness always seems to be a hot-button issue among Christians. Preach a sermon about forgiving those who have wronged you (Ephesians 4:32) and BAM! Comments abound.
You share your stories of pain and suffering at another’s hand. You explain why you struggle with forgiveness, and ask why this commandment is so hard to follow. I empathize with your pain; I've been wronged too.
Yet, God’s commandment stands firm.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Our reluctance to forgive may actually stem for our misconceptions about the issue. It’s time to eliminate these myths and experience the healing picture of forgiveness as we are called to in Scripture.
The Christian life is a journey. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ is not something you do while sitting still. In Ephesians 4, Paul says we are to “grow” until we become like Christ. But growth involves change. The sad truth is there are some Christians who don’t grow, who quit changing, who reach a certain level of maturity and they just stay there. In this series we will seek to rediscover Christianity as a lifestyle, and not just as a mental pursuit. Over the course of nine weeks, we will examine the power of spiritual disciplines practiced by Jesus and his early followers but forgotten in today’s culture.
The Christian life is a journey. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ is not something you do while sitting still. In Ephesians 4, Paul says we are to “grow” until we become like Christ. But growth involves change. The sad truth is there are some Christians who don’t grow, who quit changing, who reach a certain level of maturity and they just stay there. In this series we will seek to rediscover Christianity as a lifestyle, and not just as a mental pursuit. Over the course of nine weeks, we will examine the power of spiritual disciplines practiced by Jesus and his early followers but forgotten in today’s culture.
The Christian life is a journey. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ is not something you do while sitting still. In Ephesians 4, Paul says we are to “grow” until we become like Christ. But growth involves change. The sad truth is there are some Christians who don’t grow, who quit changing, who reach a certain level of maturity and they just stay there. In this series we will seek to rediscover Christianity as a lifestyle, and not just as a mental pursuit. Over the course of nine weeks, we will examine the power of spiritual disciplines practiced by Jesus and his early followers but forgotten in today’s culture.
The Christian life is a journey. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ is not something you do while sitting still. In Ephesians 4, Paul says we are to “grow” until we become like Christ. But growth involves change. The sad truth is there are some Christians who don’t grow, who quit changing, who reach a certain level of maturity and they just stay there. In this series we will seek to rediscover Christianity as a lifestyle, and not just as a mental pursuit. Over the course of nine weeks, we will examine the power of spiritual disciplines practiced by Jesus and his early followers but forgotten in today’s culture.
The Christian life is a journey. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ is not something you do while sitting still. In Ephesians 4, Paul says we are to “grow” until we become like Christ. But growth involves change. The sad truth is there are some Christians who don’t grow, who quit changing, who reach a certain level of maturity and they just stay there. In this series we will seek to rediscover Christianity as a lifestyle, and not just as a mental pursuit. Over the course of nine weeks, we will examine the power of spiritual disciplines practiced by Jesus and his early followers but forgotten in today’s culture.
The Christian life is a journey. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ is not something you do while sitting still. In Ephesians 4, Paul says we are to “grow” until we become like Christ. But growth involves change. The sad truth is there are some Christians who don’t grow, who quit changing, who reach a certain level of maturity and they just stay there. In this series we will seek to rediscover Christianity as a lifestyle, and not just as a mental pursuit. Over the course of nine weeks, we will examine the power of spiritual disciplines practiced by Jesus and his early followers but forgotten in today’s culture.
In 1 Chronicles chapter 12, we find a long list of warriors who came to King David to pledge their allegiance to him. Among them, 1 Chronicles 12:32 lists the “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command….”
Now notice two facts about the men of Issachar. First, they “understood the times.” They were perceptive about what was going on in the world around them. King Saul was no longer qualified to rule, and God had anointed David to be Saul’s successor. The men of Issachar understood the times. They sensed there was going to be a changing of the guard. Secondly, they “knew what Israel should do.” They joined forces with David and they prepared for battle.
Now that’s the goal of this message today. I want us in today’s sermon to understand the times in which we live from a spiritual perspective.
Spiritually, we are living in a pivotal time of history. Futurist Alvin Toffler has called this a “hinge period of history.” Peter Drucker, in The New Reality, writes: “This is a watershed of history that comes along once every 200 or 300 years.” Alan Bloom, in The Closing of the American Mind, says, “America has lost its soul and sense of direction.” You see, even the secular world acknowledges this is a crucial period of history.
We live in a world of technology and gadgets, but there is no substitute for a living and breathing dad who is invested and involved in the life of his family. I mean, there is no electronic device or downloadable app that can wear the plaid Bermuda shorts with dark socks and dress shoes and mow the lawn while cars are driving by and while your kids hide inside the home! There is no substitute for the real thing.
So many of you fathers in this church have done or are doing a great job, and we want to commend you on that. At the end of this worship service, we’re going to honor you. But all of us dads acknowledge that there are plenty of areas in which we can do better. So, we turn our attention today, as we continue this series in the Book of Proverbs, by remembering who and why this collection of wisdom was written
We’re continuing this morning in our series on the book of Proverbs entitled “God Has An App for That.” The bulk of the book of Proverbs was penned by Solomon who is considered to be one of the wealthiest and wisest men to have ever lived. So, as you can imagine, a key topic throughout the book is the topic of wisdom as it applies to our everyday lives. Solomon is concerned about the importance of making good decisions. A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the words that we speak, about what we called “toxic talk.” Because most of the decisions we make in life involve the words that we choose to say (or not say).
Last week, we looked at what Proverbs says about being truth-tellers. Lying, in our culture, seems to be almost second nature for many. And all of us are tempted to tell little white lies, or even big lies, just about every day. But Proverbs shows us how to silence that temptation and break our culture’s “web of lies.”
This morning, I want us to look at another area of our lives where we often make poor choices, and that has to do with our money. And we all have a lot of choices to make in regard to our money. Because any time we have a few dollars in our pocket or in our bank account, we have a decision to make as to what we’ll do with it. Are we going to spend it on something we need, or spend on something we want? Are we going to save it, or give it to someone else who needs it? Virtually all day long, every day, we make decisions regarding what to do with our money.
Wouldn’t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” popularized by the creators of the iPhone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with the web of lies constantly being spun by our culture? God has an app for that. Is your faith lacking passion and vigor? Are you trying to overcome foul language or a broken heart? God has an app for that. Searching for clear guidance on how to be a godly mother or father? In need of spiritual encouragement and wisdom as you navigate the workplace? God has an app for that, too! Within this sermon series, based on select verses from Proverbs, you will find Pastor David’s invitation to download God’s state-of-the-art apps for obtaining victory in eight areas of the Christian walk. As you dig into God’s Word, you’ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life.
In today's episode we will be diving into part six of this eight part series titled "God Has an App for That!"
Wouldn’t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” popularized by the creators of the iPhone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with the web of lies constantly being spun by our culture? God has an app for that. Is your faith lacking passion and vigor? Are you trying to overcome foul language or a broken heart? God has an app for that. Searching for clear guidance on how to be a godly mother or father? In need of spiritual encouragement and wisdom as you navigate the workplace? God has an app for that, too! Within this sermon series, based on select verses from Proverbs, you will find Pastor David’s invitation to download God’s state-of-the-art apps for obtaining victory in eight areas of the Christian walk. As you dig into God’s Word, you’ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life.
In today's episode we will be diving into part five of this eight part series titled "God Has an App for That!"
Wouldn’t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” popularized by the creators of the iPhone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with the web of lies constantly being spun by our culture? God has an app for that. Is your faith lacking passion and vigor? Are you trying to overcome foul language or a broken heart? God has an app for that. Searching for clear guidance on how to be a godly mother or father? In need of spiritual encouragement and wisdom as you navigate the workplace? God has an app for that, too! Within this sermon series, based on select verses from Proverbs, you will find Pastor David’s invitation to download God’s state-of-the-art apps for obtaining victory in eight areas of the Christian walk. As you dig into God’s Word, you’ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life.
In today's episode we will be diving into part four of this eight part series titled "God Has an App for That!"
Wouldn’t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” popularized by the creators of the iPhone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with the web of lies constantly being spun by our culture? God has an app for that. Is your faith lacking passion and vigor? Are you trying to overcome foul language or a broken heart? God has an app for that. Searching for clear guidance on how to be a godly mother or father? In need of spiritual encouragement and wisdom as you navigate the workplace? God has an app for that, too! Within this sermon series, based on select verses from Proverbs, you will find Pastor David’s invitation to download God’s state-of-the-art apps for obtaining victory in eight areas of the Christian walk. As you dig into God’s Word, you’ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life.
In today's episode we will be diving into part three of this eight part series titled "God Has an App for That!"
Wouldn’t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” popularized by the creators of the iPhone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with the web of lies constantly being spun by our culture? God has an app for that. Is your faith lacking passion and vigor? Are you trying to overcome foul language or a broken heart? God has an app for that. Searching for clear guidance on how to be a godly mother or father? In need of spiritual encouragement and wisdom as you navigate the workplace? God has an app for that, too! Within this sermon series, based on select verses from Proverbs, you will find Pastor David’s invitation to download God’s state-of-the-art apps for obtaining victory in eight areas of the Christian walk. As you dig into God’s Word, you’ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life.
In today's episode we will be diving into part two of this eight part series titled "God Has an App for That!"
Wouldn’t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” popularized by the creators of the iPhone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with the web of lies constantly being spun by our culture? God has an app for that. Is your faith lacking passion and vigor? Are you trying to overcome foul language or a broken heart? God has an app for that. Searching for clear guidance on how to be a godly mother or father? In need of spiritual encouragement and wisdom as you navigate the workplace? God has an app for that, too! Within this sermon series, based on select verses from Proverbs, you will find Pastor David’s invitation to download God’s state-of-the-art apps for obtaining victory in eight areas of the Christian walk. As you dig into God’s Word, you’ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life.
In today's episode we will be diving into part one of this eight part series titled "God Has an App for That!"