Where you live is no accident. Do you believe that? I know it might seem inconsequential, but the truth is, wherever you live is the place God has sent you (John 20:21). Your neighborhood is the key place where you are called to exhibit the love of God, care for your neighbors, and welcome others just as the Father has welcomed you....Keep Reading
An enslaved people in a foreign land, a paranoid dictator, an unlikely hero. Fire, water, thunder, and lightning! The book of Exodus has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. But all of this drama is wasted if we miss the message it’s trying to communicate......Keep Reading
We live in an age of movements. Whether it’s technological, political, or social---movements bombard us and call us to action. Calling us to imagine a better future. Calling us to leave our mark on the world. Yet there is one movement that has outlasted them all. One movement that has turned the world upside down. One movement greater than any human effort. The very movement of God. Join us as we return to the book of Acts......Keep Reading
What makes a life worthy? How do you know if your life was a success? What does your “best life” really look like? In his letter to the Philippian church, the apostle Paul tells us the true measure of success: a worthy life looks a lot like Jesus’ life. ...Keep Reading
As a church community we know our mission, “to make disciples,” but how do we do it? Is it anything more than just a good intention? How do we purposefully grow in discipleship and invite others into this pilgrimage? The possibilities might seem endless, but as a church we believe we are called to specific pathways for discipleship. It’s not a road we walk alone, rather a path we must travel together....Keep Reading
Christmas is many people’s favorite time of the year. It’s a time to be with family, to go to Christmas parties, and to exchange gifts. It’s also a time to remember the reason for the season! Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Christmas landscapes are full of Santa Claus pictures and blow ups, but they’re also full of nativity scenes. We see mangers everywhere. But why does the manger matter? The manger represents the incarnation of the Son of God. The manger reminds us that God the Father sent his Son to save us from our sins. The Nicene Creed says, “[Jesus Christ], for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.”...Keep Reading
Few experiences can compare to the pain of adultery—and God knows this better than anyone. God’s people were wedded to him alone, but they betrayed him. They left him for other lovers and forgot him. But how will the story end—in restoration or tragedy? How can a promise-keeping God abandon his chosen people? On the other hand, how can a holy God be reunited with sinful people? The Bible gives us some answers in the words of the prophet Hosea. Join us as we plumb the depths of God’s love—and in the process learn something about ourselves....Keep Reading
How do you know if you’re going the wrong way? What would it take to get your attention? To wake you up to the needs of the vulnerable, the outcast, and the oppressed? Grieved by their idolatry and the injustice it perpetuates, the Lord comes like the roaring of a lion, warning of imminent judgment. A judgment no offering or song can turn away. For a God who desires renewed lives will not settle for stale ritual. The Lord is roaring. Will we listen?...Keep Reading
You’ve probably heard about adult small groups at First Free. But did you know small groups are a mark of our ministry from preschool through high school? That’s because we know that small groups are one way the Lord has given us to build up the body of Christ. Here are four ways we see this happening in Children’s and Student Ministries...Keep Reading
When I ask you “What makes a great youth leader?”, what do you think of? Most adults would say: young, extroverted, and high energy. That’s the stereotypical youth leader. But do students agree? To find out, I asked several of our students that question. And what students want in a leader and the stereotype couldn’t be further apart. ...Keep Reading