Shows
First Love ChurchPeter, Cornelius, and the Holy Spirit's RevolutionThe Spirit breaks rules. It demolishes barriers. It interrupts our neat theological packages. Through the revolutionary story of Peter and Cornelius, we witness what happens when divine inclusion confronts religious exclusion.Peter, raised with strict Jewish purity laws, encounters a vision challenging everything he believed about who belongs in God's family. Simultaneously, Cornelius—a Roman officer representing the occupying empire—receives divine instruction to seek Peter out. These parallel supernatural experiences set the stage for a boundary-shattering encounter that would forever transform the early church.What makes this story so powerful is how it confronts our...2025-07-1151 minFirst Love ChurchPresent in the Pause: Finding God Beyond the NoiseHave you ever felt that despite your spiritual efforts, God's voice seems frustratingly distant? You're not alone. This episode dives deep into the revolutionary concept that the divine guidance we seek is already within us—we've just forgotten how to listen.Our spiritual journey often derails when we expect God to perform according to our specifications, like a cosmic vending machine. When those expectations inevitably go unmet, disappointment takes root. But what if the problem isn't God's responsiveness, but our receptivity? The pastors share powerful insights about how our minds typically operate in two time zones—the regr...2025-07-1051 minFirst Love ChurchAncient Breath: Rediscovering God's Spirit in Modern LifeHave you ever been in such exquisite pain that you forgot how to breathe? That moment when something so natural becomes impossible reveals a profound spiritual truth about our relationship with the Holy Spirit.This powerful message explores what happens when we forget the nearness of God during our darkest hours. Through a moving story about childbirth, Pastor Heather illustrates how sometimes we need another's presence to remind us of what we're designed to do naturally—breathe in God's spirit.The Pentecost season invites us to reconsider our understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in ou...2025-06-2657 minFirst Love ChurchThe Pentecost Miracle: Finding God Through Connection with David DrakeThe sacred celebration of Pentecost invites us into a profound spiritual truth: unity isn't found in isolation but in understanding and connection. This episode explores the supernatural reality that draws us together despite our differences.What does it mean that the Holy Spirit serves as our "advocate who will never leave you"? We unpack how this divine presence transforms loneliness into connection, offering companionship precisely when we feel most distant from God. But here's the surprising part—this Spirit doesn't demand perfect silence or elaborate rituals to manifest. Instead, it emerges most powerfully when we're serving others.2025-06-2519 minFirst Love ChurchHoly Discomfort: When God Moves, You Move TooWhat does it truly mean to be one with God and with each other? In this deeply moving exploration of Jesus's prayer in John 17, we discover the radical nature of unity that transcends mere agreement or conformity.The journey begins with a fresh perspective on resurrection—not just as a historical event, but as an everyday reality we witness in healing, transformed thinking, and nature itself. Like Florida's resurrection ferns that appear dead until rain brings them vibrantly back to life, we too experience restoration through the Spirit's renewing power. This perspective shifts how we see seemingly ho...2025-06-2356 minFirst Love ChurchHoly Baristas and DMV Angels: Loving When It's Hard - Thomas DrakeWhat truly identifies you as a follower of Jesus? Is it your theological knowledge, church attendance, or something else entirely? In this thought-provoking message from First Love Church, Thomas unpacks Jesus' final and most important commandment from John 13: "Love each other just as I have loved you."This message offers fresh perspective on what makes Jesus' call to love "new"—not the concept itself, but the revolutionary standard of loving as He loved. In a religious culture that had expanded from ten commandments to 613 detailed regulations, Jesus simplified everything to just one command while simultaneously raising the ba...2025-06-1930 minFirst Love ChurchKnown and Loved: You have a Good Shepherd"I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me." These words from Jesus offer profound comfort in a world where we often feel unseen and unknown. What would change in your life if you truly believed you were fully known and completely loved by God?Our spiritual journeys are often hindered not by what's absent, but by what we're blind to seeing. Like a guitar placed in an unexpected case, God's provision and presence may be right before us, yet invisible because of the stories we've convinced ourselves to believe. The Good...2025-06-1743 minFirst Love ChurchFriends, Betrayers, and Breakfast on the BeachWhat if the triumphant entry wasn't triumphant at all? Rather, it was Jesus staging a powerful protest against the empire. While Rome paraded through Jerusalem's main gates with war horses and soldiers, Jesus deliberately chose a different path—riding a borrowed colt through the back entrance, surrounded not by military might but by ordinary people who'd witnessed his miracles.This Holy Week, we're exploring how Jesus consistently upends our expectations of power and greatness. Through the familiar stories of Palm Sunday and the Last Supper, we discover a revolutionary message that remains radical even today: true greatness co...2025-05-2159 minFirst Love ChurchI Have Seen The Lord! Easters WitnessMary Magdalene's simple yet powerful testimony, "I have seen the Lord," forms the foundation of Christian witness throughout history. Like a neighbor pointing out crocuses blooming beneath Chicago snow, Mary shows us where to look for hope when our circumstances feel frozen in grief. Her commission as the first resurrection witness reminds us that each of us carries a similar calling—to recognize and proclaim where we've seen the risen Christ in our world.The disciples' experience of Jesus appearing behind locked doors speaks directly to our tendency to isolate ourselves when afraid. No barrier—physical, emotional, or s...2025-05-1944 minFirst Love ChurchWhen Christ Calls Your Name: Resurrection's Personal PromiseThe power of resurrection isn't merely a future promise—it's an invitation to awakening right now. When we hear the Easter story, we often focus solely on Christ conquering physical death and securing our eternal future. But this powerful message from First Love Church reveals how resurrection transforms our present reality, too. Death's dominion has already been broken. As Pastor Heather describes it, "Death cannot breathe, and this space in which we grieve is the long exhale of death's last expiring breath." We live in the aftermath of Christ's victory, yet many of us remain spir...2025-05-1950 minFirst Love ChurchFinding Peace in the Arms of a Loving Shepherd"I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me." These words from Jesus in John's Gospel offer profound comfort in a world where we often feel like strangers, orphans, or forgotten souls.What story are you telling yourself? It might be limiting what you can see. Like the pastor who couldn't find his guitar because he was convinced someone had left it in the car—when it was safely stored in his office in an unexpected case—we often miss God's provision because it doesn't match our expectations. Our personal narratives create blin...2025-05-1443 minFirst Love ChurchExtravagant Devotion- Make What's Beautiful The StoryWhat story are you telling yourself? In this powerful exploration of Mary's extravagant worship, we discover the transformative practice of "making the beautiful the story" in our lives and relationships.When Mary broke open her alabaster jar containing perfume worth an entire year's wages to anoint Jesus' feet, she was immediately criticized. Judas questioned her extravagance, suggesting the money should have helped the poor instead. But Jesus defended her, recognizing something profound in her gesture that others missed - she was preparing him for burial, responding to a sacred moment with complete abandonment.This contrast...2025-05-0955 minFirst Love ChurchThe Prodigal Path HomeWhat happens when we shift from being the grateful recipient of grace to becoming its gatekeeper? In this profound exploration of Jesus' parable of the father with two sons, we discover that this isn't simply a story about a prodigal returning home—it's about two different ways we can miss the heart of God.The religious leaders criticized Jesus for welcoming "notorious sinners" to his teachings. In response, Jesus tells three parables about God's pursuit of the lost, culminating in this story of a father with two sons. We witness the younger son's journey from rebellion to "co...2025-05-0945 minFirst Love ChurchThe Samaritan's Compassion: Rethinking Who Deserves Our HelpA religious scholar asks Jesus what must be done to inherit eternal life, setting the stage for one of Jesus' most profound teachings on compassion. When the scholar tries to limit his obligations by asking "Who is my neighbor?", Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that continues to challenge our assumptions about who deserves our care.The parable follows a Jewish man who is beaten and left for dead on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and Levite pass by without helping, prioritizing religious purity over human compassion. Shockingly, it...2025-05-091h 04First Love ChurchVulnerability as a Path to Divine Love - Mary and Martha have something to sayImagine a world where love and hope challenge the very foundations of societal norms. In this episode, we journey through the Advent season, exploring the profound impact of these themes in our lives. We revisit the powerful narrative of Mary and Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke, revealing how their courage and acceptance of divine will set an example for us all. Through this story, we uncover the importance of consenting to co-create with the Holy Spirit and how embracing this divine collaboration can fill our lives with purpose and meaning.Join us as we examine the...2025-03-1534 minFirst Love ChurchPeace and RepentanceHave you ever wondered how peace can emerge from the midst of chaos? In our latest episode, as we follow the journey through Advent, exploring the profound lessons from the story of John the Baptist and Zechariah's transformative song. We promise you’ll discover the significance of doubt, silence, and eventual redemption, as we reflect on the start of a new liturgical year filled with hope and anticipation. Through personal stories and reflections on scripture, we invite you to appreciate the gift of peace amidst life's inevitable struggles, offering a profound reminder that faith can bring calm even in th...2025-01-2352 minFirst Love ChurchExploring Advent: Hope, Love, and TransformationWhat if the season of Advent is more than just a countdown to Christmas? Join us on this enriching journey through hope, love, peace, and joy, as we explore how these profound themes can transform us. Through our discussions, we'll unpack the beauty of waiting and uncover the quiet miracles that unfold around us every day. Discover the sacredness of darkness as a space where the Spirit hovers, offering comfort and assurance that we are never alone, even amidst life's challenges.As we reflect on the transformative power of love, we challenge our perceptions of divine intervention...2025-01-2241 minFirst Love ChurchFinding Peace, Joy, and Love Through Gratitude and KindnessWhat if finding peace amidst chaos is as simple as embracing faith? Journey with us on the First Love Church Podcast as we recount a transformative vacation experience in Arizona that taught us to find serenity in God's unwavering presence. Through personal stories and reflections on the beloved hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness," we explore how unity and community worship can bolster our faith, turning life's disappointments into opportunities to witness divine grace. We also reflect on living a Christ-like life, where patience and love are paramount. Drawing from 24 years of spiritual service, we share how embodying J...2024-12-0257 minFirst Love ChurchEmbracing Gratitude: Transforming Life with Love and PeaceCan gratitude transform your life into one of peace and joy? Join us as we explore this profound question As Thanksgiving approaches, we celebrate the power of living a life guided by love and gratitude, inspired. Together, we reflect on the importance of being instruments of peace and bridge builders, much like the Prayer of St. Francis encourages. By embracing gratitude as a lifestyle and an ethical choice, imagine the possibilities of creating a kingdom on Earth filled with light and love.Through personal stories, we recount journey from struggling with anger, to finding inner peace by em...2024-12-0249 minFirst Love ChurchThe Power of Love: Lessons from the Gospel of MarkWhat if the most transformative power in your life was as simple as love? Join us on the First Love Church podcast as we explore the radical teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, where love and compassion hold the keys to a fulfilling and peaceful existence. We dive into the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time, reflecting on His profound message that challenges us to move beyond superficial labels and prioritize love above all else. Together, we unravel the essence of Jesus's teachings and consider how they compel us to live with kindness...2024-11-2647 minFirst Love ChurchDarkness to Light in Spiritual DiscoveryHave you ever wondered what it truly means to see the world through God's eyes? In our latest episode, we explore the powerful narrative of Bartimaeus from Mark 10, uncovering the profound impact of simple, heartfelt prayer. Discover how Bartimaeus' cry for mercy parallels our own struggles with spiritual blindness and urges us to re-examine our deepest desires when approaching God. By acknowledging Jesus as the "Son of David," Bartimaeus not only recognizes Jesus's divine identity but also highlights the transformative power of mercy—encompassing healing, restoration, and the unfolding of God's kingdom.We take a closer look at...2024-11-1924 minFirst Love ChurchFinding Love In DoubtThis episode of the First Love Church podcast invites you to discover the sacredness in ordinary moments. Through biblical narratives and reflections on the natural world, we explore how faith can illuminate the divine in the mundane, and how stories like that of Job remind us of God's omnipotence and enduring love. The wisdom from Hebrews provides a foundation for this spiritual journey, guiding us to seek renewal and hope amid life's challenges.Our discussion takes a thoughtful turn as we tackle the role of doubt in faith. Contrary to popular belief, doubt can signify an active...2024-11-0854 minFirst Love ChurchTrusting the Divine PlanHave you ever wondered why our expectations of divine intervention often clash with a greater purpose? Join us on a thought-provoking journey as we unpack the beautiful complexity of trusting a divine plan that transcends our understanding. Drawing inspiration from the life of Jesus and his disciples, we explore how our desires for worldly assurance often conflict with the path laid before us—a journey marked by faith, humility, and diverse partnerships. Together, we’ll reflect on personal stories and the courage it takes to take the next step, even when the end is not in sight.Imag...2024-11-0843 minFirst Love ChurchSalt and LightSalt and Light and what Jesus says his followers are.Through engaging narratives and personal stories, we challenge you to embody the essence of a neighbor in need, moving beyond superficial acts of kindness to genuine, impactful connections. Hear about a moment of unexpected compassion that transformed a simple task into a profound lesson in love and community. We emphasize that living out Jesus' message means recognizing everyone's struggles and extending our help unconditionally, with humility and vulnerability.Explore the transformative power of prayer and the deep connections it fosters with the divine and our true...2024-10-1044 minFirst Love ChurchWisdom That Comes From Above (James 3)What if reorienting your soul could start with a simple Sunday gathering? On this spiritually enriching episode of the First Love Church Podcast, we explore the sacred significance of these gatherings as a time to remember our true identity as beloved children of God. Journey with us through the teachings of Jesus, the Beatitudes, and the book of Philemon, as we reflect on embodying our faith through generosity and action. We'll discuss the transformative power of living like Jesus, fully immersing ourselves in spiritual life, and embracing the unforced rhythms of grace.How can the practice of...2024-09-2655 min