First Christian Church

06/25/2026

Excited for this weekend First Christian Church! I hope to see you there!

06/25/2026

Thanks, Dad
Luke 15:11-32

This week we looked at the story of the Prodigal Son, focusing on the father in the parable and what his example teaches us about fatherhood and our Heavenly Father.

There is no perfect earthly father, but this father displayed many qualities that reflect the heart of God. He provided for his family, carried financial responsibility, and cared deeply for his children. Raising children is costly—not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Being a father is about much more than meeting physical needs; it is about modeling Christ to your children.

Many fathers invest countless hours in their children by spending time with them, playing with them, teaching them, and simply being present. In the story, the father knew when it was time to release his son and allow him to make his own choices. As children grow older, they begin making decisions for themselves. Parents can encourage, guide, and pray for them, but ultimately each person is responsible for their own actions.

The prodigal son left home believing he had everything figured out. However, when his money was gone and his circumstances became desperate, he realized how much he needed his father and how foolish his choices had been. When he returned home, his father ran to meet him with open arms. He did not shame him, condemn him, or dwell on his failures. Instead, he welcomed him home with love, grace, and compassion.

The father loved both of his sons equally, though he related to them differently. The older brother was obedient and faithful, while the younger brother was rebellious and wayward. Yet the father's love remained constant.

One of the greatest ways we can show appreciation to our fathers is simply by spending time with them. It means a lot to know that someone is thinking about you and values your presence.

We also learned an important truth about our relationship with God. Our Heavenly Father gives us free will. We can choose obedience or disobedience. We can choose to come to Him or walk away. He loves us enough to allow that choice because He desires genuine love, not forced obedience.

As believers, we should live lives of obedience. Obedience is not the root of salvation—it is the fruit and evidence of it. Our salvation comes through God's grace, and our obedience is a response to His love.

May we never forget to give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father every day for all He has done for us. His love, grace, and mercy are greater than we deserve, and His arms are always open to welcome us home. ✝️❤️🙌

06/25/2026

Night 1 of Family VBS was a blast!

06/19/2026

VBS starts Wednesday!

06/17/2026

📖 A Question Worth Asking

What are we building our lives on?

Success, money, relationships, careers, and personal achievements can all seem secure—until the storms of life reveal their foundation.

The lesson of Babel reminds us that anything built apart from God will eventually crumble. But what is built on Christ has an eternal foundation.

Before making plans, chasing goals, or pursuing dreams, we should first ask:

"Lord, is this Your will?"

God is not opposed to building. He is opposed to building without Him.

May we be people who seek His wisdom, trust His direction, and build our lives upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

🙏 "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." — Psalm 127:1

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

📖 The Tower of Babel: Pride, Confusion, and God's Greater Purpose
Genesis 11:1-9

This week, Pastor Mike walked us through the story of the Tower of Babel—a story that is far more than an ancient account. It's a mirror that reflects the condition of the human heart.

Language is a gift from God. It allows us to communicate, build relationships, and work together. At Babel, all the people spoke one language and shared one purpose. But instead of using that unity to honor God, they used it to pursue their own ambitions.

Repeatedly in this passage, the focus is on themselves: "Let us..." They wanted to build a great city and a tower reaching toward heaven. Their goal wasn't to glorify God—it was to glorify themselves. They wanted to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered across the earth, openly opposing God's command and His will.

At its core, sin says, "My wisdom over God's wisdom. My will over God's will."

As Pastor Mike said, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the people are building in vain."

The Lord came down to see the city and the tower. God was not intimidated by man's accomplishments. He intervened because humanity's greatest problem has never been ignorance—it is sin. Human nature is to rebel against God.

So God confused their language, and the project collapsed. What man refused to do, God stepped in and accomplished. The people were scattered across the earth, moving back into God's purpose and plan.

The word Babel means "confusion," and the lesson is clear: God opposes arrogance and pride.

But this story is about more than judgment—it is also about redemption.

The Bible's message is not division; it is unity. Every person has equal value because every person is created in the image of God.

When we turn to Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, we see a beautiful connection to Babel. At Babel, language was confused and people were scattered. At Pentecost, people from many nations heard the Gospel in their own languages. What was divided by sin began to be restored through Christ.

The Gospel is for every tribe, every language, every nation, and every denomination.

As Ephesians 2:14 reminds us, Jesus Himself is our peace. He breaks down the walls that divide us.

Only Jesus can change the human heart.

The story that begins at Babel finds its fulfillment in Revelation 7, where people from every nation, tribe, people, and language stand together before the throne of God in worship.

The temptation to be self-sufficient, to do what seems right in our own eyes, and to live apart from God still exists today. That's why this passage teaches us three important truths:

➡️ Every human endeavor should be built on God.
Everything built without God will eventually crumble. If Christ is not the solid foundation, it will never truly flourish.

➡️ Pride always leads to confusion.
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

➡️ God's purpose is bigger than our plans.
War, division, and human effort cannot bring lasting peace. Our plans will never fix the problem because the problem is sin. Only the Gospel can change the human heart.

The Tower of Babel represents mankind trying to reach heaven through its own efforts. But the Gospel tells a different story. Heaven reached down to us through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the story of divine grace.

We are one in Christ. The Gospel works. The answer has always been—and will always be—Jesus. ❤️✝️

06/15/2026

June 14th Sermon Recap.

06/10/2026

The flood wasn't just about judgment—it was about rescue.
When the world was covered in darkness, God made a way for Noah and his family to be saved. The ark was a reminder that God's grace is always greater than the storm.
The same God who provided an ark for Noah has provided salvation for us through Jesus Christ.
"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
— Genesis 6:8
No matter what you're facing today, remember: God knows how to rescue His people, keep His promises, and remain faithful through every storm.
"The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials."
— 2 Peter 2:9
God's judgment is real. His grace is greater. His promises never fail.

06/09/2026

Is Genesis Believable? — The Flood

This Sunday we continued our study through Genesis and looked at one of the most well-known accounts in the Bible: Noah and the Flood.

The flood reveals so much about the character of God. It shows us His love, His wrath against sin, His perfect justice, His patience, His faithfulness, and His providential care for His people.
The Bible tells us:

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
— Genesis 6:8

In a world filled with violence, corruption, and rebellion against God, Noah experienced God's grace. While God's judgment came upon the earth, He also provided a way of salvation through the ark.
The ark was more than a boat. It was a picture of God's provision. It was a picture of grace. It was a picture of salvation. Just as God provided safety for Noah and his family, He has provided salvation for us through Jesus Christ.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God..."
— 1 Peter 3:18

Peter even connects the account of Noah and the ark to God's saving work through Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21). The flood reminds us that God is holy and must judge sin, but it also reminds us that God makes a way for people to be rescued.
As we reflect on this passage, may we be encouraged by God's faithfulness. The same God who preserved Noah is the God who keeps His promises today.

"The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials."
— 2 Peter 2:9

Thank you to everyone who joined us for worship and the study of God's Word. We look forward to gathering again this Sunday! ❤️✝️