FCC Etown Podcast

In Revelation chapter 3, Jesus critiques being lukewarm and challenges self-proclaimed richness, sight, and clothing, revealing their true spiritual state of the Laodician church as poor, blind, and naked due to their pride and self-reliance. How does pride hinder our usefulness in God's kingdom, and what does it mean to truly walk in dependence, live distinctly, and embrace humility?

Jesus commends the Ephesians for their hard work, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to truth and doctrine. However, he also confronts them for forsaking their "first love." This powerful correction reveals a critical challenge: the church's tendency to prioritize being "right" and taking a stand over the essential, permeating characteristic of love. Discover Jesus' three-step call to remember, repent, and return to that initial, overwhelming love that should define every follower.

The book of Revelation unveils Jesus not as a timid teacher, but as the true King in all his splendor. This powerful imagery reminds us that Jesus is the perfect priest, holy and pure, whose eyes blaze with justice, and whose feet are like bronze, signifying enduring strength against all evil. He stands as judge, ensuring that all injustice will eventually come to light.

Revelation should not be seen as a cryptic timeline, but as a powerful source of encouragement and inspiration for faithful living, from the beginning of our faith journey to its end. Moreover, Revelation speaks to the spiritual warfare around us and the sovereignty of God, offering peace and purpose even in uncertain times. Learn why God's "slowness" is actually his immense patience, and how this understanding transforms our approach to faith.

We are often satisfied with what we have until we see someone else with something we don't have. This internal "money monster" of discontentment is a major source of financial struggles and foolishness. Paul, writing from prison, reveals the secret to true contentment. We can learn how to be content by trusting Jesus, being thankful for what we already have, and cultivating a heart of generosity.

Joseph's foresight in preparing for years of famine by saving during times of abundance offers a timeless blueprint for financial stability and generosity. Discover why saving money is not just a practical choice but an essential decision that protects your loved ones and blesses those around you. Learn actionable steps to cultivate financial peace and understand how these principles connect to a deeper, spiritual freedom.

One of the key principles that shapes our approach to money, stewardship, and generosity as we walk with Christ is the question of whose money it truly is. Similar to those moments when we were kids, and our parents would give us money to use or give us allowances to manage, the money was never really ours; we were managers. What we have, even what we earn, we earn with the talents and skills given to us and blessed into our lives by God himself. It is truly all his, and he has given us the honor of using a vast majority of it. When that becomes our perspective, money, stewardship, and generosity change. 

Following the heart and actions of the Magi, we can choose to be intentional givers during this season. Amidst the hustle and bustle, it is sometimes valuable to take a journey from the east and hear our own heart and actions tuned into Christmas.

Day of Thanks is an exciting day at FCC. We set aside an entire morning of worship to celebrate all the wonderful things God has accomplished through FCC over the past year.

There is an illusion that somehow circumstances will produce permanent gratitude if I just have enough good things happen to me. That's fool's gold. The truth is, the root of joy is gratefulness. Joy doesn't make us grateful. Instead, gratitude makes us joyful.  

During this series, we have declared: Consistency, Responsibility, Wisdom, Forgiving Spirit, Joy & Generosity. Any of these is a challenge by itself, but all six is a tall order. That's why Stuart explained that we have to… Set your mind because anything worthwhile is uphill.  Surround yourself with a NO-QUIT TEAM. Run for something bigger than you.

Your generosity is a matter of trust that spills all the way into eternity. When we are generous with what God is doing, we trust that He will do more with it than we thought possible. However, the second half of that trust is that we also trust that he will meet our needs, take care of what worries us, and even provide us with contentment that we haven't been able to find on our own.

Psalm 9:9 says, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Or there's Psalm 91:2 that says, “I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Joy is findable and attainable and consistent when we remember God is for us and our constant refuge. He did everything he did and left everything he had so he could have you. There's joy right there—for him and for you.  

Sometimes people know how to push our buttons, and we don't want to forgive them. And we know they have evil intent. And what they've done was intentional. And the pain is unthinkable. And you can't help but feel the bitterness it initially caused. But you've been watering that bitterness daily. And when you allow that anger to fester, it grows and it takes root. And it becomes toxic to other relationships in your life. However, when we choose forgiveness, it sets us free!

Perhaps life isn't unfolding as you had thought it would. Maybe it's falling apart. And you need wisdom more than you can imagine. And I promise you that God wants to give you wisdom. However, another part of it is that you are hanging around fools. And you keep asking for God's help. And maybe God is saying. No. It's up to you to surround yourself with the right people, walking with the wise to become wise.

Who are you blaming? You don't have the power to change that person, but you do have the power to take responsibility for your life. And it's gonna be hard, and it may take time, but I promise God will meet you there. Who are you blaming? Where do you need to take responsibility instead of casting blame? Taking responsibility is not fun. It can hurt. But it's the only way you can move forward from "why me" to "what now?"

What's one thing you can do to be more spiritually consistent? Read your Bible every day? Pray every day? This seems very simple and very small, but small things done consistently trump big things done occasionally. You can want your life to change, and hope that it changes, or you can get intentional. 

Receive it with your ears, read it with your eyes, research it with your hands and mouth, review and remember with your mind, but don't miss the step to respond to it with your actions.

What are you going to do with this book? Is it just collecting dust in your life? Are you really using it? It's not unreliable history, bad science, or implausible claims. The evidence is too strong.

The Bible is a miracle. Sixty-six books, written by 44 different authors over 1,500 years, yet it tells a coherent story. As amazing as the Bible is, it truly comes to life when we get to know the author.

Are you ALL IN for God right now? Not just when it's easy. Not when it's popular. But when it costs something. When it's quiet, when no one else sees it, God is looking for Daniels. For people who don't chase power or attention, but chase His presence. People who would rather stand alone with God than blend in without Him.

What do you do when God asks you to do something that doesn't make sense?” You obey God when it doesn't make sense. You ignore detractors and keep moving forward. Finally, you maximize opportunities while the doors are open. For 120 years, people had a chance to answer God's call, but Genesis 7:16 tells us there came a time when God closed the door, and that was it. Learn from those folks and don't miss your opportunity.

When you feel weak, remember that God sees a warrior in you. If your strength seems small to you right now and the odds seem stacked against you, we have a God of horns, jars, and torches. He is the God who makes walls fall. He makes armies run. He makes the Red Sea part and the sun stand still. He turns water into wine. He walks on the sea. He makes the blind see and the dead walk. That same God is for you.

What if the walls that protect your peace were crumbling, leaving you vulnerable to despair? Nehemiah, who, upon hearing about the devastated state of Jerusalem, is moved to action despite the daunting challenges ahead. He reveals the immense power of prayer, and how we can boldly trust in God, anchored by faith even when faced with adversity.

God gave us this dark horse story of Esther so that we would know that even when we can't see him on the page, He's there. He's right where you are right now. Don't be afraid; be brave. You are not alone. If we are going to live courageous Dark Horse lives, we have to know that we don't have to be the hero. The hero is writing the story behind the scenes. We have to say yes to the role he is asking us to play— for such a time as this.

We long for you to experience God's grace in your life and be free from something you've struggled with for a long, long time. We don't want anyone living with guilt and shame. But that means acknowledging what David acknowledged. That we're all people who have sinned. And while we'd rather hide it, minimize it, or rationalize it away, owning it is the beginning of real freedom in real life.

We're just a bunch of bad people who have been saved by the only good person who ever lived-Jesus. We invite everyone else to do the same. That's what the power and grace of Jesus does. He redeems and restores our broken lives. He washes you, sanctifies and justifies you. You are not your affair. You are not your divorce, your porn addiction, your victimization, your sexual immorality, or orientation. That no longer defines who you are. Jesus defines who you are. And he went to the cross so that you can be cleansed and be made holy and be made right with God.

Sex was divinely designed by God before sin entered the world. The same God that created sex loves you, is for you, and doesn't want you to allow this to make you feel further from or separated from God. Here's something to know for sure about Jesus: Jesus consistently encounters sexual sinners and sexually broken people. And he never shames them, he never scolds them, he never rejects them, and casts them out. And he won't shame or scold you either. He simply wants to love you, change you, and give you his grace.

You may be dealing with Anxiety or Depression or both, but know this: when that keeps you up at night, there is biology to it that God is fully aware of, because he knows how he made you. And some situations have caused that feeling, that emotion to spin in your brain, and He cares for you and loves you enough to know that situation too. He has provided you with tools and people who can help you hear him. And the beauty of it all is that all of it, all of it, is Spiritual because you are IN CHRIST. And HE DOES NOT go away.

We can't fathom that he loves us that much but he does. We live with regrets because we've convinced ourselves that he can't love us that much. But He does. He loves lost people and confused people and addicted people and sinful people and immoral people and rebellious people and people who think they are good people. Jesus says, “All of you who are burdened, worried, sleepless at night. Come to me and I'll give you peace and hope and rest.”  Leave your life of regret behind and take one step into a life of forgiveness and grace and love.

Our worries, concerns, and sleepless nights about parenting are greatly reduced when we are serious about fun, trust them with responsibility, discipline them with love, help them see the future, and point them to Jesus. That's what we do during the day, so it doesn't keep us up at night.

Jesus never promised an easy life, but He guaranteed that He would be with us no matter what. So, when the fear comes and we, like Peter, feel like we are drowning, all we need to do is look up and find His hand waiting to pull us up and onto firm footing.

When you've been hurt and there's bitterness and you want to hold a grudge, the way of Jesus is forgiveness. And when it wakes you up at night, the answer is forgiveness. Rest is found in forgiveness. Forgiving someone doesn't mean that you invite them back into your life. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you set yourself up to be hurt again. The whole point of Jesus's way is to move forward, not to keep looking over your shoulder at the past.

There are numerous evangelism styles: In your face style, life story style, serving style, intellectual style, relational style, invitational style. Which style are you? Remember you don't have to be who you are not. But he has made you who you are so that armed with the power of the Holy Spirit the you that you are will be a powerful witness for him in your Jerusalem.

“Go and do likewise.” Jesus didn't say to sit and think about what I've explained. He said Go and do. From the story of the Good Samaritan, we can take away this reality: Unleashing compassion is almost always inconvenient; it's almost always messy. See the need and serve. Go and do likewise.

The Person/sinner/Tax Collector Matthew was loved and connected to Jesus. Matthew was not an outsider by his own doing. His career path and actions had disconnected him from his own people. His nationality had disconnected him from a government that paid him. But Jesus made all the connections work in the life of the disconnected.

Timothy is part of the world changers. Paul's fingerprints are all over the first century, the first years of the church, and the New Testament. Timothy and his generation of leaders are why we're still talking about it all. Timothy imitated Paul, who imitated Jesus. But some people imitated Timothy, and people imitated them and imitated them. We get to continue this great tradition of the faith.

Maybe you've been following Jesus for a long time and you're exhausted from your fight or you're struggling with friends leaving you or what people have said about you or you're dealing with something that is beyond what you can bare, remember that Jesus died so He may be with you in your suffering, and remember that He rose again and will redeem your suffering.

Holy is not a simple word. It's a weighty word, a heavy word. Holy isn't just an adjective. Holy means “Set Apart.” When you live for the purposes of God, you are set apart. You may have all kinds of plates spinning and other things that fill your days, but they are all under the umbrella that you have been set apart—you have a holy purpose, one worth living and dying for. And Paul makes it clear. Holy is not something there because of something you are or did. It is all because of Him. God is the one who makes you holy because of Jesus.

Even when there is a separation between how we want to live and how we've been commanded to live, even when we disagree with truth, there is love that continues to draw us closer and closer to Jesus. Truth doesn't call for hatred of those who aren't following the truth. Truth is a standard set in motion for us to obey. When my kids don't obey me, I don't hate them. I love them. I hurt for them, and I may even hurt because of their disobedience, but I continue to speak the truth and believe that the truth is still what's best.

The ability to look like Jesus doesn't take a program or an organized event. We're provided with moments, little moments, non-headline moments, to serve others. We are on mission when our lives reflect Jesus. When we serve others like Jesus served others in the little things and in the details of life, we are on mission. FCC seeks to be a place that serves others.

The aroma of love can brush by the senses of the people in the world, and we are drawn to it. Most of all, it is who God wants us to be. We love because he first loved us, and we honor him when we love. That fragrance is not just attractive to the world around us, but it's pleasing to God. This is who we should be.

Why do we love God, Why do we gather to sing songs, learn from his Word, pray to him and worship him in everything we do? From the moment we ever knew him he has been all of these roles for us. He is savior from the moment he is also creator and teacher. Most importantly he loved us first.

What does it mean to be first? Were we first in town? Are we #1? Or is first about service, witness, and mimics of Jesus? Through Jesus' teachings on connection and humility, we begin to see who we truly are and why we truly are.

This world tries to offer us hope through a lot of broken avenues and they all, every one of them, come up short of providing us sustainable hope. God is saying, "I promise I have something WAY better than the stuff of this world! You can't see it, but trust me!" When we think about heaven and think about it, we see the world differently. We start living as citizens of heaven, living for eternity. Heaven is not only our destination but our inspiration, our motivation. 

You are already blessed with every spiritual blessing. This is the Christmas Bonus Jesus provided for us all year round. It's not that God will give you what you need, but He already has given you these things. He has already blessed you with every spiritual blessing and it brought Him great pleasure to do so. So, this week, when you look in the mirror, remember how God sees you. Because that is who you really are.

Stop complaining and start delegating. Start letting go. Start leaning into the things that matter and release those that don't. And in that, you will receive the riches of life. I love this quote by Ben Stein. He said: “I cannot tell you anything that, in a few minutes, will tell you how to be rich. But I can tell you how to feel rich, which is far better. Be grateful. Be grateful about everything, and you'll feel a lot richer than the billionaires I know who are always moaning about everything that happens. It's the only totally reliable get-rich-quick scheme."

Who is that person who encouraged, supported, challenged, or lifted you up? If you were to sit down and write a closing to a letter and you wanted to pay tribute and honor to those who you are so grateful for, people who have brought great meaning to your life, who would they be? Think about it. Who would you thank God for? Is there someone out there who would write your name down?