These podcasts are messages that were preached at First Love Church in Ocala, Florida. We hope that you are encouraged and inspired by what you hear. We are a non denominational, egalitarian church that practices a generous orthodoxy.
John 14:15-2115 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." IF...... Jesus says if we love him, then there will be empirical evidence that we do- it is demonstrated in the obeying of His commands.
John 14:1-14Do not let your hearts be troubled.
John 10:1-10Jesus declares Himself to be the Good Shepherd. What is this imagery meant to invoke? What lessons are being taught with this claim? Jesus makes claims that contradict empire- His followers don't understand. This is one of the I am statements regarding Jesus' own narrative of who He is. Jesus again declares that He is the way to relationship with the Father.
Luke 24:13-35This scene is set on the same day as the women's discovery of the empty tomb from last week. We learn that two disciples are walking, leaving Jerusalem to make the seven-mile jaunt to Emmaus. Why are they leaving Jerusalem? Do they fear for their lives now that Jesus has been executed? We don't really know. All Luke tells us is that they are grieved about their recent experience. They are talking to one another, hoping to make sense of the nonsensical, when Jesus himself walks alongside them and joins them on their journey.For the writer of Luke, however, Jesus is most Jesus at a table, at an ordinary meal infused with significance because of the people gathered around the food. One of the most characteristic activities of Jesus' ministry in Luke is eating. He is accused early in the Gospel of being a glutton and a drunkard (7:34); worse, he eats with all the wrong people! So, it's instructive that it's not his teaching that open their eyes. It's not his presence. It's his sharing of bread with his friends. It's his blessing of food. In this sharing of bread at an ordinary table, we catch a glimpse of Jesus' transformative kingdom.In Luke, eating is a radical act because it breaks down cultural boundaries. In Luke, the resurrected Jesus shares that bread once again with his followers. And in feeding them, Jesus opens their eyes, helping them see that Jesus was with them the whole time.
The Easter Season provides opportunities for the church to reflect on the biblical witness concerning the rumors of the resurrection.It is still the first day of the week, according to the written record. So much happened from sunrise to evening on that day to turn the world over and over again, worshipers today can linger in the original testimony. For some, it is still news that the entire witness to the resurrection began on the testimony of women. First, a mourning Mary discovers an empty tomb and reports this news to Peter and the other, unnamed, disciple whom Jesus loved; and a new scene emerges. The disciples race to the tomb, entering the space to find the linen that wrapped the body of Jesus, but, as Mary said: no body. What it is the beloved disciple believes, the writer confirms, is believed without seeing the body, without knowledge of the Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead, and without the testimony of others who have indeed seen Jesus. Before this week's passage, the writer turns back to Mary—the third report and first sighting. It is this testimony of something a woman said, that prepares us for this week's witness to the resurrection.Disciples have gathered. Here, the record does not specify how many, as in other places (6:66-67; 20:24), but Thomas is not present. The unconfirmed rumors of the resurrection started by Mary has brought neither understanding nor obedience. Perplexity and amazement, cynicism and unbelief. The disciples are clueless concerning the meaning of Jesus' death, disappointed by this presumed dashing of their hopes, and astounded by reports of the empty tomb (not much has changed).The disciples are fearful. Good news does not erase fear. Good news, incredible news, can ignite hope, but even hope does not eliminate genuine fear. So, there they were in a familiar place desperate with unfamiliar fear. An empty tomb isn't enough to confirm all that Jesus promised is true. What does the resurrection mean? It means God still shows up. The writer continues to rehearse elements of the storied witness to God as testimony to Jesus.So Jesus shows up. (Now you want to talk about fear ...) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” No doubt it was Jesus. They recognized the scars. They see the stripes on his back and the hole in his side. And in recognition, John says they rejoiced. God is (still) with us! And Jesus, like God breathing life into the first human, breathed on the disciples. The prospect of insight comes with the intrusion of Jesus—for the Spirit of God proceeds from him, opens the eyes of the disciples. What they saw is all Thomas desires. Too often the focus here is on Thomas' doubt. But Thomas was not present when Jesus showed up on the other side of a locked door to greet fearful followers with peace and the instruction to forgive. Thomas' request is merely for what the other's experienced. The wonder of this moment is Jesus' willingness to meet Thomas exactly where Thomas names he needs meeting. Thomas names what Jesus knew his disciples needed. The doors are shut. Jesus appears, nail scars and all. His offering of peace is followed by a demonstration of forgiveness—no condemnation for Thomas' request—a simple invitation. The disciples rejoiced, but Thomas' response is praise. There is a difference.
Tonight we discuss the basics of podcasting and Holy week while social distancing. Maundy Thursday with no foot washing but with longing. How to dive into the love command place firmly in the middle of service. And seeing the plan of Jesus calling his friends family.
While still practicing love for neighbor and staying at home- we gather in the name of Jesus and remember the Passion week beginning with Palm Sunday.Matthew 27:11-54Jesus begins His journey to the cross- and we stand with those who say Hosanna blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Beloveds we are the church who gather for corporate worship and scatter for service in the spheres of influence God affords us. Like ancient Israel shifting to synagogues when the Temple was destroyed, our worship of God is not limited to a building or space. Like the first disciples of Christ shifting their gatherings to secret places, the people of God continue to worship in Spirit though the venue may change. This time of physical distancing is an act of caring for our neighbor as we continue to acknowledge our dependence on the Creator of the Universe.In this sermon on the resurrection of Lazarus Pastors Dennis and Heather discuss how even when everything about Lazarus' death makes it impossible for his sisters and the gathered friends to imagine he could walk out of the tomb, when Jesus calls to him, he comes. Resurrection is God's realm. Neither Lazarus nor anyone else present is said to believe in Jesus' power. Just the opposite is the case. The crowd does not expect the dead man to emerge when the stone is rolled away. The people assume that death is final, irrevocable, and there is no remedy for it.Yet, the story shows us that the crowd did not have to believe in order to make Lazarus' appearance possible. Human belief is not the source of the rising. Jesus' oneness with the Father is the source of the rising. Jesus sees beyond death to God's infinitely greater power. He demonstrates with thanksgiving and authority that his vision is true.Through just such powerful events, the veracity of Jesus' vision is given to us. We cannot come to them with ready-made belief. Instead, Jesus creates the ability to believe by causing death again and again to turn to life. Those who watch and help to unbind Lazarus are given the vision they need.We invite you to join with us in this discussion.
The First Sunday in our living room- COVID-19 says shelter in place- so we are.We are also gathering in the name of Jesus, while staying in our homes. We meet Jesus who is healing a blind man, the people around him ask, "who is to blame?", "who sinned?", "who can we accuse for this suffering?". Jesus does not respond to their questions in the way they expected and calls the healed man into further relationship. #blindman#firstlovechurch#churchathome#help#healingisfromJesus
Romans 5:1-11“Therefore,” the opening word in Romans 5:1, and here is where we are reminding of the message of God's plan for reconciling humanity with God's self and with one another.In the midst of our suffering and human alienation, the church at every age is called upon to count on God's love, the love that was shown before we're even forgiven of our sins, and now we have come to experience that love. The call to ministry has been emphasized, but the call to love has suffered and is urgently needed in these unusual circumstances.
Romans 5:1-11“Therefore,” the opening word in Romans 5:1, and here is where we are reminding of the message of God's plan for reconciling humanity with God's self and with one another.In the midst of our suffering and human alienation, the church at every age is called upon to count on God's love, the love that was shown before we're even forgiven of our sins, and now we have come to experience that love. The call to ministry has been emphasized, but the call to love has suffered and is urgently needed in these unusual circumstances.
When Nicodemus has the questions he comes at night, and Jesus welcomes his questions and spends time offering relationship.
When Nicodemus comes at night- Jesus welcomes his questions- and offers him relationship. Jesus doesn't shy away from the difficult discussions and speaks of thing of the Spirit.
Matthew 4:1-11Jesus after baptism is led to the wilderness, He is tempted but does not compromise, by speaking God's word he thwarts the enemies plan.
Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus is led into the wilderness, after baptism and heaven opening and declaring "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."Though the satan comes and tempts Jesus - Jesus does not compromise and thwarts the enemies plan by declaring the word of God.
We look at the text to remind us of the transfiguration of Jesus and his call to follow him in transformation.
The Transfiguation of ChristMatthew 17:1-9We engage the text today to truly see the promise of transformation as we follow Jesus as He is transfigured in front of witnesses. We hear the Father once again offer words of beloved son and then a command to "Listen to him". And then we wrestle, we wrestle with the promise, with longing, with grief, and with God. We will not let you go until you bless us......
Pastors Dennis and Heather continue the conversation around the evidence and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Why its important for today and what we can expect as fruit in our lives.
Wednesday night service concluding the series by pastor Dennis on the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:13-20Jesus calls us to be salt, to serve in the way we were designed to serve. But what if we do not? What if we lose our saltiness? What if we hide the light under a basket? The call of the Sermon of the Mount is high and costly and risky. The darkening of the light, the loss of the salt's saltiness is not without consequence.Jesus makes clear that he is not overthrowing the law and the prophets. He stands in the streams of righteous hope and transformative justice that both have reflected God for generations of faithful Israelites. To abolish the law and the prophets is to declare that God's voice has changed or, worse, that God's voice was not to be trusted in the first place.If we proclaim the Sermon on the Mount as a wholesale innovation rather than an outgrowth of ancient traditions of faith, we may find ourselves participating in abolishment of the law and the prophets. Jesus wants to make clear that his teachings are not erasing a letter or even a stroke of the letter of the law. For Matthew's Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount does not replace the law and the prophets but echoes them.The promises God made, the actions God takes, the commands God voices are bound up together. And so, Jesus continues to explain in verse 19 that a rank of sorts in the kingdom of heaven depends on whether we live and teach the commandments or whether we reject and teach others to reject the commandments.Again, this is not a call to mere moralism but a call to a life of trust in God. If we trust God's promises, if we stand grateful for God's actions, then we will bend our lives toward the life-giving ways God has called us to follow. Breaking a commandment is not just breaking a rule; it is denying the promises and actions of God. Teaching others to do the same is not just leading them astray but de-forming their very being as children of a God who promises and liberates and teaches us how to live towards abundant life.The stakes are high, Matthew's Jesus reiterates, as we close our passage. Verse 20 uplifts the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees and asks those hoping to “enter the kingdom of heaven” to exceed it. God authored those commandments, not as a barrier around obedience or as a limit to our faithfulness, but as a starting point for righteousness, an opening into a life attuned to God's grace-filled will.
Jesus calls us to be Salt and Light a narrative and a command.
Thomas Drake encourages us from the gospel reading of the beatitudes, including a modern blessing of those that our current culture often overlook.
Jonathan Martin is our guest minister
Our friend and guest minister Jonathan Martin.
Matthew 4:12-23Jesus moves quickly to invite the first set of disciples to join him with the promise of making them “fishers of men.” The phrase connotes challenging structures of power just as John had done and Jesus began to do.1 It is a transformative and dangerous mission that Jesus inherited from John and is inviting disciples into it. And they leave their families, livelihoods and instantly join him for little in return. The disciples were apparently inspired by the mission and made radical commitments to the movement. The disciples were inspired to join the movement and large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Judea and the region across the Jordan also participated in it.The mission was passed on from John to Jesus to the disciples and eventually to Matthew's community. And it has been passed on to us. As the Church, we are invited to participate in the transformative work of the new kingdom. But we also have the task of inspiring others to join the movement.The question is whether and how we are able to inspire people to join the work of transforming communities.
What do our lives look like? How do others experience us? What does it mean to have a life that produces God kind of "fruit" or evidence? Pastor Dennis explores the passage in Galatians 5 where Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit with the evidences of selfishness or fleshly controlled life.
Acts 10:9-38This account challenges our thinking the same way today as it did when the church was young. Peter has a divine encounter and obeys what He acknowledges is God's direction. And subsequently Cornelius and the large congregation in his home hear the good news and are filled with the Holy Spirit.There is a challenge today that asks us to hear the message and open wide our gates. The message is even better than we dared imagine and it is for everyone!
Acts 10:9-38There is power in this account of the Apostle Peters vision and subsequent obedience, power to challenge our ways of thinking.The gospel the good news is so much better than we dared imagine, and it's for everyone.
Galatian 5:22-23 The fruit or evidences of the Spirit are correlated to connectedness. What is your responsibility to be connected to the vine.
Matthew 3:13-17John Baptizes Jesus. The Father is pleased- and declares the Son is beloved. There is much to learn and to follow in the Jesus way of interacting with world. John baptizes Jesus and we see here Jesus' willingness to participate in the plan that God had put into motion. We choose to remember our truest identities- beloved daughters, beloved sons. All of us beloved.
Matthew 3:13-17The Father is pleased- and declares the Son is beloved. There is much to learn and to follow in the Jesus way of interacting with world. John baptizes Jesus and we see here Jesus' willingness to participate in the plan that God had put into motion. We choose to remember our truest identities- beloved daughters, beloved sons. All of us beloved.
If there is evidence of the Sprits working, is there proof in your life of connection and abiding in the vine? Join us in this continuing conversation of the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.How are you staying connected to Jesus who declares himself to be the vine?
Entering into the season of Epiphany and what it means to us as "followers of the way".
Though Epiphany begins on Monday the 6th we read the gospel telling of this event and consider and wrestle with how this applies to our current following of the Jesus way. Prayer:Give us eyes to "see" as You do......
Revelation 22:16-17 Hebrews 2: 9-18Waiting for the second coming- the promise that God intends to make all things new takes some faith- belief in the mystery- and a renewing of our prophetic hope. "One day every sad thing will come untrue." Tolkien
Revelation 22:16-17 Hebrews 2: 9-18Waiting for the second coming- the promise that God intends to make all things new takes some faith- belief in the mystery- and a renewing of our prophetic hope. "One day every sad thing will come untrue." Tolkien
4th Sunday of AdventJosephs part in the advent story. God has a plan, Joseph cares and takes responsibility for the care and cost of the plan. We pray for God's kingdom to come, are we ready to name the plan and give our lives for it.
Matthew 11:2-113rd Sunday of Advent Are You the one- or should we look for another?You are invited to see and hear ways the ancient Christ who is also the one to come is at work in today's world. “Seeing and hearing” means we must lear to narrate Christ at work our contemporary context and not just declare it in some abstract manner. Learning to truly see and then naming how Christ heals, offers life, and overcomes oppression in today's world is our invitation into what Jesus offers John. Tell them the deaf hear.........
Matthew 11:2-113rd Sunday of Advent Are You the one- or should we look for another?You are invited to see and hear ways the ancient Christ who is also the one to come is at work in today's world. “Seeing and hearing” means we must lear to narrate Christ at work our contemporary context and not just declare it in some abstract manner. Learning to truly see and then naming how Christ heals, offers life, and overcomes oppression in today's world is our invitation into what Jesus offers John. Tell them the deaf hear.........
Romans 15:4-132nd Sunday of AdventFrom the beginning of the letter Paul has argues that the Gospel is for both Jews and Greeks (Romans 1:14-17). So we have here a climax both to Paul's argument and to his way of arguing. Paul makes it clear in Romans 15:4 that the past (“whatever was written in former days”) was meant for this very present time (“written for our instruction”), in order to give hope.Paul's answer, and his prayer for the fledgling community, is harmonyand hope. As Paul explains, the past—both Christ's work and scripture—gives shape to and encouragement for the community's present harmony, which orients all in hope towards God's future.Paul is urging the Roman Christians to find the unity that belongs to them in the Gospel: he urges, but ultimately he knows that whatever unity, hope, or peace that exists in the community depends on God's work and graciousness, as indeed the community's existence itself is grounded in the grace of God given in Jesus—the fulfillment of God's promises.
Romans 15:4-132nd Sunday of AdventFrom the beginning of the letter Paul has argues that the Gospel is for both Jews and Greeks (Romans 1:14-17). So we have here a climax both to Paul's argument and to his way of arguing. Paul makes it clear in Romans 15:4 that the past (“whatever was written in former days”) was meant for this very present time (“written for our instruction”), in order to give hope.Paul's answer, and his prayer for the fledgling community, is harmony and hope. As Paul explains, the past—both Christ's work and scripture—gives shape to and encouragement for the community's present harmony, which orients all in hope towards God's future.Paul is urging the Roman Christians to find the unity that belongs to them in the Gospel: he urges, but ultimately he knows that whatever unity, hope, or peace that exists in the community depends on God's work and graciousness, as indeed the community's existence itself is grounded in the grace of God given in Jesus—the fulfillment of God's promises.
The apostle Paul reminds us that an attitude and choice of the one who follows the path of Jesus needs to be one of continuous thanksgiving. How can we practically give thanks in every situation?
Colossians 3:10-151 Thessalonians 5:14-18Philippians 4:6Don't worry about anything, instead; pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done.Thanksgiving and repentance are connected. Choosing gratitude, making a choice to be thankful is what allows the other practices to transform us into people who choose the loving way in every situation.
Guest minister Joseph Thompson talks about creating your world through prayer.
Creating your world through prayer. Joseph uses 2 new testament stories to remind us about the power of prayer.
Colossians 1:9-20Your kingdom transfer is here! Jesus is the perfect image of an invisible God.
Luke 6:20-31The Golden Rule is for everyone- and Jesus offers a new way of living- a way to live a satisfied life- unburdened. Jesus teaches the sermon of the plain- and offers hope to those who are oppressed. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
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