First Pres Orlando Sermons

Dr. David Swanson | John 3:1-5, 4:7-15, 25-26The woman at the Well was looking to all the ways of the world to meet her deepest longings, but her thirst is quenched in Jesus.

Dr. Paul Gibson | John 20:24-29It often takes an encounter with Christ to help our unbelief. Take your doubts to God. He's big enough to handle them. And you might be surprised by what happens when you do.

Dr. Jack Peebles | John 9:24-39For the man born blind from birth, Jesus offers the incredible gift of sight. Even better than this gift of physical sight, is the gift of spiritual sight…a gift of belief!

Dr. David Swanson | Esther 4:9-17Esther's boldness in going to the King, even saying "if I perish, I perish," was a remarkable moment as she went from pleasing man to pleasing God.

Dr. David Swanson | Acts 9:1-19Paul has one of the more dramatic conversation experiences, one that offers good news to us. If God can call Paul, He can call any sinner and use that person as His instrument. It also highlights how God uses others as they cross our paths.

Rev. Tanner Fox | 2 Samuel 12:1-7The story of 2 Samuel 11-12 eventually produced one of the most well known Psalms in the worship book of God's people, Psalm 51. The Psalm is a picture of the humiliation of the human soul, leading to the humility of human confession, leading to the healing of God's grace. A transformational process we all need to know but rarely want to experience. What I find beautiful about this story is the way in which God uses a good friend to spark the match that leads to the blazing fire of repentance in the life of King David.

Dr. David Swanson | John 20:10-23We have a tendency to hang on to things in life "in case we might need them." We can even try to "hang on" to Jesus as if He is just for us. To the contrary, Jesus welcomes us, but then He sends us out into the fullness of Kingdom life. You are meant for more!

Dr. David Swanson | Psalm 30God transforms the hard things in David's life, his mourning, into dancing - not from happiness, but from joy.

Dr. David Swanson | Matthew 5:5Meekness is an often misunderstood quality, one often associated with being a doormat. It is not that, but a quality of heart that is humble and other-centered. Like Jesus.

Dr. Jack Peebles | Acts 7:54-60, Matthew 5:10As our culture becomes more and more hostile to Christian faith, the reality of persecution looms larger. 

Dr. David Swanson | Matthew 5:9In a world of agitation and anger, which we are easily dragged into, how can we become people of peace?

Rev. Tanner Fox | Matthew 5:3The blessing of being poor in spirit.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Matthew 5:4We all live in the grief and mourning that comes with life. In the body, and through Christ, we are also comforted.

Dr. David Swanson | Acts 16:25-34The Philippian jailer was one regularly inflicting pain and suffering on those under his charge, including putting Paul and Silas in stocks. We're not sure what role it played in their beatings, but it was likely significant. He was a calloused, cruel man, and yet he is transformed, his heart becoming filled with care and compassion.

Dr. David Swanson | Numbers 12:1-3, 9-15Though Miriam had a huge role in the exodus, she becomes envious and gossips about Moses, likely envious of his standing with God. Her skin is made leprous, and she is left outside the camp for a week. 

Dr. David Swanson | Jonah 1:1-12Jonah is famous for his disobedience, but more than that, we see that he did not love the Ninevites and remains angry even at the end. We are all works in progress - sometimes, God leaves the end of the story up in the air.

Dr. Case Thorp | Psalm 131:1-3As a pilgrim coming to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, David reaches deep into his heart and discovers the still small voice of God, but in the same manner, the maturity to which Christ calls us all.

Dr. David Swanson | 2 Samuel 9:1-11Mephibosheth is one of the great stories of transformation in the Bible as he goes from being a cripple to eating at David's table. He goes from nowhere (Lo Debar) to somewhere by God's grace.

Dr. David Swanson | 1 Kings 18:18-21True transformation is only possible when we have truly yielded to the Lordship of Jesus in our lives. Do we want to change or do we just say that, instead desiring in our hearts to keep doing the very same things?

Dr. David Swanson | Joshua 1:1-9As we move into this series on the transforming power of God, we have to understand how it works and why we sometimes fight it.

Dr. David Swanson | Acts 16:11-15Lydia's baptism gives us a perfect window into baptism as inclusionary event, family event, community event.

Dr. Paul Gibson | Joshua 2:1-3 The Lord wrote an amazing story about Rahab's life with unexpected twists and turns. How might the Lord be writing your story?

Bret Allen | Luke 2:18-19

Dr. David Swanson | Isaiah 57:14-16, 18-19The birth of Christ can seem like folklore of fairy tale at times, raising as many questions as it answers. How do we know that this child really was God? How does this moment help us answer some of the bigger questions life? Jesus helps us crack the code. He is the means by which we understand everything else and so we make Him Lord.Merry Christmas!

Dr. David Swanson | Luke 1:5-22, 62-64Zechariah becomes our example of one who has lost the wonder, the "magic" of faith – and for us – of Christmas. He is told about a great thing, but he is the ultimate skeptic. The season of Advent is a time to remember the wonder of God, the incarnation of God, and the hope of all it means so that, like Zechariah, our mouths are opened in praise.

Dr. David Swanson | Luke 2:8-14The simple words of th angels to the shepherds resonate with us and seem almost impossible. How can we stop being dominated by fear and anxiety? it is a complex issue, but one in which Christ bears great hope.

Rev. Alexa Rossi | Isaiah 9:2-7With the birth of Christ, God reveals that his plan of redemption finds its fullness in a child. Darkness is no more because of the character and eternality of this man Jesus, who is the light dawning as living hope. We don't manufacture optimism in challenging circumstances, we choose hope even when there's no evidence that circumstances will get better–because the strength of our hope lies in a person whose life overcomes even death.

Dr. David Swanson | Luke 2:1-7In a world that encroaches on us from every side, how can we make room for Christ this Advent?

Dr. David Swanson | Matthew 9:9-13Matthew 9 shows us how a life can be transformed from one burdened by money to one centered in generosity.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Romans 5:1-8Paul offers us a vision of the cross of Jesus that is strong enough to hold us in our suffering. The experience of the Christian in suffering is unique to that of the world. Only Christians can live with hope IN suffering and see all the ways removes, remolds, reinforces our dependencies and delight in Jesus.

Dr. David Swanson | 1 Chronicles 29:16-17Paul offers us a vision of the cross of Jesus that is strong enough to hold us in our suffering. The experience of the Christian in suffering is unique to that of the world. Only Christians can live with hope IN suffering and see all the ways removes, remolds, reinforces our dependencies and delight in Jesus.

Dr. David Swanson | Matthew 6:24As we look at Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration as a lens for money, God is the creator of our money. He makes the money and it is His ever after it passes from His hand into ours. We are called to invest it as He directs so a lack of generosity is not just being greedy, but an act of robbery. 

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 22:17-21It all ends with a warning not to add to or take from the elements of the story that has just been completed – the Biblical story – the story of God's plan to redeem and save us in Jesus. On Reformation Sunday, we remember Sola Scriptura.

Dr. Jack Peebles | Revelation 22:12-16John hears this last reminder from the glorified Christ. He'll be here shortly, and we need to be ready for the bright Morning Star.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 22:7-11Through all that John has seen now, he is still tempted to worship the angel!! Impossible, but true. We must rightly order worship.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Revelation 22:1-6The work of salvation is a holistic experience where Jesus is making, "All Things New." The Bible takes us from the curse of a garden to the blessing of a garden city as the world is renewed by the saving grace of Jesus. 

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 21:9-14; 22-27Now the measurements of the new Heaven and earth are revealed – and it is perfect. Only those whose names are in the Book of Life may enter.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 21:1-4Just as the Bible started with the freshness of the garden, the Biblical story now ends with a new beginning – a new city – the new Jerusalem.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 20:11-15This is a picture of the final accounting – the books are open – before the great holiness of God. 

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 20:1-10Much confusion exists over what the "thousand year" period will be – and what it means for us.

Dr. Paul Gibson | Proverbs 15:1-4, 18Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” When it comes to reflecting the image of Christ on a daily basis, are we a thermometer or a thermostat? Do we act and respond gently to conflict in order to turn down the heat? Or, do we react harshly and make matters worse?

Rev. Tanner Fox | Revelation 19:11-21Which dinner party are you joining? Earlier in chapter 19, we had the great invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb! In this week's section, we have a different supper. The Supper of the Father – The culmination of the judgment and wrath of God. Which dinner party are you headed to?

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 19:1-10After all the calls to come out and all the judgement on those who do not, God reveals himself as the Victor with a roar from heaven. John then points us to the coming wedding of the groom and His Bride – and the feast that will follow. Who will be invited?

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 18:4-8, 21-24Babylon is symbolic of all the worldly things that we have trusted, the things we have put our hope in apart from Christ. Now, God calls us out of it for Babylon is about to be destroyed. One day, all the things we see now – social, political, sexual, national - that the Beast has used to seduce people away from God – it will all crumble. It will be "no more" – a contrast to the "no mores" of Rev 21. And yet, it is hard to come out – to get away.

Dr. Jack Peebles | Revelation 17:1-8, 18:1-3From chapter 17-19, we are encouraged to be ready for the bridegroom – to prepare. We meet the "mother of prostitutes – the world trying to lure us away from God. John even marvels at her beauty. Powered by Satan we rejoice that one day, all her lovers will hate her, too.

Dr. Case Thorp | Revelation 16:1-21Revelation 16 is a pretty offensive text in today's culture. We don't like to dwell on the judgement of God, and the resulting punishments that ensue. And yet, the battle of Armageddon, long presented by our pop culture as a cataclysmic disaster, is really a great expression of God's grace and mercy.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Revelation 15:1-8From the Seven Angels in 15, we get the victory song – The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. The glory of God is sung about, in unison, by the angels who bring the good news of victory, which is also the devastating news of defeat. This is the victory and defeat that has been spoken of and prophesied for generations. We receive the song of Moses and the Lamb as a reminder of all that God has promised, and all that God will bring!

Dr. David Swanson | Text: Revelation 14:1-5Finally, out of all this chaos, we see a mountain – it is Mt. Zion and a glimpse of God's coming victory – one in which all the power of the world will no longer hold any allure for us.

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 13:1-8, 15-18We get a glimpse of the beast ready to come out of the sea representing the evil power of Rome at the time, but speaks to us of the nations and institutions that are aligned against the kingdom of God.

Rev. Tanner Fox | Revelation 12:1-17The apocalyptic narrative continues and we are introduced to a new character, “the woman clothed by the sun.” She gives birth to what seems to be the great enemy of the dragon. Making sense of Rev 12 means we need to look back at Genesis 3, the initial curse of the serpent, in which God promised the seed of the woman who would come to strike his head.