Podcasts about First Church

The First Church | Richard Hilton | Calvary Church

Hello and welcome! I'm Jonathan Gouthier, a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, Connecticut and host of the Faith First Podcast. There's a lot we expect from life. And, maybe there's a lot we expect from God. But what happens when our expectations aren't met? Well, I'm glad you tuned in because today we are listening to a message by our Lead Pastor Steve Darr on Not what You expected…In this episode, you'll discover:How God wants to speak into the moments of disappointmentWhy God meets us where we areWhat to expect in the unexpectedWhen the unexpected happens, God is thereWhen we struggle with unfulfilled expectations of God we are tempted to give up throw our hands in the air and say I give up God, I don't understand. Being honest with God and asking for wisdom can in fact encourage our hearts. If you've been listening to the Faith First Podcast for a while, we thank you. If this is your first time, we invite you to click the subscribe button below. This will send you a notification of when the next episode is launched. And until next time, trust God and offer Him your expectations faith first.

Building is an act of creativity and courage. How do you know when is the time to tear down and when is the time to build, and what moves you to be a builder?

Acts 15:1-12 - The First Church Council - Pastor Dan PlourdeMESSAGE NOTES:http://www.calvaryword.com/Acts2026/a1465.pdf

What happens when the very people who wrote our Bible couldn't agree on something? That's what Joe Lake explores on Sunday, July 5th, 2026. Acts 15 reveals a stunning truth: even the most Spirit-filled, miracle-working apostles had to sit down and work through conflict. This isn't a story about perfection—it's a story about unity through disagreement. The early church faced a critical question: Do Gentile believers need to follow Jewish law to be saved? The answer would shape Christianity forever. What's remarkable is how they resolved it—not through power plays or division, but through listening, citing Scripture, watching where the Spirit was moving, and submitting to recognized leadership. Peter pointed to the undeniable evidence: Gentiles were receiving the Holy Ghost just like the Jews did on Pentecost, without circumcision. James then connected this to Old Testament prophecy, showing God's plan had always included the nations. The resolution? Four simple instructions rooted in Leviticus—abstain from idol worship, sexual immorality, strangled things, and blood. These weren't arbitrary rules but boundaries that honored both God's holiness and the conscience of Jewish believers. The lesson for us is profound: we will have conflicts in the body of Christ because we're human, but we can remain family through it all. Our churches aren't meant to be perfect—they're meant to be real places where imperfect people work things out together under the Lordship of Jesus.

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

Today is Pastor BJ's last Sunday at First Church and she shares a sermon titled "Changing Lightbulbs" referencing Acts 11:1-10.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Hello and welcome! You're listening to the Faith First Podcast brought to you by the First Church in Torrington, CT. I'm Jonathan Gouthier, your host and a Pastor here at First Church and in this episode, I am joined by our Lead Pastor Steve Dar as we discuss how each one of us are separated out for the glory of God. In this episode, you'll discover:Why is it so important that fathers take time with God? How does it impact their children?How does the Bible offer hope and redemption for those who may not see the true heart of a Father in their lives?What does it mean to be shaped by grace?How are each one of us separated for glory?God not only shapes us by grace, but He also calls us to holiness. God doesn't call us to isolation from the world, but to separation in purpose and identity.If you are new to the Faith First Podcast, I ask you to hit the subscribe button to be notified when our next episode launches. And until then, know you are shaped by grace and separated for glory faith first.

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, what does America inspire in us? Pride and hope? Concern and challenge? Perhaps all of these at once. Through the voices of musicians such as Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen, we'll reflect on the ongoing promise and unfinished work of the American story.

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Lessons from the Early Church.The church described in the New Testament remains our God-given standard. What was it like? What was its secret?Support the show

Today is Pastor Rushing's last Sunday at First Church. He shares a sermon titled "The Parable of the Trees" referencing Judges 9:7-15 while discussing how will First Church bear fruit.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Lessons from the Early Church.The church described in the New Testament remains our God-given standard. What was it like? What was its secret?Support the show

Lessons from the Early Church.The church described in the New Testament remains our God-given standard. What was it like? What was its secret?Support the show

Hello and welcome! I'm Jonathan Gouthier, a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, Connecticut and host of the Faith First Podcast. It's June and it's Father's Day soon, so why not share this message by our Lead Pastor Steven Darr on how Dads and the rest of us are shaped and separated by God, let's listen in…In this episode, you'll discover:What are the qualities of an ideal FatherHow children emulate their DadsWhat it means to have God as the Potter of your lifeWhat it means to be in the world but not of the worldSo, as we give thanks to God for Fathers of all kinds, let us too renew our identity as sons and daughters of the God who is shaping us still, calling us deeper, and setting us apart for His glory and grace. We hope you've gained some biblical insight with today's episode and if you did, we invite you to click the subscribe button below. This will send you a notification of when the next episode is launched. And until next time, continue to ask God to shape your life and separate you out for His will and ways that are faith first.

Lessons from the Early Church.The church described in the New Testament remains our God-given standard. What was it like? What was its secret?Support the show

Lessons from the Early Church.The church described in the New Testament remains our God-given standard. What was it like? What was its secret?Support the show

Life rarely follows the script we expect. Improvisation invites us to listen deeply, trust ourselves and one another, and create something meaningful in the moment. Drawing inspiration from the joyful spontaneity and musical genius of Bobby McFerrin, we'll explore what it means to embrace uncertainty with curiosity and discover unexpected possibilities along the way.

This powerful exploration of Acts chapter 9 by Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway from Sunday, June 28th 2026 takes us on a journey through one of the most dramatic transformations in biblical history - the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. We're reminded that the same God who created the heavens and earth still works miracles today, and that no weapon formed against us shall prosper when we stand on the name of Jesus. The message challenges us to move beyond merely talking about surrender to actually living it out. Paul's encounter on the Damascus road wasn't just about believing - it was about complete transformation through baptism in Jesus' name and being filled with the Holy Ghost. We see that Ananias didn't offer Paul a simple prayer of salvation, but instead proclaimed the full gospel experience as demonstrated on the day of Pentecost. The critical insight here is that the power of the Holy Ghost is only as effective as the state of our surrender. We cannot hold onto our traditions, our comfort zones, or our own understanding if we truly want to experience the transformative power of God. This message calls us to examine whether our lives match our confessions, whether our actions align with our proclamations of faith, and whether we're willing to pay the price of true discipleship.

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

Today Paster BJ shares a sermon titled Are You Running Your Race? The scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 9:19-27While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast, where we bring you messages and conversations on just how to walk your faith out in this world. I'm Jonathan Gouthier, a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, CT, and in this episode, I sit down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr to talk about what it takes to have a Spirit-fueled life Welcome Steve…In this episode, you'll discover:How would you define a Spirit-fueled life?What is the sevenfold Spirit of fullness?How do we actively allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide.Is it right to focus on what God is going to give us as an inheritance?A spirit-fueled life is protected by righteousness and truth in a world of chaos. No matter how the world gets, how dark, how crazy, how lost, you are protected by the Holy Spirit that abides in you. The Spirit is the One who gives us the wisdom we need to make decisions that reflect the will of God.We try to provide some very practical ways to step out in your faith, and we pray it is beneficial to you who are listening. If you are new to the Faith First Podcast, I ask you to hit the subscribe button to be notified when our next episode launches. Until the next episode launches, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you faith first.

One root of our existence is the resilience of our ancestors. How do we use resilience today for our next generations? (On Thursday, June 18 at 6 pm in Channing Social Hall, we will screen Wall-E*, whose vision of humanity raises questions about endurance, responsibility, and renewal.)

Message from David Wojnicki on June 21, 2026

Covenant- The First Church ( Revival in Samaria ) with Sis. Sharon Denney

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

Hello and welcome! I'm Jonathan Gouthier, a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, Connecticut and host of the Faith First Podcast. How do you fuel your life? Is is by your strength or the power of the Holy Spirit? In this episode, we'll listen in to this message by our Lead Pastor Steve Darr on having a spirit-fueled life.In this episode, you'll discover:Why do so many of us walk around defeatedWhat is the Spirit's protectionWhere the Spirit guides us as Children of GodHow the Spirit instructs us in intimacy and identityMany of us walk around just getting by beaten at the end of the day. We find ourselves exhausted, not due to strenuous work, but by the burdens we carry in our hearts and our minds. But we can hand it all over to God. Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. That is what it looks like to live a Spirit-Fueled life. If you've been listening to the Faith First Podcast for a while, we thank you. If this is your first time, we invite you to click the subscribe button below. This will send you a notification when the next episode is launched. And until next time, ask God to empower you with His Spirit faith first.

Send us Fan MailSeason 5, Episode 3 - Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is There Is Power  (sermon preached at First Church, Seal Beach on June 7, 2026)

Today guest preacher Alex Shanks shares a sermon titled Full Access | No Password Required discussing God's grace. The scripture for today is Romans 5:1-11.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

What does it mean to be inspired? In this opening sermon of our summer series, Inspiration, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter reflects on creativity, soul growth, and the lifelong process of becoming. Through the stories of Kurt Vonnegut, ancient understandings of inspiration as breath, and a Unitarian Universalist vision of spiritual growth, this sermon invites us to pay attention to what gives our lives meaning and what calls us forward. What inspires you, and how might it help you become more fully yourself?

Message from David Wojnicki on June 14, 2026

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

Today we have the pleasure of Reverend LeeAnn Inman preach referencing scripture 1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 31-33.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Welcome to the Faith First Podcast, I'm Jonathan Gouthier, your host and a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, CT. Today, I am sitting down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr and talking about Truth and how God's truth seeks to uplift us while the world's deception seeks to mislead and deceive us. Hello Steve and welcome…In this episode, you'll discover:What can we believe in this time of confusion and deception?How do we avoid being deceived?Why is God's Word the go-to place for how we begin to fight the battle?How do we live as people of truth and light?We see vile things being celebrated— deception being rewarded— wickedness being normalized. But we are not without hope. God is still on the throne. His word is still true, and His people have a mission to declare His praise and live as people of light.If you are new to the Faith First Podcast, I ask you to hit the subscribe button to be notified when our next episode will launch. And until then, recognize the reality of deception faith first.

Through the Irish folktale "Teig O'Kane and the Corpse," we reflect on the weight of moral obligation, the consequences of our choices, and the enduring truth that responsibility cannot be avoided.

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

Dave talks about their youngest son Jaxon's first time going to church camp. 

Welcome to the Faith First Podcast, I'm Jonathan Gouthier, your host and a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, Connecticut. At this moment in time, there is a climate of confusion and deception hanging over us and many are wondering, “What can we believe?” “Who is telling the truth?” “How do we know what is real?” Well, in today's episode, we will discover the truth in the time of deception through a message given by our Lead Pastor Steve Darr. Let's listen in…In this episode, you'll discover:Why is the truth under attackWhat are the questions people are asking about the truthRecognizing the reality of deceptionHow are we to live as Children of God's love and lightFor believers like you, truth is found in God's Word and in the person of Jesus Christ, your Savior. The closer we are to the truth, the easier it is for us to discern whether we are being deceived. If you've been listening to the Faith First Podcast for a while, we thank you. If this is your first time, we invite you to click the subscribe button below. This will send you a notification of when the next episode is launched. And until then, get close to God who is the truth  faith first.

Today is Trinity Sunday where Pastor BJ shares a message referencing scripture Isaiah 6:1-8.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio

What does it mean to live in a world that is driven by greed? This popular Tawainese folktale helps us think about fairness and selflessness as life values.

Welcome to worship. Today we celebrate Pentecost, graduates, and commission a mission team. You will hear a message from Pastor Rushing referencing scripture John 14:15-31.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast where we bring you messages and conversations of just how to walk your faith out in this world. I'm Jonathan Gouthier your host and a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington CT and in this episode, I sit down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr to dive into the topic of Gospel urgency. Welcome Steve…In this episode, you'll discover:Why do we underestimate the power of our personal stories and testimonies of Jesus at work in our lives?Why is the Gospel urgent and not optional?How can we respond with boldness like Paul and Barnabas?Jesus asks us to open our eyes and look at the fields, why? What are we supposed to do?There is a holy urgency for the Gospel. We live in a world where people are searching— desperately searching for hope, meaning, truth, and peace. And we have the one message that holds the answer to all of those cries, it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.We try to provide some very practical ways to step out in your faith and we pray it is beneficial to you who are listening. If you are new to the Faith First Podcast, I ask you to hit the subscribe button to be notified when our next episode will launch. And until then, know that someone is seeking to know Jesus faith first.

With many of our foundations in reason and Enlightenment-era thinking, Unitarian Universalists often struggle with mystery. We're often averse to things we might perceive as stories and beliefs that present as "supernatural." But what if "real" and "not real" is a false binary? Perhaps we're not asking the right questions when it comes to grappling with the unexplainable. About Cameron Young (they/them) Cameron is a lifelong Texan and Unitarian Universalist- prior to assuming the position as Lead for the UUA Southern Region Congregational Life staff, Cameron worked as field staff since 2019. Before joining the UUA, Cameron served as a lifespan religious educator in Fort Worth, Texas. Cameron has a Bachelor of Music from Louisiana State University and a Master of Divinity at Brite Divinity School where they graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Sexual and Gender Justice certificate and the prestigious Walker Preaching Scholarship- they are currently a candidate for UU Ministry. A professional musician and classically trained singer, Cameron has performed in numerous operas and musicals, is a member and co-founder of the singing group Uptown Carolers and recorded with Grammy award winner Leon Bridges on his debut album. In their spare time, Cameron is an avid traveler, diehard fan of DFW sports teams, and devoted coffee drinker.

When the first followers of Jesus gathered in his name, they formed the very first Christian church. In this sermon, we look at why the church exists, why we need it, and the miracle that makes any real church possible — including today. Key Verses: Acts 2:42-47

Hello and welcome! I'm Jonathan Gouthier, a Pastor here at First Church in Torrington, Connecticut and host of the Faith First Podcast. How seriously do you take the call to urgently share the Good News? In this episode, we'll discover that Gospel urgency is needed now more than ever. Let's listen in to this message by our Lead Pastor Steve Darr…In this episode, you'll discover:How do we begin to understand Gospel urgencyWhat challenges us to become urgent with the GospelWhy is action a call to every believerHow do we obtain the boldness to speak about our testimoniesWe need to begin with understanding that the Gospel is urgent and not optional. The Good News of Jesus cannot wait. It must be shared. We must not keep it to ourselves. If you've been listening to the Faith First Podcast for a while, we thank you. If this is your first time, we invite you to click the subscribe button below. This will send you a notification of when the next episode is launched. And until next time, ask God to bring someone into your life so you can share the Gospel with them faith first.

Today we have the pleasure of welcoming our Bishop, Tom Berlin, who shares a sermon "Seeing What Is Around You" referencing scripture Matthew 9:35-38.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Join us as we celebrate and bless our youth coming of age and graduating seniors bridging into young adulthood.

What do we owe to mothers on Mother's Day. Lets talk about it!