Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast where we bring you messages and conversations about just how to walk your faith out in this world. In this episode, I sit down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr to continue our series on Spiritual Gifts and this one is a difficult topic as well as something difficult to do in a believer’s life. And that is Surrendering fully to God. We try to keep certain things for ourselves, put them in the back seat or under the bed so that we feel like we have some control of our lives. But God says give me all of you. 

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why we don't like the word surrender
• What, if anything we have to worry about when we fully surrender to the Lord
• Learn about the lies that come when we finally say use all of me Lord
• How surrender is also a spiritual thing that we must do daily

Surrendering relates to our Spiritual Gifts by using them for the glory of God. If we don’t fully surrender we might find ourselves using our gifts to boost our egos or only exercise them where we want to use them. We ought not to use our gifts for selfish gains, the use of them must glorify God.

 If this is your first time listening to the Faith First Podcast, we welcome you to join us most Tuesdays when a new episode will launch. You can always hit the subscribe button to be alerted to when the next episode will be ready and until then, it is worth surrendering your all to God faith first.

Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast. I know in my own life I have picked and chosen what I wanted to hand over to God to run in my life. At the beginning of my journey, I didn’t know what being fully surrendered meant and didn’t know how it affected the use of the Spiritual gifts God gave me. That’s what we look at in this episode. Listen in as our Lead Pastor Steve Darr delivers a message on Full Surrender.

In this episode you'll discover:

• A baseball analogy to fully surrendering to God
• What surrender truly means
• How the human broken heart and the devil team up 
• How God takes away a heart of stone to give a heart of flesh
• Why we should give ourselves up to God completely

Surrender, we don’t like that word it means the opposite of winning. It means in this world that you’re defeated and so we give up and cave in. It is rarely seen as a positive thing. Yet for the Christian full surrender means everything positive that one has placed their complete faith in Him and believes in His promises for you. When we finally let go and let God, He exercises His will in our lives and we flourish in using our Spiritual gifts. 

If you enjoyed this episode of the Faith First Podcast we invite you to subscribe and make it a weekly thing to tune in. We launch a new episode every Tuesday morning giving you something to think about beyond Sundays. So, click the subscribe button and trust God faith first.

Hello and welcome, you’re listening to the Faith First Podcast. In our episode today, I sit down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr as we continue on the topic of Spiritual Gifts. Today’s broadcast focuses on one thing— Pursuing God. We can have all the gifts possible or pursue our gifts thinking we will find God. It doesn’t happen that way. As we pursue God that’s when our gifts will be revealed, isn’t that right Steve?

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why we are supposed to seek God first above our Spiritual Gifts
• How our pursuit of Christ does not end the day we become "saved"
• What being dissatisfied has to do with the zeal to pursue Christ
• What things can hinder us from pursuing Christ with all we have

As the Apostle Paul illustrated best, we are to pursue Christ much like an athlete pursues the crown. We cannot aimlessly go through life and think we have done what God has called us to do. We must set spiritual goals to know Christ more and more. 

Does your heart, your life desire to know Christ more? Then pursue Him, he is waiting. And if this episode has sparked something inside of you, then we’d love to hear about it. You can connect with us here or at our website which is www.firstcong.com. Set yourself a goal to know more of God to grasp the will of God and love more of the wonder of God faith first.

Welcome. You are listening to the Faith First Podcast where we launch a new episode every Tuesday morning on the messages and conversation of how to walk faith first. We continue to go through a series on Spiritual Gifts. If we are seeking to know what our gift or gifts are, we would do right in asking God, but not only that but also pursue Him for He is the Giver of the gifts. Let’s listen in on the message that our Lead Pastor Steve Darr has prepared for us on pursuing the giver.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why we are to pursue God with all we have in us
• Spiritual Gifts are not meant to be the focus but God Himself
• Why do we need to pursue Christ more and more
• What needs to be put out of our minds when in pursuit of God

Due to our imperfections, we must continue to pursue Christ. Only He can change who we are. We don’t need to live in pain, anxiety, or fear. Christ can change all that if we’re willing to pursue Him. By pursuing Him in all things, we will then discover what our gifts are and where and how to use them.

We hope you are enjoying the latest series on Spiritual gifts and encourage you to hit the subscribe button and be alerted when the next episode is launched. Until then, pursue God with all that you have faith first.

Hello, and you’re listening to the Faith First Podcast. In today’s episode, I sit down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr to talk about how our Spiritual Gifts are both God-Given and God Glorifying. You mean Steve, they’re not meant to pump up my ego?

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why Spiritual Gifts are given to serve others
• Where Scripture lists the Spiritual Gifts
• What the purpose of God giving believers Spiritual Gifts
• How Spiritual Gifts differ from our natural abilities and talents

We can find lists of the Spiritual Gifts in Scripture. The Bible mentions the gifts of the Spirit in a number of different portions of Scripture. They can be found at Romans 12:6–8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:29,30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 Corinthians 14:6, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:12. It is also possible that 1 Corinthians 7:7 and 1 Peter 4:9 may be referring to spiritual gifts. Some of these references are definite lists of gifts while others are passages that mention more than one gift but cannot really be referred to as lists.

God has given gifts to the Body of Christ, that’s you, to manifest His presence among us to remind us of our dependence upon one another and in doing so build unity in the Church, to edify the body, and save the lost. The Spiritual Gifts are God’s provision to equip His children to minister to others.

We hope through this series of messages and conversations you’ll discover and put into practice the Spiritual Gifts God has given you for His glory. Until next time, we want to connect with you and how God has been using you for His glory. If you’ve got a story to share, head on over to our website at www.firstcong.com and send a message. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks for listening. Now, go out and use the gifts you’ve been given faith first.

You are listening to the Faith First Podcast and in this episode we continue with our series on Spiritual Gifts. If you’re like me your ears perk up that you are going to be given a gift. Yeah! However, this gift is not for your own use. It is first of all God-given and secondly to be used to glorify God. Well, let’s not delay and listen in to our Lead Pastor as he brings the message of Spiritual Gifts, God-Given and God Glorifying.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why our gifts are given to us
• Why a Spiritual Gift is more than talent
• What we are to do with the gifts God gives us
• How human nature gets in the way of using our Spiritual Gifts

There is a great diversity of gifts given by God to His church. This is important because we can often find ourselves coveting other people’s gifts while undermining the gifts God has given us to use in the church. But we all have a distinct role to play, and it is irreplaceable from all the other roles that constitute the body. You are needed in the body to glorify God through the use of your gifts.

 We launch a new episode of the Faith First Podcast every Tuesday so make sure you hit the subscribe button and be alerted to when the next episode is ready for listening. Until then, recognize that your gifts are to glorify God faith first.

Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast where we bring you messages and conversations about just how to walk your faith out in this world. In this episode, I sit down with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr to kick off a series of conversations on Spiritual Gifts. Today we tackle the question of Are You Worthy? 

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why do Christians struggle with feeling worthy
• How to understand your worthiness in Jesus
• The connection of worthiness and seeking out your spiritual gifts
• Learn about the number one question most pastors are confronted with from others

Maybe all you need right now is to walk with God through a Spirit-filled life to find out what your Spiritual Gifts are. Then listen for God will direct you to where He wants you to serve and use your gifts. You are worthy, Jesus makes you worthy and calls us all to walk in a manner to which you have been called by Him.

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 God finds you worthy to walk faith first.

Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast. I know I have said to myself too many times that I am unworthy and maybe you have said the same thing to yourself. Well, the Bible says a lot about unworthiness and being worthy because we are joined together in Christ. That is the message we are going to hear today from our Lead Pastor Steve Darr. Get ready to join in listening to Are You Worthy?

In this episode you'll discover:

• What is our understanding of worthiness
• Do we feel worthy of what Christ has done for us
• How we are worthy of being given spiritual gifts
• How to desire and pursue spiritual gifts
• How God's will and spiritual gifts work together

Everywhere in Scripture, we find that our worthiness is not our deserving or meriting, or earning, but rather our seeing and cherishing God who is of infinite worth. In our need, God grants us to see His calling and His kingdom as infinitely precious infinitely worthy. We are to treasure them. And that desire ought to spur us on to seek out our spiritual gifts given to us by the one who is worthy.

We launch a new episode of the Faith First Podcast every Tuesday so make sure you hit the subscribe button and be alerted to when the next episode is ready for listening. Until then, it's time to seek out the gifts God has given you because you are worthy faith first.

Hello and welcome to the Faith First Podcast. I’m joined today with our Lead Pastor Steve Darr as we dive into making a Fresh Start. As Christians, we have a fresh start when we surrendered our lives over to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sure like me, you can remember your life before Christ and your life now. But it isn’t meant to stay the same, we are meant to mature and grow and there are times we get stuck and so need to call out for a fresh start. 

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why fresh starts are sometimes difficult to do
• What are some of the events in our lives that tend to make us park ourselves
• How refocusing our efforts in alignment with God's goals
• Why we must resist parking in the spot of complacency
• Learn some of the ways we can get fresh energy, a new start, and move forward

When we find ourselves parked where we should not, it is time to shift gears, get a fresh start, and get back on the journey that God has planned out for us. When we park we take ourselves out of the flow of God’s will and purpose for us. Everything He is doing passes us by when we remain at a standstill.

Do you need a fresh start? Begin by asking God to once again fan the flames within your heart for the things He desires in your life. Then move out with new energy and passion faith first 

Hello and welcome. You are listening to the Faith First Podcast and in this episode, we are celebrating Fresh Start Sunday. Who doesn’t want a fresh start in life? Although it is not like hitting a reset button. Life in Christ, with Him as the center of all things, take on a whole new newness. He brings you a Fresh Start. If you’re ready let’s head in and listen to the message brought by our Lead Pastor Steve Darr.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why we, like the Apostle Paul, ought not to look back
• What is the goal for the church today in the 21st Century
• Failures may try to make us park somewhere, but we must not give in
• What are some of the places we tend to park ourselves
• Why fresh starts are just like refocusing on the central thing— Jesus

Being parked is not a good thing. We use it as an excuse to not move forward or in any direction. There is never a time to rest on our laurels. There is never a time we can say we’ve made it and can sit back and say what a wonderful job we have done thinking we have finally arrived. We must always be looking for what else God has for us.

We launch a new episode of the Faith First Podcast every Tuesday so make sure you hit the subscribe button and be alerted to when the next episode is ready for listening. Until then, get a fresh start faith first.