FCC Etown Podcast

For children and many older kids and adults, Christmas morning is an exciting time. Christmas can be a time of surprise, mixed with admiration and wonder that is often caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable. This may be how we describe Christmas today. It is certainly describing the first Christmas. 

 How wonderful and beautiful and inexplicable that first Christmas was…a time when God came to live among his people. In Revelation we read, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3) 

The tradition that God was trying to get back to with us was not a tradition of things or events or ornaments or programs, but a tradition of relationship. A relationship with you and with me. He is not just God and Savior. He is Father, Daddy. He came home for Christmas so that in Christ you would have a home.

Christmas @ First: Peace

This is the time of year when our lives can be filled with busyness, frustration, worry, and disagreements. God’s Word tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. It tells us angels reassured the terrified shepherds by bringing them news of great joy. Why, then, are we worried and frustrated?

Now is the time for stillness rather than busyness, blessing rather than frustration, peace rather than worry, and unity rather than disagreements. It is also the time of year when we should focus on the birth of Jesus because that birth brought everything we need.

Christmas @ First - Truth

The reason for Christmas was for the sake of truth. It was not to rewrite truth or redefine truth. Jesus came for the sake of truth. Now Truth is Truth whether you believe it or not. Truth is truth whether it offends you or not. But the truth is to be shared from a position of love (John 18:37, Ephesians 4:15).

DAY OF THANKS!

On this day when we remember all God has done for us over the past year, this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 comes to mind. It says "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."There are many things to be thankful for. God is still in control. Romans 8:28 is still true: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." God's church is still growing and still leading people to Jesus. God is teaching us new ways to be the church and fulfill our mission, even in the midst of a pandemic. James 1:3-4 says: "Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." May we always focus on these truths!

The call of offerings, tithes and generosity are often attached to buildings or projects happening within the church. Yes, it takes money to do so many of the activities that we love and appreciate. We have an amazing staff that organizes some great opportunities for our families, but those great ideas often require money to accomplish what we accomplish. The wonderful efforts of our Online Campus and the expansion of our Children’s Ministry facility came at an expense. But the payment of that expense is not actually built by the bottom line. It is built by a commitment and spiritual trust in our God as it did in the Old Testament. 

FIRST LOVE: Part 1

Every period of time we live in will bring new and unique challenges and opportunities. Today we find ourselves being constrained in our ability to gather and denied the small gestures of handshakes and hugs –small things that mean so much. In the spirit of the church as described in Acts, we find new ways to express and display our love and caring for one another.

It is our church home, First Christian Church, who enables us to think and demonstrate love, even when we are limited in what we once did to show that care. It is in these challenging times we fully realize that “church” is not a building, it is the assembly of believers, whether gathered together or separated into smaller groups. As we read in Acts 4:32, “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

As we gather, we become more like those before us in the first-century church. “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:46-47

The greatest example of unity that can exist in our world, especially at the moment that we are in right now, might just be the church. But only if the church can follow-thru on the prayer of Jesus. That the world may know us not as a collection of democrats, republicans and independents. Not as a group of conservatives or liberals. Not as a collection of political minds but as one. We are united in the most important mission and the existence of mankind.