First Christian Church of Brazil Indiana Sermons

Can a supernatural event be real and still point people toward a false message? Scripture gives Christians a surprisingly direct answer.

In this episode of Biblically Literate, Children and Family Minister Jon Rhoades examines how Christians should evaluate miracle claims using Deuteronomy 13, John 20, Matthew 24, Galatians 1, and other biblical passages. You'll hear why miracles can serve as evidence without becoming the final authority, why even extraordinary spiritual experiences must be tested against Scripture, and why the signs of Jesus ultimately point beyond spectacle to His death and resurrection.

If you've ever wondered how to respond to healings, visions, apparitions, signs and wonders, or someone claiming that “God told me,” this episode offers a biblical framework for discernment.

Discover a powerful sermon on church community and why loving the church is central to your spiritual walk. Learn how to align your life with God's design for fellowship and unity.

This message explores the practical importance of holding fast together as a congregation. Whether you are seeking a deeper understanding of biblical teaching or looking to get more involved in your local faith community, this sermon provides a clear perspective on the significance of the body of believers.

After watching, you will have a better grasp of what it means to be part of a committed spiritual family. We discuss the necessity of unity and the strength found in collective faith. If you are ready to take the next step in your journey, we also share details on baptism and how to go about joining a church.

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Jon Rhoades (First Christian Church Children & Family Minister) preaches “Don’t Waste God’s Power.” Soft prayers vs bold prayers. 1 Kings 18 Elijah vs Baal, Numbers 14 Moses intercession, 2 Kings 20 Hezekiah’s prayer & healing, Acts 4 early-church prayer for boldness under threat, 2 Timothy 3 those who have the appearance of godliness but deny its power.

In this Biblically Literate episode you’ll hear:

The real Thursday-night power outage and flooding that almost stopped a 4th-grader’s baptism

Why “God help me have a good day / bless my wild kid / just guide the doctors” is a soft prayer that treats God as an assistant

The three bold-prayer examples that actually ask God to do the work (Elijah, Moses, Hezekiah)

The first recorded corporate prayer of the early church in Acts 4 after Peter and John were threatened

The two roots of soft prayers: lack of knowledge of God and pride (including unrepentant sin)

The living illustration of a 3-year-old who “broke” the shelf and thought he had ruined everything—while his father already knew how to fix it

Soft prayers make God our assistant.

Bold prayers remember we are His servants.

If this helped you examine your own prayers, share it with someone who needs the reminder that God’s power is not limited by our failures. Subscribe for more straightforward Bible teaching that connects Scripture to real life.

School year is starting and Worship Uncoiled kicks off the Living Your Best Life series. Student Minister CJ Muston shows from the Gospels how Jesus valued lepers, tax collectors, and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John 4 (Sychar). Only Jesus decides your value—so you can actually live your best life.

In this episode of Worship Uncoiled from First Christian Church, CJ walks through the places Jesus stepped toward people the culture treated as worthless and then uses his own 1990s Reggie Miller basketball cards to drive the point home: the owner gets to decide the value. The practical challenge is simple and sticky for middle and high school students.

Main keywords featured: valuable, value, Jesus, Living Your Best Life, John 4, Samaritan woman, Gospels, lepers, tax collectors, Worship Uncoiled, student ministry.

This is Student Ministry teaching from First Christian Church with CJ Muston. New Worship Uncoiled messages drop as the school year unfolds.

Learn how to practice love as a verb in your daily life. Understand the biblical foundation required before you can serve others effectively.

This message explores the practical side of faith, focusing on why love as a verb requires us to be washed by Jesus first. If you have ever felt stuck in the routine of attending services without feeling connected, this teaching provides a roadmap for moving toward true church engagement. We examine the principles found in John 15:12-13 to clarify what it actually means to lay down your life for others in a modern context.

By prioritizing your relationship with Christ, you gain the capacity to serve your community with a genuine heart. This talk is designed for those seeking to bridge the gap between passive attendance and active participation in their faith community. Whether you are looking for guidance on spiritual service or simply need a reminder of your purpose, this biblical teaching offers a clear path forward.

If you are ready to take your next step, whether that includes baptism, membership, or prayer, reach out to us today. Subscribe for weekly spiritual growth insights, and comment below with one way you plan to show love as a verb this week.

0:00 The Meaning of Loving Our Church

5:33 Jesus' Final Parting Words

6:57 The Scandalous Act of Service

11:18 Peter's Resistance and Divine Cleansing

14:34 The Command to Emulate the Master

25:38 A New Standard for Our Relationships

34:18 Love in Action and Truth

Is your saving faith genuine? Learn why the Bible teaches that true belief requires visible action rather than just words.
Many people confuse a simple profession of belief with the biblical standard of saving faith. This discussion explores the relationship between conviction and conduct, focusing on the warnings found in James 2 and Matthew 7 regarding those who claim belief but lack the fruit of obedience.
We examine why faith without works is considered insufficient and what it means to demonstrate a living faith. By looking at these specific scriptures, you will gain a clearer understanding of how biblical faith is proven through daily actions rather than empty statements. This breakdown is designed for anyone seeking to align their life with the teachings of scripture.
Subscribe for weekly biblical study breakdowns, and comment below with your thoughts on how true faith manifests in a believer's life.

Jude quoted the Book of Enoch. That does not make Enoch Scripture.

In this episode of Biblically Literate, Children and Family Minister Jon Rhoades walks through Jude 14–15, shows exactly what Jude is doing, and explains why quoting a well-known Jewish text is not the same as treating it as the Word of God.

You’ll see how Paul does the same thing with pagan poets, why the early church never put 1 Enoch in the canon, why only the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition includes it, and how the modern “lost books” trend pulls people away from the finished gospel already given in the 66 books. Judgment is coming—but the same letter that warns us also points us to the One who keeps us from stumbling.

Key points covered:

• What Jude is actually saying in verses 14–15

• Why quoting ≠ canonizing (Paul’s example in Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 15)

• The historical place of 1 Enoch as intertestamental Jewish literature

• Why the Ethiopian Orthodox inclusion does not rewrite the wider church’s canon

• How chasing “hidden books” feeds pride and distracts from ordinary means of grace

• The real invitation of Jude: rest in the finished work of Jesus

The Bible is complete. The gospel is not missing a chapter. Stop looking for secret knowledge and keep coming back to the Word God has already preserved for His people.

Biblically Literate is the teaching ministry of First Christian Church in Brazil, Indiana.

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Socials: @fccbrazil

Contact: [email protected]

Explore practical lessons from the book of James. Learn how to turn to God in difficult circumstances and find peace in his guidance.This is the final installment of the Words Matter series with Dan Stribling. We focus on applying biblical wisdom to your daily life, specifically looking at how to rely on God as your healer and bringing your struggles into the light. This teaching is for anyone seeking to understand the heart of God more deeply through the lens of scripture.Whether you are looking to grow in your personal walk or wanting to take a next step in your faith journey, this message offers clear guidance. We break down how to align your actions with your beliefs to experience a more grounded spiritual life. Understanding the book of James provides the clarity needed to navigate challenges with confidence and reliance on divine strength.If you are ready to take the next step, we invite you to reach out regarding baptism or church membership. Subscribe for weekly Bible study content and comment below with your prayer requests so our community can support you.0:00 The Power of Our Speech2:10 Treating the Person, Not the Disease5:32 Simple Words That Restore7:22 Turning Every Circumstance to God11:02 Living as a Supportive Community19:12 Bringing Hidden Struggles to Light28:44 Guiding the Wanderer Home

Learn to master your desires and choose humility over pride. This teaching explores core christian life principles for daily faith.Dan Stribling continues the Fighting Words series, focusing on the practical application of scripture in everyday situations. If you are struggling with the lure of worldly friendship or need clarity on resisting the devil, this discussion offers a roadmap for aligning your heart with biblical truth. We examine how desire can become an unhealthy master and why humility is the essential antidote to pride.By applying these christian life principles, you gain the tools to identify where your spiritual focus has drifted. This session emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity in your walk and understanding the true nature of spiritual warfare. Whether you are seeking baptism, church membership, or simply need prayer, this message provides a clear path forward for your spiritual growth.James 4:1-10 Fighting Words – passions at war, hedone, quarrels, fights, desires, friendship with the world, enmity with God, more grace, humble, submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God. Dan Stribling shows why your conflicts start inside long before words leave your mouth.In this message from First Christian Church Brazil, Senior Minister Dan Stribling continues the “Words Matter” series by going straight to the heart of every quarrel. Using the Greek word hedone, the progression from desire to demand to enemy, and the clear warning that friendship with the world is enmity with God, Dan exposes the real source of fighting words and the only way out: submit, resist, draw near, and receive the greater grace God freely gives to the humble.What you’ll hear:• Why James uses the language of murder and adultery for ordinary church conflicts• The five-stage process that turns a simple want into an enemy• Why God is not a vending machine and what real prayer looks like• The jealousy of God that is actually protective love• Practical commands: submit to God, resist the devil, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, humble yourselvesTimestamps:0:00 – Series intro & the “punch in the face” reality of James6:04 – Reading James 4:1-107:02 – Conflicts reveal our desires10:06 – Desire → Demand → Expectation → Obstacle → Enemy (guitar story)12:42 – “You murder” – gossip, silence, and wounded spirits14:00 – Asking wrongly to spend it on your passions17:22 – Desires reveal our loyalties (“adulterous people”)19:00 – What “friendship with the world” actually means22:05 – The jealousy of God23:32 – But He gives more grace (Rocky the mechanic story)27:00 – Pride vs. humility28:36 – Grace invites surrender: submit, resist, draw nearFirst Christian Church | Brazil, IndianaSenior Minister: Dan StriblingSubscribe for weekly sermons, kids ministry resources, and practical Bible teaching that helps families and the church walk in wisdom instead of war.Subscribe for weekly biblical teaching to strengthen your faith journey, and share below which topic from the Fighting Words series you would like us to cover next.

The Book of Jonah contains a message far more difficult than the Sunday school story of a man swallowed by a fish. Learn why.
Most people know the story of Jonah and the whale, but few examine the true conflict at the heart of the narrative. This analysis moves past basic interpretations to address the uncomfortable reality of Jonah's anger toward God. If you are a mature Christian looking to challenge your assumptions, this breakdown offers a fresh look at the prophet's resistance.
We explore the central tension: why Jonah was offended by God's mercy shown to his enemies. By stripping away the common myths surrounding this biblical interpretation, you will gain a clearer understanding of the text's original intent. This study is designed for those seeking a deeper engagement with scripture study and the complexities of divine grace.In this episode of Biblically Literate, Jon Rhoades exposes the real danger in the Book of Jonah—a prophet more offended by God’s mercy than by the evil of Nineveh—and sets it against the Apostle Paul in Acts 27–28 as the clear Anti-Jonah. Discover the warning signs of selective grace, the heart that celebrates mercy for us but resents it for them, and how faithfulness in the storm still delivers others to shore.The Sunday-school version of Jonah (run from God → fish → lesson learned) is true but incomplete. The deeper warning is a heart that loves justice more than mercy when the mercy benefits someone else. Paul faces an almost identical Mediterranean storm for the opposite reason—and every life on the ship is preserved because he stays faithful.Jonah flees west from Joppa toward Tarshish because he knows Yahweh is “a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Jonah 4:2). Paul sails west toward Rome because of God’s calling. One man’s rebellion nearly kills everyone; the other man’s faith becomes the reason 276 people live. Both storms end on an island. Both involve unexpected animals under God’s sovereignty. Both result in Gentile worship. Only one man rejoices when the nations are saved.Jesus later called Himself “the sign of Jonah.” Paul becomes a living sign of resurrection faithfulness. Malta is still a predominantly Christian island that celebrates Paul. Faithfulness echoes for generations; bitterness dies on a hillside.Timestamps0:00 – The Sunday-school version vs. the real danger in Jonah0:48 – Digging deeper: the warning of selective mercy1:39 – What’s actually happening in the text (Jonah 1:1-3)2:44 – The real reason Jonah ran (Jonah 4:1-2)3:44 – How often we do the same thing4:23 – Jonah and Paul side-by-side: the parallel storms (Acts 27–28)9:24 – Jonah is the cause of the storm; Paul is the reason everyone survives12:01 – The final gut punch: Nineveh and Malta12:25 – Four warning signs you’re drifting toward Jonah’s heart13:46 – Jesus is the greater Jonah14:47 – Four concrete steps to live like Paul instead of Jonah15:49 – Call to action and closeIf this hit somewhere real, drop a comment and tell me what the Holy Spirit is highlighting. Five-star ratings and reviews help more men find Biblically Literate. Subscribe so you never miss an episode that digs past the surface of Scripture.Main search terms featured: Anti-Jonah, selective mercy, Jonah, Paul, Acts 27, Nineveh, Tarshish, sign of Jonah.
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