Pastor Luke begins this series by drawing a parallel between God’s call to Jeremiah to seek the welfare of Judah and His call to us to seek the welfare of our own city, Rockford. It is a call that demands our obedience and faith despite our weaknesses and doubts.

Pastor Luke concludes this sermon series with an overview of the 10-part EFC Statement of Faith. He offers the wisdom that knowing why we believe what we believe is crucial, and concludes each of the 10 points with a statement summarizing its connection to the gospel.

Dr. Neely rekindles our wonderment at God’s grace, which He has bestowed on each of us. He exhorts us to serve according to our giftedness, for our service is an outcome of Jesus’s victory on the cross.

Pastor Luke begins this new sermon series by defining CHURCH: who it is composed of, who is its head, and what its purpose is. He emphasizes that more than a literal building, CHURCH is the Bride of Christ, an assembly of the sons and daughters of God, and an embassy of the future Kingdom.

Moving forward involves constant communication with God. Pastor Luke asks questions to help us establish a sound prayer life and uses the Lord’s Prayer as a model for purposeful and reverent prayer. He invites the congregation to open the new year with a week of prayer for First Free.