First Love Church

Picture yourself standing in the center of love's vast expanse – the love of God, love for self, and love for others. What does it look like? What does it feel like? We journey into these questions and more, showing you how to make self-emptying love an everyday practice and a gift of extraordinary magnitude. We turn the spotlight on the power of God’s love, its ability to help overcome fears, and how falling head over heels with Jesus brings an unrivaled peace. 

Imagine having a compass to monitor your faith, one that points directly to the presence of God in your life. We delve into this concept as we reflect on the profound truth of God being within those who acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. We also wrestle with the resistance humans naturally have toward love and the temptation to fall back on rules, not faith. And of course, we couldn't possibly ignore the classic love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, as we dissect its timeless message.

Finally, think of all the ways in which love could reshape your world – the way you perceive yourself, your interactions with others, and even the problems that seem unsolvable. We not only discuss the necessity of cherishing ourselves and others but also how love can bridge gaps, bring healing, and provide answers to the world's problems. 

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

Open your hearts and embark on a journey of enlightenment as we delve into the power of sacred spaces, rituals, and divine love. As we venture into the ancient faith and contemplate God's intention for unity and oneness, we invite you to consider how we can embody divine love for ourselves and each other.

Our discussion takes an enlightening turn as we dive into the depths of God's love and the power of generosity, guided by the wisdom of Hebrews and 1 John. We explore how God's love can make us whole and how continuous acts of love and generosity can transform our lives. Uncover the uncontainable nature of God's love, its power to restore the world, and unlock our potential. Drawing inspiration from Paul's teachings, we reflect on the vastness of divine love and the assurance that there’s nothing we can do to make God unlove us.

As we round up this enriching discourse, we reflect on the omnipresence of God's love in our everyday lives. Blessing those we encounter, recognizing the sacred in ordinary moments, we can open our hearts to the presence of God's love. In the spirit of Apostle Paul’s teaching, we discuss how love already shed abroad by the Holy Spirit can empower us to live in love and connection with God. Join us as we contemplate the transformative power of God's love in our lives and the world around us.

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

What if the power of unity and the sacredness of community could alter the very lens through which we view our lives? This episode brings us together, across vast physical distances, yet intimately connected, as we explore our collective ability to transform the world through love. Our gathering is a testament to the power of connectivity, and we express heartfelt gratitude for each one of you who joins us in this journey. Together, we'll ponder over the true essence of wealth and generosity, culminating this segment with the promise of a life lived to the fullest, as heralded by Jesus himself.

Let's step into a deeper dialogue about the Holy Spirit's role in our lives. We'll discover how Holy Spirit not only strengthens us in our weaknesses but is a constant, recognizable presence guiding us. From the Genesis's onset to Holy Spirit's role as a sealer of promises and our divine intercessor, we'll explore these themes with depth and reverence. 

Lastly, we'll engage with the epic narrative of David and Goliath, framing it as a backdrop to discuss God's love and our rightful standing with Him. Can we challenge generational doctrines and lean into the Holy Spirit for clarity? We'll take this question head-on and journey through the assurance of Christ's love and learn to love ourselves. Be inspired by a heartfelt conversation on overcoming life's struggles, panic attacks included, through the lens of God's love. We'll end the discussion considering the power of believing in God's testimony of who we are, offering a pathway to escape self-condemnation. Prepare to be moved and inspired as we delve deep into these impactful themes and narratives.

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

John 14:15-21

15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." 

IF...... Jesus says if we love him, then there will be empirical evidence that we do- it is demonstrated in the obeying of His commands.

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

John 14:1-14

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

John 10:1-10

Jesus declares Himself to be the Good Shepherd.   What is this imagery meant to invoke? What lessons are being taught with this claim?   Jesus makes claims that contradict empire- His followers don't understand.  This is one of the I am statements regarding Jesus' own narrative of who He is.  Jesus again declares that He is the way to relationship with the Father. 

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

Luke 24:13-35

This scene is set on the same day as the women’s discovery of the empty tomb from last week. We learn that two disciples are walking, leaving Jerusalem to make the seven-mile jaunt to Emmaus. Why are they leaving Jerusalem? Do they fear for their lives now that Jesus has been executed? We don’t really know. All Luke tells us is that they are grieved about their recent experience. They are talking to one another, hoping to make sense of the nonsensical, when Jesus himself walks alongside them and joins them on their journey.


For the writer of Luke, however, Jesus is most Jesus at a table, at an ordinary meal infused with significance because of the people gathered around the food. One of the most characteristic activities of Jesus’ ministry in Luke is eating. He is accused early in the Gospel of being a glutton and a drunkard (7:34); worse, he eats with all the wrong people! So, it’s instructive that it’s not his teaching that open their eyes. It’s not his presence. It’s his sharing of bread with his friends. It’s his blessing of food. In this sharing of bread at an ordinary table, we catch a glimpse of Jesus’ transformative kingdom.

In Luke, eating is a radical act because it breaks down cultural boundaries. In Luke, the resurrected Jesus shares that bread once again with his followers. And in feeding them, Jesus opens their eyes, helping them see that Jesus was with them the whole time.

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

The Easter Season provides opportunities for the church to reflect on the biblical witness concerning the rumors of the resurrection.

It is still the first day of the week, according to the written record. So much happened from sunrise to evening on that day to turn the world over and over again, worshipers today can linger in the original testimony. For some, it is still news that the entire witness to the resurrection began on the testimony of women. 

First, a mourning Mary discovers an empty tomb and reports this news to Peter and the other, unnamed, disciple whom Jesus loved; and a new scene emerges. The disciples race to the tomb, entering the space to find the linen that wrapped the body of Jesus, but, as Mary said: no body. What it is the beloved disciple believes, the writer confirms, is believed without seeing the body, without knowledge of the Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead, and without the testimony of others who have indeed seen Jesus. Before this week’s passage, the writer turns back to Mary—the third report and first sighting. It is this testimony of something a woman said, that prepares us for this week’s witness to the resurrection.

Disciples have gathered. Here, the record does not specify how many, as in other places (6:66-67; 20:24), but Thomas is not present. The unconfirmed rumors of the resurrection started by Mary has brought neither understanding nor obedience. Perplexity and amazement, cynicism and unbelief. The disciples are clueless concerning the meaning of Jesus’ death, disappointed by this presumed dashing of their hopes, and astounded by reports of the empty tomb (not much has changed).

The disciples are fearful. Good news does not erase fear. Good news, incredible news, can ignite hope, but even hope does not eliminate genuine fear. So, there they were in a familiar place desperate with unfamiliar fear. An empty tomb isn’t enough to confirm all that Jesus promised is true. What does the resurrection mean? It means God still shows up. The writer continues to rehearse elements of the storied witness to God as testimony to Jesus.

So Jesus shows up. (Now you want to talk about fear ...) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  No doubt it was Jesus. They recognized the scars. They see the stripes on his back and the hole in his side. And in recognition, John says they rejoiced. God is (still) with us! And Jesus, like God breathing life into the first human, breathed on the disciples. The prospect of insight comes with the intrusion of Jesus—for the Spirit of God proceeds from him, opens the eyes of the disciples. 

What they saw is all Thomas desires. Too often the focus here is on Thomas’ doubt. But Thomas was not present when Jesus showed up on the other side of a locked door to greet fearful followers with peace and the instruction to forgive. Thomas’ request is merely for what the other’s experienced. The wonder of this moment is Jesus’ willingness to meet Thomas exactly where Thomas names he needs meeting. Thomas names what Jesus knew his disciples needed. The doors are shut. Jesus appears, nail scars and all. His offering of peace is followed by a demonstration of forgiveness—no condemnation for Thomas’ request—a simple invitation. The disciples rejoiced, but Thomas’ response is praise. There is a difference.

Support the show

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

Tonight we discuss the basics of podcasting and Holy week while social distancing.  Maundy Thursday with no foot washing but with longing.   How to dive into the love command place firmly in the middle of service.   And seeing the plan of Jesus calling his friends family.  

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake