First Love Church

Luke 12:32-40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). These words speak an unqualified promise about God. They root God’s generosity in God’s desire. Jesus has just spoken (in 12:22-31) about trusting God while also seeking the “kingdom”; now he reminds everyone that the point isn’t to coax a grumpy or frugal deity into being nice to us. Rather, God eagerly wants the “kingdom” -- a whole new set of affairs reflecting God’s intentions for human flourishing -- to take root in the real, lived experiences of Jesus’s followers. Why? Because that’s God’s good pleasure. 

Jesus' point is that faithfulness demands diligence, but the parable also accentuates the surprise of a master who chooses to serve dinner to his slaves (see Jesus’ description of his own behavior as “one who serves” in 22:27). Normally the opposite would be expected. Even the slaves in the parable appear to be caught unaware by their master’s hospitality, since presumably they have done what Jesus tells his audience to do: gird their loins in preparation for service (12:35). The inversion of social roles between lord and slaves illustrates the new relationships envisioned through the almsgiving.

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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

We don’t need to reject Martha in order to understand Luke’s point about Mary, who is portrayed as a disciple sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him. She violates the cultural expectations in ways that Martha does not. This is the sort of thing that Jesus does, breaking the cultural constraints and setting people free for the kingdom. That’s necessary if we are actually going to love our neighbors and love God. 
 The church needs to be set free for such faithful listening and discipled violation of cultural assumptions so that we can love the strangers and immigrants among us, so that we can love our neighbors, so that we can sit at the feet of Jesus and hear what he has to say to us.

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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 10:25-37   The question and Jesus' shocking answer.  The question we should ask ourselves, and reevaluate our lives based on what the Good Creator has invited us to join with Him in.  How lives and the whole world is renewed.  Join us as we discuss this important passage.

On a narrative level, Jesus is the one who tells the story. On the theological level, however, the image of God is carried by the one in the ditch. The image of God is reflected by the one who shows compassion and mercy. Those who pass by also bear the indelible mark of the Creator, the Bible reminds us that even when we turn away, God draws near to us. Maybe God -- through Christ -- comes to us as the one in the ditch or maybe as the one who shows compassion and mercy; perhaps God even comes to us as a reminder that the call to care for others frequently goes unheeded as we pass by the cries of those in need of help.

The Parable of the Compassionate Samaritan calls to us from the ditch, binding us up and implicating us at the same time. And the question, the million dollar question “And who is my neighbor?” 

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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 must I do to inherit eternal life?
The lawyer asks a legitimate question, a question that appears to want a real answer. He engages in dialogue with Jesus that seems to desire an honest response. What does it really mean to follow the law? To live the law? We need regular reminders, constant instruction, of what it means to be a citizen in the Kingdom of God. We wonder every day. We question every day. We should, really, wake up each day and ask Jesus, pray fervently, where and how can I act out the Kingdom? See and help whom Jesus sees and helps?

The man in the ditch reminds us what it feels like to be forgotten by others -- and perhaps even God. The feeling of loneliness and forsakenness invites compassion and empathy for all who experience it. And our invitation to join in what God is doing in bringing healing to the whole world.

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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 10:1-20  The offer of peace to every house. This discourse begins what is another of Jesus' direction to repent (change our thinking). Jesus sends out disciples with the first proclamation that sounds simple: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’” (verse 5). Notice that Jesus does not tell them to do any sort of assessment before making this proclamation. He doesn’t ask them to determine whether this house follows the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or whether this house has kept the law or whether this house is likely to receive the good news Jesus brings. 

As followers of the way, we can reliably root our lives in these two proclamations -- “Peace to this house!” and “The kingdom of God has come near.” This is the good news that we have to share! These keep our gaze on God’s activity right in front of us, and the invitation to join God in the renewal of all things.

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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

Romans 8:14-39

The Holy Spirit given to us to be able to LOVE- and demonstrate real love- to the other.  To those in the margins, to those who need to know there is room for them at the Table, the feast God has prepared for them.

#egalitarian #Spirit #radicalLove #church #community 

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 9:51-62
We may have missed the point.
James and John seem eager to punish the Samaritans for their refusal to receive Jesus. They appear pretty confident, offering to command fire to come down and consume these that are unwilling to receive the good news. And there was precedence (2 Kings 1: 10-12) for calling down fire. Add to that their previous argument about who is the greatest (verse 46), maybe James and John are simply eager to project their own authority.But Jesus shows us another way and then asks them to move on.  

We must ask ourselves: what am I attached today that keeps me from following Jesus fully and freely?

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 9:51-62

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them.........

We recognize the need to justify our views, prove we are right, defend our beliefs. But often we don’t stop there. We also have the impulse to attack -- to argue how that person is wrong, misguided, even unfaithful. If we have any cultural or relational power, we may move to shut them down and “command fire to come down from heaven and consumer them” figuratively if not literally.

Our own Christian history demonstrates that triumphalism is our besetting sin. It is a subtle and short step from rejoicing in the good news of Jesus Christ to attacking those who will not share in it. Our history shows that when we have the power to harm others we consider outside our circle of triumph, we are likely to use it. And Jesus will have none of it.

Jesus’ answer is to rebuke his disciples, then instruct them to get on with the work of the gospel. “They went on to another village.” Jesus won’t let James and John stop to argue or give up there. Jesus says: move on! 

Next, when his disciples want to finger-point, Jesus instead requires them to examine their own life commitments, calling all who follow him to order their priorities so that their lives are radically free to follow him (verses 57-62).

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

Drawing from research done by the Gottman Institute, we continue our marriage enrichment sessions.  This session we discuss LOVE MAPS.  

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 8:26-39 Galatians 3:23-29

The account in sacred text that tells us of a Jesus who came to the rescue of a man who was mentally ill.  Rescued, he is sent back to tell his family, how good God is and how He has been KIND to him.  

From our Galatians reading- there is no longer Jew or Gentile slave or free, male and female.  For you are all one in Christ Jesus.      Equality for all. 

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