First Champaign-urbana

In this final sermon of the 'The Relentless Pursuit' series, we dive into the essence of disciple-making according to the teachings of Jesus in Luke chapter 9. The message emphasizes three key principles: denying oneself, dying daily by taking up one's cross, and demonstrating devotion by following Jesus wholeheartedly. The sermon challenges cultural Christianity and calls for a return to committed discipleship, urging believers to live out their faith with purpose and impact. Through real-life stories and scriptural insights, this sermon seeks to transform listeners into true disciples who make disciples, partnering with the Holy Spirit to empower others to obediently follow Jesus.

Join us as we continue our series on discipleship with a focus on the power and importance of being a witness for Jesus Christ. This week's message delves into the significance of sharing and demonstrating God's love and truth amidst various challenges such as fear, busyness, and feeling unequipped. We explore practical steps and biblical examples, noting the essential role of the Holy Spirit and personal character in effectively witnessing to those around us. Discover how to invite God's presence into your daily encounters and carry forward the message of the gospel through your actions and words.

In this week's episode of The Relentless Pursuit, we delve into First Corinthians chapter 12 to understand the importance of serving with our spiritual gifts. Pastor Eric emphasizes that every Christian is endowed with unique gifts meant for the common good of the Kingdom of God. Through personal anecdotes and scriptural exegesis, he challenges believers to move beyond consumption and fully engage in contributing to the church and community. Along with celebrating new commitments to Christ and baptisms, the episode highlights the necessity of order, encouragement, and the invaluable role of the Holy Spirit. Join us as we explore what it truly means that 'saved people serve people.'

As Thanksgiving approaches, Pastor Jordan Dunahee reflects on gratitude and shares a personal story about his connection to Illinois basketball. He humorously describes a game's 'Money Grab' segment, drawing a parallel to life's struggles with money and how the world's system is broken compared to God's economy. As part of the 'Relentless Pursuit' series, he emphasizes the significance of generosity as a pillar of discipleship. Pastor Jordan explores the biblical definition of generosity, urging congregants to view it as a gift rather than a burden. He delves into 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, highlighting the Macedonian churches' example of generosity despite their poverty. He underscores the importance of prioritizing generosity by first giving ourselves to the Lord and trusting Him with our finances. He shares a personal testimony about experiencing God's faithfulness in finances. Pastor Jordan concludes by emphasizing the grace of generosity, reflecting on God's ultimate gift through Jesus, and challenging the con

There is something at the center of our shared human experience, something deep in our souls, that longs to cry out to something beyond ourselves. Every person—man, woman, and child, Christian, Buddhist, or even Atheist—will find it hard not to exclaim their gratitude to a ‘Higher Power’ for the greatest joys in life, or beg that same ‘Power’ for deliverance in their most dire time of need. For the Christian, that ‘Higher Power’ is the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ, and that ‘crying out’ is a spiritual act called prayer—the sixth pillar in The Relentless Pursuit.

Some call it “The Word of God.” Others simply say “The Word” or “Scripture.” But the most recognized name—without question—is “The Bible.” If someone asked you, “What is the Bible, and what is it even about?” how would you respond? This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we provide some basics to understanding the big picture of what the Bible is all about.

In the early 17th century, poet John Donne asserted in one of his writings that, “no man is an island…” Meaning that no person, no matter how gifted or resourceful, can ever truly be self-sufficient—we can’t live this life on our own. Thousands of years before those words were written, God proclaimed it was “not good” for man to be alone. This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we pull back layers about how we were created to be in community with others.

Have you ever thought about how many things you trust without fully understanding them? Microwaves cook our food in seconds, but most of us can’t explain how. Cars take us miles with the push of a pedal, yet few could build one from scratch. We trust these things work, even if we don’t fully grasp how. The same goes for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of disciples. This week in The Relentless Pursuit, we dive into the mystery of the Spirit.

While what comes to our minds when we think about God is foundational, it is equally important to know what comes to God’s mind when He thinks about us. In fact, the whole of the Christian story could be summed up in God’s opinion of us; that in His eyes, we were worth dying for. Our identity in Christ is the new reality that we are called to live from when we have stepped into the Kingdom and accepted Jesus as its King.

Everything in life has some sort of starting point. Races begin on a starting line, ball games commence with a first pitch or kick-off, speeches have introductions, and even your car has an ignition to get things going. It’s no different in our faith journey with Jesus. God relentlessly pursues us, and we call that story and good news, “the gospel.”

One more bite. One more episode. No big deal, right? The everyday choices we make might not feel important, but they shape our future more than we realize. Discover how we can break the cycle of choices keeping us stuck from living the life we want.

Between work, family, and everything else, choosing your priorities can be tough. Finding time for God may feel like just another task. But what if faith isn’t about fitting Him in? What if there’s a better way to live?

Sometimes it’s easy to treat our faith like a transaction—doing our part and expecting God to do His. But trusting God means stepping into something much greater than a simple exchange.

Christian-ish | Week 1 What happens when following Jesus leads us out of our comfort zone? What do we do when God’s Word feels challenging? Let’s find out in this message.

We all have soapboxes or areas of passion. The things, if given the choice to talk about, you would and could all day long! For this two-week mini teaching series, some of our pastors will share a message on a topic of their choosing that will challenge and stretch us in our faith.

We all have soapboxes or areas of passion. The things, if given the choice to talk about, you would and could all day long! For this two-week mini teaching series, some of our pastors will share a message on a topic of their choosing that will challenge and stretch us in our faith.

The closing credits are upon us. It’s been quite the journey through John. It’s time to end with the beginning in mind as we wrap up this series.

Fishing has to be one of the most frustrating activities. One day you catch everything, and the next day, at the same spot, with the same bait, at the same time, you come up empty! Doesn’t faith feel like that at times? As we get to the final stretch of our study through John, we see Jesus having one of the most popular conversations in all of Scripture, teaching us how to not come up empty in our faith.

In movies, when a character looks at the camera and speaks to you, it's called a fourth wall break. This weekend, we'll explore a similar moment in the Gospel of John. Why did John write his account of Jesus' life as he did, and what does it mean when he invites us, the readers, into the narrative?

We can all relate to the phrase, "I'll believe it when I see it." This week, we'll take a look at how one of Jesus' disciples struggles with doubt and how Jesus responds with peace.