First Champaign-urbana

Losing stuff is the worst, isn’t it? Whether it’s your keys, wallet, or glasses, the burden grows with time until they eventually show up. But what if what you lost was something of greater value - and! - you didn’t know if it would ever show up again? Imagine the ecstatic joy of being reunited and reconciled! As we wrap up our series in the Parables, we close the book by discussing Jesus’ short story about The Lost Son.

Who is your neighbor? You might answer this question with the people who live close to you, or you might respond with something more general. Now, what if your life depended on your neighbor? Would you feel confident in your chances of survival? Join us this week as we look deeper into Jesus’ short story of The Good Samaritan.

Getting picked last in the schoolyard for a game of dodgeball is never fun. But, if you think about it, at least you still got to play! Whether you are picked first or last, getting into the game is what matters most. In week two of Parables, we will see how the generosity of one impacted the first and the last equally - all of this in Jesus’ short story of The Laborers In the Vineyard.

Just curious—did you like group projects throughout school? Well, it depends, right?!?! There’s always the one who does most of the work, others who do their fair share...and then the slacker who merely shows up for the grade. But, most of us begrudge the system that allows one to benefit from the work of another. We will see how this (should) unfold in week one of Parables, we will look at Jesus’ story of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Take a second to think about how much different life would be without technology. One helpful tool we have today is access to GPS. All you need to do is know where you are headed, plug in the address, and then directions take care of themselves. The same might be said for navigating life as a disciple. Knowing the destination allows us to live with a different purpose. Join us for week 3 of Different as we wrap up this series of how our beliefs and actions display the difference we are called to live for.

Have you ever played Simon Says? Do you know what tends to trip people up the quickest about this game? It’s when the leader’s words don't match their actions. Perhaps many of us agree that someone’s belief and words ought to match their actions—that someone’s truth is best defined in how they act, not just what they say. In week 2 of Different we discuss how the next step to standing out in life is acting on the Truth we’ve been given through Jesus.

What is truth? Well, it depends on who you ask… While truth may look different for some compared to others, most would agree that what we believe in ought to influence how we act and live. As the church, we know we are called to be different from our world so God can work through us. That difference starts with the truth we believe. In week 1 of the series, Different, where we will see the first step to standing out in life begins with clinging to a truth different from the world.

Everyone is looking for something that works for them, fixes their life, or copes their pain. In a world not looking for Jesus, we must be intentional about taking Jesus to them—and it starts by having Jesus with us wherever we go. A “GOing” church extends beyond a building or an event. It must become a movement of people. It is time for the church to covertly infiltrate the fabric of our community and rise up where God is already at work.

Following Jesus is not easy—and He never said it would be! Jesus evoked many responses from people listening to His teachings, and He often stepped on their toes as He called them to surrender everything in their life to follow Him. However, many of us look to pick and choose what areas (schedules, priorities, relationships, finances, and so forth) of our life we surrender to following Jesus. In week 3 of All In we look to see what it truly means to live fully surrendered to Jesus.

Research tells us we are more “connected” than ever, while levels of loneliness continue to skyrocket. We tend to have lots of comradery in our life—but little genuine community pushing us to grow. From exercise to sports to work teams, we have people all around us to help us grow and learn in new ways. So, why should it be any different in the church? In week 2 of All In, we will learn we grow best in community as we allow God to speak to us through prayer, Scripture and the people around us.

Studies show people are attending church less and less, and the majority of those who do are only attending. We live in a culture where the regular commitment to come to the worship gathering is secondary to what we want to make happen weekly—help people surrender to Jesus. We must remember when we gather together to celebrate Jesus, we refocus on what His Spirit is doing in us - and that is when those far from God “come and see” that the Lord is good. Welcome to week 1 of All In, where we dive into the value of gathering weekly to celebrate Jesus.

The book of Daniel has a common theme of when God shows up, rescue happens. When we look at different circumstances that challenge our faith, do we trust the fact that we have been rescued because of what Jesus did on the cross for us? Out of the book of Daniel, it is clear that God calls us to be fearless and faithful rather than fearful and faithless.

Forgiveness is one of the most attractive things about the gospel and maybe the most difficult thing to imitate from the life of Jesus. We all want to have it, but who really wants to give it? What if we could begin to see that it was as much our own mistakes as it was anyone else’s that put Jesus on the cross—and God chose to forgive us all without exception or limitation? Would that change the way we could give away forgiveness freely?

When you think of Jesus and the love He has, what word come to mind? Overwhelming? Absurd? Beyond comprehension? The love of Jesus is beyond all reason. It is greater than we can fathom, wider and deeper than any ocean, and expressed through a life of service and sacrifice.

Did you know worship is more than the songs you sing at church or in the car? While those are a form of worship, it is designed to be so much greater! Worship goes beyond singing at the top of your lungs and ventures into finding opportunities to spend time with God. As we close out our sermon series, Habits, tune in as we unpack the lifestyle of worship God has set before us.

“Slow down!” You probably hated hearing that as a kid but, what about as an adult? Don’t you wish you could take a time-out from life or at least a quick power nap to recover? Well, good news because that’s exactly what God wants us to do! In week five of Habits we unpack the rhythm God has called us to live in.

Arguably the main area people look to grow spiritually is through reading the Word of God. It’s kind of a big book with weird names and confusing statements, isn’t it? We’re with you! However, we believe that God reveals Himself to us through His Word, even if we don’t have a Bible degree. This week of Habits we seek to understand the place of reading God’s Word to help us grow closer to Him.

Have you ever been praying and then a few minutes into your prayers they shifted from praying to God to more like “thinking at God”? We’ve all been there. So, why is it that something so simple can seem so complicated at times? In week 3 of Habits, we look at the call to pray and fast as well as the various ways it helps us grow in our faith.

Reach out and touch your nose. (Go ahead and do it, we’ll wait.) In order to do what you just did you used your arm, hand, finger, nose, eyes, and brain. Without any of those parts of the body, you couldn’t accomplish such an easy feat! The same goes with the body of Christ—the church. There are many different parts that help it accomplish the sole mission of spreading the Gospel. In week two of Habits, we look at identifying the gifts God has given you and the part you play in the body of Christ.

The word “discipline” is not a fun word - especially when we talk about the spiritual disciplines of following Jesus. Most disciples know they should be growing in their faith, but often the first question posed is: where do I start? Whether that question is based out of why or how, the hardest part often comes from just getting started. Join us for week one of Habits as we unpack why and how we grow in our faith.