First Love Church
These podcasts are messages that were preached at First Love Church in Ocala, Florida. We hope that you are encouraged and inspired by what you hear. We are a non denominational, egalitarian church that practices a generous orthodoxy. Find out more about our local congregation online at firstlovechurch.org.
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Episodes
108 episodes
Guided Prayer - Seeds of PEACE
Take a slow breath in and release. Again. One more deep, steady breath. Now pause and receive these words: "Your peace is not fragile, nor is it fleeting. Your peace is anchored in the eternal."This meditation guides you through a sacre...
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10:43
Beyond Division: Jesus' Radical Call to Mature Love
The most radical teaching of Jesus might be the simplest: "Love your enemies." But what does this look like in practice, especially in our divided world? Through the metaphor of "God's museum," we're invited to reimagine who belong...
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50:19
Guided Prayer - Returning To Love
Take a sacred pause from the noise of everyday life and enter into a space where your breath becomes prayer. This guided Christian meditation invites you into the ancient spiritual practice that saints and mystics have treasured for centuries.<...
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8:36
God Will Leave the 99 to Find You
When Jesus sat down to eat with "notorious sinners," he wasn't just breaking rules—he was showing us what God's heart truly looks like. This powerful examination of Luke 15 reveals how radical hospitality lies at the center of Christian faith.<...
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34:18
The Radical Hospitality of Jesus: Table Manners for the Kingdom
What happens when the rules we've established to maintain order become barriers to showing love? In this thought-provoking exploration of Luke 14, we witness Jesus deliberately stepping into a trap set by religious leaders only to turn their te...
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42:46
The Prayer That Is ALWAYS Answered
What if your prayers have been missing the mark all along? In this thought-provoking exploration of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, we discover how comparison creeps into our spiritual lives, corrupting even our expressions o...
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50:41
Spirit: Your Constant Guide and Companion
Have you ever felt limited by your vision of God? Perhaps you've pictured God as distant, judgmental, or similar to disappointing authority figures from your past. In this powerful exploration of John 14, we discover how the Holy Spirit invites...
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51:54
Awakened: Finding God's Kingdom in Your Everyday Choices
How often do we forget the transformative power of love in our daily decisions? This episode invites listeners into a profound exploration of what it means to choose love over self-interest in our moment-by-moment lives.The teaching beg...
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52:01
Beyond Barns and Belongings: Jesus on True Wealth
Jesus confronts our deepest assumptions about wealth and security in this eye-opening exploration of Luke 12. What begins with a simple inheritance dispute quickly transforms into a profound teaching on greed, possessions, and what truly consti...
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34:09
Beyond Religious Rules: Becoming the Living Scripture
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a religious system built on fear rather than love? Most of us have been taught that spiritual growth means following rules and managing sin, but what if there's a radically different way to experience God...
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1:05:27
God Is Not Cruel: How Jesus Redefines Our Understanding of Love
What happens when prayer becomes more than reciting words—when it transforms into a revolutionary conversation that changes how you think? In this soul-stirring exploration of Luke 11, the pastors of First Love Church challenge us to reconsider...
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59:11
Changing Your Mind: How the Holy Spirit Transforms Our Thoughts
The Holy Spirit wants access to your whole house—not just the tidy rooms you're comfortable sharing. Are you ready to surrender your thinking to God's transformative power?When we enter the waters of baptism, we make a powerful declarat...
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51:11
Peter, Cornelius, and the Holy Spirit's Revolution
The Spirit breaks rules. It demolishes barriers. It interrupts our neat theological packages. Through the revolutionary story of Peter and Cornelius, we witness what happens when divine inclusion confronts religious exclusion.Peter, rai...
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51:49
Present in the Pause: Finding God Beyond the Noise
Have you ever felt that despite your spiritual efforts, God's voice seems frustratingly distant? You're not alone. This episode dives deep into the revolutionary concept that the divine guidance we seek is already within us—we've just forgotten...
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51:09
Ancient Breath: Rediscovering God's Spirit in Modern Life
Have you ever been in such exquisite pain that you forgot how to breathe? That moment when something so natural becomes impossible reveals a profound spiritual truth about our relationship with the Holy Spirit.This powerful message expl...
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57:59
Holy Sweat: Why God's Waiting in the Back Room, Not the VIP Lounge- David Drake
The sacred celebration of Pentecost invites us into a profound spiritual truth: unity isn't found in isolation but in understanding and connection. This episode explores the supernatural reality that draws us together despite our differences.
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19:26
Holy Discomfort: When God Moves, You Move Too
What does it truly mean to be one with God and with each other? In this deeply moving exploration of Jesus's prayer in John 17, we discover the radical nature of unity that transcends mere agreement or conformity.The journey begins with...
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56:57
Holy Baristas and DMV Angels: Loving When It's Hard - Thomas Drake
What truly identifies you as a follower of Jesus? Is it your theological knowledge, church attendance, or something else entirely? In this thought-provoking message from First Love Church, Thomas unpacks Jesus' final and most important commandm...
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30:44
Known and Loved: You have a Good Shepherd
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me." These words from Jesus offer profound comfort in a world where we often feel unseen and unknown. What would change in your life if you truly believed you were fully known and compl...
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43:22
Friends, Betrayers, and Breakfast on the Beach
What if the triumphant entry wasn't triumphant at all? Rather, it was Jesus staging a powerful protest against the empire. While Rome paraded through Jerusalem's main gates with war horses and soldiers, Jesus deliberately chose a different path...
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59:32
I Have Seen The Lord! Easters Witness
Mary Magdalene's simple yet powerful testimony, "I have seen the Lord," forms the foundation of Christian witness throughout history. Like a neighbor pointing out crocuses blooming beneath Chicago snow, Mary shows us where to look for hope when...
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44:14
When Christ Calls Your Name: Resurrection's Personal Promise
The power of resurrection isn't merely a future promise—it's an invitation to awakening right now. When we hear the Easter story, we often focus solely on Christ conquering physical death and securing our eternal future. But this p...
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50:34
Finding Peace in the Arms of a Loving Shepherd
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me." These words from Jesus in John's Gospel offer profound comfort in a world where we often feel like strangers, orphans, or forgotten souls.What story are you telling yoursel...
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43:22
Extravagant Devotion- Make What's Beautiful The Story
What story are you telling yourself? In this powerful exploration of Mary's extravagant worship, we discover the transformative practice of "making the beautiful the story" in our lives and relationships.When Mary broke open her alabast...
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55:50