Three Questions, pt. 1: Please God or Please Man?
With so many messages bombarding us every day, who do we listen to? How can we really please God? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Apr 11, 2010•31 min
First Assembly NLR Audio Podcast
Listen each week as Pastor Rod Loy teaches from our Guidebook for Living - the Bible.
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Episodes
Trapped
Sometimes, we find ourselves in traps: addiction, pornography, and many other things can keep us trapped in sin. Like a mouse attracted to cheese, there was initially something appealing in the trap. What looked good, easy, and fun at first didn't stay that way. It was a trap. All you want to do is get out, but you can't get yourself out of a trap. You need a Rescuer.
Apr 05, 2010•37 min
Facing Difficulty
What do you do when you are facing a big challenge, a huge test, or a devastating disappointment? It can be frightening, uncertain, emotional, and unsettling. Jesus faced what you are facing. He experienced the same emotions and thoughts. In this message, Rod Loy looks at how the Bible gives us an inside look into how Jesus prepared Himself for the biggest battle of His life.
Mar 28, 2010•32 min
A Healthy Church
People pick a church for a variety of reasons, but what really matters in a church is whether it is healthy or not. What is a healthy church? What are the core values of a church that is striving for health?
Mar 21, 2010•32 min
Ten for Life, pt. 11 (Bonus): Nothing Can Separate Me
We voted on one more scripture to include in the Ten for Life series, and chose Romans 8:38,39. As a culture, we like love stories and love songs, but there's a love that is bigger than all that. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God!
Mar 14, 2010•22 min
Ten for Life, pt. 10: The Way
Many religions claim to know the way to Heaven, but Jesus has a pretty specific and very counter cultural statement: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Mar 08, 2010•25 min
Ten for Life, pt. 9: Ever Had a Bad Day?
Ever had a bad day? How about bad times that last a little longer than a day? What should our attitude be in difficult times?
Mar 01, 2010•34 min
Ten for Life, pt. 8: Seek First
Every day, you make decisions based on priorities. And every day you send a message with those decisions. Where do we spend most of our time? How should we spend our time?
Feb 21, 2010•28 min
Ten for Life, pt. 7: I Can Do All Things
Have you ever been in a place where the world seemed to be closing in on you? You may have felt overwhelmed and overloaded, like there was just no way you could handle anything else. In this message, Pastor Brian Dollar talks about Philippians 4:13: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." This passage of scripture was written by the Apostle Paul to people who were suffering. The passage has a lot to say to us today!
Feb 14, 2010•28 min
Ten for Life, pt. 6: Love God, Love People
In Matthew 22, the Pharisees ask Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" His answer was clear and simple for them, and for us. If you wan to know how to be a life-long follower of Jesus Christ, this is the starting place.
Feb 07, 2010•23 min
My Relationship: Healthy or Unhealthy?
In this message, Rod Loy looks at the signs of an unhealthy relationship. This is an important message for anyone, from students to adults!
Feb 07, 2010•37 min
Ten For Life, pt. 5: No Fear
The fifth message in the Ten for Life series, in which Rod Loy examines ten scriptures that are key to the Christian faith. In this message, Pastor Rod looks at Joshua 1:9. If we are to live the lives God has for us, we have to be courageous!
Jan 31, 2010•29 min
Ten for Life, pt. 4: Running on Empty
The fourth message in the Ten for Life series, in which Rod Loy examines ten scriptures that are key to the Christian faith.We don't try to run our cars for very long on empty, so why do we run our lives that way? In this message, Rod Loy looks at the cure for burnout.Is. 40:31 "…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Jan 24, 2010•34 min
Ten for Life, pt. 3: The Answer for America
The third message in the Ten for Life series, in which Rod Loy examines ten scriptures that are key to the Christian faith.This week: 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "...if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Jan 19, 2010•22 min
Ten for Life, pt. 2: Rewrite
The second message in the Ten for Life series, in which Rod Loy examines ten scriptures that are key to the Christian faith. This week: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Jan 10, 2010•28 min
Ten for Life, pt. 1: Straight Paths
The first message in the Ten for Life series, in which Rod Loy examines ten scriptures that are key to the Christian faith. This week: Proverbs 3:5,6:"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will keep your paths straight."
Jan 03, 2010•37 min
the Gift, pt. 7: Contentment
What does being content mean to you? What makes you discontent? In today's society, marketers play on our tendency to want the newest, best, and shiniest.In the final message from the Gift series, Pastor Rod Loy unpacks another of God's gifts to us: contentment.
Dec 29, 2009•34 min
The Gift, pt. 6: Peace
A lot of our destructive behaviors, inappropriate actions, and a lot of negative circumstances are because we are searching. We don't have peace. Peace is not something we need every once in awhile. We need it every single day. Everyone needs peace. How can you find peace?
Dec 14, 2009•33 min
Stay Right Here
Pastor Brad Russell wrote a special song, "Stay Right Here," for our message about peace. The song is available for download here. For lyrics, go to http://www.firstnlr.com/peacesong
Dec 13, 2009•3 min
The Gift, pt. 5: Joy
What is joy? It is an inner feeling of contentment that is far greater than a temporary happiness. It's a life outlook -- a different perspective. It's hard to explain, but easy to spot in others. True joy is a gift from God! But how do you get joy? Can you maintain it?
Dec 08, 2009•28 min
The Gift, pt. 4: Self-Worth
How do you know what something is worth? You know what it's worth by what people are willing to pay for it. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. What does that tell you about our worth to Him?
Dec 01, 2009•34 min
The Gift, pt. 3: Wisdom
You can't buy it, you can't earn it, but you can have it.In this message, Pastor Rod talks about wisdom.
Nov 25, 2009•31 min
The Gift, pt. 2: Freedom
Pastor Randy Jumper talks about another of God's gifts: Freedom!
Nov 25, 2009•34 min
The Gift, pt. 1: Grace
Grace: You can't earn it, you can't buy it, but you can have it.
Nov 08, 2009•26 min
Forgiveness, pt. 4: When You Need Forgiveness
So far in this series, we've talked about how we can forgive. In this message, we come at it from the other side. What do you need to know and what do you need to do when you are the one who requires forgiveness, when you are the offender?
Oct 11, 2009•29 min
Forgiveness, pt. 3: How Do I Forgive?
You are going to be hurt in life. It's inevitable. When it happens, though, our response is our choice. The Bible says we should forgive. Great - now how do we do it?
Oct 04, 2009•28 min
Forgiveness, pt. 2: Why Should I Forgive?
We have to learn to forgive. People who decide not to forgive are consumed, held captive, and defined by the hurt they refuse to forgive. But how? How can we forgive?
Sep 27, 2009•33 min
Forgiveness, pt. 1: What is Forgiveness?
Why is forgiveness one of the hardest things we have to do? A lot of times, we don't really understand forgiveness. In this message, Rod Loy uncovers what forgiveness really is, and why it's important to forgive.
Sep 20, 2009•32 min
Mythbusters, pt. 7: God is Too Critical to Use Me
Another myth we sometimes carry about God is that he can't use us, and doesn't have a plan for us, because we aren't perfect. Only "perfect" people can do great things for God. Well, a short look through the Bible shows that God used plenty of imperfect, and sometimes plain messed up people, for great things. You feel messed up? Join the crowd!
Sep 13, 2009•25 min
Mythbusters, pt. 6: God is Too Busy to Help Me
We believe a lot of myths. Sometimes, our myths are formed from our attempts to understand difficult situations. We can't find a logical reason why we haven't been healed or helped, so we reach incorrect conclusions about God. We decide that we are too small, and God is too busy, to care about us.
Sep 06, 2009•30 min
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