First Church Williamsport
By First Church Williamsport
That word everywhere is significant. We are passionate about sharing the Gospel in churches, homes, workplaces, downtown, in nature, nursing homes, and even at your favorite coffee shop, because we believe in the transformative power of Jesus’ love, and we want everyone to know Him.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)
First Church WilliamsportOct 03, 2021
Parables: The Lost Sheep
God radically and extravagantly cares about individuals. Who’s your one?
Parables: The Sower and The Seeds
Those who have ears to hear are able to understand the point of this parable and thus are “good soil” that bears fruit for the kingdom of God.
Worship: Out (Go)
We live out our lives differently because of authentic worship. When we worship God rightly, we live in the overflow of that worship so that it impacts all that we do in our everyday lives.
Worship: Of (Connection)
When we worship, God reminds us that we are all part of the entire body of Christ, which gives us purpose and reminds us we are never alone.
Worship: In (Reflect)
When we worship Jesus in the core of our being we will recognize His deep and wonderful presence in such a way that we will go and live different lives.
Worship: Up (Praise)
Worship is the recognition that all of our praise and devotion go to God, not ourselves. We lift up our eyes to the glory of God and seek to worship the Lord of the universe in all of our being.
Soul Searching: Praise (Easter)
Not only did Jesus conquer death for Himself, He conquered it for all of us! He appeared to many after the Resurrection then and now!
Soul Searching: Submission (Lent)
The discipline of submission is one that is difficult to practice because it means we must trust God enough to release control of our lives to God. Submission means choosing to prioritize God’s ways over our own. Paradoxically submission leads to true freedom and connection with Christ.
Soul Searching: Confession (Lent)
The spiritual discipline of confession is more important than we think for the health of our souls. True confession involves examining our conscience with intentionality, expressing sorrow for our sinfulness, and a determination to not continue sinning. We are invited to practice confessing both with God and with other, carefully discerned individuals.
Soul Searching: Solitude (Lent)
Solitude is a spiritual discipline that involves intentionally being alone in the presence of God and that leads to transformation in Christ.
Soul Searching: Simplicity (Lent)
The central point for the discipline of simplicity is to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of the Kingdom of God first and then everything necessary will come in its proper order.
Soul Searching: Prayer (Lent)
Prayer is meant to be an ongoing, continual way of life in which we experience the sweetness of God’s presence in our souls as we listen to God and then respond in prayer as God leads us.
Soul Searching: Meditation (Lent)
We can foster deep life in our souls, even in a superficial culture, as we learn the spiritual practice of meditating upon God’s Word.
Cultivating Contentment: Living Jubilee
Jubilee is a gift from God that is a rare experience, a reset that is ultimately about holiness, that must be practiced in community and will bring God's people contentment.
Cultivating Contentment: Honesty
We can all learn true secret of contentment, no matter our circumstances, when Jesus is the center of our lives, rather than some false idol.
Cultivating Contentment: Tranquility
Contentment is found in remembering who we toil for and by comparing ourselves to no one else. We discover contentment by not trying to keep up and not giving up.
Cultivating Contentment: Perspective
We cultivate contentment when we get perspective on our past, present, and future.
Cultivating Contentment: Humility
The Christian life is a life of humility whereby we seek to understand and pursue a life filled with more of Christ and less of ourselves. The humble life is not only one filled with a different kind of significance, it is also one filled with contentment.
Cultivating Contentment: Reset
Living into the reality of Jubilee allows us to experience a true restart, no matter where we are in life, so that all may experience contentment and joy through a taste of the Kingdom of God.
Jubilee: Ministry Stories
This is a different kind of worship experience. We'll be hearing from our staff about stories to celebrate the ministries over the last year, interspersed with songs to praise God for these moments of transformation.
Advent | Anticipating the Almighty: The End and the Beginning of the Journey (Christmas Eve)
At Christmas we realize in a fresh way that the journey with Christ is not coming to an end; it is just a new beginning.
Advent | Anticipating the Almighty: The Joy of the Journey (Joy)
We can have joy in the journey of Advent because Advent reminds us that Jesus journeys with us in all the ups and downs of life.
Advent | Anticipating the Almighty: Trusting the Journey (Peace)
Don’t be afraid. God is working things out. Trust the journey.
Advent | Anticipating the Almighty: The Journey Begins (Hope)
We are encouraged to journey in the model of discipleship exhibited by Mary who, despite doubt and fear, said yes to God’s calling on her life to bear Jesus in this world.
Thanksgiving & Gratitude
Gratitude is a way of life in which we not only feel the emotions of thanksgiving but express thanksgiving in the world through our actions.
A Generous Life: Giving Leads to Life
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
A Generous Life: Giving Leads to Trust
Generosity comes from a genuine heart that trusts in God God over the influence of money.
A Generous Life: Giving Leads to Freedom
What we treasure the most shapes our true identity. The practice of giving, therefore, transforms us more into the image of God.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 8 (Romans 15 + 16)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet's conversation explores their personal takeaways from the entire book of Romans, as well as how we can better cultivate beautiful diversity.
RESOURCES
+ Romans Overview Poster, created by The Bible Project
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
+ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 15 + 16
God's love is for everyone. Romans 16 reveals in practical terms what the power and implications of the unity found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ looks like. In the unity of Jesus Christ we experience the miracle of beautiful diversity.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 7 (Romans 13 + 14)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet's conversation explores loving our neighbor: what exactly does that mean, and what does that begin to look like?
RESOURCES
+ How to Read the Bible, Episode 29: Jesus Fulfills the Law by The Bible Project
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
+ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 13 + 14
Love is willing the good of the other and fulfills the law.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 6 (Romans 11 + 12)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet's conversation explores transformation, design thinking, and the tension between belief and action.
RESOURCES
+ We don’t want to spend “such a large segment of our lives in gaining knowledge that we shall need another lifetime to put our knowledge into practice.” (Francois Fenelon)
+ "The Design Thinking Toolbox" by Michael Lewrick, Patrick Link, and Larry Leifer
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 11 + 12
Everyone has a gift to offer the world, and being a "living sacrifice" means willingly and joyfully offering that for the glory of God.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 5 (Testimonies)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet's conversation explores testimonies: what they are, how to share them, and Mitch's testimony.
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 9 + 10 (Testimonies)
Faith is alive and we live that out with action. Hear from three of our congregants how Jesus has transformed their lives, and how they're inspired to live out their faith today.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 4 (Romans 8:31-39)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet's conversation explores a well-known verse from Romans 8, what separation from God is, and what connecting with God can look like.
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 7 + 8
Jesus overcoming death and darkness shows the depth of power His love holds.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 3 (Romans 6:15-23)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet are joined by special guest Dan Opdahl, who authored the Introduction, questions, and reflections for Week 3 of the Romans Devotional created to help us go deeper in our sermon series. Their conversation explores sin, freedom, and neuroscience!
RESOURCES
+ Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, “Our Mother Saint Paul,” Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 5 + 6
A life defined by true freedom allows us to embody our true selves. The Good News is that followers of Jesus Christ have been set free from slavery to sin and receive true freedom as “slaves” of right living.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 2 (Romans 3:21-26)
In this episode, Mitch and Pastor Janet's conversation explores definitions of common Christian terms, the idea of faith, and what evangelism looks like today.
RESOURCES
+ “Essential Christianity” by J.D. Greer (Charlotte NC: The Good Book Company, 2023 )
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 3 + 4
We are saved by faith in Christ, and no longer slaves to sin.
Exploring a Masterpiece, Going Deeper: Episode 1 (Romans 1:14-17)
Welcome to the First Church Williamsport Podcast, where Mitch and Pastor Janet further discuss topics shared in our Sunday morning messages throughout our sermon series, "Exploring a Masterpiece." Our hosts kick off their first conversation by setting the scene through exploring the Scriptural context and the concept of power.
RESOURCES
+ “Paul for Everyone: Romans Part 1” by N.T. Wright (Louisville KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004)
LINKS
+ Learn more about us by checking out our website.
+ See previous services and messages on our YouTube Channel.
Exploring a Masterpiece: Romans 1 + 2
The Gospel is a gift for everyone. To truly realize the power that the gospel, the good news provides, transforms us.
Paul
When we encounter Jesus we are reminded of the gift that we can be changed for the better in Christ, no matter how long, difficult, or harmful the patterns we have been in.
The Dying Thief
When we encounter Jesus we are reminded of the gift that we can be changed for the better in Christ, no matter how long, difficult, or harmful the patterns we have been in.
The Rich Young Ruler
Jesus invites us to experience eternal life by giving God control of every aspect of our lives.
Nathanael {Bartholomew}
Jesus can’t be put into a box, but encounters each of us as individuals.
The Boy with Bread and Fish
The boy who encounters Jesus by offering the 5 loaves and 2 fish shows us how when we offer what we have by focusing on Jesus first, God will always provide enough.
John the Baptist
John was captivated by joy in his encounter with Jesus because John realized the encounter was about Jesus and not himself. As a result John witnessed Jesus up close and personal and experienced the Holy Spirit.