Our mission: Love Jesus. Love Like Jesus.

First Church exists to unleash a revolution of God’s love on the 918 and beyond.

John 13:34-35 | NLT “Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

We are His Family.

1 Timothy 3:15 | NIRV The family of God is the church of the living God. It is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

God designed us for community.

Proverbs 27:17 | NIV As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Hebrews 10:24-25 | NIRV Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope.

We grow best together.

John 17:25-26 | NIV84 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them.”

Jesus came to reunite us with our Father.

God is a loving dad, who wants to bring His family back together again.

Mark 2:13-14 | NIV84 “Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth.”

tax collector = traitor/oppressor

Mark 2:14 | NIV84 “Follow me.”

Mark 2:14 | NIV84 Levi got up and followed him.

Luke 5:28 | NIV84 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

God sees you as worthwhile.

Mark 2:16 | NIV84 “When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?’”

God’s heart beats for everyone.

Worth determines value.

2 Corinthians 5:15 | NIRV Christ died for everyone.

Titus 2:11 | NIV For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

Mark 2:17 | NIV84 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:13 | NIV84 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

It’s okay to not be okay.

A church that isn’t for everyone everywhere isn’t really a church for anyone anywhere.

Hebrews 10:24-25 | NIRV Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope.

Matthew = “Gift of God”