First Free: Sermons

We're a Christian church in the west suburbs of St. Louis. We desire to be a church that is of our community and for our community. We exist to to make, mature, and multiply fully committed followers of Jesus Christ, in our community and beyond. Join us!

  • 42 minutes 20 seconds
    "Father, Forgive Them"

    In Week 1 of our “Last Words” series, we look at the first words Jesus spoke from the cross in Gospel of Luke 23:32–38: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”


    Pastor Tex begins with a personal story about his grandfather’s final words. He reminds us that last words carry deep meaning and reveal what matters most. In the same way, the final words of Jesus reveal the very heart of God.


    At the cross we see two powerful truths:

    • The depth of human brokenness, humanity rejecting the very Savior sent to rescue us.

    • The depth of God’s mercy, Jesus praying for forgiveness even while being crucified.


    This message explores how the cross exposes our need for forgiveness and shows that God’s first response toward sinners is not judgment, but mercy. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, the debt of our sin can be released and replaced with new life.


    Finally, we’re challenged with a difficult but life-changing question: If Jesus has forgiven us, will we choose to forgive others?


    Forgiven people forgive. And learning to release the debts others owe us is part of following Jesus.

    15 March 2026, 3:45 pm
  • 34 minutes 1 second
    Worship and Sacrifice

    Pastor Adam Bowers

    In this message from 2 Chronicles 29:18 to 30, Pastor Adam Bowers takes a deep dive into how King Hezekiah restored the temple after his father Ahaz allowed it to fall into ruin. This powerful Bible teaching explores three key expressions of biblical worship that still apply to Christians today: tools of worship, sacrificial worship, and musical worship. After years of neglect, Hezekiah reopened the temple, called the priests and Levites to purify it, and restored the instruments, furniture, and sacred items that had been discarded. Their care for the tools of worship showed their reverence for God. What does that mean for the church today? From musical instruments and technology to communion elements and Bibles, how we care for what we use in worship reflects how we honor God. The people also offered sacrifices, not leftovers but the best of what they had. While we no longer bring animal sacrifices, Romans 12 and Romans 15 remind us that we worship through sacrificial giving, serving, investing in others, and offering our whole lives to God. Finally, worship in Jerusalem was filled with music. Cymbals, harps, lyres, trumpets, and voices joined together as the people praised the Lord with the Psalms of David and Asaph. Their organized, joyful praise followed repentance and sacrifice. If you are searching for a sermon on 2 Chronicles 29, a Bible study on Hezekiah, or a message about true worship and sacrifice, this teaching will help you understand what it means to honor God with reverence, generosity, and praise. Join us as we rediscover what real worship looks like and respond by offering our lives to God.


    1 March 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 41 minutes 41 seconds
    Removing the Rubbish

    Pastor John Richardson

    In this message from 2 Chronicles 29:12-17, Pastor John Richardson takes a deep dive into how the Levites responded to King Hezekiah’s call to cleanse the temple. After years of idolatry under King Ahaz, the house of the Lord had been defiled. Before restoring worship, the Levites first consecrated themselves, then carefully removed everything that did not belong in God’s temple.

    Their work of clearing out physical idols points to a deeper spiritual reality for us today. Just as the temple had to be cleansed, we are called to examine our own lives and our church for anything that competes with our allegiance to God.

    Drawing connections to 1 Peter 2, 2 Corinthians 7:1, and Hebrews 10, Pastor John explores the dual reality of our sanctification: we are made holy in Christ, and we are continually being made holy as we walk in obedience. As believers who now serve as God’s temple, we must regularly identify and remove the attitudes, priorities, and cultural idols that hinder wholehearted worship and faithful mission.

    What needs to be cleared out in your life so that you can fully glorify and serve the Lord?


    22 February 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 48 minutes 30 seconds
    How to Overcome Shame and Make a Difference

    Pastor Adam Bowers

    What do you do with shame that feels bigger than you?

    In this message from 2 Chronicles 29:5 to 11, Pastor Adam walks us through King Hezekiah stepping into a nation marked by spiritual ruin. The temple was closed, worship had stopped, and the people lived under a heavy legacy of failure and disgrace.

    Hezekiah did not ignore the shame. He confronted it and called the people back to God.

    This sermon explores the difference between holy shame that leads to repentance and unhealthy shame that destroys identity. We also see a clear path from shame to renewal through six key words: Listen. Purify. Remove. Remember. Commit. Lead.

    If shame has been stealing your vision or holding you back from bold faith, this message is for you. Your past does not disqualify you from God’s future. Renewal begins when we open the doors again.


    15 February 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 49 minutes 36 seconds
    Doors and Leaders

    Pastor Adam Bowers

    In this message from 2 Chronicles 29, we explore the powerful story of King Hezekiah and the reopening of the temple doors. After years of spiritual compromise under King Ahaz, Hezekiah leads Judah into a new season of revival. Learn how God uses faithful leadership, renewed worship, and a call to purity to restore His people and prepare them for mission.


    8 February 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 42 minutes 45 seconds
    The Gracious Finisher

    Pastor Andrew Miller

    Humans can endure incredible suffering when they know it has purpose. Athletes push their bodies for Olympic dreams. Parents work exhausting jobs for their children. Patients keep fighting for the sake of those they love. But when purpose is removed, suffering becomes unbearable.


    In this message, we explore where true purpose is found and why so many of our attempts to find meaning... in family, success, pleasure, money, impact, or career, can still leave us empty. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and real-life stories, we look at God’s purposes for humanity and how aligning our lives with them gives lasting meaning.


    This teaching concludes our series, What We Believe About God, focusing on God as the Gracious Finisher, the One who brings His purposes to completion. We unpack three core purposes revealed in Scripture:


    God’s story of redemption


    God’s promise of restoration


    God’s ultimate purpose: His glory


    Through passages from Exodus, Psalms, Hebrews, Revelation, and the New Testament, we see how God is redeeming people, restoring all things, and inviting us to participate in His work, both now and forever.


    If you’ve ever wrestled with discouragement, confusion, or questions about your purpose, this message offers hope, clarity, and a deeper vision of what it means to live a life aligned with God’s eternal plan.

    1 February 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 42 minutes 19 seconds
    The Loving Community

    Pastor Barret teaches on one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith: the Trinity. In this message, we explore how God is revealed in Scripture as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and why the doctrine of the Trinity matters for our faith, our salvation, and our life together as the church. While the Trinity is a mystery we may never fully understand, the Bible shows us how we can truly know God as He has made Himself known.


    18 January 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 47 minutes
    The Holy Architect

    Adam Bowers

    In this message, Pastor Adam begins a new series exploring four aspects of who God is: the Holy Architect, the Loving Community, the Sovereign King, and the Gracious Finisher. This teaching introduces God as the Holy Architect, emphasizing that while many spiritual beings exist, there is only one true, supreme Creator: Yahweh, the God of gods. Drawing from Scripture, Pastor Adam explains how the Bible uses the word “elohim,” why God is utterly unique among all spiritual beings, and how creation itself reveals intentional design, order, and purpose.


    Pastor Adam also unpacks what it means to believe in one God who is Creator of all things, holy, and infinitely perfect. Through biblical theology, illustrations from science and history, and Moses’ final words to Israel, this message challenges us to recognize God as the ultimate standard of truth and morality, and to respond with wholehearted love, obedience, and faithfulness to the one true God.


    11 January 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 49 minutes
    What Are You Seeking?

    Martin Becktol

    4 January 2026, 4:45 pm
  • 46 minutes 54 seconds
    The Prodigal Son

    What if the story of the Prodigal Son isn’t just about rebellion… but about self-righteousness too?

    In this message from Luke 15, we walk through one of Jesus’ most well-known parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the two lost sons—and ask a deeply personal question:

    Where do you show up in the story?

    This sermon challenges both the prodigal and the faithful churchgoer, revealing that both sons wanted the things of the Father without the heart of the Father. Through humor, cultural insight, and a powerful call to repentance, this message invites us to stop standing outside the celebration and join the party God is throwing for the lost.

    In this message, you’ll explore:

    • Why Jesus tells three stories of being lost before the Prodigal Son
    • The danger of self-righteousness and “doing everything right”
    • What true repentance and true belief actually produce
    • Why God celebrates repentance more than performance
    • How love—not labels—is meant to be the defining mark of Christians

    This is a message about grace.

    About faith that moves beyond words.

    About love that shows up with hands and feet.

    And ultimately, it asks one unavoidable question:

    Will you join the party, or stay outside?

    28 December 2025, 7:46 pm
  • 29 minutes 30 seconds
    The Joy of Fulfillment (Christmas Eve)

    The story of the Wise Men is familiar—but what if it’s more than a Christmas tradition?

    In this Christmas Eve message, we take a deeper look at the Magi in Matthew 2 and discover what their journey teaches us about true wisdom, faithful obedience, and seeking God—even when the path is unexpected. From ancient prophecies to humble worship, the Wise Men show us how to live wisely in our own lives today.

    In this message, you’ll learn:

    • Why the Wise Men followed the star—and what they knew that others missed
    • How God often works in unexpected, humble places
    • Five practical ways to live wisely as we follow Jesus
    • What it means to offer our best to God
    • How to trust God when He changes our direction

    Whether you’re starting a new year, seeking clarity, or simply reflecting on the meaning of Christmas, this message is an invitation to worship the King and walk in wisdom.

    24 December 2025, 7:29 pm
  • More Episodes? Get the App