First15

Have you ever believed the lie that your sin makes you unlovable to God? I think we all have at one time or another. We will look today at the story of the woman caught in adultery. For some reason, every time I read this story it surprises me again. God is oftentimes different than we expect, much kinder in fact. May today be no different. I pray you’re met by a generous, kind, merciful Savior as you open your heart to him. Our Scripture for today comes from John 8:7, and today's worship is  Never Be The Same by First15 Worship feat. Ashley & Bryan McCleery. -- When you give to our Summer Initiative, you’re helping with upcoming projects like:    Writing and editing of our brand new product line, First15 devotionals for kids, Translation of more resources into Spanish through Primeros15, Continued development and expansion of our website and app, and Production of the First15 podcast. And your gift can be DOUBLED up to $20,000 when you give today! And your gift will help us reach our go

As we continue our week on God’s heart to meet with man, today we’ll look at the best example I can think of. Many of us doubt the love of God due to all kinds of circumstances, but I pray today you become even a little bit more convinced and sure of his pursuit and unconditional love for you specifically. Open your heart today and allow God to give you a renewed sense of how much you mean to him.   Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 1:23, and today's worship is This Is The Hour by Christy Nockles.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s podcast.    As challenging as it may be, look for an opportunity to bless someone who seems to be against you today. Give them a gift, ask them a meaningful question, look for a way to add value and meet needs in their life. And watch as an act of love carries the power to change the very nature of a perspective, and even a relationship.    Make sure to rate and review the podcast today and subscribe if you haven’t already.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and

Oftentimes we look at Old Testament stories of man’s encounters with God and grow jealous. We question why God doesn’t show up in the way he did with Moses for us now. There is a portion of relationship, encounter and intimacy available to us with God today that men of the Old Testament could have never dreamed of. It is my hope and prayer that you leave today having experienced the richness, unity and oneness with the Spirit of God you were made for. Our Scripture for today comes from Exodus 33:11, and today's worship is Face to Face by Kendrian & Lauren.  -- God is the only One who can bring lasting transformation to our world as he transforms people’s hearts into the likeness of Christ.   It’s for this reason that we pray you’ll help reach the $216,584 Summer Initiative goal — knowing a $20,000 matching grant will DOUBLE your best gift to usher more people into God’s presence so they can be transformed by his grace and truth.   So please give today and please pray for our Summer Initiative!  

Have you ever felt incompetent for the work God sets before you? The mission and call of God on our lives can seem daunting and impossible. Know that Gideon felt that way, and it’s okay if you do too. But God wants to speak courage and empowerment to our hearts today that he will be with us, moving through us every step of our journey. Open your heart today that God may fill it with fresh fire and excitement for the call on your life.   Our Scripture for today comes from Judges 6:16, and today's worship is Valor by Christy Nockles.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click the link in today’s show notes to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide! Today’s episode contains a guided prayer that aims to help remind us to slow down with

  Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Moses, we should long to know our God as they did. When we read about Jesus coming down to us or his heart for the woman caught in adultery, we should respond by pursuing encounters with our Savior. And when we read of Pentecost and Jesus’ second coming, we should seek out the fullness of God’s presence available to us on this earth in preparation for the age that is to come. May your heart be filled with a wholehearted desire to pursue meeting with God this week.   Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 84:1-2, and today's worship is No Other God by Steph Macleod.   –   Changed Lives =  A Changed Culture. This

People are messy. We are difficult and challenging. And it’s because of that no church is perfect. But there must be some reason Jesus desires for us to be unified and be one. Today we’ll explore how and why it’s important to encounter God through other people. May your wounds be healed, and your heart be opened to how God wants to use others to lead you to him.   Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 18:19-20. Today's worship is Valor by Christy Nockles.   . -- Thanks so much for listening today’s podcast, the last in our week long focus on encountering God.    I hope and pray that this week on encountering God has opened up new paths to experiencing God, or maybe just made existing paths a little bit clearer for you.    Next week we begin a new series looking at God’s desire to meet with man. Where this week focused on paths from us to God, next week we’ll open our hearts to see how God comes to us. I think it’ll be a really motivational and deepening experience for you.    Have a wonderful rest of

Many of us know God’s presence is always available to us, but rarely do we take a second to become aware of how near he truly is. Today we’ll explore what it means to encounter God through receiving his presence. This simple concept has radically changed my life, and it is my prayer it changes yours too. May we learn to practice God’s presence on a regular basis and see his goodness flood our lives. Welcome to the First15 podcast. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:16, and today's worship is Song for His Presence by Hillsong Worship.  --   Thank you for listening to today’s podcast.    Tomorrow we’re wrapping up our series on the marks of a true Christian by exploring how we can overcome evil with good. Make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss this wrap up of our series.    And if this series has been especially meaningful for you in some way, consider taking a moment to write about your experience in a review. Ratings and reviews are how people find this free space for God’s presence, and your

In this world, it’s not difficult to become disheartened, visionless and confused about the direction of our lives or our circumstances. But God has given us a priceless gift to ground and root us in truth and vision for life—his word. If you’re feeling purposeless or lost today, look no further than the wisdom God has graciously provided through the Bible. Today we’ll dive into how we can encounter God through Scripture. Welcome to the First15 podcast. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:15, and today's worship is  Heal Our Land by Kari Jobe. -- When you give to our Summer Initiative, you’re helping with upcoming projects like:    Writing and editing of our brand new product line, First15 devotionals for kids, Translation of more resources into Spanish through Primeros15, Continued development and expansion of our website and app, and Production of the First15 podcast. And your gift will help us reach our goal of $216,584.   So please give to help us meet the Summer Iniative goal!.

Worship is essential to a vibrant, thriving Christian life. In worship, much like thanksgiving, we are reminded of who our God is, and who we are. Worshipping Jesus grounds us in our identity because it reminds us whose we are and all that he has done on our behalf. Jesus is worthy of all our worship, and it’s my prayer today that you have a fresh encounter with him through this transformative avenue. Welcome to the First15 podcast. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 29:2, and today's worship is New Wine by Hillsong Worship.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s podcast.    As challenging as it may be, look for an opportunity to bless someone who seems to be against you today. Give them a gift, ask them a meaningful question, look for a way to add value and meet needs in their life. And watch as an act of love carries the power to change the very nature of a perspective, and even a relationship.    Make sure to rate and review the podcast today and subscribe if you haven’t already.    Have a wonderf

Expressing gratitude and thanks to God has a miraculous way of opening and changing our hearts. Today we’ll explore the discipline of thanksgiving, and encounter God in response. May you take away from our time today, timeless principles that quickly get your heart in the right place despite your season or circumstances. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 100:4, and today's worship is Thank You (feat. Steffany Gretzinger & Chandler Moore) by Maverick City.  -- God is the only One who can bring lasting transformation to our world as he transforms people’s hearts into the likeness of Christ.   It’s for this reason that we pray you’ll help reach the $216,584 Summer Initiative goal!   So please give today and please pray for our Summer Initiative! 

Prayer is so simple, but often times our minds convolute and complicate it. Today we’re exploring how to encounter God through prayer, and I pray you take away a simplified, childlike approach to spending time with your heavenly Father. May your heart and mind be at peace today as you encounter the living God.   Our Scripture for today comes from Jeremiah 33:3, and today's worship is House of God Forever by John Foreman.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click the link in today’s show notes to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide! Today’s episode contains a guided prayer that aims to help remind us to slow down with Jesus when our bodies and our minds are racing. When it feels like things are going so fast that you’re having a

  Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.   Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 11:6, and today's worship is Man of Your Word (feat. Chandler Moore & KJ Scriven) by Maverick City. -- Changed Lives =  A Changed Culture. This is what our First15 Summer Initiative is all about!   First15 has just launched a $216,584 Summer Initiative with the goal of connecting more people to God.    We hope you will help us reach our goal of $216,584!

In our final devotional of this week-long series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re looking at God’s command to overcome evil with good. May God show us the pathway to his power today, and illuminate specific ways we can overcome evil with good today.   Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:21. Today's worship is The Thief and the Friend by Jason Upton. -- A First15 reader, Kim, recently shared with us, “Thank you for this blessing. It is like a balm to my soul. You are bringing the love of Christ to me.” When you help reach the $216,584 Summer Initiative goal, you’ll be a part of connecting more people like Kim with God. And when you give today, your gift can be DOUBLED up to $20,000! When you help reach the $216,584 Summer Initiative goal, you’ll be a part of connecting more people like Kim with God.   If you haven’t given yet — or you’re led to give again — please do so today.  

As we near the end of our series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to explore together what it means to live in harmony with one another. There’s hardly a better feeling than being in harmony with those that are close to you. We were created for close, thriving relationship with God and others. And God in his power and love wants to equip us to build and keep harmony, even in the midst of our brokenness. May God give us wisdom, and empower us to walk the path of humility and love as we seek to live in harmony today. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:16, and today's worship is To Be In Love by YWAM Kona Music.  --   Thank you for listening to today’s podcast.    Tomorrow we’re wrapping up our series on the marks of a true Christian by exploring how we can overcome evil with good. Make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss this wrap up of our series.    And if this series has been especially meaningful for you in some way, consider taking a moment to write about your experience in

In today’s devotional, we’re going to continue our series on the marks of a true Christian by looking at Paul’s encouragement to rejoice and weep with others. One of the most powerful acts of love we can make is to follow the way of empathy and compassion. Jesus allowed himself to be burdened by others burdens, pained by their pain. And may we follow the way of our Savior today as we spend time in his word, and in his presence. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:15, and today's worship is  Every Table is An Altar by Jason Upton. -- When you give to our Summer Initiative, you’re helping with upcoming projects like:    Writing and editing of our brand new product line, First15 devotionals for kids, Translation of more resources into Spanish through Primeros15, Continued development and expansion of our website and app, and Production of the First15 podcast. And your gift can be DOUBLED up to $20,000 when you give today! And your gift will help us reach our goal of $216,584.   So ple

In the middle of our week on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re looking at Paul’s command to bless those who persecute you. Truly blessing those around us that seem to be against us is an incredible act of love, producing fruit not only in the lives of others, but in our lives as well. May God give us insight into his heart for this command today, as well as the courage to live it out. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:14, and today's worship is Love is a Miracle by Maverick City.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s podcast.    As challenging as it may be, look for an opportunity to bless someone who seems to be against you today. Give them a gift, ask them a meaningful question, look for a way to add value and meet needs in their life. And watch as an act of love carries the power to change the very nature of a perspective, and even a relationship.    Make sure to rate and review the podcast today and subscribe if you haven’t already.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God

In our third devotional in this week-long series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to explore together what it means to rejoice in hope. In a world that can so often bring us down, so often appear to be without hope, today we have the opportunity to make room for God to give us his perspective, that we might rejoice in his hope. May God give us wisdom, joy, and eternal perspective today as we make space for him to fill. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:12, and today's worship is Rattle by Elevation Worship.  -- God is the only One who can bring lasting transformation to our world as he transforms people’s hearts into the likeness of Christ.   It’s for this reason that we pray you’ll help reach the $216,584 Summer Initiative goal — knowing a $20,000 matching grant will DOUBLE your best gift to usher more people into God’s presence so they can be transformed by his grace and truth.   So please give today and please pray for our Summer Initiative!   

As we continue this week on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to look at what it means to be fervent in spirit. You were made to live with a fervent faith, zealous in response to God’s passionate love for you. May God fill all our hearts with his love in a meaningful, authentic way. And may we find the courage in him to live our faith passionately.   Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:11, and today's worship is Too Good Not To Believe by Elevation Worship.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click the link in today’s show notes to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide! Today’s episode contains a guided prayer that aims to help remind us to slow down with Jesus when our bodies and our minds are racing. When

This week in First15 we’re going to take a look at seven principles found in Romans 12 that describe the marks of a true Christian. The intent of studying this passage is not to condemn or lead you to comparison. Instead, let Paul’s teaching fill you with a deep, transformative longing to wholeheartedly pursue the life God intends for you. Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees you, to see the grace he’s placed upon your life by the blood of Jesus so that you might walk more fully in the power and anointing of the Spirit. May you discover God’s grace and perspective this week as you examine your life in light of this powerful passage of Scripture. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:9-10, and today's worship is First Love by Music Meets Heaven. -- Changed Lives =  A Changed Culture. This is what our First15 Summer Initiative is all about!   First15 has just launched a $216,584 Summer Initiative with the goal of connecting more people to God. And today your gift can be DOUBLED up to a total o

Today we’re wrapping up our week on faith by looking at the power of faith. Trusting in God changes things. Faith is powerful. As we’re going to discover today, when we choose a lifestyle of faith, our life shifts and comes in greater alignment with God’s desires, his kingdom. May God fill our hearts with faith, and may our lives be filled with the fruit of trusting in our good and able God.   Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 11:30. Today's worship is Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship. -- This month kicks off an extremely important season at First15 — a time when your partnership and prayers are deeply needed.   First15 has just launched a $216,584 Summer Initiative with the goal of connecting thousands more people to God and igniting their hearts for him. And today we’re asking for your support to make that possible. Support the Summer Initiative   You know the power of daily time connecting with God — the hope, clarity, and peace we find in his presence. And we’re so grateful for the opportun