The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible The Beginning of the End 2 Kings 17 First Family Church317 S.E. Magazine Rd.Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com Transcript of Message by Todd Stiles January 22, 2012 Take your Bibles and locate 2 Kings 17 and we are going to see what that price was for the northern kingdom today, all right? So take your Bibles and locate that chapter as we look into somewhat of a somber chapter and a somewhat of a somber story today.  If you are new and a guest or been here for maybe a week or two, my name is Todd. I am one of the pastors here. I do a good bit of the preaching and teaching. So welcome to First Family Church. We are in a 31 week series though the entire Bible. It is called The Story and we are in week 16 today which brings us to 2 Kings 17.  And let me just say as we approach this text and it he idea of remember there is various things that we do here in this local body to help you remember not only God’s work among us at his … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible God’s Messengers: The Prophets 1 Kings 13-14 First Family Church 317 S.E. Magazine Rd. Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.comTranscript of Message by Todd Stiles January 15, 2012   There could not be a more appropriate song to lead into our discussion of the prophets than the one that speaks about how much God loves us.  And you may find that a little odd, because when you think about the prophets, the Old Testament bullhorn of God, you probably don’t think about love.  But can I remind you what you parents always said to you when they were about to spank you? “I do this because I...” You didn’t sound like you believed it still.  Or they would say, “This hurts me as much as it hurts you.” In other words, our parents were relating to us something.  In this discipline, in this pun-ishment, you are seeing just how much I love you.  And let’s speak just transparently, honest with each other.  It is because we love … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible The King Who Had It All 1 Kings 3 First Family Church 317 S.E. Magazine Rd. Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com Transcript of Message by Todd Stiles December 18, 2011   I was thinking this week about odd things that maybe you have asked for at Christmas. Now one of them you won’t think it is odd, but it is odd when you hear it for the first time. I recall as a kid hearing for the first time my dad. All he wanted for Christmas... and you know what it was. Say it. Socks. I thought you might have a little... I thought you might know that. Some... I remember the first time I heard as a kid hear my dad say, “Oh, just get me socks.” And he added to that, by the way, socks and underwear. That is what he would say, you know. And then I thought that was all like, man, for Christmas. And the next year, hey, dad, what do you want? Guess what he said? And underwear. I am thinking, dad. As a kid that just … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible From Shepherd to King 1 Samuel 16:7 First Family Church 317 S.E. Magazine Rd. Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com Transcript of Message by Todd Stiles December 4, 2011   It is a good time of year to focus on that city where God came near. It is the city of Bethlehem. And a lot of our Christmas emphasis focuses on that city. There is also another story that takes place in Bethlehem. It is the story on which we focus today and it is the story that pretty much comprises week 11 of this 31 week series and it is found in 1 Samuel chapter 16. So take your Bibles, would you, and locate 1 Samuel chapter 16. If you are a guest or been here for a few weeks, we are making our way through a 31 week series that spans the entire scope of Scripture. We are kind of running through the redemptive story in a rather quick amount of time, but it is going to be very helpful to us as we gain kind of a... kind of put our arms … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible Standing Tall, Falling Hard 1 Samuel   First Family Church317 S.E. Magazine Rd.Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com Transcript of Message by Jay McFarlingNovember 27, 2011   Well, good morning.  My name is Jay McFarling. I am one of the elders here at First Family Church and I imagine we have a lot of visitors here this morning. I just want to welcome you to our church. Thanks for joining us.  Pastor Todd and his family are out of town this weekend so you are stuck with me today. But I do want to tell you. You are in good hands. I have recently learned how to make people feel more welcome. You see, my daughter got a job at a local grocery store and when I tell you the story you might figure out which one, but I am going to spare the name to protect the innocent.  But she tells me when I pick her up from work kind of the some of the things they are teaching her there. And one night a couple of weeks ago she … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible The Faith of a Foreign Woman Ruth First Family Church 317 S.E. Magazine Rd. Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com  Transcript of Message by Todd Stiles November 20, 2011   Why don’t we dive right in to the book of Ruth.  It is the eighth book of the Old Testament. So would you find that? You are probably already there, aren’t you?  And this is week number nine of the story. It is our 31 week journey though the Bible. We are kind of flying at about 30,000 feet.  And that has been evident in the last several weeks especially as we looked at Judges in one entire week. Today we are going to see Ruth in a week. And, as we get into the prophets, which were a part of the divided kingdom, you are going to feel that even more. But don’t let that bother you.  The purpose of this is to give us a high altitude view of God’s redemptive story from start to finish. Now I am learning a lot and I am hearing a lot … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible   A Few Good Men and Women Judges   First Family Church 317 S.E. Magazine Rd. Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com Transcript of Message by Todd Stiles November 13, 2011 Take your Bibles. Find the book of Judges in the Old Testament and what you just sang is probably what the Israelites were saying for a period of about 300 years. They were saying, “Lord, hear us from heaven.” We are going to see that this morning as we investigate chapter eight, no, not of Judges, but of this 31 week journey we are on through the story. I want to welcome all those who are new.  We are just here. Nate and Lindsey, it is good to see you guys.  I just happened to spot you there. Great. I won’t embarrass you. I want to point you out. That is great.  They are from out of town, been here for so long and they moved away, but good to have you back. We are in week eight of this 31 week journey through the story.  It is … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible The Battle Begins Joshua   First Family Church317 S.E. Magazine Rd.Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com   Transcript of Message by Todd StilesOctober 30, 2011     Let’s take our Bibles now and let’s look at Numbers 14.  And we are going to be looking this morning at some concepts about following the Lord, because the question we are left with now after journeying with Israel to a number of places is:  Where are the children of Israel now? Right?  Where are they now?  Here is the answer.  They are at a fork in the road.  Thus, you have in front of you a fork. We will mention more of it later. No, there is no pie coming.  That will be December 10th and Christmas sweet, amen? But for this morning it is just a way to symbolically help you picture what is going on in this... what I call an apex type of chapter. Numbers 14 is where much of the story culminates, ok?  Now I want to make sure that I … [Read more...]

The Story A 31-Week Journey Through the Bible Wandering Numbers 14   First Family Church317 S.E. Magazine Rd.Ankeny, IA 50021 www.firstfamilyministries.com Transcript of Message by Todd Stiles October 30, 2011   Let’s take our Bibles now and let’s look at Numbers 14.  And we are going to be looking this morning at some concepts about following the Lord, because the question we are left with now after journeying with Israel to a number of places is:  Where are the children of Israel now? Right?  Where are they now?  Here is the answer.  They are at a fork in the road.  Thus, you have in front of you a fork. We will mention more of it later. No, there is no pie coming.  That will be December 10th and Christmas sweet, amen? But for this morning it is just a way to symbolically help you picture what is going on in this... what I call an apex type of chapter. Numbers 14 is where much of the story culminates, ok?  Now I want to make sure that I correct something … [Read more...]