This Sunday, we began the new school year by reflecting on what it means to “fill the right cup.” We looked at Nehemiah’s story and saw how God used his heartbreak for Jerusalem to move him from self-living to self-giving. Together, we considered the places where our own hearts were stirred and how we could pour ourselves out in meaningful ways for others. We were reminded that as we served our families, schools, teachers, and community, God filled our cups in ways we might not expect.
Watch Sunday's Services
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Sermon Notes
Check out some of the key takeaways from this past Sunday's sermon.
This week's scripture was Nehemiah 1:1-11
This week's scripture was Nehemiah 1:1-11
- When we spend our lives trying to fill our own cup, it never feels full. Nehemiah held one of the most prestigious positions in the Persian empire, yet the turning point in his story came when he stopped living for his own comfort and allowed his heart to break for people he had never even met. The same invitation stands before each of us.
- The question worth sitting with is: what breaks your heart? Nehemiah did not wait for someone else to act. When he heard about the broken walls and suffering people of Jerusalem, he wept, fasted, prayed, and ultimately said, in effect, I am someone who must do something about this. Identifying what genuinely moves us is often the first step toward discovering where God is calling us to serve.
- On the hard days, remember Nehemiah's declaration in chapter 6 — that he was doing a great work and would not be pulled away from it. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a grandparent, or someone quietly encouraging others behind the scenes, you are doing a great work. Do not come down from that wall.
Coming Up at LVfirst
Summer Serve Celebration (July 29, 2026)
You're invited to join us at this year's Summer Serve Celebration! You belong in the Hall of Fame of volunteers for all of the incredible work you've done this year serving this church and this city.
Join us in the Family Center on July 29th at 6:00PM for a meal in your honor along with some entertainment from our staff and a short time of vision casting as we look at upcoming opportunities to serve this next year.
You're invited to join us at this year's Summer Serve Celebration! You belong in the Hall of Fame of volunteers for all of the incredible work you've done this year serving this church and this city.
Join us in the Family Center on July 29th at 6:00PM for a meal in your honor along with some entertainment from our staff and a short time of vision casting as we look at upcoming opportunities to serve this next year.
Blessing of the Backpacks (August 2, 2026)
Students & Teachers! You're invited to bring your backpacks to church on August 2nd for a special blessing as you start the new school year!
We will have a time of blessing during both 9:30AM and 11:00AM services, so please join us this Sunday and allow us to provide you with some extra blessings this back to school season.
Students & Teachers! You're invited to bring your backpacks to church on August 2nd for a special blessing as you start the new school year!
We will have a time of blessing during both 9:30AM and 11:00AM services, so please join us this Sunday and allow us to provide you with some extra blessings this back to school season.
Next Sunday at LVfirst
Get a head start on Sunday's sermon!
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