First Baptist Blowing Rock

We look at James 1:2-4 and discuss why God not only allows us to face the trials, struggles and difficulties of this life - He uses them to grow and strengthen our faith. Listen in to learn how to "Consider it / Count it a Joy" when you face the worst that life can throw at you.  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with othe...

A look at the cost of Freedom; both as American's and Christians from Galatians 5:1-7 Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others.  Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page .  Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

In this message we examine some characteristics of a healthy church and the benefits and protections  of having a strong spiritual immunity. Every metric seems to point to the fact that The Church in North America is sick and getting sicker and instead of doing the hard work of building up our Spiritual Immunity and health, we choose "quick fixes" like new programs and pragmatism (what s...

In a celebration of Father's, we examine the Jewish Patriarch Jacob/Israel's final blessing on his sons from Genesis 49. We discuss the various ways that both biological and spiritual father's, grandfather's and other male spiritual role models can pass along and be a blessing to their children, grandchildren and the other children in their faith community.  Key Verse; Genesis...

In our final message from the Book of Esther we look at Chapter 10 and review some of the most important lessons from our Series. Esther is a great example of what it looks like to stand up for your beliefs and values in a hostile and pagan culture and in this final message, we discuss 5 steps or responsibilities that the followers of Jesus Christ can take to overcome and be victorious in a post-C...

This morning we examine the difference between Esther chapter 8 and Esther chapter 9 and the celebration of hope we find at the end of Chapter 8 and the assurance of victory experienced in Chapter 9. Most Christians love to celebrate the proclamations and promises of God on Sunday and then wonder why they are not experiencing those same promises during the week in their personal lives. This messag...

We pick up our story in Esther Chapter 8, from where we ended last week with the incredible turn of events as Haman is killed on the gallows he had erected for Mordecai and Esther is given Haman's estates. The problem is that even with Haman gone, the death edict he had put in place ordering the extermination of the Jewish people still stood. In the Persian empire, once a law had been authori...

In this message we look at Esther chapter 7 and how Esther and Mordecai dealt with their enemy, Haman, and some practical  lessons we might learn on gaining victory when engaging our own enemies. We examine three simple truths that can help all of us when we encounter people in our lives who might be considered enemies.  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe...

This messages looks at the law of "reaping and sowing" and how it fits into our spiritual growth and battles. We look at the example from Esther 6, with the difference between Mordecai and Haman and how they lived their lives and the results of those choices. From Esther 6; Galatians 6:7-9.  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and sha...

In this message we examine the importance of "timing" when it comes to obedience to God and doing what is right. From Esther 5, we examine how God used a time of prayer and fasting to prepare Esther for her task and gave her the boldness and faith to do what she once considered impossible. We also discuss what Christians are supposed to do while they wait for God's perfect timing an...

After making the decision to approach her husband, King Xerxes as a means of figuring out a way to remove the death edict (extermination order) that had been placed on the Jewish people under Persian rule; Esther ask for all of the Jewish people in Susa (Persian Capitol) to join her in a three day time of fasting and prayer. Why would she ask for fasting and prayer after she had made the decision...

This message examines Esther chapter 4 and the potential that one person has to change the world. What made Esther special or different that God would use her to save the Jewish people under a death sentence from the Persian Empire. Does God still use people like that today? How? Join us as we discover Mordecai's message to Esther that moved her from a place of fear to one of abandonment and...

We examine the influence and role that Mordecai played in spurring Esther to action when faced with a death sentence for the Israelites in Esther chapter 4. We also discuss the power and responsibility of  influence that each one of us have in the lives of people we encounter on a daily basis. We examine Mordecai's behavior and actions to learn some lessons for how  we can make sure we are th...

For many of us, this past year of dealing with the Coronavirus Covid 19 has felt like wandering through a graveyard. Surrounded by fear mongering and a news media who likes to emphasize the worst case scenarios filled with hyperbole; it has felt like a long dark night of isolation, unknown and confusion. Those are the same feelings that Jesus's followers must have felt after a long, dark week...

This Palm Sunday message examines the history, meanings and power of Passover and how it relates to our story from Esther. We look at the sentence of Death facing the Israelites in bondage in Egypt, the Jewish people in Persia under Xerxes and Haman and the entire human race under the curse of sin, and examine how each death sentence was and can be avoided. We also take a look at the underlying &q...

When living in a culture or society that is hostile towards your beliefs and values, how are we supposed to respond? Mordecai and Esther find themselves trying to live our their Jewish faith in a hostile and pagan Persian society and are faced with several temptations and responses that are very similar to what Christians might face living in a "post-Christian" culture. In this message w...

As we continue to examine the "Providence of God" in the book of Esther, we look at the question of freewill and choice as it relates to God's sovereignty. We examine the role of a persons character and integrity when it comes to our decision making process and what role our relationship with God plays into those decisions. If God is in total control of our lives, our circumstances...

From Esther Chapter 2 - Meeting Esther and Mordecai and Esther becomes Queen.  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others.  Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page .  Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

We meet our second character from the book of Esther in this message - Xerxes' Queen - Vashti. In the middle of a drunken stupor, the King makes a bad choice and gets even worse counsel from his drunken friends that allows a private issue to become public policy. By looking at these choices, we discover how God is at work - using the most unlikely of people and the strangest circumstances to...

We start our sermon series on the Old Testament, Book of Esther by examining the historical context of the book as well as its relevance to our current culture and society. Join us for an overview of Esther and a discussion on how the seemingly absence of the mention of God in the story , reveals some important Biblical truth and promises for The Church and any individual Christian trying to maint...

A message for those who are going through struggles, grieving or facing difficult decisions. A reminder for a follower of Christ, that we will face difficulties in this life - but we will never face them alone. From Mark 4:35-41. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others.  Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptis...

This message takes a look at the current culture and spiritual atmosphere in the United States and looks forward to what Christians and the church might expect moving ahead. Will the current compartmentalized, compromised, cultural and comfortable  Christianity that is so prevalent in America today flourish or flounder when faced with opposition or even persecution? Was Christianity ever meant to...

This message from December 27th, 2020 is the final message in our Christmas Series examining popular Christmas Carols and what we can learn from comparing them to the actual Biblical birth accounts of Jesus Christ. This messages examines the popular carol, "O Holy Night" and the visit by the Magi or what is called "The Epiphany".  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we w...

This message from January 3rd 2021 examines the difference between "self-help" and spirit led as we look at the New Year and how we can rediscover the power and passion of our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. We discuss how we have allowed the "incredible to become ordinary" when it comes to our faith journey and everyday relationship with God and by doing so; how it e...

A look at how the church has dealt with mental health issues like depression and anxiety in the past and how we must do better and find a Biblical approach that also will encourage medical and spiritual solutions. The numbers on those who are currently struggling with Mental health issues, especially depression as a result of the isolation and quarantine from the Coronavirus, are staggering and wi...