First Baptist Blowing Rock

In this message we examine a pivotal moment in time for the nation of Israel as God removes his anointing from Saul and calls Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint a new King. In this moment, all three of the characters are facing huge life changing decisions that will reverberate for years to come. As we move into the new year, many of the choices and decisions we will make could turn pivo...

In this Christmas message we examine the two birth narratives from Luke and Matthew and look at the differences between the two and explain why they are different. By harmonizing the two versions we get a complete picture that reminds us of what is truly important about both stories - the incarnation. From Luke 2:1-7 Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to...

As we kick off the Advent season and begin looking towards Christmas, this message challenges us to prepare our hearts for the true meaning of the Christmas Season. We ask the question; have we spent as much time preparing our hearts as we have our homes? If not, then is it any wonder so many miss the power and purpose of Christmas. To help us prepare we look at some lessons from the one who was s...

As we approach Thanksgiving, this message examines what it really means to be grateful and thankful and what role contentment plays in developing this kind of approach to life. From Philippians 3:10-13 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 Yout...

What does Paul mean when he encourages the Corinthians to "take every thought captive" and what does it have to do with Spiritual Warfare? This message explains and gives some practical examples on what that might look like and why it plays such a critical role in the battle for our minds. From 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6 The 7th message in the Battle Sermon Series on Spiritual Warfare  Thank...

In this message we discuss the battle for the mind and strongholds in our mind. What is a stronghold? How do they get built up and what can we do to tear them down. Using another Old Testament example from the life of David, we examine how Christians can identify strongholds and why it is important to deal with them sooner rather than later. From 2nd Corinthians 10:3-5, 2nd Samuel 5:6-10 Thank you...

As we continue to discuss the role and responsibilities of a Christ follower when it comes to Spiritual Warfare, this message takes a deeper dive on just what it means "to Stand". Using an illustration from one of David's Warriors in 2nd Samuel 23, we discover just what it might look like for us to make a stand against the enemies of God. From Ephesians 6:13, 2nd Samuel 23:10-11.  T...

When you examine Paul's teaching from Ephesians 6;10-13 on spiritual warfare you find two expectations or responsibilities for Christians; "wrestle" and "stand", but what does that mean and actually look like in our everyday lives. In this message we look at some of Paul's other teachings regarding the Christians role in warfare and what it means to "stand"....

In this message we look at the Garden of Eden to examine how Satan tempts us to questions God's word and the effects that has on our ability to walk in obedience and overcome sin. We also look at Satan's interaction with Jesus in the Wilderness to discover the ways we are tempted to sin and how to reject and overcome the temptation through the power of scripture. From Genesis 3:1-7, Matt...

In this message we examine the enemies of the Christian that Paul identifies in Ephesians 6 and how we can overcome and be victorious in the battle. We also examine the enemy within - our old nature/the flesh and how Satan and the World feeds and corrupts the flesh and disrupts our ability to give control of our lives over to the Holy Spirit. From Ephesians 6:10-12 Thank you for listening to our p...

This message is a response to all that our area here in the mountains of Western North Carolina have experienced this past week due to Hurricane Helene. We discuss how the community has come together to serve as the hands and feet of Christ during such a devastating tragedy. We also look at how God provides peace, comfort and victory during the most difficult storms of our lives. From Mark 4:35-41...

In this introduction to our new Sermon Series on Spiritual Warfare we examine what Spiritual Warfare is and why it is so important for individual Christians and the church to recognize and prepare for the war taking place all around us. From Ephesians 6:10-12.  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 w...

We wrap up our studies from the letter of John by taking another look at 3rd John and the situation John is addressing concerning some missionaries he had sent and how the local church was responding to them. This gives us a great example on the importance of missions and its call on the Christians life. We examine how the church is doing spreading the gospel around the world and what it means to...

As we examine 3rd John we see a contrast between two people that John mentions in this short letter and how they responded to his message of truth and those he sent to deliver it. What is the truth he is talking about and why is it so important that we not only welcome and receive it, but that we apply it to our everyday lives? From 3rd John, key verses 3-8. Thank you for listening to our podcast...

While John addresses the same themes of Love and Truth that we found in 1st John here in his second letter, he also becomes more direct in how Christians should deal with false teachers and false teaching and not just the kind coming from those within the church. What about how we allow the influences of the world's popular philosophies and worldviews to infiltrate our own thinking, actions a...

In this final message from our series in 1st John we take an overview of the entire book and examine some metrics that John lays out to give an indication whether a Christian is growing spiritually or not. We examine 5 indicators that John points to as behaviors that will be found in the life of any Christian who is growing beyond just the basics of our faith. From 1st John 5:13, Hebrews 5:11-6:1....

In this message we examine the dangerous influence that idols can have on our spiritual growth and relationship with God. We identify some modern-day idols that Christians struggle with and how to overcome them. From 1st John 5:20-21. 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.firstb...

Continued discussion on how to overcome personal sin in our lives, including those secret sins that we think no one knows about. From 1st John 5:16-19 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@firstbaptistblowin...

As John draws his letter to a close, he reminds the church and Christians the importance of accountability within the church and the importance of praying for one another. All of us struggle to overcome sin in our lives and John wants us to make sure we utilize the power of the local faith community in our struggles. From 1st John 5:16-19. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love f...

In this message we look at the importance, privilege and power of personal prayer in the lives of Christian. Prayer is the most underused weapon the Christian has available for dealing with the struggles of this life as well as developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. From 1st John 5:13-15.  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our pa...

John tells us in 1st John 5:13 that the purpose of this letter was so that Christians could have assurance in eternal life. So that we could be confident in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have no doubts about what awaits us when we die. Yet, if you were to ask many in the church "If you were to die today, where would you go" you are likely to heave answers that start...

In the 15th Century, a Christian Monk with the name Johnn of the Cross coined a phrase, "The Dark Night of the Soul" to describe those times in a Christians life when they face such struggle, difficulties and trials that they feel like God has abandoned them. If you live the Christian life long enough, you will probably face a "Dark Night". In today's message we examine th...

With all the changes that are taking place in our nation and culture as we move from our Judeo-Christian values where the traditional family is foundational towards a progressive postmodern, post Christian environment - what is the church and Christian's response supposed to be? Should we wait it out and hope for the best, or maybe disengage and strive to outlast what is happening with hopes...

We live in a culture where the word "love" has been hijacked by many groups and organizations as a means to justify any and all sorts of lifestyles and behaviors. This subjective view of love has, by its overuse, pretty much made the word undefinable. Yet, the Apostle John spends most of his gospel and a good section of his New Testament letters clearly defining love and in our passage f...

As John continues to warn about False Teachers in 1st John 4, he builds on last week's passages on "testing the spirits" and comparing what is being taught about Jesus Christ with scripture, in this week's passages he adds the influence of the Holy Spirit. In this message we discuss how the "power" of the Holy Spirit allows us to overcome the influence of the world ph...