First Baptist Blowing Rock

In this Easter message we examine the powerful arguments comparing Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross to the Mosiac sacrificial system revealed in Hebrews 10:1-18 and how it relates to the Easter story and how we can make these truths a part of our everyday lives.  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 week...

If we believe that every believer is a "priest" and can hear from God on their own (Priesthood of the Believer) and that each one of us is accountable to God for our own actions (Soul Competency) then we must also believe that every person should have the right/freedom and ability to choose to worship God - or not worship God. That means that we stand on the principle of Religious Freedo...

After examining the differences between the sacrificial offerings of the Old Covenant High Priest and the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the Cross with his own blood; the writer of Hebrews ends Chapter 9 with a somber note on the role that Christ sacrifice plays in the lives of every person every born. In bringing some personal application to Chapter 9, the writer identifies 3 absolutes, or g...

In this study we look at the doctrine of "Soul Competency" or the requirement that every person will one day stand before God and give and account for their lives and how that same doctrine or truth is lived out in the everyday Christian life. We discuss taking responsibility for our own actions and the role that plays in "repentance" and how our current culture is turning its...

If you visit any Evangelical Church, it is highly likely that one of the worship songs or hymns that you will sing involves "blood" and specifically the blood of Jesus Christ. We not only sing about the blood, but we also talk about it, teach on it and even celebrate it and if you were not raised in church or with a religious background, it can be a little disconcerting. Why the emphasis...

This week we examine another one of Martin Luther's "Sola's" from his 95 thesis that established the Protestant Reformation; Solus Cristus - or Christ Alone. This important tenet of our faith not only stands on the promise that Christ alone is the mediator / priest between God and Man, but it also effects our ecclesiology (how we do church). If Christ is the only priest, then w...

In Chapter 9, the author of Hebrews continues to make the case for how the New Covenant that was established by Jesus Christ on the Cross, and of whom He alone is the High Priest, is far superior to the Old Covenant. He does so by pointing out the limitations of the Old Covenant when compared to the New Covenant. Most of the limitations are focused on the external and legalistic approach of that C...

In this message we examine why the Bible is considered our sole source of Biblical Authority and what that means. How is it our authority and what does it reveal? What happens when we use other sources of authority alongside the Bible, or diminish the authority of the Bible? How does that effect our everyday Christian journey and what we say we believe?  2 Timothy 3:10-16. Thank you for listening...

In this message we look at Hebrews Chapter 8 as the author brings his logical argument about the supremacy of Christ as our ultimate High Priest to bare on the Old Covenant.  If Jesus is far superior in His infinite nature, sacrifice and ministry over the Levitical priesthood, where does that leave his New Covenant compared to the Old? We examine the old Mosiac Covenant with its rules, laws, and s...

The first study from our new Sunday Night Bible Study Series "What We Believe and Why". If you are going to start a series on "What we Believe" it is probably good to answer the question, who is "we"? Since we are a Baptist church, we start by looking at some of the distinctives that Baptist Churches celebrate and what makes them different from other protestant faiths...

We continue our study of Hebrews by reaching the end of Chapter 7 and the climax of the logical argument that the author of the book has been making comparing Jesus Christ as a superior Priest / High Priest over the Levitical Priesthood. He closes his argument by stepping up his case by proving that not only is Jesus the ultimate High Priest, but in reality, He is the Only Priest available for man...

We continue our look at Hebrews Chapter 7 where the author has been comparing the Levitical Priest of the Old Testament to Jesus Christ as the High Priest of the new Covenant. In our passage today, the writer continues his logical argument using the rhetorical device of comparing and contrasting (if this is true - then so must this be true) by asking the question; If Jesus priesthood supersedes an...

In Hebrews 7, we finally get a look at why the writer of Hebrews has been slipping in the name of Melchizedek and the "order of Melchizedek" in the last two Chapters. Who is this mysterious person that is only mentioned in 3 verses in Genesis 14 and one verse on Psalms 110 and what does he have to do with Jesus serving in the role of High Priest? Join us as we take a deep dive on the &qu...

The writer of Hebrews follows up his dire warning from Hebrews 6:4-8, with a word of encouragement to those who might be struggling with doubt in verses 9-20. This message looks at this encouragement and how it relates to the assurances we can have, not only about our salvation, but about our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We will also discuss the current trend of "Decon...

In this message we dive into one of the most controversial, misinterpreted and misunderstood passages in the New Testament - Hebrews 6:4-8. Can a follower of Jesus Christ, a Christian, get to a place in their spiritual journey where they can walk away from everything and actually "lose their salvation"? To understand and examine this passage, we must first define what it means to be a &q...

In this message we look at the 3rd of 5 warning passages in the Book of Hebrews and examine how they relate to one another and form a progressive pattern of disruption for a Christians relationship with God. How important is spiritual growth and what does that even mean or look like in our everyday lives? Why is it important and how can we know if we are growing or not? These are some of the quest...

This message examines the last three post nativity references from Matthew's gospel: the flight to Egypt, Herod's murdering of the babies in Bethlehem and the trek back to Israel and eventually Nazareth for Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Can these three incidents give us some insight into discovering and obeying God's will for our lives in 2022? Join us to find out. From Matthew 2:13-23. T...

In this message we examine the Maji from Matthew 2 and who they were, where they came from and what they were trying to accomplish as they visited the child they called the "King of the Jews".  Why do we call them "Wise Men"? From Matthew 2:1-12. 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 wee...

This message looks at the difference between a spiritually immature Christian and a maturing Christian. By identifying several characteristics of what the Author of Hebrews calls "Milk Drinkers" or immature believers, we discuss how that relates to the American Church today and to the status of a majority of Christians. We also discuss the dangers that await those Christ followers who ne...

In this message we discuss the importance of having a "teachable" spirit and a willingness to learn and how that affects your faith and spiritual growth. Most would say they are "teachable" or willing to learn, but reality is that as we grow older, we become entrenched in our comfort  and "it has always worked in the past, so why change now" attitude. This can creep i...

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we have been given as followers of Christ - to have direct access to God to offer our prayers and petitions, our worries, our struggles, our questions is something that we should not take for granted; but we do. When having to make a difficult decision, or facing struggles and temptation; many Christians will seek advice, answers and comfort from everywhere and...

In this message we examine the role that the "Word of God" plays in helping Christ followers empower and unlock the faith that allows them to experience "rest" or the "abundant and full" like that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10.  We look at the characteristics of the Word of God described in Hebrews 4:12-13 and unpack how each one of them can be  experienced in a practi...

In John 10:10 Jesus declares that He came that we might have life and life more abundantly (Full); and while most Christians are excited about the "new life" that comes from being redeemed and forgiven, they never move into the "abundance" that Christ offers. In Hebrews 4, the writer uses the idea of "rest" to explain the joy, peace, contentment, blessings and spiritu...

In this message we examine the importance of disciplining ourselves to encourage and lift up other Christ Followers and why that is so important to our own faith and mental attitude. In Hebrews 3:12-14, in the midst of warning about allowing our hearts to grow hardened to God's word and direction, He stresses that being an encourager is one of the prescriptions to that condition. He does not...

In this message we examine the second warning section from the Book of Hebrews found in Hebrews 2:7-19 and the idea of a "hardened heart". What is a hardened heart, and can it happen to Christians? Join us as we discuss this long ago warning that might be more relevant today than it was to the original listener in the 1st Century.  Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love...