Northstar Church Blacksburg

Our What’s Your Story? series has been reminding us of powerful stories of God’s activities. The men we have looked at so far have been great men of faith. What about those who may not know as much about God or who may not be as famous? As we look at the story of the man born blind in John 9 with our final message in this series, we will see how a man who didn’t know a lot boldly shared the story...

As we look at how Joseph retold the story of God's work in his life, we see how we can share the painful or confusing parts of our stories. We don't need to sanitize or embellish them. Instead, we see from Joseph's example that we can reframe our story because God is redeeming those parts we may not yet understand.

Starting our "What's Your Story?" sermon series, in which we will learn so much about how God works, how people can experience God, and especially about the importance of telling our story to others. This time we focus on the story of Moses as told in Deuteronomy 1. This passage takes place shortly before Moses' death, on the edge of the Promised Land. Here, he focuses on remembering, re-minding,...

This is the last episode of our Christmas mini-series! We hope you've enjoyed these episodes and that they have caused you to reflect a bit on what you love about Christmas and the wonder of Christ coming to earth to save us. We'll wrap up this mini-series with a short reflection on the hopeful anticipation that hovers in the air on Christmas Eve. Have a very Merry Christmas! Music by Sergio Prosv...

This is the sixth episode of our special Christmas mini-series! Stephanie Cordray, our Northstar Kids Ministry Director, shares her love for Christmas traditions, and we talk about some of the specific traditions we enjoy. We also connect our love for traditions with the stories that go along with them, and how many of our Christmas traditions point us to the story of Christmas and the coming of C...

Continuing our Precious Promises series, we look at another Old Testament prophecy about the birth of Jesus, this time in Isaiah 9:2-7. One of the key themes running through the Old Testament is the need that God’s People have for a king, and throughout Israel's history there are many kings who fail to meet this need. The Old Testament is spent anticipating the arrival of this Messiah, this anoint...

In the fifth episode of our Christmas mini-series, Jeff Noble talks about his deep love for Christmas and his attempt each year to "slow down" Christmas through different practices and heart postures to emphasize the magic of the season and its focus on Christ our Savior. Also, you heard it here first - Jeff believes in Santa. Music by Sergio Prosvirini from Pixabay.

In the fourth episode of our special Christmas mini-series, our Youth Minister, Matt Novitsky, shares what he loves about Christmas. We talk about how the season of Christmas allows time for us to draw near to others, and how the first Christmas signifies Christ drawing near to us. And, how even in times of busyness, we can create space for both God and others. Music by Sergio Prosvirini from Pixa...

In this third episode of our special Christmas mini-series, Don Hines shares about Christmas being a time of remembrance and nostalgia for him, and an opportunity to express his knowledge of people through giving gifts. We talk about how God's people are consistently called to remembrance of what he has done for us, including sending us the best gift of all - our Savior Jesus Christ. Music by Serg...

In the second episode of our Christmas mini-series, Sean shares about his love for Christmas lights, and we talk about the significance of light in the story of Christmas. We're reminded that Christmas signifies the coming of the true Light, Jesus, who illuminates the darkness in the world and in our own hearts. Music by Sergio Prosvirini from Pixabay.

What do Bethlehem Ephrathah and Hope, Arkansas have in common? Continuing our Precious Promises series, we look at another Old Testament prophecy about the birth of Jesus, this time in Micah 5:2. This prophecy declares that God will raise up a ruler out of a small town, a king whose origin is from antiquity. This town had history across the Old Testament, but God promised to do something even grea...

In the first part of our Christmas 2025 mini-series, Braeden Wallace shares what he loves about Christmas! The hope, expectation, and magic that surround Christmas point to the wonder of the fulfilled expectation of Jesus coming to earth to be the hope for all mankind, and point to the future when he will come again. This mini-series will feature some of the Northstar staff team sharing what they...

In the first of our December Nights series of Precious Promises, we examine the first of four primary prophecies in the Old Testament, the Immanuel prophecy in Isaiah 7. Despite feeling unworthy, Isaiah had accepted a call to be sent by God, and his first recorded assignment was to speak with King Ahaz, a ruler of Judah who did not follow the Lord and was not trusting God during a time of internat...

Continuing our series on the book of James, we learn from James 3:13-18 that wisdom from above is proven by our conduct. True wisdom calls for application, acting in ways that align with the fruit of righteousness. While worldly wisdom is revealed by a sinful lifestyle of envy and selfish ambition, heavenly wisdom is revealed by a godly lifestyle, which is pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, me...

Continuing our series on the book of James, we find in James 3:1-12 the most preeminent passage in Scripture on communication and the use of the tongue through illustrations and examples. Sin in speech is shaped by the sin of lack of self-control. James discusses how, despite being such a small thing, the tongue can bring about much evil. Because of the inherent danger with the tongue, he warns ag...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 2:14-26 we learn that true faith works. James shared with us two examples each of what true, living faith does and does not look like. Through these examples, James teaches us dead faith not real, saving faith. Jesus brings us life, and in that life true faith works. In this life, there is a unity of faith and works, as works are the visible exp...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 2:8-13 James takes a shot at our self-justification by reminding us that we have have only one central thing to focus on: walking with God in loving obedience. He points us to the fact that we have all sinned and need mercy from God and mercy from one another. The royal law, which Jesus identified as one of the two greatest commandments on which...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 2:1-10 James shows how favoritism and faith are fundamentally incompatible as he returns to a theme touched upon in the first chapter. We may think we don't show partiality in the same striking way that James talks about with the rich and poor, but we draw lines between ourselves and others every day, even in the family of God. Favoritism is con...

A little over a month ago, Charlie Kirk was horrifically murdered at Utah Valley University. This tragedy rocked the nation and the world and deeply impacted so many people. In this episode of Being the Church, the pastoral staff shares their reflections on this awful event, the fallout from it, and the challenge for every Christian to be bold about their faith in Christ.

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 1:19-21 we learn what it means to be not only hearers of the Word but also doers. The law of liberty, the implanted Good News of Jesus, calls us to hear, listen, and respond. To both hear and do the Word, we should strive to be teachable, unhurried, silent before God, readers of His Word out loud, and attentive. If we are consistent in sharing t...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 1:19-21 we learn from James that if you manage your tongue and temper, you'll be happier and others will be blessed, and that, if you tend the soil of your heart well, you'll bear fruit for that is personally satisfying and will feed others. James urges us to be quick to listen, especially to God's Word; slow to speak, sharing the truth in love...

This year's Covenant Renewal Message reminds us who Jesus is, who we are, what our response is, and what His response is through John 12:20-33. When some Greeks come and ask to see Jesus shortly before His death and resurrection, His surprising response reveals His purpose and His heart for His church. He is our Lord, glorified by God through suffering for our sake. We are His church, called out b...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 1:16-18 we are reminded not to be deceived and pointed to God as the source of all good gifts, including salvation through His Word. James calls us to not be deceived about ourselves or God because he knows how easily we can be misled, and he also knows how important it is that increasing, rather than decreasing, our confidence in the Bible is h...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 1:12-15 we learn about trials and tests, how these tests can become a temptation to sin, and how prone we are to blame God and others in these temptations. Our present trials have both a present and future benefit to those who love God, ultimately proving our faith and increasing our joy. In these trials, we will face the temptation to sin, but...

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 1:9-11 we are called to set our sights on what really matters rather than on what is immediately in front of us. These verses prompt us to remember in both grateful humility and joyful exaltation that our status and hope are secured in Jesus, not in anything we do or do not have, anything we might misplace our trust in. We know that life is flee...