Northstar Church Blacksburg

Matt Kesler shares the story of Judah and his repeated sin and disobedience. In Genesis 38, Judah is quick to point his finger at Tamar, while not focusing on his own sin. Often times we treat sin the same way in our own lives. Judah's integrity is lacking, but he has a change of heart and eventually, the Messiah is born in his lineage. Matt reminds listeners that just like Judah, we can have a re...

Joseph is Jacob's favored son, but this doesn't sit well with Joseph's brothers. In this sermon, we examine the early life of Joseph to see how his story goes from big promises, to betrayal and isolation by and from his own family. Darrell Cook encourages listeners to trust the Lord's plan, even when it seems all wrong in the moment.

As the story of his life nears its end in Genesis, Jacob's family challenges seem to multiply. In Genesis 35, Jacob is betrayed by his eldest son, Reuben, and he experiences the death of three people very close to him; his father and beloved wife, Rachel. These difficult stories in Jacob's life are a reminder of our need to continually trust the Lord in every circumstance of life - even when our e...

The story of Jacob's daughter, Dinah in Genesis 34 is a story about a sensitive and yet very important issue that affects our world today: sexual assault. On Father's Day Sunday, Jeff discusses the response of Jacob to his daughter's abuse and he offers practical and spiritual advice for those affected. Jeff reminds the church that the greatest place of healing for our lives, for any injustice we...

We regularly attempt to hide our weaknesses from God, but as Matt Simpson points out, God's sovereignty is often best revealed to us when we are most fragile. Jacob is fearful and wounded as he encounters his brother Esau, but he knows his ability to save himself is nothing compared to God's purpose and plan. The story of vulnerable Jacob facing his brother Esau challenges us in our own lives: Wha...

As Jacob prepares to face his brother Esau for the first time in 20 years, he is afraid for his life. Jacob goes before God in prayer; he is fearful and he is humbled by his unworthiness, but he believes that God will be faithful to him. As he seeks God's deliverance, Jacob is met by a "man" who wrestles with him throughout the night. The result is that Jacob is left with a lifelong injury.... and...

This week Neal Nelson unpacks a story of God's intervention in Jacob's life. As Jacob balances his family life and working for his father-in-law, Laben, God continues to show Jacob favor, even in spite of his often messy life. Neal points out that God works the same way in our lives today as He shows us undeserved and invaluable favor, even when our lives are often difficult and messy. God truly i...

In Genesis 28 and 29 Jacob finds himself on the run and alone after deceiving his father and stealing his brother's birthright. In this sermon, Jeff looks at how Jacob learned to surrender to God and how we can likewise find joy in surrendering and waiting on God in our own lives.

This sermon examines Jacob and Esau, and the ways that Jacob deceived his father to take Esau's blessing. In Jacob's "performance act" and through Esau's desperation we see that God uses both for redemption, and that we can look to Jesus to be free from performing.

This sermon looks at Isaac and the ways that God blessed him in a famine because of God's character in keeping his covenant with Abraham. From Isaac we see that we must not lose heart in a famine, because even Jesus himself endured hardship, but God's provision is unfailing.

This sermon looks at the story of Jacob and Esau, and how Esau was governed by his appetite trading his birthright for a bowl of stew. From this we can learn to invite the Lord into orienting our minds for a long term perspective instead of short term satisfaction, and to understand what appetites try to govern our own lives so that we can confess those to the Lord.

Through looking at Peter's failures as he tries desperately to love Jesus but denies him three times, we learn that the cross was for the purpose of restoring us and commissioning us. We fail Jesus every day, but he loves us and reminds us to leave our sin in the past because he has greater purpose for us. The cross made a way for sinful people to become right with God. The cross made the impossib...

Good Friday was not good for the disciples, particularly Peter. For him, it was the culmination of weeks of frustration and failure. Would there be any recovery from being called "Satan" and denying Jesus?

This sermon examines Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem as people praised him and welcomed him with the waving of palm branches. Diving deeper, we learn that we can stand in the crowed and shout "hosanna" to Jesus and yet be a hindrance to Jesus when we do not acknowledge his identity and his mission. The beginning of Holy Week is a time for us to truly contemplate the authority and the mission of the...

This sermon gives an in depth look to Abraham's death in Genesis 25, and shows how a contentment with the concept of death can give us a vision for life. When we submit to the order of God's plans for us, and accept that we are merely 'pilgrims' on this earth-in the world and not of it - then we are able to live more freely for the purposes God has called us to.

This sermon looks at the humility of Abraham's servant Eliezer, and his willingness to find Isaac a wife fulfilling the parameters set by Abraham. From Eliezer's simple prayer for guidance, we see that God works in the ordinary and in the routine circumstances of those who walk in faith with Him. Like Eliezer, we should be expectant of interruptions and divine encounters with God even in the habit...

Through John 15 and Jesus' comparison of himself to the vine and his people to the branches, we can learn that abiding in Jesus is essential for all believers, that Jesus makes a clear distinction between healthy and withered branches, and that eventually through abiding in Jesus, there will be fruit produced.

This sermon examines the way Abraham grieved Sarah's death, and more specifically the way Abraham accepted her death as simply her passage from life on earth to life with Jesus. From Abraham's example we are able to understand that death has no power over those who believe, that mourning is a truly a blessing, and that death is not a dead end but a gateway we all must pass through in order to stan...

Matt Simpson shares the story of Abraham and Issac's journey to the mountain to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Matt compares some of Abraham's life moments of failure and great faith and relates Abraham's life to our life as believers today. Abraham displayed complete trust in the Lord by giving God the thing he valued most, his beloved son. The story of Abraham and Issac is one of faith and surren...

This message gives an in depth look at Abraham's interaction with King Abimelek, and how that relates to the lamenting of our sin, and the process of grieving over the brokenness of our lives. Through Abraham and Abimelek's story we learn that the Bible embraces lament because it is honest about human experience, and that we are called to suffer before we get to heaven. Though we are sinful by nat...

Neal Nelson goes through Genesis 21:1-7 to show how God fulfilled his promise to Abraham in his perfect timing. Abraham and Sarah have a son named Isaac who is in the line of the future messiah. Neal compares the similarities between Abraham's son Isaac and God's son Jesus, the promised future messiah.

The story of God rescuing Lot and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah reminds us that God's grace does not rest on our ability to cooperate with Him but rather God is merciful because of His good nature and His faithfulness.

This message examines the judgment of Sodom and asks how Christians can live and relate in a culture that rejects God's design and will.

It is not a wonder that so many are judged. It is, however, a wonder that any are saved. It is only by God’s goodness and mercy. When He sees any seeking Him, He responds with abundant salvation and gracious patience.

This year as a church we are focused on spiritual growth through discipleship. We want each one of our members to be walking with the Lord daily and constantly growing in faith.