Northstar Church Blacksburg

This week’s sermon explored the impact of faith in leaving a lasting legacy. Jeff highlighted the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary—two sets of parents raising two divinely-given children with one mission. These parents aligned their lives with God’s purposes, embracing daily faithfulness, gratitude, and stewardship while pointing others to God’s work. Their legacy reminds us...

This week’s message focused on the true preparation for Christmas as seen in Luke 3:1-6 and other passages. Jeff reminded us that John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare people for the Messiah by directing them to examine their hearts and repent. Jesus carried the same message: repentance is the essential step to entering the kingdom of heaven. Christmas isn’t just about traditions or celebratio...

This week’s sermon reminded us that Christmas is for those who grieve. In a world marked by darkness and the shadow of death, the coming of Jesus announced the beginning of the end of our tears and grief. While we still experience pain and loss, Christmas points us to hope—hope in a Savior who carries our griefs to the cross and promises a day when tears will be no more. What do we do with our gri...

This week’s sermon focused on the themes of waiting and wonder, as seen in Luke 2:21-35. Jeff reminded us that, like Simeon and Anna, we are called to wait on God with hope and faithful obedience. Waiting on God is not passive—it’s an active, patient determination to trust in His work and love. The Holy Spirit is still at work today, confirming that Jesus, the Messiah and hope of the world, has co...

This week’s sermon explored the indispensable role of gratitude in the Christian life, focusing on Philippians 4:5-8. While our culture may view Thanksgiving as fleeting, Jeff reminded us that gratitude is a heart posture that brings peace, alleviates stress, and clears the mind. Improper thought patterns—like worry, anger, or impatience—can short-circuit gratitude, but prayerful, intentional than...

This week’s message delivered by guest speaker Brian Autry, focused on the unshakable truth of God’s sovereignty as seen in Acts 11:29–12:23. Brian reminded us that God remains in control in every situation—during trials, in the darkest hours, when our faith falters, and even when wickedness appears to be winning. No matter the circumstances, we can trust that God is at work, fulfilling His purpos...

This last sermon of our 1 Corinthians series focuses on Paul’s final exhortations to the Corinthian church. Jeff highlighted Paul’s encouragement to embrace young leaders like Timothy, reminding us that age does not limit one’s ability to serve God and set an example in faith, speech, and purity. Paul’s closing instructions urge believers to stand firm in the faith, stay alert, be courageous, and...

This week’s message focused on Paul’s instructions for a special collection to support fellow believers. Unlike regular giving, this offering was meant specifically to bless Christians in need, reminding the Corinthians—and us—of our unity in the body of Christ. Paul’s guidance highlights principles for giving: it should be above and beyond our regular support, involve everyone, be set aside weekl...

This week’s message from guest speaker Dr. James Noble offers a powerful reminder of the hope we have in Christ. Dr. Noble taught that because of the resurrection, we can look forward to new, glorified bodies. Through Christ’s victory, death is defeated, sin loses its sting, and the law no longer condemns us. We’re encouraged to be steadfast and immovable, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not...

This week's sermon emphasizes the significance of Christ’s resurrection and what it means for all humanity. Paul explains that since Christ has been raised, all authority will ultimately be submitted to Him, and He will then submit all things to the Father. The resurrection offers two clear choices: be saved from your sin through repentance and faith in Christ, or remain in your sin, "in Adam." Th...

This week's sermon explores the crucial importance of the resurrection of Christ. Paul asks a series of "what if" questions to challenge those who deny the resurrection, pointing out that if Christ has not been raised, our faith is worthless, our sins remain, and those who have died in Christ are lost. Without the resurrection, our entire faith would be in vain. However, the reality of Christ’s re...

This week's message for Covenant Renewal Sunday emphasizes the importance of church membership. We are reminded that church membership is biblically-based, spiritually encouraging, socially necessary, and mission-centered. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are called to recapture our amazement at who He is and what He has done for us. When we lose that wonder, we wander—becoming stagnant, apathetic,...

This week's message focuses on the clarity of the gospel and the role of the messenger. Paul reminds the Corinthians of the core truths: Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day, and appeared to many—all according to the Scriptures. Paul also humbly points to himself as an unworthy messenger, saved and called by God’s grace to preach this life-giving message. Just as Paul and th...

This week's sermon on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 addresses the need for order in worship and submission to spiritual authority in the church. The Corinthians struggled with autonomy and resisted correction, leading to disorder in their gatherings. Paul emphasizes that worship should be conducted in an orderly manner, with the goal of building up the church. Everyone is called to contribute according t...

This week's sermon on 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 focuses on Paul’s teaching about the spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy, and how they should be used within the church. Paul explains that while the gift of tongues can be a personal way to strengthen one’s faith, it should never be used in public worship without interpretation. The goal of spiritual gifts is not personal fulfillment but building up...

This week's sermon on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 focuses on the importance of love over actions and spiritual gifts. Paul reminds the Corinthians that without love, even the greatest works or gifts are meaningless. True spirituality is not about showing off or competing for attention but about loving others as Jesus loves us. The things we often value—status, recognition, or gifts—are temporary, but lo...

This sermon on 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 highlights the importance of spiritual gifts within the church. It teaches that Jesus is Lord, and while there are many different gifts and members, they all come from the same Lord. These gifts are given by God to strengthen the church, not for personal gain or attention. Each member of the church has an important role to play, working together as one body to...

As we resume our study of 1 Corinthians, Jeff highlights how the relationship with God that Jesus describes in John 17:1-5 forms the basis for all the topics Paul covers in 1 Corinthians. We then walk through highlights of what God has shown us already in our study of 1 Corinthians 1-11.

In this final message of our series on "Living the New Life," Jeff talks about what it looks like for a Christian to live out of their identity as a Spirit-filled Christian. The evidence of a life that is living in obedience to Christ will be fruitful as the Holy Spirit continues to draw the Christian closer to the heart of God, with their heart attitudes and behavior changing as a result.

In today's world, it can be confusing to even know who to listen to, let alone believe. In this message, Jeff emphasizes the importance of discernment, urging believers to live as children of light by rejecting deception, exposing darkness, and understanding God's will through His Word. The church needs to be shrewd in a world full of lies, maintaining joy while standing firm in righteousness, jus...

In this continuation of our Living the New Life series, Sean discusses the importance of releasing bitterness and anger and embracing kindness, compassion, and grace in our relationships. We delve into how these attitudes reflect our new life in Christ and are grounded in the rich theological truths Paul presents in the earlier chapters of Ephesians. Reflect with us on the incredible grace God has...

This is session 3 of the Baptism in the Early Church series.

How do you "use your words?" We have been given a finite number of words to use, and we have a choice to either allow our communication to be transformed by the power of the gospel, or to continue to speak carelessly. In this continuation of our Living the New Life series, we look at how Jesus can transform our communication to build others up and give thanks.

This is session 2 of the Baptism in the Early Church series.

In this first message in our new sermon series on "How to Be the Church", we learn about living our new life in Christ together. In Ephesians 4:25, we see the explicit command that living the new life means that the people of God cannot lie to each other, but instead have to be truthful based on the fact that they are united in Christ.