Northstar Church Blacksburg

In this final message in our series on "Being the Church," Jeff discussed the foundation for our gathering together - humility. From humility flows joy and unity, which allows gatherings of believers to be marked by love for one another and for God, demonstrated in hospitality, fellowship, worship, prayer, teaching, and much more!

To be His church, we are in each other's lives - actively involved, encouraging, urging. nudging one another to remember who we are and whose we are. To keep our eyes on Jesus. To live for His glory. Being His church is not about individual faith pursuits but about “together” - in humility, interdependence, joy, sharing, and hope. 

In this first message in our series on "Being" the Church, Jeff talks about the importance of joy in the life of a Christian, and specifically how Christ's church should be marked by joyful people. Although many different situations, people, and struggles can try to rob us of our joy, remaining focused on our intimate relationship with Jesus and the love he has for us will allow our joy to be stea...

Where does your heart go to find healing? We all go through many things in our lives that can leave us feeling wounded, and can cripple our relationship with others and with God. Psalm 62 reveals that God desires for us to draw near to him and to find healing for our hearts through honesty and transparency before him.

In the last presentation of our BIGsmallGroup 2023, we look at the third possible alignment: Christ Above Culture.

In Deuteronomy 10, Moses reminds the people of Israel just who this God is that has led them out of Egypt and given them the Law. This amazing, awesome God invited them into a love relationship with Him and expected them to represent His character of self-giving love to others. After spending a month studying the Trinity, our only rightful response is to Adore God. How can we practice adoration in...

In the final message of our Trinity series, we look at the Great Commission that Jesus gave his disciples upon his departure from earth. The mission that he gives us is a mission that is overwhelming, and may even seem impossible at times. But, as we begin to see the Great Commission as a reflection of God's Being, we can understand that this mission is God's mission that he has invited us into be...

In this fourth message on the Trinity, we look at the unique role of the Holy Spirit of God. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, a Christian is bound to the very heart of God himself, sharing in the fellowship that exists within the Trinity. As a result, every aspect of the Christian life is a work of the Holy Spirit, and we simply need to learn to abide in the love of God. 

In the third message in our Trinity series, we look at the Person of God the Son, revealed to us incarnate as Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we are able to see what God is really like - as he reveals God to us. When we look at the words and actions of Jesus, we can trust that it is God himself speaking and acting. In Jesus, God reveals that his heart is to reconcile humanity to himself, rescuing the...

In this presentation, we dive deeper into the realities facing Christians today as we seek to be good kingdom citizens in a worldly culture. Using the resource "Christ and Culture," we examine a biblical perspective of two different approaches to living in/with culture: 1) Christ against Culture and 2) Christ of Culture. What does it mean to live a faithful, holy life in an antagonistic world?

In the second message in our Trinity series, we look at how God has revealed himself as Father through the Son. It is easy to think about God as Creator, or Ruler, or something else. Doing so can hurt our ability to have a relationship with him, but the good news is that God has first and foremost revealed himself to us not as Creator or Ruler, but Father.

In this first message in our series on the Trinity, we examine just what the doctrine of the Trinity is, and some common misunderstandings about it. Looking to Scripture, we see that the doctrine of the Trinity is not "a way to think about God," but the only way to think about God! Furthermore, once we begin to understand who God is in his very being and essence, it can help us to have confidence...

In the last portion of the Lord’s Prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for the disciples' sanctification, mission, unity, and reunion. Discover the joy of past-tense “sanctified” and the wonder of the sanctification process. This message encourages us to rely on God’s Word for truth and to embrace our “sent-ness” as disciples of Jesus.

Protection, joy and a reminder that this world is not our home are all part of what Jesus prayed in the Lord’s Prayer in John 17. Learn how and why He prayed for your protection and what that entails for your present confidence and joy. This is the third part of a series on John 17.

This special series during our summer BIGsmallGroup examines how Christians interact with culture as they seek to be and make disciples in it. In our days of "culture wars," what are our biblical responsibilities, and how do we relate well in a culture that is antagonistic to Christ's teachings?

In the second part of the series, this message teaches through John 17:6-10. The power of making God’s name known to the nations AND the joy of our participation in Jesus’ mission is transforming for us as we live our lives today. Above it all, we are reminded that Jesus prayed for us and our “success” in walking in faith with the Father.

This message launches our series on “The Lord’s Prayer.” Rather than looking at what Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6, this message looks at John 17. The first five verses illuminate the glory of God, Jesus’ authority, and what eternal life really is. Jesus’ prayer invites us deeper in our faith, and it encourages our daily obedience and practice.

Remember. Honor. Emulate sacrifice. Reflect on those who gave that we might live in freedom. You are here today, a free and sovereign people, in a wealthy nation, not by your own doing or choice. Before there was a Memorial Day or Decoration Day… before there was an America to serve or give your life for… Christians have been remembering a sacred sacrifice.

What does it mean to live an invitational lifestyle? This message examines the passion and compassion of Paul and the apostles to bring people to know Jesus. As we discover how wonderfully rewarding it is to “be a bringer,” we renew our own gratitude and affection for Jesus. He has not only blessed us, but He blesses all those we bring to Him!

Mothers are not immune to the feeling that we all go through - the feeling that everyone else has it all together, their lives are complete and perfect and for some reason we’re the odd ones out. But my prayer for you is that this Mother’s Day, and the other 364 days of the year, you can rest in the identity that your Father has given you as his beloved daughter - an eshet chayil, a woman of valor...

This message examines the parable of the vineyard that Jesus directed toward the religious leaders. Jesus had a reason for speaking in parables, and it invites us to look at them carefully to understand how they apply to our life. Through this parable, we get the opportunity to renew our understanding and joy of Jesus being the chief cornerstone of our lives.

In this passage, we see a display of extravagant affection for Jesus that leads Judas to not only ask a difficult question, but it would also prompt him to betray Jesus. How can we become offended by someone else’s relationship with Jesus to the point that it impacts us negatively? Listen in and learn some things from Judas and how Jesus rebuked him about what it means to love Jesus extravagantly.

Doubt is such a pervasive part of our lives, it very easily weasels its way into every facet of lives, including our relationship with God. The call of Jesus to stop doubting and believe is not one that is harsh, callous, or dismissive of your fears and doubts. It is instead the gentle call of someone who loves you deeply, and wants you to finally come home. Stop doubting, and believe.

In this message, we examine the profound reality that... the resurrection is a very, very BIG DEAL. The resurrection of Jesus seals our own resurrection, and it assures us that we too will be raised to a new life and a new KIND of life. Listen in and learn how the right understanding of the Resurrection will change your life and hope for every day forward!