Northstar Church Blacksburg

We call this day Good Friday. But what makes Good Friday, good? At first glance, it isn’t good at all. What is good about Jesus dying alone, humiliated, in excruciating pain, mocked and treated like a common criminal? However, through Jesus we can now never be separated from the love of God. He has won the only victory that matters. And that is why Good Friday is good.

This Palm Sunday message examines the not-so-triumphant entry of Jesus. Although he received accolades of his disciples and a crowd, it was hasty, impromptu and ignorant. Jesus also had to arrange His own details by sending for a colt. What was Jesus doing, and what can we learn about welcoming Jesus well into our lives?

In Mark 9:2-10, Peter, James and John experience what is known as Jesus’ transfiguration. Alone with Jesus, they see Him in all His glory, and they are stunned to meet Moses and Elijah as well! This message examines the wonder of that moment and the implications for followers of Jesus today as we seek to understand Jesus’ glory and tell others about Him.

In this message from Mark 8, we are asked, “What does it mean to be ashamed of Jesus and His words?” We learn that being embarrassed of our Lord is choosing to save our lives, trying to avoid cancellation, to avoid ridicule, to avoid being associated with Jesus and His teaching. Sometimes it’s just choosing “busy.” Ultimately, it’s denying His identity and authority.

This day examines what a “day in the life of Jesus” looked like and how it impacted His disciples. We are encouraged to rely only upon Jesus for our perspective and strength since serving Him can exhaust and even give us hard hearts when they are not resting in Him.

Darrell Cook gives a message on how we as believers should place importance on contentment and defining what Godliness, contentment and great gain looks like in scripture. He takes us through scripture in Philippians and 1 Timothy.

In our human fallenness we tend to act as though our Savior is distant, uninvolved, or powerless in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Brian Autry reminds us that our God changes hearts and works mightily in the lives of His people. There is power in the name of Jesus!

This is the last message of our Revelation series, and it is both sobering and deeply hopeful. Jesus Himself speaks, and we are invited into His presence forever through faith by the Spirit and the witness of the Church. The main question to ask yourself at the end of this series is simply: Are you ready?

“I am coming soon,” Jesus said twice in Revelation 22. What is “soon?” When can we expect Jesus’ return, and how should we live now in light of His certain soonness? 

“Make every effort” was the encouraging theme of this State of the Church message. It is humbling and amazing to survey all that God has done in the life of Northstar Church. Jeff highlights stories and demonstrates the abundant work of God in our midst. He focused the challenge around one Greek word spoudazō that occurs numerous times in the New Testament, meaning “make every effort.” Christians...

This message begins the last chapter of Revelation. An angel continues to reveal characteristics of heaven to John, and we see reflections of Eden in the eternal Paradise. The tree of life and the river of the water of life both are featured, and we invited to be comforted in our future purposeful work and in the loving reign of God for all eternity.

In Revelation 21, we are stunned by a glorious picture of the new Jerusalem, coming down from God. This will be the dwelling place of God with His people for eternity. This vision, as recorded by John, prepares us for the purity and perfection of our eternal reward. We are reminded that the best part of heaven is not its benefits but the presence of our loving God.

This message celebrates the first vision of heaven in Revelation that includes the church’s life after Christ’s return. Death is defeated, and real, eternal and abundant life begins! The most important thing for each person to determine NOW is to “be there.” Jeff shares the gospel and how each person can find assurance that they will be in heaven with God one day.

It's a new year! How do God's people prepare and remind themselves to live in today's world? Listen in as we share principles about anchoring ourselves in the love of God so that we can confidently live and joyfully share from a life of faith. Living in today's culture is a type of "exile" for Christians, and as we are embraced by God in love, we can lovingly embrace people around us.

In this special "Eve of the Eve" service, we celebrated the gifts that the wise men brought to worship Jesus and examined how each gift might apply to what we ourselves give both to Jesus and our weary world. Christmas is about sharing the gift of Jesus Christ with others.

Christmas signifies God breaking into the human experience through the Son, Jesus. This "breaking in" was cause for great fear among those who were the first to experience it, as they recognized that something new and spectacular was happening. In this message, Jeff describes how Christmas sill signifies God breaking in to our ordinary, mundane lives marked by sin and failure. Our response should...

Bethlehem, the land of sweet water, House of Bread, and land that the bread of life came from. Listen in to hear Jeff Noble talk about the wonder of Bethlehem and its significance to our faith today.

Christmas is here, and in this first message to kick off our December Nights series, we looked the two appearances by the angel Gabriel to two couples who were invited into God’s activity that would change the world. This brief study of these two miracle babies and their missions in life urge all followers of Jesus to “be Christmas Christians” every single day. Our fear of the unknown can be swall...

The last verses of Revelation 20 describe the end of sin and the death of death. The Great White Throne Judgment is the culmination of rebellion against God, and as those who have rejected Him are judged, we learn the ultimate destinations and destinies of humanity. It prompts our awe, prayer and compassion.

The time of year surrounding Thanksgiving is one where we take time to think about what we are thankful for, and being grateful for all the things we have been blessed with. For a Christian, it is important to consider what we should ultimately be thankful for. Even though the easy answer is "Jesus," what does that really mean? In this message, we look at the beauty and wonder of the gospel and ho...

Revelation 20 is one of the most difficult chapters in the book to understand. This passage teaches that Satan will be released from the abyss after Jesus’ 1000-year reign on earth. At that time, he will successfully deceive humanity again, and there will be another battle against the saints. We learn much about man’s nature, Satan’s intent, and Jesus’ sovereignty through these verses.

"They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” This one statement in Revelation 20:4 has immense implications for us as we look at the final days. This message examines what the Bible teaches(or doesn’t) about the Rapture of the church, its timing and the blessed expectation for all Christians when Christ returns."

One of the most difficult passages in all of the New Testament begins with teaching about Jesus’ 1000 year reign, with Satan being bound and believers being raised from the dead. Our view of the Millennium may differ, but what we can confidently believe is Jesus’ sovereignty, His power over Satan, and our present mission to live joyfully and boldly, with authority TODAY.

Our Covenant Renewal Sunday focused on the theme of “Wake Up” from Ephesians 5:1-15. The days we live in are significant, and the church must understand and know doctrine; and how to live and speak and relate - in order to know how to stand strong, make disciples, live with joy and boldness and humility in a changing culture.

In this message, we study two visions: one of Jesus in the fullness of His power and authority one of the last battle Jesus rides a white horse into Armageddon, and the brevity verses of about this consummate “Day of the Lord” teaches us profound lessons about God’s power and sovereignty.