The Backpack

This Sunday, Pastor Blake continued our journey through 1 Corinthians with a message titled “We Are His Alone.” He reminded us that rivalry and division weaken the Church, but unity in Christ gives us the power to truly live. We’re called not to follow personalities, politics, or personal preferences, but to center our lives on the cross, the only source of real strength and wisdom. When we belong...

We all long to belong, to find a place and people where we fit. But true belonging doesn’t come from fighting for our seat at the table or proving our worth, it comes from knowing we belong to God. This week, Pastor Blake opened our new series We Are His with a powerful reminder that our identity, unity, and peace begin in Christ. When we belong to Him, we don’t have to strive to fit in, we are al...

This week’s message comes following "The City That Is to Come" series, with a powerful challenge: don’t just dream about heaven, start preparing for it. Pastor Daniel reminds us that faith requires movement. Like packing up for a move, following Jesus means letting go of comfort, clearing out what weighs us down, and stepping forward in obedience. We’re not meant to stay where we are, Go...

This Sunday, we celebrated 15 years of God’s faithfulness at Christ Community Church by looking forward to the city that is to come. Pastor Blake reminded us that our hope isn’t in strategies or structures, but in the God who dwells with His people. As “tent dwellers,” we’re called to: 1. Thirst for God’s presence 2. Pursue holiness together 3. Shine the light of Christ among the nations From Reve...

Today we celebrated the incredible story of Christ Community Church, a journey that began with a simple “yes” to God’s call to go outside. Founding pastor Lee Webb sat down with missionary mentor Carl Babb to reflect on the adventure of faith that started in a living room and became a movement. From pre-marital counseling sessions to planting a church, their story reminds us that discipleship isn’...

This Sunday at Christ Community, we heard from our team that just returned from visiting Mike & Sarah Emery in Kenya. Their stories reminded us that mission trips aren’t about being the heroes; they’re about joining God in the work He’s already doing. From grandparents raising children through small chicken businesses, to orphanages being transformed into centers that reunite kids with their f...

From Abraham’s journey in Hebrews 11 to the everyday steps of faith we take in Shelbyville, this week’s message reminds us that God calls us to live boldly, not by sight but by trust in His promises. Through powerful stories, both from Scripture and our own community, we saw how saving faith, the gift of faith, and living by faith transform lives and entire cities.

This Sunday at Christ Community, we reflected on Psalm 131 and the call to humility. In light of the brokenness and division in our nation, we were reminded that pride inflates our egos and ultimately destroys hope, while humility anchors our souls in Christ. Pastor Blake explored how Jesus “weans our soul from our ego,” leading us away from self-dependence and into a quiet trust in Him. He gave u...

Libby Nethery shared how God’s goodness and faithfulness have been evident in her life, even through seasons of uncertainty. At the height of the pandemic, she watched the decline in teenagers’ mental, emotional, and spiritual health, something she also experienced in her own family. Instead of turning away, Libby leaned into prayer and sought God’s direction. He led her to pursue a Master’s in So...

This week, Pastor Blake walked us through Psalm 128 and reminded us that true happiness comes when we pursue God’s blessing in God’s way. Families flourish when husbands lead with reverence for God, wives grow as fruitful vines, and children are rooted like olive trees. As we look toward the city God is preparing, we’re called to value family the way He designed.

When Daniel Bright said “yes” to leading virtual ESL classes for Chile, he felt unprepared. The first class was chaotic, but God showed His power through weakness. Over six weeks, students not only learned English but also heard the Gospel, with lives transformed and hearts opened. Daniel’s story reminds us that even 1% of our week surrendered to God can change lives across the world.

This Sunday at Christ Community, we were blessed to hear Don Price’s story of God’s grace. From growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm to encountering Jesus on a road trip to California, Don shared how God transformed his life; from being a “good kid” to discovering his true need for a Savior. Now, after decades in ministry with Julie by his side, Don is stepping into a new season here in Shelbyvill...

In this week’s message from Psalm 122, Jeff Bracken reminds us that true unity is not about sameness, but about pursuing peace and oneness in Christ despite our differences. Drawing from Israel’s history of tribal conflict, Jeff shows that God’s call to unity has always been a call to lay aside personal pride and preferences for the sake of something greater. Through powerful personal stories, fro...

This week at Christ Community,  DJ Williams takes us into Psalm 121 as part of our fall series The City That Is To Come.  Just like Israel’s Songs of Ascent prepared God’s people for their journey to Jerusalem, Psalm 121 reminds us that our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Through this passage, we see five powerful ways God protects and keeps His people: 1. He guards us in...

On Sunday, we began a new series at Christ Community called The City That Is to Come. From Genesis 11 and the story of Babel, we saw how our fears and disappointments often drive us to build “cities” of our own, seeking identity, security, and purpose apart from God. But in His mercy, the Lord comes down, scatters our fragile towers, and invites us to something far better: a city with eternal foun...

This week, Pastor Blake wrapped up our two-week series from 2 Peter 1 and reminded us that comfort is a poor compass. God calls every believer not just to follow Jesus, but to join Him in making disciples. When we forget the gospel, life brings us to pinch points, moments of pressure, decision, and growth. The gospel isn’t just the way into God’s kingdom; it’s the way through life’s hardest places...

Ryan & Maeghan Adams share their story about how God is calling them to start a new community group; one designed especially for families with unique challenges, including children with special needs. Their heart is to remove barriers, provide a safe place, and create deep, Christ-centered connections for those who may have felt left out of church life. Listen in to hear how you can be praying...

As we prepare for a new school year, Christ Community Church had the honor of welcoming Dr. Matthews, Superintendent of Shelby County Public Schools, to share his story and heart for servant leadership. In this powerful moment of prayer and reflection, Pastor Blake leads a conversation about: - The role of faith in leadership. - How the church can serve and support local schools. - The beauty and...

In this honest and heartfelt story, Rebecca Boyd shares about the ups and downs of her faith journey - growing up in a large family, dealing with her father’s incarceration, and facing grief and loss. Through years of trying to stay strong and in control, she eventually reached a point where she realized she couldn’t carry it all on her own. Rebecca’s story is a reminder that surrendering to God d...

In this back-to-school message, Pastor Kenny brings a powerful, honest, and sometimes hilarious word about the importance of biblical community and discipleship, especially as our lives get busy. Teaching from 2 Peter 1:3–8, Kenny challenges us to: - Recognize the spiritual drift that happens when we fill our lives with good things but miss the God things. - Embrace community as a place of growth,...

In this powerful conclusion to our long-running series through the Gospel of Luke, we are taken to the foot of the cross with one question echoing from Scripture:  What do you see?  Pastor Blake invites us to look past the pain, the shame, and the brokenness of the crucifixion and instead see the beauty of forgiveness, the wonder of God’s love, and the invitation to trust our spirits into His hand...

In this powerful message from Luke 22–23, Pastor Blake unpacks the unfair trial of Jesus and reveals how the clarity of who Christ is exposes the truth about our own commitment to Him. Through the lens of prophet, priest, and king, we see Jesus not only endure injustice but embody grace, authority, and sacrifice. This sermon challenges us to evaluate our own patterns of waffling, avoiding, or rebe...

In this powerful message from Luke 22, Pastor Blake Lawyer guides us through Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane—a moment where both divinity and humanity come into full focus. As Jesus kneels in anguish and prays, we’re reminded of our own limitations and the spiritual battles we face daily. This sermon challenges us to make prayer our “red bandana”—our go-to, our ethos—just as it was for Jes...

In this powerful message from Luke 22, we step into the Upper Room and discover the heart of Jesus on the night before His crucifixion. Pastor Blake unpacks the meaning behind the Last Supper—not just as a historical event, but as an invitation for every believer to see more clearly the grace and intentionality of Christ. Through the betrayal of Judas, the pride of the disciples, and Peter’s comin...

In this powerful testimony, Peter Roloson shares his journey from upstate New York to Kentucky—and from spiritual skepticism to deep faith. Raised in a good home without a church background, Peter once resented religion and was determined to keep his Sundays for hunting, not hymns. But God had other plans. Through the persistent witness of his now-wife Molly, the mentorship of “Bible-thumping Larr...