First Baptist Blowing Rock

Is the Church more concerned with it's own survival over advancing the Kingdom of God? Have we lost our passion for sharing our faith? Have we emphasized spiritual growth at the expense of evangelism? Have we lost our sense of urgency? Join us as we discover how to regain a "fierce urgency of now" when it comes to sharing with others what is supposed to be the most important thing in our lives. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? From John 4:27-38Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

Psalms 46 has been used as a great source of strength and encouragement to those facing trials and struggles, but what if it was more than a source of comfort but rather a place to find confidence? The Psalmist encourages us to "Know" or "experience" God in a very real and tangible way in our everyday lives but this first requires that we "Be Still". What might that look like and what can we discover if we ever take the time to try it? Join us as we take a closer look at this powerful passage and unlock the keys to what might make your 2018 a year to remember! From Psalms 46Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

When does Christmas end? Is it on December 26th? Or maybe it is on January 7th, the end of the 12 days of Christmas and the celebration of the arrival of the Magi in many churches? While we debate and discuss how the beginning of the season keeps getting pushed back early and earlier into November, but what about its end date? Is it when we finish unwrapping that last present, or when the relatives all leave, or maybe when we take down all the decorations? In many Christmas stories and musicals, it seems to end with the arrival of the Magi, but in Matthews version of the nativity, he includes a couple more scenes that seem get overlooked and even left out. Might these 3 scenes bring some insight for when we can officially stop celebrating Christmas or maybe they suggest that Christmas is more than a seasonal celebration? Join us as we examine Matthews additional scenes and what role they might play in helping us in expressing the message of Christmas all year long. From Matthew 2:13-23. Thank you for listeni

When you read in 2nd Corinthians 11:21-29 as Paul describes some of the things he endured and overcame while sharing the gospel, you can't help but thinking "dangerous". But why would this simple, old theologian be in danger or even dangerous to those around him? It wasn't who he was that made him dangerous, but rather his message. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that the message of Jesus Christ was foolishness, or offensive to those who are lost and that made it dangerous. For the last 2000 years, history is filled with stories about the followers of Christ who have been considered dangerous by those in power, by those who protect the status quo, simply because they identified and lived out the message of Jesus Christ. So what happened? Are Christians in North America still dangerous? Or for the sake of accommodation or acceptance and approval have we watered down or removed the very parts of the message that made it dangerous, the very parts of the Word of God that releases the power

In spite of what we see in our traditional nativity scenes, we don't know how many Magi/Wise Men there actually were, we don't even know when they arrived on the scene or where they really came from; so what role do they play in the story? Join us as we examine the purpose and message of the Wise Men and how their arrival brings both the Old Testament and the Death of Jesus Christ into the Nativity scene. From Matthew 2:1-12Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

It seems like you can't watch the news or get online without being overwhelmed with acts of "Evil" happening all around the world; church shootings, hunger and homelessness, marriages and homes dissolving and hate filled protest. We have a tendency to want to ask why? what happens that causes these events or these acts? The answer is simple; we live in an evil and fallen world and trying to understand it won't change it, trying to rationalize it won't change it, yet on this first weekend of Advent we find an answer; Hope! Paul closes Romans chapter 12 by reminding us that responding to evil with evil will never stop it or change it - the only thing that can overcome evil is good - and the Bible tells us that the ultimate good that overcomes evil is Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ, we do not live like those who have no hope, who fear evil,but with the understanding that evil can be overcome and one day it will be eliminated. Listen in to find out what that looks like in our everyd

The Apostle Paul warns us that if we claim to be followers of Christ, people will be watching us and for many people, the only definition of Christianity they will see is what they observe from your life. He tells us to be careful and strive to always do what is "right". So what does doing what is "right" mean, and what might that look like in our everyday lives? In Romans 12:17-20, he gives us several practical examples of how we can live out what we say we believe in a way that is not only "right" but is sure to catch the attention of those around us. Join us to discover what it looks like for a Christian to truly live out Christ example in a hostile world. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

As the Apostle Paul continues to paint a picture of how the followers of Christ are supposed to live from Romans 12, he moves from our relationship with a specific group of people in verses 14-16, to a more general audience in verse 17. While at first glance it may seem to be just a simple instruction to "always do what is right" but when you examine the context and his word choices from the Greek language; it unlocks the keys to a lifestyle that has the potential to transform our culture. In a culture that has embraced Moral Relativism where what is "acceptable behavior" or how we define "right or wrong" changes and shifts according to popular opinion, our circumstances or the situations we face; Paul challenges Christ followers to a different standard. From Romans 12:17Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Conta

We continue looking at character traits that will help or hinder our ability to put into practice "Blessing those who persecute us, bless and do not curse" from Romans 12:14. Much like stretching before you run or exercise; the Apostle Paul gives us some traits that will help stretch us spiritually and soften our hearts to get us to the point that we can learn to bless those difficult people in our lives - those who have betrayed us, bullied us, hurt or disappointed us. Learning to do this goes against our human nature and everything we are taught in our culture, so it is not easy, but for the Christ follower, it is not an option. In this message we look at both Pride and Prejudice and how prevalent and controlling they are in our lives and how they can both become a huge barrier to our being obedient to Christ command. We also discuss the fact that our ability to "bless those who persecute us" is not as much for those we are blessing as it is for us. From Romans 12:14-16Thank you for list

We were blessed to host Pastor Mark Brumbelow and his wife Cherry from Grace Baptist Church in Brazoria Texas to share how God has used their small rural church to do some incredible things with Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. In 2015 their church of 40 members collected 5321 shoeboxes! Their goal this year was 6975 to bring their 3 year total to 15,000 shoeboxes which is an incredible amount, then Hurricane Harvey hit their area. All but one of their church families lost their homes in the flooding from the Hurricane and yet while many of them sheltered and lived at the church, they continued to collect and pack shoeboxes. Even in the midst of the devastation they were able to surpass their goal and this year packed 8031 shoeboxes to be distributed to needy children around the world. This is their testimony from our service on November 5, 2017. At the end we were able to surprise the Brumbelow's by presenting their church a gift of $5000. from the Hurricane Relief Offering we raised on Harvest Day.

As a follow up to last weeks sermon from Romans 12:14 where Paul commands Christ followers to "Bless those who persecute us, bless and no curse". Knowing that this command goes against our human nature and can be so difficult to live out; Paul follows up in verses 15-16 with some practical examples of how we might prepare our hearts to be able to bless those who have persecuted us, betrayed us or hurt us. In today's message we look at the first two; Practicing Empathy and Promoting Harmony. Join us to discover what it really means to be empathetic and how showing empathy to those who hurt us might soften your heart in your response. We also discover that promoting harmony might mean sacrificing our need to always be right, or always be heard, or to always have the last word. From Romans 12:14-16Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube pa

All of us have people in our lives who have hurt us; some intentionally, some by accident and some never even realize the pain they have caused. We have people in our lives who betray us, who bully us, who lie about us to get ahead. People who make fun of us, who talk behind our back, who spread rumors about us - just plain old fashion "Mean People". In response to these people, we spend a crazy amount of time, effort and energy planning our revenge, our retaliation or at the very least we love to dream about all the bad things we wish would happen to them. Good News! The Bible gives us a very clear and concise response on how to respond and handle these types of people in our lives. If you have even been picked on, betrayed, bullied, hurt, lied about or left out - this message is for you. From Romans 12:14-16Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our

Terms like "authentic" and "community" have become the new Christian buzzwords. You find them in purpose statements, on church signs, on our logos and in our orders of worship; but do we even know what they mean? Are we advertising something that we are not providing or even producing? Have they simply become cliché's to an outside world who finds more community at their local bars, gyms or sports fields? In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul lays out several building blocks and behaviors that can turn a religious gathering into an authentic community if we are willing to listen. In a culture with a hunger and desire to "belong" to something or somewhere; what is the local church offering? From Romans 12:9-13Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-

How do we define love? How do we define how we are supposed to love others? Sure we can describe what love looks like, or it's attributes or characteristics but can we define it? What about God's love? If Christ followers are supposed to "love others the way God does, or the way God loves us", what does that mean? The problem with coming up to an answer for that question is everyone has their own definition. In Romans chapter 12, the Apostle Paul gives a pretty good definition for not only what God's love means but also how our love for one another should be defined, but it is not as clear cut as most of us would like. When he uses the word "Hate" to define God's love it can bring some confusion. Join us as we dig deep in Romans 12:9 to discover what "True, Sincere and Genuine" love means and how it can radically transform each of us as well as the church and the culture we live inThank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe

How do we determine if we are a healthy and growing Christian? How do we determine if our church is "healthy"? Some would point to external factors; size, attendance, programs, growth - others might look at the past and determine progress made - but do those really reveal health? For years we determined a person's health by looking at their weight and height then finding on a chart how those two compared to the average. The only problem with that was that different people carry weight differently; what might be healthy for one person, might be different on another. So doctors and researchers began to factor in "body shape" to determine what was "healthy" because each person is unique. The same is true in the church and for individual Christ followers; we are all unique and different - with different gifts and talents and different "calls" on our lives. So like an individual, one of the ways we can determine our "spiritual health" is by looking at our SHAP

It had been well quoted that in the average church 10% of the people do 90% of the work and while that may not be the case in many churches, a Gallup Poll found it close to reality. Even more disturbing is that the same poll revealed that of the 85-90% of church member who are not serving or working in their churches, 50% said they could not picture any circumstances where they would get involved. Is it any wonder that churches are closing their doors across America at a record level or that our cultural is turning more secular faster than anyone could have ever imagined - half of the church is sitting on the sidelines. Jesus never intended that someone who calls themselves one of His followers would not be active in ministering and serving in His church. Join us as we look at what the Apostle Paul taught concerning how we are to be involved in ministry and why. From Romans 12:3-8 Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our w

We live in a very self absorbed culture. Our social media sites are filled with "selfies" and other pictures from our day to day adventures. Our self worth seems to hinge upon how many views or likes we get from our media post on the various apps we can't help but check at every waking moment. We are eliminating grades in school for the same reason that everyone now gets a trophy for simply showing up. We have allowed the culture and popular opinion to define us according to it's subjective standards that always seem to be changing to the point that many people no longer recognize the person they see staring back at them from the mirror in the morning. The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Romans 12 that for those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, the greatest change in our lives should first take place in our minds - the way we think, our worldview and most importantly, the way we see ourselves. The way we view ourselves is pivotal to the way we see and treat others, and founda

In a recent USA Today survey people were asked what would be the one question they could ask God. Over 80% responded that they wanted to ask God, "What is your will for my life? What is my purpose?" Even in the church, many long time Christians still struggle with the idea of "God's Will" and purposes for their life. Does He have a specific will for me and if so, How can I know it.? God's will is one of those spiritual principles that we have made a lot more complicated than it should be. The Bible is very clear and even direct when it comes to God's will, even His personal will for our lives. The problem is not in the discovery, the problem is in the application. Join us as we look at Romans 12:2 and not only discover what God's will is for each one of us, but also why it is so important that we live it out - experience it! Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship onl

We live in a rapidly changing culture and it is having a profound effect on Christians and the Church. Behavior and lifestyles that only a few years ago seemed abnormal or out of the mainstream are now not only accepted but even celebrated. The lines between how society defines good and evil and right and wrong are being blurred and it is happening at such a pace that many in the church don't know how to respond. As personal experience, circumstances and opinions are elevated over any form of absolute truth the world does not need our conformity or for us to blur the lines about what we believe and stand on as found in God's word; the darkness needs a light! So how do we respond? How do we show grace, mercy, and love to those around us as we reach out to minister and share the Gospel without compromising what we hold dear? The Apostle Paul lays out some simple principles in Romans 12:1-2 that might hold some answers. Join us as we continue our study from these foundational verses and examine our ind

As we continue looking at Romans 12:1, we examine the ideas behind individual worship and what that might look like in the church. The reason many people today struggle with worship is related more to what they are willing to give than any various worship styles. Worship must always include a sacrifice and it starts with each of us willingly giving every part of ourselves to God and everything else that we do flows from there. If we struggle with giving, if we struggle with our prayer life, if we struggle with singing in worship, if we struggle with serving; the first place to examine is the altar of our heart and see what we have sacrificed. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715