First Baptist Blowing Rock

As Matthew 6 transitions from Jesus encouragement for his followers to develop and pursue spiritual maturity (perfection) from Matthew 5; Jesus follows up with a warning. He warns his followers here in Matthew 6 to be on their guard not to fall into the same trap that had ensnared the Pharisees when it came to their spiritual disciplines. Using the examples of prayer, fasting and the giving of our resources; he reminds us that it is not the act, but rather the heart and motive behind the act that counts. This mornings message focuses on "giving" and how we can allow it to both lose it's power and cause us to miss out on the rewards if we are not careful. Learning to give of our resources is not so much dependent on our ability to open our wallets or write a check as it is completely submitting our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Listen in to learn about the true rewards of giving as well as how to test your motives when it comes to being obedient. From Matthew 6:1-4. Thank you for listening to our

At the end of Matthew 5, Jesus encourages his followers to strive to "grow up" spiritually; to grow into mature believers. This growth starts with a changed heart that is totally submitted to the control and leadership of the Holy Spirit and leads to certain spiritual behaviors that not only help us continue to grow, but also allows us to use the gifts he has given us to impact others. Jesus starts Chapter 6 of Matthew with a stern warning for those seeking spiritual maturity to guard their hearts and motives to keep from falling into the trap of putting the acceptance and approval of men over the obedience and glory of God. Join us as we examine those "spiritual disciplines" and the danger that can arise when we loose focus for why we are doing them. From Matthew 6:1Thank 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 offic

Can a Christ follower ever be "perfect"? Is that even a possibility? Not sinless - that is impossible as long as we live in these fleshly bodies; we will always struggle with sin - but perfect? Paul tells the church at Philippi in Philippians 3:12 that he has not been made "perfect" but he continues to pursue it. In Hebrews 6:1 we are told to move on from elementary teaching towards perfection, and in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:48, Jesus calls his followers to "be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect". Would Jesus really call and command us to do something that was not possible, or achievable? So what is this "perfection" and why does it hold the key for totally changing our lives, our families, our churches and our culture in the new year? Listen in to discover how "perfection" is not only attainable, but expected for anyone committed to "Following Jesus". Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe

The very first Christmas had its share of interruptions and disruptions so why should we be surprised when our Christmas plans don't go as we had hoped or planned. So many of us dream of creating the perfect Christmas memories; usually along the lines of a Norman Rockwell painting, and what we get is a Clark Griswold Christmas with our own version of cousin Eddie, lights that don't work and burned meals. Instead of letting these interruptions become learning moments or even memories of their own, we allow them to rob our joy and even ruin our holidays. Join us to learn how the first Christmas could have been a disaster and yet God used it to change the world and discover how your unexpected interruptions might just be great opportunities for the same results! From Matthew 1:18-25Thank 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 off

When confronted with how we are to respond to someone who has hurt us, or is taking advantage of us, or even suing us; Jesus gives a curious answer that speaks directly to the heart of a his followers. In Matthew 5:41 Jesus directs his follower that if they are compelled to carry someone's burden for one mile, they should go two. To his original listeners, this spoke to a Roman law where a soldier could compel any able bodied man to carry their packs or loads for one mile - for the rest of us, it speaks to a transformed heart. He simply implies that those who choose to follow him should be know for going beyond what is expected or required in meeting the needs of those around them - going the second mile! Listen to today's message to find out what that might look like in our everyday lives. From Matthew 5:38-42.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 ou

With the recent Presidential elections over and after a nasty and ugly campaign, one thing is pretty obvious; regardless of which candidate you supported - the character and integrity of a candidate no longer matters to a majority of Americans. Both candidates trustable rankings were in the low 30 % meaning that over 70% of America did not trust or believe the word of either candidate and yet the same people who said they did not trust or believe a candidate went on to support and vote for that same candidate. We make excuses like "someone's private life" shouldn't effect their "public life" and yet that is the exact same argument Jesus was dispelling in his Sermon on the Mount! The religious leaders came to believe that as long as everything looked good publically, as long as you followed the prescribed rules - you were spiritual/righteous; Jesus came along and said they had missed the point! Here in Matthew 5:33-37 He argues that it is our private lives - the condition of our h

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount by dealing with the controversial topic of Divorce and how it relates to his followers and the new righteousness that He has introduced. We examine the Old Testament precedent and the context for Jesus' words found in Matthew 5:31-32 as we get to the heart of how divorce affects us both spiritually and culturally. While the scriptural stand on divorce may be confusing for many today, Jesus words and meaning are very clear and have lasting consequences. Join us for this message that looks at this painful and often ignored subject. 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

In Matthew 5 as Jesus continues to give examples of the new standard he requires for those who would follow Him; he looks to the 7th Commandment for guidance. "Thou Shall not commit Adultery" sounds like an antiquated rule from a long ago past; when is the last time you have heard someone describe an extra martial affair as "adultery"? We use more flowery term today like "An Affair" or "a Fling" because those don't seem to sound as bad as "Adultery". Regardless what we want to call it - the consequences are the same; the destruction of the family, the watering down of what commitment and covenant mean and the breaking of God's heart. The good news for most of us is that we will never commit adultery, it is not really an issue for a majority of those in the church so I guess we can pat ourselves on the back and move along until we hear the words of Jesus linking a "lustful look" with the same consequences as adultery itself. Does Jesus reall

In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus warns his follower that while they may no longer be subject to the spiritual punishment of the moral law from the Old Testament that does not mean it is no longer important and valid for their lives. Just the opposite; whereas the Pharisees and religious leaders righteousness was based on obeying the letter of the law and only concerned with the act itself - The new righteousness that Christians are called to follow requires a high obligation - our motives and thoughts behind the act. We are called to Holy living and the path to that holy living is obeying the commandments of God through the power of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus adds a further obligation by reminding us that transformation starts in the heart and effects every part of our lives, so while the acts we commit have consequences, we cannot forget that our thoughts and motives have consequences as well. He spends the rest of Chapter 5 giving 6 examples of what this looks like lived out. This morning we examine the 1st and pr

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

If you had to use a metaphor to describe the value of someone or their character; what would you use? We say things like, "they are gold" or a "treasure" or worth a "million bucks" "priceless", a few years ago it was a great compliment to be called "the bomb" but what about "salt". That doesn't seem like a real flashy compliment but it is the term that Jesus used to describe his followers. Of all the metaphors he could have used, why salt. To understand what he is saying about his disciples, you need to discover how important salt was to the culture in ancient Rome and Jerusalem. While it may lose some of its meaning in our culture - the power of his description still resonates. Whether we want to believe it, or even understand it - "Being Salt" is a part of the very nature of a Christ follower. From Matthew 5:13. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us

Around the world, thousands of the men, women and children face persecution and even death simply because they identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. Yet here in America we tend to think of religious persecution as a rarity instead of reality. We tend to think that Jesus suggested that His followers might face some persecution when the truth is that he clearly declared that anyone who worships Him and strives to live their lives according to His principles; will face persecution and even death! No suggestion, no "might" or "if's" but a certainty. In the last, and most troubling of his Beatitudes, Jesus makes it very clear what his followers can expect from this world. Persecution is a given - but He also suggest it is an incredible gift as well. Maybe the reason many have not or don't face persecution in America today is that those around us have not seen Jesus in our actions and words. Maybe we have become so much like the culture that we no longer stand out or stand

Most of us have been told from time to time that we might look like one of our parents, or maybe even sound like them. We can't help it; our genes play a role in the inherited traits and spending the first eighteen to twenty years of our lives around them play a major role in the learned traits. Whether we like it or fight it; most of us end up seeing our parents influences lived it in our own lives. What about our Heavenly Father? As Christians we are called the "children of God" and are a part of the family, so what do we do or say that most sounds or looks like our Heavenly Father? Or a better way to ask might be, "When do we most resemble God?" While the easy, sunday school answer might be, "When we love" because the Bible does teach that the world will know we are his followers by our love; but that is followers, or disciples - what about His children? When do God's children most look like their Father? Jesus gives us some straight answers in His Sermon on the Moun

Have you ever looked back on your life at times when you faced difficulties, struggles or life changing events and could clearly see the hand of God at work? Like the poem "Footprints in the Sand"; you could see where God carried you, where He opened doors, where He provided for you, where He brought people into your life to encourage and support you. How would you like to not have to wait until after you have passed through the valley to see God at work? How would you like to be able to see Him moving mountains in front of you, see Him performing miracles, working in our midst, changing lives? In the 6th Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that it is not only possible but a promise to those who are "pure in heart". It is not just a promise for those we think of as "Super- Christians" but for every follower of Christ. Listen in to discover how you can claim this promise and why Holiness and Purity still matter. From Matthew 5:8Thank you for listening to our podc

Jesus begins his most famous of Sermons by painting a picture of the character of a Christ Follower in what we call the Beatitudes. It is a great description of who a Christian should be when they submit themselves completely to the control of the Holy Spirit. The first 4 of these character traits all deal with the relationship between a follower of Christ and God. The next four are the natural outflow of the first four and relate to how we interact with those around us. The first of those four is being Merciful and in an interesting twist, the promise for the merciful is the same as the action, "Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall receive Mercy". Sadly, many in the church misunderstand this promise to mean that they can earn God's mercy by showing others mercy. Not only will this thinking not produce mercy, it robs the believer of the joy, peace and blessings that come from trusting in God's grace and in His loving and merciful nature. Join us as we examine and strive to understa

In this study of the fourth Beatitude, Jesus promises that those who hunger and thirst for the presence and power of God will be filled, but what does that look like in a practical sense. How can we hunger and thirst for something like God's presence. Join us as we examine how the actual Greek words Jesus used unlocks the key to pursuing God and finding real joy and happiness. Many in the church are no longer spiritually hungry and the results are obvious in our personal lives, the spiritual vibrancy of the church and in our lack of influence on the culture. The promise Jesus makes for each one of us is that until we pursue God's presence and power in our lives with the same passion and determination that God used in pursuing us; we will never be satisfied, or content. 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@first

Jesus promises joy, happiness and blessings to those who are meek and gentle, yet the world seems to offer just the opposite. Those who chose the path of following Jesus will always exhibit meekness, but just what does that really mean and if Jesus described himself as meek - what happened when he overturned the tables in the temple? What about when he confronted the religious leaders? Believe it our not those two instances were probably the greatest examples of His meekness. Listen in to discover what meekness really means and how a life of meekness can not only eliminate stress and heartache but also comes with a promise for those who pursue it. From Matthew 5:5 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

How can someone who is sad actually be happy or blessed? Once again Jesus offers the ultimate paradox as he challenges his followers to find internal joy, happiness and blessings in the midst of mourning. As we look at the 2nd Beatitude Jesus introduces in His sermon on the mount, you might be surprised to find this is not your normal mourning or sadness. Jesus is challenging those who would follow him to allow their hearts to be broken over what breaks God's heart with the promise of comfort and ultimately happiness as a result. How does that happen and how does it effect your relationship with God and the world around us? Listen in to find out. From Matthew 5:4Thank 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

(This is the first half of the sermon from August 14th, the conclusion of the message can be heard in Part Two.) What does it mean to be happy? How can we attain happiness? A recent pew research poll found that only 1-3 American describe themselves as happy - that is 33%, so 67% of American are unhappy. We live in the most prosperous nation in the world, with more wealth, benefits and comforts than ever before and yet we are still unhappy? Maybe we have been looking for happiness in the wrong places! Join us for this introduction of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount from our new Series "Following Jesus". From Matthew 5:3.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

(This is the second half of the sermon from August 14th, the beginning of the message can be heard in Part One found below.) What does it mean to be happy? How can we attain happiness? A recent pew research poll found that only 1-3 American describe themselves as happy - that is 33%, so 67% of American are unhappy. We live in the most prosperous nation in the world, with more wealth, benefits and comforts than ever before and yet we are still unhappy? Maybe we have been looking for happiness in the wrong places! Join us for this introduction of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount from our new Series "Following Jesus". From Matthew 5:3.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