First Baptist Blowing Rock

What does a "healthy church" look like? How do you know it is healthy, and how did it get that way? Doctors will encourage us that the quickest way to better health is through exercise - but what about the church? How does it "exercise"? Join us as we look with the Apostle Paul and his diagnosis of a healthy church and the promises that come with good health. From Ephesians 4:11-16.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

Can a Christian have a "spiritual" mid-life crisis? Is it possible for our faith, walk and worship to become routine? Have you ever found yourself going through the motions spiritually or felt like you were in a rut? All of us from time to time, regardless of age or how long you have been a Christ follower, go through seasons of our faith when what was once Awesome has now become ordinary. How can you guard against this happening? What can you do to get out of this pattern? Jesus gives us some great advice from our passage and you might be surprised to find out it has to do with your inner child!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

It has become a worldwide blockbuster, making over a billion dollars before ever being released on video. It has spawned countless number one musical hits; earned an Academy Award for it's signature song "Let it Go" and has been the "go to" soundtrack for children and preteens all winter and spring. It is a fun and entertaining movie but did you know it was based on a Christian short story by Hans Christian Anderson? Released in 1844, "The Snow Queen" has influenced everyone from C.S. Lewis, who used its imagery in "The Chronicles of Narnia" to the current Disney blockbuster. If you get past the catchy tunes and the funny characters there are some important lessons for Christians of all ages. Join us as we learn why letting it go may be a solution to reaching both outside and inside the walls of the church. Based on John 13:34-35 - this message was recorded in our traditional service. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to

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

Wouldn't it be great if the heroes of faith from the Bible could speak to us and give us some practical advice for living a faith filled life. What do you think they would say? How did they do it? While we don't have actual words of advice from many of the characters we have studied in this series; the writer of Hebrews does end the great "roll call of faith" chapter with some words of wisdom for each of us about walking a life of faith. Join us as we finish the Found Faithful series with some everyday advice and words of encouragement from those who have walked the walk. From Hebrews 12:1-3 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

Most of us can think of someone from our past whose influence on our lives has been significant. A coach, a teacher, an older teenager, a relative, someone from church, a co-worker. Someone who took the time to encourage, believe and speak into your life and yet they probably don't even realize the difference they made. Even the Apostle Paul had someone that found him at a very vulnerable time and literally got him back on his feet again a changed man. Faith always builds on Faith; someone poured into our lives and we are called to reinvest. Join us this morning as we look at the difference Ananias of Damascus made in Pauls life with one simple act. From Acts 9. (taped in the early service on April 27th with special guest worship leaders from the Appalachian State Baptist Campus Ministry worship team and a taste of Bluegrass) 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

Who were the two men that took Jesus off the cross and buried him? Why them? Where were the disciples? What motivated these two Pharisees, members of the Sanhedrin, the very council that condemned him to death, to risk everything to make sure Jesus was buried in a tomb? Join us for this Easter message about faith coming out of the shadows and how it affected that first resurrection Sunday. From John 19:38-42 ; Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. 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

Are deathbed coversions real? If so; why are we so bothered by it? Could it be we misunderstand grace? Could it be we misunderstand what really saves us? Find the answers in Jesus' last conversation on the Cross. Palm Sunday from Luke 23:38-43Thank 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 describe what real, genuine, worship looked like; what words would you use? kneeling? standing? hands raised? crying? reverent? shouting? singing? It is a trick question. Worship is not about the expressions we use but rather a matter of the heart. Those words describe the ways we express our worship and really don't indicate the heart of the worshiper. Too often, we get caught up in the "how's" of worship and argue and debate which way or expressions are "more genuine" or "spiritual" and neglect the "why's of worship". Join us this morning as we examine the lives of two very different people who had an opportunity to worship and how they responded, but more importantly, why they responed the way they did. That is where our Faith comes in. Based on Luke 7:36-50.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.c

Many Christians are great at sharing "what" they believe, but not so great at "why" they believe it. When it comes to the "why's" and the difficult questions of our faith, we often fall back on our Christian cliché’s and catch phrases and end up building barriers to the very people we need to be reaching. We are called and commanded to build bridges and engage our culture with the Good News not build walls! Join us and listen as we discover the story of two very different men that would not allow walls or barriers to keep them apart. On a dusty dessert road; one following the Spirit and one searching for truth combined to teach us all a great lesson on the power of faith! From Acts 8:26-40. 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 much faith is enough? Is this a simple question with a complex answer? Enough to do what? To see someone healed? To see a life changed? To move a mountain? Join us this week as we discover the story of a women who "had issues" and yet had enough faith to find physical, emotional and spiritual healing. How much faith did it take? You might be surprised at the answer. All of us "have issues", even if we don't like to admit it or we are not desperate enough yet to want to deal with them - but they are all too real. Listen to find out how God can take our "issues" and make them an opportunity. From Luke 8:40-48Thank 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

The Bible tells us quite a bit about John the Baptist; we know about his prophetic birth to Zechariah and Elizabeth, his very active public ministry, his baptizing Jesus in the Jordan river, his flashy fashion sense, his strange diet and even his death at the hands of Herod. But the question we examine with this message is; what was it about John that attracted so many people? His personality? His reputation? You might be surprised with the answer and in the process discover why Jesus called John "the most important man ever born". From John 1:6-9, Matthew 3:1-3 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

What is your favorite love story? Maybe from literature like Romeo and Juliet or maybe from the movies or even some TV characters? What about the Bible? We don't always think of the Bible when we think of love stories but it contains the greatest love story of all time; How much God loved you and I. Join us as we look at the complex love stories we find in the Book of Ruth, and along the way learn some lessons on developing a faith that never quits. 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

The three Hebrew boys hanging out in the fire with Jesus; rescued and called out, clothes not touched, the evil king repents, happy ending! But what happens when there's no happy ending in sight? What about the first deacon, young Stephen, whose powerful ministry was cut short by a hail of stones and his broken lifeless body left on the street? Was his faith any less than Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? In spite of many false teachings and misunderstandings of scripture; God never promised he would get us out of the fire, but rather through the fire! Sometimes he does; there's a divine healing,a deliverance, supernatural miracles - but more times than not, the world presses in on top of us. Making it out is not where faith is involved; it is found in God's promise that we can make it through the fire (or the stones, or the bad doctor's report, or disease, or the trials and sufferings of this world). Join us for this timely message that discovers hope and peace in the midst of our "fir

All over the world; from the middle east of Egypt and Syria to the Far East of Indonesia and China. From the Sudan to Central America; whole families and individuals are facing job loss, poverty, hunger and persecution and some are even facing death. They did not commit a crime, it has nothing to do with politics or race; it is simply because they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and identify themselves as Christians. While it is hard for us to comprehend that type of Christian persecution here in America; could it be a part of our future? What about our children's and grandchildren's future? Are we teaching and modeling an uncompromising faith that will prepare them to trust God regardless of the cost? Join us this week as we examine the faith of those three Hebrew boys enslaved in Babylon as described in Daniel 3. Find out what kind of Faith it requires to not only face the fires but a faith that will lead you to the fires. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to

Have you ever faced a season of despair, burnout or depression? Can you relate to what it means to be emotionally, physically or spiritually exhuasted? For every mountaintop their comes a valley, for every high there comes a low and at one time or another in all of our lives we face a season where our Faith seems to falter. Join us this week as we explore how Elijah the prophet could go from the fire of God falling at Mount Carmel to sitting under a tree in the desert praying to die. Discover the danger signs and traps of depression and discouragement as well as how God brings healing to Elijah's heart and faltering faith and how He can do the same for you and I. From 1 Kings 19. 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

From a house of shame to the Hall of Fame. From an unknown prostitute to a princess in the tribe of Judah. Never underestimate what God is weaving together and the transformation that takes place when His grace collides with our faith. Join us as we look at the life of Rahab of Jericho and how her faith allowed her to be sure of what she hoped for and certain of what she could not see. Like Rahab, our story is not finished and regardless of where we find ourselves, we are never out of the reach of God's amazing grace! From Hebrews 11:31. Joshua 2Thank 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 does someone go from fearfully cowering in the woods to leading an small army of 300 against overwheming odds and 135,000 enemies soldiers? By allowing his faith to overpower his fear. Many followers of Christ allow fear to keep them in bondage and rob them of their purpose and power. Listen today to find out how to set your faith free and stand against the "spirit of fear". From Judges 6-7 and the story of Gideon. 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

Waiting on God can require a lot of patience. Have you ever held on to a promise from God but had to wait longer than you expected? Have you wanted to give up, quit praying, gotten angry or even discouraged and depressed? Have you felt like you were all alone while trying to do what God was calling you toward? Imagine waiting over 100 years for God timing. Noah did and he remained faithful through it all. What did he have that we don't? Listen to our message from Hebrews 11:4-7 and gain some encouragement and hope as we discover the keys to being "found faithful".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

When you read through the Bible it is easy to be intimidated and overwhelmed by the faith and actions of those you read about. How did David have the strength to face Golaith? Noah the perseverance to build an Ark? Esther the patience to follow God's plan? Were these "super believers" that we could never aspire to follow? In our new series "Found Faithful" we will be examining these questions and many others as we look at the lives of some of these Bible characters and the power of our Faith. While many Christians understand that we are saved by faith; most never realize this untapped resource that is available when facing our own "giants and mountains". Listen as we start this series off by defining "Faith" and how it gives us the ability to see the impossibel scene.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