First Baptist Blowing Rock
Episodes
622 episodes
"I Chose Love" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #16
We live in a culture where the word "love" has been hijacked by many groups and organizations as a means to justify any and all sorts of lifestyles and behaviors. This subjective view of love has, by its overuse, pretty much made the word undef...
"Wonder Working Power" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #15
As John continues to warn about False Teachers in 1st John 4, he builds on last week's passages on "testing the spirits" and comparing what is being taught about Jesus Christ with scripture, in this week's passages he adds the influence of the ...
"Trust but Verify" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John # 14
The Apostle John again warns of false teachers and false teachings in our passage for this message. Here he goes a step further than just warning but also gives some practical test to identify a false teacher and how we can know what they are t...
"Dealing with our Doubts pt 2" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John # 13
This message continues our look at 1st John 3:19-24 and the issue of doubts. So many struggle with the assurance of their salvation and in this letter, the Apostle John explains how we can find security in our relationship with God. We break do...
"Dealing with our Doubts pt 1" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John # 12
While most of 1st John is written to differentiate between those who "claim to be believers" or "say they believe" versus true believers in Jesus Christ, it also gives us some "test" to help those who are struggling with doubts about their fait...
"Resetting the Defaults" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #11
All of us have defaults, they are what we fall back on when called to react to something unexpected. They are part of our old nature, who we were before we became Christians and if we are not careful, they can hinder our relationship with God a...
"With Grace, Does Sin Even Matter?" Back to the Basics Series #10
One of the debates that plagued the early church and continues through today is the issue of sin and how it affects the life of a Christian. Early church cults taught that since we are under grace and forgiven, it doesn't matter if we sin...
"The Power and Privilege of a Name" Back to the Basics Series #9
What does the Apostle John mean when he uses the term "child of God" to describe those who are Christ followers? You hear people say we are "all God's children" but is that scriptural? In our passage for this message John unpacks the power, pri...
"The Antichrist are Already Here!" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #8
This message examines the warning about false teachers that have infiltrated the early church and are causing division and distractions. These "anti-Christ", as John calls them, are dangerous and need to be exposed and confronted. John gi...
"Distractions that Destroy" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #7
In this message we examine certain "worldly" distractions that can hinder, harm and diminish our personal relationship with God and how to overcome them. From 1st John 2:12-17.
"How Hope Shines Through" Easter 2024
A look at how the resurrection of Jesus Christ influences every area of a Christian's life, not just eternity. We discuss how hopeless the world would be without the empty tomb and a risen savior! From 1st Corinthians 15.
"Why Do We Call it 'Good'?" Holy Week Message 2024
A message on "Good Friday" and the meaning and message of the Cross. This message examines the deceleration of Jesus on the cross "My God, My God, why has thou Forsaken me?" and how it relates to Psalms 22. From Matthew 27:45-46, Psalms 2...
"The Most Basic of Basics" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #6
How can you tell if someone is a Christian or not? That has been a struggle from the beginning as false teachers and teaching began to invade the church. That is why the Apostle John in 1st John uses phrases like "you may claim" "if you say" as...
"Crossing the Jordan" Where God is leading First Baptist Church
A message on stepping out on faith as individuals and as a church as we move forward striving to reach our region with the message of Jesus Christ. Also, a message of encouragement for anyone who needs to trust in God when making big decisions....
"Following the Leader" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #5
We all follow someone - it shows in how we dress, the music we listen to, the television shows we watch, even in some of our attitudes. We even have people today whose sole job it is to gain followers on social media as "influencers". The real ...
"Much More Than Just Getting Us" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #4
Millions of people watching the Super Bowl likely saw an ad put out by an organization with the goal of introducing or reintroducing people to Jesus - separating him from the politics of today - or at least that was their stated intentions. Sad...
"Set Free to Be Authentic" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #3
All of us wear mask from time to time. Mask that disguise our true thoughts, mask that project who we wish we could be, mask that make us seem more "spiritual" than we really are. In ancient Greece those actors who wore mask for the theater wer...
"The Power of Light" Back to the Basics Series from 1st John #2
In 1st John 1:5-7, the Apostle John reflects on a concept that he introduced in his gospel using the metaphor of "Light" to explain how Jesus Christ provides eternal and abundant life to those who follow him. In using the term "Walking in the L...
"Just Do It!" Introduction to Back to the Basics Study from 1st John #1
In this introduction to our new study from 1st John, we look at the context and background of the letter as well as the importance of personal application or obedience to scripture.
"Who Will Stand in the Gap" New Years 2024
In this message we examine the importance of "being available" when God calls your name to serve. Hebrews 10:23-25
"Not Hardly!" New Years 2024
The national media and even those in religious circles love to talk about the demise of the American church. They emphasize every pastoral scandal, talk about the church closings and love to point out that it seems millennials are leaving the c...
Pastoral Devotion for looking at the New Year
This is the passage of scripture that Pastor Rusty read and discussed during the New Year Eve 2023 service as we look forward to 2024. Many choose a verse or "word" going into the new year that can be a guide for their spiritual journey. Here, ...
"Christmas Lessons for the New Year"
This is the message from New Years Eve 2023 as we look at some lessons from the birth narratives in Matthew 2 that will have an impact on our lives in 2024.
"Will There be Room at Your House?" Christmas Message #3
This is the message from Christmas Eve 2023 that examines the Christmas story from Luke 2 and looks at the historical significance of why we celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25th and how that event should impact each one of us spiritually.&nb...