First Baptist Blowing Rock

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 gives us 3 ways to expose these false teachers and 3 ways we can protect ourselves from their deception. From 1st John 2: 18-27. 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 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. 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

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. 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

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 22. 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 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 if to indicate that there were a lot of people in those early churches claiming to be followers of Christ but were not.  Since then, generations of Christians have tried to find identifying markers for a disciple of Jesus - most centered around eternal identifying markers that focus on certain behavior (pray a prayer, baptism, church membership, good and sincere people) or lack of behaviors (don't do certain things that we have deemed bad behavior). Unfortunately, you can do or not do all of those things and still not be a Christian. Lucky for us Jesus identified one true trait that will allow the world to know that we are his followers. Listen in as we unpack this trait and why it sounds so simple can be incredibly difficult to walk out in our everyday lives.  From 1st John 2:6-11. 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

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. From Numbers 13-14. 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

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 questions is where are those people we follow leading us, and how does that affect our relationship with God. In the message today we examine how the Apostle John outlines the difference between those who claim to know about Jesus and those who actually "know" him or have had a personal life changing experience with him. One of the ways indicated is by who we follow. What does it mean to "walk as Jesus walked"? and is that even possible? From 1st John 2:3-6. 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

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. Sadly, all the ad did was double down on the politics by presenting a Jesus who seems to fit into the politically correct "oppressor/oppressed" narrative of the social justice movement that has permeated our colleges and culture. Instead of revealing what makes Jesus Christ more unique and compelling than anyone else in history, they chose to try to "use" him as means to justify their own unscriptural narrative. Listen in to discover why it is so important for the church to preach, proclaim, and represent a Jesus Christ who does much more than "just get us". From 1st John 2:1-2. 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

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 were known as "Hypokrites" or what we would today call "hypocrites". Jesus confronts the Pharisees in Matthew 23 by seven times calling them "hypocrites" for the way their words and actions do not match up with what they claim to believe. Do we still have a "hypocrite" problem in the church today? Could that be what is turning people away from listening to our message? In today's message we examine the words of the Apostle John from 1st John that could give us some insight into how and why we need to "take off the mask" and develop a culture of honesty and authenticity within the church and what the possible benefits might be. From 1st John 1:7-2:2.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 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 Light", John explains the difference between having a relationship with God and being in "fellowship" or communion with God. The difference in the two involves a person's willingness to be obedient to God's word and "Walk in the Light". This message breaks down the difference between light and darkness and how those type choices and paths effect every area of our lives and our ability to grow spiritually. From 1st John 1:5-7. John 1:1-5, John 3:16-21. 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 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. 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 this message we examine the importance of "being available" when God calls your name to serve. Hebrews 10:23-25Thank 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 office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

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 church in droves - but what is really going on? Is the American church on its last legs? Has the church lost its influence and voice? We kick off the New Year with a message of Hope for the church and its members as we look at why the Church will continue to thrive, grow and overcome in the coming year. From Matthew 16:13-20.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 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, Pastor Rusty shares what the Holy Spirit laid on his heart for the church as we face what could be a divisive and contentious year in 2024. Psalms 51:3-13Thank 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 @ 828-295-7715

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. 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 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. 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 message is a challenge to use the message of John the Baptist in Luke 3 as a way to prepare our hearts for the true meaning, power and purpose of the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas. 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

We kick off the Advent season by seeking to answer the question - When does Christmas actually begin? What does the Bible say about the origin of God's plan that played out in the manger of Bethlehem. We look at some Old Testament prophecy to unpack why the first Sunday of Advent focuses on Hope. 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

We wrap up our study of the book of Colossians by examining the Apostle Paul's final words as he lists all of those who have been encouraging and supporting him and the church while in prison. Many times, we rush past these lists of names at the close of Paul's letters, but those names are there for a reason and in this message, we examine each person and how they supported Paul and why they are listed. This gives us a great opportunity to think about all the people who have supported us and why surrounding ourselves with the right people is vital to our spiritual growth and maturity. From Colossians 4:8-18.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

We continue looking at Colossians 4:2-6 and the practical advice the Apostle Paul gives us for sharing our faith with others. 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