First Baptist Blowing Rock

We wrap up our studies from the letter of John by taking another look at 3rd John and the situation John is addressing concerning some missionaries he had sent and how the local church was responding to them. This gives us a great example on the importance of missions and its call on the Christians life. We examine how the church is doing spreading the gospel around the world and what it means to support international missions and missionaries. We only have two options; we are either called to go as part of the sent, or we are commanded to support those who are send as part of the "senders".  From 3rd John 5-11. 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

As we examine 3rd John we see a contrast between two people that John mentions in this short letter and how they responded to his message of truth and those he sent to deliver it. What is the truth he is talking about and why is it so important that we not only welcome and receive it, but that we apply it to our everyday lives? From 3rd John, key verses 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 weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

While John addresses the same themes of Love and Truth that we found in 1st John here in his second letter, he also becomes more direct in how Christians should deal with false teachers and false teaching and not just the kind coming from those within the church. What about how we allow the influences of the world's popular philosophies and worldviews to infiltrate our own thinking, actions and beliefs? What about how they are influencing our families, our children and our homes? John offers a pretty direct and seemingly harsh warning, but will we listen, or will we continue to pay the price and remain silent and ignore what is going on all around us. In this message we identify some modern "American False Gods" or idols that we are seeing become prominent in our culture, our schools and even in the church. Key verses 2nd John 7-11. 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.firstb

In this final message from our series in 1st John we take an overview of the entire book and examine some metrics that John lays out to give an indication whether a Christian is growing spiritually or not. We examine 5 indicators that John points to as behaviors that will be found in the life of any Christian who is growing beyond just the basics of our faith. From 1st John 5:13, Hebrews 5:11-6:1. 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 dangerous influence that idols can have on our spiritual growth and relationship with God. We identify some modern-day idols that Christians struggle with and how to overcome them. From 1st John 5:20-21.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

Continued discussion on how to overcome personal sin in our lives, including those secret sins that we think no one knows about. From 1st John 5:16-19Thank 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 John draws his letter to a close, he reminds the church and Christians the importance of accountability within the church and the importance of praying for one another. All of us struggle to overcome sin in our lives and John wants us to make sure we utilize the power of the local faith community in our struggles. From 1st John 5:16-19.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

In this message we look at the importance, privilege and power of personal prayer in the lives of Christian. Prayer is the most underused weapon the Christian has available for dealing with the struggles of this life as well as developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. From 1st John 5:13-15. 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

John tells us in 1st John 5:13 that the purpose of this letter was so that Christians could have assurance in eternal life. So that we could be confident in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have no doubts about what awaits us when we die. Yet, if you were to ask many in the church "If you were to die today, where would you go" you are likely to heave answers that start with "I hope" or "I think". John warns us that there is a vast difference between our hope and thinking and having confident assurance (knowing). So how can we know for sure? Join us as we discover that our assurance is not based on wishful thinking or hope but rather facts and faith! Why is it so important to John? Because your answer will affect every area of how you live your life. From 1st John 5:6-13. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Y

In the 15th Century, a Christian Monk with the name Johnn of the Cross coined a phrase, "The Dark Night of the Soul" to describe those times in a Christians life when they face such struggle, difficulties and trials that they feel like God has abandoned them. If you live the Christian life long enough, you will probably face a "Dark Night". In today's message we examine those Dark Nights and how they happen, what they are like and how we can overcome them. From 1st John 5:4-5 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

With all the changes that are taking place in our nation and culture as we move from our Judeo-Christian values where the traditional family is foundational towards a progressive postmodern, post Christian environment - what is the church and Christian's response supposed to be? Should we wait it out and hope for the best, or maybe disengage and strive to outlast what is happening with hopes that we might find our way back to "the good old days?" As worry, fear and anxiety grip Christian parents as they think about the future their children will inherit, what can the church do? Join us as we discuss our only choice and option as followers of Jesus Christ and how the promise of "overcome" lights the way forward. From 1st John 5:1-5.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

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 undefinable. Yet, the Apostle John spends most of his gospel and a good section of his New Testament letters clearly defining love and in our passage for today from 1st John, he roots that definition in the fact that "God is Love"! What does that mean and why is it important for Christians to not only grasp this important truth, but to learn how we can give this same love away? How does the true, biblical definition of the Greek word for love, "Agape" help us make a stand in a culture where love means anything or everything or even nothing at all? Join us as we unpack this powerful message from 1st John 4:7-21 where John uses the word Agape 27 times to make sure we grasp this important "life-giving" truth. Thank you for listening to ou

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 Holy Spirit. In this message we discuss how the "power" of the Holy Spirit allows us to overcome the influence of the world philosophies and discern truth from error. We also examine some common misunderstandings about what that "power" is and does in the life of a Christian. We also look at some rising false teachings that are integrating themselves into the church today like secular humanism, postmodernism, and the self-help and prosperity gospel movements. From 1st John 4:4-6.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

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 teaching is unscriptural. Listen in to discover some tools we can use to protect ourselves, our families and our churches from these false teachers that seem to be growing more prevalent in the American church. From 1st John 4:1-3.   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

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 down why it is so important to recognize and utilize the privilege we have to approach God with worship and our prayer request as well as what it means to have God dwelling inside of the Christian with the Holy Spirit. Part 2 of the message from May 12, 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

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 faith to find some assurance. Most of those tests are taught in general terms like "Walking in the Light", "Love your brother" or "hate the world" but in our passage for this morning John gives three biblical truths that directly address doubt and finding peace when it comes to knowing where you stand in your relationship with God. In this message we only address the first truth, "Jesus Christ is greater than your sin" and examine how that impacts our doubts and struggles. We also discuss the idea of "deconstructing your faith" and the dangers of relying on emotions and feelings when it comes to your relationship with God. From 1st John 3:19-20.  The other 2 truths will be in next week's me

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 and with others. So how do we change those defaults and which ones should be a priority? Join us as we examine the command for Christians to love others and how that struggle might require some new default settings. 1st John 3:11-18.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

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, and we should not worry about it - this came to be known as "antinomian" thought and was considered heresy by the early church fathers. Yet, we still see it creeping into the church today. Paul addresses this issue in Romans 6 and in our study from 1st John, the Apostle John will deal with it in our passage for this morning. John looks at it from the standpoint of how our attitude and response to sin will always reveal our true nature. Join us to discover how we can have a proper perspective on sin and the danger it poses to the Christians life. From 1st John 3: 4-10. 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

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, privilege and responsivities that come with that name and how it impacts our personal identity. He is drawn to this discussion through his focus on the unexplainable love that God has for his children. From 1st John 2:28-3:3.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 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