First Baptist Blowing Rock

In this encounter with Jesus, we look at the dinner party thrown by Simon the Pharisee that was crashed by an unnamed "sinful woman" with an alabaster jar full of perfume. While it is actually two encounters, both reveal something about worship that many "seasoned" Christians lose sight of our take for granted. As we discuss this encounter, we will look at both our personal and corporate worship experience and ask the question whether it actually reflects our own encounters with God. A look at how and why we sing as an act of Worship as well as our posture and behavior in corporate worship. We also challenge the church on the dangers of a spirit of entitlement that can affect us all over time and how to overcome it. From 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.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or

In this message Pastor Rusty starts by offering some thoughts and reflections on the murder of Charlie Kirk and is aftereffects. He also ties in this assassination and several other troubling current events to the Encounter that Jesus had with the man born blind and the question of "Why". Why does God allow this kind of evil to run free? Why would God allow such evil to happen to good people? Jesus reveals in our study that "why" is the wrong question. Listen in to discover the right question and how it affects every one of us as we face difficulties and struggles. We also examine the various groups response to the healing of the blind man and how that relates to how each one of us responds when we see God working. From John 9Thank 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

Any time a Christians mentions the dangers and consequences of living a sinful lifestyle, it doesn't take long to hear someone proclaim Matthew 7:1, "Judge not least you be judged" or John 8:7 "You without sin cast the first stone." They try to use these versus to silent their critics or anyone who doesn't celebrate their life choices. In this message we examine John 8 and Jesus' encounter with the women caught in adultery and answer those who try and use this passage to justify their sins. We also examine the danger of Christians standing on truth without the balance of grace to reach a dying and lost culture. In this story, we have the perfect example to follow if we hope to open the eyes of a blinded and lost generation. From John 8Thank 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@firstbaptistblow

When discussing his desire to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, President Trump stated that he hoped that by securing a lasting peace, he could gain a spot in Heaven.  While it is easy to point out how this view does not line up with scripture, the Presidents view is shared by almost half of all those who claim to be Christian and who attend churches. This gives us a perfect opportunity to engage with an encounter Jesus had with someone who holds this same view about how to secure a spot in heaven and to discover Jesus's response. We will be looking at what it means to be "born again" through Jesus's encounter with the Pharisee Nicodemus. From John 3Thank 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 not just "feeling thankful" but rather the call on our lives to "be thankful" and how that looks in our everyday lives. We unpack how expressing our gratitude to both God and others can transform our perspective as well as our hearts. We discuss the foundation of a thankful heart - humility and contentment as well as the greatest enemy of developing that kind of mindset - entitlement and selfishness. Join us as we look at the encounter Jesus had with 10 men cursed with leprosy and why only one of them returned to thank him after he healed them. From Luke 17:10-19Thank 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

In this follow up to last week's message we examine the aftershocks of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan Woman at the well in John 4. We look at the disciple's response to the encounter and how that relates to the modern American church. We also break down what Jesus meant when he declared that the type of worshipers that God desires worship Him in Spirit and Truth. John 4:19-26, 27-38. Part two of The Woman at the Well encounterThank 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 explore Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan Women at the Well. Why did the Jewish people despise the Samaritans and why does the Gospel of John say that Jesus "had to go" to Samaria when most Jewish people would go around it? Who was this woman and why was it important that Jesus speak with her? Listen in as we unpack those questions and find some commonality with the church today and how this encounter brings hope for everyone who may think they are beyond the touch of God. Part one of two from John 4. 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 Jesus' encounter with the money changers in the outer courts of the temple. Why was Jesus so angry and what can it tell us about the modern church? We look at the background to the encounter and how Jesus responded to the religious leaders to discern some priorities for a modern church Jesus might attend. From Matthew 21:12-17. #11 in the sermon seriesThank 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, power and responsibilities of freedom as Americans and followers of Jesus Christ. If we celebrate our freedoms as Americans, how much more should we be living out and celebrating our spiritual freedoms as Christians. Sadly, most in the church don't understand what it means to be spiritually free and don't understand what they have been set free from. Join us as we examine our Spiritual freedoms that Christ secured on the Cross and how we can experience them in our everyday lives. From John 8:31-36Thank 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 are the expectations that Jesus placed on those wanting to follow him and how does that relate to His expectations for you and me? In this message we examine 3 people who encountered Jesus all with the intention of following him, yet they all walked away in the end. From Luke 9:57-62.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

Our encounter with Jesus this week involves the well know story of Zaccheaus the chief tax collector. Not only do we examine his encounter with Jesus that shocked those around them, but we also look at Zack's transformation and what that might mean for our lives. We also discuss how the parable of the Lost Sheep where the Shepherd leaves the 99 to go find the one that was lost relates to Jesus seeking out Zaccheaus and how the everyday Christ follower and the American church might fit into the story. From Luke 19:1-10Thank 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 Father's Day message and in keeping with our Sermon series, we examine an encounter that a desperate dad and "royal official" had with Jesus. Through this story, we examine the characteristics of a dad who transforms his home and family's spiritual legacy by his approach and response to Jesus. This story gives us some insight into the types of dads the world needs today if we are going to withstand the attacks and onslaught of a lost culture. From John 4:43-54.  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 week we look at the encounter Jesus had with who we call the "Gadarian Demoniac", which might be a misnomer since he might not have even been from Gadara. We examine the background of the encounter and how the area that was given to the Tribe of Gad where the encounter takes place might have been the perfect place for demonic activity and why. We also look at how demonic activity can affect a Christian and how we can find ourselves in "bondage" to the very things that Jesus sets us free from. Join us to discover what spiritual bondage might look like and how we can be set free once and for all. From Mark 5:1-20. 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

Back in the 1980's and 90's there was a theological debate in the evangelical community on whether someone could accept Jesus as Savior (forgiven, redeemed, eternal security) and not accept him as Lord (submission and surrender). Some of that still lingers today in the way we parse out what it means to be a genuine follower of Christ and seem to use those two terms as if our response to God's offer of salvation is two separate events, but the Bible never expresses or communicates it this way. In this message we examine the encounter Jesus has with the person who we call the "Rich Young Ruler" and discover that there can be no salvation without complete surrender - of everything we have and are. From Luke 18:18-30. 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 @ 828-2

In this Mother's Day message, we discuss a desperate mother who seeks Jesus out for help with her demon possessed daughter and gets a surprising response. Many people misunderstand Jesus's response in seemingly calling her a "dog" and get sidetracked on the real power of the story - the persistent faith of a determined mother. By the end of the encounter, Jesus calls her a "mother of great faith". Listen to find out what it takes to be a mother of great faith.  From Matthew 15:21-28.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 four men who were so intent on getting their paralyzed friend to Jesus that they ripped open the roof of the house and dropped him through. We discuss which group that we might identify with in this story (crowd, critics, companions) and how that reflects on our sense of urgency or complacency as it relates to our obedience to God's Word and His Will. From Mark 2:1-12Thank 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 a new sermon series based on the description given to John and Peter by the religious leaders in Act 4:13 "They were ordinary and unschooled men but they were astonished and took note that they had been with Jesus.". This new series will look at every day, ordinary individuals who encountered Jesus and how it changed or impacted their lives. We kick the series off by looking at 4 individuals who encountered Jesus on the last day he was alive; two of his disciples who betrayed him and the two thieves on the cross who died with him. Listen in to discover how those 4 separate paths will lead to two very different destinations after their encounters with Jesus. From John 13:19-38, Luke 23:38-43.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 wrap up our sermon series on Spiritual Warfare, we look at some words of encouragement that the Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the messy and dysfunctional church at Corinth. In his encouragement we discover 5 "imperatives" or commands that will help us stay focused on the battles we face in our everyday lives. He also gives us some insight on how to overcome and find spiritual victory while we "stand firm" rooted in God's word and trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit. From 1st Corinthians 16:13-14. Final message in Spiritual Warfare series.   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 prayer when it comes to spiritual warfare. How do we integrate our prayer lives into the battles we are confronted with on a daily basis and what does that prayer look like? Listen in as we discuss the power and purpose of prayer in our daily lives and especially as it relates to Spiritual Warfare. From Ephesians 6:18Thank 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 Christian circles the phrase "the word of God" is synonyms for the Bible and while that is certainly true and valid, when the Apostle Paul uses this same phrasing to describe the Bible as an incredible weapon and part of our Spiritual Armor, his meaning holds a much deeper truth. In exploring his use of "word" in the Greek language, we begin to understand exactly how we are to wield this "Sword of the Spirit" as both an offensive and defensive weapon and how that fits into our role and responsibility in the battle - to Stand. Join us as we unpack how powerful the "rhema" sword can be when facing temptation, attacks and struggles in helping us to overcome in our daily battles. From Ephesians 6:10-17.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