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As he wraps up the 1st letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul encourages the early church to set up some guardrails to keep the passion flowing in their relationship with God. These practical steps provide for us a pattern to allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to not only lead, guide and convict us but to also flow in every area of our lives. So many Christians today allow their relationship with God to settle into a simple pattern of religious behavior instead of the passionate fire they once had. This should not be the norm and we can do something about it. From 1st Thessalonians 5:19-22 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

All of us go through seasons where our relationship with God seems to struggle. Our passion and devotion seems to wane, and it feels like we are simply going through the motions. Sadly, it is easy to get comfortable with this distant and settle into a new normal. How can we guard against letting this happen and if we are there right now, how can we regain the spark we once experienced. In this message we compare how marriages fall apart and lose their passion to our Christian walk and hopefully bring some focus on how gratitude, joy and communication can reignite the passion and spark to walk with the Lord - and our marriages. From 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18.  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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

We continue looking at the Apostle Paul's advice on how to create a culture of community within the church - a culture of Family. Last week we looked at the relationship between the spiritual leadership or Pastor and the people of the congregation and this week we look at our relationship one to another. How we treat each other is integral to building a community within the local church that directly affects the health of the church and the effectiveness of its mission and ministry. Paul suggest some radical truths that the modern church seems to have ignored as we continue to see conflicts, disruption and destruction as churches split, divide and tear each other apart. In this passage, he lays out 4 important ways we can develop and protect for how we treat one another that can build a firewall to failure. From 1st Thessalonians 5:12-15. 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

The Apostle Paul closes out his first letter to the church at Thessaloniki with some advice on the importance of creating a culture of family and community within the church. The early church was a very diverse mix of several cultural and religious groups that was bound to bring conflict and trouble so in every letter that Paul writes he adds some correction and advice for dealing with conflict. In this his first letter, he doesn't deal with conflict as much as offering some suggestions to keep conflict from arising. In the end of Chapter 5 he looks at two differing relationships - the spiritual leadership and the people and the people towards one another and lays out the importance of the health of those relationships. In this message we examine the first part and the relationship between the spiritual leaders in the church and the people of the church; what should the congregation expect from a Pastor how should the congregation treat a Pastor. This relationship is foundational for a healthy church as well as the ability to operate as a spiritual family within the local church. From 1st Thessalonians 5:12-18. 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

This is from our College Gameday Sunday featuring our guest Speaker Corey Lynch. Corey was a three time All American defensive back for the Appalachian State Mountaineer football team from 2005-2007 and a leader on the team that won back to back to back FCS National Championships and an App State Hall of Famer. He was instrumental in securing what many consider the "greatest upset in College Football" as he blocked a potential game winning field goal with time running out that led to Appalachian State upsetting the #4 nationally ranked Michigan Wolverines in the "Big House" in 2007. He was drafter in the 6th round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and played 6 years in the NFL.  Corey currently works for Samaritans Purse Ministries and oversees, plans and organizing their church building work in rural Alaska, overseeing 9 churches built in the last 8 year. He is married to Cissie Graham Lynch and has three children; Margaret, Austin and Georgia. Corey and his family have been a part of our FBC family for the last two year.  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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

We continue our discussion on Eschatology and the "end times" as the Apostle Paul moves from the discussion of what the "rapture" make look like from the end of Chapter 4 of Thessalonians into a discussion of "when" it might take place in Chapter 5. In this message we discuss how Christians are supposed to live in light of the Rapture as well as breaking down the main interpretations on the tribulation and whether the church will go through it or be taken up to be with Christ before it happens. From 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.  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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

In this message we dig into Paul's teaching on "The Rapture" from 1st Thessalonians 4:14-18. Is the rapture a thing or was it created in the 20th century? Social media is full of clips of people questioning the rapture but you cannot get away from the Apostle Paul's very clear teaching that Jesus will come back, but not to earth like his second coming, but in the air to call those who have died as Christians to himself, and then all of those who remain on earth that are believers in Christ to himself. What will that look like? What are the implication for the church? How can we find Hope in this promised return for the church? In this message we unpack all of that as well as an overview of the "end times" calendar through the Book of Revelation. We also discuss the various views and beliefs of how we interpret these events including the three main "millennial" views and why they are important. A lot of great information that creates a foundation for the rest of our study in Thessalonians.  From 1st Thessalonians 4:14-18 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

Grief is something that every one of us will deal with in our lives, not just when we lose a loved one. We can grieve a lost friendship, broken families, church splits, lost jobs, the loss of our health or independence, even loss possessions like when a car is stolen or a house burns down. Grief is natural but would we call it something "good"? The Apostle Paul shares with the Thessalonians that there are two types of grief - those who grieve with no hope and those who grieve with Hope. What is the difference and what does it look like? Join us to discover how God can take our grief and make it healthy and good! From 1st Thessalonians 4:13-14, 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

One of the main teachings of the early church was the return of Jesus Christ to bring his followers to Heaven. In Thessalonica, when some early converts were passing away, other believers became concerned that since they missed the return of Christ then maybe they would miss Heaven. In the passage we look at in this message, Paul uses this opportunity to clarify what we believe concerning death and how it relates to the return of Christ. His intention is not to open some kind of theological debate about the "rapture" but rather answer pastorally and bring comfort and peace to the confusion.  This is not a 2000 years ago question - it still resonates today and even in the church there seems to be confusion about death, heaven and Christ return. In this message we seek to use Paul's lesson to answer, both in a general sense and in a specific sense, what happens when someone dies. The answers may surprise you. From 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18. 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

We continue studying the Apostle Paul's teaching on how we can live a life that is "pleasing to God". We have already learned that God's will for our life is to be "sanctified" or living our life pursuing holiness and now he continues by laying out some other important principles we should be pursuing or using our "ambition" towards. Our character and integrity matters as part of our witness and that includes how we treat one another within the church body, but also how we live our lives outside of the church. Those factors play a huge role in our ability to earn the right to be heard when we share the gospel in our community. This message explores how we are called to love "more and more" (overflowing love in action) other Christians inside the church; live a quiet live (what does that mean?) mind our own business and work with our hands (stay in our lanes and serve others) and not be a burden on others.  From 1st Thessalonians 4:9-12.  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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

As the Apostle Paul encourages the Thessalonians Christians to pursue Holiness and Sanctification in their lives, he contrast that with living a life of sexual immorality which he identifies with pagan behavior. Why would he single out this one sin or struggle over all of the others as a danger to holiness? What does he mean by "sexual immorality" and what does that term mean in our modern context? In this message we examine why sexual sins are different from other sins and how the consequences of any sexual behavior outsides the bounds of Biblical Marriage not only effects our ability to "please God" and "honor God with our bodies" but can also have a lifelong destructive consequence on all of our personal relationships. We also examine how you can overcome sexual temptation and sin. From 1st Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1st Corinthians 6:12-20.  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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence we examine the roots and background of our founding as a nation and why that still matters to Christians and the church in 2026. What are our responsibilities and obligations to uphold, treasure, share and pass along these founding principles and values to the next generation and how can we most effetely do that? The hope for our nation is not a more Christian government, but a Bible believing, Christ centered, Spirit filled church that is unafraid to address and stand against the moral and spiritual quagmire we are surrounded by. From Psalms 33 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

What does Peter mean when he quotes Leviticus in saying, "Be Holy for I am Holy"? Is it something that God does for us, or something we do for ourselves? In our passage from Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul says that it is God's will that we all be sanctified and that living Holy lives pleases God but what does that look like in a practical sense ? In this message we answer all of those questions and more, clearing up any confusion and examine why pursuing holiness/sanctification/righteousness benefits us.  From 1st Thessalonians 4:1-8 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

The Apostle Paul was a wonderful encourager to all of those who supported and benefited from his ministry and message and nowhere is that more evident than in his letter to the churches. Since Thessalonians is one of his first letters, it reveals why and how he saw encouragement to be a natural outflow of a Spirit filled and transformed heart. Join us to discover how we can become encouragers and why it is such a vital part of our Christian growth and ministry.  From 1st Thessalonians 3:6-13.  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 Youtube page.  Contact us at [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715

How do we respond when its seems like everything we try to do, or feel like God is leading us to do, meets a brick wall? In our message today we will examine how the Apostle Paul dealt with Satan when he blocked him from gong back to visit the young believers at Thessalonika. Too many times we simply give up when the obstacles we face might be there to help us develop and grow in our faith and relationship with God. We examine why God would allow Satan to tempt, block, discourage and distract us from trying to be obedient to God's word and will for our life. We also look at how Paul used what the world meant for evil and turned it around into something that brings God glory and extends his Kingdom.  From 1st Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 The 9th Message from our Study of the letters to the Thessalonians 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 [email protected] or by phone @ 828-295-7715