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When you think of the most powerful people on earth, meekness is not one of the character attributes we would usually use to describe them. Yet when Jesus is listing character traits that a Christ Follower will need to live and operate in the second mile, one of the most important is meekness. Not only is it the practical application when we seek to live the first two traits he has mentioned - it is what empowers us to strive to follow in his footsteps and be obedient to His Word. This message defines and explains what Biblical meekness is and why it is so important. It also gives us some practical examples of what meekness looks like lived out in our everyday lives. From Matthew 5:5. 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

Introduction: Romans 14:12 – So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Revelation 22:12 – Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. How to Have a Successful Building Campaign (1 Corinthians 3:10–17) Build on the right FOUNDATION. (1 Cor 3:10–11) Matthew 16:15–18 – He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Use the right MATERIALS. (1 Cor 3:12) 2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Pass INSPECTION. (1 Cor 3:13–17) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 3:10-17What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Your works will be tested by fire (1 Cor 3:13). What determines if a work is good or useless (precious metal or straw)?Is it wrong to be motivated by rewards? How much do rewards motivate you to serve Christ?How would you answer the question: “What exactly is the reward Jesus is giving in 1 Cor 3:14?”?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up those Bibles.The 1 Corinthians chapter 3.1 Corinthians chapter 3.Just pause for a second.As we so often do, I'm just going to ask you to take a moment and pray for me to be faithfulto communicate God's Word, and I will pray for you to be ready to receive what it is thatthe Lord has to say today.Let's pray.Father in heaven, your Word tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing throughthe Word of Christ.Father, I pray today that you would increase our faith as we sit under your Word, and thatyour Word would not just encourage us, but it would move us.To be the people that you've called us to be so that we would do the things that you'vecalled us to do, Father, for your glory and honor.We praise you in Jesus' name.All of God's people said, "Amen."1 Corinthians chapter 3.My wife, Erin, loves gardening.And if there's a story that sort of encapsulates Erin's gardening experience, it would bethis one.Several years ago, somebody gifted Erin a little greenhouse, and she was so excited.She spent so much time building this greenhouse, and then inside the greenhouse, you know,she had to build - it wasn't like this massive structure, but it was a pretty nice structure.And then inside the greenhouse, she built all these shelves, and then there were allthese, you know, those little plastic trays, and you fill them with the dirt, and she wentthrough.But some of them, you know, you had to have the pots, and she had the most magnificentgreenhouse.She spent so much time, and I'm like, "We are going to have such a harvest.We're probably going to have to hire people to come and harvest this bountiful crop.We're probably going to have to buy like machines."There was so - I'm like, "This is awesome."Well, one day, we were out somewhere, we returned home.There was a really, really bad storm.And when we got in the house and went about our business, and at one point we looked outthe window and saw her greenhouse was completely leveled.And everything was strewn across the yard.Literally nothing was salvageable.You thought this was going to be funny, didn't you?Trust me, I didn't laugh.Husbands, in a moment like this, you do not laugh.She spent so much time and so much work and so much energy building this thing, and itwas all for nothing.She at the end had nothing to show for it.And you know, the Bible says, Christian, that your life can be like that.Did you know that?That you can live your whole life doing lots of things, lots of energy, lots of time spenton things.And at the very end, you find out that you have nothing to show for it as you enter intoeternity.That's what this passage is about today.We're going to be picking up in verse 10, but I want you to drop down for a second andlook at verse 16, because we're going to grab this so that we understand this passage.Some of you probably know this verse off by heart.1 Corinthians 3.16 says, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God'sSpirit dwells in you?"And what I want to point out here is in the Greek, that word you is plural.And a lot of times when we talk about you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we thinkabout individual salvation.Yes, absolutely God's Spirit and dwells in the individual who receives Christ.Absolutely.But listen, at the same time, I want you to hear me very closely on this.There is a corporate aspect of salvation, meaning this.You are saved to be a part of a community.And that is cover to cover in your Bible.Look at Old Testament Israel.God dealt with them as a community nation.Look at the New Testament church in the book of Acts.It is a community.Look at the description of heaven in Revelation.What is it?It is a community.It is a community of people that are saved together worshiping.So salvation yet it is an individual choice to receive Jesus Christ.Yes, it is going from death to life individually, but we are always, always, always called tocommunity.Always.We are God's temple.That's why this unity issue is so important.Salvation is not just a me thing.It's a we thing in the church.And in this passage we are looking at today, we have a new analogy.Last week Pastor Taylor walked us through the previous analogy that Paul gave us.That was the farm.Planting and watering and harvesting.We are moving today from the farm to the construction site.And in this passage we are going to see that you are each a part of God's building project.And the inspector is coming to evaluate your work.And Christian, you are going to be judged.You are like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, time out, time out.Pastor Jeff, this isn't my first time at this church.And I've heard you say that a Christian will not be judged.You will not be judged for your sin.You will not.But I want you to understand that when the Bible talks about judgment, there are many,many, many, many, many, many, many kinds of judgment the Bible talks about.For example, the Bible talks about the judgment of the nations.Matthew 25, the Bible talks about the judgment of demons.Jude 6, the Bible talks about the judgment of the unsaved, the great white throne judgment,Revelation 20.The believers will be judged.And if you are a follower of Christ, you will be judged not for your sin.Jesus took care of that on the cross.If you are a follower of Christ, sin is in the rear view mirror forever in God's perspective.That is a done deal.But you will be judged for your works in terms of receiving rewards.Jesus is the judge, John chapter 5, and He will judge you for rewards according to whatyou do after you are saved.The Bible is so clear in this.There are so many verses.Here's a couple that just highlight this.Romans chapter 14, verse 12, there it is.So then each of us will give an account of himself to God, each of us.He's talking to the church.He's talking to us.We will give an account to God.And look what Jesus says, end of the book, right?Revelation 22, Jesus said, "Behold, I'm coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repayeach one for what he has done."Each one.And you look at the context of that passage.He's talking for the bad, and He's also talking for the good.He's going to repay.Alright?So in this passage we're looking at today in 1 Corinthians, believers works.Listen, this is the whole theme.This is the whole, I don't know, is it a metaphor?Is it a simile?Is it an analogy?Whatever the whole word picture here is construction terms.And in this passage the Bible is talking about your good works in terms of building something,building a structure.And your works will be judged.Are they worthy of a reward?So on your outline, this is very timely for us as a church.It's all straight from the text here.This isn't gimmicky or campy.This is all straight from the text.How to have a successful building campaign.You want to enter heaven someday with something to show for your time here on earth?That's what this passage is about.And it's actually exactly like having a regular building campaign.Same principles.How to have a successful building campaign.Number one, write this down.Build on the right foundation.That's where it has to start.You get a build on the right foundation.Look at verse 10.Paul says, "According to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder,I laid a foundation and someone else is building upon it.Let each one take care how he builds upon it."Paul here talking about himself, he planted the church in Corinth.He spent 18 months laying the foundation.And he refers to himself as a skilled master builder.He wasn't exalting himself.He wasn't bragging.He just said in the previous passage that he is nothing.We already established that.All Paul is pointing out here is, "Look, I know how to plant a church.I know how to do that."Like, have you ever read the book of Acts?He wasn't bragging.He's like, "I know how to plant a church."He had a technique and it worked.And he planted many churches that we're still talking about today.He knew what he was doing.And he says, "Someone else is building upon it."Pastor Taylor talked about that a little bit last week.That's Apollos.The next pastor, Apollos is building on the foundation of Paul-Aid.But notice he says here, verse 10, "Lest you think..."Well, you know, good for preachers, right?Good for them.He says, "Each one..."Look at that.Look at that in your Bible."Each one, take care how he builds upon it."Each one.You know what that phrase, "Each one" tells me?This passage isn't just for pastors.This passage isn't just for the clergy.Each one.Each one.Look, you serve in this church in any way.Church Academy, teaching the kids.Guess what?You're one of the each one.You're a small group leader.Each one.Are you a ministry team leader?Each one.Are you serving on one of the ministry teams?Each one.This is for all of us here.Each one of us have to take care on how we're building on the foundation.Every single one of us.You know what the problem is?It's too often the church is like Pendant.Some of you already know what I'm going to say.And if you work for Pendant, I'm certainly not talking about you.But how many of us?Come on, let's just be honest.We've been driving by Pendant, road work.What do you see?One or two people working and eight or nine people watching.True or false?Don't leave me up here.Pastor Jeff hates Pendant?No.Pastor Jeff is just observant.You've seen it too.But you have one or two guys like really working.And then you have eight or nine guys just standing around watching and eating a sandwichor smoking a cigarette and like hanging out on their cell phone.That's the church, honestly.That's what you have at the church.You have a small percentage that are working really hard in so many ways and you have alot of people that just kind of sit around and watch.Maybe contribute with some occasional criticism.The church is too much like Pendant.Look, if we're going to build, we're going to start with a foundation.And you're like, "Okay, well Paul said he laid a foundation.Are we just going to go with the one that Paul laid?"Yeah, I would recommend that because look at verse 11.He says, "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is JesusChrist."The church, listen, the church only has one foundation.And the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ.This is what he talked about in Matthew chapter 16.I'm going to paraphrase here.But Matthew chapter 16, Jesus said basically like, "What's the word on the street?Who do people say that I am?"And the disciples are like, "Well some people think you're John the Baptist or Elijah, oneof the prophets."Jesus says to his disciples, "But who do you say that I am?"And then Peter spoke up.Look at that."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."That's what Peter said.And Jesus blessed him for that.Jesus said, "And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.On this rock I will build my church."They're like, "Well what is the rock?"Well, some people believe that Peter is the rock because the name Peter means rock.But there's a lot of Greek linguistic reasons why that isn't exactly accurate.But Peter is not the foundation of the church.The foundation of the church is Peter's confession.Because we see here what the foundation of the church is.The foundation of the church is Jesus.The foundation of the church is Jesus.So it is Peter's confession, meaning the church is built when people confess that Jesus isthe Christ.That's the foundation of the church.Churches abandon the mission when they try to build on another foundation.And listen, when a church is built on a foundation other than Jesus Christ, then it's not reallya church.Well we believe the church is here to go after social causes or focus on politics or tryto entertain people.We're on the wrong foundation.But I want you to listen very closely.Yes, the church is called to be salt and light.Yes, the church is called to influence every arena where God puts us.Absolutely.But any of that stuff that's happening has to come from the foundation that we are acommunity that believes in Jesus Christ.We are a community that has been transformed by the spirit of Jesus Christ.And we carry out the mission of Jesus Christ to make more disciples of Jesus Christ.So I have to ask you, have you personally made that confession?Have you confessed in your own heart and mind with your own mouth that you believe thatJesus is the Christ?You believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God?Have you made that confession?Because Jesus must not only be the foundation of this church, he has to be the foundationof your very life.So the first step in having a successful building campaign, you've got to make sureyou're building on the right foundation.We could spend so much more time on that, but we recently had a whole sermon about buildingon the rock, not on the sand.Right?So build on the right foundation.Number two, successful building campaign means you've got to use the right materials.You've got to use the right materials.Look at verse 12.He says, "Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,clay, straw, stop right there."All right, building project.Let's say you're putting up a structure.All right?And let's say money is no object.What kind of materials would you want to use to build your structure?Have the three little pigs taught us nothing?The materials matter, don't they?You'd obviously want to use the highest quality, right?Marble, gold, silver.What's Paul's point here?The quality of materials.Listen, if you miss this, you're really going to be confused for a few minutes.The quality of materials speaks to the quality of your service.Are you teaching biblical doctrine representing the Word?Are you led by the Holy Spirit?Are you rightly motivated by the glory of God?Are you putting forth your best effort serving the King of the universe with excellence?That's not about the show.It's about dazzling people.We already talked about that.The question that you have to ask yourself, you have to evaluate yourself, it's this,what kind of an effort am I putting in to glorify in Christ by doing His work?What kind of effort are you putting in?Because some people settle to build out of wood and grass.Well, it's easier, quicker, right?You want it a building, here's a building.I did my job.You have to understand that Christ considers that type of effort to be worthless.I want you to look at Paul talks about this again in 2 Corinthians.Look at 2 Corinthians 5-10 on the screen.It's the same teaching, but I'm going to point something out here.He says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each onemay receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."Now there's a problem with this translation.The problem is the word evil.That is not the right translation of that word.You can do the Greek study yourself and you'll find that that word evil should be translatedworthless.He's not talking about something morally evil like from the devil.He's not talking about that.He's talking about something that's worthless.Things done even in the name of Jesus that ultimately end up being worthless.What in the world are you talking about?Things like things done for Christ only in human effort.How about that?Not spirit-led.Not really motivated by God's glory.I mean, I'm doing this and I'm doing it in the church, but I'd really be happier ifpeople noticed me.Those kinds of things aren't really evil as much as they are worthless.Just building out a straw.And you know, church, we can fill up the church calendar with all kinds of busyness that hasnothing to do with the mission of evangelism and discipleship.And at the end of the day, do you know what it is?Straw.It's just straw.On the other hand, when you are motivated by God's glory, when you are dedicated to maximumexcellence, when your heart is in the right place because you're being led by the HolySpirit, that's like building with gold and silver and precious stones.And you're like, oh, okay, so being part of a big church means big reward, right?No.Look, we're not speaking negatively of big churches, but I do have to point out thatsometimes we think that size equals value, and that's just not true.A handful of diamonds is much more valuable than a truck full of logs, despite the obviousdifference in size.But if you want a successful building campaign, better use the right materials.You're like, man, wow, this might be new information for some of you, and you're like, how do Iknow?How do I know?How do I know I'm using the right materials?Well I know one thing for sure we're going to find out, because number three is you'vegot to pass inspection.You've got to pass inspection.Look at verse 13.Paul under inspiration, the Spirit goes on, he says, "Each one's work will become manifest,for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will testwhat sort of work each one has done."The day is coming.You know the day, the day.And the inspector is coming to test by fire.You're going to see here throughout the rest of this passage, there's three kinds of people.Let's look at the first one, verse 14.He says, excuse me, "If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he willreceive a reward."There is a reward for the faithful worker.Again, we went through the sermon on the Mount.We talked quite a bit about this.From Matthew chapter 6, verse 20, "Jesus commanded us to lay up for ourselves treasuresin heaven."And anytime we talk about rewards and treasure in heaven, people say, "Well, what is it?What are the rewards?"And I'll tell you the same thing I always say.Not really sure.But we can't imagine that it's a kind of reward like earth, like cash.Right?What is the reward?And again, I would suggest to you that maybe God's word isn't specific because it's somethingthat we wouldn't fully understand on the earth.But we do know quite a bit about eternal rewards.We know a lot about them.First of all, we know they're eternal.We know this is something you're going to have for eternity.And something else we know is it's better.It's better than anything that we know of on earth.And if every good and perfect gift comes from above, don't you trust when God says, "Thisis awesome.You should work for this."Don't you think that it's going to be good?You're like, "No, it's going to be awesome."Right?So we know that.We also know there's no second chance to earn rewards after we die.According to the Bible, this is your chance.If you're hearing this message right now, you are in prime opportunity to earn rewards.We also know that this is a motivator.It's a motivator.We build with excellence because it's going to result in eternal reward.How are you doing?Some of you are going to get a huge reward.Some of you are.Who is?Those of you who have spent the money that God has entrusted you on missions, on the church,on gospel purposes, Jesus said you're going to get a huge reward.Those of you who know your spiritual gift and you have used it to bless the church, you'veused the time that God has given you here.You've taken your opportunity.There is a huge reward coming for you.On the other hand, let's look at the second group of people, verse 15.He says if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will besaved but only as through fire.Okay, so we talked about the person that's working, giving, serving, faithfully, usingthis opportunity.Now we're going to talk to some of the rest of you.On the other hand, some of you are saved but you're lazy.You're irresponsible.God gave you two things to use for him, time and money, and you have spent both of thoseon yourself.You attend church but that's really about it.Your contribution to the kingdom is warming a seat.You didn't invest much money into the kingdom.You don't really serve the church in any way.You're like, am I still going to heaven?Yeah.If you truly believe in Christ, if you've truly been born again, yes, yes, he says righthere.He's still saved but it's like jumping out of a burning house and then watching it burnto the ground.You lost everything and you got nothing to show for it.Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.You're telling me.You're telling me, Pastor Jeff, everything I worked for in my life is ultimately goingto be nothing in eternity.Are you telling me that when I cross over into heaven that I'm going to have nothingto show for my time on earth?That's what he said.I think that's also why he said in verse 10, "Take care how you build."So take care.Take care, pewsitters, God tippers, and part timers.Take care, ear scratchers, bench warmers, and buck passers.Take care because today you should examine the quality of the work that you're puttingin to serve Jesus because He's coming to test it.Salvation in Christ is a gift.But what we do with it, it's on us.There's a third group.Look at verse 16.He says, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and God's spirit dwells in you?"Do you realize how precious you are to God?Do you realize what you are to God?You're not some she-shed.You are His temple.You are the place where God resides.You individually, and again, this is plural.He's saying you corporately.This is where God chooses to dwell.Therefore, verse 17, "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."This is the third group.And I think it's pretty obvious, right?He's talking about unsaved people here, right?People that destroy what others build.We're talking about false teachers, obviously.But you know what else we're talking about?Those in the church who aren't saved but are divisive.Those who hinder the work of the church.Those who are constantly causing problems for the leaders of the church.Are you protective of your house?If you went home from church today and there was somebody inside your house destroying it,what would you do?Well, God is pretty protective of His house, too.And when He looks down and He sees His house and He sees somebody that's trying to destroyHis house, God says, "I'm going to destroy Him.I'm going to deal with Him severely."Any building campaign, really, at the end of the day, any building campaign can onlybe said to be successful if it passes inspection, right?I'd like to invite the worship team and our communion servers to come up because we'vegot to close a passage like this by gathering around the Lord's table.Why?Well, the Lord's table for the Christian, for the church, it means so much.A couple of things in particular means that we are reminded as we gather around.First of all, this brings us back to our foundation.Lest we ever be tempted to build a foundation on anything else, the Lord's Supper bringsus back to the place.You know, this is the foundation of the church, the Lord who died for His church, who rosefrom the dead for His church.So not only is it our foundation, but I think another huge aspect of the Lord's table isour motivation.Because look, the Bible talks about rewards.Should we be motivated by rewards?Absolutely.But rewards should be a motivator, not the motivator.The motivator is the God who died for you, the love that He poured out on the cross.He died for you.So we are motivated to live for Him.

Grace Testament Church continues its message series, "A Better Country," titled “Heaven Knows.” Pastor Rafy Panlilio reminds us that as citizens of heaven, we can take confidence in this truth: our Father in heaven knows every part of our lives — our deeds, our seeds, and our needs.From Matthew 6, we learn that God sees not just what we do, but why we do it. Acts of generosity store real treasure in heaven, and seeking God's kingdom means letting His will shape every decision we make.Be strengthened today with this assurance: Heaven knows, Heaven sees, and Heaven cares.Preached last November 16, 2025 at GTC's 5:30 PM Service.#ABetterCountry#WhereLivesChange

The Bible tells us that Christ is coming again—so how should we live in the meantime? Author and Bible teacher Lee Brainard (soothkeep.info) joins Sound Words to explain what true watchfulness looks like in light of the Lord's return. From Matthew 24 to 1 Thessalonians 5, we discuss how believers can live with alertness, hope, and holiness—redeeming the time and keeping their eyes fixed on eternity.

At the start of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus follows up his call for those who want to follow him to be "poor in spirit" to promise for those who mourn that they will be comforted. It is easy to read this as meaning "mourn" in a sense of our emotional response to facing death, sickness or tragedy, and there are plenty of those promises in the New Testament, but that is not what he is talking about here. In verse 4 of Chapter 5, he is talking about a different type of mourning. A type of mourning that is the emotional response to the intellectual reality of verse 3 - a mourning over sin. All sin and its consequences - the sin in our world, our nation, in the lives of those we love and most importantly in our own lives. We can never expect to live in the second mile if we are not heartbroken over the things that break God's heart. Listen to discover what that might look like in our everyday lives and learn the promise that comes to those who are broken hearted over sin. From Matthew 5:4Thank 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

From Matthew 25:14–30, Pastor Paul teaches how to steward your God-given gifts with excellence, diligence, and faithfulness—because your purpose matters in the Kingdom. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29

From Matthew 25:14–30, Pastor Paul teaches how to steward your God-given gifts with excellence, diligence, and faithfulness—because your purpose matters in the Kingdom. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29

When we realize how difficult it is for us to follow Jesus by living in the second mile, we come to understand it is only through the help and power of the Holy Spirit that we might accomplish it. It is easy to live in the first mile in our own strength, understanding, talents and ability - but for "second mile people" it requires a total dependence on the Holy Spirit. Even that can be difficult, so Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by giving us some heart attitudes / character traits that allow us to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance and leadership and gives us motivation for the second mile. In this message we break down the first of those traits which is foundational for second mile living. From Matthew 5:1-3Thank 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

As we start this new sermon series, we will be exploring what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:41 when he encourages his followers to "go the second mile" and what that might look lived out in our everyday lives. We explore the context and history related to the passage as well as examining how it fits into the overall theme of the Sermon on the Mount. This new series will be looking at the Beatitudes and the role they play in helping us to develop a heart, passion and vision that will allow us to make the second mile our home. From Matthew 5:38-42.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

Jesus doesnt just gather followers Jesus organizes people around purpose. In this message, Pastor Josh explores how Jesus sees potential in ordinary people, shares authority, and builds teams that multiply the mission. From Matthew 910 to Moses leadership in Exodus 18, we learn that organizing in the Kingdom isnt control; its empowerment. Everyones gifts matter, and when the Church structures itself around Gods mission, communities are transformed. https://churchlinkfeeds.blob.core.windows.net/notes/46163/note-244763.html

Servant-hood:  Have we, as Christians, sincerely speaking, got so deep in service to the cause, than serving Christ Himself?  Yes whatsoever you've done unto the least of these, you have done unto me, and charity is good, when it's rooted in the character of Christ that is first birthed in the time of contrition and worship; service to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. Hi. I'm pastor Daniel Wright of HOWC, and this Sunday, I will be continuing our series called, “The House of Simon: A Picture of the Modern Church” with a powerful 2nd addition entitled, “Selling Out the Anointing.” From Matthew 26, we see a striking contrast: a woman's costly act of worship toward Jesus called “waste” by Judas believing that the value of the sacrifice would have been better served tot he poor in charity, but was nothing more than his greed cloaked in disingenuous charity. So instead of selling the precious ointment for the poor, Judas sold the anointing by betraying the Anointed One. The fact remains that true worship is never wasted, but selfish motives will always be marred by spiritual betrayal.  Through this word, we are challenged to examine our hearts: Is our ministry first to Jesus? Or to material gain, or even “good works”? Because only when we posture our love to Jesus first, only then can we rightly serve others in love.

Pastor Ryan Deas teaches on biblical fasting as a New-Covenant practice that grows faith and breaks unbelief. From Matthew 9:14–17, Jesus ties fasting to “new wine in new wineskins,” calling us to a renewed mindset, not legalism. In Matthew 17:14–21, Jesus rebukes unbelief and says, “this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.” With Isaiah 58:3–12, John 5:39, and Romans 8:1, the message sets fasting in grace, urges humble obedience, and calls believers to pray, hear God's Word, and walk in Spirit-empowered authority.

Days of Awe & the Rhythm of the Kingdom: True Readiness, Not Date-Setting – KIB 499 Description In this Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake call the Remnant back into the rhythm of the Kingdom during the Days of Awe—away from hype, date-setting, and pagan substitutes. From Matthew 24 to Numbers 10, we explore daily practices that cultivate holiness, discernment, and protection for our homes, and we address the rising chaos around Halloween and other occult seasons. This is a sober call to walk in sync with Jesus, close the doors to Babylon, and live ready. Key themes: Day of Atonement & the believer's judgment, the “wheat and tares” reality, why hyper-grace and universalism miss the mark, how feasts tune us to Heaven's cadence, and practical morning/evening prayers to guard your home.

In this episode of the Other Six podcast, we dive deep into what it means to be part of God's family and how our spiritual family takes priority over even our physical one. From Matthew 12 and Mark 10 to the realities of modern family dynamics, we explore how God designed us to live in relationship—not isolation—and why we need one another. Together we'll unpack the shared experiences of different family types, the challenges of division in our homes, and the practical ways to keep God at the center of marriage, family, and church life. Whether single, married, blended, or navigating extended family during the holidays, this conversation offers encouragement, biblical insight, and real-life application for building strong families rooted in Christ.

In this message Pastor Chad Veach concludes the “Open Heaven” series with a powerful word titled “Trust Fund.” He reminds us that giving is not about money — it's about trust, faith, and the condition of our hearts. From Matthew 6 and Proverbs 3, Pastor Chad shows how God provides, why we put Him first, and how faith means both knowing and not knowing at the same time. This message will challenge you to trust God with everything, live generously, and experience the blessings of an open heaven. At Zoe, our mission is simple: People Saved, Disciples Made, Leaders Raised, and The Church Released. Through every service, we seek to share the love and hope of Jesus, impact lives, and see transformation in communities in Los Angeles and around the world. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this stream with friends and family!

Debt can look attractive at first—like a tool to get what we want now—but if we're not careful, it can become a master that enslaves us. In this week's message, Pastor Greg unpacks what Scripture says about money, debt, and generosity.From Matthew 6:24 to Romans 13:8, we're reminded that we can't serve both God and money. Debt promises freedom but often leads to discontentment, anxiety, and missed opportunities to be generous. Yet God has a better way—using money as a tool for blessing, stewarding what He's entrusted to us, and living with contentment.Most importantly, we're reminded of the greatest debt ever paid—our sin—completely forgiven through Jesus Christ. Because we've been forgiven much, we can love much.

In Session 5 of The Abundant Spirit-Filled Life, Marian Jordan Ellis unpacks sanctification—the Holy Spirit's ongoing work to make us more like Jesus. From Matthew 5 (“You are the light of the world”) to Galatians 5 (the fruit of the Spirit), Marian shows how God's Spirit empowers everyday obedience—patience with a long fuse, kindness in action, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (strength under control), and Spirit-led self-control.You'll learn how:The Spirit restores us to our original purpose—to reflect God's glory (Gen 1; Matt 5:14–16).We are made perfect in Christ and being made holy (Hebrews 10:14).Abiding in Scripture is the Spirit's primary tool for transformation (John 17:17; Romans 12:2).“Beholding” Jesus leads to “becoming” like Him (2 Corinthians 3:17–18).If you're weary of striving, this message will help you trade self-effort for Spirit-empowered living—so your life shines for God's glory.

This week, Pastor Chris Donald continues our Ten Commandments series with “No Gods Before Me.” From Matthew 16 and Exodus 20, we learn that radical love for God means giving Him our full allegiance and keeping nothing in His face as a rival. Obedience isn't legalism—it's love. Discover how the first commandment is not about rules but about relationship, and how radical love for God empowers us to live free from idols.

In this sermon, Pastor Sean shows how Jesus redefines greatness—not through pride or power, but through humility. From Matthew 18, we learn we must become like children: dependent, teachable, and lowly of heart. True greatness is found on the road of humility.

The Great Tribulation — What Jesus Said About Your Future (Part 2)From Matthew 24 we trace Jesus' end-times outline and tie it to Daniel 7-11, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 6–18. You'll hear: the rise of a world ruler, the abomination of desolation, global control (government/religion/economy), God's righteous judgments, and the triumphant return of Christ. We close with solid hope for believers and a straightforward Gospel invitation.Scripture References: Matt. 24:15, 21–31; Dan. 7; 8:23–25; 9:26–27; 11:36–39; 2 Thes. 2:3–12; Rev. 6; 13; 16–18; Ps. 2; 1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9.Episode Breakdown (with time cues). Scrub to the area you want.0:00 – Introduction – Setting the stage: Jesus' words about our future.3:45 – Daniel's Vision – The Four Beasts and the “Little Horn.”10:12 – The Antichrist Unmasked – Titles and nature revealed in Scripture.16:50 – First Half of the Tribulation – False peace, treaties, and deception.22:20 – Global Control – Government, religion, and economy united.28:55 – Technology and the Antichrist – Tools for worldwide power.34:10 – Abomination of Desolation – Midpoint turning point of prophecy.40:35 – The Great Tribulation – Intensification of wrath and judgment.47:25 – Persecution Foretold – Targeting Jews and believers in Christ.53:40 – The Battle of Armageddon – Nations gather against God.1:00:15 – The Second Coming of Christ – Glory, victory, and final judgment.1:05:50 – Where is the USA? – Understanding America's place in prophecy.1:10:20 – God's Wrath and God's Grace – The warning and the hope.1:15:45 – Invitation – How you can know Christ today.What “scrubbing” means:Scrubbing just means moving through the audio to find a certain part of the sermon, instead of listening from the very beginning.Think of it like fast-forwarding or rewinding a movie, except you drag with your finger or mouse, instead of pushing a button.How to scrub on SpotifyWhen the sermon is playing, look at the bottom of your screen.You'll see a long line (progress bar) with a small circle (dot/slider) on it.Put your finger (or mouse) on the circle and slide it left or right.Left = go backward (earlier in the sermon).Right = go forward (later in the sermon).Watch the time numbers change (example: “22:10”). Stop when you're close to the time you want.If this message has blessed you, don't just stop here—take the next step!Philippians 3:1; 4:4 reminds us: “Rejoice in the Lord always.”The true joy and safety of life is found in Jesus Christ—He alone forgives sins, secures eternity, and gives peace that the world cannot take away.

A house divided can't stand. From Matthew 12, we'll confront how church division damages our witness, stalls our mission, fractures community—and why guarding unity isn't optional but essential to keep this house from collapse.

In this first message of the Come & See, Go & Tell series, Pastor Jay Tyler challenges us to see people the way Jesus sees them. From Matthew 9:35–38, we discover five key insights into Christ's heart for the lost: He was among the people, saw their needs, felt compassion, recognized the potential of the harvest, and called His disciples to pray and go. This message reminds us that the gospel begins with an invitation to “come and see,” but it must lead us to “go and tell.” If we truly see what Jesus sees and feel what He feels, we cannot stay where we are, we must go into the harvest field.

Welcome to the VOUS Church Podcast.In today's message, I Got My Balance Back, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. reminds us that not every battle requires deliverance; sometimes it requires discipline. From Matthew 17, we learn that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains when it's planted in God. There's still time to join us for 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Find the calendar and additional resources at vouschurch.com/prayfirst.

Greg and Nathan are at it again. Check out their new series; A Walk Through the New Testament. Greg and Nathan kick off the series with a sweeping overview of the New Testament. While setting the stage for what's to come, they zero in on the heart of the message—the Gospels and the life of Christ. From Matthew to John, Greg and Nathan explore how the story of Christ's birth, ministry, death, and resurrection forms the foundation of the New Testament and the Christian faith. Whether you're new to Scripture or revisiting familiar ground, this conversation offers a thoughtful and engaging starting point for the journey ahead.

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

From Matthew 28:16-20. This sermon was preached by Martin Salter and is 34 minutes long.

From Matthew 28:11-15 we see where the soldiers were bribed by the High Priests to not tell that Jesus had been resurrected.  From this we can learn to guard against the power of the enemy’s lies, the attraction of his lies, and the appeal of the lies.

Cravings are a part of our normal appetite. Jesus says if that hunger is directed towards being right with God, we will receive it. From Matthew 5:6.

Bankruptcy is not a fun place to be, but can offer protections for a new start. Jesus offers the spiritually bankrupt something even better: the Kingdom. The first Beatitude about the poor in spirit is the beginning to unlocking the resources of Heaven. From Matthew 5:3.

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 explore Jesus' parable of the ten virgins and the call to live in daily readiness for His return. Pastor Kurt challenges us with two vital questions: Do you believe the gospel? And are you living like it? Jesus desires a bride who is prepared, faithful, and watchful—living out genuine belief in Him every day.From Matthew 25 to Revelation 22, this message urges us not to delay our faith or ignore the signs, but to be found ready—hearts awake, lamps burning, lives reflecting the truth of the gospel.Scripture References:Matthew 25:1–13Revelation 22:12–21James 52 Peter 3Questions to Reflect On:Are you truly ready for Christ's return?Does your life reflect your faith?Are you living like you belong to Him?

A lack of vision is debilitating. Clarity of vision is life-saving. Jesus says those who have a pure heart will see him clearly. Is there anything in your life that is hindering you from seeing him clearly? If so, Jesus offers us a way forward. From Matthew 5:8

We live in a world that is short on peace. Yet Jesus offers abundant peace. When we have it and live in it, there are many blessings to be had. From Matthew 5.

Jesus, even in his perfection and love for others, received harsh treatment. Although innocent, eventually his life would be taken. When we live for Jesus, we too should expect a certain level of opposition. How we respond to it is an important part of our witness. From Matthew 5:10-12.

From Matthew 21, Emma explores how Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey marks a hinge moment in Jesus' life, and encourages us to reflect on what our expectations of Jesus are, as we come into Holy Week.

Jesus spoke about generosity in a unique way. Rather than out of compulsion, Jesus framed it with a heart of joy and eagerness. But how does one develop that mentality? His answer: it comes by seeking a greater treasure. From Matthew 13.

What is the most useless and unproductive thing most of us do very often? I would say the most worthless thing we do is worry! And yet, I ask you, how many days go by you don't worry about something? It just seems to be the place our thoughts go to when we experience any level of uncertainty or fear or lack of control. Jesus fully understood our propensity to worry, and he addressed it strongly in his Sermon on the Mount. From Matthew 6 we read: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these…So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For…your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34). In this sermon Jesus gave us three reasons not to worry. First, if you are a born-again Christian, you should not worry because of who you are! Jesus said God takes care of little birds, and even though they are not capable of taking care of their need for food, he provides food for them. And Jesus asks, “Are you not more valuable than they?” Are you more valuable to God than little birds? Surely the knowledge of how much God loves you, how deeply he cares for you should cause you to stop worrying. After all, our Heavenly Father is sovereign over everything and everyone in your life; he is always in control, and because you are his child, he has pledged to take care of your needs. That's the first reason you should not worry—because you are a child of God, and he never leaves you or forsakes you.

From Matthew 5v6 with David Thomas In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduces the upside down kingdom of God—the last will be first. His kingdom doesn't follow a worldly structure of power, fame, or notoriety, but instead, Jesus says that the poor and meek will be blessed. https://bridgetown.church/teaching

From Matthew 5v9 with David Bailey In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduces the upside down kingdom of God—the last will be first. His kingdom doesn't follow a worldly structure of power, fame, or notoriety, but instead, Jesus says that the poor and meek will be blessed. https://bridgetown.church/teaching

From Matthew 5v7

Resentment, revenge, and bitterness are natural human instincts. But their destructive power can keep us from intimacy with God and healthy relationships. Fortunately Jesus models a better way. Because of what we have received we can be an extension of God’s forgiveness into the lives of others. From Matthew 6 & 18

From Matthew 5v5

From Matthew 5v10-12

From Matthew 5v8.

From Matthew 5v1-12.

Our aim, in the way of Jesus is to become a gift of sacrificial love for the sake of others. But the thing about “others” is that no matter how pure the intentions to love, we inevitably wrong and are wronged by the very people we're trying to love. If we are to truly become a gift of sacrificial love for the sake of others, we also need to become a people of sustained forgiveness for the sake of others. From Matthew 18v21-35.

From Matthew 25v14-30, with Gavin Bennett.

From Matthew 6v19-24.

Jesus claims that external fruitfulness reveals the inner life of the disciple. This teaching traces that theme through Matthew's Gospel, drawing an abstract, ancient metaphor into concrete, modern realitultimately revealing that all true spiritual formation is for the sake of others. The aim and goal of apprenticeship of Jesus is to become love. From Matthew 7v15-20.

Be Like Jesus. Become Like Jesus. Do What Jesus Did. From Matthew 7v13-14.