Blue Ridge Community Church (audio)

In the weeks leading to Christmas, does your schedule seem filled to capacity? Is your mind a whirlwind of to-dos and tasks? While our world pushes busy, God looks for quiet moments of peaceful reflection to gently remind us of the reason we celebrate. Mary’s story provides the perfect backdrop for the narrative. A young girl of humble station—a great God who chooses her. She can hardly grasp it as she wrestles with the question of “why me?” Through Jesus, God bridges the gap between us and a loving Savior. Take a pause this season to experience His epic grace. The “Wonder” of it is found in asking “why is God choosing me?” and realizing the answer is because He loves you that much.

If you’ve never experienced a Baptism Celebration at Blue Ridge—or if you’ve been to three dozen—you don’t want to miss this service! Hear the stories of redemption and life change, and join us as we celebrate the transforming impact of God’s grace in the lives of others.

If you’ve never experienced a Baptism Celebration at Blue Ridge—or if you’ve been to three dozen—you don’t want to miss this service! Hear the stories of redemption and life change, and join us as we celebrate the transforming impact of God’s grace in the lives of others.

If you’ve never experienced a Baptism Celebration at Blue Ridge—or if you’ve been to three dozen—you don’t want to miss this service! Hear the stories of redemption and life change, and join us as we celebrate the transforming impact of God’s grace in the lives of others.

1 Timothy 6:18 instructs us to be rich toward others through good deeds and by generously sharing our time and financial resources. In this message, you will hear firsthand how God is working in the hurricane ravaged communities of Puerto Rico. Mar Azul will describe the ways God has used their ministry to provide tangible help to those in need. Listen as they share powerful stories of changed and transformed lives. Hear how God is continuing to expand the influence of Mar Azul as they build a campus that will serve as a community center and place of refuge and shelter. Find out ways you can help share the hope of Christ and “Be Rich” toward others this holiday season.

We’ve all heard the bait and switch offers that seem too good to be true—no money down, low monthly payments, nothing due until next year. But Jesus doesn’t offer cheap grace. He offers something of priceless value. And it comes with a cost. Along with Jesus’ invitation to follow, are instructions to lay it all down…security, comfort, control, relationships…everything. When we willingly and fully turn our lives over to God, we get to experience something so much better and deeper than the things of this world that we often stubbornly cling to. How do we go all in with God? What does that require? This message will examine what it means to live a life fully surrendered to Christ.

Our up and to the right journey culminates in love. An uncommon, sacrificial, and unconditional love that this world doesn’t understand or even try to emulate. As we move through the good and bad times and make every effort to do the things set before us, we will begin to recognize that moving up and to the right is a lifelong process. One that isn’t perfect but moves us closer and closer to living as Christ intended for us to live and loving the way He first loved us. It is the ultimate love that expects nothing in return. This message will explore what Jesus did for us, how much He cares for us, and end with an invitation for us to take a further step toward a deep and abiding love that is like no other.

We are all unique. Created diversely and differently for a purpose. But with these inherent complexities and often conflicting viewpoints comes the challenge to achieve unity with one another. Scripture defines it as mutual affection. And it’s easy to achieve when we see eye to eye on things but much more difficult when we don’t. How do we put aside our natural human inclinations, to lean into and demonstrate mutual affection to others? Do you want to learn ways to not only show mutual affection but to do it well? This message will highlight the challenges brought about by this mandate and give ways you can adopt mutual affection to achieve more effective and productive relationships.

When we hear the word godliness, many of us automatically feel like a failure. Living life in a way that honors God while surrounded by a world that doesn’t can seem like an unobtainable standard. But before we give up or consider it impossible, we must first understand what it means and how it can transform our lives. The process of striving to be more like God and moving away from worldly living has a compounding effect. With each passing day, we become more and more like God in our thoughts, actions, and desires. In this message, you will learn more about this virtue and hear ways to battle worldliness as you pursue godliness.

Most of us enjoy hearing the stories of people who have persevered or practiced tremendous self-control in the face of insurmountable odds. But when it comes to applying these virtues in our own complicated and messy lives, it becomes personal, difficult, and far more of a process than we bargained for. God created us with desires and passions that drive us. Harnessing these natural tendencies and making them work for us instead of against us is the fabric of self-control and perseverance. How do we embrace trials and work through them or deny the things that are destructive in our lives? This message will focus on how we do this and why it is vital to fruitful and effective living.

Goodness and knowledge are the building blocks to leading a life that is effective and fruitful. But when left to our own efforts, we will fail to consistently add these to our daily interactions and mindset. How do we obtain goodness and knowledge? Scripture provides a key. By focusing on what is true and right and choosing to set our minds toward such things, we can grasp the wisdom needed to live well and make a difference with those around us. When we choose to meditate on virtue and truth, we literally experience spiritual and physical changes that can be life changing. This message will give helpful ways to practice and apply this important principle.

Organizations value it. Businesses chart it. Companies depend on it. The up and to the right movement that is easily identifiable on charts and spreadsheets. At a deep and instinctive level, human beings yearn for it also. It signifies health, growth, and security. It allows us to see when we are on the right track and provides opportunity to recalibrate if we are not. The majority of us want to live meaningful lives characterized as fruitful and effective. But how can we keep moving up and to the right when much of life conspires to move us in the opposite direction? This message will launch us into an in-depth look at our personal growth and provide practical steps for making it a reality in daily living.

From the time we are born until we die, we are on a journey of growth…stages, phases, ups and downs, pushing through, and falling back. It’s the life cycle from which none of us are exempt. Your spiritual life is characterized by these same aspects. And we were uniquely designed to move through each facet of this journey interwoven and linked together with others. We gain benefit from the experience and wisdom of those further ahead, and we reach back and help guide and influence those that are behind us in the process. This is discipleship. Who are the people that have invested in you and your spiritual growth? Are you actively leading and guiding others through their journey? In this message we will hear the key principles of discipleship and learn why it is vital for each of us to be involved this life-changing and fundamental part of our development.

Baptism is an important step in the life of every Christ follower. It is also a celebration! In this message, you will learn about the significance and meaning of baptism and will get to hear inspiring stories of transformation and life change.

Baptism is an important step in the life of every Christ follower. It is also a celebration! In this message, you will learn about the significance and meaning of baptism and will get to hear inspiring stories of transformation and life change.

Baptism is an important step in the life of every Christ follower. It is also a celebration! In this message, you will learn about the significance and meaning of baptism and will get to hear inspiring stories of transformation and life change.

In today’s entitled culture, witty slogans and catchy advertisements that promise ease, comfort, and the right to “have it your way” are commonplace. Sometimes it can feel like the only type of serving we see is “self” serving. But Jesus modeled something far different. While the world often views serving roles as a lowered status, in God’s view, serving always elevates us to higher places. Many people strive for the big assignments on center stage, but it’s the small, humble, and hidden acts that often make the biggest impact in the lives of others. Sacrificial serving fulfills us, changes us, and makes us better. This message will explore the importance of serving and visit key principles around why we serve.

Certain decisions require adjustments in how we live. Once married, a person shouldn’t live the single life. A college graduate should probably move away from unpaid internships and toward an established career. A changed life situation will often redefine you and will move you in new directions. Why? Because you are no longer the person you once were. For that reason, you should no longer live the way you once lived. This message examines the importance of baptism. What does this act of obedience mean? Who is it for? And how should your life be different as a result of taking this next step in your spiritual journey? Hear the answers to these questions and the reasons why moving toward baptism openly proclaims your commitment to living a new and transformed life.

We were created for relationships and meaningful connections. But finding a community that is real and authentic can be challenging in today’s technology driven, wired up, and shallow version of relating. Experiencing community with others is absolutely vital for our spiritual and emotional health. Separation and isolation provide a fertile breeding ground for sin to grow and poor choices to multiply. It is in community that we find encouragement and accountability—core components of growth and personal development. Do you have a group of people to do life with? Are you willing to invest the time, effort, and transparency it will take to be a part of healthy community? This message will challenge you to examine your connection to others and to explore ways to actively develop and participate in constructive relationships.

When calamity strikes, for many of us, an inner battle begins. We may struggle with feeling compelled to assist while knowing we are ill-equipped to do so. Have you ever watched a difficult situation unfold and found yourself standing on the sidelines filled with uncertainty and inadequacy? Do you sometimes feel that certain disasters are best left for the “experts” to fix? When we see those we care for deeply mired in crisis or pain, we often don’t know what step to take and wonder if our actions will help or just make things worse. Today’s message will give scriptural insight into this dilemma. It’s not our job to do the healing—but it is our job to respond. Learn practical ways to do this and hear the stories of people that have experienced healing because a flawed and inadequate person had the courage to take action.