Blue Ridge Community Church (audio)

Going through life without purpose and doing things out of obligation or habit never works. We quickly lose interest and passion when we are indifferent. This is true in every aspect of life—including the church. Do you find yourself asking questions like, “why am I doing this?” or “does this really matter?” If so, this message will serve to help you examine and answer those questions honestly. When we fully grasp the larger meaning of why we are a part of the church, we experience an excitement that drives us. We begin to understand the goal more fully. We learn why the stories of life change and transformation are what it is all about. And we are encouraged to move forward with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for what we get to do as a part of God’s church.

For most of us, work is an integral part of who we are. Large amounts of our time and significant amounts of energy go toward working. But an unfortunate reality is that many trudge through work as though it were an obligation instead of an opportunity. Having a strong work ethic and a positive reputation in our workplace is essential. And scripture has lots to say about the value of work and why we need it in our lives. When it comes to our jobs, many focus on what we do or how we can build our bank account. This message will challenge you to take a closer look at why you work. When you focus on the why, you will find the larger meaning and purpose in your work and greater satisfaction in a job well done.

In an age where our life and persona can be created and defined with a few taps on the keyboard and a highly filtered photo, it’s little wonder that many of us feel our connections with others are empty and shallow. We are created for deep and meaningful exchanges and not social media acquaintances that celebrate and affirm—but never judge or ask the hard questions. We are wired for vulnerability and authenticity but few of us are able to find those qualities in today’s version of surface friendship. If we yearn to be genuinely known, how can we find our true friends and be a true friend to others? What should we expect from an honest friendship? This message tackles those questions and will challenge you to seek out relationships that are open and real.

Anger. It has divided, destroyed, and caused more regret than many would like to admit. Most of us have heard the Proverb, “a soft word turns away wrath” but applying that truth in our lives can be a struggle at times. What can you do when something makes you see red? How do you handle a rapidly escalating situation, or the aftermath left in the wake of an angry moment? This message is full of practical tips and unchanging truths that will help you understand anger and the best and most prudent way to deal with it. Instead of reacting with harshness, learn how to implement humility and soft words in your responses. Find out why this is an important component to wise and happy living.

The tongue—the words that come from our mouths—have huge implications. If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve experienced this from both angles. Wounded by the words of others and living with regret over words you’ve spoken. Have you ever suffered as a result of what someone has said about you? Are there moments when you’ve desperately wished you could take back something you’ve said? Words can hurt, but words can also heal. Proverbs gives us practical guidelines for handling the tongue. When to be quiet, when to speak, and what to do after you’ve said something you regret. This message will help you learn to harness the power of words to bring life to others.

When you reflect on life’s many decisions, choices, and opportunities for blunders, do you ever wish you had known then what you know now? Are you tired of always finding the easiest or best way to do something after the fact? We all have days when we wish life could just work better. When life gets messy or challenging, we need something that solves a problem, simplifies a task, or reduces frustrations. We need a life hack. This message focuses on the timeless wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Hear how you can use this book to tap into unchanging truths. Learn why reading it often will help you discover practical tips and relevant insights for successful daily living.

Sometimes the connection to our parents can be complicated at best and nonexistent at worst. Honoring parents is a challenge that some of us wrestle with often. Our relationship with God is in large part influenced by how we view our parents and our thoughts and actions toward them.  But when lack of respect and honor is permitted to infiltrate this relationship, it causes pain and damage to families and individuals. Scripture gives weight to honoring parents and directly ties it to life success. So how do we navigate the sensitive and complex issue of respecting parents that are distant or have caused disappointment? For some, it will simply require starting a conversation. For others, it will be an act of obedience. Today’s message highlights the importance of getting this right and will give you practical ways to implement this key principle in your relationships.

The good news of the gospel is life changing. And we all have the privilege of spreading the good news in our daily interactions. In this message, hear how sharing your own personal story with others is significant and why communicating the transforming power of a relationship with Christ is essential. Learn tangible and practical ways to share your faith in your day to day living.

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.

Love. It’s a little word with big implications in relationships. And there is no shortage of definitions of this word from our mainstream culture, well-meaning friends, and even our spouses. The world has many ideas on how love is supposed to feel and what love should look like in a relationship. But when studied and evaluated within the context of God’s perfect design for husbands and wives, you will find that God’s ideal is vastly different than the world’s ideas. Love, as modeled by Christ, has no conditions or limits. It requires sacrifice and service. This message will take an honest look at love and dispel the common belief that it is a feeling or emotion. Find out what happy families already know…God’s version of love is a key component to a thriving and successful marriage.

When you hear the word submit, does your mind automatically entertain thoughts of restriction, control, and limitation? This little word has caused big problems in relationships and marriages down through the ages. But when studied and evaluated within the context of God’s perfect design for wives and husbands, you will find that submission equates to freedom, value, and respect. This message will tackle the subject matter head-on and provide biblical truths and practical takeaways to help you navigate the sometimes-touchy topic. Find out what happy families already know…submission and respect is part of God’s ideal and is a key component to achieving a thriving and successful marriage.

Relationships can be hard. Peace and harmony in marriage, friendship, family, and the workplace can be elusive. And the process of striving for unity and understanding is often exhausting. In the book of Ephesians, we find answers and are introduced to one key principle that can change the trajectory of our relationships for the better. But God’s ideal is certainly not our society’s ideal for moving toward healthy bonds. Constantly backing up to push others forward flies in the face of conventional wisdom and our selfie-driven, “me first” culture. But that’s exactly what God designed for us to do if we want to achieve the best relationships we’ve ever had. This message will help you understand the one central value that can radically change ANY human relationship. You will hear practical steps you can take to gain insight and build this practice into your life as you connect with others the way God intended.

Life is full of choices, defining moments, and crossroads. And even when we sense a strong prompting or a leading to take a certain path, we often find ourselves moving in the complete opposite direction. Do you ever feel disappointed over a bad choice or misdirected decision? Or wonder what might have been had you just listened to that inner voice that told you to go the other way? It is in those sincere questions and our moments of undeniable regret, that Jesus draws near to us with sympathy and compassion. When life has gotten off track because of our disobedience, God doesn’t abandon us in anger and frustration. Rather, He continually reaches out to draw us back and offer new pathways and reconfigured plans. This message tells the story of how Jesus agonized and wept over a lost city. As the people of the city moved further away from God, Jesus yearned for their return so they could experience the abundant life God had intended for them.

No one enjoys failure. It is painful and disappointing. And it can also feel quite lonely. When we make mistakes or fail, it’s natural to feel that God is distant and that our sin and missteps have pushed Him far away. But the story found in John 21 illustrates just the opposite. Peter, a man acquainted with making a mess of things, experiences a grace and mercy unlike any other. Instead of moving away, Jesus stands at the shore, drawing near to Peter and calling out to him. Despite Peter’s flaws and his epic failure, he is welcomed into the arms of a loving Savior. Are you in bondage to a past or present that has been riddled with bad choices? Listen and take in the message Jesus has for you as He draws close to you in your weakness. Take in a fresh reminder of who God is and let Him remind you of who you are in His eyes.

We live in a culture that values independence and takes pride in self-reliance. The mindset of pick yourself up, overcome adversity, and win at all costs permeates almost every facet of our lives. Recognizing that we are powerless in certain aspects of life is hard enough—admitting it outright is nearly impossible for many. But Jesus doesn’t view our helplessness as a problem. In fact, He views vulnerability as an opportunity to draw near to us in challenges that seem insurmountable. In this message, we hear the story of a lame man lying helplessly by a healing pool. Jesus seeks out the lame man and draws near to him in his weakness. Are you exhausted from striving to do it on your own? Perhaps acknowledging your helplessness can be the first step in finding true hope and healing.

Loss, devastation, and grief. They are a difficult, but inescapable, part of our stories. Have you ever experienced something so crushing that you’ve found yourself asking God, “Why would you allow this to happen?” In our pain and confusion, Jesus sees us and draws near with awe-inspiring compassion. And He gives us an invitation to surrender our grief to Him. But how do we surrender to God’s plan when it feels like His plan doesn’t make sense?

In a day of vast knowledge and access to answers, most of us still find ourselves wrestling with skepticism. In fact, sometimes the only thing that feels certain in our lives is uncertainty. Scripture gives us someone we can relate to when it comes to doubts and questions. His name is Thomas. He has been dubbed “Doubting Thomas” by many. But we see in his unbelief, Jesus drew near instead of turning away. Thomas’ queries didn’t disqualify him. He was given opportunity to bring them to Jesus and struggle with uncertainties. What questions do you grapple with? In the midst of your doubts, Jesus is drawing near to engage with you in an honest and open way. He is inviting you to come and see for yourself the truth of His Word.