Blacksburg First Church of God

08/30/2026

Sunday Sermon Recap | August 30, 2026

Church Announcements

Beginning September 6, our weekly schedule will be:

* Sunday School: 9:45 AM
* Morning Worship: 11:00 AM
* Evening Study: 6:00 PM, except the first Sunday
* Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer: 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Beginning in September, the church prayer list will move to a monthly rotation. Prayer requests will be removed after one month. If a request needs to remain on the list, please submit a note in the offering plate so it can be continued.

Opening Scripture: Isaiah 64:8

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

The Potter, the Full Story

Isaiah 64:8

This morning’s message focused on a powerful image found throughout Scripture: God as the Potter and His people as the clay.

The picture of God shaping His creation does not begin in Isaiah. It reaches all the way back to Genesis 2:7, where God formed man from the dust of the ground. The same idea of forming and shaping continues throughout Scripture.

In Isaiah 29:16, the imagery of the potter and clay appears alongside warnings of God’s judgment. Isaiah 45:9 warns against the creation arguing with its Creator. The clay does not determine what the Potter should make. It is the Potter who has authority over the clay.

The message continued into Jeremiah 18:6, where God establishes Himself as the Potter of Israel. Then, in Jeremiah 19:1-11, Jeremiah is instructed to take a clay vessel and break it as a dramatic picture of judgment. Later, Lamentations 4:2 describes Israel through the imagery of a broken clay pot.

The same theme carries into the New Testament.

In Romans 9:20-21, Paul reminds us that a potter has authority over the clay and can take the same lump of clay and form different vessels.

Finally, the message brought us to Revelation 2:27 and the church at Thyatira, where the imagery turns to vessels being broken to pieces.

Throughout Scripture, the message remains consistent. God is the Potter. We are the clay.

The question is what kind of vessel we are becoming.

Are we allowing God to mold us according to His purpose? Are we resisting the hands of the Potter? Are our lives becoming vessels that honor Him?

The message closed with a question for each of us:

Which vessel are you?

The one from Thyatira?

Or the one of honor?

08/24/2026

Sunday Sermon Recap | August 23, 2026

Announcements

Church Council will meet August 25.

A Prayer List Revamp will take place in September.

Beginning September 6, our weekly schedule will be:

* Sunday School: 9:45 AM
* Morning Worship: 11:00 AM
* Evening Study: 6:00 PM
* Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer: 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall

College football season is upon us, bringing another opportunity for fellowship and service through parking. Volunteers are encouraged to come out and help as we use this opportunity to support the church and continue our mission of spreading the love of Jesus Christ.

This Saturday, August 29 at 4:00 PM, everyone is invited to celebrate Bill Powell’s birthday at the picnic shelter at Slusser’s Chapel.

Happy Birthday this week to Bill Powell on August 26 and Brenda Caldwell on August 29!

Opening Scripture: Matthew 24:14

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

One World Government
Daniel 7:23-24

This morning’s message continued our study of biblical prophecy by examining the connection between Daniel and Revelation. Understanding prophecy requires understanding Daniel because Revelation builds upon and develops much of the imagery and prophecy first introduced there.

Daniel describes four beasts and a final kingdom, while Revelation brings the imagery of those kingdoms together. Both books point toward a final period of worldwide authority. They describe ten kings, a period of 42 months or 3½ years, the judgment and destruction of the final kingdom, and ultimately the saints receiving the Kingdom.

Jesus Himself points His followers toward Daniel’s prophecy in Matthew 24:15. Daniel was told to “seal up” the prophecy, while John was told in Revelation 22:10, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy.”

The message then looked at signs presented as pointing toward the development of a future one world system, including the increasing digitization of money and movements toward greater religious unity.

This led into a discussion of the Seven Noahide Laws, a tradition derived from Scripture and understood as a minimum moral framework for humanity regardless of nationality or background. These include prohibitions against murder, idolatry, blasphemy, sexual misconduct, theft, eating flesh taken from a living animal, and the requirement to establish systems of justice.

The message connected these ideas with passages throughout Genesis and Acts 15 while considering how religious, economic, and governmental systems could develop in relation to biblical prophecy.

But prophecy is not simply about identifying future events. It is a reminder that Christians are called to know God’s Word, understand what Scripture teaches, remain watchful, and stay faithful to Christ.

Matthew 24:14 reminds us that even as the world changes, the mission of the Church does not. The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations.

And the message closed with a question for every believer:

Are you listening for that shout that will take us out?

Watch the entire service or even past sermons here:

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

08/16/2026

Sunday Sermon Recap | August 16, 2026

Announcements

Church Council will meet August 25.

A Prayer List Revamp will take place in September.

Beginning September 6, our Sunday schedule will change:

* Sunday School: 9:45 AM in the Fellowship Hall
* Worship Service: 11:00 AM
* Evening Bible Study: 6:00 PM
* Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer: 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Join us August 29 at 4:00 PM for a party for Bill Powell at the Slusser’s Chapel Picnic Shelter.

Opening Scripture: Matthew 24:12-13

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

The Abomination of Desolation
Daniel 9:24-27

This morning’s message continued our study of biblical prophecy by examining Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy “weeks.”

Daniel describes 70 weeks, or periods of years, divided into three segments. The first seven sevens represent 49 years, a period connected with the rebuilding and restoration of Jerusalem. The second segment consists of 62 sevens, or 434 years, extending from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the anointing of Jesus. Together, these account for 69 of the 70 weeks described by Daniel.

The final segment, the 70th week, points forward to events described in greater detail in Revelation 6-19. Daniel provides the introduction, while Revelation provides a fuller picture of what will take place during this final period.

Jesus Himself points His followers back to Daniel’s prophecy when speaking about the “abomination of desolation” in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14. He then gives an overview of the end of the tribulation and introduces the lesson of the fig tree.

The fig tree reminds us to recognize the season in which we are living. Just as the changing seasons tell us what is approaching, Scripture calls believers to remain watchful, faithful, and prepared.

Our opening Scripture carries that same message. As wickedness increases and the love of many grows cold, Christ calls His people to stand firm to the end.

The question we were left with this morning is simple, but one every believer must consider:

ARE YOU READY?

https://blacksburg.faith/RecentSermon.html

08/09/2026

Sunday at Blacksburg First Church of God | August 9, 2026

Before today’s sermon, we shared several announcements with the congregation.

📢 Church Announcements

• August 25: Church Council Meeting.
• Beginning September 6: Sunday School will begin at 9:45 AM in the Fellowship Hall.
• Worship Service: 11:00 AM.
• Sunday Evening Bible Study: 6:00 PM.
• Wednesday Bible Study and Prayer: 6:30 PM.

🎉 Birthdays

Please join us in wishing a very happy birthday to Donna Lafon, who celebrates today, and Michael Breen, who celebrates on Wednesday, August 12. We pray God blesses each of you with a wonderful year ahead!

Opening Scripture

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”
Revelation 14:12 (NIV)

Mark of the Beast

Today’s message focused on Revelation 13:11-18 and one of the most discussed subjects in biblical prophecy, the Mark of the Beast.

Revelation 13 describes two beasts. The first beast, introduced in verse 1, comes from the sea. It is described as having seven heads and ten horns, with a diadem on each horn, and resembling a leopard.

Beginning in verse 11, John describes a second beast, this time coming from the earth. It has two horns resembling a lamb, but it speaks like a dragon. Although its appearance may seem less threatening, it exercises the same authority as the first beast and directs people to worship the first beast.

The second beast also performs great signs. Revelation describes fire appearing to come down from heaven, other miraculous signs, and the creation of an image honoring the first beast. Through these signs and its authority, people are deceived and pressured into following the beast.

The message then turned to the Mark of the Beast itself.

For generations, much of the discussion surrounding Revelation 13 has focused on trying to determine exactly what the mark will look like or what technology might be involved. Today’s message challenged us to focus on something Scripture makes much clearer: the consequences of the mark are more important than speculation about its physical form.

Revelation describes a system in which participation in ordinary commerce becomes restricted to those who have received the mark. Those without it will be unable to buy or sell.

The implications would reach into nearly every part of everyday life. Without the ability to participate in normal commerce, people would be unable to make ordinary retail purchases for necessities such as food, clothing, and fuel. Access to services and utilities such as electricity, water, natural gas, and internet service could also become impossible if payment cannot be made.

The issue presented in Revelation is ultimately much deeper than economics or technology. The mark is connected with worship, allegiance, and faithfulness.

That brings us back to today’s opening Scripture in Revelation 14:12. In the midst of tremendous pressure, God’s people are called to patient endurance, obedience to God’s commandments, and faithfulness to Jesus.

Rather than becoming consumed with speculation about what the mark might physically be, the greater question is whether our faith will remain strong when following Christ comes at a cost.

The message reminds us that biblical prophecy should not simply satisfy our curiosity about the future. It should challenge the way we live in the present.

May we remain watchful, grounded in God’s Word, and faithful to Jesus regardless of what circumstances may come.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning. We pray you have a blessed week as you continue walking with Christ. God bless!

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

08/04/2026

With our social media person out of town this week, it falls to the pastor to make a post this week. You will find the recording of the service it's usual place.

The service is always posted as soon as possible. Sometimes that is Sunday afternoon. Sometimes it may be as late as Tuesday evening. On rare occasions, even later than that.

On the left side of the recent sermon page you will find the recording of the most recent Sunday Morning Worship service. On the bottom of that page, you will find several things. There are links to the sermon from each Sunday, both youtube video links as well as audio only links. The audio versions are easy to download to your device. There are also notes. Those are printable and the PDF version has "blanks" into which you may type your answers.

https://blacksburg.faith/RecentSermon.html

07/26/2026

Sunday at Blacksburg First Church of God | July 26, 2026

Before today’s sermon, we shared several announcements with the congregation.

📢 Church Announcements

• Tonight: Evening Bible Study is canceled as we prepare for Family Camp.
• July 27 through July 31: COGVA Camp Meeting.
• August 2: Camp Report and a Special Announcement.

🎉 Birthdays

Please join us in wishing a happy birthday to John Chandler, who celebrates tomorrow, and Alice Noblin, who celebrates on Friday. We pray God blesses each of you with a wonderful year ahead!

Opening Scripture

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)

Encourage Your Neighbor

Today’s message centered on Hebrews 10:19-25, reminding us that because of Christ’s finished work, we have confidence to draw near to God and a responsibility to encourage one another as we await His return.

The lesson began by examining the richness of these verses. Hebrews speaks of entering the holiest place, referring to the innermost part of the Temple where God’s presence was symbolized. Because Jesus became the final sacrifice and our great High Priest, believers now have boldness to approach God through Him.

We were reminded that God desires hearts that are true, sincere, and genuine. Through Christ, we have been cleansed and made new, allowing us to stand before God not because of our own righteousness, but because of His grace.

The message challenged us from Hebrews 10:23, urging us to hold firmly to our faith without wavering. Our confidence rests in the faithfulness of God, not in changing circumstances.

In verse 24, we were called to intentionally encourage one another and spur each other toward love and good works. Christian faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. God designed the church to strengthen, support, and encourage one another.

Verse 25 reminds us not to neglect gathering together. The lesson emphasized that the phrase “as ye see the day approaching” carries the idea of perceiving and understanding what God is doing. As believers recognize the signs of Christ’s return, encouraging one another becomes even more important.

The message pointed out that when we fail to recognize the urgency of the times, encouraging others often becomes more difficult. But when we understand that Christ’s return is drawing nearer, encouraging fellow believers becomes a natural response as we seek to help one another remain faithful.

The sermon concluded with two questions for each of us to consider:

Are you seeing the signs of Jesus’ return?

Are you excited about His return?

As we continue to watch, wait, and worship, may we remain faithful in gathering together, strengthening one another, and encouraging one another to love and good works until the day Christ returns.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning. We pray you have a blessed week as you continue walking with Christ. God bless!

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

07/19/2026

Sunday at Blacksburg First Church of God | July 19, 2026

Before today’s sermon, we shared several announcements with the congregation.

📢 Church Announcements

• Tonight: There will be no Evening Bible Study.
• July 21: Church Council Meeting at 6:30 PM.
• July 26: Aliyah Ellison - Birthday.
• July 27 through July 31: COGVA Camp Meeting.

Opening Scripture

“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18 (KJV)

Love Your Neighbor

Today’s message reminded us that one of the most familiar commands in Scripture is often one of the least understood because we tend to focus on a single verse instead of the surrounding context.

Leviticus 19:18 is part of a larger section containing various laws throughout Leviticus 19. We were encouraged to read Leviticus 19:1-18 together to better understand what God intended when He commanded His people to love their neighbor.

Beginning in verse 9, Scripture moves from instruction to action. Loving your neighbor is demonstrated through practical acts of kindness and generosity. Verse 11 teaches honesty and integrity, protecting our neighbor from deception. Verse 13 continues that protection by forbidding oppression and withholding what belongs to another. Verse 14 specifically commands God’s people to care for and protect those with disabilities. Verse 15 calls for righteous and impartial judgment. Verse 16 reminds us to protect our neighbor rather than standing by when harm can be prevented. Verse 17 teaches that genuine love sometimes requires lovingly confronting someone about their sin instead of allowing them to continue down a harmful path.

The lesson also explained that the Hebrew word translated as “neighbor” in Leviticus 19:18 is better understood as someone close to you, even a friend or companion. This helps us see that biblical love is much more than an emotion. It is a commitment to care for the people God has placed in our lives.

We also learned that this Hebrew idea does not translate perfectly into Greek, yet the command is so important that the New Testament quotes it seven times. In Luke 10:27, Jesus brings together the commands to love God and love your neighbor, showing that the two are inseparable.

The message concluded by pointing us to Hebrews 10:23-25. If we truly view fellow believers as our friends and neighbors, we should encourage one another, help strengthen each other’s faith, and remain committed to gathering together as the body of Christ.

Loving your neighbor is far more than simply being kind. It means living a life marked by generosity, honesty, justice, protection, encouragement, forgiveness, and genuine care for others. It is not just a command to know. It is a command to live.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning. We pray you have a blessed week as you continue walking with Christ. God bless!
Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.
Blacksburg First Church of God

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

07/12/2026

Sunday at Blacksburg First Church of God | July 12, 2026

Before today’s sermon, we shared several announcements with the congregation.

📢 Church Announcements

• Tonight: Evening Bible Study at 6:00 PM.
• July 17: Dorothena Doss celebrates her birthday.
• July 21: Church Council Meeting at 6:30 PM.
• July 27-31: COGVA Camp Meeting.

Opening Scripture

“So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”
Genesis 11:8 (KJV)

Today’s message asked us to consider an important question:

The Days of Noah?

Jesus warned His followers that the days surrounding His return would be like the days of Noah. In Matthew 24:37-39, life continued as normal. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and going about their daily lives without recognizing what was coming.

1 Peter 3:20 reminds us that God patiently waited during the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the end, eight people were delivered through the water.

The message also took us to Luke 17:26-35, where Jesus again spoke of the days of Noah, but also pointed to the days of Lot. In both cases, people continued living their lives until everything suddenly changed.

We then looked at Genesis 11:1-9 and the Tower of Babel. Humanity shared a single language, nations and people worked together toward a common purpose, and mankind attempted to build a tower reaching into the heavens. God ultimately scattered the people and confused their language.

Today, advances in technology and international cooperation have allowed humanity to accomplish things previous generations could hardly have imagined. Nations work together in space exploration, people from different cultures and languages cooperate toward common goals, and mankind continues reaching farther into the heavens.

The message challenged us to consider the similarities between the world described in Scripture and the world around us today.

Are we paying attention?

Jesus warned that life would continue as normal until suddenly, it would not. The people of Noah’s generation did not recognize what was coming. Neither did the people in the days of Lot.

The question for each of us is whether we are spiritually prepared.

As we look at Scripture, prophecy, and the world around us, may we remember that our responsibility is not to live in fear, but to remain faithful, watchful, and ready.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning. We pray you have a blessed week as you continue walking with Christ. God bless!

07/05/2026

Sunday at Blacksburg First Church of God | July 5, 2026

Before today’s sermon, we shared a few announcements with the congregation.

🎉 Happy Birthday!
Please join us in wishing a happy birthday to Oliver Breen, who celebrates tomorrow (07-06-26), and Brenda Powell, who celebrates on Saturday(07-11-26). We pray God blesses each of you with a wonderful year ahead!

📢 Church Announcements
• Tonight: Evening Bible Study has been canceled.
• July 21: Church Council Meeting.
• July 27-31: COGVA Camp Meeting.

Opening Scripture
“It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.”
John 6:45 (NIV)

Today’s message challenged us with a simple but powerful question:

Is the Word Written on Your Heart?

The focus was not just on reading Scripture, but on allowing God’s Word to become part of who we are.

We looked at several passages centered around the idea of things being written.

In Luke 23:38, the inscription above Jesus on the cross proclaimed, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Though written by Roman authority, it declared a truth far greater than those who ordered it realized.

In John 7:15, the religious leaders marveled at Jesus’ knowledge, asking how He knew His “letters” without formal education. His wisdom came directly from the Father.

In Acts 9:2, Saul sought letters authorizing him to persecute followers of Christ. Those same letters would soon lose their purpose after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

We also learned that the Greek words translated as “written” and “letters” help reveal the importance of God’s written revelation. The New Testament contains epistles, or letters, written to instruct and encourage believers, and the book of Revelation begins with seven letters to seven churches.

The message concluded with Romans 2:15, reminding us that God’s desire is not simply for His Word to be written on paper, but written on our hearts.

Reading Scripture is essential, but God’s purpose is for His Word to transform our hearts, guide our decisions, and shape the way we live every day.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning. We pray you have a blessed week as you continue walking with Christ. God bless!

We update our website sermon page as soon as possible. Each week the service is posted on the left side. On the right side is archives of the sermons in both video and audio only formats. Also the notes for the sermon are in .pdf. These actually fillable forms to electronically fill in the blanks or you may print them. See less

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.

06/21/2026

Sunday Service Recap

Consistent Faith

Luke 18:1–8

Announcements

* Evening Bible Study is canceled tonight in observance of Father’s Day.
* Church Council Meeting: Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM.
* Happy Birthday to John Bellows (today) and Victoria Breen (next Sunday).

This week’s message focused on the importance of maintaining a consistent and persistent faith, especially as believers await Christ’s return. Looking at Luke 18:1–8, we were reminded that this parable is closely connected to Jesus’ teaching in the previous chapter concerning the coming Kingdom of God and the end times.

The message began by noting that the chapter division between Luke 17 and Luke 18 can sometimes cause readers to miss the continuity of Jesus’ teaching. The context continues from Christ’s discussion about future events, making the lesson of persistent prayer and unwavering faith even more significant.

Jesus tells the story of two very different individuals: an unjust judge and a widow who had been wronged. The widow repeatedly came before the judge seeking justice. At first, the judge ignored her requests. He had no concern for God and little concern for people. Yet the widow refused to give up.

Day after day, she returned and continued to plead her case.

Eventually, the judge granted her request. Not because he had become righteous, but because her persistence could not be ignored. Her continual appeals wore down his resistance and forced him to act.

Jesus then shifts the focus from the judge’s actions to God’s character. If even an unjust judge will eventually respond to persistence, how much more will a loving and righteous God hear the cries of His people?

The message emphasized that God’s justice is not delayed because He is indifferent. Rather, God sees, hears, and knows exactly what His people are facing. He remains faithful to His promises and will ultimately bring justice according to His perfect timing.

The sermon then arrived at what may be the most important question in the passage:

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

This question serves as a powerful challenge for every believer. Jesus leaves His listeners with what feels like a spiritual cliffhanger. The issue is not whether God will remain faithful. The question is whether His people will remain faithful.

Will believers continue praying when answers seem delayed?

Will they continue trusting when circumstances become difficult?

Will they continue looking for Christ’s return when the world grows increasingly distracted?

The widow’s persistence becomes a picture of the faith Jesus desires in His followers. It is a faith that does not quit, does not give up, and does not stop seeking God regardless of circumstances.

Key Takeaways

* Luke 18 continues the end-times discussion that began in Luke 17.
* The parable features an unjust judge and a widow seeking justice.
* Persistence was the key characteristic of the widow’s faith.
* The judge eventually responded because she continually returned.
* God’s character is infinitely greater than that of the unjust judge.
* God hears the prayers of His people and will bring justice in His timing.
* The central question is whether Christ will find faith when He returns.
* Consistent faith continues trusting, praying, and believing even when answers seem delayed.

Final Thought

Faith is often easiest when prayers are answered quickly and circumstances are favorable. The true test of faith comes when we must continue trusting God through delays, uncertainty, and difficulty. The widow never stopped pursuing justice, and believers are called to show the same persistence in prayer and trust.

As we await Christ’s return, may we be found faithful, not giving up, not growing weary, but continually seeking God and trusting His promises.

“Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.” - Luke 17:33 (NET)

Blacksburg First Church of God
Living with consistent faith while waiting on God’s perfect timing.

We update our website sermon page as soon as possible. Each week the service is posted on the left side. On the right side is archives of the sermons in both video and audio only formats. Also the notes for the sermon are in .pdf. These actually fillable forms to electronically fill in the blanks or you may print them.

Watch the recorded worship service or just watch our most recently recorded sermon.