North Conway Baptist Church - Weekly Sermons

What is God’s will for my life? Have you ever asked that question before? It is a question so common among Christians, yet so confusing. We can freeze up in our decision-making because of a deep anxiety about getting it wrong. We wonder if we can get so far off God’s will that we can never recover our lives. But God never intended His will to be a place of anxiety. It is meant to be a place of peace. So this Sunday, we are going to examine this complex question to see if we can find some simple peace. Every summer, we pause our usual exegetical sermon series to address challenging topics from a biblical angle. This year, our series on tough topics will focus on two main questions: first, what is God’s will for my life? Second, what does gospel unity entail? Although we frequently use phrases like "God’s will” and “gospel unity," their true meanings can be unclear. What do we really mean when we say them?

 We will have our last service centered on the Sermon on the Mount. We are planning to have a special time of worship and reading through the entire Sermon. You will not want to miss out on this very special time. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

In this Sermon are the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount. The title of our series is pulled from this passage: Built on the Rock. Over the last several months, we have heard some great teaching from this Sermon. We have heard Jesus teach on some difficult topics. We have been forced to look at our own sin and God's mercy. But what will we do with it? Will we just file it away as another sermon series, or will we take it to heart and begin to build our lives around these truths? We have to decide, and Sunday's message will help us see that choice clearly. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple. 

There are moments when we all have doubts about our salvation. Am I really saved? Have I done enough for Jesus? Will I get to heaven’s gates and be turned away? Passages like Matthew 7:21-23 can strike terror into the hearts of anyone struggling with these kinds of questions. But can we know for sure that we are saved? The short answer is “yes,” we can know that we belong to Christ forever. The long answer we will unpack in this message. 

We continue our study through the Sermon on the Mount with one of Jesus' most timely warnings. The internet has given us access to more Bible teaching than ever before, but is all of it trustworthy? And how do we discern what is true? Join us as we hear Jesus' wise and gracious instruction for recognizing false teachers and faithfully following Him.In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple. 

This sermon will bring us to the end of the main section of the Sermon on the Mount. The main body of the sermon is full of practical guidance on how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven while we still live here on earth. The last section of this main body is no exception, teaching us much about prayer. But as we look more deeply at this familiar text about asking, we will see that there is also much to learn about God.

In this sermon, we revisit our 2026 Vision: The Great Pursuit—Longing for a Deeper Relationship with God. We know that God is omnipresent, a truth even our youngest children understand confidently. So why does it often feel so difficult to find Him? If He truly is everywhere, then searching for Him should be quick. Yet, in reality, it requires intent. We need to be purposeful in seeking God, diligent in looking with eyes of faith, and genuinely yearning to experience His presence. Join us on Sunday as we explore how we can achieve all these. Too many Christians believe that their pursuit of God ends at salvation. But the truth is, that is only where it begins. Throughout our lives, we must thirst for a deeper and deeper relationship with God, like a deer pants for water. The desire for Him must become the sole focus of our lives, and we must refuse to accept any substitute. So this year, we will focus on how we can nurture a more intimate relationship with God—not just knowing about Him, but truly knowing Him."As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (NIV) 

It is incredibly easy to spot the flaws in others while ignoring our own. But in Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus challenges this hypocritical habit, commanding us to look at the "plank" in our own eye before offering correction. This Sunday, we’ll explore how to replace our critical judgments with gospel-centered grace, humility, and genuine discernment.

Our country is celebrating its 250th anniversary this week on July 4th—an incredible milestone! As Christians, we need to reflect on what it truly means to be a citizen of this nation. Do I consider myself a Christian simply because I reside here? Is this nation a “Christian Nation” just because I live in it? What guidance does the Bible provide about our responsibilities as citizens? While we honor our nation's 250 years of achievements, it's also important to think about what the next 250 years might hold—much of which will depend on faithful Christians living as faithful citizens. Therefore, this Sunday, we will pause our current series to focus on these vital questions.  

Everyone faces certain struggles in life. We may experience them at varying levels or with greater intensity during specific seasons, but the struggle is universal. Worry and anxiety rank among the most common. Perhaps this is why Jesus included guidance on this issue in His Sermon on the Mount—it's that significant. In this sermon, we'll explore this vital passage to identify key causes of worry and practical solutions.In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.   

 We will kick off our VBS week in our worship service as we learn about the nature of God. But adults don’t check out. There is something to be learned, no matter your age. God is so many different things; He is our creator, our safe place, and love and eternal. But why does it matter that we know these things? This Sunday, we will examine the life of missionary Amy Carmichael and see how it reveals much about the nature of God. 

We continue our study of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He turns to everyone's favorite subject to discuss in church: money. But as we'll see, Jesus is after something much deeper than our bank accounts. In Matthew 6:19-24, He exposes the connection between our treasures and our hearts, challenging us to consider where our true allegiance lies. His goal isn't to weigh us down with guilt, but to set us free from living for things that cannot last and lead us into the joy of living for the things that do.

In this episode, we will finish the section on hypocrisy by looking at Jesus’ teaching on fasting. Jesus’ previous two examples, giving and prayer, are commonly practiced and understood by most Southern Baptist Christians. But fasting is not as commonly practiced or as well understood. So we will examine what Jesus says about fasting and hypocrisy, and we will also take some time to learn about fasting in general and to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about it. If you have never fasted before or have wondered about this spiritual discipline, you do not want to miss Sunday’s sermon.  In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

Last week, we looked at half of Jesus' teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. We saw two specific pitfalls to avoid when praying. This week, we will look at the positive side of prayer, including how we should pray. Jesus gave believers a powerful tool in the form of a model prayer to guide our prayer lives. The Lord’s Prayer, as it is often called, is an effective way to develop our prayer lives. Join us on Sunday to see how you can use this amazing tool. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

Last week, we began a new section of the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus addressed hypocrisy. Jesus desires that our outward actions be true indicators of our inward motives. To make this clear, Jesus will use three examples: giving, prayer, and fasting. This week, we will examine the first part of Jesus’ teaching on prayer by looking at how we should not pray.In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

No one wants to be a hypocrite. We want our words to match our actions. We want our faith to be clearly displayed. But how can we best assure that? In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will talk about hypocrisy by focusing on three key areas of Jewish faith: giving, prayer, and fasting. We will examine His words on giving. 

Relationships in life are complicated. Some of them grow to become beautiful friendships. But some end up broken. We all know how to respond in love to our friends, but how do we respond to our enemies? In the last verses of our current section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will address how Christians are to respond to their enemies. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

We continue our study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:33–37, where He speaks about oaths and vows. At first glance, His words may feel distant from everyday life. Yet upon further examination, we will see how they press into a deeper issue that hits close to home: the problem of lying, half-truths, and spin, particularly in a culture where such things are increasingly accepted. Join us as we consider how Jesus calls His followers to a different way.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

In the current section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives specific illustrations of how His elevation of the law applies in daily life. We have already looked at anger and lust, but next Jesus turns the focus to divorce. This is a very difficult topic because it touches so many families in our current generation. It is not generic; it is deeply personal. But we cannot avoid the truth just because it is hard. So on Sunday, we will examine what Scripture says about divorce. We will see how God elevates marriage and how He gives grace to sinners.In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

There are times in our lives when hope is hard to find. We know that God is there, but it does not feel like He is there with us. Much like the disciples must have felt after the crucifixion. They felt as though all their plans had failed. Yet, Jesus was closer than they thought, and His plans better than they could have imagined. This Easter, we will walk along the Road to Emmaus as the resurrected Jesus reveals Himself to two hopeless, weary disciples. After Jesus walked with the two disciples along the road, they stopped for the night at their home. It was only then, as Jesus broke and passed the bread, that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. Why was that the moment? On Sunday, we will partake in the Lord’s Supper and reflect on how we still see Jesus in this meaningful act of worship.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

We begin our Easter series. As we walk with Jesus and two of his disciples along the road to Emmaus, we will see how Jesus opened the scriptures up to them so that they could see Him on every page. Jesus is still the singular focus of every passage, and in our message on Sunday, we will look back at several Old Testament passages that help us to see Jesus as the suffering servant who now reigns in victory over all of creation. There are times in our lives when hope is hard to find. We know that God is there, but it does not feel like He is there with us. We know that He has plans, but it does not feel like they align with ours. Much like the disciples must have felt after the crucifixion. They felt as though their savior was gone; they felt as though all their plans had failed. Yet, Jesus was closer than they thought, and His plans better than they could have imagined. This Easter, we will walk along the Road to Emmaus as the resurrected Jesus reveals Himself to two hopeless, weary disciples. Our prayer is that, through these messages, our hearts will “burn within us,” just as the disciples' did when they encountered the resurrected Lord. 

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

We will continue exploring our 2026 Vision: The Great Pursuit: Longing for a Deeper Relationship with God. After we realize that we need to pursue God, we have to stop and ask ourselves, “Why have I not been pursuing Him?” This is a difficult question, and for all of us, the answer is the same—sin. The love of comfort, possessions, and pleasure all overshadow the love for God in our hearts. On Sunday, we will examine some of these hindrances to our pursuit and see how we can overcome them so we might get closer to God. Too many Christians believe that their pursuit of God ends at salvation. But the truth is, that is only where it begins. Throughout our lives, we must thirst for a deeper and deeper relationship with God, like a deer pants for water. The desire for Him must become the sole focus of our lives, and we must refuse to accept any substitute. So this year, we will focus on how we can nurture a more intimate relationship with God—not just knowing about Him, but truly knowing Him."As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (NIV)  

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien teach the study.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

Last week, Jesus explained how the law and the new covenant of His grace work together. Now, in the next section of the sermon, Jesus will look at six specific areas to show exactly how that works. The first of these, which we will examine this week, is the sin of anger. Anger seems like a small thing. In fact, in our culture, it is often the focus of jokes; we can all picture the cartoon character “blowing his top.” But does Jesus see it as such a little thing? The answer is a definite no. Jesus sees anger as an indicator of our brokenness on par with murder. Sunday, we will see how serious anger is and how it can hinder our worship and our relationships. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

In this passage, Jesus underscores the connection between who His followers are and how they are meant to live in a world constantly drifting toward moral and spiritual decay. Join us as we listen to Christ’s call to live in a way that brings glory to our Father in heaven.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

Too many Christians believe that their pursuit of God ends at salvation. But the truth is, that is only where it begins. Throughout our lives, we must thirst for a deeper and deeper relationship with God, like a deer pants for water. The desire for Him must become the sole focus of our lives, and we must refuse to accept any substitute. So this year, we will focus on how we can nurture a more intimate relationship with God—not just knowing about Him, but truly knowing 

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

We will conclude our study of the Beattitudes. We will examine the final three blessings, understand why God desires us to be pure of heart, what it means to be a peacemaker, and, finally, how we should respond when peace does not come but persecution does. Dealing with persecution is a challenging aspect of life, but with an eternal perspective, we can view it in a completely different way—one that brings joy even amid the pain. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

We continue our study of the Beatitudes. Last week, we focused on the first one because it sets the tone for the remaining blessings. This week, we will continue to build upon that initial idea as we explore the next four blessings: the mourners, the meek, the hungry, and the merciful. In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermons will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

We begin a brand new sermon series studying the Sermon on the Mount. Most of us are familiar with bits and pieces of the Sermon on the Mount. We have certainly heard, or at least heard of, the beatitudes. But what was the point of this longest sermon recorded by Jesus? John Stott has noted that the Sermon on the Mount is “probably the best known part of the teaching of Jesus, though arguably it is the least understood, and certainly it is the least obeyed.” In our sermon series through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see that Jesus was giving a manifesto for how Christians are to live as citizens of heaven, while still being residents of a sinful world. But this is no easy task, and the sermon will challenge us to think differently about obedience. It will challenge us to think deeply about grace and law. And it will challenge us to think soberly about what it means to be a disciple.

 We continue our Christmas sermon series by examining the Nativity through the eyes of the Magi. It is true that wise men still seek Jesus today. But do we still seek Him with the endurance and purpose shown by the first gift bearers of the king? Do we push through hardship to pursue God? Or do we follow only until it gets hard? The wisemen in the Nativity story offer us a strong challenge. Join us on Sunday to see what you can learn from them. 

 We continue our Christmas sermon series by looking at the nativity through the eyes of the shepherds. It is incredible to think that God chose to share the good news of His son’s birth publicly with a group of the lowliest outcasts in their society. But of course, God knew exactly what He was doing. Jesus was the savior for all who would believe, not just the good people or the wealthy ones. No, Jesus came especially for the outcast and lonely, and that truth is still a comfort for us today. This year, our Christmas sermon series will take a close look at the real people in the Christmas story. Sometimes we can paint in our mind such an idealistic picture of the birth of Christ that we can forget that there around that manger were real people, with real struggles, real fears, but also very real faith. As we look at the Faith of Mary, the Obedience of Joseph, the Humility of the Shepherds, and the Perseverance of the Wisemen, we will hope to see ourselves in such a way that our own walk with Jesus is strengthened. 

The 2025-26 Wednesday In The Word study at North Conway Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina, is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Mark.The study is taught by Senior Pastor Dr. Jay Worthington and Associate Pastor Will O’Brien.See more about our church at www.northconwaybaptist.com

We continue our Christmas series, taking a close look at the real people in the Christmas story. This time, we will direct our attention to Joseph, Mary’s husband and Jesus’ earthly father. Joseph stands out as a man who, despite the tremendous personal cost he faced, chose to follow God’s call with unwavering obedience. From his example, we will see what true obedience looks like and where we can find the motivation to pursue it.

In this episode, we will start our Christmas sermon series by exploring the faith of Mary. This teenage girl demonstrates one of the strongest faiths in all of scripture. Her simple belief in the outlandish promises of the angel challenges us today to consider how much faith we place in God's promises. This year, our Christmas sermon series will take a close look at the real people in the Christmas story. Sometimes we can paint in our mind such an idealistic picture of the birth of Christ that we can forget that there around that manger were real people, with real struggles, real fears, but also very real faith. As we look at the Faith of Mary, the Obedience of Joseph, the Humility of the Shepherds, and the Perseverance of the Wisemen, we will hope to see ourselves in such a way that our own walk with Jesus is strengthened. 

Zechariah 1-14Too often we find ourselves in the weary middle of life. Between the joy of our salvation and the longing for our heavenly home, the days and trials can become overwhelming. We know that God has promised to be with us and never forsake us, but sometimes that peace seems so thin and flimsy. Zechariah spoke to God’s people right in the middle of a weary time for them as well. His words of encouragement and hope still resound loudly into our own world today. Join us as we study a book that has more prophecies about Jesus than any other in the Old Testament except Isaiah.  Though small in size, the Minor Prophets are large in truth. They want us to remember that a day is coming when the Lord will return and judge the unrighteous and bless the righteous. On That Day, we want to be sure that our hope is fully anchored in Jesus Christ. In this series, we will examine a book a week to see its key meaning and focus.