Media - West Asheville Baptist Church

West Asheville Baptist Church

January 18, 2026

January 18, 2026 • Rev. Josh Harvey • Matthew 1:18–25

The virgin birth isn't just a theological detail tucked away in ancient creeds—it's the foundation of everything we believe about redemption. When we explore Matthew's account through Joseph's eyes, we encounter a man who faced an impossible situation: his betrothed was pregnant, and he knew he wasn't the father. Yet Joseph chose to believe God, the angel, and Mary. His faith led him to name the child Jesus—a non-family name that broke cultural expectations—and to protect the innocent at great personal cost. This narrative reveals something profound: Jesus wasn't just a great teacher who appeared in history; He stepped out of eternity into Bethlehem as fully God and fully man. The significance? That which Christ has not assumed, He has not healed. If Jesus didn't truly become human, He couldn't redeem humanity. But because He entered fully into our weakness, was tempted in every way yet without sin, He can identify with us completely. The virgin birth confirms that all human life—born and unborn, young and old, successful and struggling—has inherent dignity and eternal value. God Himself declared this when He left heaven's splendor to enter our brokenness, not because we were good, but because we desperately needed redemption. This truth should transform how we view every person we encounter and compel us to stand for life in all its stages.

January 11, 2026

January 11, 2026 • Rev. Josh Harvey • John 1:1–18

This profound exploration of Christ's deity invites us into the heart of what it means to truly believe. Drawing from John chapter 1, we discover that Jesus is not merely a historical figure or moral teacher, but the eternal Word who was with God and was God from the very beginning. The message challenges us to move beyond intellectual assent to active, daily surrender. We're reminded that Jesus is simultaneously the eternal line stretching into infinity past and future, the personal God who makes himself knowable, and the divine Messiah who deserves the throne of our hearts. The tension we face isn't whether we believe Jesus is God, but whether we'll allow that belief to transform how we live each moment. When anxiety strikes, do we pray or rely on ourselves? When difficulties arise, do we turn to Scripture or our own limited wisdom? The sermon powerfully illustrates this through Cliff Young's story—what we believe fundamentally changes how we live. As we're called to be filled with both grace and truth like Jesus, we face the daily battle of who sits on the throne of our lives. This isn't a one-time decision but a moment-by-moment choice to die to self and embrace the freedom found in surrendering to the One who created us and knows us best.

January 4. 2026

January 4, 2026 • Rev. Josh Harvey • 2 Peter 1:16–21

What do we really believe when we say we trust the Bible? This message takes us deep into the foundation of our faith by exploring the inerrancy of Scripture—the truth that the Bible isn't just a book containing truth, but is truth itself. Drawing from 2 Peter 1:16-21, we discover that our faith isn't anchored in cunningly devised fables or mythology, but in eyewitness testimony of Jesus' transfiguration. Peter uses beautiful nautical imagery to paint Scripture as a light shining in a dark place, guiding us safely through dangerous waters until the morning star—Jesus himself—rises. The Word of God functions as a filter for our lives, helping us discern truth from error in a world full of competing voices. When we run everything through the lens of Scripture, what remains is trustworthy and life-giving. This isn't circular reasoning; it's confidence built on the unchanging character of God who created everything, orders all things, and gave us His written revelation. As we face uncertainty and darkness, God's Word serves as our lighthouse, our anchor, and our hope—reminding us that because Jesus came once, we can trust He's coming again.

December 28, 2025

December 28, 2025 • Rev. Josh Harvey

What does it truly mean to be the church? This powerful message challenges us to reconsider our understanding of church as more than a building we attend—it's a people we become. Drawing from Jesus' pivotal conversation with Peter in Matthew 16, we're confronted with the foundational question that defines everything: 'Who do you say that I am?' Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, becomes the bedrock upon which the entire church is built. Remarkably, Jesus spoke these words within sight of the Gates of Hell in Caesarea Philippi, a place of pagan worship, declaring that even hell's gates would not prevail against His church. This isn't just historical theology—it's a battle cry for today. We discover three mission-critical elements that define authentic church life: reach the lost, revive the found, and look for more. The challenge extends beyond Sunday mornings into our everyday lives, reminding us that discipleship happens in community, not isolation. Like a donut coupon that promises satisfaction but can't deliver the actual taste, online engagement alone cannot replace the richness of gathered worship and fellowship. We're called to see people around us not as lost causes but as those who don't yet know Jesus—a perspective shift that transforms judgment into invitation. The question isn't whether reaching out will work, but rather: what if it actually does?