Shows / The Backpack
The Backpack
The Backpack is a podcast from Christ Community Church of Shelbyville, Kentucky. On The Backpack, we want to prepare you for the journey outside, where following Jesus meets real life. In our various segments, you'll find sermons, stories, interviews, and more content that will help strengthen, equip, and encourage you as you walk with Jesus. The journey of faith is full of hills and valleys, twists and turns, and we want to help you navigate them all. So grab your backpack and come join us on…
Episodes
- The Backpack
The Canteen #233 Jesus on Love
What does it mean to really love your neighbor? In this sermon from Matthew 5, we explore three snapshots of a church that loves its community well: honesty…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #126 GAP Story
Ten people. One week in Eastern Kentucky. Countless lives changed. Over fall break, our team served at GAP in McDowell, KY, distributing food, running fall…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #126 Abby Brown
"I felt like a fraud." After leaning hard into God through cancer, Abby expected to feel close to Him forever. Instead, normal life set in, and the fire went…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #232 Jesus on Marriage
What does Jesus say about marriage? This sermon from Matthew 5 exposes two lies we believe: that sex deserves to be worshiped, and that a spouse can fulfill us…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #231 Jesus on Rules
Did Jesus come to toss the rules? In this message from our "Jesus on" series, we look at Matthew 5:17-26 to see what Jesus actually says about the law, and why…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #230 Jesus On Mission
Are you searching for purpose, or missing the fact that it's already been given to you? In this message from Matthew 5:13-16, we explore Jesus' words on what…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #125 Gavin Webster's Story
It started with free dessert. During the pandemic, Gavin Webster showed up to a backyard Bible study for the food and stayed for the faith. From a small…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #229 Jesus on Attitude
Eight blessings. One challenge: total loyalty to Christ. The Beatitudes aren't about trying harder; they're about laying down your life and letting Jesus…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #228 Return to Holiness
A comeback without a win is just a nice story nobody reads. In the final installment of our series through Ezra, we discover that finishing the comeback God…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #227 Received Prayer
In this sermon from Ezra 8, we discover that returning to God's design requires recognizing what's clogging our hearts; sin we've grown numb to, like a dirty…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #124 Caytie Burgin's Story
Caytie shares her story of finding peace with God through years of battling Crohn's disease - culminating in a near-fatal Easter weekend that landed her in the…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #226 Resolved Courage
Where is God sending you? In this sermon from Ezra 7, we explore how God gives us resolved courage to join Him - not by our own strength, but because Jesus…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #123 Kaleb Nab's Story
Kaleb Nab shares a powerful story of faith, risk, and God's faithfulness at Christ Community Church. After building a comfortable, safe life in his small…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #225 Rekindled Joy
When obedience to God's mission provokes opposition, it's easy to want to quit. But the story of Ezra reminds us that God specializes in transforming enemies…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #122 Sherry Allen
When God calls, He provides. Follow Sherry's journey from a 14-year-old girl with a heart for Africa to a nurse on her first medical mission in Uganda, where…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #224 Renewed Sacrifice
Your best sacrifice will never be enough to complete the comeback, but Jesus already made the greatest sacrifice for the greatest comeback ever.The question…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #121 Jordan & Emma's Story
Two graduating seniors, Emma Moreno and Jordan Williams, share how a week at Kentucky Baptist Student Worship Camp shaped their faith and prepared them to lead…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #223 Roused Spirits
When life deports your dreams, through failure, disappointment, or a faith that once felt alive, what does a real comeback look like? In the opening message of…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #120 Community Kids
A 4-year-old stood up and said, 'I have an evil heart,' and it was one of the most profound moments of faith we've ever witnessed. God is working in your kids…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #222 Living With Joy
In this message from Psalm 32, Pastor Blake explores how God transforms our hidden sin into joy, through the Son who forgives, the Father who protects, and the…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #221 We Will Wait (Psalm 27)
Waiting is hard. Our culture calls it laziness. Our souls call it rust. But what if waiting on the Lord is actually one of the most powerful things you can do?…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #119 Sue Ellis
At 82, Sue Ellis shares a lifetime of faith: from a Brooklyn childhood to finding Christ in Kentucky, and the two words God keeps putting on her heart…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #220 Psalm 15
"What if the burnout and stress and anxiety and disappointment, those blah days that you and I experience, are really just a deep, deep longing to experience…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #118 Chile Trip
Our team just returned from Santiago, Chile, where they led VBS, went on home visits, and witnessed lives changed, including a woman who gave her life to…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #117 Chase Youngblood
Chase grew up in the faith, but it took leaving home to make it his own. In this honest conversation, Chase Youngblood shares what it looks like to move from…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #219 Desires of the Heart
Ever get angry watching corrupt people prosper while you're doing the right thing? You're not alone; David felt it too. In this message from Psalm 37, we…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #218 Psalm 34
What do you do when life has you hiding in a cave? In this powerful message from our summer series On Repeat, guest speaker Wes Keene opens up about stepping…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #116 Emilio Santellana
Emilio spent years as a fan of Jesus, not a follower. Then his world fell apart, a neighbor refused to give up on him, and everything changed. This is a story…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #218 Shining a Light on our Courageous Heart
Have you ever felt trapped between doing what's easy and doing what's right? Or so worn down by grief that hope feels out of reach? In this message, we walk…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #115 Crossings Camp 2026
After a week of summer camp, Jordan, Clayton, and Billy share what God showed them; from the power of "boring testimonies" to finding real forgiveness, to a…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #217 Getting Your Lonely Life Back
We've all been there, crying out to God and feeling like no one's listening. In this powerful message from Psalm 22, we explore how doubt isolates us from God…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #216 The Weight and The Way
Suffering isn't something to ignore, fix with Band-Aids, or carry alone. In this week's message from Psalm 39, Pastor Kenny walks us through two problems every…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #215 - Taking Refuge in the King
In this week's sermon, Pastor Blake continues our summer Psalms series On Repeat by examining Psalm 2 - how we often rage for control in our lives, and how…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #214 - Enjoying God's Way
As we kick off a new summer series in the first book of Psalms called On Repeat, Pastor Blake examines Psalm 1 - what it looks like to be deeply rooted in…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #213 More Than A Moment
"Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life. The Jesus who saves you is the same Jesus standing outside the gate saying, 'Come and follow…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #114 Alex Hagan
"If we don't go, how are they supposed to know we love them?" Alex, a cattle vet in Kentucky, lives out his faith one farm visit at a time, building genuine…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #212 We Are His Global Church
"God faithfully strengthens the victorious local church by sending them to the global one." In the final chapter of 1 Corinthians, Pastor Blake reminds us that…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #113 John Weinold's Story
"We are not going to be someone's hero. We are there to show them who our hero is."- John WeinoldJohn recently was part of a team that went to Eastern Kentucky…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #211 We Are His Builders
This week we continue on in our series called We Are His.We're studying First Corinthians, and this week we find ourselves in chapter fourteen. Pastor Blake…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #210 We Are His Champions
Jesus gives you complete victory - victory spiritually, emotionally, physically, and even over death." This week we continue on in our series called "We Are…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #112 Greece
The world is a lot smaller the more you say yes to going."- Megan Mattingly So often during our Sunday worship, we feature people telling stories of how they…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #209 Holding Onto Hope
"The gospel invites you to hold on to the only hope that's actually holding on to you." We celebrated Easter weekend at Christ Community, and we're thankful…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #111 Kolt Bitzer
" Keep pushing, but let God lead, gonna open the doors that are right." This week DJ had the opportunity to sit down with Kolt Bitzer. Kolt was baptized last…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #208 We Are His Body (Part 2)
This week we continue on in our series called We Are His A study of First Corinthians.Pastor Blake opens up chapter 13 of First Corinthians, and we look at how…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #110 Dave Sullivan's Story
This week we got to hear from Christ's community member Dave Sullivan. Dave has been a part of Sparrow mission and their work in Honduras, and recently Sparrow…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #207 We Are His Body (part 1)
This week we continue in our study of First Corinthians called "We Are His."We're in chapter 12 this week. Pastor Blake opens up the text and explores the idea…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #109 Selina Goodlett's Story
So often during our regular worship gatherings, we feature people from the congregation telling their story of faith in Jesus and what he's currently doing in…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #206 We Are His Together
This week we continue on in our series, "We Are His," a study of first Corinthians. We're in chapter 11 this week, and we look at how taking the Lord's Supper…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #205 We Are His Creation
This week as we continue on in our series, in first Corinthians entitled "We Are His," Pastor Blake,opens up the first half of chapter 11, and we look at how…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #203 We Are His Messengers
This week we continue on in our study of first Corinthians called "We are His." We're in chapter nine this week and Pastor Blake opens up the text to look at…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #204 We Are His Imitators
This Sunday we continued on in our study of First Corinthians entitled "We Are His." Pastor Blake opened up chapter 10. We looked through Paul's admonition to…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #108 Ashley Murphy
This week we got to hear from Christ community member Ashley Murphy. Ashley went. Through a traumatic car wreck back in the fall, and we have seen God's grace…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #107 Jennifer Seaton
Jennifer Seaton serves on our worship team at Christ Community, but recently she’s also stepped into student ministry, helping build a worship culture among…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #202 We Are His Ambassadors
This week we continue onward in our study of First Corinthians entitled We Are His. Pastor Blake opens up one Corinthians chapter eight as we look at our…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #201 We Are His Bride
This week we continue on in our series. "We are His," a study of First Corinthians. Pastor Blake opens up, first Corinthians chapter seven, and we look at…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #106 Conclave Conference
This week we got to hear from some of our Edge student leaders as youth Pastor Kenny Mattingly sat down with them to talk about their recent experience at the…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #200 We Are His Prize
This past Sunday we continued on in our series "We Are His," a study of First Corinthians. DJ had the opportunity to bring the message this past Sunday…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #105 FCA Story with Melissa M. & Melissa C.
This week DJ got to sit down with Melissa Chesterfield and Melissa Midkiff. They both volunteer as leaders with FCA in Shelby County schools, and they talked…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #104 Billy Doolittle
This week DJ got the chance to sit down with Christ community member Billy Doolittle, as he unpacked how the Lord changed the trajectory of his life through…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #199 We Are His Righteousness
This week we continue on in our study of First Corinthians and entitled We Are His. We begin chapter six this week and Pastor Blake unpacks the first half of…