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 #198 We Are His Church
This week we return to our series in one Corinthians entitled "We Are His." Pastor Blake Opens up one Corinthians chapter five and looks at the painful reality…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #197 Rescued TO
Pastor Elder Jeff Bracken examines a couple of accounts in the Gospel of Luke and looks at the reality that when Jesus saves us, he not only saves us from our…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #196 God Sent Love
This week in our 2025 Christmas message, pastor Blake opens up First John chapter four.We look at how the fact that God sent love into the world through Jesus…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #195 God Sent Joy
This week we continued our sermon series titled "God Sent." Pastor Blake opens up Isaiah 9 and looks at the promise that God is sending Joy into the world to…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #103 Daniel Bright & Derek Page's Story
Yesterday’s story featured Daniel Bright and Derek Page sharing from their recent vision trip to Chile. Their message reminded us that the global church is…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #194 God sent Hope
This sermon kicks off the series God Sent, reminding us that true hope always arrives through a spoken word from God, not things or circumstances. Even when we…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #193 We Are His Fools
This week’s message from 1 Corinthians 4 challenged us to rethink what it means to live faithfully for Jesus in a world that sees the gospel as “foolishness.”…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #192 We Are His Temple
This week, Pastor Blake challenged us with Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “I couldn’t speak to you as spiritual people, but as infants in Christ.” In a world…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #102 Josiah Downey's Story
This Sunday, Josiah Downey shared his powerful journey from exhaustion and doubt to surrender and renewal. After stepping into full-time ministry at Awake…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #101 Women's Chile Trip Story
This September, a team of women from Christ Community Church traveled to Santiago, Chile, to serve alongside local churches and missionaries from the…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #191 We are His BY THE SPIRIT
We all love a good comeback story, but who’s really writing it? This week, Pastor Blake reminded us that the power behind every comeback isn’t our own, it’s…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #100 Owen Smith's Story
This week, we heard from Owen Smith, a husband, father, teacher, and follower of Jesus, who shared how God’s steady grace has shaped his life. Owen’s story…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #190 We Are His ALONE
This Sunday, Pastor Blake continued our journey through 1 Corinthians with a message titled “We Are His Alone.” He reminded us that rivalry and division weaken…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #189 We Are His People
We all long to belong, to find a place and people where we fit. But true belonging doesn’t come from fighting for our seat at the table or proving our worth…
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The Canteen #188 Moving Day
This week’s message comes following "The City That Is to Come" series, with a powerful challenge: don’t just dream about heaven, start preparing for it. Pastor…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #187 Come With Us To The City That Is To Come
This Sunday, we celebrated 15 years of God’s faithfulness at Christ Community Church by looking forward to the city that is to come. Pastor Blake reminded us…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #99 Lee Webb & Karl Babb's Story
Today we celebrated the incredible story of Christ Community Church, a journey that began with a simple “yes” to God’s call to go outside. Founding pastor Lee…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #98 Kenya Trip Story
This Sunday at Christ Community, we heard from our team that just returned from visiting Mike & Sarah Emery in Kenya. Their stories reminded us that mission…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #186 God Has Prepared This City
From Abraham’s journey in Hebrews 11 to the everyday steps of faith we take in Shelbyville, this week’s message reminds us that God calls us to live boldly…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #185 A City of Humble Citizens
This Sunday at Christ Community, we reflected on Psalm 131 and the call to humility. In light of the brokenness and division in our nation, we were reminded…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #97 Libby Nethery
Libby Nethery shared how God’s goodness and faithfulness have been evident in her life, even through seasons of uncertainty. At the height of the pandemic, she…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #184 A City That Values Family
This week, Pastor Blake walked us through Psalm 128 and reminded us that true happiness comes when we pursue God’s blessing in God’s way. Families flourish…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #96 Daniel Bright
When Daniel Bright said “yes” to leading virtual ESL classes for Chile, he felt unprepared. The first class was chaotic, but God showed His power through…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #95 Don Price's Story
This Sunday at Christ Community, we were blessed to hear Don Price’s story of God’s grace. From growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm to encountering Jesus on a…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #183 A City United
In this week’s message from Psalm 122, Jeff Bracken reminds us that true unity is not about sameness, but about pursuing peace and oneness in Christ despite…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #182 A City That Worships
This week at Christ Community, DJ Williams takes us into Psalm 121 as part of our fall series The City That Is To Come. Just like Israel’s Songs of Ascent…
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The Canteen #181 The Futility of Building Your Own City
On Sunday, we began a new series at Christ Community called The City That Is to Come. From Genesis 11 and the story of Babel, we saw how our fears and…
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The Canteen #180 Reverberations (Part 2)
This week, Pastor Blake wrapped up our two-week series from 2 Peter 1 and reminded us that comfort is a poor compass. God calls every believer not just to…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #94 Ryan & Maeghan Adams Story
Ryan & Maeghan Adams share their story about how God is calling them to start a new community group; one designed especially for families with unique…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #93 Dr. Matthews Story
As we prepare for a new school year, Christ Community Church had the honor of welcoming Dr. Matthews, Superintendent of Shelby County Public Schools, to share…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #92 Rebecca Boyd's Story
In this honest and heartfelt story, Rebecca Boyd shares about the ups and downs of her faith journey - growing up in a large family, dealing with her father’s…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #179 - Reverberation (Part 1)
In this back-to-school message, Pastor Kenny brings a powerful, honest, and sometimes hilarious word about the importance of biblical community and…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #178 - What Do You See?
In this powerful conclusion to our long-running series through the Gospel of Luke, we are taken to the foot of the cross with one question echoing from…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #177- Clarity Reveals Commitment
In this powerful message from Luke 22–23, Pastor Blake unpacks the unfair trial of Jesus and reveals how the clarity of who Christ is exposes the truth about…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #176 - The Man In The Garden
In this powerful message from Luke 22, Pastor Blake Lawyer guides us through Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane—a moment where both divinity and humanity…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #175 - Blind to Betrayal
In this powerful message from Luke 22, we step into the Upper Room and discover the heart of Jesus on the night before His crucifixion. Pastor Blake unpacks…
- The Backpack
Stories From The Trail #91 Peter Roloson
In this powerful testimony, Peter Roloson shares his journey from upstate New York to Kentucky—and from spiritual skepticism to deep faith. Raised in a good…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #174 - Feeling Insignificant
What does true significance look like in the eyes of God? In this powerful message from Luke 21, Jeff Bracken explores the story of the poor widow who gave all…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #173 Seeing Insecurity
When the religious leaders challenged Jesus’ authority, He responded with a parable that exposed their insecurity and pointed to Himself as the true…
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The Canteen #172 Emotions in Focus
Join Dr. Ron Boyd as he shares a powerful and personal message from Luke 19, exploring the emotional life of Jesus during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #171 Wanting to See Jesus
As we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke, this message from Luke 19 reminds us that while we long to see Jesus, the real transformation begins…
- The Backpack
Stories From Trail #90 Ashley Murphy
Ashley Murphy shares her powerful testimony of finding hope in Christ after losing her identity through injury, isolation, and personal trials. From varsity…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #170 The Lord Has Not Left You Without a Redeemer
In this powerful conclusion to our series in the book of Ruth, we explore what it means to live from redemption, not just toward it. Through personal stories…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #169 The Lord Has Not Left You Without Blessing
In this heartfelt Mother's Day sermon, Pastor Blake Lawyer takes us into Ruth chapter 3, exploring how God's blessings often arrive in unexpected ways—through…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #168 A Worthy Man, a Present Refuge, and a Future Hope
What happens when someone’s character reflects the redeeming love of God? In this message from Ruth 2, worship leader D.J. Williams unpacks how one encounter…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #167 The Lord Has Not Left You Alone
In this week's message, Pastor Blake Lawyer opens the story of Ruth 1 and shows us how God's loyal love clings to us even when our hearts are famished and…
- The Backpack
Stories From Trail #89 Spring Break Missions Stories | Honduras and GAP
In this weeks story, members of our Christ Community Church family share powerful stories from their spring break mission trips to Honduras and the GAP…
- The Backpack
Stories From the Trail #88 Melissa Ballard
Join us as Melissa Ballard shares how saying "yes" to God has led her on incredible adventures—from being a part of planting Christ Community Church to serving…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #166 The King is Coming
He is risen. He is alive. And He is coming. In this powerful Easter message, Pastor Blake Lawyer opens Revelation 1 and invites us to see Jesus—not just as a…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #165 Life Without The King (Part 2)
On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Blake lead us through one of the most sobering sections in Scripture—Judges 19–21. In the second part of the message titled “Life…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #164 Life Without The King (Part 1)
In a world defined by brokenness—wars, disasters, and the consequences of sin—how do we respond when there seems to be no king? In this week's episode, Pastor…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #163 The King Frees You
In this powerful message from Judges 13-16, Pastor Blake explores the life of Samson—his great potential, his moral failures, and how his final act of faith…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #162 The King Wants to Rescue You
God isn’t looking to negotiate—He wants to rescue you. In this powerful message from Judges 10-11, Pastor Blake explore show Israel’s cycle of sin and…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #161 The Power of The King Humbles You
In this weeks sermon, Pastor Blake explores the story of Gideon in Judges 7-8, emphasizing the tension between courage and the temptation for power. He…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #160 Clothed by The King
In a world filled with chaos, fear, and uncertainty, we often hide from the truth—just like Gideon in Judges 6. But God calls us out of hiding, pursues us with…
- The Backpack
Stories From the Trail #87 Larry Porter
Larry Porter’s life began with brokenness, but God was at work even when he didn’t realize it. Growing up in Eastern Kentucky, Larry faced challenges that…
- The Backpack
Stories From the Trail #86 Tucker Keene
Each week at Christ Community Church, we feature stories of what God's doing in the lives of the people who make up our church family - the story of how they…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #159 We Need a King Who Brings Us Together
Join us for a powerful exploration of Judges 4 and 5 in our “We Need a King” series. In this sermon, Pastor Blake uncovers how God transforms our weaknesses…
- The Backpack
Stories From the Trail #85 - Maeghan Adams Story
Each week at Christ Community Church, we feature stories of what God's doing in the lives of the people who make up our church family - the story of how they…
- The Backpack
The Canteen #158 The Courage to Obey the King
Are you struggling to fully obey God? In this episode,The Courage to Obey the King, Pastor Blake dives into Judges 3 to explore how the Israelites forgot God…