Harris Creek Baptist Church

SUMMARY Have you ever run out of time when you were in the middle of something that wasn’t complete? Maybe a house project, something for work, or an important relationship? As we continue our series on the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches through Ecclesiastes 3, showing us how God works in time. KEY TAKEAWAYS -If what you have is not good, God is not done. -Every human being experiences both the ups and downs of life. There are no exceptions. -We experience life in time and chronological order. God sits above and outside of time and sees everything. -There is a time for everything. -It’s bad theology to believe you won’t experience sickness, pain, hurt, poverty, or other bad things on this side of death. -God has put eternity in our hearts and nothing but Him will satisfy our cravings and desires. -God is in charge of everything. -The fear of the Lord means to fully stand in both fear and awe of the Lord at the same time. -We can know and understand a lot about God through His creation and His Word, but mak

SUMMARY Do you ever feel tired as you try to live out your Christian faith? What does living faithfully for Jesus over a long period of time entail? As we continue our series, Family Matters, JP teaches through Hebrews 12:1-4, showing us that the Christian life is a race and helping us understand what to expect as we run the race. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Just because you are tired doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing the Christian life wrong. You might be, but not necessarily. -Those who have gone before us in the faith from Hebrews 11 are witnessing—speaking—to us that it's worth it. -There are obstacles to the long run of faithfulness. -There are things in your life that aren't sin that hinder your faith. What are those things for you? Sports, fitness, your team, your job, shopping, social media, fishing…what is it for you? -Sin will literally weigh you down and affect you the longer you give yourself to it and hide it. -There is opposition in the long run of faithfulness. -There is no cruise control in Christia

SUMMARY Have you ever had roommates before, or been in close proximity with other people for extended periods of time? What about living by yourself, or being alone for long periods of time? As we continue our series, Family Matters, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us three characteristics of biblical community and the dangers of isolation by studying 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Doing life with other people can be hard, but isolation is even harder and more dangerous. -Biblical community identifies needs. -There are three types of Life Groups: starving, exhausted, and potluck. -Starving groups are hungry and show up looking for other people to feed them. Everyone hopes everyone else does what they aren’t willing to do (and no one does anything). -Exhausted groups are busy doing too much all the time. They are so busy feeding others that they themselves get exhausted and worn out. -Potluck groups are made up of people where everyone brings something. Sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less, but what’

SUMMARY How do you know if someone is a Christian? Is it based on what they wear? How they talk? As we continue our series, Family Matters, JP teaches us how you can know if someone is a Christian by examining the Great Commandment in Matthew 22. KEY TAKEAWAYS -You are saved based on what you believe about the gospel. What you believe about Jesus Christ—who He is and what He did for you on the cross—is the only thing that impacts your salvation. -What you believe—if you really believe it—will impact how you behave. -One of the greatest offenses to God is claiming that you are a Christian and then living however you want with no regard to what God or His Word says. -When Jesus taught the Great Commandment, He was saying if you love God and love others, all the do’s and don’ts of the 613 laws in the Old Testament will take care of themselves. -Followers of Jesus are marked by love for God. -When you don’t feel God, you can still obey Him. He is the God of your emotions. -Love looks like obedience to God. Obedi

SUMMARY Have you ever been discipled by someone? Have you ever discipled someone? As we start our new series, Family Matters, JP teaches us about discipleship…what it is and what it means for our lives today. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Discipleship: Spending time with people to help them follow Jesus. -How are you, in this season of your life, going to faithfully live out the Great Commission? -When the disciples doubted Jesus—even after he resurrected from the dead—He went to them. He pursued them. -The authority of Jesus assures us. -Do you spend more time following your own plans for your life or Jesus’ plan for your life? -The church is the most powerful force the world has ever seen. -The commission of Jesus compels us. -A command tells you what to do. A commission invites you into a mission with someone else. -How do you change the world? One word: discipleship. -Anytime you see maturity you should see immaturity. A mature church without any immature people is a dying church. -To make disciples, focus your life on

SUMMARY Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying your absolute best but no matter what you do your efforts are in vain? Where you try your best and your best isn’t good enough? As we finish our series, BC, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us about God’s presence in times of trouble as we study the life of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Oftentimes in life your greatest successes are followed by your greatest disappointments. -When life gets hard and you are tired, what do you run to? -God will give you more than you can handle. -Sometimes life is simply hard. Our trouble is not that we don’t love God and don’t have faith. It’s the reality that we currently live in a fallen world. -When God asks Elijah what he’s doing, Elijah answers about everyone else, but not himself. He focused on what everyone else isn’t doing rather than answering the Lord about what he was doing. -Our God is not simply powerful, but present. -God will be close in your discomfort. -Why do we feel closer to God in the pain? Wh

SUMMARY Have you ever met someone who was consistent and faithful in most of their life but had an area of life that was confusing or disobedient? What about you? Where in your life are you justifying a behavior that simply doesn’t make sense? That’s sinful? As we continue our sermon series, BC, Scott Kedersha teaches us about false gods and the one true God by examining the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Decide who you are going to follow. -Do you act one way in some settings and another way in other settings? -God’s Word does not speak well toward those who are lukewarm in their faith toward God. -Christians who are inconsistent—who are hypocritical—are one of the greatest causes of atheism today. -A false god never delivers. -What false god are you prone to worship? The result of a college sports event? The engagement on a social media post? Your house, car, or income? What is it for you? -There is no binge apart from Jesus that will ever fill you up. -The true God always deliver

SUMMARY Have you ever had an injury that caused you to walk with a limp? Experienced something in life that left a mark and changed you? As we continue our sermon series, BC, Drew Greenway teaches us about how wrestling with God gives us a new identity, intimacy, and humility as he examines the story of Jacob wrestling with God. KEY TAKEAWAYS -It’s through the valleys in life that we grow the most. -If you can worry about it you can pray about it. -Wrestling with God gives new identity. -It was when Jacob was finally alone that he experienced God’s presence. -We worship a God who is willing to get in the mess with us. -If your identity is in anything other than Christ, it is an idol. You are not your enneagram number, your sin struggle, or your accomplishments. -Wrestling with God gives intimacy. -Jacob’s encounter with God is the closest encounter with God in the entire Old Testament. -Have you ever felt like God was distant? -When you face hardship, you have two choices: run to God or run away from God. Th

SUMMARY Has there any been a time in life where you knew the rules and expectations but you broke them anyway? Where you disobeyed (no matter how small the offense)? As we continue our series, BC, Jon Green teaches us about the cost of disobedience by examining the downfall of King Saul. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Saul was the very first king of Israel. He was handsome, tall, and wealthy. He’s the type of guy everyone would want to follow. -Never fear (the) people more than God. -All 66 books of the Bible point to Jesus. The Bible is one story pointing to God’s redemption of fallen humanity through Christ. -If you were alone and enemies were coming toward you, what would you do? Would you take a shortcut and go against something you know God forbids? -The desire to be accepted and fit in is part of the human experience. However, God created us to find our acceptance in Him, not other people. -Where are you prone to find acceptance in people as opposed to God? -Never get ahead of God. -Are you numb to your sin? Today can

SUMMARY Have you ever met someone who has great faith in something? What about you? Where in life are you most prone to put your faith? As we continue our series, BC, Rich Bartel teaches us about misplaced faith and properly placed faith by studying the story of David and Goliath. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Misplaced faith leads to arrogance. -Sometimes when we experience success we forget the grace of God and forget all the people who helped us along the way. -What’s the source of your arrogance? Where have you misplaced your faith? -Misplaced faith leads to fear. -What comes through the “what if Rolodex” of your mind when you lay down at night? -God is enough. Period. -What do you fear? Why? -David did what David had always done. He was a servant and a shepherd. Serving others, protecting his flock, and trusting in God, his Shepherd. -What is God asking you to do that requires great faith? -Faith placed in God always prevails. -David believed God when life brought obstacles his way. He knew God would prevail when circ

SUMMARY Has there ever been a time in your life when the last thing you want to do is the very thing that will make you well? As we continue our series, BC, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5. KEY TAKEAWAYS -A diagnosis removes distractions. -Throughout Scripture, sin is compared to and very like leprosy. They both start small, but they always grow and they always lead to death. -Sadly and too often, the diagnosis of sin in our lives doesn’t remove distractions. This shouldn’t be! -What diagnosis would be more distracting to you: leprosy or sin? -Pride prevents a cure. -How often do your disappointments and frustrations with God have to do with what you thought would happen not happening? -Our missed expectations lead to our biggest disappointments. -Make no mistake, pride will kill you. It’s far more deadly than leprosy. -Healing requires humility. -Submitting yourself to God’s commandments and ways when you don’t understand is often when He chooses to heal us. -To understand why,

SUMMARY When was the last time your faith was tested? Have you seen someone be faithful in the midst of difficulty or persecution? As we continue our series, BC, Trent Horner teaches us about faithfulness by examining the story of Daniel and the lion’s den in Daniel 6. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Faithfulness stands out. -Daniel had a track record of faithfulness. He was loyal and consistent. -If someone were trying to dig up something against you, what would they find? How would they take you down? -Faithfulness stands firm. -When we are squeezed or pressed, what’s really inside comes out. -Where are you prone to not stand firm in your life? Where do you lack faithfulness? -Daniel’s decision about what to do when pressed was easy because the decision had already been made long before he was pressed. -What are you committed to in life? -If difficulty and persecution come your way, what will you do? -Daniel had a track record of faithfulness, and yet, he still got thrown into the lion’s den. -What are the things in your l

SUMMARY Where have you become comfortable giving into temptation? Where have you normalized sin instead of resisting it? As we continue our series, BC, JP teaches us about the first ever temptation and sin. KEY TAKEAWAYS -“Did God really say?” is the first lie in the Bible. -The first act of legalism in the Bible happens in Genesis 3. -The consideration of sin is temptation. -Temptation causes you to question what God says. -Do you trust God? This is the question temptation always asks you. -Tests are external. Temptation happens between your ears. -Self love, self care, and the thought that you should be God are some of the most prevalent lies in our country today. -Beware of being under attack when you are hungry, tired, lonely, or discontent. You will be much more susceptible in those moments. -Satan’s offers are always counterfeit and always costly. -God’s Word is your greatest weapon against temptation. -Trust yourself the least when you really, really want something. -When you choose to spend money or

SUMMARY Have you ever quit something because you felt like a failure? Have you ever failed at something over and over and over again? As we continue our series, BC, Nate Hilgenkamp examines the life of Moses, teaching us how God is not done with us until our dying breath. KEY TAKEAWAYS -God delights in delivering us. -Moses thought his failure was final. -We all pass along what we believe about God by the words we use and how we live our lives. -Do your words teach others that things will always stay the same or that God can change things? -No one is permanently stuck or too far gone for God. No one. -God fights for our freedom. -Over and over God draws Moses out of danger and persecution. -Moses means “drawn up,” which is exactly what God did to Moses himself and what He used Moses to do for the Israelites. -God flips Moses’ focus. -Moses was so consumed with himself and his own failures, not on God and who He is and what He can do. -Stop looking at yourself and your failures and start looking at God. -Wha

SUMMARY Are you ever confused when you read the Old Testament? Is it ever messy and hard to understand? As we start our new series, BC (Before Christ), Derek Davidson shows us how all of Scripture points to Christ. Specifically, he examines the story of Abraham and Isaac. KEY TAKEAWAYS -God tests us to reveal our faith. -Abraham failed multiple tests throughout his life; however, God continued to use Abraham and fulfill His promises to him. That’s the God we serve. -What’s the one thing you don’t want God to ask you to do? To give up? -What in your life has your trust and loyalty more than God? -This story reveals God’s character. -In the Old Testament, other people and cultures would sacrifice their children to their gods. That’s not the God we serve! -What false god are you prone to worship: gossip, pride, pornography, materialism, money, work, accomplishments, comfort, food? What is it for you? -The whole Old Testament reveals Jesus. -Throughout the Old Testament, God in His sovereignty points to Jesus ti

SUMMARY Have you ever been in a tough place brought on by your own decisions? Have you wondered how you got there? Was it all at once, or over a period of time? Scott Kedersha teaches us about temptation and sin by examining the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Walk in the way. -As Christians, we want to protect the teachings and the way of the Scriptures. -We should be cautious of anything that distracts or pulls us from the way of Christ. -Don’t fall into the trap of learning a lot about God and the Bible and simply becoming a smarter sinner. -Do not be led astray. -Do your friends lead you more toward sin or God? -Where are you most tempted? What do you think will bring you life outside of God? -We all struggle with sin. All of us. Don’t buy the lie that you are alone and the only one who struggles. -Sin always over promises and under delivers. Always. -Know what’s at stake. -Affairs don’t start in hotel rooms. They start when you decide to keep things from your spouse. They are one thousand

SUMMARY Think of the closest relationships in your life. How have they changed over time? What about your relationship with God? Has it ever drifted? As we finish our two-week series, Far from the Father, JP teaches us about the sins of the older brother and the Pharisees from Luke 15. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Do you find yourself short-tempered or frustrated when things don’t go your way? Do you find it difficult to celebrate the success of others? Do you enjoy God? -The Pharisees were the most religious people when Jesus walked the earth; and yet, throughout all the gospels, Jesus had the most issues with them and used the strongest language against them. -Jesus brilliantly puts people into stories He tells to teach them the truth they need to hear. -A telltale sign of a Pharisee is they focus on what God hasn’t done. -If you take pharisaical sins lightly they will kill you. They will destroy your life. -Anger is a sign you’ve drifted from the Father. -The opposite of the fruit of the Spirit is anger. -The foundatio