Skycrest Community Church

Pastor Chris continues the series on the seven deadly sins with the second one: envy. He opens with an ancient Greek story about an athlete who finished second. Night after night he chiseled at the base of the winner's statue, until it fell and killed him. Pastor Chris says he was dead long before the statue hit him, a victim of deep resentment at the good fortune of others. Pastor Chris turns to...

Pastor Chris continues the Regret series with the fourth question to ask before we decide anything: is there a grudge that won't budge? He starts in James 3, where James describes two kinds of wisdom, God's and man's. Then he compares a grudge to too much alcohol. Both distort our view of reality. In Mark 6, Herodias nursed a grudge against John the Baptist, and it ended with John's death. Levitic...

Pride was once seen as a fatal flaw. Today it's celebrated. Pastor Chris traces it back to the garden, names three forms it takes, and shows why it drains our spiritual life. Pastor Chris opens the series on the seven deadly sins with pride. He defines it as the desire to be something you're not. He takes us back to Genesis 3:5, where the serpent told Adam and Eve they could be like God. They bit,...

Regret rarely comes from bad luck — it comes from decisions made in a hurry. One question can stop it before it starts: what's the hurry? Continuing the Regret series, Pastor Chris presents a third question for avoiding regret before it happens: "What's the hurry?" Drawing on his grandmother's example, a Tony Campolo survey of 95-year-olds, and a 1960s Time Magazine report on leisure time, he argu...

Truth Worth Living is back this week with the second installment in our series on the seven deadly sins, and before we ever get to pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, or sloth themselves, there's a question worth settling first: why call any sin "deadly" at all? This episode digs into where that label came from, what the Bible actually says about sin and death, and why these seven still mat...

Regret has a way of showing up uninvited. It sits quietly in the back of our minds, reminding us of the decision we wish we could take back, the words we wish we hadn't said, the year we wish we could live over. In week two of our series on regret, we look honestly at why we make the decisions we do, and we ask a question that might surprise you: what if chasing your own happiness is actually the...

Seven Deadly Sins | Truth Worth Living We don’t like talking about sin—but ignoring it doesn’t make it any less destructive. In this new season of Truth Worth Living, we’re beginning a study through the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Envy, Anger, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. While this traditional list is not presented together in one passage of Scripture, each represents a very real spiritual dan...

Rain never stopped anyone from getting a good word today, and this one's worth every drop. Pastor kicked off the new series "Regret" by pointing at a scene most of us have replayed in our own lives, even if it never made SportsCenter: a coach who calls the wrong play at the worst possible moment. That was the story of Super Bowl 49, the goal-line interception, and the coach who stood at the podium...

One of a Kind Every pastor will tell you the same thing: nobody teaches you what to say when you're standing with a family in the valley of the shadow of death. It's the part of ministry we dread most and, oddly, the part that teaches us the most. The teacher in Ecclesiastes put it plainly: "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of ev...

The Story of Moses and the Message of the Cross In this week's sermon, we delved into the transformative conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3. This discussion is pivotal because it introduces essential Christian doctrines such as the incarnation, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of being born again. Jesus, in his dialogue, references the story of Moses lifting the snake...

Moses' Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day In this sermon, we explore the trials faced by Moses as described in Numbers 20. The narrative draws a parallel between Moses' challenges and the children's book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, emphasizing how cumulative adversities can lead to significant trials. The Context of Moses' Bad Day Moses, nearing the end of...

Moses and the Journey to the Promised Land Main Passage: Exodus 33 In this sermon, we explore a pivotal moment in the journey of the Israelites as they face a crucial decision: to enter the Promised Land without God's presence or to remain in the wilderness with Him. This decision highlights the importance of God's presence in our lives. Key Themes The Question of Identity: The sermon begins by pr...

Moses' Defining Moment: Lessons from Exodus 32 In this sermon, we delve into the pivotal moment in the life of Moses as described in Exodus 32. This chapter captures a defining moment for Moses and offers profound lessons on faith, leadership, and the nature of divine grace. The Context: A Burning Mountain The scene is set at the base of Mount Sinai, enveloped in the glory of God. The Israelites,...

Moses and the Journey of Faith In this sermon, we delve into the story of Moses and the Israelites as they journeyed from Egypt towards the Promised Land. This narrative, found in Exodus 15, provides profound lessons on faith, obedience, and the human condition. The Exodus Story The Israelites, led by Moses, had just experienced the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, a defining moment of triumph a...

The New Person: Embracing Transformation in Christ In a world filled with discouragement and trials, the message of becoming a new creation in Christ offers hope and purpose. Grounded in 2 Corinthians 5:17, this sermon explores the transformative power of faith and the journey towards living a life that reflects Christ's victory over sin and death. Key Themes 1. New Creation in Christ The cornerst...

Moses: A Journey of Faith and Liberation In this sermon, we delve into the compelling narrative of Moses and the liberation of the Hebrew people from Egyptian bondage, as recorded in the book of Exodus. This story is not just a historical account but a profound illustration of faith, obedience, and divine intervention. The Encounter at the Burning Bush Our journey begins with Moses' encounter with...

Moses and the Phases of Vision In the recent sermon titled "Moses - EP6 7.12.26," the story of Moses as depicted in Exodus 3 and Exodus 4 is used to explore the development of leadership and vision in the context of faith. The sermon emphasizes the idea that effective leadership is developed over time and through various phases, as explained by Dr. J. Robert Clinton in "The Making of a Leader." Th...

Moses - Lawgiver and Nation Builder In this sermon, we explore the profound role of Moses not just as a liberator but as a lawgiver who transformed the Israelites from a wandering people into a nation under God. This transformation is grounded in the biblical narrative found in Exodus 19:1-6 and Exodus 20:1-17, where Moses receives the law from God at Mount Sinai. The Judeo-Christian Foundation Th...

Teach Us to Pray: Jesus' High Priestly Prayer In our concluding session of "Truth Worth Living," we delve into the profound insights of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, specifically focusing on John 17:20-26. This prayer, offered by Jesus in the upper room before His arrest, is a testament to His love and vision for His followers. The Vision of Unity Central to Jesus' prayer is the theme of unity amon...

Moses in the Wilderness: A Journey of Humility and Divine Calling In the fourth episode of our series on Moses, we delve into the transformative years Moses spent in the desert, a period that refined his character and prepared him for God's mission. The story, rooted in Exodus 2:3 and Exodus 3:1-10, provides profound insights into God's ways and how He prepares us for His purposes. The Desert Expe...

Teach Us to Pray: Lessons from Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer In this episode of "Truth Worth Living," we delve into the profound teachings of Jesus' high priestly prayer as recorded in John 17. This prayer, offered in the upper room before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, provides deep insights into the nature of prayer and the mission of believers in the world. Jesus’ Joy Amidst Trials One of the mos...

Discovering God's Purpose: Lessons from Moses In our continuing series on Moses, we delve into the pivotal moments of his life that reveal profound insights into discovering and fulfilling God's purpose. This narrative, particularly grounded in Exodus 2, Acts 7, and Hebrews 11, offers a rich tapestry of lessons applicable to our spiritual journeys. Moses’ Early Life and Purpose Moses' story is a t...

Teach Us to Pray: Jesus' High Priestly Prayer In this episode of "Truth Worth Living," we delve deeper into the profound moments of Jesus' high priestly prayer as recounted in John 17:6-19. This prayer, uttered by Jesus in the upper room just before his crucifixion, reveals his deep concern and love for his disciples and, by extension, all believers. Let's explore the key themes and insights from...

Moses - A Story of Faith and Deliverance In this week's sermon, we continued our exploration of the life of Moses, focusing on the theme of faith and deliverance. The story of Moses is deeply intertwined with the overarching narrative of God's redemptive plan, which is evident throughout the Bible. Key Scripture References Galatians 4:4: "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, bor...

The High Priestly Prayer: A Lesson in Glory and Prayer In the latest episode of "Truth Worth Living," we dive deep into John 17, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. This prayer is a profound moment in the Gospel, offering insights into Jesus' relationship with the Father and his mission on earth. As we explore this passage, we uncover the themes of glory and prayer, which are c...