Harris Creek Baptist Church

Have you ever made a decision because of someone else? Wanted to do one thing but did something else because of others? As we continue our series Cross Examined, JP teaches us about people pleasing by examining the life of Pontius Pilate, a people pleasing politician. KEY TAKEAWAYS -People pleasing keeps relationships really shallow. -Who knows you? Who really, really knows you? -Keeping secrets u...

Have you ever lost your way before? Maybe you have right now? As we continue our series, Cross Examined, JP examines the life of Peter, teaching us that we are never too far gone for God to rescue us and make good out of our mess. KEY TAKEAWAYS -If God can make good of the cross, He can make good of anything. -Jesus has a new future for His followers, and we won’t realize it until we forfeit our p...

Have you ever loved someone so much that you always wanted to be with them? What about when hard times came... did your actions match your desire? As we continue our series, Cross Examined, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us about being a resilient disciple by examining the life Mary Magdalene. KEY TAKEAWAYS -There are two goals with Cross Examined: Focus on the cross of Jesus and learn about Him by exami...

Have you ever been betrayed before? Betrayal hurts deeply. As we start our new series, Cross Examined, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us about the worst betrayal of all time as we cross examine the life of Judas. KEY TAKEAWAY -Judas was not the one to betray Jesus, we are the one that betrayed Jesus, and there are three lies we are prone to believe. -Lie #1: We think we can dispose of Jesus. -Judas’ deci...

When you go shopping, do you go with something specific in mind, or do you go not having any idea what you are looking for? Either option can work for shopping, but when it comes to dating, if you don’t know what you are looking for you won’t know when you’ve found it. This week, JP teaches through 1 Timothy 4:12, showing us how a message on dating is really a message on discipleship. KEY TAKEAWAY...

What does it mean to be in ministry? Do you know someone in ministry? As we continue our series, Ecclesia, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches through Galatians 6:1-5, teaching us that all Christians are in ministry. KEY TAKEAWAYS -There is only one quality needed to be in ministry: the Holy Spirit. If you are a Christian, you are in ministry! -If someone in your life group talks to a “pastor” before you, tha...

Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t use? What about given someone a gift that they didn’t use? As we continue our series, Ecclesia, JP teaches through Romans 12:1-8, teaching us about spiritual gifts and how we can use them faithfully and to the glory of God. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Nothing lacks appreciation like not opening or using a gift from someone. -Spiritual gifts are gifts (talents) the...

We all have different preferences when it comes to what church should be like. However, more importantly, how close are we to being the church God had in mind? As we continue our series, Ecclesia, JP gives us a peek into the window of a church that met 2,000 years ago. KEY TAKEAWAYS -God’s church is marked by devotion. -What are you willing to miss life group for? -God’s church is marked by biblic...

When you think of a church, what comes to mind? What makes a good church? What is the church? As we start our new series, Ecclesia: A People Not a Place, JP teaches us that when we think about the church, a lot of us think something that Jesus never meant. KEY TAKEAWAYS -It’s easy to take a new convert to Christianity and tell them what the Christian life is all about. It’s very, very difficult to...

What are you most often tempted by? Did 2020 bring new and more temptations into your life? As we wrap up our series, Hindsight is 2020, JP teaches through Matthew 4:1-11, teaching us all about temptation. KEY TAKEAWAYS -There are five main things the enemy uses: despair, disunity, deception, disease, & death. Do you think he was at work in 2020? -We are culpable. The enemy will tempt us, but we a...

Do you find yourself prone to panic when chaos comes? When the foundations are being destroyed, what will the righteous do? As we continue our Hindsight is 2020 series, Nate Hilgenkamp unpacks Psalm 11 and we'll see David's response to the chaos and confusion around him. While his friends suggest fleeing, he reminds them why he knows that he can stand firm no matter the situation. KEY TAKEAWAYS -T...

A lot has changed in the last year, but not everything has changed. In an ever changing world, we need to hang on to never changing truths. As we continue our series, Hindsight is 2020, Shane Pruitt teaches us three things we will never have to regret about Jesus. KEY TAKEAWAY -In an ever changing world, we need to hang on to never changing truths. -Jesus hasn’t changed and neither has our identit...

Do you have any regrets as you look back on 2020? As we start a new year we are starting a new series: Hindsight is 2020. Jim Underwood teaches through the story of Jesus and the fig tree in Mark 11:11-24, teaching us about bearing fruit through a relationship with Christ. KEY TAKEAWAYS -What if you knew this was the last week of your life? How would you live? Would you do anything differently? -F...

Has 2020 gone like you originally planned? Have you had any missed expectations around Christmas? As we celebrate Christmas, JP teaches through the Christmas story in Luke 2 and Matthew 2, showing us the many missed expectations of the first Christmas ever. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Your greatest disappointments in life come from missed expectations. -Maybe 2020–in the midst of many missed expectations—is he...

Do you ever look back on financial decisions with regret? Made a choice that you thought would be good but turned out poorly? How did it affect your ability to be generous? As we finish studying the book of Philippians, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us about generosity and its relationship to the gospel. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Being generous isn’t about the amount of money you have or don’t have, give or don’t...

Do you struggle with discontentment? Or better asked, where do you struggle with discontentment? Where in life are you most often discontent? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us the secret of contentment found in Philippians 4:10-13. KEY TAKEAWAYS -What we need for contentment is available for us at all times. -Contentment is not found in others. -We don’t use people and...

Do you get stressed easily? 2020 has likely caused most of us to get stressed more than normal. What causes stress in your life? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches through Philippians 4:4-9, showing us a 2,000 year old answer to today’s problems and stress. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Pay attention to what you pay attention to. -This world is not our home and we are not home yet. Our c...

Have you ever been distracted before? We all have! Where and when are you most prone to be distracted? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us about the dangers of being distracted in our relationship with Christ and our journey toward heaven. KEY TAKEAWAYS -If you have put your faith in Christ you are on your way home. -The mature in faith model the way. -Don’t take advanta...

When you hear the word religion, what comes to mind? What about the word relationship? What do the two of them have to do with Christianity and the Bible? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, Dr. Bryan Carter teaches through Philippians 3:1-14, teaching us what we can learn about religion and a relationship with God through the life of the Apostle Paul. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Beware of people...

SUMMARY When you think of heroes of the Christian faith, who comes to mind? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches through Philippians 2:19-30, showing us that God uses ordinary obedience from ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Genuine care is rare. -It’s easy to care for people in the moment, but it’s challenging to care for people...

Do you know anyone who is in good physical shape? They don’t simply stay that way…there is no cruise control; there is maintenance and they work at it. As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us how our faith is similar. We are saved by grace in faith through Jesus, and through that grace we are told to exercise our salvation. KEY TAKEAWAYS - People do not drift toward Holiness...

There is a deep desire in all of us to be great...something in each of us that wants to be part of something bigger than ourselves. What makes someone or something great? The greatest person of all time used His greatness to serve others. As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches through Philippians 2:3-11, teaching us about Jesus’ greatness and His humility. KEY TAKEAWAYS - The...

Do you remember the events of September 11, 2001? As our nation was under attack, we rallied together to fight against our enemies. As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us that as Christians, we must have unity in opposition. KEY TAKEAWAYS - It’s imperative to understand that we have one enemy: Satan. He hates what’s happening at Harris Creek, and he doesn’t want it to go we...

Have you ever met someone who had courage? What are you most courageous about in life? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us about the courage we can have through Christ. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Encourage simply means to put courage in someone. As Christians, our courage should be in the gospel—the good news of Jesus. - We have become inoculated to Christianity. Meaning, we have r...

Do you ever look back on life to a season when you had a close group of friends? When you always had someone with you no matter what life threw your way? Do you want to have that today and in the days ahead? As we start our study on the book of Philippians, JP shows us how to grow our affections for others as he teaches through Philippians 1:1-11. KEY TAKEAWAYS - The first thing you are going to s...