Harris Creek Baptist Church

Jesus tells us at the end of the sermon on the mount that not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The good news is, He tells us how we can know that we have a ticket in.   Examine your path carefully Examine your teachers carefully Examine your relationship carefully Life Group Discussion: Are the choices you make leading you towards a life that aligns with Jesus' teachings? How can you rec...

We can be challenged to grow in our affections for God and for others when it’s difficult. We’re a bad judge of others We’re a bad judge of self We misjudge the Father Life Group Discussion: How can you practice humility by focusing on improving yourself instead of judging others? In what areas do you need to ask God for help more often? How can you persistently seek His guidance every day? How ca...

In this week's sermon, John Elmore taught us about the Christian's security in Christ, the lack of need for worry, and our choice of paths in life: climbing the ladder of the world or the ladder of God's Kingdom. Our choices in life are: 1. Trash or Treasure  2. God or Greed 3. Worry or Worship   Life Group Discussion: What treasure do you need to give God all the glory? How can you shift your foc...

We could do the right thing for the wrong reasons. What is your “why”? In Matthew 6, we learn how to glorify God with a pure faith believing in Him.    Fake faith gives to be honored by others Fake faith performs prayers  Fake faith sacrifices to appear spiritual    Life Group Discussion: Do you give for God’s glory or man’s glory? Where do you need to be challenged? When you are praying with othe...

What did Jesus mean when He told us to turn the other cheek? For many of us, our reaction to being wronged is to hit back and try to enact justice on our own terms. But Jesus calls us to something altogether new. When forced to go one mile, we go two.  Life Group Questions: 1. In the past, how have you responded when you have been wronged? 2. How does this passage challenge our notions of strength...

How do you define covenants and commitments? In Matthew 5, we learn Christians keep their covenants, consider remarriage carefully, and know the importance of having credibility to point others to Christ.   Christians keep our covenants  Consider remarriage carefully A Christian’s credibility points to Christ   Life Group Discussion: Does marriage really matter? How important are the marriage vows...

God requires perfect holiness to be in His presence. We are imperfect and in need of a sinless sacrifice because of sin. Jesus is the sinless sacrifice and comes into our mess to rescue us! We can enter in the presence of God by the name of Jesus.    Jesus is the Sinless Sacrifice For Sin from Anger Commands Amends from Sin   Life Group Discussion: Where in my life am I relaxing in areas of sin? H...

Jesus is calling us to a higher standard of living and what we need is not to try harder to modify our behavior, rather we need heart transformation that comes from fully surrendering our entire lives to Jesus’ authority. In this sermon we learn from Joshua Broome, a former pornstar turned pastor, who points us towards Jesus' words on these truths.   1. Authority Reassigned 2. Adultery Redefined 3...

You have a purpose to preserve the world that’s been entrusted to you by sharing the Gospel. You have a place and a people to shine your light in the darkness. In Matthew 5, Jesus reveals how we can feel alive!   Know your purpose Know your place Know your people   Life Group Discussion: Have you ever toured old church buildings that are now museums? What do you think happened to those churches? ...

Do you feel like the world is going backwards? How did this happen? The world is going backwards because we’re not living the upside-down life. When we walk among the people of God, as the people of God we preserve our land. And fortunately, Jesus shows us the path! The path is among the poor in spirit The path is among the pure in heart The path is among those peaceful in persecution Life Group D...

We are in a real war, and if we don’t realize it, then we are losing. Once we learn to watch for it, we begin to see it. Once we see it, we can’t unsee it. Paul writes in Ephesians 6 everything we need to know to resist temptation when the enemy attacks.   Stand strong against Satan’s schemes Stand firm and suited up Stay praying in The Spirit and share   Life Group Discussion: Do you recognize wh...

Let your life be a life of worship as you obey your parents, guide your children, and work in the role God has placed you in. Live a life of worshipping Jesus in your home and at your workplace.   Children: Honor and Obey Dads: Discipline and Disciple Workers: Worship    Life Group Discussion: How old should children be to continue to obey their parents?   What areas in your life do you model well...

A marriage cannot be happy or healthy without Christ at the center of it. In this message, Jonathan Pokluda teaches us that (1) the mindset of marriage must be sacrifice and submission, (2) the mission of marriage is sanctification through service, and (3) the mystery of marriage is that it showcases our savior.

Paul reminds us in today’s text the antidote to spiritually sleepwalking is to walk in love, walk in the light, and walk in wisdom.    1. Walk in Love 2. Walk in Light  3. Walk in Wisdom    Life Group Discussion: What have you put behind you and fully surrendered to walk in love? When someone brings sin into the light? How should you respond? What do you daily allow to fill your heart? What influe...

To live a Christian life, we have to imitate Christ. One place where some struggle is with forgiveness of others who have committed a wrong against them. Rather than holding grudges, quiet judgment, and anger in our hearts, we are called to forgive in the same way that Jesus forgave us. God deeply cares about how we are able to forgive others and let go of our anger.  Life Group Questions:  Are th...

 Change begins in you thinking …thoughts take you places. When you become a Christian, you are learning a new way to live, different than the world. The true test of a changed person is what comes out of them when they are squeezed. The true test is in trials.    Thoughts take you places You are learning a new way The true test comes in trials   Life Group Discussion: What are you allowing in your...

The disposition of a mature Christian comes from a unified doctrine. The deployment of mature Christians leads to unified service. The development of mature Christians makes up a unified church.    A mature Christian’s disposition  A mature Christian’s deployment  A mature Christian’s development    Life Group Discussion: Who do you know that is clearly marked with love, joy, peace, patience, kind...

Jesus showed his wounds and Thomas was changed forever. Thomas believed Jesus was risen indeed. May we be encouraged to show our wounds and tell others about the risen Savior who changed our lives forever.    1. We tend to conceal when the Bible’s pattern is to reveal. 2. Show your wounds to share your Savior. 3. A man with an experience of God is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.     ...

On Good Friday, we observe in reverence the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins. In this message, JP takes us through the scriptures to see where we might've missed the shadows of our savior throughout the Old Testament. 1) Shadows of Sacrifice 2) Shadows of a Substitute 3) Shadows of a Savior

The mystery of God is revealed in suffering, serving, and sharing.    The mystery is revealed in suffering The mystery is revealed in serving  The mystery is revealed in sharing    Life Group Discussion: Have you witnessed unbelievable heart change in someone’s life? What changed? When you experience suffering, does God seem far away from you or near to you? What makes you say that? Who do we serv...

We have been brought into The Kingdom of God by the blood of Jesus. We have been blended in with the Jews who trusted in Jesus as the Messiah. We are being built up into God’s temple and God is building His home among us forever.   1. You have been brought in 2. You have been blended 3. You are being built up   Life Group Discussion: Is there a relationship you've given up on because of differing...

We were all dead in our sins before God. We couldn’t work our way or earn our way to Him. Yet, because of His never-ending love and mercy, He has made us alive in His Son Jesus. Paul lays out the simple yet powerful and profound life changing reality in these ten verses that is the Good News of the Gospel.   1. We were dead in our sins 2. By grace we are made alive in Christ 3. We are made alive t...

Do you truly know what you have? As we continue to study Ephesians, Paul prays that the church in Ephesus would know four things.   Ask God that you may know Him better Ask God to know the hope you have in Him Ask God to know the value you have in Him Ask God to know the power you have in Him    Life Group Discussion: What do you value here on earth? How do you get to know God better? Are you afra...

Why did God choose you? He chose you forevermore according to His pleasure. Even when you have nothing to offer Him , he brought you into His family.    You’ve been chosen by the Father You have been forgiven and redeemed by Christ You have been sealed by His Holy Spirit    Life Group Discussion: Why did God choose you? What is your story of grace and redemption? What does it mean to be affected f...

How does a city change? In this message, we intro the book of Ephesians by looking at how God shifted the city of Ephesus.   God changes a city by changing a person God changes a city by removing idols God changes a city with the message of His grace   Life Group Discussion: Have you ever felt darkness in a city you visited? What are the idols that have your heart? Where is one place this week you...