Woodcreek Church

Have you ever been ashamed or acted ashamed of the gospel? In the Apostle Paul's introduction of his letter to the Romans he tells us why he is not ashamed of the gospel and why we don't need to be either. (Romans 1:1-17)

God has called each of us as followers of Jesus Christ to love our actual neighbors as an expression of our love for God. Will you commit to love where you live? (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17-2, Acts 17:23-27, Luke 10:27)

What if the most effective way and simplest way of fulfilling the Great Commission in our generation is by practicing the Great Commandment? How committed are we to expressing our love for God by loving our actual neighbors? (Luke 10:25-37)

We glorify God most when we become fully devoted to his Son, our Savior - Jesus Christ. We also glorify God as a church when we stay focused on and mission and live according to our values and commitments. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42-47)

I wonder if Mary realized her unborn son was her Everlasting Father? (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 63:16; John 10:27-30; John 14:8-10; Zephaniah 3:17)

The Christmas story is incredible! The child lying in the manger was the Son of God born of a virgin. Incredible but not impossible. Nothing is impossible with God. Why? Because He is Mighty God! (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:30-37)

What makes the Counselor so Wonderful? He knows everything, he cares about us, he fully understands us, and he tells it like it is. As his people, we should gladly receive his counsel and faithfully follow, because Jesus knows best. (Isaiah 9:6)

The main character in the Christmas story is Jesus. There is something about his name, about him? Something that intrigues us. Something that draws us. Something that compels us to want to believe him and follow him and love him and worship him. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Philippians 2:9-11)

Although we can all identify with both sons, Jesus tells this story to introduce us to the real hero - the loving father. And he is telling us that when we are lost or on a spiritual detour, the way home comes through connecting with the Father's heart. (Luke 15:11-32)

In this story, Jesus tells us why he hung out with "wild living" sinners as well-as "proud" religious people. Because both were lost. The younger son realized it. The older son, well, we don't know if he ever did. What about you? (Luke 15:25-32)

Have you ever been lost or taken a spiritual detour in your life? Have you ever longed for home? In this parable, Jesus tells us how to get back home? And also what God offers to prodigals like us. (Luke 15:11-24)

In this parable called The Ten Minas Jesus is teaching two things. There will be a delay between His first and second coming and while we wait for Him to return we have a responsibility to invest our lives for Him and His Kingdom. (Luke 19:11-27)

God doesn’t ignore the poor therefore God’s people don’t either. (Luke 16:19-31)

Jesus teaches us that those who try to justify themselves will receive God's justice. Those who humble themselves will receive God's mercy. So, which do you want? Justice? Or Mercy? (Luke 18:9-14)

Jesus' parable warns us about becoming a fool with a covetous heart. He teaches that success, satisfaction and security in life is not measured by the accumulation of earthly assets or achievements. Rather it is measured by our richness toward God. (Luke 12:13-34)

This story from the life of Christ highlights the difference between pride and humble repentance. Jesus uses a parable to explain to the prideful pharisee Simon how the woman in the story understood her sin and forgiveness much better than Simon. (Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, then He challenges them to ask persistently in prayer using a parable. While God desires to provide for us as a loving Heavenly Father, He ultimately has a greater goal for us as we approach Him in prayer. (Luke 11:1-13)

Be Patient! Great things start from small beginnings. That is how the kingdom of God grows. (Luke 13:10-21)

The kingdom truth in this parable is: The productivity of the seed is dependent on the receptivity of the soil. The quality of your life is dependent on the condition of your heart. How receptive is your heart to God's Word? (Luke 8:4-15)

The people of God return to Jerusalem from captivity to rebuild the temple of God. They begin the work, but then get distracted and the temple sits unfinished for 16 years. God sends the prophet Haggai to challenge and encourage them to finish the work. (Haggai)

Without attention a fire will quickly go out. And so it is our spiritual lives. This happened quickly to the children of Israel in the book of Nehemiah. This is the conclusion of Nehemiah as the people had to be called to return to God. (Nehemiah 13)

For Nehemiah, and also for us, there is something more important than accomplishing big tasks for God. Our first priority needs to be maintaining a soul level connection with God. This is done through letting the Word of God speak deeply to us. (Nehemiah 8:1-12)

Nehemiah's leadership led to the wall being built and fortified in less than two months. This display of God's power is an encouragement to know our task, stay on task, and determine to finish our task for the glory of God. God finishes what He starts. (Nehemiah 6:1-16)

In leading the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, Nehemiah faced opposition from outside and inside the walls. In chapter 5 we see how Nehemiah deals with opposition from within the walls and leads the people in righteousness. (Nehemiah 5)

Whenever we are in God's will doing what he desires for us to do there will be opposition. Nehemiah 4 contains illustrations of how to deal with this in our lives. Prayer, preparation and praise to the almighty God are the essentials we see from Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 4:1-23)