Woodcreek Church

Jesus our Messiah demonstrated true humility. This is all the more incredible when one considers that he is the creator and sustainer of all creation; supreme over all things. As his followers, we should be humble, too. Philippians 2:1-11 and Colossians 1:15-20

Because of the Good News of the Messiah, we can now have peace with God and become followers of Jesus. Walking with the Messiah is how we live out our faith. The Apostle Paul teaches us in Galatians that walking with the Messiah is walking by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-26, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

God wants all to come to repentance. In Acts 10 he brings together a Gentile, Cornelius, and and Jew, the Apostle Peter, so that the exclusive message of faith in the Messiah could cross ethnic and cultural boundaries in a radically inclusive way. Acts 10

Like a name and address on an envelope narrow down the recipient to a specific person, prophecies in the Old Testament focused attention on a promised Messiah. In the New Testament we see these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. Old Testament: Genesis 22:16-18, 26:2-5, 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:11b-16, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2-5, Zechariah 12:10, 13:1. New Testament: Luke 1:30-38, 2:1-7, 23:33, Matthew 1:22-23...

We cap off our 2020 vision series by taking a closer look at two of Woodcreek’s core values: we are Worship Focused and Outreach Oriented. What makes these values core to our mission and how does that play out in our lives? Jesus shows us the way. Mark 12:30-31, Psalm 103:1, Colossians 3:17, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Luke 10:29-37

When times are uncertain and the future is unclear, it helps to refocus on things that are clear. God's Word is a firm foundation for us as individuals and as a church. Our mission and core values have not changed. Matthew 22:37-40, 28:19-20

As Peter finishes his final letters, he gives Christians four commands of how to be ready for the return of the Lord Jesus: Be Diligent, Be Thankful, Be on Guard, and Be Growing. 2 Peter 3:14-18

As Peter begins to wrap up the letter, he reminds us all that God is coming back. Brian walks through the passage showing the remembrance of Peter, the objection of those who do not know God, Peter's response to them, and our response as believers. 2 Peter 3:1-13

God cares about the truth, and Peter reminds believers of the Profile of False Teachers and the Fallout of False Teaching. 2 Peter 2:10b-22

False teachers operate by attacking the truth, specifically the truth of who Jesus is. They do this for purposes of exploitation. Peter is warning believers of these realities, and also encouraging them by reminding them of the judgment of God. 2 Peter 2:1-10a

Peter tells us that no prophecy of Scripture has come from men but rather men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. In a dark and dying world, God's Word is our light in the darkness.

As his death approaches, Peter writes his final letter to Christians reminding them that they have been given supernatural resources to live a Godly life. These resources give them a responsibility to make every effort to grow in their faith. 2 Peter 1:1-11

At the end of Amos we see that God provides hope for his people even as he promises to judge them for their sin. Amos 9.

The visions Amos gets from God reminds us of the importance of aligning our thinking and behaviors according to the plumb line of God's justice and righteousness found in his word instead of the values of the world. Amos 7-8

The book of Amos is about God's judgment on Israel, but we are able to learn from the reasons for their judgment (comfort at a cost and a phony faith) while also learning from the call to repentance offered to individual Israelites. (Amos Chs 5-6)

God reveals that Israel will be judged due to their unique relationship with Him and their pursuit of comfort at a cost to others, as well as their phony faith. We end the sermon with a time of lament as a church. Amos Chs 3-4

In chapters 1 and 2, Amos delivers eight prophecies against Israel and her neighbors, promising judgment for their sin. God cares about justice and righteousness. A relationship with God does not provide immunity, but increases responsibility.

In 2 Thessalonians 3 Paul instructs us that while we wait for the Lord's return we should pray for the spread of the gospel, not be idle, and not grow weary in doing good.

Paul corrects the Thessalonians fear that Jesus had returned. He reminds them the rebellion and the revealing of the man of lawlessness must happen first, which happen after the restrainer is removed. He then challenges them to stand firm in their faith. 2 Thessalonians 2

Life is full of trials and suffering of various kinds. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 was written to encourage followers of Jesus to endure in suffering and to keep growing by understanding that Jesus will return to make it all right.

Lamentations is a Memorial that provides valuable lessons about how to pray and voice our sorrow while living between the consequences of sin in a fallen world and the hope of our future restoration. Lamentations 5:1-22

Laments help us express our sorrows, but they also help us remember lessons learned in pain. For those in Jerusalem, the destruction of the city exposed some of the idols they trusted in rather than God. What idols do we worship in our culture today? Lamentations 4

In Lamentations 2-3 we see the continuing consequences of the destruction of Jerusalem. But in the center of this devastation, the writer expresses trust in the Lord. How can we trust God in the midst of trials? We will learn four principles to remember.

The world of the Jews has been turned upside down. Jerusalem has been destroyed, the temple burned, the people taken into exile. It is judgment for their sin, but for how long? How do we talk to God in the midst of our pain? Lamentations 1

They had thought Jesus was the Messiah, but now he was dead. This isn't the way it was supposed to be. Jesus' death and resurrection were a declaration by God that, indeed, this isn't the way it is supposed to be, but that He was doing something about it. John 20:1-31