Harris Creek Baptist Church

When things disrupt your life, how are you prone to respond? What comes out of you when you are squeezed? As we continue our series, a Critical Christmas, Rich Bartel teaches us about the story of Mary and how she responded when God disrupted her life.KEY TAKEAWAYS-When God comes in and disrupts your life, how do you respond?-Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a simple, ordinary woman in need of a savior just like us.-Humility isn’t self-denigration, but rather an honest self-appraisal. -Mary responds with humility.-Mary acknowledged who her Master was and she humbly and gladly responded to His plan for her life.-Mary was submitted to God’s Word.-Mary embodied the truths Scripture calls us to live by.-You will never meet a mature, kind, discerning, wise, and loving Christian who hasn’t spent time reading, knowing, and meditating on God’s Word.-Mary responds with worship.-Life isn’t a matter of trying to not be shaken, but rather, what comes out of you when you are shaken.-Make no mistake: if you are a Christian, God will disrupt your life. How will you respond when He does?MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture study: Luke 1:28-56; Psalm 34:2; Isaiah 45:21; 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalm 126:3; Psalm 111:9-Sermon: God’s Promise to Zechariah

Have you ever been let down before? Had someone say they’d do something and then they didn’t do it? As we start a new sermon series, a Critical Christmas, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches through Luke 1:10-20 and examines the story of Zechariah, answering the question of whether or not God can be trusted. KEY TAKEAWAYS-God makes promises to His people.-God often talks about what He will do in the future, which requires a specific response from us: faith.-What circumstance causes you to doubt and question God the most?-God’s people often question God’s promises.-Do you struggle to trust God with your future because you’ve forgotten what He’s done in the past because you are so consumed with your present circumstances?-God fulfills His promises.-This is how we often question God: “How because I am _______?”-The answer to Moses’ and Zechariah’s question is the same answer to our questions: God is. He is who He says He is. -God does what He promises.-There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that come true during Jesus’ time on earth. Multiple of which were completely out of His control.-We have more in common with Zechariah than we think.-As Christians, we are waiting for Christ to return. Are you ready for it?-The story of Christmas tells us that God can be trusted. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture study: Luke 1:10-20; Malachi 4:5-6; Philippians 4:19; John 4:14, 14:2-3; Hebrews 11:1; Genesis 17:15-17; Exodus 3:11-14; Revelation 19:6-9

Have you ever crossed the finish line in a race before? Or, what about crossing a starting line to begin a race? As 2021 comes to a close, JP looks back as we cross one finish line and looks ahead to what God has in store as we start a new race in the days ahead.KEY TAKEAWAYS-We refuse to make “the deal” with you: show up, pay up, and sit quietly as we entertain you and don’t ask too much of you.-We are committed to complete transparency with you. We will err on the side of telling you too much too soon.-We try every week to tear down the proverbial curtain between church members and church staff. We are a kingdom of priests, each and every one of us (not just the church staff).-At the end of 2018, we refinanced the loan on our property. It was a $6.1 million loan. We had a goal of raising $7 million in 7-years.-On average, we take in 25% of our annual budget in the month of December.-As of Wednesday, December 1, 2021, we are debt free!-We are committed to putting to death perception management. It’s one of the great evils within the church, and especially in America.-In 2021, 43% of covenant members gave to the mission of Harris Creek.-Your spiritual growth and your generosity will be aligned.-In 2021, 1 in 10 undergraduate students at Baylor were in a Harris Creek Life Group.-The Becoming Something podcast was listened to over 1.5 million times in 2021.-161 people were baptized in 2021.-As we finish our journey of paying off our debt, we are ready to begin a new journey. Debt is not sinful, but it is limiting.-There are 1,181 kids in the foster system in McLennan county. This is symptomatic of the church not being the church.-We are going to build a house to help house foster children who are sleeping in CPS offices.-In the days ahead we want to plant churches, reach the nations, and continue helping everyone follow Jesus by engaging the lost, equipping the saints, and empowering members for service.-We simply want to make disciples. That’s it.-Let’s not make the mistake by forsaking our first love like Ephesus did. Let’s finish well. Let’s pray God would increase our faith and that we’d love Him more at the end of today than we did when we woke up.

What does it mean to fear God? Christians are commanded to do so all throughout the Scriptures. As we finish our series studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches us what it means to fear God.KEY TAKEAWAYS-We are all moving toward death. You are older now than when you read the sentence before this.-Fear and follow God before your body fails.-You can and should take care of your body, but you are going to die.-Form your theology before your decline.-Don’t buy into a false theology that God is not loving and kind because we are commanded to fear Him.-Read other books, but only in addition to the Bible, not as a supplement to the Bible.-Fear and follow God by holding firmly to His Word.-There are so many distractions in this world that the enemy uses to pull you off track.-Your quiet time is not a means to please God. It’s a method of survival to fight against an enemy that is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy you.-If you are not regularly reading the Bible you are backsliding.-Why would God make known to us His mysterious will when we are clearly disobeying and overlooking His revealed will?-Fearing God and following Him means living by faith.-Is your life marked by acts of faith? Things you did that if God didn’t show up you’d be considered foolish and a failure?-Every sin you’ve ever committed is against God.-If someone can come back from the dead after being tortured and crucified, you should fear them. If they were tortured and killed and came back from the dead for you, you should follow them.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 12; Matthew 10:26-31; 1 Kings 11:1-6-Sermon: Wisdom in Words, Work, and Worship-Resource: www.biblereadingplan.org

While toddlers can be really funny with their actions and words, there is a big difference when adults do and say similar things. As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us what Scripture has to say about our words, work, and worship.KEY TAKEAWAYS-Here are some descriptions of the tongue in Scripture: snake, fire, sword, world of evil, and full of deadly poison.-Are you thoughtful with your words?-The wise are slow with their words.-Your tongue can eat you alive if you aren’t careful and thoughtful with your words.-Your words always matter, and they matter even more when it comes to your family.-You are never “safe” when it comes to speaking words that aren’t wise or gracious.-The wise work hard no matter what while the foolish work based on how they feel.-The wise are steadfast in their work.-Many of our problems with work are because we let our feelings guide our work.-Your laziness steals from yourself, and at times, it might even be stealing from your company.-Don’t work so hard to provide for your family at the expense of your family.-The world is not out of control, but it is out of your control. God is fully in control.-The more you try to control the more you will worry and fear.-The wise are surrendered in worship.-When you have a right view of God you can worship instead of worry.-It will not go well with you when your life is centered around yourself.-Do your words, work, and worship look like that of an adult or a child?-While children are often foolish, they have the one thing necessary to come to Jesus: need.-Don’t try to clean up your mess before you come to God. Come to Him as you are and let Him clean you up.-The only people who get into the Kingdom of God are the ones that know they shouldn’t.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 10:11-14; James 1:19; Ecclesiastes 10:20; Ecclesiastes 11:1-6; Colossians 3:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8; Ecclesiastes 10:15; Ecclesiastes 11:5, 3:11, 8:7, 8:17, 9:12, 10:14; Matthew 19:13-14-Sermon: Live Like You’re Dying

Do you have a bucket list? What do you want to do before you die? It could be anything at all. As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP shows us that God has a bucket list prepared for each of us and that we should live like we're dying (and will live forever).KEY TAKEAWAYS-We do not know what tomorrow will bring.-Mortality causes us to be reflective.-Weddings are fun and celebratory, but everyone is distracted. At a funeral, the focus is crystal clear and you have everyone’s attention.-Remember death awaits us all.-In America in 2021, we are bad at death. We’ve outsourced it in a way that is completely foreign to other cultures and all of history.-You do not know how much time you have left.-It is really hard and sad when death strikes. We mourn because we were made to live forever. Death was not present in Eden before the Fall and it’s not in heaven either.-Find joy in living.-God does not want to rip you off. He is a good God, and He loves giving good things.-What do you enjoy doing? Can you do it to the glory of God? (doing something in faith and without sin). Go do more of those things!-Learn to enjoy serving others.-Do you use your words flippantly or thoughtfully?-You can be wise and live prudently, but even then, you don’t know what life has in store. Before Jesus returns, pain and death will come to the wisest people at times.-Live with wisdom.-Live a life not for God’s approval but from God’s approval.-We don’t have to experience all this earth has to offer before we die because we will have forever and ever and ever to experience this earth in its glorified form.-Don’t wait to live like you are dying. Surround yourself with Scripture, share the gospel with every person you meet, and give as generously as you can.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 9; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Psalm 111:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19-Sermon: Submitting to Authority

Have you ever been in a position where an authority figure was telling or asking you to do something you didn’t want to do? As believers in Jesus, what should our response to authority be? As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us what our posture and response to authority should look like.KEY TAKEAWAYS-We are called to submit to those in authority.-As Christians, we should begin our approach to authority with humility, not hostility.-Christians should be a joy to lead. Are you a joy to lead?-If you don’t respect those in authority over you, that says more about your heart than it does their leadership.-If you want to submit to God’s Word, you have to start by submitting to those in authority.-Human authority will be unfair.-Who do you fear more? Politicians, your boss, or the King of Kings?-Believers should gladly follow authority unless the authority is asking you to sin or go against God’s Word.-When you resist authority that is asking you to go against God, you need to do so while walking by the Spirit and modeling the fruit of the Spirit.-The bar to resisting authority that is outlined in Scripture is a lot higher than we typically wish it were.-God’s authority will seem unfair.-God allowed Jesus to experience the most unfair thing in the history of the world in order to save you.-Jesus said and did things that didn’t make sense to those around Him. -As followers of Jesus, if He says so, we must trust and follow.-Are you a joy to be led by Jesus?MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 8; Romans 13:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14; John 6:60-66; Luke 5:3-5-Sermon: A Wise Perspective in Problems

When was the last time you had a bad day? What made it a bad day? As we continue our series studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches through chapter 7, showing us a biblical response to the pain and problems of life. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Do you view life’s problems as something to be avoided or something to embrace and learn from?-Younger people are desperate to learn from older people. -Don’t forget your mortality. You are here for just a moment and then your life will be over.-You get to choose who you learn from. Who are the people you are going to for advice? Just because someone is popular or famous doesn’t mean they are wise.-Learn from pain before you leave it.-When something is uncomfortable God often wants to teach you something.-21st century western culture moves too fast to learn from pain and discomfort.-Sometimes pain will be your best instructor in life.-It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Don’t quit after the honeymoon period of something new and fun.-As a follower of Jesus Christ, your hope will always be in front of you.-Money can’t prolong your life but wisdom can.-Be patient in problems before you’re provoked.-There will be moments in your life when you are provoked and you need to prepare for those moments now. Pray that you’d take a deep breath, ask for wisdom, and respond accordingly. -If you need wisdom, go to your GPS: Gather your Group, Persist in Prayer, Search the Scriptures.-You. Are. Not. God. God is God. Let God be God.-There are good days and there are bad days, but they are all God’s days. He is sovereign over all of them.-Surrender to God’s sovereignty in bad situations.-Sometimes it’s good to be small.-Life is a roller coaster. There will be ups and downs. Do your best to enjoy the ride, and don’t question God or rebel or be a fool during the downs.-Without Jesus, everything you do is meaningless. Literally everything.-Sometimes things under the sun are really hard…don’t be quick to avoid or run from them. Let them teach you to turn to God and become more intimate with Him.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 7; Proverbs 12:1; James 1:19; Philippians 3:13-4; 2 Samuel 12:20-23-Sermon: The Curse and Blessing of Money-Sermon: GPS