Harris Creek Baptist Church

Have you ever wanted to buy something that you didn’t have enough money for? Or, have you ever been able to buy something that you really wanted? What did you feel like in both of those situations? As we continue our series studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches through chapter 5, showing us a biblical perspective on wealth and what it can do to us. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Jesus had more to say about money than any other topic other than the kingdom of God.-Why is it that it’s easier to give away $1 when you have $10 than $1,000,000 when you have $10,000,000?-How much money is enough for you? What number do you need to make each year?-Wealth can be a curse.-Simply put, wealth can complicate your life.-Wealth can be a curse to your satisfaction. When you feed greed, it grows.-If you are a Christian, being rich only comes with a high amount of responsibility.-Wealth can curse your relationships. Are people your friend because of your money?-Wealth can curse your sleep. You can have all the money in the world and not be able to turn off your mind and sleep.-Wealth can be a curse to death. Many families have been torn apart because of wealth inherited after a death.-Wealth can be a curse to your sanity. You can have a lot of money and lose your mind or your memory.-Desiring to be wealthy and thinking it will make us better and happier is a lesson that most all of us can’t seem to learn.-Wealth in an of itself is not bad. Every good and perfect gift is from God above.-While Scripture doesn’t teach that poverty equates with godliness, most of us blow past the warning signs it teaches about wealth and prosperity.-God can make wealth a blessing.-Is Jesus enough for you? When you are hurt, hungry, alone, persecuted, or poor, is Jesus enough?-The rich are better than the poor because while the poor think money will make them happier the rich know better. Those who are content are infinitely better than both.-There are four categories of wealth in the Scripture: rich, poor, righteous rich, & righteous poor. Which are you?-God has solicited and trusted you to play the role of His financial advisor. How are you doing at stewarding what He has given you?-When deciding how to steward money, pray and consult your life group. If those feel like constraints and you are a Christian, they are the path to freedom. Constraints equal freedom for Christians.-Don’t waste your wealth under the sun.-You can’t take your money with you, but you can send it ahead and have it to your credit when you get there.-Invest your wealth beyond the sun.-The essence of having something in storage means you don’t need it.-Read Matthew 6:19-21 in the next week and pray about what it looks like for you to obediently apply it in your life.-Where do you need to change your perspective on wealth to align it with God’s perspective?-Christians—based on God’s love and generosity—should be the most generous people on the planet. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 5; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; Philippians 4:11-13; Matthew 6:19-21-Sermon: Better Together and Awful Alone.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were in a bad spot and you were alone? How would it have been different if someone else was with you? As we continue our series studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches us the importance of doing life with other people and not being alone.KEY TAKEAWAYS-You were not designed or created to be alone.-Life is better together and awful alone.-It’s better to be alone in a cemetery than alone and alive.-What keeps you isolated?-Envy and comparing yourself to others will keep you isolated.-When we assess how we are doing in life, we are almost always comparing and measuring ourselves against someone else. Your contentment is based on being better or having more than them.-The essence of laziness is selfishness.-The most self-absorbed person is the farthest from God.-The person who is most isolated is closest to Satan…they are the easiest to pick off and defeat.-Greed will keep you in isolation.-Many people have provided for their family at the expense of their family.-Ty Cobb is arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest baseball player of all time. On his deathbed, he said he wished he had more friends. Only 3 friends showed up to his funeral. Ty Cobb won at baseball but he lost at life.-The truth is, if you want something bad enough and have enough drive you can probably get it, but make no mistake…it will cost you. Make sure you are pursuing the right things.-What are the benefits of friends?-You can do more and be more productive with others.-The law of synergy shows that when two are together they can accomplish a multiplier of what each could accomplish alone.-To receive (or give) care in life implies that someone else is there.-Idiosyncrasies grow in isolation.-Comfort and strength are both benefits of friendship.-The vast majority of pastoral care emails and messages are from people who are not in community or doing life with close friends and family. They are usually alone.-If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together.-Some people grow so smart they are not teachable. Don’t be one of them!-The loneliest place is leadership.-Leaders and politicians are miserable saviors.-The loneliest place in all of history was Jesus being crucified on the cross. And yet, He did it for us. God used that moment to save us.-If you have an area of your life that you don’t want to let others into, you are inviting the devil into that area of your life.-God paid a great price to defeat Satan and save you, but while you are on earth you are in a strange middle ground and not fully home yet. If you live isolated, you will get taken out.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 4; Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 6:10, 24:30-34-Sermon: God Working in Time

Have you ever run out of time when you were in the middle of something that wasn’t complete? Maybe a house project, something for work, or an important relationship? As we continue our series on the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches through Ecclesiastes 3, showing us how God works in time.KEY TAKEAWAYS-If what you have is not good, God is not done.-Every human being experiences both the ups and downs of life. There are no exceptions.-We experience life in time and chronological order. God sits above and outside of time and sees everything.-There is a time for everything.-It’s bad theology to believe you won’t experience sickness, pain, hurt, poverty, or other bad things on this side of death.-God has put eternity in our hearts and nothing but Him will satisfy our cravings and desires.-God is in charge of everything.-The fear of the Lord means to fully stand in both fear and awe of the Lord at the same time.-We can know and understand a lot about God through His creation and His Word, but make no mistake, He won’t fully fit into our finite understanding.-When things aren’t going how you hoped or planned, ask yourself, “What is God up to right now? What does He want me to do or learn?”-Everyone wants God to take care of evil, but they want Him to start just past themselves.-God makes everything beautiful in its time.-God took the worst day in human history and turned it into the best day in human history.-Asking God, “How can you do this to me?” is the wrong question. The right question is, “How could you do that to You (Jesus) for me?”-God makes everything beautiful in its time.-For those who have trusted in Christ, one day we will see clearly and understand how the hardest thing we’ve ever been through was worth it.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 3; John 10:10; Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:11-13-Sermon: The Search Begins-Sermon: The Search Continues

Where are you prone to look for meaning in life? Pleasure, projects, possessions, power, profession…what is it for you? As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, JP teaches through chapter 2, showing us the only place to find true meaning.KEY TAKEAWAYS-The dumbest thing you could do is to live out the experiment Solomon did thinking you will get a different result.-Our pleasure apart from God is meaningless.-The only thing believers use alcohol for is fellowship.-Our projects apart from God are meaningless.-Your home, yard, landscaping, renovation, or any other project is futile apart from the Lord.-Solomon made over $2,700,000 per day. He threw a party where he served 22,000 cows and 150,000 sheep. He owned 12,000 horses and had 30,000 employees. You will not have a glimpse of his possessions.-Our possessions apart from God are meaningless.-You could have something that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet don’t have. Today.-We all really want to be comfortable. To have enough where we can get to a place where we don’t have to worry. -Liberalism and conservatism will both leave you empty. Neither are the answer to life’s problems or meaning.-Our power apart from God is meaningless.-A wise man learns from their mistakes, but a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others.-The rich are infinitely better off than the poor because while the poor think money will bring them happiness the rich know better.-People who are wealthy enough to actually do what they want to do when they want to do it are on a fast track to sickness.-Our profession apart from God is meaningless.-There is no job in the world that will provide enough meaning to your life.-When you look at what you do with an eternal perspective everything can have meaning.-The essence of enjoying something is found in using it. When you take things and put them in light of eternity, they can be enjoyed to the glory of God.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Ecclesiastes 2; 1 Corinthians 10:31-Sermon: The Search Begins

Do you ever feel tired as you try to live out your Christian faith? What does living faithfully for Jesus over a long period of time entail? As we continue our series, Family Matters, JP teaches through Hebrews 12:1-4, showing us the Christian life is a race and helping us understand what to expect as we run the race. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Just because you are tired doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing the Christian life wrong. You might be, but not necessarily.-Those who have gone before us in the faith from Hebrews 11 are witnessing—speaking—to us that it's worth it.-There are obstacles to the long run of faithfulness.-There are things in your life that aren't sin that hinder your faith. What are those things for you? Sports, fitness, your team, your job, shopping, social media, fishing…what is it for you?-Sin will literally weigh you down and affect you the longer you give yourself to it and hide it.-There is opposition in the long run of faithfulness.-There is no cruise control in Christianity.-The more you resist sin the more you are able to resist sin.-If you live your life by seeking out things that require little faith, you will continue to have little faith. On the contrary, when you pursue things that require more faith, your faith will grow.-When you persevere in the moment that you want to give up, you will get stronger.-People will ultimately always let you down. Jesus will never let you down.-Jesus is the object of our long run of faithfulness.-Grace both saves and sanctifies you. Only by the strength of the Holy Spirit and by daily surrendering your life can you live out good works in the Christian life.-The only way to make it through the Christian life is to preach the gospel to yourself every single day.-What are your eyes fixed on? What target are you aiming at? What race are you running? MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Hebrews 12:1-4; Galatians 5:7; 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 119:32; Romans 5:3; James 1:2-4; Galatians 3:3; Hebrews 11-Sermon: Community

Have you ever had roommates before, or been in close proximity with other people for extended periods of time? What about living by yourself, or being alone for long periods of time? As we continue our series, Family Matters, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us three characteristics of biblical community and the dangers of isolation by studying 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Doing life with other people can be hard, but isolation is even harder and more dangerous.-Biblical community identifies needs.-There are three types of Life Groups: starving, exhausted, and potluck.-Starving groups are hungry and show up looking for other people to feed them. Everyone hopes everyone else does what they aren’t willing to do (and no one does anything).-Exhausted groups are busy doing too much all the time. They are so busy feeding others that they themselves get exhausted and worn out.-Potluck groups are made up of people where everyone brings something. Sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less, but what’s important is that people come and come ready.-Are you willing to lovingly call your brother or sister out when they are being idle or disruptive?-Do you care more about what people will think about you if you lovingly confront them or what will happen to them if they stay on a path of disobedience?-Someone who is disheartened does not need a lecture, a bunch of knowledge, or a list of things to do. They need someone to kindly care for them.-Don’t underestimate the power of empathy.-Sympathy feels bad for someone, empathy feels bad with someone.-When someone is hurting and you don’t know what to do, just do something. Send a text, make a call, bring a meal…just do something.-Does your group need to do a better job of challenging each other or caring for each other?-Biblical community is selfless.-When you are on mission together, your needs and desires are the last thing on your mind.-There is a huge difference between a vacation mindset and a mission mindset. Church…we are on mission! There is an enemy who hates us and we are at war against him.-Are you seeking the good of those around you or the good of yourself?-Biblical community rejoices.-No other religion or ideology can claim continual joy, prayer, and gratitude.-Christian community doesn’t make sense without Christ and the reality that this world is not our home.-Do you spend more time in community talking about the things and problems of this world or about Jesus and being on mission for Him?-When you gather together, remind yourselves of the gospel. Every single time! MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18-Sermon: Love

How do you know if someone is a Christian? Is it based on what they wear? How they talk? As we continue our series, Family Matters, JP teaches us how you can know if someone is a Christian by examining the Great Commandment in Matthew 22.KEY TAKEAWAYS-You are saved based on what you believe about the gospel. What you believe about Jesus Christ—who He is and what He did for you on the cross—is the only thing that impacts your salvation.-What you believe—if you really believe it—will impact how you behave.-One of the greatest offenses to God is claiming that you are a Christian and then living however you want with no regard to what God or His Word says.-When Jesus taught the Great Commandment, He was saying if you love God and love others, all the do’s and don’ts of the 613 laws in the Old Testament will take care of themselves.-Followers of Jesus are marked by love for God.-When you don’t feel God, you can still obey Him. He is the God of your emotions.-Love looks like obedience to God. Obedience to God leads to joy.-Joy is born out of a life of service to others.-What do you do that makes you love God more? Do more of those things!-Followers of Jesus are marked by love for others.-Loving your neighbor like yourself looks like putting their needs above your own.-When Jesus taught people to love their neighbor, He told a story about loving someone who all the listeners would have hated.-Love: inconveniencing yourself for the good of someone else.-Christians should treat everyone the way a loving mother treats her baby. Everyone.-When you villainize someone who disagrees with you on a topic, you have moved away from love.-Did you know that God has used global pandemics in the past to explode and grow Christianity all over the world?-Are people coming closer to Jesus based on how you are responding to the Covid pandemic?-Love is the Christian’s uniform.-It’s no accident that love is the first fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5.-People all around you are lost and looking to find their way. If you are a Christian, you have the answer and you know the way.-When is the last time you inconvenienced yourself for the good of someone else? Did something that is naturally difficult for yourself for their good?MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Matthew 22:34-40; 1 John 5:3; John 15:9-13; Romans 5:8; John 13:34-35-Sermon: Discipleship

Have you ever been discipled by someone? Have you ever discipled someone? As we start our new series, Family Matters, JP teaches us about discipleship…what it is and what it means for our lives today.KEY TAKEAWAYS-Discipleship: Spending time with people to help them follow Jesus.-How are you, in this season of your life, going to faithfully live out the Great Commission?-When the disciples doubted Jesus—even after he resurrected from the dead—He went to them. He pursued them.-The authority of Jesus assures us.-Do you spend more time following your own plans for your life or Jesus’ plan for your life?-The church is the most powerful force the world has ever seen.-The commission of Jesus compels us.-A command tells you what to do. A commission invites you into a mission with someone else.-How do you change the world? One word: discipleship.-Anytime you see maturity you should see immaturity. A mature church without any immature people is a dying church.-To make disciples, focus your life on following Jesus.-If you focus on everything you can “do” for Jesus, all of the “don’ts” in your life will take care of themselves.-Dying to yourself and hating your life in this world is the way Jesus gave us to experience eternal life.-A disciple of Jesus does everything they can to follow Jesus and help others follow Jesus.-One way—one of the main ways the Bible teaches—to experience closeness with Jesus is to suffer for Him.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Timothy 2:4; Matthew 16:13-20; John 12:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Timothy 2:1-3