Harris Creek Baptist Church

Do you find yourself prone to panic when chaos comes? When the foundations are being destroyed, what will the righteous do? As we continue our Hindsight is 2020 series, Nate Hilgenkamp unpacks Psalm 11 and we'll see David's response to the chaos and confusion around him. While his friends suggest fleeing, he reminds them why he knows that he can stand firm no matter the situation. KEY TAKEAWAYS-The advice of fear.-Our enemy has a plan and a purpose in a crisis. Don’t buy his lies! He’s trying to change how you view God.-Protection provides peace. Find your protection in the Prince of Peace.-Danger is real, and life in a fallen world is hard. But, you need to identify words of faith vs. words of fear in times of crisis and hardship.-Words of fear will always be about you. Words of faith will always be about God.-The answer of faith.-Our situation doesn’t change God’s goodness, closeness, protection, or love for us.-When your protection is in God, the world can’t take it away.-There never has been and never will be something in your life that God is surprised by.-God always sees you and you can always have His full and undivided attention.-The activity of the righteous.-The world flees, but our God sees, so I’ll stay.-How you take refuge in the Lord when crises comes can be predicted by how you are taking refuge in the Lord right now. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Psalm 11; -Sermon: The Power of Jesus’ Name

A lot has changed in the last year, but not everything has changed. In an ever changing world, we need to hang on to never changing truths. As we continue our series, Hindsight is 2020, Shane Pruitt teaches us three things we will never have to regret about Jesus.KEY TAKEAWAY-In an ever changing world, we need to hang on to never changing truths.-Jesus hasn’t changed and neither has our identity in Him. We are still—always!—called to know Him and to make Him known.-COVID-19 has not changed the great commission.-You never have to regret experiencing Jesus’ power.-You won’t understand resurrection and life until you understand Jesus.-The only thing that can overcome death is life, that can overcome the grave is resurrection, the very thing Christ did!-Sin spreads worse than any virus has ever spread.-Sitting inside a church doesn’t make you a Christian. We are not born Christians...we are born sinners in need of a Savior.-Have you ever noticed that when someone else sins we become judges but when we sin we become defense attorneys?-Sin is powerful, but Jesus is infinitely more powerful.-You will never be too far gone for Jesus. Never!-Why would we ever follow someone who can’t do anything different than we can do all by ourselves? Jesus is the only person to ever defeat death...the one thing we can not do all by ourselves. Buddha, Mohammad, Joseph Smith...all other major religions central figure died and stayed dead, but not Jesus!-You never have to regret walking in Jesus’ victory.-The gospel of Jesus is not about making good people better or bad people good but about making dead people alive.-The power of the gospel doesn’t just change our identity, it changes our actions.-Grave clothes are for the dead. They are no longer appropriate for the living.-Lost people are supposed to live like lost people. What’s sad is when found people still live like lost people.-What are some old grave clothes that you are still holding on to? Gossip? Complaining? Fear? An addiction? Anger? Social media?-One of the greatest tragedies is when people who are spiritually alive in Christ walk around and live like people who are dead.-The world needs the hope of Jesus and God’s plan A is that His people, Christians, would live out that hope day in and day out, outside the four walls of the building we gather in once a week.-You never have to regret pointing others to Jesus.-Most of the things we do in response to fear we regret.-When our flesh sees something difficult our faith sees an opportunity.-Lazarus used the most difficult thing in his life (death) to point people to the most powerful thing in his life (Jesus).-Who needs to hear about Jesus in your life?MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: John 11:17-44; Hebrews 13:8-Sermon: A Walk to Remember

Do you have any regrets as you look back on 2020? As we start a new year we are starting a new series: Hindsight is 2020. Jim Underwood teaches through the story of Jesus and the fig tree in Mark 11:11-24, teaching us about bearing fruit through a relationship with Christ. KEY TAKEAWAYS-What if you knew this was the last week of your life? How would you live? Would you do anything differently?-Fruit is a symptom of true, saving faith.-If we belong to God, the fruit of the Spirit should be increasingly evident in our lives over time.-Jesus had the most problems with the Pharisees...the religious people who had a bunch of leaves and no fruit.-Christianity isn’t about checking boxes for God.-We do not earn our way to God through producing fruit. The fruit comes because of our relationship with God.-Bearing fruit is impossible on our own.-No matter who you are and what you’ve done, it’s never too late to put your faith in Christ.-Are you trying to store up for yourself treasures on earth or treasures in heaven?-Fruitful living has no regrets.-This is not a sermon—nor is Christianity—about trying harder.-What will Christ find when He examines your branches? Make no mistake, the day will come when He does. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Mark 11:11-24; Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:1-2; John 15:5; Psalm 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 7:10-Sermon: Missed Expectations

Has 2020 gone like you originally planned? Have you had any missed expectations around Christmas? As we celebrate Christmas, JP teaches through the Christmas story in Luke 2 and Matthew 2, showing us the many missed expectations of the first Christmas ever. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Your greatest disappointments in life come from missed expectations.-Maybe 2020–in the midst of many missed expectations—is helping us return to the basics of Christianity.-There are many similarities between the first Christmas and this one.-The first Christmas was full of missed expectations.-Good people do not go to Heaven, and bad people do not go to hell.-Jesus gave us the vaccine for eternal punishment and separation from Him forever.-When you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins and God raised Him from the dead, everything changes.-God may not give you what you are asking for, but He has a purpose for it.-There are two types of people: those that are on mission or those that are the mission. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:1-3; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33; -Sermon: The Greatest Apologetic

Do you ever look back on financial decisions with regret? Made a choice that you thought would be good but turned out poorly? How did it affect your ability to be generous? As we finish studying the book of Philippians, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us about generosity and its relationship to the gospel. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Being generous isn’t about the amount of money you have or don’t have, give or don’t give.-“Yet” is never going to come on this side of Christ’s return.-Generosity is at the heart of the gospel.-The most generous moment in human history was 2,000 years ago when Christ went to the cross.-We often think, “How much do I have to give?” whereas God thinks, “What’s the most I can give?”-Generosity pleases God.-God doesn’t want our money, He wants our heart. (It’s not our money anyways...it’s His!)-Money makes a terrible master.-Generous people are happier people.-Our God is generous.-God delights in being generous toward us. It can look different at different times (physical, material, spiritual, etc.), but He loves to be generous toward us!-Most of us have more excess than we want to admit. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 4:14-23; Ephesians 5:1-2; Matthew 7:9-11-Sermon: Finding Contentment-Sermon: The Peace that Follows Belief

Do you struggle with discontentment? Or better asked, where do you struggle with discontentment? Where in life are you most often discontent? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us the secret of contentment found in Philippians 4:10-13.KEY TAKEAWAYS-What we need for contentment is available for us at all times.-Contentment is not found in others.-We don’t use people and love stuff, we use stuff and love people.-When you give someone the control of your emotions you have made them your god.-People will let you down consistently until Jesus returns.-Who controls your contentment? What should you do about it?-Contentment is not found in circumstances.-When you make circumstances your god you will be let down time and time again.-God rarely changes our circumstances, rather, He changes us in our circumstances.-What is God teaching you in the midst of circumstances you want to change?-Christians are called to bloom where they are planted (regardless of the circumstances).-Contentment is not found in stuff.-Every Black Friday, most of us search the ads looking for something to need. Not something that we need, but something to need. Don’t buy that lie!-The rich are infinitely better off than the poor because while the poor think more money will make them happier the rich know better.-Philippians 4:13 doesn’t teach you can hit a home run because of Jesus, it teaches that you can endure any and all suffering because of Jesus.-Contentment is found in Christ alone.-When you find yourself really wanting something, pray to God that you’d want Him more.-You belong to God and God is enough.-If you dig deeply wherever God has you you will find whatever it is He wants you to find.-The gospel is not simply fire insurance to avoid hell someday when you die, it affects everything about every thought, decision, and action of your life right now...today!MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 4:10-13; Galatians 1:10; Hebrews 13:5: 1 Timothy 6:6-8-Sermon: The Peace That Follows Belief-Sermon: Distractions on the Journey Home

Do you get stressed easily? 2020 has likely caused most of us to get stressed more than normal. What causes stress in your life? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches through Philippians 4:4-9, showing us a 2,000 year old answer to today’s problems and stress.KEY TAKEAWAYS-Pay attention to what you pay attention to.-This world is not our home and we are not home yet. Our citizenship is in heaven!-The behavior (rejoicing and being gentle) that follows belief (the Lord is near).-Joy is an emotion (noun), but rejoicing is a choice (verb). You can choose to rejoice at any point in time.-We typically believe the answer to worry and anxiety is control. Gentleness admits that you aren’t in control and that God is in control.-What do you want to be doing when Jesus comes back? Regardless of what you are actually doing when He does come, you want to be found believing and trusting that He is in fact coming back.-The Bible—written 2,000 years ago—teaches what science is now discovering to be true about the human body and mind.-Do not be anxious without prayer. In a matter of two verses, Paul instructs us to pray four times!-The peace that follows prayer.-It takes the same amount of energy to pray as it does to be worried.-Christians have the supernatural ability to turn worry into prayer. Add “God, help us with ______” to the front of anything you are worried about.-Prayer changes everything.-Some of the most popular apps in 2020 (meditation apps) are simply encouraging us to do the very thing Paul instructs us to do 2,000 years ago while in a Roman jail cell.-Fix your mind on who you are and on Whose you are.-The peace that follows practice.-The teaching from this passage is not a one and done application. It’s something you practice day in and day out.-Practice is the ability to apply what you’ve learned. A doctor—medical practice—practices what they learn and gets better as they hone their craft.-Anxiety is contagious. Be careful of whose practice you are following.-People today are spending billions of dollars to create an angst in you to buy their product (which won’t actually solve that angst).-Your mind is a storage container. Think of it like a filing cabinet. What kind of thoughts (files) are you filling your mind with?-Who is your role model? One of the most impactful things in life is who you spend your time with.-Our behavior follows our belief. Peace follows prayer. Peace follows practice.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Peter 3:8-9; Philippians 2:20; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:15; Galatians 3:26-28; 2 Corinthians 11:16-29-Sermon: Peace From Heaven-Sermon: Distractions on the Journey

Have you ever been distracted before? We all have! Where and when are you most prone to be distracted? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us about the dangers of being distracted in our relationship with Christ and our journey toward heaven.KEY TAKEAWAYS-If you have put your faith in Christ you are on your way home.-The mature in faith model the way.-Don’t take advantage of your salvation. You were made for a purpose...don’t simply coast once you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior.-The Christian life is like a marathon. In a marathon, if you want to grow and get faster you surround yourself with fast people. The same is true in the Christian life.-Life is hard. Don’t make the mistake of trying to do it alone...that will only make it harder.-Where in life are you most prone to do whatever you want? To follow your stomach and appetite rather than the ways of Christ and Scripture?-The distracted are destined for destruction.-Are you ever entertained by the things that put Christ on the cross?-The Scriptures are clear: you have desires for things that will kill you! You are called to wage war against those desires.-What are you denying yourself right now? What are you denying yourself so that you can pursue holiness?-The mantra of the satanic bible is to do whatever you want. -The reason the cross is offensive to people is that it’s the greatest act of selflessness in the history of the world.-Selflessness is a bad PR campaign, but how much better would your parenting, marriage, friendships, and work be if you were selfless?-The very thing we strive after and collect on earth with be asphalt in heaven.-Get along in the gospel to the finish.-When we have the same mind as Christ we should learn to agree with one another.-Disunity in the church is almost always an example of immaturity.-Don’t wait until you are ready to deal with conflict...you will never be ready, you must move toward it!-Most of the time the church splits it is satanic. We put our preferences in place of our pursuit of paradise.-Time doesn't heal all wounds. Surgery does, and there are usually scars.-We are not home yet and we won’t be until we are fully in the presence of Jesus. Don’t be distracted by the temporary things on this earth.MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 3:15-4:3; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 John 2:15; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 13:14-Sermon: Joy in Knowing Jesus-Sermon: Ordinary Obedience

When you hear the word religion, what comes to mind? What about the word relationship? What do the two of them have to do with Christianity and the Bible? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, Dr. Bryan Carter teaches through Philippians 3:1-14, teaching us what we can learn about religion and a relationship with God through the life of the Apostle Paul.KEY TAKEAWAYS-Beware of people who say Christianity is Jesus + something else.-We will never be able to earn our way to God. Doing good, religious things is not what God wants from us or for us.-Religion always leads to pride, self-righteousness, and cruelty.-Unfortunately, some of the meanest people can be found in the church! This should not be; it is not what God is about nor what the Bible teaches.-Followers of Jesus change from the inside out, not the outside in.-Religion makes a whole lot of noise, but it’s empty. It doesn’t really do anything. It’s like a vacuum that powers on and sounds like it’s working but doesn’t suck anything up.-It’s the Spirit of God that changes us and fuels us to live for Him, not our works or efforts.-When you follow Jesus, you grow and learn to no longer put confidence in yourself or your actions.-Anything and everything this world has to offer—money, sex, power, status, fame—is all for loss compared to knowing Christ.-Do you focus more on external things that happen in your life or the internal things of your heart?-What is the joy and focus of your life?-As Christians, in suffering, we get to know and become closer with Jesus.-2020 has been quite the year...do you know Jesus and love Him more as the end of the year is drawing near?-Religion creates a facade and a complacency making you think you’ve arrived and that you can coast. Christians aren’t “there yet” or done until we die or Christ returns. We are all a work in progress.-In order to know and press toward Christ, you need to learn to forget what lies behind you.-Christianity is both an “already” (Christ came and died and rose to life) and a “not yet” (Christ will come again!) faith.-What are you pressing toward? What is the aim and goal of your life?MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES-Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 3:1-14-Book: The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll-Sermon: Ordinary Obedience-Sermon: Working Out to Finish Strong

SUMMARYWhen you think of heroes of the Christian faith, who comes to mind? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches through Philippians 2:19-30, showing us that God uses ordinary obedience from ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. KEY TAKEAWAYS-Genuine care is rare. -It’s easy to care for people in the moment, but it’s challenging to care for people on an on-going basis, day after day, week after week.-If all your prayers from this last week were answered “yes,” how many lives would be impacted?-An inward focused life will never be a Christ-exalting life.-The more you love Jesus the more you will love the things Jesus loves.-The more you love yourself the more stressed and depressed and anxious you will be. However, a life focused on others is a life of impact.-Willingness is worship.-Are you willing to serve others? To go out of your way and your agenda to serve someone else?-Is there anything you aren’t willing to do to worship Jesus?-Your willingness will determine how much you are used by God.-Ordinary obedience from ordinary people produces extraordinary results.-Don’t buy the lie that you don’t have what it takes to be used by God.-Are you in the game or sitting on the sideline? MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCESSuggested Scripture study: Philippians 2:19-30; 2 Timothy 3:1-2Sermon: Working Out to Finish StrongSermon: The Humility of Jesus