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RELENTLESS
Part 4 | The God Who Won’t Give Up On People
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 09, 2026

Have you ever been offended by God's grace? Not because He showed it to you, but because He showed it to someone else. The book of Jonah doesn't end with a whale. It ends with a question. A question about God's heart. A question about our enemies. A question about whether we've become more interested in justice than mercy.

This Sunday we conclude RELENTLESS: The God Who Won't Give Up on People with a message entitled: WHEN GOD'S GRACE OFFENDS YOU

It may be the most uncomfortable—and most important—chapter in the entire book. Come discover why Jonah ends without a happy ending... and why that may be exactly the point.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The book of Jonah ends without telling us whether Jonah ever changed. Why do you think God inspired the book to end that way? What effect does that unfinished ending have on you personally?

2. Jonah wasn't angry because God was unjust—he was angry because God was exactly Who He said He was: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Why do you think God's mercy can sometimes be difficult for religious people to accept?

3. Read Exodus 34:6–7 and Jonah 4:2. Jonah quotes God's own self-description as an accusation rather than an act of worship. What does that reveal about Jonah's heart? Have you ever struggled with one of God's attributes because of how it affected someone else?

4. The message described anger as a "warning light on the dashboard" that often reveals something deeper beneath the surface. What tends to lie underneath your own anger—fear, disappointment, hurt, pride, frustration, or something else?

5. Discuss the illustration of the three circles: I – You – They. Who is easiest for you to understand? Who is easiest to stereotype or judge? Why do you think that happens?

6. The statement was made, "The book of Jonah is God's attempt to redraw those circles." What would it look like for God to redraw those circles in your own life?

7. Peter eventually learned that "God does not show favoritism" (Acts 10:34). What prejudices, assumptions, or categories might God still be challenging His Church to abandon today?

8. Jonah cared more about the plant than the people because the plant served his own comfort. Where are we tempted to value our comfort more than God's mission?

9. Throughout the book, God patiently pursued: the sailors, Jonah, Nineveh, and even Jonah again. What does that repeated pursuit teach us about God's character? Which example in the book speaks most powerfully to you?

10. The series concluded by saying:

God refuses to abandon pagans.
God refuses to abandon prophets.
God refuses to abandon cities.
God refuses to abandon bitter people.
God refuses to abandon us.

Which of those statements do you most need to hear today? Why?

Closing Challenge

This week, ask God to reveal one person you've quietly placed in the "they" category. Pray each day that God would help you see that person through His eyes rather than your own. Then look for one practical way to move them closer—from they, to you, through an intentional act of kindness, conversation, or prayer.

Where does the spirit of Jonah still live in me—and what would it look like for the relentless grace of God to change my heart?

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Part 3 | When The Entire City Turns Around
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 02, 2026

Have you ever secretly wondered if someone is beyond God's grace? The book of Jonah asks a far more uncomfortable question: What if the real problem isn't that God loves our enemies... but that we don't?

This weekend we'll discover why the greatest miracle in Jonah isn't a man swallowed by a great fish. It's an entire city transformed by the grace of God—and a prophet who still struggles to accept it.

What happens when God extends mercy to people we think don't deserve it? And what if the greatest obstacle to revival isn't "out there"... but in our own hearts?

Join us this Sunday for RELENTLESS – Part 3: When an Entire City Turns Around

You may discover that the hardest person for God to change isn't Nineveh... it's Jonah. And maybe, at times, it's us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Icebreaker

1. Have you ever been given a second chance that changed the direction of your life? What happened?

Digging into the Passage

1. Jonah receives the exact same calling in chapter 3 that he received in chapter 1. What does that teach us about God's persistence and His purposes for our lives?

2. Why do you think the people of Nineveh responded so quickly while Jonah remained so resistant to God's grace?

3. One of the key ideas in the message was that "The Ninevites believed God," not simply Jonah. Why is that distinction important?

Going Deeper

1. The Hebrew word hapak can mean either "to overthrow" or "to transform." How does that deepen your understanding of what God intended for Nineveh?

2. The sermon suggested that judgment is God's last resort, while redemption is His delight. Where else do you see that pattern in Scripture or in your own life?

3. Jonah experienced extraordinary grace but struggled to extend grace to others. Why is it often easier to receive God's forgiveness than to celebrate it in someone else's life?

Personal Application

1. The sermon said: "We always believe more in the power of Nineveh than we do in the transforming power of God's grace." Where do you see that tendency in yourself or in today's culture?

2. Is there a person or group of people you find difficult to believe God could genuinely transform? What might that reveal about your own heart?

3. Near the end of the message we asked: "Will I allow Him to transform me?" What is one area of your life where God may be calling you to turn—to experience your own hapak?

Prayer

Spend time praying for three things:
• A heart that celebrates God's grace wherever it appears.
• The humility to recognize areas where prejudice, pride, or bitterness may still exist.
• Courage to say "yes" to whatever transformation God wants to accomplish in your own life.

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Part 2 | The God Of Another Chance
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 26, 2026

Have you ever wondered if God still listens when the mess you're in is entirely your own fault? Jonah wasn't running toward God—he was running away. Even after God rescued him, his heart still had a long way to go. Yet God refused to give up on him.

This weekend in RELENTLESS: The God Who Won't Give Up on People, we'll look beyond the famous fish to discover the real miracle of Jonah chapter 2. What if God's greatest work isn't simply rescuing us from our circumstances—but patiently transforming us through grace upon grace?

If you've ever struggled with failure, self-righteousness, or wondered whether God could still use someone like you, this message is for you.

Join us this Sunday at Springcreek Church or watch online. You may discover that you've been living inside Jonah's story longer than you realized.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever been absolutely convinced you were right, only to discover later that you had completely misunderstood the situation? What happened?

Digging Into the Passage

1. Read Jonah 2 aloud together. What stands out to you after hearing the sermon that you may never have noticed before?

2. Jonah repeatedly thanks God for rescuing him, yet never explicitly confesses his rebellion. Why do you think that omission is significant?

3. Compare Jonah's prayer with Psalm 51 or Psalm 32. What differences do you notice between David's prayers and Jonah's?

4. The sermon suggested that Jonah stopped running because he couldn't run anymore—not because his heart had fully changed. Have you ever obeyed God before your heart completely caught up? What did that experience teach you?

Applying the Message

1. The sermon said: "The greatest miracle in Jonah chapter 2 isn't that a fish keeps a man alive. It's that God keeps loving a prophet who still doesn't love what God loves." How does that statement change the way you think about grace?

2. Why do you think it's often easier to recognize other people's sins than our own?

3. Jonah could receive grace but struggled to extend it. Why is that such a common struggle for religious people?

4. The sermon suggested this progression:
   Repentance → Grace → Transformation (what we expect)
   vs.
   Grace → more Grace → still more Grace → eventually
   Transformation

How has your own spiritual journey reflected that second pattern?

Personal Reflection

Pastor Keith shared that after nearly fifty years of ministry, he continues to discover how relentless God's grace has been throughout his life. Looking back over your own story, where can you now see God's grace pursuing you—even before you fully understood it?

Is there an area of your life where you're more like Jonah than you'd like to admit? What would it look like to pray, "Lord, show me the truth about myself"?

Close by sharing one way you've experienced God's grace recently and pray that God would help each person become not only a recipient of grace but also someone through whom that grace "spills over" into the lives of others.

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Part 1 | Running From Mercy
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 19, 2026

If you look around our culture today, everything seems to be divided into "us" and "them." Every day we're told who to fear, who to blame, who to despise, and who deserves our outrage. The anger comes from the right and from the left, and before long it begins to shape our own hearts. What's surprising is that God's remedy for this isn't found in a New Testament command or a self-help book. It's found in one of the shortest books of the Old Testament—the book of Jonah. Because Jonah isn't really written for irreligious people. It's written for people like us. People who know God, worship God, and yet can still find themselves resisting the very things God loves. Jonah has a great deal to teach us about who God is, how God works, and how He wants to transform our hearts.

Discussion Questions

1. Before hearing this message, what did you think the book of Jonah was primarily about? Did anything in this week's teaching challenge or expand your understanding of the story?

2. Pastor Keith said, "The book of Jonah is a mirror." In what ways do you see yourself in Jonah's attitudes or actions?

3. Why do you think Jonah resisted God's call to Nineveh? Was it fear, prejudice, nationalism, hatred, or something else? What does his motivation reveal about the human heart?

4. Read Jonah 1:1–3. Jonah ran in the opposite direction of God's command. What are some ways people today can run from God without ever leaving home?

5. The sermon emphasized that all people matter to God. Why is that truth sometimes easy to affirm in theory but difficult to practice with certain people?

6. Pastor Keith asked several searching questions:
   Who scares you?
   Who offends you?
   Who can you not stand?
   Who would you rather see judged than forgiven?

Without naming individuals if it would be inappropriate, why do you think those questions are so difficult to answer honestly?

1. Throughout Jonah 1, the pagan sailors often behaved more compassionately than God's prophet. What do you think God is trying to teach us through that surprising reversal?

2. The message suggested that Jonah's deepest problem wasn't simply disobedience but misdirected love—he loved his nation more than God's heart for the nations. What are some good things that can become disordered loves in our own lives?

3. Read John 3:16–17 together. How does verse 17 deepen or reshape your understanding of verse 16?

4. Pastor Keith closed by praying, "God, make me into a grace giver, not just a grace receiver." What would that look like in one specific relationship or situation this week?

Closing Prayer
Ask God to reveal any "Jonah heart" within us—a place where resentment, prejudice, fear, or self-righteousness has replaced compassion. Pray that God would help us see people the way He sees them and become willing participants in His relentless pursuit of those He loves.

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IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
Sunday, July 12, 2026

In The Middle Of It is a message about learning to see the space between promise and possession — the waiting, the delay, the unresolved season — not as evidence God has forgotten you, but as the classroom where He does His deepest work. Before we can learn there, we have to deal with the whispers that convince us we've been overlooked, taking every thought captive and renewing our minds in truth. From there, Scripture shows a pattern: God didn't wait outside Israel's wilderness, Joseph's prison, or the disciples' storm — He moved into the middle of each one. Using Elijah's cave, the desert, the grave, and the storm as case studies, and then walking verse by verse through Psalm 27, the sermon traces David's posture shifting from bold declaration to broken petition to a soul preaching courage back into itself — proof that the middle isn't wasted space, it's where faith gets shaped, tested, and made real. The charge: stop asking only "how do I get out of this," and start asking "what is God teaching me while I'm in it."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What's a "whisper" you've had to fight recently — a thought that sounded reasonable but didn't actually sound like God? How did you test it?
2. Think of a "middle" season in your own life — a wilderness, a delay, an unanswered prayer. Looking back now, can you see anything God was building in you during it that you couldn't see at the time?
3. Of the four classrooms discussed (Cave, Desert, Grave, Storm), which one feels closest to where you are right now? What do you think it's trying to teach you?
4. David's posture in Psalm 27 shifts from standing tall and declarative (v.1-3) to on his face, pleading (v.7-9). Why do you think honest faith includes both postures? Is one harder for you than the other?
5. The sermon draws a line between "surviving the middle" and "learning in it." What would it look like, practically, for you to shift from one to the other this week?
6. Psalm 27:14 tells us to "wait on the Lord" twice. What makes waiting the second time harder than the first — and what helps you keep your courage up when you're still waiting?

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MISIDENTIFIED
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
Sunday, July 5, 2026

What if the labels you've accepted aren't the labels God has given you? When God met Moses at the burning bush, everyone had an opinion about who Moses was. Egypt, Israel, Pharaoh, and even Moses himself. Yet, God saw something completely different.

In this message, we'll discover that God evaluates us differently than the world does. While others focus on our past, God sees our purpose. While others see our limitations, God sees His possibilities. And while others see what we've been, God sees what we can become through Him.

Everybody saw a shepherd. God saw a deliverer.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What label have you received from others, your past, or your own thoughts that has been hard to shake? How has that label affected the way you see yourself?

2. Moses asked, “Who am I?” when God called him. Where do you currently feel unqualified, disqualified, or unsure of your place in God’s purpose?

3. What is the difference between something that happened to you and the identity you have formed from it? Can you identify a lie you may have believed because of a painful experience?

4. God answered Moses’ insecurity with, “I will be with you.” How does God’s presence change the way we understand our identity, calling, and limitations?

5. Whose voice has had the most authority in shaping how you see yourself: your past, other people, your own thoughts, or God? What would it look like this week to let God’s voice become louder?

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THE CHURCH AS A FORCE FOR TRANSFORMATION
Desert, Community, Project | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 28, 2026

What if the church was known less for what it opposed and more for who it loved? In the final message of our series, Desert, Community, Project, we'll explore God's vision for the church as a force for transformation in the world. Jesus called His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world—not spectators, but difference-makers. We'll look at how ordinary people can become the soul of their community, why discipleship matters more than religious consumption, and what it means to join God in His work of healing, restoring, and renewing the world around us. If you've ever wondered what the church is supposed to be—or what your part in God's mission might look like—this message is for you. Join us this Sunday as we discover what happens when a church becomes deeply rooted in its community and impossible to explain apart from Jesus.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The message opened with the story of a woman who turned her canceled wedding banquet into a celebration for the homeless. What stood out to you most about that story? How does it reflect God's heart for people?

2. Keith said, "We often become grace consumers rather than grace dispensers." What is the difference? In what ways are Christians tempted to focus on what the church can do for them rather than what God wants to do through them?

3. Discuss the phrase: "Christians are to the world what the soul is to the body." What do you think it means for believers to be "the soul of the community"?

4. Read John 17:15. Why is it often easier to withdraw from the world than engage it? What are some practical ways Christians can be "in the world but not of the world"?

5. Read Matthew 5:13-16. What does it mean to be salt and light in today's culture? Which image speaks more powerfully to you personally—salt or light? Why?

6. The message emphasized that the gospel is not only a proclamation but also a demonstration. How have you seen acts of compassion open doors for spiritual conversations?

7. Keith suggested that people often need several "positive bumps" with Christians before becoming open to faith. Who has provided those positive bumps in your life? How might you become one for someone else?

8. Discuss this statement: "The good stuff leads people to the God stuff." Do you agree? Why or why not?

9. Keith summarized the series this way:
   Be with Jesus
   Become like Jesus
   Do what Jesus did
   Which of those three resonates most strongly with you right now? Why?

10. What would it look like for Springcreek to become known as "the soul of the community"? What are some practical ways we can live out that vision together?

11. The message challenged us to ask, "What can I do to help?" Who might God be bringing into your life right now that needs encouragement, compassion, practical assistance, or friendship?

Closing Challenge

This week, look for one opportunity to be salt and light in a practical way. It may be a conversation, an act of service, a gift of generosity, or simply paying attention to someone who feels unseen. Come prepared next week to share what happened.

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PREPARING FOR WHAT’S NEXT
Desert, Community, Project | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 21, 2026

Have you ever had a dream that seemed to slip through your fingers?

Maybe it was a calling, a relationship, a ministry, a career, or simply the life you thought you would have by now. What do you do when the dream is delayed? When the road is filled with detours, disappointments, opposition, and unanswered questions?

This Sunday, we'll look at the life of Joseph and discover how God prepares us for what comes next. What if the setbacks you're experiencing aren't obstacles to God's plan—but part of God's preparation for it?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith said, "The greatest reward for our service is not what I get from it but what I become by it." What do you think he means by that? Have you ever experienced service changing you as much as it helped someone else?

2. The dream of Springcreek Church began when Pastor Keith realized his Venezuelan friends felt more welcomed by him than by the church he attended. Have you ever had an experience that changed the way you saw people, church, or ministry?

3. Joseph received a dream from God when he was young, but he was not yet ready for it. Why do you think God often gives us a vision of the future before He fully prepares us for it?

4. Which of the six "enemies that stalk our dreams" resonated most with you?
   • Our own immaturity or lack of wisdom
   • Opposition from others
   • Unexpected detours
   • Attractive counterfeits
   • Entanglement with other people's dreams
   • Getting ahead of God
   Why did that particular enemy stand out to you?

5. The message emphasized that "God doesn't remove the dream; He refines the dreamer." Looking back over your life, can you identify ways God used delays, disappointments, or setbacks to shape your character?

6. Have you ever experienced what seemed like a detour in life that later turned out to be part of God's preparation? Share your story.

7. Joseph's life reminds us that God is often doing something in us before He does something through us. How does that challenge the way we usually think about success and achievement?

8. Pastor Keith said, "A large church can be built around charisma. A successful church can be built around strategy. But a transformational church has to be built around formation." What do you think distinguishes a transformational church from a merely successful church?

9. Joseph eventually realized that his dream was never really about him—it was about "the saving of many lives." How can we tell when our dreams have become more about ourselves than about God's purposes?

10. The message ended by highlighting ways God has used Springcreek to impact people locally and globally. What examples have you personally seen of God working through this church to transform lives?

11. As we prepare for next week's message, what do you believe God may want to do in and through Springcreek in the years ahead? What role might God be calling you to play in that future?

12. Joseph never let go of God, even when he didn't understand what God was doing. Is there an area of your life right now where you need to trust God's process rather than demand immediate answers? How can the group pray for you?

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WHEN GOD CALLS YOU BEYOND YOURSELF
Desert, Community, Project | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 14, 2026

What do you do when God asks you to do something that feels impossible? The disciples faced a hungry crowd of thousands with only five loaves and two fish. Their first response was the same as ours: "We don't have enough." But what if the greatest obstacle isn't a lack of resources? What if it's forgetting who we're with? This Sunday, we'll explore one of Jesus' most famous miracles and discover a life-changing truth: God never intended for us to be the source—only the distributors of what He places in our hands.

Join us for Part 3 of our series, Desert. Community. Project.
"WHEN GOD CALLS YOU BEYOND YOURSELF"

In-person and online at Springcreek Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Icebreaker

Tell about a time when you were asked to do something that felt completely beyond your ability, resources, or experience. How did you respond?

Digging Into the Message

Read Mark 6:30-44. Why do you think Jesus first called His disciples to a solitary place before involving them in ministry to the crowd?

Pastor Keith described the desert as a place of: Separation | Preparation | Revelation
Which of those purposes resonates most with your current season of life? Why?

Henri Nouwen suggests that solitude reveals things we've been avoiding. What are some common distractions people use to avoid facing themselves or God?

Jesus looked at a crowd of hungry people and felt compassion. What is the difference between sympathy, pity, and genuine compassion?

The disciples saw a problem. Jesus saw an opportunity. When you face a challenge, are you more likely to focus on what you don't have or on what God might do through what you
do have?

Top-Down or Bottom-Up? The message contrasted "bottom-up" thinking with "top-down" thinking. What is the difference? Can you think of an example from your own life where you've approached a situation from each perspective? Why do you think it is so easy to forget what God has done in the past when we encounter a new challenge?

What "five loaves and two fish" has God already placed in your hands that you may
be overlooking?

Living the Sacred Rhythm

One of the key ideas from the message was:
"The disciples were never the source."
How does that truth challenge the pressure many Christians feel to produce results?

The miracle happened as the disciples kept returning to Jesus for more. What does daily dependence on Christ look like in practical terms?

Which part of the rhythm needs the most attention in your life right now?

Desert (being with God)
Community (walking with others)
Project (serving others)

What is one concrete step you can take this week?

Closing Reflection

Read this statement aloud:
"Their responsibility was not to manufacture the miracle. Their responsibility was to stay close to the One who could."

Spend a few moments discussing:
Where do you feel pressure to "manufacture" results?
What would it look like to trust Jesus deeply in that area?

Prayer

Pray for one another, asking God to: Draw you deeper into the desert place of communion
with Him.

Strengthen your relationships in Christian community.
Show you where He is calling you to participate in His work.
Give you faith to trust Him with the impossible.

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LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE CHRIST
Desert, Community, Project | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 7, 2026

Most of us want our lives to matter. We want to make a difference. We want to leave a mark on the world. But what if the path to significance isn't found in becoming more important? What if it's found in becoming less? In Part 2 of our series, Desert, Community, Project, we'll explore one of the most counter-cultural truths Jesus ever taught: greatness is found in service. Through the lives of John the Baptist, Jesus, and others who learned to put God's purposes ahead of their own, we'll discover why true service transforms not only the world around us—it transforms us as well.

Join us this Sunday as we learn what it means to pray:
"More of You. Less of me."

Icebreaker

What is one daily habit or rhythm in your life that has had a significant impact on who you are today?

Digging Into the Message

Pastor Keith defined spiritual transformation as: "God lovingly changing our thoughts, feelings, and actions to resemble
Jesus, in community, for the good of the world." Which part of that definition stands out most to you and why?
The message emphasized that spiritual transformation affects the whole person—mind, heart, and will. Which of those areas do you think God is most actively working on in your life right now?

Have you ever known someone who was strong in biblical knowledge, spiritual experiences, or religious activity, but lacked balance in the other areas? What can we learn from that?

Romans 8 describes Jesus as the pattern for our lives. When you think about becoming more like Jesus, what characteristic of His life do you most want to see developed in yourself?

Desert (Love God)

Jesus regularly withdrew to spend time alone with the Father. What currently helps you connect with God? What tends to distract you?

The message challenged us to practice "digital discipline." What role does technology play in helping or hindering your relationship with God?

Which spiritual discipline (prayer, solitude, fasting, worship, Scripture reading, etc.) would most strengthen your walk with God if practiced more consistently?

Community (Love One Another)

Why do you think God designed spiritual growth to happen in community rather than isolation?

The message contrasted the Communion Table with the coffee bar. In what ways can we sometimes approach church more like consumers than participants?

How has someone in the church helped shape your spiritual growth?

What would it look like for our group to become a more diverse, welcoming, and gospel-centered community?

Project (Love Your Neighbor)

Pastor Keith said, "Love is not love until it is given away." Where do you currently have opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love through service?

Who is someone in your life right now who may need to experience God's love through your words, encouragement, or practical help?

Tony Campolo's story reminds us that small acts of love matter. What is one simple act of kindness or service you could offer this week?

Application

Of the three rhythms—Desert, Community, or Project—which is strongest in your life right now? Which needs the most attention?

What is one specific step you will take this week to better align your life with the rhythm of Jesus?

Closing Prayer

Pray that God would make each member of the group more like Christ through time with God, authentic community, and loving service to others. Ask God to help you become "His suit of clothes" in the world this week.

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THE SACRED RHYTHM OF JESUS
Desert, Community, Project | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 31, 2026

What if the key to a transformed life isn't trying harder—but living differently? Jesus lived according to a sacred rhythm: time alone with God, life-giving community, and meaningful service to others. Yet many of us live that rhythm backwards, leaving us exhausted, distracted, and spiritually depleted. This Sunday, Pastor Keith Stewart begins a brand-new series, The Sacred Rhythm of Jesus. Discover how God transforms ordinary people into world-changing followers of Christ through a pattern as old as the Gospel itself: Desert. Community. Project. Join us this Sunday at Springcreek Church—online or in person—and learn how arranging your life around the way of Jesus can change everything.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Icebreaker

What is one daily habit or rhythm in your life that has had a significant impact on who you are today?

Digging Into the Message

Pastor Keith defined spiritual transformation as: "God lovingly changing our thoughts, feelings, and actions to resemble Jesus, in community, for the good of the world." Which part of that definition stands out most to you and why?
The message emphasized that spiritual transformation affects the whole person—mind, heart, and will. Which of those areas do you think God is most actively working on in your life right now?

Have you ever known someone who was strong in biblical knowledge, spiritual experiences, or religious activity, but lacked balance in the other areas? What can we learn from that?

Romans 8 describes Jesus as the pattern for our lives. When you think about becoming more like Jesus, what characteristic of His life do you most want to see developed in yourself?

Desert (Love God)

Jesus regularly withdrew to spend time alone with the Father. What currently helps you connect with God? What tends to distract you?

The message challenged us to practice "digital discipline." What role does technology play in helping or hindering your relationship with God?

Which spiritual discipline (prayer, solitude, fasting, worship, Scripture reading, etc.) would most strengthen your walk with God if practiced more consistently?

Community (Love One Another)

Why do you think God designed spiritual growth to happen in community rather than isolation?

The message contrasted the Communion Table with the coffee bar. In what ways can we sometimes approach church more like consumers than participants?

How has someone in the church helped shape your spiritual growth?

What would it look like for our group to become a more diverse, welcoming, and gospel-centered community?

Project (Love Your Neighbor)

Pastor Keith said, "Love is not love until it is given away." Where do you currently have opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love through service?

Who is someone in your life right now who may need to experience God's love through your words, encouragement, or practical help?

Tony Campolo's story reminds us that small acts of love matter. What is one simple act of kindness or service you could offer this week?

Application

Of the three rhythms—Desert, Community, or Project—which is strongest in your life right now? Which needs the most attention?

What is one specific step you will take this week to better align your life with the rhythm of Jesus?

Closing Prayer

Pray that God would make each member of the group more like Christ through time with God, authentic community, and loving service to others. Ask God to help you become "His suit of clothes" in the world this week.

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Got Baggage? | Letting It Go | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 24, 2026

What do you do with the pain that remains after someone has hurt you deeply?
How do you let go of bitterness when the memories still ache? This Sunday, Pastor Keith Stewart concludes the “Got Baggage?” series with a powerful message called LETTING IT GO. Through unforgettable true stories and the example of Jesus Himself, we’ll explore how forgiveness can free us from the weight of anger, resentment, and unresolved pain. You don’t have to keep carrying yesterday into tomorrow. Join us this Sunday in person or online.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What part of this message impacted you the most personally and why?

2. Pastor Keith said, “Forgiveness does not erase scars, but it can transform what the scars produce.” What do you think that means in real life?

3. Kim Phúc carried bitterness and anger for years after the trauma she experienced. Why do you think pain so easily turns into resentment if left unresolved?

4. The message described anger as a form of protection and control: “When you’re hurt, you feel vulnerable. When you’re angry, you feel invulnerable.” How have you seen anger mask deeper hurts, fears, or disappointments in your own life?

5. Which unhealthy approach to pain do you most relate to?
   • Manager
   • Firefighter
   • Stuffer
   How has that coping mechanism affected your relationships or emotional health?

6. Discuss this statement: “There’s a difference between rehearsing your hurt and releasing your hurt.” Why do people sometimes become attached to their pain stories?

7. Why is it difficult to bring emotional wounds honestly before God instead of merely talking about them with other people?

8. The sermon emphasized that Jesus often forgave people before they ever asked for forgiveness. How does that challenge or reshape your understanding of grace?

9. Read Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” What stands out to you most about Jesus’ response from the cross?

10. Pastor Keith said: “God’s forgiveness ALWAYS precedes our repentance. His compassion ALWAYS outruns our contrition.” How have you personally experienced God taking the first step toward you?

11. Is there someone in your life you still need to release to God? Without sharing unnecessary details, what makes forgiveness difficult in that situation?

12. Kim described bitterness like “black sludge” that had to be poured out “day by day and a bit at a time.” Why is forgiveness often more of a process than a single moment? What practical step could you take this week toward healing, forgiveness, or emotional honesty with God?

13. Close your time together by praying specifically for: healing from unresolved wounds, courage to face buried pain, freedom from bitterness, and the ability to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.

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BLESSED ASSURANCE
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
May 17, 2026

"Blessed Assurance" turns the mirror of forgiveness inward, reminding us that while we've spent weeks learning to forgive others and set healthy boundaries, the one name we cannot leave off the forgiveness list is our own. Drawing from Fanny Crosby's 1873 hymn and the bedrock truth of Romans 8:1 — "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" — this message confronts the lie that grace must be earned through suffering. Many of us have built a prison from the inside and lost the key on purpose, holding ourselves to a standard we'd never apply to anyone else, mistaking guilt for godliness and chains for conviction.

But the gospel declares a different verdict. God's mercy doesn't wait for us to finish punishing ourselves — it meets us, like David in Psalm 51, broken and empty-handed at the mercy seat. Whether the weight you carry is one you placed on yourself (unmet expectations, regret, comparison) or one others placed on you (wounding words, betrayal, abuse, spiritual harm), Jesus has already absorbed the sentence. The "now" of Romans 8:1 is not tomorrow, not when you feel worthy — it's now. Blessed Assurance isn't a hope-so salvation; it's a know-so salvation. And God isn't done writing your story yet.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The message reminded us, "We hold ourselves to a standard we would never apply to another human being." Where in your life do you find yourself extending grace to others but withholding it from yourself? What do you think is underneath that?

2. Romans 8:1 says there is now no condemnation. Why do you think the word "now" is so hard for many of us to actually receive? What would change in your daily life if you truly believed the verdict has already been declared in your favor?

3. The sermon described two categories of weight — the weight we put on ourselves and the weight others have put on us. Which one do you carry more of, and can you name a specific voice, memory, or moment that still echoes in your head today?

4. The story of being called "a mere drummer" showed how one word can shape years of decisions and self-perception. What words have been spoken over you that you've allowed to become your identity? What would it look like to give those words back?

5. "Enough is enough comes when you stop negotiating with what's killing you." What is the one thing — a regret, a shame, a chain — that you sense God is inviting you to lay down today? What's keeping you from walking through the door He's already opened?

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GOT BAGGAGE?
When People Keep Hurting You | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 10, 2026

Few things are more difficult than forgiving someone for the same hurt twice. You thought the matter was settled. You prayed through it. You chose grace. You started putting the pieces of your heart back together. Then it happened again. Repeated wounds don’t just cause pain—they weaken trust, exhaust the soul and make us question whether reconciliation is even possible. So what does God say when forgiveness becomes a cycle instead of a single moment? This Sunday, we’ll talk honestly about repeated hurt, difficult relationships and the kind of forgiveness that seems almost impossible.

1. What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Why is that distinction so important?

2. The message distinguished between a “mistake” and a “pattern.” Why is recognizing patterns important in relationships?

3. Have you ever experienced any part of the “cycle of abuse” described in the message (tension, explosion, honeymoon, repetition)? What made it difficult to recognize or address?

4. Why do you think Christians sometimes struggle with setting healthy boundaries?

5. Which unhealthy responses do people most often use with difficult people?
   • Reasoning with the unreasonable
   • Excusing destructive behavior
   • Cajoling and threatening
   • Reacting and retaliating
   Which one do you tend toward personally?

6. Why can boundaries actually be an expression of love rather than rejection?

7. Pastor Keith shared how Brenda’s boundary became a turning point toward healing and growth. What does that teach us about truth, consequences, and change?

8. What does it practically look like to: forgive someone, release bitterness, and still wisely protect your heart?

9. Is there a relationship in your life where God may be asking you to establish healthier boundaries?

Close by praying for:
wisdom,
courage,
healing from past wounds,
and the grace to forgive without enabling destructive behavior.

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GOT BAGGAGE?
The Lies That Keep You Stuck | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 3, 2026

What if the very thing keeping you stuck isn’t your past—but what you believe about it? This Sunday, we’re tackling the lies that make forgiveness feel impossible: that it excuses wrong, erases consequences, or forces you back into unhealthy relationships. The truth is far more freeing—and far more powerful. If you’ve ever struggled to let go, move forward, or make sense of the hurt you carry, this message is for you. Join us in person or online for Got Baggage? – Part 2: The Lies That Keep You Stuck.

Discussion Questions

OBSERVATION (Understanding the Text/Message)

Opening (Engagement)

When you hear the word “forgiveness,” what is your immediate reaction—and why?

Which of the myths discussed in the message do you think is most commonly believed in today’s culture?

Scripture & Understanding
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph clearly names the wrong done to him. Why is it important that forgiveness does not deny the seriousness of sin?

How does Galatians 6:7 help clarify the difference between forgiveness and consequences?

In the parable from Luke 15, what was the older brother afraid of—and how does that reflect our own hesitation to forgive?

Reflection (Personal Application)

Which myth about forgiveness have you personally struggled with most?

Have you ever confused forgiveness with one of the following: minimizing, excusing, reconciling, or forgetting? What happened as a result?

Is there a situation in your life where you’ve withheld forgiveness because you feared it would let someone “off the hook”?

Reconciliation & Boundaries

The message states: “Forgiveness depends on me; reconciliation depends on us.”
Where have you seen that distinction play out in real life?

Why is repentance, restitution, and rehabilitation necessary for reconciliation—but not for forgiveness?

Have you ever felt pressure (internal or external) to reconcile when it wasn’t wise or safe? How did you respond?

Deeper Work

The message described three levels of confession:
“I’m sorry I was caught”
“I’m sorry I was wrong”
“I’m sorry for what I caused”
Why is the third level so critical for rebuilding trust?

What does it practically look like to “not weaponize the past” in a relationship?

Closing (Action Step)

Is there someone you need to forgive right now? What is one concrete step you can take this week toward releasing that burden?

If you’re not ready to forgive, what would it look like to begin praying, “Lord, make me willing to be willing”?

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GOT BAGGAGE?
The Weight of The Past | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 26, 2026

We all carry baggage—but some of it is heavier than we realize. In “The Weight of the Past,” we’ll confront how unresolved hurt quietly shapes our lives—physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Left unaddressed, it doesn’t stay behind us—it takes control of us. But there is a way forward. Join us this Sunday as we begin the journey of identifying what we’re carrying and taking the first step toward the freedom God intends for us.

Discussion Questions

OBSERVATION (Understanding the Text/Message)

1. What stood out to you most from this message? Why do you think it resonated?

2. How does the message describe the impact of unresolved hurt across the five areas: physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and psychological?

3. According to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18, why is forgiveness not about setting limits but removing them altogether?

INTERPRETATION (Digging Deeper)

1. The message suggests that “bitterness always remembers details.” Why do you think painful memories tend to replay more than positive ones?

2. What does it mean that resentment can “bind you” to the person who hurt you? Have you seen that dynamic play out in real life?

3. The distinction between “this happened to me” vs. “this moved through me” is significant. How does each perspective shape a person’s identity and future?

REFLECTION (Personal Application)
7. Is there a situation or person that came to mind during the message that you may need to forgive? What makes that difficult?

1. In what ways might holding onto a hurt be affecting your life right now (stress, relationships, outlook, spiritual life)?

2. Do you tend to define yourself more by your wounds or by what God has done for you? Why?

APPLICATION (Next Steps)

1. What is one practical step you can take this week toward releasing a past hurt (prayer, conversation, reframing your thinking, seeking counsel)?

2. The prayer “Lord, make me willing to be willing” was suggested—how might that become a starting point for you?

3. How can this group support one another in moving toward forgiveness and freedom in the weeks ahead?

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WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
Sunday, April 19, 2026

Navigating seasons when prayers feel unanswered can test even the strongest faith. What do you do when heaven feels quiet and nothing seems to change? In the book of Habakkuk, a prophet wrestles honestly with God over injustice, confusion, and delay. Yet in the middle of his questions comes a defining truth: “The righteous will live by faith.” This message explores how God’s silence is not indifference, but an invitation to deeper trust—forming a faith that can worship even when circumstances remain uncertain.

1. Seasons of silence can feel disorienting and deeply personal, often surfacing emotions we don’t always express. When have you experienced a season where God felt silent? What emotions did you wrestle with during that time?

2. Habakkuk models honest faith—he brings his real questions to God instead of hiding them. Why do you think it’s sometimes hard for believers to be honest with God about their doubts or frustrations?

3. God answered Habakkuk, but His answer was unexpected and even uncomfortable. Can you think of a time when God’s answer looked different than what you prayed for? How did you respond?

4. Living by faith often means trusting God’s character when we don’t have clarity about our circumstances. What does it look like in a practical, everyday way to live by faith when you don’t have answers?

5. Habakkuk’s journey ends not with changed circumstances, but with a changed perspective—choosing joy in God regardless. What would it look like for you to practice “yet” faith in your current situation this week?

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THE VALUE OF LETTING GO
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
April 12, 2026

In “The Value in Letting Go,” Pastor Jerrid walks us through one of the most honest questions we rarely stop to ask ourselves: Can I let it go? Using the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18, this message unpacks not just what we hold on to — our outcomes, our identities, our hurt, and even the versions of ourselves that existed before loss reshaped us — but more importantly, why we hold on: because it’s familiar, because we don’t fully trust God with the outcome, because letting go feels like losing, and because many of us were simply never taught how. The message introduces the theology of an open hand — the idea that a closed fist, no matter how tightly gripped, exhausts us, blocks us from receiving anything new, and ultimately reveals a trust issue dressed up as a survival instinct. Through the Identity Test — “God is not good because of what He does; God is good because of who He is” — and the concept of the broken wanter, we are challenged to examine the hidden accounts we’ve been making deposits into for years: unforgiveness, control, idolatry, and pain. Like the rich young ruler who came running with the right question and walked away sad because he couldn’t open his hand, we are each standing at a crossroads. The invitation of this message is simple and costly at the same time: open your hands, release what you were never meant to carry, and trust that what God places in open hands will always be worth what you released.

Discussion Questions

• What is the thing you walked in carrying today — the burden that was there before you even
pulled into the parking lot? Have you named it yet?

• Is your grip on it rooted in Spirit-led perseverance or fear-driven holding on? What’s the
difference in your own life, and how do you tell which one is which?

• What does your “broken wanter” look like? What account have you been making deposits into —
unforgiveness, control, pain, or something else?

• The rich young ruler called Jesus “good” but couldn’t act on it when it cost him something. Where
is the gap between what you confess on Sunday and what you actually trust God with on
Monday?

• If God is good not because of what He does but because of who He is — does that change?

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SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
FROM DISAPPOINTMENT TO DISCOVERY | PART 7
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 5, 2026

Easter doesn’t begin with celebration—it begins with disappointment. Two followers of Jesus walked away from His grave convinced the story was over, their hopes shattered and their future uncertain. But what they didn’t realize was that Jesus was walking with them the entire time. In the same way, God meets us in our confusion, speaks into our pain, and reveals Himself when we least expect it. Because Easter reminds us that God does His greatest work on the day we think it’s over.

Discussion Questions

A. Observation (What does the text say?)

In Luke 24, what emotions and assumptions are driving the two disciples as they walk to Emmaus?

What are the specific ways Jesus engages with them before revealing His identity?

According to the passage, when do the disciples finally recognize Jesus—and why might that moment matter?

What changes immediately in the disciples after they recognize Him?

B. Interpretation (What does it mean?)

Why do you think the disciples were unable to recognize Jesus at first?

What does this story teach us about the relationship between Scripture and understanding Jesus?

How does the idea of the “third day” pattern help us interpret the resurrection?

What is the difference between hoping for something and putting hope in someone?

C. Reflection (Where does this meet your life?)

Can you identify a time when life didn’t turn out the way you planned? How did it affect your faith?

Where in your life right now do you feel like “it’s over”?

Have you ever sensed that God was present with you only after the fact—not in the moment?

What keeps you from recognizing God’s presence in difficult seasons?

D. Application (What needs to change?)

What would it look like for you to “invite Jesus to stay” in a practical, daily sense?

Is there something you need to open up about (to God or others) in order to move forward?

How can you shift your hope from circumstances to the character of God?

Who is someone in your life that needs to hear the hope of Easter—and how can you share it?

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SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
THE DAY THE TEMPLE SHOOK | PART 6
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 29, 2026

This weekend at Springcreek Church, we’re looking at one of the most powerful moments in history—when the earth shook and the temple curtain tore in two. What if the cross you’ve always heard about is more than a symbol… What if it’s an invitation? An invitation not to try harder, but to stop striving. Not to earn your way to God, but to discover that the way has already been opened. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re enough—or if you’ve been carrying a weight you were never meant to carry—this message is for you. Join us in person or online for “The Day the Temple Shook.”

Opening / Icebreaker

When you hear the phrase “It is finished,” what does that mean to you personally?

Have you ever felt like you had to “earn” someone’s approval or acceptance? What was that like?

Observation (What does the text say?)

In 1 Corinthians 1:23, why does Paul say the cross is a “stumbling block” and “foolishness”? What specifically made it offensive in Jesus’ day?
Looking at the people surrounding the cross (Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, the Centurion, the women, Joseph of Arimathea), what stands out to you about who is included in the story?

According to Matthew 27:51, what happened at the moment Jesus died, and why is the order (veil torn before the earthquake) significant?

Interpretation (What does it mean?)

Why is the true suffering of the cross deeper than just the physical suffering Jesus endured?

What does “tetelestai” (“It is finished” / “Paid in full”) reveal about how salvation works?

What messages are communicated by the tearing of the temple veil?
(Think: what ended and what began.)

Which person at the cross do you most identify with right now—and why?

Application (What does it mean for me?)

In what ways do people today still try to “earn this” with God? Where do you see that in your own life?

The message described living with a sense of “not enough.” Where does that show up in your thinking or behavior?

What would it look like for you to start “living like the truth is true”—that Christ’s work is enough?

Is there an area of your life where you still feel like there’s a barrier between you and God? What is it?

Response (What will I do about it?)

The torn veil represents open access to God. What is one practical way you can step into that access this week?

What burden do you need to lay down because of the cross?

How would your daily life change if you truly believed you are fully loved, forgiven, and accepted in Christ?

Closing Prayer Prompt

Thank God for what Christ has finished on your behalf.

Confess any ways you’ve been trying to “earn” what has already been given.

Ask God to help you live in the freedom and access He has opened through the cross.

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SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
THE TABLE IS SET FOR YOU | PART 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 22, 2026

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took an ordinary Passover meal and transformed it into a sacred invitation to remember Him, receive His grace, and be renewed by His presence. In this message, we will explore the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, how it fulfills the deeper purpose of Passover, and why communion is not reserved for the perfect but offered to the broken, needy, and undeserving. Together, we’ll see that this table is where Christ meets His people with mercy, restores their identity, and calls them into a life that is taken, blessed, broken, and given for others.

1. What part of this message most changed or deepened your understanding of the Lord’s Supper?

2. The sermon says communion is “not a magical rite” and “not merely a nostalgic ceremony.” What do you think those two errors look like in real life, and how should we think about communion instead?

3. In what sense did Passover form Israel’s identity as a delivered people? How does communion form the church’s identity as a redeemed people?

4. The message emphasizes that remembering in Scripture is more than mental recollection. How should communion actively shape the way we live, think, and respond to life?

5. Why is it significant that the first Lord’s Supper was surrounded by betrayal? What does that teach us about who this meal is for?

6. Have you ever felt unworthy to come to the table? How does the statement, “Communion is for the undeserving,” challenge or comfort you?

7. Which part of the pattern taken, blessed, broken, given most describes your present season of life? Why?

8. What would it look like this week for your life to become “bread for the world” — something God uses to nourish, strengthen, or bless others?

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Seven Days That Changed The World
The Anatomy of Betrayal | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 15, 2026

Judas is one of the most infamous figures in history, but what if his story is closer to ours than we’d like to admit? This Sunday, Pastor Keith Stewart looks at the betrayal of Jesus, the crushing power of shame, and the difference between despair and redemption. Whether you attend in person or listen online, this message will challenge you to face your own heart honestly and find hope in the grace of Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. What part of Judas’ story in this message challenged your assumptions about him the most? Why do you think people are so quick to turn Judas into a caricature instead of seeing him as a warning about the human heart?

2. Pastor Keith says, “There is a Judas root in every human heart.” What does that mean to you personally?

3. Why is it important to recognize that the other disciples trusted Judas and did not suspect him? In what ways can broken trust affect marriages, friendships, churches, or families?

4. The sermon says shame is about a perceived loss of place in a relationship. How have you seen shame make people hide from God or from others?

5. Which distortion of shame stood out to you most: “There is never a way back,” “My sin is too great,” or “I have to atone for my sins”? Why?

6. What do you think is the biggest difference between Peter and Judas, since both failed Jesus so seriously?

7. How does the contrast between the “tree of despair” and the “tree of hope” help you understand the gospel more deeply?

8. What is one area of failure, regret, or shame where you need to stop punishing yourself and receive the grace of Christ?

9. Pastor Keith shares that God has used some of his deepest failures as part of his ministry to others. How can God redeem our failures rather than waste them?

10. What would it look like this week to bring something out of the dark and into the light before God?

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SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 08, 2026

With everything that’s happening in the Middle East right now, we’re getting a lot of questions about end times prophecy. People are concerned is this the beginning of the end? Maybe it’s coincidence or God’s design, but day three of the seven days that changed the world is centered around the Olivet Discourse. This is the second longest sermon of Jesus and it’s the most extensive teaching He does around prophecy. If there’s ever been a time when we need to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn, it’s now. Christ speaks clearly about things that are coming but also clarifies what He wants us to do.

Discussion Questions

Warm-up

When you hear “end times” teaching, what emotions tend to surface for you (curiosity, fear, skepticism, urgency, confusion)? Why?

Scripture understanding

Read Mark 13:1–4. What prompts Jesus’ teaching, and what does that tell you about what the disciples valued versus what Jesus wanted them to see?
The message used the “now and not yet” (bifocal) framework. Where do you see “near” and “far” elements in Mark 13? What difference does this make in how you read the passage?

Read Mark 13:7–8 and Mark 13:32. What do these verses correct in us when we’re tempted toward speculation or anxiety?

Discernment and discipleship

The sermon argued that prophecy is best understood through Scripture and history—not by scanning today’s headlines. What are some modern “headline-driven” habits Christians can fall into? How can we practice healthier discernment?

Discuss this line: “Christian discipleship is a call to persevering gospel-centered faithfulness, not fascination with end-times speculation.” What would it look like to live that out practically this week?

Mission and application

Read Matthew 24:14. According to Jesus, what is the church’s responsibility “in the in-between time”? How does that shift your view of the future?

The message said: “When the world runs out of hope, that’s when Christians run in.” Where is God inviting our group (or our church) to “run in” right now—locally or globally?

In suffering, people often ask: “Where is God?” The sermon suggested a different set of questions (“Where’s the opportunity? Who can I help?”). Which of those questions do you most need to practice, and what is one concrete action step?

Prayer focus

Spend time praying in three directions:
Upward: expectancy and trust in Christ’s return
Inward: perseverance, alertness, and freedom from fear
Outward: boldness and compassion to share the gospel and serve others

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Seven Days That Changed The World
The Day The Tables Turned | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 1, 2026

This Sunday we’re continuing our series, Seven Days that Changed the World, with a message called “The Day the Tables Turned.” We’ll look at the moment Jesus entered the temple and made room again for prayer, healing, and people who felt pushed to the margins. It’s a story that reveals God’s heart for outsiders, the vulnerable, and anyone trying to find their way back to Him. If you’ve ever felt disillusioned by religion—or simply hungry for something real—come join us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Starter questions:

What line, image, or moment from the message stayed with you the most—and why?

When you hear “Jesus cleansed the temple,” what was your “Sunday School” understanding of that story before today?

In what ways do people today (inside or outside the church) get disillusioned by “religion”?

Scripture and meaning:

Read Matthew 21:12–14. What stands out to you about what Jesus does and what happens immediately afterward (the blind and the lame coming to Him)?

The sermon emphasized two targets of Jesus’ anger: outsiders being squeezed out and the poor being exploited. Which of those feels most challenging for you to sit with—and why?

Heart-level application:

1 Peter 4:17 says judgment begins with God’s household. What’s the difference between punitive judgment and corrective/refining judgment—and why does that matter for how we respond to conviction?

“Jesus’ anger cleared the space; His compassion filled it.” Where do you need Jesus to clear space in your life right now (attitudes, habits, resentments, prejudices, distractions)?

The sermon said one of the worst sins is becoming an impediment to someone moving toward God. Practically speaking, what are common “roadblocks” Christians put in front of seekers today (words, assumptions, politics, tone, hypocrisy, etc.)?

Think of a person in your life who may be “pivoting” toward God. What would it look like for you to make their next step easier, not harder?

Jesus defended the vulnerable and confronted exploitation. What are modern parallels where people are profiting by taking advantage of the poor or desperate—and how should Christians respond without becoming self-righteous?

Closing practice:

Invite the group to silently ask: “Jesus, what table do You want to turn over to me?”

Then pray for two things: a more welcoming heart toward outsiders and a more compassionate posture toward the vulnerable.

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Seven Days That Changed The World
The Donkey, The Cross, And The Crowd | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 22, 2026

On Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted “Hosanna,” waved palm branches, and welcomed Jesus as King. But they wanted a conqueror with a hammer—not a Savior riding a donkey. What they celebrated on Sunday, they rejected by Friday because Jesus refused to meet their expectations. He did not come to overthrow Rome; He came to overthrow sin. The question remains for us: will we follow the King we want—or the Lamb who came to save?

Discussion Questions

1. Observation: Seeing What the Text Reveals

Why do you think all four Gospel writers included the Triumphal Entry? What does that tell us about its importance? What different biblical connections to the donkey did you notice (Zechariah, Abraham and Isaac, Solomon)? What do those layers communicate about Jesus?

What political expectations were present in Jerusalem during Passover? How did palm branches, cloaks, and the word “Hosanna” reflect those expectations?

1. Interpretation: Understanding the Meaning

What message was Jesus intentionally sending by riding a donkey instead of a war horse? How does that redefine power?

The crowd welcomed Jesus as King but rejected Him as Savior. What is the difference between enthusiasm and genuine faith?

1. Personal Reflection: Examining the Heart

In what ways do people today (including Christians) project their own expectations onto Jesus?

Where are you most tempted to want “Air Force One Jesus” instead of “Donkey Jesus”?

The crowd wanted deliverance from Rome; Jesus came to deal with sin. What problems in your life feel urgent but may not be the root issue?

Jesus entered Jerusalem on Lamb Selection Day. If He stood before you today asking for your allegiance, what would it mean practically to choose the Lamb instead of the hammer?

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THE DANGER OF DISTRACTIONS
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
February 15, 2026

Distraction is not merely a "productivity problem"; it is a spiritual scavenger that fragments the soul and pushes God to the margins of our lives. While "bad" distractions (sin, toxic drama, worldly anxiety) are easy to identify, the more dangerous category is "Good Distractions” responsibilities without margin, success that reshapes priorities, and efficiency without presence. These good things don't compete with our values; they compete with our focus, slowly training us to live self-sufficient lives that leave no room for the Architect.

To reclaim our design for deep attention and divine connection, we must move from "managing chatter" to "doing business with God". This requires establishing a "standing reservation" through spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, and prayer—intentional rhythms that guard what matters most. By tuning out the "noise" of achievement, digital In comparison, and past shame, we can maintain the singular focus of the Apostle Paul, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and the purpose He has called us to fulfill.

Discussion Questions

1. The "Concrete" Test: The sermon suggests that busyness isn't just a full week; it's a way of living that "sets like concrete". In what areas of your life has "being busy" become a foundational habit rather than a temporary season?

2. Good vs. Holy: How do you distinguish between being "faithful" to your responsibilities and being "consumed" by them to the point where there is no margin for God?

3. The Standing Reservation: If God had a "confirmed appointment" to meet you daily, would you stand Him up? Where is the specific, purposeful place in your life where he can consistently expect to meet you?

4. Tuning the Frequency: Which "noise" is currently the loudest in your life: the pressure to produce (Noise of Next), the infinite scroll (Digital Noise), or the echoes of old mistakes (Shame Noise)?

5. Reading the Bat: Like Hank Aaron at the plate, what "labels" or "technicalities" is the enemy whispering to distract you from your main goal?

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THE POWER OF SMALL STEPS
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
February 08, 2026

What would you do if God gave you a task so big it took decades to complete—and no one else understood it? Noah did exactly that. Long before the rain came, he believed God and began building—one ax, one board, one bucket of tar, one small step at a time. This sermon dives into the slow, faithful obedience of Noah, who kept building even when it felt pointless, isolated, and misunderstood.

His story reminds us that radical results are often rooted in repetitive obedience and that there is power in small steps when those steps are taken in faith. When progress is slow or people don’t see what you’re building, keep going—God does His best work through steady, quiet acts of trust.

Discussion Questions

1. Where are you currently tempted to quit because progress feels slow or invisible (prayer, marriage, parenting, ministry, healing, a promise God gave you)? What makes it feel “not worth it” right now?

2. Noah obeyed before he understood. What is one “small step” God has been nudging you toward that you’ve been delaying because you want more clarity first?

3. The sermon said: “Saying yes once isn’t the same as saying yes every day.” What does “daily yes” look like in your real life this week? Be specific (time, habit, boundary, conversation, obedience).
   Noah’s ark wasn’t meant to be steered—only trusted. Where are you trying to install a “steering wheel” in your life (control, timelines, outcomes)? What would it look like to surrender direction to God while still staying faithful?

4. Noah stepped into a new world, and his first response was worship. What would worship look like for you in your current season—not after everything changes, but right now? How can this group support you in that?

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THE LAW OF THE HARVEST
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 01, 2026

Every farmer trusts one simple truth: whatever you plant will grow. God embedded this law into creation itself, a law so reliable that farmers stake their entire livelihood on it. But Scripture teaches that sowing and reaping is far more than an agricultural idea. It’s a spiritual, relational, and practical principle woven into every aspect of life. What you sow into your family, your friendships, your finances, even failures will one day return to you. Join us as we explore how this timeless law can shape your future and transform the results in your daily life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where have you most clearly seen the law of sowing and reaping at work in your own life—positively or negatively?

2. Why do you think it’s sometimes difficult for us to accept responsibility for the consequences of our choices?

3. How does understanding that we “reap in a different season than we sow” change the way you view delayed outcomes in life?

4. In what ways might rescuing others from consequences actually prevent growth—either in parenting, friendships, or leadership?

5. How does viewing money as “seed” rather than possession challenge your approach to generosity?

6. What is one specific seed God may be prompting you to start sowing more intentionally right now?

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EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Disappointment with Myself | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 25, 2026

Many of us carry regret over past decisions, failures, or missed opportunities—and we’re often harder on ourselves than anyone else. In “Disappointment With Myself” (Expectations vs Reality – Part 4), Pastor Keith Stewart explores why our past keeps intruding on our present and how the gospel frees us from shame, false guilt, and self-condemnation. You’ll discover why God is not disappointed in you and how real change begins by accepting God’s acceptance. If you’re ready to stop living under regret and start living from grace, this message is for you.

1. What part of the message felt most “for you” right now, why?

2. Which kind of backward-looking thinking do you struggle with most: woulda (decisions), coulda (failures), or shoulda (expectations)? What does it typically sound like in your head?

3. The message distinguishes examination from rumination. What’s a practical sign that you’ve crossed the line from learning to self-punishing?

4. Where do you most feel false guilt (expectations from others, old “shoulds,” perfectionism)? How can you tell the difference between conviction and condemnation in your own experience?

5. The message says, “God is never disappointed,” because disappointment includes surprise and frustration. How does that idea challenge or heal your view of God? What makes it hard to believe?

6. What does it look like, concretely, to “send your past packing” this week? (One habit, one conversation, one confession, one boundary, one step of repair.)

7. “Seek progress, not perfection.” Where do you need to apply that in your spiritual life, relationships, habits, or recovery?

8. “Before we can become who we will be in Christ, we must accept who we are in Christ.” What’s one identity statement from Scripture you need to rehearse daily right now?

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EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Disappointment with Others | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 18, 2026

Sooner or later, people will disappoint us. Our spouse. Our friends. Our church. Even the people we love most—and the people who love us—will fall short. The question isn’t if disappointment will happen, but what we will do with it when it does. This Sunday we’ll talk about unrealistic expectations in our closest relationships, the power of our inner self-talk, and how discontent can either poison love—or mature it. If you’ve been wounded by someone close, weary from conflict, or tempted to give up on relationships altogether, join us in person or online as we discover a better way forward.

Discussion Questions

1. Where are you most tempted to confuse “disappointment with people” with “disappointment with God”? What helps you remember the difference—especially when the hurt is fresh?

2. “Nobody can live up to all your expectations all the time—and nobody is meant to.” What expectations have you been placing on someone (spouse, friend, church, leader) that might be too heavy or unrealistic?

3. Contentment vs. entitlement: Paul learned to be “satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed” (Phil. 4:11–13). What does “contentment in Christ” look like in your current relationships—and what would change if Christ was your primary source of joy?

4. The message described how blame and resentment grow: obsession → keeping score → replay mode → pride-blindness. Which stage are you most prone to, and what is one practical way you can interrupt that spiral this week?

5. Explanatory style: “always/never,” universalizing, and assuming God is against you can multiply misery. What are your most common “scripts” when you’re disappointed (about others, yourself, or God)? How could you replace one script with something truer?

6. Jesus met John’s disappointment by welcoming questions, affirming the person, and redirecting expectations to truth. Which of those do you need most from God right now—and which one can you offer someone else who is hurting?

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EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Disappointment with Life | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 11, 2026

This Sunday we’re going to talk honestly about the unfairness of life, the pain that shatters our assumptions, and the hope we find when we stop confusing God with our circumstances. Through the story of Job, we’ll confront the shallow answers that often wound the hurting, and we’ll discover the deeper comfort Job found—not in explanations, but in encountering God Himself. If you’re weary, disappointed, or carrying questions you can’t resolve, join us in person or online.

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus told us “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Related to that is Scott Peck’s summation, “Life is difficult.”

What kinds of “trouble” are you facing right now—external circumstances, internal struggles, or relational conflict? How does accepting that reality change the way you interpret hardship—especially when you’re tired, afraid, or disappointed?

1. “Don’t confuse life with God.”

Where have you seen yourself (or others) blame God for what may be “life in a broken world”? What’s the difference between “life is unfair” and “God is unfair”? How do you tell the difference in real time?

1. Job is described as blameless and upright (Job 1:1), yet suffering still came.

What assumptions do we tend to carry that Job’s story challenges? (Examples: “If I do right, nothing bad will happen,” “God owes me protection,” etc.)

1. Job’s friends tried to explain pain with certainty and clichés.

What are some common “Christian phrases” people say that can unintentionally harm someone who’s suffering?

1. Which of Job’s friends do you most relate to at times—and why?

Eliphaz (fear-based explanations)
Bildad (judgment / “holier-than-thou”)
Zophar (shaming to shut people down)
Elihu (talking a lot without real understanding)

God eventually says Job’s friends “have not spoken the truth” about Him (Job 42:7).
What does that teach us about the danger of speaking for God too quickly?

1. Job’s suffering produced unexpected spiritual insight (hope of resurrection, redeemer, advocate). What “gift” has pain left in your life—greater compassion, deeper dependence, clearer priorities, humility, etc.?

2. The message challenges us to be careful with judgment—especially with public failures or tragedies. What does it look like to respond with truth and humility when someone else
   falls or suffers?

Practical next step: Think of someone you know who is hurting. What’s one thing you can do this week to “comfort without explaining”—to be present without preaching?

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EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Disappointment with God | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 4, 2026

Some of the deepest spiritual pain isn’t simply what happens to us—it’s what we thought God would do and didn’t. When expectations collide with reality, disappointment isn’t far behind. This Sunday we’re starting a new series: “Expectation vs. Reality.” We’ll talk honestly about disappointment with God—where it comes from, what it reveals about what we really believe, and how that disappointment can either spiral into discouragement… or become the doorway to deeper faith and healing. If you’re carrying questions, confusion, or a heavy heart—you’re not alone. And you don’t have to pretend.

If you know someone who’s walking through a hard season, feel free to share this with them.”

Discussion Questions

1. Expectations reveal themselves in pain - “Expectations are never apparent until they’re unfulfilled.”

Where in your life right now are unmet expectations creating disappointment—and what might that disappointment be revealing about what you truly believe (about God, yourself, or life)?

1. Stealth expectations - Brené Brown calls them “stealth expectations”—the expectations we don’t even know we have.

What are some “silent contracts” you’ve placed on God or other people (unspoken demands like “You should know,” “This shouldn’t happen,” “I don’t deserve this”)? How have those shaped resentment or shame?

1. The spiral of disappointment - Disappointment can move toward discouragement → disillusionment → depression → defeat.

Where have you seen that progression at work in your own life (or someone close to you)? What are the early warning signs that tell you you’re slipping into that spiral?

1. Sorting cause and blame - The message challenged “blueprint theology” and victim-blaming, and explored the nature of life (broken world), people (sin and freedom), and God (His heart breaks first).

Which of those categories helps you most right now—and which one is hardest for you to accept emotionally?

1. God can handle the truth - The Psalms give us language for honest lament, anger, confusion, and grief—without pretending.

What emotions do you most struggle to bring to God (anger, fear, disappointment, sadness, doubt)? What would it look like this week to pray more like a lament psalm—honest, unfiltered, and trusting?

1. Disorientation as a doorway - Brueggemann’s pattern: orientation → disorientation → reorientation.

Where would you say you are in that cycle right now? What might “reorientation” look like for you—not necessarily a quick fix, but a deeper, truer relationship with God in the middle of your disappointment?

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Growing Pains
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
December 28, 2025

“Growing Pains” is a year-end call to interpret the hard parts of this year with spiritual clarity instead of emotional conclusions. Pastor Jerrid connects the journey from vulnerability (Jesus in Gethsemane) and disappointment (David’s honest prayers) to the shared reality we all felt in 2025: growth often meets us where life still feels unfinished. Using the language of seasons from Ecclesiastes 3, the message reframes growing pains as sacred indicators of transition—evidence that God is moving us from who we were into who we’re becoming. Finally, Pastor Jerrid anchors the sermon in Job, reminding us that obedience doesn’t exempt us from pain, and that God often doesn’t give explanations—He gives Himself. Job’s perspective is enlarged, his soul is anchored in the Lord, and his life becomes “considerable”—a faith God can point to. The closing challenge is simple and weighty: will we leave this year bitter or better, guarded or grounded, resistant or resilient—and can God say of us, “Have you considered my servant…”?

Discussion Questions

Looking back on 2025, where did you feel “growing pains” the most—spiritually, emotionally, mentally, or physically—and what did that season expose about what you depend on?

1. Pastor Jerrid asked: “Did you grow bitter or become better? guarded or grounded? resistant or resilient?”Which one best describes your response this year, and why?

2. Ecclesiastes 3 says seasons are appointed. What “season” do you believe you were in this year (building, tearing down, waiting, healing, planting, uprooting), and how does naming it change your perspective?

3. Job didn’t get explanations—he got an encounter. Where are you currently demanding a “why,” and what would it look like to anchor your faith in the Who instead?

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Strong Women Strong World
Priscilla | Part 7
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 10, 2025

She’s a teacher, leader and a valued coworker of the Apostle Paul. She is also the second most mentioned person in the writings of Paul (only Timothy has more mentions). Yet very few Christians know her story or why she matters. This Sunday, our series on strong women brings us to Priscilla

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Discussion Questions

1. Priscilla and Aquila were a couple who served God together and worked alongside each other in the tent making business. If you’re married, how well would that arrangement work out between you and your spouse? Are there ways you presently serve God together? What is that like?

2. Working regular jobs as tentmakers did not interfere with the calling of God on the Apostle Paul’s life or that of Priscilla and Aquila. Yet so many today often view their work as unspiritual and an impediment to doing the work of God. How do we change the way we see our jobs and do our jobs so that it fits better with the plan of God for our life? How do I turn even the most mundane tasks into something meaningful for God?

3. It’s obvious, based on how Luke inverts the names of this couple whenever they’re mentioned in a ministry context, that Priscilla is the one who leads the way and is operating in her primary gifting. How do you respond when your spouse’s gift outshines your own? What qualities would you expect to see in Aquila that allowed him to support his wife in her spiritual gifting?

4. Priscilla’s example of teaching the gifted Apollos is one of the best repudiations of the idea that what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 14.34-35 and 1 Timothy 2.12 was an attempt to silence women and forbid them a role in teaching men (If you haven’t listened to the first message in this series, it’s imperative that you do so). Furthermore, that the churches in Corinth and Ephesus (where the Timothy passage is addressed) both started in Priscilla and Aquila’s home, is another major hurdle in making these verses say women can’t teach. Why is the example of Priscilla ignored? Glossed over? Or distorted? What did you learn today about Priscilla that stood out to you most? How does her example encourage you?

5. There is no question that Priscilla and Aquila were foundational in the establishment of the church especially among the Gentiles. Paul said so himself. They were a key presence in three of the churches that were most instrumental in spreading the gospel message. We’d love to know more than what we do about their lives and influence. But most of the work this couple did was out of the limelight and without extensive records. How content are you to serve in relative anonymity as Priscilla and Aquila did? What are you doing with your life right now that will outlast this life?

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Prince of Peace
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 21, 2025

Peace is what the world longs for—and what our hearts crave most. Yet peace feels elusive. Nations are unsettled. Relationships are strained. And many of us carry an inner restlessness born of regret, fear, or disappointment. Into this chaos, Christmas speaks a powerful word: the Prince of Peace has come. He steps into our broken world, fractured relationships, and anxious hearts to offer a peace unlike anything this world can give. This Sunday, discover the hope and promise found in the Prince of Peace.

Discussion Questions

1. Defining peace correctly.

The world often defines peace as the absence of conflict, stress, or trouble. How would you describe the kind of peace Jesus offers? In what ways is biblical peace deeper—or more demanding—than the peace we usually want?

1. Peace begins within.

Throughout this series, we’ve seen that Jesus addresses the root of our problems, not just the symptoms. Where do you most experience inner unrest—fear, guilt, anxiety, anger, control, or uncertainty? How does Jesus as the Prince of Peace speak directly into that inner struggle?

1. Peace with God before peace in life.

Scripture teaches that real peace starts with reconciliation with God. How have you seen attempts to find peace apart from God fall short—in your own life or in the lives of others? What does it mean, practically, to live from a place of peace with God rather than trying to manufacture peace for yourself?

1. Receiving peace vs. maintaining control.

We often say we want peace, but we also want control. Where do you sense God inviting you to release control in order to experience His peace? What makes surrender so difficult—even when we know Jesus is trustworthy?

1. Living as people of peace.

Jesus doesn’t just give peace; He calls His followers to carry peace into a fractured world. In what relationships or environments is God calling you to be a peacemaker right now?
What might need to change in your posture, words, or attitudes for that to happen? Bringing the series together.

1. Looking back over the four names — Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace — Which name of Jesus has spoken to you most personally during this series, and why? How would embracing that name reshape the way you live, trust, and face the future?

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Everlasting Father
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
December 14, 2025

For many, the word “father” brings up wounds of absence, pain, abandonment, or unmet expectations. But Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus our Everlasting Father, the Father-hearted Savior who came to heal every place where earthly fathers fell short. Join us as we discover how the child in the manger displays the heart of a Father who is constant, compassionate, and eternally present.

DISSCUSION QUESTIONS

1. Take a moment to reflect on your own experience with the word father. How has your understanding — whether positive, painful, complicated, or absent — shaped the way you view God? In what ways has it helped you, and in what ways has it created barriers or misconceptions? Share how this message challenged, corrected, or deepened your perspective of God as your Everlasting Father.

2. Out of all the ways Jesus revealed the Father’s heart — His compassion, His mercy, His provision, His sacrifice, His desire to adopt you, or His protection — which one impacted you the most and why? Can you think of a time in your life when you personally experienced one of these aspects of God’s heart? What did it teach you about who He truly is?

3. In John 6, Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, showing that the Father provides abundantly and not sparingly. Where do you struggle to trust God’s provision in your own life? What “small loaves and fish” — your time, resources, abilities, or obedience — are you holding onto tightly? What might it look like this week to place those things into His hands and trust Him to multiply them?

4. The NICU illustration showed how fragility, instability, and weakness are met with a parent’s steady presence. In your life right now, where do you feel most fragile, overwhelmed, or under pressure? What would it look like to stop “trying harder” and instead “draw near” to the Everlasting Father? Where do you sense God inviting you to rest, to breathe, and to let Him hold what you cannot regulate on your own?

5. Scripture teaches that God didn’t just forgive you — He adopted you (Galatians 4, Ephesians 1). What does it mean to you personally that the Everlasting Father claims you as His child with full belonging and full access? How does this identity shift the way you approach prayer, insecurity, or daily life? And what step can you take this week to grow in intimacy with your Father?

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The Might God
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 7, 2025

When life feels overwhelming and the world seems increasingly unstable, you need more than a sentimental Christmas story—you need a God who is strong enough to fight for you. In this message, Mighty God, you’ll discover that the Child in the cradle is the God of the universe in human flesh—able to break the chains you can’t break, face the battles you can’t win, and stand with you against every fear. If you’ve ever wondered whether Jesus is really enough, this message will help you see His power, His nearness, and His unmatched ability to carry you through.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Names that define us.

Which “old name badge” do you most tend to wear (unwanted, unworthy, abandoned, etc.)?
Which name God gives you is hardest to believe—and why?

1. Jesus as Warrior.

If “Mighty God” means God is a valiant warrior who fights on our behalf, what battle in your life right now feels bigger than your own strength? What might it look like, practically and specifically, to let Jesus fight that battle instead of you trying to manage it alone?

1. The Great I AM in the storm.

In the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walks on the water and says, “I AM. Don’t be afraid.”
Where does fear most show up in your life right now (finances, family, health, calling, the future)? How does it change things to imagine the Great I AM standing in that place saying, “Don’t be afraid”?

1. If Jesus isn’t God, He isn’t safe.

How have you seen people (or maybe even yourself at times) try to keep Jesus in the “good teacher” category without surrendering to Him as Mighty God? What part of your life most resists treating Him as God rather than adviser?

1. Christmas as a crisis point of decision.

If someone close to you asked, “Who is Jesus to you—really?” How would you honestly answer today? What next step (trust, obedience, repentance, public declaration, baptism, etc.) would move your answer closer to “He is my Mighty God”?

1. Letting the Mighty God rename your story.

Where do you see yourself slipping into self-focus, self-pity, or old identities this season?
What is one specific “new name” or truth about Jesus as Mighty God that you want to hold onto this week—and how can you build a simple reminder into your day (a verse on your phone, a note on your mirror, a daily prayer, etc.)?

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Wonderful Counselor
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 30, 2025

In a world that feels darker, louder, and more confusing by the day, we are all desperate for a hope that actually holds. This message invites you to rediscover the wonder of Jesus Who steps into our chaos not just as a comforting presence, but as One Who knows exactly how to lead us through what we cannot fix on our own. Come and hear how real hope is not found in a change of circumstances, but in a Person Who is wonderfully at work in every detail of your life.

Discussion Questions

1. Advent begins in darkness, not light. Where do you see “darkness” most clearly right now—in our world, in our community, or in your own story? How does Isaiah’s promise of a child born into that darkness speak hope into those specific places?

2. “The doorway to hope is hopelessness.” Can you think of a time when you ran out of “horizontal” hope (people, places, circumstances) and it forced you to look up to God? What did you learn about yourself and about Jesus in that season?

3. “It’s US.” We often want to believe our biggest problems are outside of us. Where do you most feel the pull to blame situations, locations, or other people? What might it look like, in that specific area, to pray, “God, I accept it. I’m the problem. It’s me,” and invite Christ into that?

4. Losing our sense of wonder. In what ways do you see yourself “bored” with Jesus, church, or your faith—going through the motions more than living with wonder? What “substitutes” (comforts, amusements, habits) tend to dull your sense of awe in Christ?

5. Jesus as Wonderful Counselor – approachable, reliable, available. Which of those three qualities of Jesus do you need most right now—and why? What is one concrete step you can take this week to actually act on that (for example, bringing a specific struggle to Him in prayer, obeying a nudge He’s already given, or leaning on the Spirit’s presence in a scary situation)?

6. Living the “WOW” of God. If someone looked at your life right now, what would they conclude is your true source of hope and guidance? What is one area where you want Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, to “re-write the story” so that when you look back, you’ll say, “WOW—only God could have done that”?

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The Value of Disappointment
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
November 23, 2025

The Value in Dealing with Disappointment” walks us through what happens in the gap between what we expected and what God allowed, and how to meet God honestly in that space. Jerrid shares a raw season of stacked grief—seven family deaths in six months—and the quiet, unspoken disappointment that formed when heaven seemed silent, and God didn’t move the way he’d hoped. From there, the message names different “flavors” of disappointment (circumstantial, from others, from ourselves, and with God) and makes an important distinction between being disappointed with God’s decisions and being disappointed in God’s character. Using Psalm 13 as an anchor, we see David model biblical lament as a healthy way to deal with disappointment: he begins with honest complaint (“How long, Lord?”), moves into petition (“Look on me and answer”), and ends in trust (“But I trust in Your unfailing love”) even though nothing on the outside has changed. The message challenges us to reject myths like “If I ignore it, it’ll go away” or “If I was more spiritual, I wouldn’t feel this,” and instead to name our pain, turn it into conversation with God, and surrender the outcome to Him. Ultimately, it calls us to believe that disappointment is real,
but it doesn’t get to define who God is—that healing begins when we bring our honest hurt to Him and let disappointment become a doorway to deeper faith, not a wall between us and His heart.

Discussion Questions

1. Where have you seen disappointment show up in your own life this year—circumstantially, through others, through yourself, or with God—and how have you tended to handle it (ignore it, control it, stuff it, or bring it to God)?

2. The message distinguished between being disappointed with God (what He allowed) and being disappointed in God (who He is). Which one do you relate to more right now, and what does that reveal about the state of your trust in Him?

3. Psalm 13 shows a clear movement: complaint → petition → trust. Which part of that process is hardest for you and why—being honest about your hurt, asking God specifically for help, or choosing to trust Him before anything changes?

4. One line from the message was, “If it stays vague, it stays powerful.” What specific disappointment might God be inviting you to name clearly so He can begin to heal it, and what would it look like to turn that into a simple, honest prayer this week?

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Successful or Faithful?
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 16, 2025

What if the very thing we chase most—success—isn’t what God wants for us at all? In a world obsessed with winning, Pastor Keith exposes the myth of “spiritual success” and invites us into something far deeper: the sacred art of faithfulness. You’ll discover that in God’s eyes, true success isn’t measured by trophies, titles, or applause—but by whether we look more like Jesus after the struggle than we did before. It’s a call to stand with the poor, the overlooked, and the broken—and to keep walking faithfully, even when victory seems out of reach. Come hear a message that will upend how you define success and reignite your faith in the quiet strength of perseverance.

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Discussion Questions

1. After vs. Before: Where have you looked more like Jesus after a hard season?

2. Success Audit: Which “success metrics” (size, speed, spotlight, likes) subtly steer your decisions? What would a faithfulness metric look like? How would it be different? What things matter most in regards to faithfulness?

3. The Long Defeat: What does “fighting the long defeat” mean in your neighborhood, workplace, or city? Share one situation where you might choose faithfulness over visible wins.

4. It’s Expensive to Be Poor: Where do you see the “poverty penalty” (housing, food deserts, transport, healthcare) in our area? Which one could your group meaningfully address?

5. Matthew 25 Checkup: Of Jesus’ list—hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, prisoner—which one is God highlighting for you right now? What is one concrete act you’ll take this week?

6. Charity vs. Advocacy: Giving “stuff” meets real needs, but where might God be asking you to defend a cause (Jer. 22:16)—to speak up, show up, or help change an unfair process? Proverbs 17:5 Mirror: In what subtle ways do we “mock the poor” (assumptions, jokes, social posts,
   indifference)? What repentance and new practice would honor the God who made them?

7. Him and Them: If your politics were discipled by the two great commandments, what would change about your tone, sources, and priorities this month?

Optional Group Practices (pick one for the week)

Proximity Step: Spend an hour at a local clinic, food co-op, or reentry ministry; ask, “What helps most that we never think to offer?”

Advocacy Action: Write one respectful, specific note to a local leader supporting a policy or process that reduces a “poverty penalty.”

Daily pray, “Lord, make me faithful—form Christ in me; align my life with the least of these.”

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The Value of Vulnerability
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
November 09, 2025

This message traces an honest journey from unforgiveness to restoration, using a personal story of reconciling with a father to show how vulnerability is the doorway to grace, healing, and trust. It dismantles common myths about vulnerability, reminds us that this season can intensify hidden aches, and anchors us in Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer—“O My Father… nevertheless, not my will but Yours”—as a model for praying uncomfortable prayers, telling the truth before God, and choosing surrender over image. Vulnerability isn’t oversharing; it’s truthful presence in the right spaces with the right people, where authenticity, empathy, and sound judgment (the “trust triangle”) can grow. Like Jesus inviting Peter, James, and John closer, we’re called to discern who’s “in,” practice courageous honesty, and meet others’ pain—and joy—with care, so private surrender can precede public victory.

1. Where do you most feel the tension between guarding your image and telling the truth—what would a “nevertheless” look like there this week?

2. Think of a relationship that needs repair: what is one step—from the speaker’s process (place of safety, prepared words, honest tears)—you could take in the next seven days?

3. Which myth about vulnerability (weakness, oversharing, loss of respect, only pain-focused, one-time event) has shaped you most, and what truth replaces it for you now?

4. When someone shares joy with you, how can you respond in a way that honors their vulnerability and resists comparison or “one-upping”?

5. Who belongs in your “inner three” right now, and how can authenticity, empathy, and steady judgment practically deepen trust in that circle?

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Exiles
Strangers and Exiles on Earth | Part 2
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
November 2, 2025

Peter reminds believers that this world is not our home—we are “aliens and strangers.” But being outsiders doesn’t mean we disappear; it means we live in such a way that even those who oppose us see the goodness of God. In a world that tempts us to compromise or conform, we’re called to stand out with holy lives, radical love, and unwavering hope. Our faithfulness in exile points people to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

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Exiles
Seek The Peace Of The City | Part 1
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
October 26, 2025

When Israel was carried into exile in Babylon, their natural instinct was to resist, withdraw, or despair. But God gave them a surprising command: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city.” Even in a foreign land, God’s people were called to pray, to serve, and to bring life to their communities. As modern-day exiles, we are called to do the same—living not in fear or withdrawal, but as agents of God’s blessing where He has placed us.

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Discussion Questions

1. Where has God “carried” you to right now that feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar? How might God be asking you to build, plant, or seek peace in that very place instead of trying to escape it?

2. Jeremiah 29 shows God’s people thriving in exile through everyday faithfulness like building homes, planting gardens, praying for the city. What does thriving look like for you in your current season?

3. God commanded His people to seek the peace (shalom) of the city that had harmed them. What would it look like for you to bring shalom, wholeness, healing, and hope, into your workplace, family, or community?

4. In what areas of your life do you tend to withdraw, assimilate, or fight back when faced with cultural tension? What might faithful presence, engaging without losing your identity, look like instead?

5. Jeremiah 29:11 is often read as a promise of comfort, but you taught that it’s actually a promise of steady faithfulness over time. How does seeing this verse in its proper context change the way you view waiting, suffering, or purpose?1. Where do you notice “masquerade” in your life (outside-in pressure to perform) versus “metamorphosis” (inside-out renewal)? What would cooperating with transformation look like this week?

6. Which part of the redemption arc most encourages you today—bougSeek The Peace Of The City

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The Healing Self
The Redeemed Self | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 12, 2025

In last week’s message, we saw how each of us is marked by the image of God that bestows on us a value, worth and dignity that should be denied us by no one. This Sunday, we’re going to see how God rescues us from the discard pile of life to make something truly beautiful out of each of us. This message is all about stepping into the freedom of knowing we are loved by God. You don’t want to miss this message.

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Discussion Questions

1. Where do you notice “masquerade” in your life (outside-in pressure to perform) versus “metamorphosis” (inside-out renewal)? What would cooperating with transformation look like this week?

2. Which part of the redemption arc most encourages you today—bought, brought out, or set free—and why?

3. How has your current image of God (especially His goodness) been shaped by past wounds, and how might meditating on Jesus begin to reshape it?

4. “You move toward what you focus on.” What have you been fixating on lately, and what three signs of God’s goodness can you name from the past few days?

5. What is one practical step this week to cooperate with metamorphosis (e.g., Scripture meditation on Jesus, reframing a lie about God, or a concrete act of obedience)?

6. Jesus said those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be “filled.” What practical step could increase your hunger for God—Scripture meditation, silence, confession, or an act of obedience—and how will you start?

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The Healing Self
The Valuable Self | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 5, 2025

What if you could see yourself the way God does? Sunday’s message will help you reframe your self-worth through the Imago Dei: God’s image in you. We’ll explore how early wounds distort our view of God and ourselves. You’ll come away with practical steps for breaking free of self-defeating patterns, reclaiming dignity, and treating others (and yourself) as sacred. Come discover the God Who delights in and made you a unique reflection of Himself.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When you hear the phrase “made in the image of God,” what does that mean to you personally?

2. How have early relationships (family, parents, teachers, friends) shaped the way you view yourself, or even the way you view God?

3. Why is it so important to distinguish between denying selfishness and denying self? How has that misunderstanding caused harm for some Christians?

4. C.S. Lewis said, “You have never met a mere mortal.” How might this truth affect the way you see others, especially the marginalized, overlooked, and mistreated?

5. What lies have you believed about your worth, and what truths from God’s Word can you use to replace them?

6. Adoption in Christ means intimacy, security, and belonging. Which of these speaks most to you right now, and why?

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The Healing Self
The False Self | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 28, 2025

We all wrestle with the temptation to project a version of ourselves that hides our true fears, flaws, and struggles. As a result, many of us chase after approval, admiration, and accomplishments to fill the deep need of belonging. Pastor Keith shows how true freedom comes not through pretense, but by being fully known by God and anchored in His acceptance. Discover how to let down the mask and recover the true self God designed you to be.

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Discussion Questions

1. Where do you notice yourself most tempted to “wear a mask” or live out of a false self?

2. Why do you think seeking admiration, appearance, or accomplishments can feel so rewarding but ultimately leave us empty?

3. How does it change your perspective to realize that God is never disappointed in you because He already knows you completely?

4. What “useful lies” have you believed about yourself, and how have they shaped your behavior?

5. How has genuine community (friends, family, church) helped you see the “real you”? What makes an authentic community both risky and essential?

6. What is one practical step you can take this week to live more vulnerably and authentically with God, yourself, or others?

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The Healing Self
The Broken Self | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 21, 2025

We live in a world that throws away what’s broken whether it’s dishes, electronics, or people. But God is different. He seeks out the broken, treasures the shattered, and transforms our cracks into something beautiful. Like stained glass, He takes the pieces of our story and makes them shine with His glory. If you’ve ever felt discarded, unwanted, or beyond repair, this message is for you: God does His best work through broken people.

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1. Have you ever felt discarded, overlooked, or “broken pottery”? How did that shape the way you see yourself or others?

2. Why do you think God values brokenness when the world rejects it?

3. Which “coping style” (stuffer, pretender, firefighter, manager) do you most relate to—and what are its costs?

4. In what ways can admitting our brokenness actually open the door to healing and freedom?

5. What would it look like in your life for God to take the “shattered glass” of your story and turn it into something beautiful?

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Strong Women Strong World
Whataboutism | Part 10
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 14, 2025

Step-by-step throughout this entire series, we’ve been laying the foundation for Biblical, female leadership. We’ve looked at the two most commonly cited Scriptures (1 Corinthians 14.34-35 and 1 Timothy 2.12) that have been used to prohibit women from teaching or leading in church. What followed were 8 of the best examples of women who did in fact teach and lead, explaining their stories with the same detail Scripture affords each of them. As we wrap up the series, we’re going to examine a handful of other Bible passages that are often misunderstood and misapplied as it relates to women in leadership. These messages have been an opportunity for us all to let Scripture speak for itself, sharpen our study skills and celebrate how God has used women and men throughout history for His kingdom purposes.
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1. At the close of the series, Pastor Keith addressed some of the other more frequently asked questions regarding women in leadership? Have you ever been asked any of these questions? Which questions challenged you most? Would you answer any of these questions in a different way?

2. To be able answer objections to our faith, we need to be good students of the Word. In 2 Timothy 2.15 (New Living Translation), Paul reminded Timothy, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” How do we become better students of the Bible? How do we find answers to questions we’re asked? What resources have you found most helpful?

3. Christianity, especially in its earliest days, enjoyed tremendous popularity with women. Many had never heard or experienced such a liberating message. To this day, women still make up the majority of professed Christians. What do you think draws women to the faith? Do you think the Church (as in the universal church or as it exists in the USA) is still valuing women like they were in the New Testament or are things changing? What has been your experience in church as a woman?

4. What impact, if any, has this message or series had on you personally? Do you feel better equipped to address the question of female leadership in the Bible? Which messages stood out to you most and why?

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Strong Women Strong World
Huldah | Part 9
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 7, 2025

Over the many years I have been a pastor, I’ve often heard people say, “God only raised up women as leaders when there was no man to lead.” It’s such an ignorant statement and this Sunday’s message is proof of that. Huldah was a prophet in the Old Testament. She lived at the same time as two other well-known prophets - Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Yet God used her mightily to turn the nation back to Himself and not because there were no men speaking up for God. God used Huldah because she had the message the king and the people needed to hear. If you don’t know her incredible story, don’t miss this message.

Discussion Questions

1. Take some time to consider some of the parallels between the movie Hidden Figures and the women whose stories we’ve been learning about in this series. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different? Can you think of other historical examples where the achievements of women have been largely unacknowledged?
   Why do you think this has been true in history? Why do you think the stories of women in the Bible are often not told well or with the same level of detail that Scripture records them?

2. When you think about the span of time that passed between Solomon’s generation and that of Josiah, 300 years seems like a long time but at the same time, it doesn’t seem that long to actually forget God’s Word, to abandon the Temple and stop celebrating the very feast that reminds you of why you are a people (Passover). What should we be learning from their failures? How might churches face the same threats externally and internally? Was anything in this account of how far God’s people had strayed shocking or surprising to you and why?

3. Huldah is a prophetess whose authority and trusted position is beyond dispute. She is the first one sought out for an answer from God. Everything she said is received without debate or pushback. She validates the book they found as the Word of God and then interprets the book for their present situation. What stood out to you most in the telling of Huldah’s story? Why do you think Huldah was unaffected and uncompromised by the corruption of Jewish society all around her? What can you learn from her example about being a thermostat instead of a thermometer? What spiritual disciplines do you engage in regularly to help protect you from corruption from within or without?

4. Take some time to look over the chiastic structure of the telling of Huldah’s story. Why do you think the writer of Chronicles chose to emphasize Huldah over Josiah? Why does her prophecy occupy center stage in this narrative?

5. Huldah left an unmistakable mark on history, Jewish history, Christian history and even American history. What are some of the things that stood out to you about Huldah’s legacy? Why do you suppose this woman, who inspired so many in history, and is the only woman to have gates in Jerusalem named after her, why is her story so relatively unknown today? What can you do to make sure others know about Huldah’s inspirational story?

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Strong Women Strong World
Lydia | Part 8
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 31, 2025

Lydia stands out in Scripture as both the first recorded European convert to Christianity and a model of faithful leadership. She turned her home into the earliest meeting place for the Philippian church. She also invested her resources and reputation in the spread of Christianity. As a businesswoman, she embodies the integration of faith, enterprise, and generosity, leaving a legacy as a trailblazer for women of influence in the story of the church.

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Discussion Questions

1. In Pastor Keith’s introduction to today’s message, he mentioned how not only in Scripture are more women than men recognized for their financial support of Jesus and Paul but in practical terms, that still is the case when it comes to giving among Christ followers today. Why do you suppose this is? Has this been a factor in your present or past relationships?

2. There are those in the church who object to women in leadership inside and outside of the church. How would I answer those objections today? What did you find most compelling in the Biblical argument that Pastor Keith presented today? Who are some of the women today that you admire as strong leaders, especially in regard to their Christian witness?

3. Lydia represents a convert who had some level of knowledge of the Hebrew God, His laws, His promises, and His people. Besides Jewish people, the God fears were a group specifically targeted by the Apostle Paul and his entourage because of that baseline understanding. In light of that, who are the people who are easiest to reach today and what groups represent a greater challenge? Why do you feel that way?

4. The two best evidences of the genuineness of Lydia’s conversion were her immediate willingness to publicly identify with Christ in baptism AND to welcome these strangers into her home (hospitality – love of the stranger). How well does the American church show these two pieces of evidence today? If you feel like the church is lacking in one of these areas, what do you think needs to be done to change that?

5. There are two themes running through the book of Acts. One is the transition from being an exclusively Jewish faith to becoming a more inclusive Christian faith. What are some of the challenges the church faced? How did they overcome the challenges? The other transition was from a centralized faith around the institution of the Temple to a decentralized faith built around the household (oikos). What are the challenges the church faced with this transition?

6. As we rapidly approach the conclusion of this series, where have you been challenged most? What have you learned that you didn’t know prior to this series? What new appreciation do you have for the female leaders of Scripture? How does any of this affect your daily walk with God?

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Why Church?
All In | Part 2
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
August 24, 2025

The Church thrives when ordinary people say yes to an extraordinary mission. This message is a call to move beyond passive attendance and step fully into God’s purpose—offering our time, talents, and resources to something far greater than ourselves. Jesus invites us into a radically generous, mission-driven community where sacrifice becomes joy and service becomes worship. We’re not just filling roles—we’re building the Kingdom. When we give our lives to the Church, we’re investing in what Jesus gave His life for. Your presence matters. Your gifts matter. Because the Church isn’t just worth your time—it’s worthy of your life.

Connect. Serve. Grow. Give.

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Discussion Questions

1. What area of your life has been the hardest to surrender to Jesus—and why do you think that is? Reflect on your personal "life balls" (e.g., time,relationships, career, past, control). What are you still trying to carry?

2. What does being “All In” for Jesus look like in your current season of life? In what ways are you following Him with full devotion, and where might you be holding back?

3. How has surrendering to Jesus in the past brought freedom, healing, or direction in your life? Share a testimony of a time you let go of something and saw God show up in a powerful way.

4. Which area—Connect, Serve, Grow, or Give—do you feel God is inviting you to step into more fully right now? What’s one action you can take this week to lean into that area?

5. Why is it important to surrender in community instead of trying to do it alone? How can your group support each other in taking the next steps of obedience and trust?

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Why Church?
Plan A | Part 1
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
August 17, 2025

What if the Church wasn’t just a good idea—but God’s idea? From Genesis to Revelation, God has been forming a people to carry His love, truth, and hope into the world. The Church—imperfect as she is—isn’t a side project or a backup plan. She’s Plan A. In this message, we’ll rediscover the Church’s true identity: a spiritual family, a beacon of truth, a place of healing, and a launchpad for mission. The Church may be flawed, but she is chosen—called to bring light to the darkness and hope to the hopeless. This message invites you to see the Church not as something you attend, but as something you’re invited to become—a vital part of God’s redemptive mission in the world.

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1. How do your personal wounds or disappointments with the Church reflect a deeper theology of grace, brokenness, and sanctification?
   In what ways has the Church’s imperfection challenged your view of God's redemptive plan through flawed people? (Read Ephesians 5:25–27. How does Christ’s love for an imperfect Bride reframe your expectations of the Church?)

2. Ephesians 3:10 says that through the Church, God's "manifold wisdom" is made known even to the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” What does this verse suggest about the heavenly significance of the Church?
   How might underestimating the Church reveal a limited view of God's eternal purposes?

3.In what ways do you wrestle with consumerism or individualism when it comes to the Church?
Reflect on your current engagement—are you primarily receiving or contributing? How does 1 Peter 4:10 challenge your understanding of your role within the Body?

1. Paul describes the Church as both a spiritual family and a functioning body (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).
   Where do you see yourself in this metaphor? Are you fulfilling your spiritual function or remaining disconnected? What obstacles—emotional, theological, or practical—are preventing full participation?

2. What legacy are you building through your investment in the Church? In light of Matthew 6:20 and Ephesians 3:21, how does your current life rhythm reflect an eternal mindset? How would your calendar, budget, and priorities change if you believed that every act of faithfulness in the Church echoed into eternity?

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Strong Women Strong World
Mary | Part 6
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 3, 2025

Mary is the fourth-most mentioned New Testament character after Jesus, Peter, and Paul. Yet in the average Protestant church, she is typically ignored. Rarely will you hear a message devoted just to telling Mary’s story. Or if you do, it sounds more like a sappy Hallmark commercial than the portrait we actually see of her in Scripture. It’s time we get to know this prophetic, powerful woman who consistently points us to Jesus.

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Discussion Questions

1. What perceptions did you have of Mary before hearing today’s message? If you have a church background, what sort of teaching did you have from pastors or other leaders in your church? If you have no church background, what was your understanding of Mary?

2. The level of poverty in first century Palestine was severe – affecting the vast majority of those who lived there. It’s something that the holy family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) experienced daily both personally and socially. People were hungry for hope in the midst of economic despair. Mary’s song prophesies a new reality. In what ways has the church throughout the ages addressed the problems of poverty? If you don’t know the answer to this question, use it as your homework assignment.

3. In this message, Pastor Keith addressed Mary’s calling, her prophecy, how she prophecies, her Scriptural knowledge, and the things she predicted about her Son. Have you ever thought of Mary as a prophet? What stood out to you most about this? Why do you think so many churches downplay Mary’s role as a prophet?

4. When it comes to the telling of the Christmas story, Pastor Keith laid the blame at the feet of the Church that has often watered down the radical and revolutionary message of Mary. Why is the church often the ones most guilty of telling a truncated, sanitized, overly simplified Christmas story? Luke’s gospel is the most common Scripture read as it relates to Christmas, but the part about the Magnificat is almost always left out. Why is that?

5. There are definite and intentional parallels between the story of Eden and the story of Golgotha. Take some time to review this part of the message. List the parallels you remember. Why does this matter? How does it reflect the amazing unity of Scripture?

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Strong Women Strong World
Elizabeth | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 27, 2025

Though only a minor character in the Christmas story, Elizabeth plays a major role among the leading women of the New Testament. Besides Elizabeth’s influence on the young, pregnant Mary, there are many “firsts” associated with Elizabeth that the average Christian doesn’t even know. Largely because there’s been a tendency in church history to diminish Elizabeth and treat her time with Mary as little more than a protracted baby shower. It’s past time we restore her rightful place among Bible leaders.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What surprised you in this message today?

2. Why do you think Mary wanted to see her relative
   Elizabeth? What do you think Mary hoped to get out of the visit?

3. How does Elizabeth respond to Mary and why? How else could she have responded?

4. Have you ever had someone like Elizabeth in your life? Studies have found that adolescents thrive when they have at least one strong, sustained relationship with a significant adult, this can be a coach, a teacher, an extended family member, youth pastor, small group leader, etc.. Who besides your parents have made significant contributions to your life especially in an area where you were struggling, growing, or learning? How did they help you? How are you different today as a result of their influence? Have you ever been that kind of person for someone else? Why or why not?

5. We often have the opposite view of blessing from Scripture. Too often, we equate blessings with money, health, and happiness. In the Bible, to be blessed was to be used by God for His kingdom purposes. How have you been Biblically blessed? Why are people so hungry to be blessed today?

6. Take a few minutes and bless one another. Remind one another of their belovedness just for being who they are. Think beyond what people do or even what they do for you and think about what it is about them that makes them the kind of person they are. Praise and bless that quality.

7. Mary is emboldened by her time with Elizabeth to see things as she never has before – especially as it relates to her purpose. Luke’s telling of the Christmas story is revolutionary and so unlike the way we typically tell it today. Why do we do this to the Christmas story? Together read the Magnificat (Mary’s song and next week’s message) in Luke 1.46-55.

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Strong Women Strong World
Esther | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 20, 2025

The book of Esther is one of the most creatively written books in the entire Bible. In fact, you’ll be amazed by it. The lead character is female and she’s a true hero. Not only does she help to avert a planned holocaust for the Jewish people, this story becomes the basis of the annual Feast of Purim which celebrates God’s protection of His people. You’ll also see amazing parallels between Esther’s story and Jesus’ story. Don't miss this next installment in our series, Strong Women, Strong World!

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Discussion Questions

1. Though Esther lived in a time of extreme patriarchy (where the rights of men were far greater than those of women), she was able to rise to a position of influence and use that influence to save the nation. What was true about Esther’s day was also the prevailing culture throughout most of the history during which the Bible was written. What other stories of women in Scripture are you aware of who rose to prominence and leadership in spite of the culture of the day? Discuss the ways in which they were used by God. How do their stories inspire you? How are you or the women you know impacted by stories like these?

2. Take some time in your group to discuss the following quote, “In the moral conflict now raging around us, whoever is on God’s side is on the winning side and cannot lose; whoever is on the other side is on the losing side and cannot win” (A.W. Tozer).

3. God gave Esther a mentor in her uncle Mordecai. How important have mentors been in your own life and development? Have you ever had one? If so, in what arena of life? What was their impact on you? How has that person helped to shape the person you have become?

4. The Bible makes a distinction between time (chronos – which is clocks, days and calendars) and time (kairos – a pregnant moment in time, a pivotal moment in history). Esther’s story is a reminder that we are where we are and who we are for a reason. And sometimes, everything seems to align to create an opportunity to exercise our gifting, utilize our influence and invest our talent – a Kairos moment. In reflecting on Esther’s Kairos moment, are you aware of other Kairos moments in Scripture, in world history or US history, or in your own personal life? If so, describe what happened and why you think it was a Kairos moment.

5. The book of Esther is written in a very creative style. Pastor Keith talked about this very Jewish way of writing which is most commonly known as chiastic writing. As a group or individual, download both the simplified and detailed chiastic structure of Esther from the online message notes. Notice how each and every negative and dark outcome in the first half of the book is then corrected by a positive and hopeful outcome in the latter portion of the book? What did you learn about this style of writing? Why did Jewish writers use it? How does it help to clarify and amplify the message of Esther?

6. As Pastor Keith wrapped up the message, he focused on some of the parallels between Esther’s story and Jesus’s story. Can you name the parallels he mentioned and why? Are you aware of any other ways that Esther’s story is similar to Jesus’ story? If so, what are they?

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Strong Women Strong World
Ruth | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 13, 2025

She’s an immigrant, a part of a hated and maligned group of people, a widow woman with virtually no rights yet she changed the course of human history. She became a model of God’s love and through her lineage, Christ was born. Her name is Ruth. Don’t miss her inspiring story this Sunday.

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Discussion Questions

1. In the first part of the message, Pastor Keith described the revolution of rising expectations that basically says we can endure all sorts of problems and adversity, but the injection of hope followed by another setback becomes practically unbearable. We see this played out in the story of Naomi and the journey to Moab to end their constant struggle for food. But once they arrived, the bad news began to pile up. Have you or someone you know ever gone through the revolution of rising expectations? What effect did it have on you or those you know? What was the eventual outcome of the situation? How well did you deal with it?

2. The story of Ruth is one where the main characters don’t see the hand of God in their circumstances like we do as readers. Have you ever felt abandoned by God? In retrospect, can you see where and how God was at work even when you didn’t sense it? Without being trite, how might you encourage someone going through difficulty who is struggling with finding God in their circumstances?

3. This story contains the stories of three widows who all make different choices.
   • Orpah - returns to the FAMILIAR
   • Naomi - gets STUCK in her sorrow
   • Ruth - determined to go on with LIFE
   Have you ever made any of those choices? And if so, why, where and when was that? Where did that choice lead you?

4. Hesed love is grace in action. It’s the way God loves us. And it’s the way Ruth loved her mother-in-law Naomi. Hesed goes beyond feelings or sentiments. We recognize it in how it behaves. Why was what Ruth chose to do an act of Hesed love? Has God ever put you in a situation where you choose Hesed over self-preservation or self-priority? What motivated you to make that choice? What difference, if any, did it make?

5. How is Ruth’s character a type of Christ? What does it say that God would choose to include this story about an ordinary family choosing to do the right thing during a time when self-interest reigned supreme? During the time of the judges, there are two women who rise unrivaled to the top – Deborah and Ruth. What message does it send that God would make these two women the supreme highlight during a time of incredible darkness and infidelity to God’s covenant?

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Strong Women Strong World
Deborah | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 06, 2025

In spite of the fact that the Bible was written during a time of extreme patriarchy (where the rights of men were foremost and the rights of women practically non-existent) we still find many examples of strong women. Women who are not passive, demure and timid but active, bold and assertive. Deborah's story stands in bold opposition to those who say women can’t lead. Because not only does Deborah lead in the civic and spiritual realm, her leadership is unrivaled by any of the other male leaders of her day.

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Discussion Questions

1. Pastor Keith, in his introduction, talked about the cycle of judgment in the book of Judges and how with each repetition, things got worse producing a downward spiral in the nation. He explained how sin is repetitious, monotonous and destructive. But the second defining characteristic of sin is, if left unaddressed, it will always escalate. How and where have you seen the truth of this played out? How is addiction an example of this principle? What is necessary to break free of this destructive cycle?

2. Do you know someone that you consider to be a “great leader” (preferably someone you know personally)? What makes him or her excellent?

3. What things can we learn about leadership and the way God operates based on his choosing of Deborah and her unique gifts and roles in the life of Israel? Why do you think Scripture intentionally parallels the song of Moses alongside the song of Deborah? Do you think the high role of Deborah in Judges should play a part in determining what roles women can and should play in the Church today? Why or why not?

4. Just like in this story, sometimes it seems that the deck is stacked against us and the enemy has all the advantages. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. But God has a plan. The question is, are we willing to do it His way? Or are we too busy making caveats, exceptions and putting conditions on our obedience? Have you ever been asked by God to do something, that at the time, didn’t make sense but in the end, it was the best choice? If you’re up against something particularly challenging right now, what in this story speaks to you about what you could or should be doing right now?

5. As Virginia Ely said your life represents a fresh thought of God and He has put you where you are to make a difference. What dream has He placed in your heart? What longings have you had that never seem to go away? You do realize, don’t you, that if God wills something to happen, it will happen. You will never ultimately fail in following God.

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Strong Women Strong World
Why Do A Series Like This? | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 29, 2025

This Sunday marks the start of a brand-new series built around the women God has used throughout Biblical history to change the world. It’s going to be an exciting time in God’s Word. To kick it off, Pastor Keith is going to dig into two different Bible passages that are often used in an attempt to silence women and their gifting. It’s vitally important that we address the confusion around what the Bible actually teaches. You don’t want to miss this message.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In the first part of the message, Pastor Keith mentioned numerous women who were prophets, teachers, and leaders in God’s Word. Take some time and try to make a more exhaustive list of these women in Scripture making note of who they were, how God used them and what you learn from their example. Which women in the Bible stand out to you the most and why? What do you learn from them? How is their example an encouragement for us all to live out our God-given purpose?

2. Some of us grew up in different faith traditions and others with no religious background whatsoever. What were you taught about female leadership in church? Have your perceptions changed over time? Have you ever had a female pastor, leader, therapist, or spiritual director whom you credit for significant spiritual growth? Share what you can about that experience.

3. One of the keys to effective Bible study is always anchoring our interpretation in the context of the verse we’re studying. Apart from that, it is far too easy to make the Bible say what we want it to say. This is especially true as it relates to these two problem passages that are frequently used against women. What did you learn about the context of these verses? What stood out to you as significant? What were some of your most important learnings today?

4. We have several female pastors on staff at Springcreek who face a barrage of critical remarks from outsiders on social media anytime a clip of them speaking or leading in church is played. Obviously, we’re not going to convince everyone about what the Bible actually teaches and won’t ever be able to stop all criticism. But knowing what they frequently face, what can we do as a church to better support them and encourage them in their giftedness?

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Because The Lord is My Shepherd | Psalm 23:1
Guest Speaker | Kevin Bullard
June 22, 2025

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. | Psalm 23:1

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:11-15

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Healing The Father Wound
Senior Pastor Pastor Keith Stewart
June 15, 2025

The National Center for Fathering asked troubled teenage daughters, “Where do you go for comfort?” The number one response was music. Number two was girlfriends. Three was television. And Dad? He came in 34th place. The relationship we have with our father can be one of the most formative of all our relationships for good or bad. But when our Dad is absent from the home, addicted, emotionally distant, or even abusive, it leaves a wound that can affect us for the rest of our lives. This Sunday’s message is all about how to heal what we are powerless to change. It’s a message that prevents the past from continuing to impose itself on the present – a message that can set you free.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What special memories do you have about your childhood? How did you get along with each of your parents? What were they like? What did you like and dislike about your parents? What were your hurts and disappointments as a child? Did you like yourself as a child? Why or why not?

2. Take some time to look over the chart on the developmental needs of children as it relates to mothers and fathers. It’s important to remember that these are generalizations and there are always exceptions to any rule. But in light of this chart, where did you have strong modeling and where were there weaknesses? What did your parents do well? What did they do poorly? Can you see any evidence in your present life and relationships where this has played out for good or bad?

3. Father absence has a dramatic and profound effect on our spiritual life. Have you ever struggled with experiencing God as He reveals Himself to be in His word? Where and how have you struggled? Have you experienced any healing around parental wounds that helped you better connect with God?

4. Do you ever practice positive, Biblical affirmations in your life (which is a form of meditation)? Take some time either during your small group gathering or later at home, to look up as many Scriptures as you can find that describe our new standing in Christ. Write them down and make it your practice this week to read through the entire list at least 5 times a day.

5. Pastor Keith said there are four messages every child needs; I love you, I believe in you, I’m proud of you and I am sorry. Did you hear these messages growing up? What effect did that have on you? Do you regularly communicate these messages to your own children (even as adult children)?

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Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace | How Sweet The Sound
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
June 8, 2025

This message invites us to move beyond familiarity with the hymn and into a fresh encounter with the depth, power, and beauty of God's grace. With vivid storytelling, generational faith, and a compelling walk through Romans 1-3, we are reminded that grace isn't just a lyric or doctrine - it's the rescue mission of heaven for every soul who has fallen short. And according to Romans 3:23-24, that is all of us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where has grace met you in your own story? Think about a time in your life when you were at your lowest, weakest, or most lost—how did God's grace show up? How did that experience shift your understanding of who God is and how He loves?

2. Which form of pride has threatened your ability to receive or extend grace? There are many: thinking we can earn grace, believing others don’t deserve it, or trying to “pay God back.” In what ways has pride crept into your relationship with God or others? What would it look like to surrender that pride and rest in grace instead?

3. Can you recognize grace in your everyday moments? Grace isn’t just something we receive at salvation—it follows us into kitchens, boardrooms, text messages, and traffic jams. What everyday graces might you be overlooking right now? How could growing in gratitude help you become more aware of it?

4. Forgiveness is one of the hardest expressions of grace—but also one of the most Christ-like. Is there someone you’ve withheld grace from because you believed they didn’t deserve it? How might your extension of grace reflect the grace God has extended to you?

5. What does Romans 3:23–24 reveal about our identity and our worth? This verse declares both the truth of our brokenness and the beauty of our justification. How does knowing you’ve been "justified freely" change how you view yourself? Does it impact how you approach others, worship, or even failure?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Pessimism | Part 6
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 1, 2025

The late Sam Shoemaker once said, "Everyone has a problem, is a problem, or lives with a problem." But what if I told you that your problem is not nearly as problematic as what you tell yourself about your problem. More often than not, what defeats us in life is the thinking that lies beneath our behaviors. Call it our explanatory style. It’s the things we tell ourselves when things don’t turn out right or go as expected. This final ISM has sabotaged more relationships, defeated more initiatives, and ruined more lives than practically all the other ISMS combined. This Sunday we take on pessimism along with God’s remedy for the negative outlook that robs us of so much in life.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith defined pessimism (or the grasshopper mentality) as anytime we allow problems, attitudes, or circumstances to cause us to doubt God and believe that we will lack the resources, ability, or strength to do what He wants done. Have you ever fallen victim to pessimism? What situation were you dealing with? How did it affect you? What if any resolution did you ultimately have?

2. There are three defining characteristics of pessimistic thoughts. A belief that our problems are permanent, pervasive and personal. Go back and review this part of the message or the notes you took. The attitudes define our explanatory style – the things we tell ourselves about our problems. What were your biggest takeaways from this portion of the message? Have you ever personally struggled with one or more of these ways of thinking? When we use these as an explanation for our problems, they become a type of self-fulfilling prophecy. In other words, we find what we’re looking for. Have you ever known anyone like this or been this way yourself? What would you suggest to a person caught up in this way of thinking?

3. What did we learn from Caleb’s life and example? How was he able to choose faith over pessimism?

4. Is your faith weak? Then feed on the Word of God. Like John Piper reminded us, “Faith feeds on the word of God, without a steady diet it gets weaker and weaker. If you are dissatisfied with your Christian courage and joy and purity of heart then check the way you’re feeding your faith.” Try to name as many ways as you can that the Word of God builds your faith. What has been your personal experience with God’s Word as a faith-builder? What stories have impacted you most? What promises? What precepts? Or what do you see in the character of God that encourages your faith?

5. This week, make a list of promises from God’s Word that can help keep your eyes focused on God during whatever difficulties you may encounter. If you’re not sure how to do this, talk about it in your small group. Better yet, as a group or among your friends, have everyone make a contribution regarding their favorite promises to claim. Once you have made a list of verses or references, type them up to keep in your notes on your phone, or print them up and post them where you will see them frequently. Commit to memorizing as many as you can.

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Legalism | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 25, 2025

Legalism is a trap that’s far too easy to fall into. Its beginnings are so subtle and seem absolutely benign. But legalism in any form is not just toxic to our souls, it’s downright dangerous. John Piper once said, “Legalism is more dangerous than alcoholism.” He’s right. Few things will strip you of your love, joy and peace with God more quickly than legalism. But do you know the early warning signs of legalism? Are you aware of the sort of thinking that leads us into this deadly trap? Join us this Sunday, May 25th, as we delve into legalism and God’s remedy.

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1. What has been your experience around legalism? Were you ever in a church that was legalistic? Have you ever known Christians who were legalistic? What stood out most to you in those environments? How were they perceived by outsiders?

2. Obviously, legalistic churches exist and sometimes attract large numbers of people. Why do you think that is? What attracts people to this sort of thinking?

3. Was there anything in today’s message that challenged the way you think? Or encourage you in something you have always thought? Or do you find it helpful in evaluating what is healthy spirituality versus what is not?

4. Pastor Keith said there are only two religions - There is FAITH religion and there is WORKS religion. What is the difference between the two? Which do you think is more prevalent in the world? How is Christianity’s approach different from most other religions in the world?

5. In the final point, Pastor Keith contrasted two Greek myths, Ulysses versus Orpheus as it relates to the siren’s song. It’s a good analogy for temptation. Ulysses was bound to the mast of the ship. His story represents those who use rules to defeat temptation. Orpheus chose a different path. He played his lyre so that the sailors were all drawn toward more beautiful music. The siren song of the world is practically irresistible. Some use rules and struggle against them in the face of temptation and others have heard a new song, the love of Christ that draws them to a better way of living. Which do you like more and why?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Escapism | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 18, 2025

Let’s face it. Life can be tough and sometimes the challenges we face seem unrelenting. More than anything we crave a little reprieve from the stress and losses we’re facing. So we escape. We distract ourselves. We do something that gets our mind off our current problem. Our distraction might be binge-watching a Netflix series, playing video games or even just scrolling through our phone – really just about anything other than facing the problem. But when does a harmless distraction become a harmful habit? How do you know when a little break from the stress has become a practiced way of avoiding reality? That’s what this message is all about and more importantly, how to be set free.

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Discussion Questions

1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very little and 10 being a lot), how much do you personally struggle with perfectionism? When you think back to the pressures of society and the influence of parents and other authority figures, what messages did you internalize that contributed to the problem of perfectionism?

2. What has perfectionism cost you professionally, physically, psychologically, relationally and spiritually? Can you think of any other ways your life has been adversely affected by perfectionism?

3. People with perfectionistic tendencies often struggle with forgiving themselves. Has this ever been an issue for you? What did you learn today that might be useful in the future as an alternative to beating yourself up over and over again?

4. What were some of the things that stood out most to you in today’s message? Any new learnings about perfectionism or yourself? How will you take what you learned today and incorporate it into your life?

5. Discuss the ideas of progress not perfection and the willingness to do things poorly.

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Materialism | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 11, 2025

Materialism is not about the amount, it’s about our attitude. When Jesus addressed materialism in the Sermon on the Mount, He spoke of necessities not luxuries. He also gave us the surest sign of materialism and that’s worry. This Sunday, we’ll learn how to be set free from this toxic “ISM”.

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Discussion Questions:

1. Some Christians define sin in terms of sinful acts (observable external behaviors). In this way, we are much like the Pharisees who did the same. But Scripture has always been careful to define sin primarily as desires gone awry – that our internal want is broken. So whether you’re talking about lust, greed, or coveting, before we ever commit an external act, we crave something internally first. Why do some Christians define sin in terms of external observable acts alone? Why are we so reluctant to admit that our desires are the real problem? Why do we try to justify our coveting or explain it away? Why do we only deal with the fruit instead of the root?

2. Rate yourself as a worrier. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “not worried at all” and 10 being debilitating worry. Where would you put yourself on that scale? What tends to be your biggest worries? What, if anything, did you learn in today’s message that might help you better deal with worries when they arise?

3. Real wealth is determined not by our houses, cars or money in the bank but by our character, contentment, generosity and relationships. Why do these things matter more than the other things? Have you known people who were rich in one or more of these areas? What were they like? What did you learn from them? How do they inspire you to be rich where it counts?

4. To be truly rich in relationships is to be rich in our friendships, marriage and with God. Where are you strongest? Where are you weakest? What practical steps can you begin to take to make incremental improvements in all of your relationships?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Alcoholism | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 4, 2025

When you think of addiction, if all you can picture is a homeless man passed out in a drunken stupor, then you don’t really understand addiction at all. Did you know that 3 out of 4 alcoholic men and women are married and still living at home? 95% of them still have jobs or own their business. In fact, only 3-5% of alcoholics ever reach skid row level. The truth is addiction often wears a familiar face or it may even be the reflection you see in the mirror. It’s time we spoke truth into a topic filled with unfair stereotypes and misunderstanding. It’s past time for people to know there is hope and healing for anyone caught up in addiction.

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Discussion Questions:

1. In the first half of today’s message, Pastor Keith shared three stories to illustrate God’s heart for the poor and oppressed; the shepherds, the leper and the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus. What were your main takeaways from the three stories? Could you put yourself in the shoes of any of these marginalized groups? What comfort or encouragement is found in these stories as it relates to addicts?

2. Do we really see people as people? Or more importantly, do we see people as God sees them? What groups of people today are still being marginalized? Why do people struggle with seeing the value, worth and dignity of others? If someone struggles with seeing others as God does, what would you suggest to them that might help them see what God does? How does the way we see people affect the way we treat people?

3. Why do we stereotype alcoholics? When the vast majority of alcoholics and other addicts are actually living in homes (sometimes as our neighbors), holding down jobs, and are able to manage appearances to most people who surround their life – knowing all of this – why do we associate alcoholism with only the worst-case scenarios? Have you ever personally known an alcoholic or addict?

4. All of us are broken people. No one is immune from that. We all have our weaknesses, Achilles’ heel, our vulnerability to certain types of sins. Why do people often act as if they are better than others simply because they sin differently? What’s the best remedy to that sort of behavior or attitude?

5. Confession helps to heal us. Being honest with God, ourselves and others brings many practical benefits. Can you name one or several? What experiences have you personally had with confessing to others your greatest struggles or failures? If someone is afraid to open up about such matters, what cautions would you give to them? What encouragement would you give to them?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Perfectionism | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 27, 2025

Perfectionism sabotages everything you do in life. It limits your potential. It robs you of your joy and even strips away the peace of God every time you fail. This message will explore the roots of perfectionism, how it affects us and most of all, God’s antidote to this poisonous root in our soul. This is a message you don’t want to miss.

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Discussion Questions

1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very little and 10 being a lot), how much do you personally struggle with perfectionism? When you think back to the pressures of society and the influence of parents and other authority figures, what messages did you internalize that contributed to the problem of perfectionism?

2. What has perfectionism cost you professionally, physically, psychologically, relationally and spiritually? Can you think of any other ways your life has been adversely affected by perfectionism?

3. People with perfectionistic tendencies often struggle with forgiving themselves. Has this ever been an issue for you? What did you learn today that might be useful in the future as an alternative to beating yourself up over and over again?

4. What were some of the things that stood out most to you in today’s message? Any new learnings about perfectionism or yourself? How will you take what you learned today and incorporate it into your life?

5. Discuss the ideas of progress not perfection and the willingness to do things poorly.

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Jesus is The G.O.A.T | His Church... not so much
Easter Sunday
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 20, 2025

Church people and non-church people seem to agree on one thing. Jesus is pretty awesome. We want to celebrate that this Easter. How Jesus Christ has left a lasting imprint on society and on the lives of so many who call Him Lord and Savior.But we also want to speak honestly and directly to those hurt by the church. So whether you’re new to church or someone who has stayed away, this message is for you and our hope is this marks a new beginning for us all.

1. Have you ever had any encounters with disaffected Christians (those who were once a part of a church but now no longer trust it)? What were they like? What concerns or criticisms did they express? How valid do you think their reasoning was? Did you say or do anything to address the issues they brought up? Where is that person today?

2. Jesus left a lasting impact on lives and history. What things stood out to you most in the message? What are some other ways Jesus Christ has left an indelible mark in lives and history?

3. Looking at all that Christ has inspired throughout history, what ways move you most? In what ways do you emulate Christ’s example? What does society view churches that are involved in compassionate ministries and those that are not?

4. How do you relate to people outside the church or outside the faith? Do you tend to think in terms of bounded sets or centered sets? The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were bounded set thinkers who defined the spiritual life by external behaviors like observing the sabbath and a myriad of other rules. Have you ever known Christians to think in similar ways? When you consider Jesus’ approach to outsiders, his primary concern was whether or not they were moving toward God or away from Him? What sort of things let you know that someone has a spiritual interest or hunger?

5. Share with your small group your personal testimony. What was it like to give your life to Christ and what has He done in your life that only He could do?

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The Triumphal Entry:
Palm Sunday
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 13, 2025

It’s a story told by all four gospel writers and marks the beginning of the Passion Week of Christ. Just about the time you think you really understand it, it surprises you with layers of rich meaning that you never noticed before. At the heart of this story is a choice and not just any choice - THE CHOICE - are we committed to Jesus for Who He is or for Who we want Him to be? Don’t miss this message!

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1. It turns out that donkeys are more important than many of us ever realized. What are the things about donkeys that stood out most to you today? How do they enhance your understanding of Christ and His mission? What sort of statement did it make for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey at Passover? Do you think people in his day understood the significance of this?

2. Obviously at Passover, the fervor of the people reaches its highest levels. Remembering the significance of the deliverance of their people from Egypt and now being under the bootheel of another superpower made them yearn for God to do it again. But neither the people nor even Jesus’ disciples understood the sort of deliverance Christ intended to bring. Why do you think they were so blind as to what Christ intended to do even though He taught it and explicitly said it many times? If you lived in those days, do you think you would have seen things differently or the same as everybody else? Why or why not?

3. Pastor Keith said, “We want Jesus to be who we want Him to be instead of who He is." He then gave examples of the many ways we distort who Jesus is; Political Jesus, Magic 8-ball Jesus, Mr. Rogers Jesus, Santa Jesus and even Self-Help Jesus. Have you ever witnessed this yourself?Is this something you did at some point in your faith journey? How did that affect you? How did you come to a true, better and more Biblical understanding of Christ?

4. There were two likely triumphal entries into Jerusalem that day taking place on opposite sides of the city. One involved Pontius Pilate accompanied by a massive display of force. The other involved Jesus, a donkey and a rag-tag group of followers. Why does the world worship power and military might even to this day? Which parade would you personally fit into best? What does Jesus' entrance into the city that day say about the nature of His kingdom?

5. We all must make a choice. In a sense, even today, we are still waving our palm branches. This National Jewish symbol for liberation can either be waved in the political sense, i.e. believing that our deliverance rises and falls based on who possesses power in Washington DC. Or it can be waved in a more profound spiritual sense believing what’s fundamentally wrong with the world can’t be fixed by legislation, executive order or any other sort of political action. Instead, each and every heart needs to experience forgiveness, liberation from the bonds of selfishness and be set free to love God and others as intended. In which sphere do you wave your palm branch most? Based on what you read, what occupies your time and energy and conversations, or how you post on social media, what would others say is the sphere where you wave your palm branch most?

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Unshakeable Bonds:
The Strength of Spiritual Friendships
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
April 06, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #godlyfriendships #unshakeablebonds #realfaith #strongfriends #strongbonds

This sermon, Unshakeable Bonds, will uncover the value of spiritual friendships and the essential role accountability plays in our walk with Christ. You’ll discover how godly relationships protect us from isolation, discourage spiritual apathy, and speak truth into our lives when we need it most. True friends don’t just stand beside us—they challenge us, encourage us, and help us reflect Jesus more clearly. Learn how to cultivate these unshakeable bonds that sharpen your faith and strengthen your heart.

In a culture where surface-level connections are common and loneliness often hides behind busy schedules, The Bible highlights the life-changing power of authentic, God-centered friendships. "As iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17) is more than just wise advice—it’s God’s design for how we grow stronger in faith and character.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who are the “battle buddies” in your life—those spiritual friends who pray for you, speak truth to you, and walk with you through the fire? How did God bring them into your life? If you don’t have someone like that right now, what’s one step you can take to build that kind of friendship?

2. Daniel 3 shows us that standing in unity gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego strength—but Jesus was the one who set them free. How do your spiritual friendships give you courage? And how do they help you stay focused on Jesus, the one who brings freedom?

3. Think about a time when your faith was tested. Did someone walk through that “fire” with you? How did their presence (or absence) shape your experience and your faith?

4. What would it look like to be the kind of friend who helps others reflect Jesus more clearly? How can you show up, speak life, and help sharpen someone else's faith this week?

5. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t just survive Babylon—they revealed God in Babylon. What kind of shared legacy are you building with the people around you? How can your friendships point others to God?

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Step Out of The Boat
Springcreek | Part 1
Dr.Jessica Fernandez
March 30, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #fear #faithoverfear #anxiety #stepouttheboat #realfaith

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When Jesus called Peter to walk on water, it wasn’t about defying nature—it was about trusting Him fully. Peter stepped out, but fear and doubt made him sink. The other disciples? They stayed in the boat, paralyzed by fear and what-ifs. This message challenges us to stop letting overthinking hold us back. The real miracle isn’t the absence of fear; it’s choosing to trust Jesus despite it. Because in the end, it’s not the boat that keeps you safe—it’s the presence of Jesus. So what’s holding you back? Step out. Fix your focus on Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever felt God calling you to take a step of faith that felt risky or uncomfortable? What happened?
2. Can you relate to the idea of “overthinking” getting in the way of obedience? What does that look like in your life?
3. Read Matthew 14:22–33. Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples into the storm on purpose?
4. What does Peter’s experience on the water teach us about faith, focus, and fear?
5. How does Jesus’ response to Peter when he starts sinking reflect His character?
6. What is your “boat”—your comfort zone, fear, or excuse—that’s keeping you from stepping into what God has for you?

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LOVE: From Statue Quo To Spectacular
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 23, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships #protectinglove #protectlove

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In this series, we’ve saved the best for last. There are so many myths and misconceptions of love that permeate our society. And sometimes these distortions not only dominate our thinking but sabotage our best attempts at building a great love life. This Sunday we dispel the myths in order to build on the one sure foundation of love as it’s spelled out in the pages of God’s Word. This message will help you move from a ho-hum relationship to having a spectacular one.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some of the most common myths about love and relationships? What, if any, effect did those myths have on you? How do you think they play out in society?

2. Robert Sternberg wrote about triangular love that consists of passion, intimacy and commitment. He also gave three examples of what happens when one of the three is missing. Take some time individually or as a group to reflect on the following scenarios and how you have seen these play out in your life or those who surround you.

• High passion + High intimacy = Romantic love
• High passion + High commitment = Foolish love
• High intimacy + High commitment = Companionship love

1. What are the things that characterize Passion, Dod (Hebrew), Eros (Greek)? How would you rate your marriage in this area on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? What steps can you take to improve? Who has modelled this best in your life? What wounds or distortions might you have around this aspect of love?

2. What are the things that Intimacy, Raya (Hebrew), Phileo (Greek)? How would you rate your marriage in this area on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? What steps can you take to improve? Who has modeled this best in your life? What wounds or distortions might you have around this aspect of love?

3. What are the things that characterize Commitment, Ahava (Hebrew), Agape (Greek)? How would you rate your marriage in this area on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? What steps can you take to improve? Who has modeled this best in your life? What wounds or distortions might you have around this aspect of love?

4. What are your biggest takeaways from this series? Where were you challenged most? In what ways were you affirmed? What plans, if any, have you made to keep your marriage growing and strong?

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FIDELITY: Protecting Love
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 16, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships #protectinglove #protectlove

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If the statistics are to be believed, somewhere between 20-40% of all marriages will experience the heartache of infidelity. That’s a sobering reality. But that’s also why it’s vitally important to do a relationship check-up. What are the signs of vulnerability that we need to look for? How do you protect yourself and your marriage from life’s ultimate betrayal? What are the essentials to keeping a marriage growing and strong? That’s what we’ll discover in this message about fidelity and how to protect love.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you or someone you care about ever gone through the experience of adultery? How did they or how would you describe it? Did the relationship survive? If not, why not? If it did, how?

2. Pastor Keith talked about the environment that creates vulnerability to an affair; indifference, intensity and isolation. Go back over the message notes and share what you took away from this part of the message. Where are you strongest? Where are you weakest? What would you suggest to someone struggling with one or more of these areas of vulnerability?

3. Understandably, most people are deeply disturbed by sexual infidelity. But it is often the emotional entanglement that determines the difficulty of breaking free of an illicit relationship. At the same time, there are likely far more people who have been emotionally unfaithful than have been sexually unfaithful to their spouse. Why do you think this is so? How do people justify it in their minds? Why is this sort of bond so difficult to break? What precautions do you take to ensure this doesn’t happen to you?

4. As Pastor Keith wrapped up the message, he described the four fidelities of marriage as; to a person, to a vow, to a process of intimacy, and to a calling. Take some time and recap all four fidelities. Which stood out to you most? In which area do you need to grow? What steps will you take? How could you encourage your mate or other couples in regard to the four fidelities?

5. What was your biggest takeaway from this message? How did that affirm you? Correct you? Inform you? Guide you? Encourage you?

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FIGHTING: The Enemies of Intimacy
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 9, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships #goodfight #badfight

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Conflict is the price you pay for intimacy. There is simply no other way of achieving it. In the same way that the absence of conflict is not a healthy relational sign, neither is conflict that rages out of control. The key to a lasting, loving relationship is to learn to resolve conflict appropriately. Join us Sunday as we learn God’s way of building greater intimacy in marriage.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Conflict is to be expected in marriage. Yet so many act as if the opposite were true. What has been your attitude toward conflict whether in your marriage, family, friendship circle, or even at work? Poorly handled conflict will always result in hurt and further alienation. Conflict handled well will lead toward deeper intimacy. Can you think of examples of both?

2. Without a doubt, John Gottman’s explanation of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse as it relates to marriage is very revealing. The four horsemen are criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling. Did you see any of these characteristics in your parent’s marriage? What was that like? How about your own marriage? Where has your greatest struggle been? What things can be done to interrupt this downward spiral of broken communication?

3. Take some time as an individual or group to discuss the chart “Good Fight vs Bad Fight” (posted online with today’s message notes). Where are you strongest?Where are you weakest? What’s your biggest takeaway from the chart? What steps can you make toward improvement?

4. Pastor Keith reminded us to “Complain. Don’t blame.” No matter how“ at fault” your partner is, approaching them with criticism and accusation is not going to be productive. It’s all about the approach. One of the biggest ways to take the edge off of communicating concerns is by beginning with “I” statements instead of “You ” statements. When you begin with “I”, you are less likely to seem critical. Recall some of your more common complaints in marriage. How can you rephrase your complaints making “I” statements instead of “you" statements?

5. The magic ratio of 5 to 1 positive to negative interactions is an absolute essential to making improvements in communication AND having a happy, healthy love life. We need to be making far more deposits into our partners “love bank” than we are making withdrawals. How would you rate yourself in this area? How would your partner rate you? What can you do this week to begin to make improvements? For those of you who make a practice of doing this regularly, what difference has it made in your marriage?

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COMMUNICATION: Hearing and Being Heard
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 2, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships

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There is so much more to communication than the words we say. Communication is about content but it’s also about intent. It’s about how we say what we say. But the single most neglected aspect of communication by far is listening. Caring enough to hear what the other is saying and saying things in a way that they can be heard is the ability that is sorely lacking in most troubled relationships. This ability spells the difference between couples that end up in the courtroom versus the bedroom. And the best news is this – you can become a better listener and learn how to communicate in ways that connect. Don’t miss this message!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Take some time to read the story of the healing of the paralytic by the pool of Bethesda (John 5.1-15). Pastor Keith pointed out how the question Jesus asked was very important, “Do you want to get well?” Why was this question of such great importance? What other lessons do you glean from this story?

2. According to available data, the average couple spends around 37 minutes per month talking to each other – not per day, per month. As a couple, whether dating or married, try to estimate how much time you spend talking to one another daily. Rate yourself in terms of your listening abilities on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being bad and 10 being great. Now ask your partner to rate you in terms of your listening abilities. Are those numbers the same, close, or far apart? If those numbers differ significantly, this would be a good conversation for later as to why your estimation and theirs are so out of sync.

3. Take some time to go back through the Roadblocks to Listening from today’s message. Are there any roadblocks that are problematic for you? Where do you struggle and how? Are there any roadblocks that are not a problem for you or a problem that you learned to overcome? If so, what one or ones do you do well and what do you see as the key to your success in that area?

4. What was your greatest takeaway from today’s message? Were there any areas that you felt God was prompting you to pay attention to?

5. Who are the people in your past or present who were great listeners? What was it that made them a great listener? What effect did they have on you because of how well they listened? In what ways have you tried to emulate their example?

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INCOMPATIBILITY: GROUNDS FOR A GREAT MARRIAGE
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 23, 2025

Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships

The Reverend Billy Graham once said about his marriage, “Ruth and I are happily incompatible.” It’s an unconventional way of describing a powerful truth. What makes for a great relationship is not sameness but differences – differences that have been honed to complement one another rather than contribute to never-ending conflict. In this message, Pastor Keith will walk you through the four stages of a healthy relationship and what it takes to turn your differences into assets. You don’t want to miss this message!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Although multiple studies confirm that compatibility is a non-factor in successful marriages, the mythology persists. Do you think compatibility is important? What reasons do you have for believing this?

2. We all begin at a fairly immature level of love and intimacy. As C.S. Lewis said, there is a sense in which all young love must die in order to give birth to a more mature and fully formed love. But he added that even though many have experienced the death of young love, far more have missed the rebirth. Which implies that many give up on love before it even gets good. What has been your experience with this? Have you ever experienced the death of young love? Were you able to move to a new level of loving with that person, or did the relationship die, too?

3. In the Four Stages of Intimacy that Pastor Keith addressed in today’s message, in present or past relationships, what level have you achieved? Did you ever find yourself stuck at a certain level and unable to advance? If so, why did you get stuck and what happened in the relationship? What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in making progress?

4. Differences both draw us to others and repel us. We are fascinated by those who think differently, feel differently, and act differently. There’s a definite attraction to it. But on the flip side, at some point in the relationship, those very same differences become irritant. Has this ever happened to you? During the grand reversal, how did that play out? Did you ever come to a point of resolution or acceptance? If so, describe what that was like.

5. Where would you say most of your friends and people you know fall on the four stages of intimacy? What was this like in your parent’s marriage? What about your spouse’s parents? Have you ever had a good model for healthy, mature love? If so, who was that person, and what did you admire most about their loving relationship?

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RELINQUISH SLAVERY
Less $tress | Part 3
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
February 16, 2025

realspringcreekchurch #financialfreedom #stressfree #godandmoney

Debt is more than just a financial burden - it’s a form of modern day slavery that can control decisions, emotions, and even our faith. In this sermon, we explore what the Bible says about debt, financial bondage, and true freedom in Christ. Many of us unknowingly live under the weight of financial oppression. How does debt keep us enslaved? How can we break free and step into God’s provision and peace?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to be enslaved to debt, and how can financial burdens affect your ability to fully trust and serve God? Read Proverbs 22:7 and Matthew 6:24. How do these verses relate to financial bondage and our relationship with God?

2. Jesus said we cannot serve both God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24). How does the spirit of Mammon influence people’s financial decisions, and how can we resist its pull? What are some lies that Mammon tells us about money? How do they compare to God’s promises in Scripture?

3. The Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10) was a time when debts were canceled and slaves were freed. What does this tell us about God’s heart for financial freedom? How does this principle apply to our lives today, and how can we walk in financial freedom as believers?

4. In what ways does debt impact relationships, marriages, and families? Have you ever experienced or seen financial stress create tension in your relationships? How can biblical financial wisdom bring peace and unity?

5. What practical steps can you take today to begin the journey toward financial freedom? Read Philippians 4:19 and Proverbs 4:7. How does trusting in God’s provision and seeking financial wisdom help us break free from financial bondage?

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ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES
Less $tress | Part 2
Pastor Keith Stewart
February 9, 2025

This second installment in our series, Less $tress, is all about the steps you can take in your life to immediately begin relieving financial stress. In a message both personal and practical, Pastor Keith will share with you the three proven principles for getting out and staying out of financial distress It’s a message you don’t want to miss.

lessstress #establishingpriorities #realspringcreekchurch #livingstressfree #putgodfirstfinancially

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Describe a time in your life that was financially distressing, past, or present? What happened? How did you deal with it? Were there ways you might have contributed to the problem? What did you find most helpful? Where are you now in regard to this issue?

2. Regarding the practice of frugality, Pastor Keith offered two guiding principles. One was to practice doing a regular inventory of your life. This keeps hoarding in check, makes sure that the things we have make an actual contribution to our life and allows us to see if there are things we have that might be better used by others or sold to produce a benefit for others. Have you ever engaged in such an inventory? Has God ever moved your heart to give something away or sell something to be a blessing? Describe what happened and whatever outcome you may be aware of.

3. Pastor Keith also suggested in regard to frugality, that we reconsider purchases. Sometimes, we are too quick to go buy the things we want without ever considering if God might want to bless us in another way; to receive something for free, or at a reduced cost or even have it loaned to us. Has this ever happened to you? If so, what was it? How did you respond? Have you ever delayed purchasing an item so you could consult with God whether that was the proper course? Have you ever blessed someone with something they needed? If so, what was that like?

4. When it comes to establishing priorities that will lead to greater freedom and less stress, we need to stop the bleeding. In other words, we must step off the endless debt cycle. The misuse of credit has gotten many individuals and families into trouble. Too often, we think only in terms of the affordability of the payment without considering the cumulative effect of long-term debt or how that payment might erode our margin. What has been your personal experience with using credit for homes, cars, major purchases or credit cards? If you have managed to get credit usage under control, what were the things that helped you most? If you could have a talk with the younger you, what advice would you give as it relates to the use of credit?

5. One of the most practical principles in getting money managed and moving toward a less stressful experience is involving God in your finances. Throughout the Bible, there are numerous promises from God about taking care of our needs IF we prioritize Him in our finances. For those of you who make a regular habit of giving, how have you seen God’s faithfulness in providing for your needs? If someone was a new believer and struggling to trust God with their finances, what would you say to encourage them?

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SETTLE OWNERSHIP
Less $tress | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 2, 2025

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could just let go of our financial worries and stress over running our business and managing our mortgage and struggling with our student loan? What if I told you the key to a more peaceful and productive life is a 2000-year-old recipe in God’s Word that teaches us that we’re not owners, we’re merely managers of the things that belong to God. That one reality has the power to release burdens we carry that belong to God and not us. I hope you can join us in this first installment in Less $tress living.

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1. Pastor Keith made some comparisons between renters and homeowners. Ultimately, it’s the homeowner who bears the responsibility for major repairs that are a part of the normal upkeep of a home. What has been your experience in this area as an owner or a renter?

2. What, if anything, did you learn from the parable of the unjust steward that you didn’t know before? What are some of your key learnings from this parable?

3. In drawing lessons from this story, Jesus reminded us, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16.10). The implication is money is a really SMALL issue loaded with HUGE implications. There are riches that are far greater than money. But whether or not God will ever entrust them to us is dependent on whether we can first pass the money test. How are you personally doing in this area of your life? What have been your greatest learnings? Where have you struggled the most? What comes naturally to you today and why?

4. Jesus made money into a very intensely personal and spiritual matter by giving money the name Mammon. Why is money a spiritual matter? In what ways does money take on God-like qualities in our life? Why did Jesus reduce our choice to God and Money versus God and Satan?

5. Pastor Keith’s final illustration about playing the game of monopoly speaks to our obsession with money and acquisition. What do you know about the game of monopoly and especially its parallels with economic realities? What does it say to you that in the end, it all goes back in the box?

6. What decision or decisions will you make as a result of today’s message?

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| RECONCILERS |
Pastor Jessica Fernandez
January 26, 2025

The world is fractured by conflict, injustice, and division, leaving people longing for peace, healing, and unity. As followers of Christ, we are called to step into this brokenness and become reconcilers, reflecting God’s heart for restoration. In this sermon, we will explore how God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. We will unpack the biblical call to bridge divides, heal relationships, and share the message of hope and unity in a divided world. Together, we’ll discover what it means to live as ambassadors of Christ, actively building bridges and restoring what’s broken through His love and power.

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1. Are there people in your life that you need to reconcile with? What steps can you take this week to move toward forgiveness and restoration?

2. Where do you see division in your home, family, community, workplace, or church? How can you personally act as a bridge-builder in those spaces?

3. Reconciliation often requires humility, courage, and sacrifice. What might you need to let go of—pride, comfort, or resentment—to pursue reconciliation in your relationships?

4. How does understanding that “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28) challenge the way you view and treat others?

5. Paul took an active role in mediating between Philemon and Onesimus. Who in your life might need an advocate or someone to stand in the gap for them? How can you reflect Christ in that situation?

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Beautifully Gifted
Deploy Your Gift | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 19, 2025

You are beautifully gifted - created on purpose and for a purpose. It’s been said,“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” That’s what this series has been all about; discovering the unique blend of gifts God has placed in you, developing them to their maximum potential, and finally, deploying those gifts in service to God and others. It’s time for your gifts to shine!
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where did God challenge you most through this message? What did you learn from the Parable of the Talents that you hadn’t known before or made you think about it in a new or different way?

2. Do you know what your gifts are? Do you have a clear understanding of your purpose? Why or why not? For those of you who lack clarity, share with the group what things get you excited, motivated or you can talk about easily? What qualities do others affirm in you? Have you had any “God moments” – times when you think God was especially at work through something you did or said?

3. Have you ever sensed a nudge from the Holy Spirit prompting you to say something or do something but you resisted it? What was the thing you felt compelled to do or say? What held you back? How much of a factor was it that you were afraid of looking stupid or your old wounding was discouraging you or was it something else?

4. One of the keys to discovering and refining our sense of who we are and why we are here is simply to make a beginning by using what we have at our disposal to service others. What are some natural talents that you have, areas of experience, or even work-related skills that might be useful to other people? Have you ever put those skills to work outside of your job?5. What are some needs you have noticed in the church? Your community? The world? What is it about this need That moves your heart?

5. In what ways have you learned the importance of consistency in the way you serve? What habits or disciplines have helped you become more consistent? In what ways have you made progress, even incremental changes in the way you serve or operate in your gifting?

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Beautifully Gifted
Part 2 | Develop Your Gift
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 12, 2025

Many of our gifts come to us in seed form. They are literally bursting with potential. But you and I have a role in the development of our gifts. Like a seed, your gift must be nurtured and grown into what God designed it to be. Think of it like this. God has gifted you in many wonderful ways. Your gift to God is what you make of your gifts. That’s what this message is all about.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Dr . Marilyn Ann Murphree made the observation, “We have garages at our homes where we store worthless junk and protect it from the weather and lock it up at night and then we leave our $40,000 new cars sitting out in the driveway to rust.” Our gifting is a treasure that is often neglected like the car sitting out in the weather while less important things get our attention, protection and occupy the most space in our life. What are some things in your life that deserve more attention? What are some things that deserve less? What practical steps can you take today to make sure that what’s important is not sacrificed for lesser things?

2. Paul encouraged Timothy by saying, “…the special gift of ministry you received…keep that ablaze!” 2 Timothy 1.6. Why does the fire of our gifting smolder? What can you do to fan the flame of your gifting? Have you ever felt “on fire” for God or the things of God? What was that like? What were you doing to nurture your relationship with God during that time?

3. Our gifting may include possibilities we have never even considered as in the case of Grandma Moses and Elizabeth Leyton. Have any of you discovered even more gifting in your life that you never knew you had before? What was it? How and when did you discover it?

4. Why are you doing what everyone else could do while you leave undone what only YOU could do? Are you focused on your unique gifting? What have you chosen or could you choose to fail at in order to succeed in your gifting?

5. Do you have a Paul (mentor), a Barnabas (spiritual friend) and a Timothy (mentee)? If so, how have those relationships contributed to your life? If someone asked you how to find a Paul, Barnabas or Timothy, what would you tell them?

6. Our brokenness, especially the false self, is a saboteur of our gifting. It distorts our gifts into a self-serving tool and turns them into selfish ambition. Jesus had to deal with this in His disciples and their obsession with being the greatest. What were your takeaways from this part of the message? What stood out most? Why is true servanthood the remedy for selfish ambition?

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Beautifully Gifted
Discover Your Gift | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 5, 2025

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once prayed, “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.” Dr. King's desire is a perfect encapsulation of this Sunday's message. God has a wonderful purpose for your life and you will discover it once you understand how He has uniquely formed and equipped you to be. This is the perfect beginning to the new year and you don't want to miss it.

Realspringcreekchurch #spiritualgifts #beautifully #gifted #discoveryourgift

1. Take some time individually or as a group to read the various lists of spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Peter 4:9-11; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:11-13). Do you know what your spiritual gift or gifts are? They say that two tests of the spiritual gifts are fruitful and fulfilled. In other words, when you are exercising your spiritual gift, it is fruitful - that is, other people express appreciation for your gift, it is helpful, beneficial, healing or instructive to them. And secondly, you are fulfilled in exercising your gift. In other words, you find satisfaction and deep connection to God as you put your gift into practice. In what ways have you experienced being both fruitful and fulfilled?

2. Our heart represents our loves - our strongest and most persistent desires. What are the things you most love to do? How has pursuing the things you love been a factor in your life in school, your career and personal life? In what ways could God’s kingdom benefit by sharing your passions with others? If you’ve already found a way of doing that, describe what that experience was like and explain how others can do the same.

3. Abilities are those strengths and aptitudes that we are born with. We develop our abilities and perfect them throughout life, but there is an inclination that already exists in one or several areas to excel. Sometimes, we are unaware of our abilities because we dismiss them too easily thinking that everybody can do what comes naturally to us. What abilities have you discovered in your life? What strengths have you always been aware of? How do you use your abilities in your personal life? Professional life? Spiritual life?

4. Our personalities also constitute the unique gifts God has given us. Pastor Keith highlighted two aspects of personality, introversion versus extroversion and preferred learning styles in affective, reflective or substantive. In these two categories, do you know which terms best describe you? If so, which ones do and explain how that plays out in your life. It is also vitally important that we be aware that not everyone is constituted as we are. Personality can help us relate powerfully to those most like us, but God wants us all to gain an appreciation for all the personality styles and the contribution we can make to one another. Take some time to contemplate how each personality style has strengths and weaknesses.

5. The experiences we’ve had in life for good or bad can be used by God to help others who find themselves in similar situations. What good things in your life experience has God used to help others? What bad things in your life has God redeemed and worked to the benefit of others? Is there anything that you once never wanted to talk about but now do so freely because of the healing and forgiveness that God has helped you to experience?

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THE SHEPHERD
Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
December 29, 2024

god #theshepherd #psalm23 #psalm22 #realspringcreekchurch

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved and comforting passages in all of Scripture, offering a timeless reminder of God’s love and care for His people. In this sermon, we will explore the beautiful imagery of God as our Shepherd—a guide who provides, protects, and restores. Just as a shepherd knows each sheep by name and cares for their every need, our God leads us beside still waters, refreshes our souls, and walks with us through life’s darkest valleys.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In what moments this past year have you felt a sense of abandonment or silence from God, similar to David in Psalm 22? How did you navigate those feelings?

1. Reflecting on Psalm 23, how has your understanding of God as a shepherd influenced your perspective on personal trials, and in what specific ways have you witnessed His provision
   in your life?

2. After considering the different labels attributed to David throughout his life, what labels have you accepted for yourself, and how do you reconcile those with the identity God has ascribed to you?

3. Who has God been to you this year? Share a specific instance that embodies His presence or guidance during a challenging moment in your life.

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EMMANUEL
The Name | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 22, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #emmanuel #thename #godwithus

Each of the names given to Christ reveal something special and unique about Who He is and Why He came. Appropriately, this Sunday before Christmas, we dive into the mystery of Emmanuel, which means, God with us. This name lets us know that there’s more to the Christmas story than we have ever imagined, hoped or dreamed. This name reminds us that we’re never alone. This name unleashes our worship of the One Who is always with us.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The French writer André Breton said, “All my life, my heart has yearned for a thing I cannot name.” C.S. Lewis concluded was if I find myself having a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most logical conclusion is I was made for something beyond this life. How does the God hunger manifest in people? What sort of things do people seek other than God to fill this hunger? Have you personally had experience with this truth positively or negatively? If so, what was that like?

2. Have you ever sensed God with you in a difficult, challenging or painful time in your life? How did God make you aware that He was with you? What did He do for you?
   Or what did He say to you? Or what happened in your circumstances that ended up being a great comfort?
   What would you say to someone who feels abandoned by God or all alone in whatever it is they are going through?

3. Take some time to discuss the following verse...
   Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4.14-16

4. Pastor Keith mentioned two practical ways of illustrating the incarnation (God becoming human). One was Philip Yancey’s illustration about his salt-water aquarium and the other was the Christian author Dorothy Sayers who developed a character in her detective fiction novels that she fell in love with and then wrote herself into the story. What did these illustrations say to you? How are they similar to what God did for us? Can you think of any other ways of how or why God became human?

5. The story of the Bible is the record of God expressing His desire to be with us. The story begins in a Garden and walking together every day. From there, the story progresses to the pillar of a cloud and a fire by night that remains with the people and guides them daily. Once the Israelites settle down, God has them construct a dwelling place, first in the tabernacle and second in the temple, where He can dwell in the midst of His people. When Jesus arrives, He is Emmanuel – God with us. Then once He ascends back to the Father, Christ comes to dwell within every believer. God is with us is not just the message of Christmas but the message of Christianity. How is God with you today? Where is He leading you? How is He comforting you? In what ways has He corrected you? What is He saying to you? How is communion an opportunity to re-experience Christ in His nearness to us?

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KING
The Name | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 15, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #king #thename

History, literature and fairytales are filled with the story of kings. Truth be told, most of the kings we’ve learned about were evil, corrupt or self-serving. Which means, when we identify Christ as King, this particular title comes with a certain amount of baggage attached to it. How is Christ a King unlike any other king we’ve ever known? In what ways is Christ’s Kingship different? And what does it mean to swear your allegiance to Him and make Him King over your life? That’s what this Sunday’s message is all about.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What bad kings do you know from history, movies or Scripture? What made them bad? What good kings do you know from history, movies or Scripture? What made them good? Take some time to read 1 Samuel 8.10-18. This is God’s warning, through the prophet Samuel, about Israel’s demand that God give them a king to be like other nations. What phrase occurs over and over in this passage? What does this warning say to you?

2. Today’s message centered on Matthew’s portrayal of Christ as King. Why is Christ a King like no other king? What makes Him unique? Why does the kingdom He rules over, operate so differently from the kingdoms of men?

3. The Magi brought gifts for the newborn king. What were the three gifts and what were their significance? Their gifts show a level of discernment about Who Christ was and what He came to do that many in Israel lacked. Why do you think the gospels constantly portray outsiders as more discerning and spiritually receptive than God’s own people?

4. Pastor Keith took some time to make a comparison between the history of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah and Christ’s triumphal entry. What parallels stood out to you? Israel was primed for a political revolution, yet Christ brought a spiritual revolution. Why must the heart be changed before our circumstances can ever be changed?

5. Christ is King. Is He truly the King of your life? Does His sovereign choice always come first? Do you desire to follow Him in all you do? If not, what gets in the way? If so, how did you learn to submit to His will and His ways?

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CHRIST
The Name | Part 2
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
December 8, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #christ #thename

What’s in a name? In Scripture, names are more than just labels—they reveal identity, purpose, and destiny. The name Christ is no exception. Derived from the Greek Christos, meaning "Anointed One," it is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Mashiach or "Messiah". This name declares Jesus as the chosen and empowered Savior, Prophet, Priest, and King. In this message, we’ll explore the profound meaning of the name Christ and how it reveals Jesus’ mission and identity. Together, we’ll discover how understanding Him as the Anointed One can transform the way we see Him, love Him, and follow Him. This Christmas season let’s move beyond familiarity and embrace the depth of who Jesus truly is as the Christ—the fulfillment of God’s promises and the hope of the world.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does the name "Christ" reveal about Jesus' identity and mission?

2. How do titles like Prophet, Priest, and King deepen your understanding of Jesus?

3. What cultural or personal misconceptions about Jesus might you need to address?

4. How can Simeon and Anna’s faithfulness inspire your walk with God today?

5. In what ways does recognizing Jesus as Christ shape your daily life and decisions?

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JESUS
The Name – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 1, 2024

#God #realspringcreekchurch #christmas #thename #jesus #hope

His name is, without a doubt, one of the most universally recognized names in all the world. Even now, 2000 years after His life, death and resurrection, Jesus occupies the place of central devotion in all His followers. But what is it about His name that is so unique? Why do Christians always pray in His name? What makes His name stand out above all other names?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith mentioned in the introduction to the message that the Bible gives us 256 different names of Jesus. This series is only dealing with four of them. What other names does the Bible use to describe Jesus and what do those names mean to you?

2. Praying in Jesus’ name is not a tag line we attach to our prayers. What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? How does this affect the way you see prayer in His name? Have you ever been so in tune with the will of God, that when an opportunity presented itself, you knew what needed to be said, prayed for or done? What was that like? What was the result?

3. Unless we read Scripture through Jewish eyes, we will miss so many details that are important in the narrative we are reading. After seeing the connection between Joshua and Jesus, what were some of your key takeaways from those parallels? Had you made this connection before? In the gospels, what other things are you aware of that are connected in some significant way to the Jewishness of the writers and the story they are telling?

4. In the last section of the message, Pastor Keith talked about salvation that Christ has made available to all who call on His name. He also shared about His own conversion experience. In the time remaining, those of you who are comfortable doing so, share about your own experience of coming to know God. When did it happen? How did it happen? If someone asked you, “How can I be saved?” What would you tell them?

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THE FRUIT OF SELF-CONTROL
Fruit-Full – Part 9
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 24, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofselfcontrol #selfcontrol

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Self-control is something most all of us struggle with. Now you may exercise enviable control over your money, your schedule, your personal life, your eating, or any number of areas but still have one thing with which you constantly struggle. And that one thing becomes an endless source of discouragement. As we wrap up this series, let’s tune into what God has to say about self-control, what it is, what it isn’t, what works and what does not. This is a must hear message you don’t want to miss!
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. One of the defining characteristics of the flesh is its emptiness. It is empty and feels empty all the time. Which is why the flesh craves the overconsumption of anything and everything it desires. Can you give examples of this? Pastor Keith pointed out that in Galatians 5, Paul contrasts the flesh with the spirit. Take some time to read Galatians 5.13-26. What differences do you notice between the flesh and the Spirit? What characterizes the flesh? What characterizes the Spirit?

2. Unlike humans, God does not share in our fleshly desires (excessive or normal). He is not needy like us. But at the same time, He chose to have a human experience in Jesus Christ with all the normal needs that humans have. What sorts of needs do all humans share? Can you think of examples in Scripture that illustrate the humanness of Christ? How did Christ handle the temptations in the wilderness and what does it teach us about how to handle temptation (Read Matthew 4.1-11)?

3. What did you learn from this message about the inner civil war believers fight? It is not uncommon for believers to experience levels of victory in certain areas of their life in regards to self-control while at the same time experiencing defeat in other areas. Where have you experienced victory? Where have you struggled? What are you learning about the key to victory?

4. Willpower and Spirit power are two entirely different things. What are the limitations of willpower? Why does the Bible offer us cautions in regards to rule-keeping as a way to defeat sin?

5. How do we yield to the Holy Spirit? How do we nurture our life in God as opposed to feeding our fleshly appetites? What is your biggest takeaway from today’s message?

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THE FRUIT OF GENTLENESS
Fruit-Full – Part 8
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

November 17, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofgentleness #gentleness

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

It’s the one fruit nobody wants. To many, gentleness just sounds like a good way to get run over. I mean, let’s face it, you don’t climb the corporate ladder of gentleness. We think gentleness just can’t cut it in the real world. But what works for God works for life and works for us. When God is looking for the ones who are manifesting His presence, He looks for this quality more than any other. Discover this Sunday why gentleness is God’s way of transforming the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think of or envision when you hear the word gentleness? Is it a positive or negative word for you—why? Recall a time when someone else’s gentleness was a blessing to you. What happened and what difference did it make?

2. Have you ever experienced harshness? Where did it happen? Who did it involve? How did it affect you? Does it still affect you?

3. Why do we tend to equate volume, bravado and threatening language with strength?

4. Would people who know you well say that they see gentleness in you? How do you feel about what their response might be?

5. Are you judgmental or gentle toward those who sin differently than you do?

6. Are my words building up others or are they bruising their sense of worth and dignity as a people created in the image of God?

7. How do you hear this word (gentleness) differently now? What Scriptures stood out to you most today? Isaiah and Matthew used the image of Christ as one who would not break a bent reed or snuff out a flickering lamp. How does that imagery speak to you? Can you think of any New Testament examples of Christ’s gentleness with people? If so, what are they?

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THE FRUIT OF FAITHFULNESS
Fruit-Full – Part 7
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 10, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #god #fruitfull #thefruitoffaithfulness #faithfulness #faithfulhttps://www.springcreekchurch.org/

The writer of proverbs asks the question, “Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?” (Proverbs 20.6). Did you know there are studies that indicate we replace half of our social network over a course of seven years and that the percentage of Americans who say that they don’t have a single close friend has quadrupled since 1990? Fidelity seems to be in short supply these days. But God promises a new reality to the believer fully yielded to Him. Faithfulness is a natural outgrowth of a life yielded to the One Who keeps every promise, is there for us when everyone else walks away, and remains faithful even when we’re faithless.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever been in a relationship where trust or promises were broken? What sort of effect did that have on you? Were you ever able to rebuild trust with that person? What do you think are the necessary steps in rebuilding trust?

2. God is a promise-making, promise-keeping God. Throughout Scripture, we are not just reminded of God’s promises but also of the faithfulness of God to keep each and every one of them. What are some of the promises that you see God making and keeping in Scripture? What are some of the promises that God made to all believers that you depend on in your own walk with Christ?

3. The Bible assures us that God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him. What does that tell you about God? How is that different or the same as what you were taught in prior church experiences? Why is disappointment something foreign to God?

4. What is some small way that you demonstrate faithfulness in your daily life? Has God ever asked you to serve Him in a way that would never be noticed by others? If so, what was that? Why does God insist on fidelity in small things before trusting us with greater things?

5. Robertson McQuilken’s story of his love and fidelity to his wife with Alzheimer’s disease is a truly touching and inspirational example of heart transformed by the faithfulness of God. Why are stories like this so rare today? How does this story effect you? In what ways would you like for God to do a similar work in you?

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THE FRUIT OF GOODNESS
Fruit-Full – Part 6
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 3, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofgoodness #goodness

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Goodness been called the most underrated of all the fruit of the Spirit. If you ask the average believer in which area do they most need to grow, many will say patience, self-control or even love. But goodness is hardly ever even mentioned. It seems unimportant. But what if I told you that the goodness of God is no minor league truth about God. Instead it’s literally the lens through which we see all the other attributes of God. Goodness is what you need in God to set you free and goodness is what He wants to pour through your life to transform the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Take some time to discuss what you learned about the word “good” and “goodness” today. What were your dominant associations with those words before hearing this message? What are they now? What qualities stood out most as it relates to the Old Testament Hebrew word (Tov) or the New Testament Greek word (Agathosune)?

2. Why is the goodness of God not a minor truth about God? How does God demonstrate His goodness to us? In what ways have you been a recipient of the goodness of God?

3. One practical suggestion to come out of today’s message was to make the phrase “God is as good as Jesus made Him out to be” a daily meditation. Since Jesus told us He was the clearest representation of God we have ever seen or known, how does that shift any misconceptions you may presently have of God? When you read the Bible, do you read through a Christo-centric filter (using Christ as the lens through which you read the rest of the Bible)? In Bible study, it is often taught that clear passages should govern our understanding of unclear passages. If Christ is the clearest representation of God we have ever had, then it is only fitting to see and understand the rest of Scripture through the lens of Christ. Have you ever tried to do this?

4. Pastor Keith clearly laid out God’s plan to support His workers through the generosity of God’s people in Scripture. In fact, goodness literally means to give generously for the good of others. One of the primary ways we do this is by supporting those who minister the Word to our souls. Do you think most people understand this aspect of giving? Why do you think people give to the church? Why has God throughout history placed His workers in a position of forced dependency on the people of God?

5. As with every fruit of the Spirit, all of them are evidence of the fullness of God’s presence in us. When God’s goodness fills our heart and overflows into our lives, people are blown away by the things they see in our life that can’t be credited to anything other than the presence of God. What do you think of the phrase, “Your life may be the only Bible some people read?” Have you ever witnessed that in someone? What were they like? What effect did it have on you? Is your life an example of something that attracts people to the family of God?

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THE FRUIT OF KINDNESS
Fruit-Full – Part 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 27, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofkindness #kindness

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

With the hotly contested presidential election just around the corner coupled with the toxic cesspool social media has become, many of us find ourselves longing for less hate and more kindness. That’s why you don’t want to miss this Sunday’s message as we explore the Fruit of Kindness. We’re going to explore the kindness of God and why He wants this virtue to set us apart as His followers. The message will both challenge and encourage you, but most of all, instill you with hope that God’s ways are truly the best.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Kindness is other-centered. The Old Testament word (Hebrew - Chesed or Hesed) and the New Testament word (Greek – Chrestotes), both have the same idea of caring for the needs of others. Look at the following definitions again…

“When chrestotes is working in a believer, he seeks to become adaptable to the needs of those who are around him.” - Rick Renner

“Chesed means the ability to get right inside the other person's skin until we can see things with his eyes, think things with his mind, and feel things with his feelings.” - William Barclay, Daily Study Bible commentary on Matthew

“They willingly pour themselves out for the good of someone else.” - Carolyn James

When and in what ways have you experienced this FROM others? When and in what ways have you done this FOR others?

1. God is kind all the time and God is kind to all people. In what ways have you experienced the kindness of God? How does God show His kindness to all people everywhere?

2. What were your biggest takeaways from today’s message?

3. Why did the lawyer try to limit the definition of neighbor? How did Jesus correct his erroneous ideas? Do people today still try to limit the definition of neighbor to those most like themselves?

4. A woman asked Michael Card, “Why won’t you let me be kind to you?” It’s an important question. Additionally, it speaks to this idea of why we resist grace. Do you have trouble receiving kindness from others? Do you struggle with the idea of grace?

5. It’s not our actions but our reactions that are the best barometer of where we actually are in Christ. It’s our reactions that reveal what’s really going on inside us. To use the words of Amy Carmichael, “What fills your cup?” When life knocks you down, bumps you, inconveniences you, how do you react? What spills from your cup when you get bumped?

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SACRIFICE IN SORROW
When Serving Costs You
Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
October 20, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #sacrificeinsorrow #whenservingcostsyou #sacrifice #sorrow #serving #serve #cost

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

We will explore the story of the Widow of Zarephath, a woman who faced overwhelming grief and hopelessness. Preparing for what she believed would be her last meal with her son, she was asked by the prophet Elijah to sacrifice what little she had left to serve him first. This act of sacrificial service in the midst of her sorrow came at a cost—but it was through this sacrifice that she encountered God’s miraculous provision and hope.

When we serve others during our seasons of grief, it often feels like it costs us more than we can bear—our comfort, energy, and what little hope remains. Yet, as we’ll see in this story, it is in these moments of sacrificial service that God meets us, sustains us, and provides for us in ways we could never imagine.

This sermon will challenge us to reflect on how God might be calling us to serve, even when it costs us something. When we choose to offer Him the little we have, even in our sorrow, He is faithful to meet our needs and restore our hope.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In what ways do you relate to the widow’s sense of emptiness or lack? How does her story encourage you to trust God?

2. What are some areas in your life where you feel like you have nothing left to give? How might God be asking you to serve despite your lack?

3. How does sacrificial service bring about healing, both for the person serving and those being served? Have you experienced this in your own life?

4. What are some practical ways you can step into serving others, even in a season of grief or sorrow?

How can we encourage each other as a church community to trust God and serve faithfully, especially in difficult times?

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THE FRUIT OF PATIENCE
Fruit-Full – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 13, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofpatience #patience https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Few things put our faith to the test like having to wait. We wait to hear the results of a biopsy. We grow impatient with our children. Will they ever learn responsibility and grow up? We are in a relationship with someone with no desire to commit and our patience is all but gone. In practically every area of life, we desperately need more patience. If you’d like more patience but don’t know how to get it, that’s what this message is all about.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In what ways were you challenged or encouraged by today’s message?

2. God is slow to heat up and slow to react – which is what patience is all about. What did you learn about God that makes Him so patient? Why do people often think of God in the opposite terms, given to snap judgments, quick to mete out punishment, and even arbitrarily bringing devastation? Some people today even say the same sort of things when natural disasters strike. How would you answer such a person? Do you think that type of thinking is consistent with God as He is revealed in Scripture?

3. When it comes to things that try our patience, Pastor Keith pointed out the three dominant areas as;

• Waiting – The question is “How long?”

• Suffering – The question is, “Why?”

• People – The question is, “How in the world?”

Have any of these been challenging for you? How and in what ways? What are you learning that might help you better cope with the things that try your patience?

1. It’s tempting to get off in the future trying to solve any anticipated problems with today’s resources. But that makes life difficult because you lack the needed resources to deal with tomorrow’s problems. God gives strength for today. The challenge is to remain in the present moment with God. Why is it so difficult to be off in the future? How can you remain centered on God and live in the present moment?

2. Often times we find the present difficult and lose our patience because we don’t see or understand the bigger picture of what is happening or why it may be happening. Because God loves and because God has a different experience of time than us, how does that help us maintain a more balanced view of what is happening and what might be happening?

3. Take some time to re-read the following passage:

The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near… We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5.7-8, 11

In this verse, James talks about what the farmer must do in order for them to see a harvest. For the things that are beyond their control, James advocates for patience. For the things within their control, He advocates for

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THE FRUIT OF PEACE
Fruit-Full – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 6, 2024

Who couldn’t use a little more peace in their life, am I right? When our marriages are strained or the kids are more than we can handle or office politics makes going to work draining, how do you find peace in the chaos? Sometimes, the way we go about trying to obtain peace practically guarantees we will never experience peace. This weekend, Pastor Keith will show us God’s peace and how it can be yours.

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofpeace #peace

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Shalom, the Jewish idea of peace, is so much bigger than individual peace. Fundamentally, it’s about a society that flourishes because it is functions as God intended. Why do we reduce big concepts like shalom down to small applications that are only about our personal experience with shalom? In what other ways do we do this to Scripture?

2. Take some time as a group to go back over the differences between the God of peace, the peace of God and peace with God. Have you ever experienced the peace of God in the midst of chaos? If so, what was the situation you found yourself in and describe what the peace of God was like for you. Pastor Keith shared the illustration of the Sawi people of New Guinea and the breakthrough the Richardsons made after watching the exchange of the peace child to end hostilities. How does this story parallel the gospel story of God offering His Son to us?

3. Many settle for pseudo-peace – truces – stalemates – swallowing differences – cold wars. Why do people prefer what is not peace to what actually is? Why is peacemaking such a challenging thing to do? What have been your experiences in this arena with friends? Children? Co-workers? Issues in society?

4. There’s a huge difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking. Can you describe examples of peacekeeping? Have you ever done that yourself? There’s also a big difference between peacemaking and peace-achieving? Why is peace sometimes beyond our grasp?

5. Why do you think peacemaking is so important in the plan of God for our lives? If peacemaking is so vitally important to God, why don’t we see more of it manifested among His followers?

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THE FRUIT OF JOY
Fruit-Full | Part 2
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
September 29, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitofjoy #joy #habits #attitudes

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

One of the best arguments for Christianity is Christians when they are seen as people full of joy. And one of the best arguments against Christianity is Christians when they are seen as self-righteous, smug and angry all the time. As we continue to examine the fruit of the Spirit, this week we want to dive deeply into the fountain of joy. In this message, we're going to see God for Who He really is (the most Joyful Being in the universe). We're going to look at the habits and attitudes that rob us of our joy and learn how to have a joy that is impervious to adverse circumstances.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith talked about how God is the most Joyful Being in the universe. He gave several examples of this. What other examples can you see, whether practical or in Scripture, of the joy of God? Would you say that the way you see God (your God image) has always incorporated His joy? Why or why not? Are there things about the way you see God that might need healing or correction?

2. How is joy different from happiness? What are the limitations of happiness? Have you ever gotten trapped in a cycle of searching for happiness highs? Describe what that was like.

3. The word joy and rejoice are interrelated words. Joy is derived from being with God and allowing His Spirit to fill our lives and rejoice is something we train ourselves to do repeatedly in life – to return to the source of joy (God Himself). In what ways do we drift from God? How does being in pain or facing adversity shift our focus from God and onto something else? Has this ever happened to you? If you’re willing, share it with the group.

4. Legalism is a surefire way to rob you of joy because with legalism, I don’t feel assured that Christ is enough. Instead I feel compelled to add something to His completed work. So with legalism, it’s always Jesus + something else. Why does legalism rob us of joy? Have you ever known or been a legalist? Pastor Keith talked about having a great week with God followed by a terrible week then asked the question, “Which week did God love you more?” If you felt He loved you more when everything was going right, it’s an indicator that there is some remnant of legalism still holding onto you. On what basis do we know that God’s love is constant and unchanging? Cite Scriptures if you know any that would back up your claim.

5. Gratitude is one of the surest signs of joy. I find such contentment in God and know how He takes delight in me, that I become consciously aware that the evidence of His delight is all around me even when nothing is going right. Have you ever tried the 30-day Gratitude Experiment? How much is gratitude a part of your intentional daily routine?

6. Paul gives us a powerful example of how God worked through his imprisonment in the book of Philippians. So even in the midst of adversity, Paul maintains a type of unshakable joy. In fact, his joy is so great, that it literally becomes the theme of the book of Philippians. How was God at work in Paul’s imprisonment? How has God worked in your life during times of illness, pain, adversity or persecution? Sometimes, we can’t see all that God is doing in the moment, but in retrospect, everything becomes clear. Are there things in your past that you went through that were extremely difficult, but now in looking back, you can clearly see the hand of God? What was that?

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THE FRUIT OF LOVE
Fruit-Full | Part 1
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
September 22, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #fruitfull #thefruitoflove #love #character #Christ #spiritualdisciplines

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

This Sunday, we begin exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. These nine character qualities are a reflection of Christ Himself. The more yielded we are to the Spirit, the more others see the this fruit or evidence of His presence in us. In a sense, the first virtue, love, is more than just another dimension to the fruit of the Spirit. It represents the virtue that binds all the others together. Each of them is somehow an expression of love. Come and join us this weekend as Pastor Keith teaches us not just the importance of the fruit of the Spirit but how to begin manifesting them in your life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. We have two natures within us – what the Bible calls “the flesh” or our baser nature and a new nature made alive by the Spirit. The key to defeating the flesh is by living by the Spirit. Sadly, many people try to live the spiritual life in reverse. They try to defeat the flesh so they can live by the spirit. But that doesn’t work. Why? What stood out to you in today’s message that maybe you hadn’t considered before or illustrated for you how walking in the Spirit helps to defeat the flesh?

2. Spend some time talking about the cycle of self improvement (the chart that Pastor Keith shared). The four stages are; Try Harder, Fatigue, Quit, Guilt. Have you ever experienced this before? What was the area where you struggled? Have you broken free of this pattern? What helped you to break free?

3. In this message, we were reminded that we are only as mature as our most immature fruit. So in reading Galatians 5.22-23, of these nine virtues that reflect the character of Christ, where are you strongest and where are you weakest (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)? It’s important to remember that wherever we discover immature fruit, it reflects a failure to trust Christ in that area. As you apply that thought to your weakest virtue, how might God be trying to grow you? What wounding might exist in that area that still needs healing? Or what cultural way of thinking gets in the way of fully submitting to Christ in this way?

4. Scripture clearly teaches that being filled with the Spirit is not a one time event but a daily event. Ephesians 5.18 in the original language doesn’t say “be filled” (past tense) with the Spirit, but “be being filled” (present, linear tense). The process of yielded to the Spirit’s filling and control is a decision we make every day. And the best way is related to the four commands regarding the Holy Spirit.

Live by the Spirit (Galatians 5.16), Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5.18), Do not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4.30), Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5.19)

To live by and be filled with the Spirit, we must never grieve or quench Him. Which means being obedient to His leadership and promptings. Have you ever felt led by the Spirit to do or say something? What was it? What happened? How did it work out?

1. Why do we elevate gifting over fruitfulness?

2. Love is the one virtue that bonds all the other fruit together. How and in what ways have you seen God’s love put on display through your life?

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A CHURCH ON THE MOVE
Springcreek Church | Jerrid Fletcher, Lead Associate Pastor
September 15, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #achurchonthemove #church #churchonthemove #handsandfeet #Jesus #faithingod #faith

In this dynamic sermon, we explore what it truly means to be a "Church on the Move." Far from being stagnant or confined within four walls, the church is called to be active, vibrant, and responsive to the needs of the world around it. Through biblical examples and real-life applications, we'll examine how God is calling us to step out in faith, embrace change, and impact our communities in transformative ways. Whether through missions, outreach, or simply living out our faith in daily life, this message will inspire and challenge us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, always ready to move where He leads.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Personal Impact of Music: How has music impacted your personal faith journey or experiences within your community? Can you share a song that resonates deeply with you and why it holds significance?

2. Understanding Church Hurt: What are some ways we can address and heal from "church hurt" in our own lives and within our church community? How can we create an environment that fosters trust and acceptance?

3. Going to Church vs. Being the Church: Reflecting on the distinction between "going to church" and "being the church," what practical steps can we take in our daily lives to embody the mission of the church outside of Sunday services?

4. Community Engagement: In what ways can our church community better serve those in need, particularly those who may not feel comfortable entering a church? What outreach initiatives do you think would be most effective in connecting with and supporting these individuals?

5. Living Out the Great Commission: How can we as individuals actively participate in the Great Commission in our daily lives? What opportunities do you see in your workplace, school, or neighborhood to share your faith or support others on their spiritual journeys?

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LIVING THE MICAH MANDATE
Kingdom Politics – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 8, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #kingdompolitics #kingdom #politics #livingthemicahmandate #micahmandate #actjustly #lovemercy #walkhumbly

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

The prophet Micah perfectly summarized what God expects of us, “…and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6.8). These words are then repeated by Jesus Himself in Matthew 23.23. As we wrap up Kingdom Politics, this final message shows us how God plans to use us to change the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The three parts of the Micah Mandate are to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. Which of the three is most developed in your life? Which of the three is underdeveloped in your life? Why are these three qualities the unique marks of God’s kids? Why is there an absence of these qualities in the world today?

2. Pastor Keith mentioned the most common sociological groupings in the Bible and they are as follows: the poor, the orphan, the widow and the immigrant. What do these various groups have in common? Why is God so concerned with them? Why does God see the treatment of these groups of people as an indicator of the justice or injustice of society? Take a few moments to reflect on Dr. Timothy Keller’s statement, “If you aren’t intensely concerned for the quartet of the vulnerable... it’s a sign your heart is not right with God.”

3. One of the more frequent objections to belief in God is the abundance of suffering in this world that He doesn’t seem to do anything about. But Scripture makes clear that the primary way God extends compassion and help to those who suffer is through His people. If we fail to do our part, it’s God’s reputation that takes the hit. Where has God moved you in the past or present to be involved with others who are hurting, suffering or neglected? What was that experience like for you? What difference did it make in those you helped?

4. We live in a very violent world. But Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, countered conventional thinking by insisting that His followers not mirror the evil of society. How does this teaching challenge you? Why does it seem practically foreign even to Christians today? Is it possible to live in this broken world without returning violence for violence (like what Dr. King modelled in the quest for civil rights)?

5. What does it mean to be a third way people? Why are we so prone to reducing every problem or issue down to just one of two choices? What does it mean to be above the system (in other words, not so caught up in partisanship that you can see other possibilities or choices that neither party can see)? Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I don’t agree with either party on this issue”? If so, have you ever dared to envision a third way of addressing the problem or issue that was not being reflected in the public debate? If so, what was it? How did you see the issue differently? How does our unique Christian perspective and ethic change the way we engage in politics?

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OUR TRUE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Kingdom Politics – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 1, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #kingdompolitics #kingdom #politics #commanderinchief #jesus #christ #citizens #hope

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

As Christ followers, the Bible teaches us to see ourselves differently from our fellow citizens. Wherever we reside and whatever the form of government we live under, believers see themselves first and foremost as citizens of another kingdom – the kingdom of God. This is a fundamental building block in our political perspective. If we lose this perspective, we lose hope and accommodate ourselves to the brokenness of this fallen world. But with it, we remain hopeful regardless of the political climate.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The Kingdom of God is the very antithesis of the kingdoms of this world. In what ways is the Kingdom of God different fr

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Red and Blue Church, Black and Blue God
Kingdom Politics - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 25, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #kindompolitics #kingdom #politics #redandblue #blackandbluehttps://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Every issue is polarized. Those with whom we disagree are demonized. And we categorize people and issues with unkind labels we learn from our favorite news channel. It seems today that everybody is poli-ticked off. Have we moved past the breaking point? And how does Scripture reorient us to what is true and right and real? Regardless of where you find yourself on the political spectrum, this message challenges you to use your influence for good and for God. If you can’t join us in person, be sure to catch us online.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As it relates to your use of social media, what (if any) guidelines do you use to determine what you will post? On what things will you comment? Is it important to steward your influence in regards to social media? What sort of behavior or online comments cause you concern? How do you view others who fill their social media with political content? How easily do you get caught up in the rage of the day and/or week? Would you say that you're better at building bridges to others for continued influence in their life or do you tend to make statements that shut down further conversation?

2. How is being political different from being partisan? How would you score your own political interest on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being apathetic and 10 being zealously partisan)? What problems have you encountered at work, within your family or among friends around the topic of politics?

3. Pastor Keith asked the question, "Can we subordinate our political opinions so we can prioritize our witness?" How would you answer that question personally? Why do some people find it more important to be right than to be wise or helpful? Discuss the Dallas Willard quote, “It's very difficult to be right about something without hurting someone with it.”

4. Jesus was all about transforming society, but not by political means. Take some time as a group to discuss the limitations of political power and solutions. Why is the Jesus’ way of changing the world superior to the political way?

5. Our uniqueness as followers of Jesus isn’t in how we vote; it’s in how we live, how we love, how we’re willing to sacrifice for others. As Paul Coelho said, “The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” In what ways have you used your voice and your example to make a difference in the life of others? How would you encourage others to be the change they want to see in the world?

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MOSAIC
God's Vision for Our Community
Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
August 18, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #mosaic #godsvision #community

https://www.springcreekchurch.org

Just like a mosaic, which is composed of various colorful pieces that come together to form a beautiful image, our community is made up of diverse individuals, each contributing uniquely to the whole. Through biblical teachings, we will discover how each person's unique gifts, backgrounds, and stories are essential to God's grand design. We'll highlight the importance of unity in diversity, the strength found in our interconnectedness, and the purpose behind our collective journey as the body of Christ. Together, we will learn practical steps to embrace our differences and build a vibrant, loving community that reflects the love and glory of God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Reflecting on Your Community Experience: Think about a time when you felt truly connected in a community. What aspects of that community made you feel valued and supported? How did the diversity within the group contribute to your experience?

2. Overcoming the Enemies of True Community: The message highlighted affinity, apathy, individualism, and unawareness of semantic change as enemies of true community. Which of these do you think is the biggest challenge in your current community, and what steps can we take to address it?

3. Embracing Diversity in Our Church: The Church of Antioch was remarkable for its inclusivity and diversity. How can we, as a church, better embrace and celebrate the differences among us? What practical actions can we take to ensure that everyone feels included and valued?

4. Living Out Koinonia: Koinonia involves deep, spiritual fellowship and shared purpose. In what ways can you personally contribute to fostering koinonia in our church community? How can we collectively ensure that our relationships go beyond surface-level interactions?

5. Applying the Collective Approach: The collective approach at the Church of Antioch showed the power of working together to achieve God’s mission. How can we apply this collective mindset in our church today? What are some specific areas where we need to shift from individualism to a more collective, community-focused approach?

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RENEWED
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 5
Pastor Keith Stewart
August 11, 2024

We’ve been on a journey over the last several weeks where we’ve been examining the toxic effect churches and leaders can sometimes leave in our life. But more importantly, we’ve been learning how to counter the lies and distortions we’ve faced, seen ourselves and God more clearly, and are beginning to experience the healing that accompanies a healthy faith. As we wrap up the series this Sunday, we’re going to learn about the atmosphere where our faith can truly thrive – and that’s grace. Grace is not just something we need to begin the spiritual life. Grace is soil in which our life, faith and maturity come into their fullness. This is one message you don’t want to miss!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The feeling of being unwanted or having a name put on you is one of the worst feelings in the world. In what ways have you seen or experienced this type of shaming? Pastor Keith mentioned, “When someone’s calling you names, or demeaning you, the greatest challenge is not to stop the person, but the greater challenge is to stop yourself from mutilating your own identity.” The younger we are, the more difficult it is to not let a name put on us by others become the way we see ourselves. What do you think can be done to curb name-calling? What would you say to someone who had been deeply hurt by an offensive, unfair nickname?

2. So much of today’s lesson involves moving from a place of shame to a place of acceptance. How did we see this truth in the life of Mephibosheth? What practical application can you make from his story to your own life?

3. What has been your experience with grace? Have you heard it explained before today? How has it impacted your life? Why do people fear grace? Why is the teaching of grace something in short supply in toxic churches? How is Rahab an example of grace? Can you think of any other biblical characters that help us in our understanding of grace?

4. What have been your biggest takeaways from this series? Where is God working in you right now to continue the process of healing anything and everything that was added to your spiritual life but did not belong? How can we better model a healthy, well-balanced, biblical faith?

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REBUILDING
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 4, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #healingfromtoxicreligion #rebuilding #relationships #toxic

Wounding that occurs in relationship must be healed in relationship. To rebuild one’s life after experiencing toxic religion requires a new and better understanding of God. Let’s face it, a major driver of toxic practice is toxic theology – a faulty understanding of Who God is and what God is like. But knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. You don’t know God just because you know about Him. It takes spending time with Him, listening to Him, and daring to trust Him with your hurts, problems, and failures. Invite him into every aspect of your life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the following quote, “The greatest need in people’s lives is to understand the true identity of God.” – R.C. Sproul

2. In the parable of the prodigal son, we typically place all the emphasis on the younger son. Even the name of the parable itself (which is not a name given to it by Jesus or the writers of Scripture) emphasizes the younger son. But Jesus told this story (read Luke 15.1-3) to address the objection of the Pharisees to his eating with sinners. When you understand why Jesus told this story to begin with, it’s clear that the older brother is the Pharisees. What similarities do you see between the Pharisees and the older brother? How can you sometimes be like the older brother?

3. C.S. Lewis explained the difference between sins of the flesh and sins of the spirit. What do you remember about what he said? Why do you think we scandalize the sins of the flesh? Why was Jesus so bothered by the sins of the spirit that He witnessed in the religious leaders? What implication does this teaching have for us today?

4. Take some time to reflect on what you learned about the following passage:
   Why do you call me “Lord, Lord,” Jesus says, “and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6.46

Why did Jewish people repeat someone’s name? How does that alter your understanding of this verse? Why are obedience and love interconnected?

1. Experience must be corrected by experience. This is a fundamental truth in our understanding of how God heals us. Of course, the obvious implication is it takes more than facts to change our hearts and minds. We need a deeper experience of the truths we say we believe. This means we must feel them and live them, not just know them in our heads. How have you experienced the love of God? How does your community aid in the experience of the love of God?

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HEALING
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 28, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #healingfromtoxicreligion #healing #toxic #religion

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

If you carry scars from a toxic church or leader, those wounds won't heal merely by the passage of time. It takes intentionality to heal. Issues like the betrayal of trust, manipulation of our thoughts and emotions through the toxic tools of guilt and shame, and degradation of our God-image must all be exposed to the light of God's truth. Jesus once said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). In this next installment in our series, we'll examine what it takes to heal from some of the worst damage caused by toxic churches and those who lead them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. We often only associate grief with the losses we face in death but grief is God’s way of healing us from all of the losses of life. What sort of losses have you grieved? What feelings get expressed in grief? How has God met you in your grief?

2. Forgiveness is often misunderstood and therefore resisted. What separates real forgiveness from stereotypes and misunderstanding? Have you ever needed to forgive someone? What made it challenging? Take some time to discuss the following quotes;

“[Forgiveness means becoming] a hero instead of a victim in the story you tell.” – Dr. Fred Luskin, Stanford University Forgiveness Project

“Forgiveness is not a one-off decision; it is a journey and a process that takes time, determination, and persistence. Forgiveness is not forgetting; it is simply denying your pain the right to control your life.” - Corallie Buchanan

1. Trust is often violated in instances of toxic churches and toxic leaders. Trust is something that’s never commanded in Scripture. Are we appropriately cautious in new relationships to extend trust only when it is earned as opposed to leaving ourselves vulnerable? Have you ever had someone violate your trust? What effect did it have on you? How did you deal with it? How does it affect your present relationships? What did you learn about scars as it relates to trust wounds?

2. When people use the feeling of guilt to manipulate others, they are most definitely using guilt in ways that Scripture never does. The Biblical word for guilt only deals with the fact of guilt. When it comes to the feeling of guilt, Scripture uses another term “worldly sorrow” which only produces death. How is godly sorrow different from worldly sorrow? When you feel guilty or are made to feel guilty, a child of God can reject that feeling as not from God. Have you ever been in an environment, church or otherwise, that heavily used the feeling of guilt? What effect did that have on you? What would you suggest to someone coming out of a toxic church that regularly practiced guilty their members?

3. As a group, take some time to read through the out true identity in Christ. How would your life be different if you lived like each and every one of these truths were also true of you? Print this list and post it where you can see it, read it, and remind yourself of its truth daily.

My True Identity in Christ:
• You are not condemned (Romans 8.1)
• You are accepted (Romans 15.7)
• You are ransomed - "restored to favor" (1 Corinthians 1.30)
• You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5.17)
• You are the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5.21)
• You are liberated (Galatians 2.4)
• You are chosen, holy, and blameless before God (Ephesians 1.4)
• You are redeemed, forgiven (Ephesians 1.7)
• You are alive (formerly dead in spirit) (Ephesians 2.5)
• You have boldness and confident access to God (Ephesians 3.12)
• You h

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EXODUS
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 21, 2024

#god #realspringcreekchurch #healingfromtoxicreligion #exodus #toxicreligion #journey #testimony

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

I want to take you on a journey today – a journey out of toxic religion. To do that, I want to tell you a little of my own story; what led me out of religious fundamentalism, the breaking that occurred in me, and the flaws I began to see in my own beliefs and practice. I want to teach you how to recognize toxic environments but more importantly, I want to teach you how much God longs for you to experience Him as He actually is. It’s my prayer that this message will lead to a spiritual breakthrough for you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In the Exodus narrative, it is clear that delivering the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage was not nearly as difficult as delivering them from the mindset of slavery. As Pastor Keith pointed out, there are many ways this still holds true even today. We can be delivered from a bad situation, or an addiction, or terrible choices, but still desperately need healing inside, or else we may end up right back in the same situation with a different person or different substance. Can you think of ways you have seen this played out in your personal life or those you care about? Why is it more difficult to change one’s thinking than it is to change one’s circumstances?

2. As Pastor Keith shared how he and Brenda nearly destroyed their own marriage, what stood out to you most in the things he shared? Was there any part of his story you could personally relate to? If so, what and why? Why do so many troubled marriages resist getting the help they need? Have you ever had any experiences with 12-step recovery that you would be willing to share?

3. One of the dominant characteristics in all toxic religion is conformity – an emphasis on external behavior over internal transformation. Jesus rebuked this approach in the Pharisees of His day. Pastor Keith also emphasized what distinguished the way Jesus thought and defined spirituality versus how the Pharisees thought and defined it. What is the difference between bounded set thinking versus centered set thinking? How do toxic churches use bounded set thinking? Why do people think more like the Pharisees than they do like Jesus?

4. Take some time to discuss Shane Claiborne’s quote, do you agree with it or not? Have you seen this in churches or groups that you have been a part of?
   “One thing I’ve learned from believers and activists alike is that community can be built around a common self-righteousness or a common brokenness. Because both are magnetic. People are drawn toward folks who have it all together, or who look like they do. People are also drawn toward folks who know they don’t have it together and are not willing to fake it.” – Shane Claiborne

5. What have been your experiences with guilt and shame as it relates to your church experiences or how you were parented or even how you were taught? Why is guilting or shaming someone so toxic? What effect does it have on people?

6. Were there any other significant learnings or takeaways from today’s message for you?

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DIAGNOSIS
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 14, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #healingfromtoxicreligion #toxicreligion #toxic #religion

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Over the past several years and in recent days, we have seen wave after wave of exposures involving high-profile pastors embroiled in scandals - child molestation, infidelity, and abuse of all varieties. With every exposure, you can know that there are many innocent victims whose lives are ruined, congregations that are left reeling, and our witness to the world in tatters. Why does this keep happening? What are the warning signs? And is there anything that can be done to prevent it? That’s what this Sunday’s message is all about - diagnosing toxic environments. Unless and until we really understand what’s happening and why, we will repeat what we refuse to repair. The path to healing begins with defining the reality of what we’re up against. Don’t miss this message.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The Bible is very upfront and honest when it comes to dealing with toxicity in leadership. It treats it as a given. In the same way, you will find bad actors in every arena of life, you will also find them among God’s people. Why are we so shocked when things like this are discovered today? Have you ever had to deal with something like this personally or have you known others who have? If you are comfortable sharing your own story, please do so. If what you know is regarding someone else’s story, make sure you have permission to share it.

2. Pastor Keith began today’s message by describing the environment that sets up all leaders to be tempted and that is in being given great influence or power. Why is power such a corrupting influence? What can we do as individuals to guard against the abuse of power?

3. Thinking in terms of Steven Berglas’ study in the Success Syndrome, the four great temptations that have brought down many leaders can be described as the four A’s: Arrogance, Aloneness, Adventure-seeking, and Adultery. We have all seen this pattern played out in the lives of leaders both inside and outside the church. What would a healthy leader do to guard against going down this path? What do you have in place in your life to ensure you don’t become part of the 20% of leaders who succumb to these temptations?

4. What stood out to you in the section where Pastor Keith dealt with narcissism? Have you seen or known people who were malignant narcissists? Without naming them, what characteristics stand out about them? How much is fear a part of their regular discussions or interactions? Have you noticed any of the signs of narcissistic wounding in your own life? How much do apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok feed our need to be noticed, appreciated, or loved? If you know you have narcissistic wounding, what have you found helpful in healing that wound?

5. We have likely all seen churches whose leaders were removed, rally around the fallen leader even to the point that victims experienced an even greater sense of abandonment and hurt from the defense of the perpetrator. In the final point, Pastor Keith explored how churches can be complicit in the platforming of leaders not qualified to lead in the church largely because of two reasons. What were the two reasons? What do you think of those reasons? Are there others you would add? Why do people tend to value gifting over fruit?

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BOUNDARIES THAT BLESS:
Living Free from Toxicity
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
July 7, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #boundariesthatbless #boundaries #blessings #toxicbehavior #peace #integrity #healthyrelationships #relationships

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

In this message, we're discussing setting healthy boundaries with toxic individuals. Drawing wisdom from Scripture, we explore how to recognize toxic behavior, understand the importance of boundaries, and learn practical steps to protect our spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. Discover how Biblical figures modeled boundary-setting in their interactions and how we, too, can follow their examples to maintain peace and integrity in our lives. Join us as we seek God’s guidance in creating boundaries that honor Him and foster healthy relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. We discussed the harmful effects of toxic relationships on our well-being. How have you experienced or witnessed toxicity in relationships, and what impact did it have on your mental and emotional health?

2. Balancing biblical commands to love and honor others with the need for self-preservation can be challenging. How do you reconcile the command to honor others with setting boundaries when their behavior is harmful?

3. Nehemiah faced significant opposition but remained focused on his mission. What can we learn from Nehemiah’s response to toxic opposition that can help us handle difficult people in our own lives?

4. We discussed various strategies for setting and maintaining boundaries. Which strategy for setting boundaries do you find most challenging, and how can you apply it in your current relationships?

5. The importance of building fences (healthy boundaries) instead of walls (complete barriers) was emphasized. How can you ensure that your boundaries are like fences, allowing healthy interactions, rather than walls that isolate you from meaningful relationships?

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HEALING WORDS
Word Power – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
June 30, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #wordpower #healingwords #love #words #transformation

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Every human being was born with an innate craving for love. We want it, need it, and seek it more than practically anything else in life. This is why words of love are among the most powerful words in the human vocabulary. In this final installment in our series, we’re going to discover what has happened in our broken world that has exasperated this search for love and how God has unleashed us as agents of transformation – speaking and sharing His love with a desperate and hurting world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. We were made to crave for love. What have been your most formative positive and negative experiences as they relate to love?

2. Even our best experiences in love leave us desiring something more simply because no human being is capable of meeting our need for perfect, unconditional love. Ultimately, this either leads us to God or we attempt to fill our love hunger with lesser things. How have you seen this truth played out in your life and the life of others?

3. Pastor Keith referenced part of Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 (John 17.21-23). In it, Jesus clearly prays that you and I would know that we are loved as much and in the same way as He is by the Father. Is that the way you see yourself? Why or why not? If not, what is your biggest struggle with this truth? If so, how does that manifest in your life?

4. Take some time to re-read this section from 1 Corinthians 13…
   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13.4-7

What did you learn about this passage today? What words or phrases stand out to you and why? How do you see these characteristics in the life of Christ?

1. In Biblical Christianity, love is the central controlling ethic. Everything revolves around the two great commandments – love God and your neighbor as yourself. In truth, Christian growth is best defined as love formation. You and I are to be continually immersing ourselves in God and as a result, becoming more like Him in our capacity to love. Why is love so important in the Christian faith? What happens to our witness when we fail to love as Christ did? What are churches and Christians best known for today? How might God want to use you in your family, neighborhood, job, or school to express His love to someone who desperately needs to experience it?

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ENCOURAGING WORDS
Word Power – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 23, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #wordpower #encouragingwords #encouragment #words #changelives #beanencourager #barnabas

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Find Expanded Message Notes here:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/mt-content/uploads/2024/06/240623-expanded-message-notes-wp-3.pdf

G.K. Chesterton (an English journalist) once wrote, “The really great person is the person who makes every person feel great.” Have you ever been someone else's motivator or inspiration? When was the last time you told your kid how special, how capable, or how uniquely gifted they are? Have you ever had someone come alongside you and give you courage to take a bold step that changed your life forever? Encouragement is one of the most powerful forms of word power there is. This Sunday, we’re going to learn how to use this power to change the lives of the many who surround our lives day by day.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do the disciples in Jerusalem respond to news of Paul’s conversion? Why might they have been skeptical? How do you think you would have responded? How might Saul’s ministry have been different had he not had a Barnabas in his corner?
   ​
2. Have you ever judged someone based on their past? Why is that so common? Why do you think that it’s so hard for us to let go of who a person used to be? When should we be cautious and why?
   ​

3. Do you know someone who seems to know exactly what to say or do to make you feel better? Maybe it’s one of your parents, teachers, or a really good friend. Is there someone who has had your back when others didn’t? What is about them that makes them so effective as an encourager? Have you ever thanked them?

4. Can you identify a positive mentoring relationship in your life? What made it good? Have you had a negative mentoring relationship in your life? What made it bad? Who are the Barnabas’ in your life? I’m not talking about the flatterers or the one who tells you what you want to hear, but the person who always points you in the direction of God’s greatest good.

5. Who needs to hear a good word from you? Who are you going to be a Barnabas to? What specific thing can you do this week to encourage that person?

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DIVISIVE WORDS
Word Power – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 16, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #wordpower #divisivewords #gossiphttps://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Expanded Message Notes:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/mt-...

At the office, suddenly no one is talking to you. There’s a distance between you and your fellow employees that’s unmistakable. What changed? You have been the victim of the office gossip. Someone has been talking to others behind your back, engaging in character assassination, and destroying your relationship network. But whether it happens at work, school, or church, the result is always the same, you feel betrayed and left unsure as to who you can trust. God has a lot to say about those who engage in divisive behaviors; why it grieves God’s heart, how to deal with the divider, and how God’s people are supposed to be different. Join us Sunday for a challenging message on Divisive Words.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The Bible tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death... (Proverbs 18.21).” Describe a time in your life when someone spoke words of life or words of death to you. How did it affect you? What staying power did those words have? How are you a different person today because those words were once spoken to you?

2. Describe the things you learned today from this verse…
   There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Proverbs 6.16-19

Have you any other insights from this passage? Why does God hate these things?

1. Gossip wouldn’t get very far if it were not for those who are more than willing to listen. Why is gossip so tempting? How have you seen it used to harm others? What can you do to prevent it from spreading?

2. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is a great example of what He came to do. One of things for which he prayed was unity. First, oneness with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And second, with one another. Why is it impossible to achieve oneness with one another without first having oneness with God? Why is division a sign of the enemy’s work? Why is oneness a sign of the work of God? In what ways has God stretched you to embrace those different from yourself? How have you witnessed the power of unity?

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CRITICAL WORDS
Word Power – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 9, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #wordpower #criticalwords #sticksandstones #criticism

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Find Extended Message Notes Here:

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/mt-content/uploads/2024/06/240609-expanded-message-notes-wp-1.pdf

Critical words are powerful regardless of whether or not they are true. Many of us heard critical messages in childhood we never questioned. As a result, we've based our lives on an erroneous and hurtful message and we demonstrate the power of words. Let's find out what God has to say about this.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What hurtful words were spoken to you in your formative years? What effect did those words have on you? Now as an adult, what would you say to your younger self after hearing the sting of those words? What would you say now to the person who said that to you?

2. Who do you trust to give you honest critique when you need it? Why do you trust that person? Is there anyone in your life who tends to be critical all the time? What’s it like to be around them? Three of the big motivations behind criticism are that some people hate themselves, some people envy you, and some people criticize because they love you. Where does your critic fall?

3. When we’ve been criticized relentlessly by those we cared about and trusted, we develop a resistance to all criticism. It triggers us. It causes a stronger-than-normal emotional reaction. Yet not all criticism is bad for us. How do you develop a more open mind and heart toward criticism?

4. It’s easy to allow critics to cross a line and become our judge. But Paul makes clear that no one, not even yourself, is competent enough to be your judge. How have you allowed critical remarks to define you? How do you change your inner thinking to be more consistent with the way the Father sees you? It’s God's desire that you lead a condemnation-free lifestyle. Write this verse out: Romans 8.1. Read it every day. Remind yourself that this is the truth about you regardless of what others have said!

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PRESCRIPTION FOR A DULL SPIRITUAL LIFESpringcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 2, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #prescriptionforadullspirituallife #prescription #spirituallife #connect #grow #serve

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Is your spiritual life not what it used to be? Has the fire gone out? The hunger you once felt for the things of God, is it growing or has your appetite been diminished? Believe it or not, people experience dullness in their spiritual life for very predictable reasons. It doesn’t have to be that way. On Sunday (June 2), Pastor Keith will walk us through the root causes of spiritual dullness and explain God’s prescription for a growing, vital and life-giving connection to Christ. This may be the most important message you will hear this year.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Richard Swenson in his book Margin talks about many different kinds of overload. From the list below, which of these forms feel the most relevant to you right now?

• Activity overload

• Change overload

• Choice overload

• Commitment overload

• Debt overload

• Expectation overload

• Information overload

• Media overload

• Noise overload

• Fatigue overload

Guide the group through the following prayer exercise. Close your eyes and spend a minute or two in silence, calling to mind some kind of image that represents the limit that you are struggling to accept. Now, imagine Jesus walking up to you. Slowly imagine yourself handing Him that object, and with it, your finiteness in that area. How does He respond? Take some time in silence imagining His response.

1. What practices have you adopted, presently or in the past, to facilitate life with God? Which were “upstream” (challenging, but good for you) and which were “downstream” (easy for you and your personality)? What time of day and what space works best for you to spend time alone with God?

2. What current habits in your life are moving you toward the goals of being with, becoming like, and doing what Jesus does? What current habits and rhythms are getting in the way? What is one daily rhythm that you’re excited about adding? What is one weekly rhythm that you know you need to add?

3. The three spheres of spiritual growth or what Pastor Keith referred to as Christ’s sacred rhythm, are growing, connecting and serving. It’s time to do a spiritual check-up. Where are you strongest and where are you weakest? In what ways did today’s message challenge you to devote more time to the area where you have room for growth?

4. The spiritual disciplines are all various ways of creating space for God in your life. Which disciplines have you tried and what has been your experience? Which ones have you never tried? How has God met you during your engagement with the spiritual disciplines?

RESOURCES

BOOK - Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

For more information on developing a rule of life and use of the spiritual disciplines

(https://www.practicingtheway.org)

Two booklets – How to Unhurry and Rule of Life can be downloaded from Springcreek’s resource page (https://www.springcreekchurch.org/resources)

Pastor Keith’s prior teaching on spiritual growth can be heard here (https://www.youtube.com/@RealSpringcreekChurch) In particular, listen to the following series, The Way, Rooted, Discipleship, Prayer, Ghost.

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SEASONS OF REST
Seasons – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez
May 26, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #seasons #seasonsofrest #rest #sabbath

The seasons of rest invite us to slow down and savor God's restorative peace. In our fast-paced world, rest can seem elusive or even unnecessary. However, the Bible emphasizes its spiritual importance, offering us a model for recharging and reconnecting with God. We'll examine biblical examples of rest, understanding its role not only as a command but as a gift from God. This message aims to transform our perspective on rest, encouraging us to integrate it into our lives as a vital component of our spiritual well-being.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's demands. How did you cope, and what would you change about your approach to rest?

2. Considering the statistic that 59% of U.S. adults found the last year to be the most stressful, how can we as a church community support each other in finding rest?

3. Discuss the implications of Mark 2:27-28 ("The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath"). How can this understanding change the way we view rest?

4. What practical steps can you take this week to observe the Sabbath in a way that truly rejuvenates your spirit and body?

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SEASONS OF CHANGE
Seasons – Part 1
Jerrid Fletcher, Lead Associate Pastor
May 19, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #seasons #seasonsofchange #life #opportunity #joseph

In the seasons of change, we will explore the transformative power of life's unpredictable seasons. Change, whether sudden or gradual, can be daunting. Yet, it holds incredible potential for spiritual growth and deeper reliance on God. We will explore stories from scripture where God led His people through profound changes, teaching us how to respond to our own life shifts with faith and resilience. These lessons will equip us to see change not as a disruption, but as a divinely appointed opportunity for renewal and deepened faith.

Discussion Questions

1. How do the lyrics of "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke resonate with your personal experiences of unexpected changes?

2. In what ways can reflecting on the lives of influential figures like Sam Cooke help us understand and navigate our own life changes?

3. How do you relate to the analogy of the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) in terms of your own life experiences?

4. Can you share a personal story of a significant life transition and what you learned from that experience?

5. What has been the most unexpected event in your life, and how did it impact you positively or negatively?

6. How do you typically react to unexpected changes? Do you see these changes as opportunities for growth or as obstacles?

7. Which biblical story of unexpected change (Ruth, Paul, Job, Mary, Joseph) do you find most inspiring or relatable? Why?

8. How do these stories encourage you to maintain faith and perseverance during challenging times?

9. What specific aspect of Joseph's story (faithfulness, gratitude, integrity) speaks to you the most in dealing with adversity?

10. How do you practice gratitude in your daily life, especially during tough times?

11. How do you ground yourself in faith during times of unexpected change?

12. In what ways do you seek and rely on support from your community, family, or friends when facing major life transitions?

13. How do you cultivate flexibility and openness to new opportunities and strengths in your life?

14. How does Psalm 30:5 ("Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning") provide comfort and encouragement to you?

15. Can you share a time when a period of difficulty in your life was followed by joy or a positive outcome?

16. Reflecting on your current life season, how do you see God working through your circumstances?

17. What steps can you take to commit to faithfulness, endurance, and integrity in the face of unexpected changes?

18. How does prayer help you seek God’s guidance and strength during uncertain times?

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DEBORAH: An Unexpected Model for Motherhood
Mother’s Day 2024 - May 12, 2024
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 12, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #deborah #model #mother #mothersday

This Mother’s Day, we would like to celebrate a woman who doesn’t fit the role of a stereotypical mom. The Bible calls her a mother to the nation but most scholars agree that she likely didn’t have any children of her own. She is a strong, confident leader who is also a warrior, prophet, and judge. She messes with your categories of what a Mom is supposed to be but she is celebrated in the pages of Scripture for being exactly who God made her to be. Join us as we look at motherhood through God’s lens and celebrate what makes mothers special.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith, in his introduction, talked about the cycle of judgment in the book of Judges and how with each repetition, things got worse producing a downward spiral in the nation. He explained how sin is repetitious, monotonous, and destructive. But the second defining characteristic of sin is, if left unaddressed, it will always escalate. How and where have you seen the truth of this played out? How is addiction an example of this principle? What is necessary to break free of this destructive cycle?

2. Do you know someone that you consider to be a “great leader” (preferably someone you know personally)? What makes him or her excellent?

3. What things can we learn about leadership and the way God operates based on his choosing of Deborah and her unique gifts and roles in the life of Israel? Why do you think Scripture intentionally parallels the song of Moses alongside the song of Deborah? Do you think the high role of Deborah in Judges should play a part in determining what roles women can and should play in the Church today? Why or why not?

4. Just like in this story, sometimes it seems that the deck is stacked against us and the enemy has all the advantages. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. But God has a plan. The question is, are we willing to do it His way? Or are we too busy making caveats, exceptions, and putting conditions on our obedience? Have you ever been asked by God to do something, that at the time, didn’t make sense but in the end, it was the best choice? If you’re up against something particularly challenging right now, what in this story speaks to you about what you could or should be doing right now?

5. As Virginia Ely said it, your life truly represent a fresh thought of God and He has put you where you are to make a difference. If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you attempt for God? What dream has He placed in your heart? What longings have you had that never seem to go away? You do realize, don’t you, that if God wills something to happen, it will happen. You will never ultimately fail in following God.

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BUILDING FAITH THROUGH TRIALS
Unshakeable Faith – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 5, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #unshakeablefaith #faith #bible #trials #difficulties #adversity

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Few things are less welcome in our lives than trials, difficulties, and pain. Yet it’s these very things that often leave us with some of the greatest gifts - not the least of which is a stronger faith. Still, this is not what happens with everybody who experiences adversity. For some, trials will produce bitterness, misery, and hopelessness. How do you ensure that you’re a part of the former group and not the latter?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Take a moment and review the chart called the Progression of Harmful Emotions. The process that ends in defeat almost always begins with disappointment. As disappointment festers it moves us to a place of discouragement. Unchecked, discouragement will twist itself into disillusionment. As disillusionment overwhelms you, it will eventually corkscrew down into depression. Then, ultimately, we end up defeated. Have you ever found yourself in this downward spiral? What, if anything, did you do to arrest those deepening negative feelings? What would you say to someone or what might you do to support someone experiencing this?

2. Dr. Jerome Frank at Johns Hopkins talks about what it means to live in an "assumptive world." He says all of us make assumptions about life, about God, about ourselves, about others. But when our assumptions don’t square with reality, we become confused, angry, and disillusioned. Have you ever labored under a faulty assumption of life? What was it? How did it affect you? How has your understanding of life, relationships, and problems changed?

3. Pastor Keith pointed out how much of the book of Job actually details the faulty assumptions of Job’s friends. At least one of the intended purposes is to examine how we approach others when they’re hurting, facing setbacks, or are going through major financial, relational, emotional or spiritual challenges. Have you ever been on the receiving end of advice from someone who didn’t know what they were talking about? Tried to make you think you had done something terrible as an explanation for your difficulties? Or just judged you without knowing all the facts? What effect did that have on you? What did you do or say in response? In retrospect, what do you wish you had said or done? Have you ever been guilty of treating others in a similar way?

4. Take some time to discuss the following finding by UW Health…

"Research has found that up to 70 percent of people experience positive psychological growth from difficult times, such as a deeper sense of self & purpose, a greater appreciation for life & loved ones, & an increased capacity for altruism, empathy, & desire to act for the greater good.” – UW Health (April 7, 2020)

Have you seen this in your own life? In the life of others? Have you also seen circumstances where adversity produced something negative & resulted in a more permanent negative mindset? What do you think separates those who see positive results from difficult times versus those who experience negative results?

1. George McDonald said, “No words can express how much the world owes to sorrow.” There are plenty of examples of this. Most of the Psalms were written in the midst of difficult situations. Most of the Epistles of the New Testament were written in prisons. Most of the greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers of all time had to pass through the fire. John Bunyon wrote Pilgrim’s Progress from jail. Florence Nightingale, too ill to move from her bed, reorganized the hospitals of

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BUILDING FAITH THROUGH ACTS OF TRUST
Unshakeable Faith – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 28, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #unshakeablefaith #faith #bible #actsoftrust #trust #truth #align #beliefs #actions

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

We say it all the time, “I totally trust God”. It rolls right off the tongue. But if I truly trust God, how do I demonstrate it? Beyond my words – how is my trust (my faith in God) - demonstrated through my actions? We all know it’s one thing to give mental assent to a truth. But it’s another thing entirely to put that same truth into practice. This message is intended to help you align your beliefs with your actions.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. One of the things that gets in the way of building an unshakable faith is the very way we define faith. Faith is often reduced to belief, a passive cerebral event, something I think but may or may not impact my lifestyle at all. That definition is completely foreign to the New Testament. In the Bible, to believe is to have so much confidence in a thing that I’m willing to risk it all for its truth. What other things do you believe so strongly that impact the way you live, the choices you make, and the person you are?

2. God made this world to operate according to the law of the harvest or as it’s called in Scripture, the law of sowing and reaping. Pastor Keith gave many examples of how this law is in operation in farming, families, friendship, failure, and finance. Can you think of some examples of this from your own life, that of your family, or others you may know? Have you ever gotten in the way of someone else’s consequence? What was that like? How do you feel about it in retrospect?

3. Truly God is the owner of all things. This is, in part, why the term stewardship is often used to describe our relationship to money. A steward, by definition, is someone who manages the affairs and/or assets of somebody else. How does God’s ownership of your money, assets, and very life affect the way you live? How you spend? Your priorities? Your giving?

4. Psalm 126 describes sowing seeds with tears and Pastor Keith gave an example from sub-Saharan Africa as to how this plays out in many impoverished agrarian societies. Allegorically speaking, have you ever sown seed when to do so was difficult? When you were already facing other challenges? When it truly was an act of faith? What was that like for you? How did things work out or did they not? Discuss C.S. Lewis’ quote, “I'm afraid Biblical giving is more than merely giving away that which we could afford to do without anyway.”

5. If you feel comfortable doing so, discuss with the group your own stewardship journey. Has giving ever been a challenge to you? If so, why? Why does Jesus tell us that money is a small matter with huge implications? That if we don’t learn to handle a little thing like money, how can we ever be trusted with what has true value in the kingdom? What victories have you had around giving? Where have you seen God come through for you?

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BUILDING FAITH THROUGH THE WORD
Unshakeable Faith – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 21, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #unshakeablefaith #faith #bible #theword #jesus #gentile #outsider #believe

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Building Faith through the Word (Matthew 8.5-13)

What would it be like to have the kind of faith that astonished Jesus? Believe it or not, there’s a story about a man – an outsider, a Roman occupier, a Gentile – whose faith amazed even Jesus. His story demonstrates what it takes to build a great and unshakable faith. We’re going to lean into his story and discover how to have that same sort of faith for ourselves.

SERIES | UNSHAKEABLE FAITH
When we’re going through a crisis and our faith is shaken, two things are always revealed: who you are and what you really believe. During times like these, many will depart from their faith. For faith to endure, it must be bigger than whatever it is you are facing. That’s what we’ll learn in the coming weeks, how to build an unshakeable faith.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Is your faith weak? Is it waning? Is it anemic? Are you unable to meet the challenges that you're facing in your Christian life? Then feed on the Word of God. Like John Piper reminded us, “Faith feeds on the word of God, without a steady diet it gets weaker and weaker. If you are dissatisfied with your Christian courage and joy and purity of heart then check the way you’re feeding your faith.” Try to name as many ways as possible that the Word of God builds your faith. What has been your personal experience with God’s Word as a faith-builder? What stories have impacted you most? What promises? What precepts? Or what do you see in the character of God that encourages your faith?

2. What were your main takeaways from the story of the Centurion and the healing of his servant or child? What does it say to you that the man was an outsider? Why does he believe when the Jews could not or would not? Why does Jesus lift him up as an example of great faith?

3. The Bible is very clear about God’s verdict on sign-seekers, yet it doesn’t deter entire modern church movements from this very thing. Yet we see over and over again in Scripture that seeing miracles happen repeatedly won’t necessarily increase one’s faith. Instead, it just tends to addict us to more miracles. Why is believing what God said more important than chasing after what God can do?

4. Take some time to discuss the difference between seeking God’s face versus seeking God’s hand. How does this shift your thinking when it comes to your own pursuit of God?

5. If you think of childlike faith as a starting point and fidelity as a goal when it comes to your faith journey, where do you see yourself on that continuum? How have things changed over time with you? What would you say to encourage someone who needs to move beyond childish concepts of faith? Is your walk with God today something that brings gratification to your life? If so, in what way?

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BUILDING FAITH THROUGH HONESTY
Unshakeable Faith – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 14, 2024

god #realspringcreekchurch #unshakeablefaith #faith #honesty #doubt #prayer #struggles #transparency

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

The absolute, undeniable prerequisite in developing an unshakeable faith is honesty. God encourages us to be honest about our struggles – transparent with our doubts – because one of the greatest acts of faith is bringing our whole selves to God. If you’ve ever struggled with doubts in your spiritual life, this message was made for you.

SERIES | UNSHAKEABLE FAITH
When we’re going through a crisis and our faith is shaken, two things are always revealed: who you are and what you really believe. During times like these, many will depart from their faith. For faith to endure, it must be bigger than whatever it is you are facing. That’s what we’ll learn in the coming weeks, how to build an unshakeable faith.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. At any point in your spiritual life, have you struggled with doubt? If so, what sort of doubt was it? Did you receive any direction or help in addressing it? What, if any, resolution have you come to regarding your doubt?

2. What stood out to you most in today’s message? How did it impact you? Challenge you? Comfort you? Or trouble you?

3. Clearly, Jesus had compassion on doubters. Take some time to review the three characters Pastor Keith mentioned in the message that are prime examples of dealing with doubt; John the Baptist, the post-resurrection disciples, and Thomas. When churches treat doubt as sinful and shame those who experience it, they are not modeling their behavior after Christ. In the examples of John the Baptist and Thomas, we see Jesus responding directly to doubters. What is most meaningful to you about Jesus’ response? How does that shift your thinking when it comes to your struggles with doubts, disappointments, and failed expectations?

4. Faith is all about moving forward based on what I know not on what I don’t know or might not ever know. In other words, there will always be questions and aspects of our faith that are challenging to us. In those areas, we hold our questions and doubts in tension, hoping that one day we will grow to better understand it or that in the presence of God in the end, all things will be made clear. What sort of questions do you hold in tension?

5. The closing story about Charlotte Elliot (author of the hymn “Just as I Am”) is a powerful illustration of a person who suffered a great deal in life, never had definitive answers for her suffering, but believed anyway. At the same time, she never suppressed her questions and readily acknowledged her ongoing battle with doubts. What’s even more amazing is how the song she wrote talks openly about this internal struggle with doubts and has brought more people to Christ than practically all the sermons ever preached. What does that say to you?

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HEART TO HEART
SYNCHRONIZING OUR HEARTS WITH HIS
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez
April 7, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #hearttoheart #synchronize #God #alignment #relationship #pursuit #heart

thttps://www.springcreekchurch.org/

This week we’re looking at the heart of God's enduring narrative - His profound longing for a deep, personal connection with His people, characterized by hearts fully aligned with His. Throughout this journey, we uncover the evolutionary dynamics of God's relationship with humanity, spotlighting the consistent, loving pursuit of our hearts and the life-changing impact of harmonizing our desires with His intentions. Together, let's explore the miraculous ways in which synchronizing our hearts with His can transform our lives, influence our communities, and reflect the beauty of His kingdom on earth.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Reflecting on Personal Sacrifices: How did giving up something during Lent help you focus more on the depth of God's love? Share a personal reflection.

2. Understanding God's Love: How does the analogy of the ocean help you understand the vastness of God's love? Can you think of other analogies that resonate with you?

3. Discovering God's Heart Through Scripture: Which scriptures have helped you understand God's heart better? Discuss how these verses changed your perception of God's love.

4. Inclusivity of God's Love: How do the stories of Abraham, Jonah, Rahab, and Ruth reflect the inclusivity of God's love? Share your thoughts on how these stories demonstrate God's plan for salvation for all.

5. Living in Synchrony with God's Heart: What are some practical ways we can synchronize our hearts with God's heart daily? Discuss how the fruits of the Spirit manifest in your life and journey of faith.

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THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Ruins Funerals – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 31, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #jesusruinsfunerals #resurrection #countdowntoeaster #easter #jesus #miracle #hope #transformation

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

All month long we’ve been looking at the resurrection miracles in the gospels culminating on Easter with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. More than anything, this message will help you see why the resurrection matters, what it means for us today, and how hope for true transformation is possible because of what happened on Easter Sunday morning. This is a message that can change your life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians…
   I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead… Ephesians 1.18-20

What does this verse mean to you? How have you experienced its truth? Bible prayers are some of the best prayers to pray for others. In your personal time with God, try praying this prayer for others you care about who are struggling, “I pray that eyes of Jim’s heart will be enlightened so that he might know…”

1. God shows up in the most broken places of our life to show us His grace. Then He frequently uses the very things for which we are most embarrassed and ashamed as our ministry – the way we touch and help others most. Have you found this to be true in your life? If so, in what ways has God most used you? How would you encourage someone who tried to keep their failures and stumbling secret?

2. Shane Claiborne, in his book The Irresistible Revolution, said it like this, “Christianity can be built around isolating ourselves from evildoers and sinners, creating a community of religious piety and moral purity. That’s the Christianity I grew up with. Christianity can also be built around joining with the broken sinners and evildoers of our world crying out to God, groaning for grace. That’s the Christianity I’ve fallen in love with.” Do you agree with this thought? If so, how have you seen this same truth lived out? If you don’t agree with what Shane Claiborne said, how is your view different?

3. Pastor Keith mentioned how the Bible is filled with the stories of main characters with messy problems. The Bible is a truth-telling book, even when it makes those lifted up as good examples as marred by imperfections. Who are some of the characters that display both strengths and weaknesses? Why do you think the Bible tells the truth about people even when it makes them look bad? Does this encourage you in your walk with the Lord or discourage you?

4. Paul says in Ephesians, “Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing Ephesians 2.7-10 (The Message).”

He even says this, “...He has made us accepted in the beloved Ephesians 1.6b (KJV). To be a Christ follower is to accept the truth we will never be good enough on our own. It means to accept His acceptance of us. How does one accept God’s acceptance of us?

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THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS
Jesus Ruins Funerals – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 24, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #jesusruinsfunerals #resurrection #countdowntoeaster #easter #jesus #miracle #hope #lazarus #palmsunday https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Leading up to Easter, we’ve been looking at the resurrection miracles in the gospels. There is actually a progression in these miracles that seems quite intentional. In the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, she was raised from the dead shortly after she had died but was still in the home. The son of the widow of Nain experienced his miracle while his body was being carried to the cemetery for burial. Then in this week’s message, Lazarus is raised from the dead after having been placed in the tomb and decay had already set in. Yet in each circumstance, Jesus demonstrates that no matter how advanced, death is no match for Him. Even more importantly, each miracle speaks powerfully as to what Christ will accomplish in His death and resurrection.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. This message illustrated both the struggle with what Jesus failed to do in responding immediately to the crisis and how compassionate He was in meeting both sisters where they were with exactly what they were needing. Have you ever felt like God let you down? Did you have an expectation that He would do something for you and it failed to materialize? Describe what that was like. Since that time, have you had any new learnings, or understandings in retrospect? Have you ever had God meet you in a crisis with a word of assurance?

2. It doesn’t matter if they just died (like with Jairus’ daughter), or their body is being carried to the cemetery (like the widow of Nain’s son) or they’re already in the grave and the decay of death has already set it (like with Lazarus). There’s a progression in these resurrection miracles we’ve been looking at. And it truly doesn’t matter how long a person has been dead or the state of their body in death because Jesus IS the Resurrection. Even in the Old Testament, there is a vision of resurrection that involves the valley of dry bones that are made to come back to life (Ezekiel 37) – talk about an advanced state of death! God will one day breathe life into whatever remains of our body and it will live again. How does our ultimate resurrection give you hope? Comfort? Why is it significant that our bodies will live again? Every miracle sends a message and is a down payment on a promise God makes. What message does this miracle send?

3. There are tremendous parallels between the resurrection of Lazarus and the resurrection of Christ that will happen just a week after this. Can you list some of the similarities? Can you think of any others?

4. There are also parallels between the Resurrection of Lazarus and the Exodus from Egypt. Can you list some of the similarities? Can you think of any others?

5. Jesus has taken the sting out of death. That’s what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15…

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15.55-57

How has the experience of death changed for the believer? What does it mean for Christ to have taken the sting out of death? Share honestly with the group your own experiences, fears, or comforts around death. As a bonus, it might be helpful to read all of 1 Corinthians 15 (the Resurrection chapter Paul wrote) and discuss what other truths are meaningful, challenging, and helpful concerning death.

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THE RESURRECTION OF JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER
Jesus Ruins Funerals – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 17, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #jesusruinsfunerals #resurrection #countdowntoeaster #easter #jesus #miracle #hope

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Of all the resurrection miracles we’re looking at in this series, this particular one is most unique in that it is coupled with another miracle that takes place within the story itself. There is so much we learn about Christ’s compassion, His power, and what He intends to do for each and every one of us. Don’t miss this second installment in our series, Jesus Ruins Funerals.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The story of the woman with a chronic menstrual problem presented a unique set of challenges in first-century Jewish culture that it would not present today. But all of us can relate to some or all of the ways this woman was suffering physically, socially, religiously, and economically. What stood out to you most about this healing? Why did Jesus call this woman out from her anonymity and isolation rather than just continuing on with his journey to Jairus’ house? How significant is it that Jesus called this nameless woman “daughter”? How is her healing like what an individual experiences when they give their life to Jesus Christ?

2. Pastor Keith commented, “Faith gives us access to Jesus and his power in our lives but it doesn’t give us control over Jesus or His power.” Jairus may have struggled with the delay in ministering to the woman with the issue of blood (although the text doesn’t say) given the seriousness of his daughter’s condition. Have you ever struggled with God’s timing? Have you ever wanted to dictate to God when, where, and how He is to answer your prayer? How does this story speak to that issue?

3. Just like with the woman whom Jesus called “daughter”, Jesus speaks similar tender words to the dead young girl. Talitha is a term of endearment, like a pet name or a special nickname a mother might use for her daughter. In both of these miracles, it’s not just the healing that is highlighted but also the restoration of relationship. Miracles are always bigger than we imagine. In the same way, we are not merely healed of our sin sickness, we are restored in relationship, brought back into the family, included, and made to feel special. When you think about what it means to be restored in relationship to the family of God, how do you hear God referring to you? What do we read in Scripture? What have you heard Him speak to your spirit?

4. There is no question, these two miracles are intertwined. Those are so many similarities and contrasts that it could not be accidental. In what ways are the stories different? In what ways are the stories the same? In what way do both miracles show us what Christ will do on the cross and through His resurrection?

BONUS QUESTION: Pastor Keith listed nine Markan Sandwiches in the extended message notes. Individually or as a group, take some time to study one of the other examples of this sandwich technique that Jewish writers used. Remember, the middle story often holds the key to understanding the story it interrupts. In the passage or passages you examine, what stands out about the middle story that helps you better understand the story it interrupts?

1 - Jesus Family and Beelzebub: 3.30-35

2 - Parable of the Sower and Purpose of Parables: 4.1-20

3 - Jairus and the Bleeding Woman: 5.21-43

4 - Sending out the Twelve and John the Baptist: 6.7-32

5 - Cursing of the Fig Tree and Cleansing of the Temple: 11.12-25

6 - The plot to kill Jesus and his anointing: 14.1-11

7 - Peter’s Denial and Jesus’ Trial: 14.53-72

8 - Jesus predicts the failures of his followers and the Last Supper: 14.17-31

9 - The Women and Joseph of Arimathea: 15.40-16.8

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The Resurrection of the Widow's Son
Jesus Ruins Funerals - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 10, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #jesusruinsfunerals #resurrection #countdowntoeaster #easter #jesus #miracle #hopeforthehurting #hope

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Death is unfair. It takes from us our family and friends regardless of how much they’re needed or loved. In this resurrection miracle, we see God’s heart for us when ours is broken, how He meets us in our pain, and in the end, what He intends to do with life’s greatest losses. It’s a message of hope for the hurting but it’s more than that. It’s also a picture of what Christ Himself did for all of us. Join us in our countdown to Easter as we lean into the resurrection miracles in the gospels and discover the hope they bring into our lives today.

SERIES | Jesus Ruins Funerals

Losing a loved one is stressful enough then planning the funeral of a loved one adds even more stress. I love Jesus but He sure knows how to mess up a funeral. Think about it. You’ve paid the funeral home. Bought the cemetery plot and casket. You’ve invited all the guests then Jesus shows up and wrecks the whole plan in a wonderfully glorious way. In the days leading up to Easter, we’re going to spend some time examining how Jesus responds to death. This is a series full of hope about what Jesus will one day do for all of us, too.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What was your first experience with death? How did it affect you? Who was there to comfort you? How was death explained to you?

2. Compassion, as Pastor Keith shared, is more than a feeling. It’s an action. Compassion compels us to do something about whatever has captured our hearts. How has compassion for someone or some circumstance compelled you to do something more than feel the pain of those involved?

3. Re-read this resurrection account again in the Bible (Luke 7.11-17). What did you learn about this story? What stands out most to you? How does this story challenge you? Encourage you? Build your faith? Put yourself in the shoes of this widow and try to imagine what she was feeling before and after this miracle. Describe that transformation. Now imagine that time when we all stand in the presence of God and He does this restoration of life and relationship for each and every one of us. There’s coming a time when our losses will also be reversed – a time of restoration – because resurrection life is our guaranteed future. What does that day mean to you?

4. Miracles are previews of coming attractions. Evidence of what God intends to do one day for us all. Proof of what He’s willing to do to set things right. In thinking of this and the other 37 recorded miracles of Christ in the gospels, what else do we know that God wants – is willing to do – will one day do for us all?

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ESTHER: An Easter Story
Hidden in Plain Sight - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 3, 2024

#realspringcreekchurch #hiddeninplainsight #esther #aneasterstory #cross #jesus #shadows #theshadowofthecross #oldtestament
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Esther is somewhat of a puzzling Old Testament book with a lead female character. But once you dig beneath the surface of this ancient piece of literature, you discover amazing parallels between Esther’s story and Jesus’ story. She is clearly one whose life was intended to point us to Christ. In this Lenten season, join us this Sunday as we explore the shadow of the cross as it falls across the Old Testament in the amazing story of Esther.

SERIES | Hidden in Plain Sight

There are stories with which we are fairly familiar that have a depth a meaning we often overlook. These Old Testament stories contain what are often referred to as types and shadows of greater realities yet to come. During this season of Lent, we went to fix our attention on a couple of these well-known stories to see a deeper message hidden within. Their message helps us not only to see the amazing continuity of the story God has been telling for all time but also prepares our hearts for the coming of Christ.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Even though Esther lived in a time of extreme patriarchy (where the rights of men were far greater than those of women), Esther was able to rise to a position of influence and use that influence to save the nation. What was true about Esther’s day was also the prevailing culture throughout most of the history during which the Bible was written. What other stories of women in Scripture are you aware of who rose to prominence and leadership despite the culture of the day? Discuss how they were used by God. How do their stories inspire you?

2. Take some time in your group to discuss the following quote, “In the moral conflict now raging around us whoever is on God’s side is on the winning side and cannot lose; whoever is on the other side is on the losing side and cannot win” (A.W. Tozer).

3. The Bible makes a distinction between time (chronos – which is clocks, days, and calendars) and time (kairos – a pregnant moment in time, a pivotal moment in history). Esther’s story is a reminder that we are where we are and who we are for a reason. And sometimes, everything seems to align to create an opportunity to exercise our gifting, utilize our influence, and invest our talent – what we call a Kairos moment. In reflecting on Esther’s Kairos moment, are you aware of other Kairos moments in Scripture, in world history or US history, or your own personal life? If so, describe what happened and why you think it was a Kairos moment.

4. As Pastor Keith wrapped up the message, he focused on some of the parallels between Esther’s story and Jesus’ story. Can you name the parallels he mentioned and why? Are you aware of any other ways that Esther’s story is similar to Jesus’ story (there are other ways)? If so, what are they?

5. As we wrap up this series, we’ve looked specifically at two events in Old Testament history to see the shadow of the cross in the water from the rock with Moses and the liberation of God’s people through the efforts of Esther. There are many other such shadows throughout the Old Testament intended to prepare God’s people for the coming of Christ. Can you think of any others? If so, what are they? Why do you think God included so many early symbols and stories to help us better understand how redemption would unfold? What does that do for your faith?

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MOSES: The Message Behind the Cross
Hidden in Plain Sight - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 25, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #hiddeninplainsight #moses #themessagebehindthecross #cross #jesus #shadows #theshadowofthecross #oldtestament

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

There are details in Bible stories that are often easily missed. They are shadows. Things are not spelled out in black and white but if you know what to look for, it’s clearly there. It’s why this series is called, Hidden in Plain Sight. Call it “the shadow of the cross” because it falls across the entire Old Testament. Literally, in every book, you see Jesus if you know what to look for. You see what He’s coming to do. You understand why the cross is essential in God’s plan of redemption. That’s what this message is all about, finding Jesus in the story of the Exodus.

SERIES | Hidden in Plain SightThere are stories with which we are fairly familiar that have a depth a meaning we often overlook. These Old Testament stories contain what are often referred to as types and shadows of greater realities yet to come. During this season of Lent, we went to fix our attention on a couple of these well-known stories to see a deeper message hidden within. Their message helps us not only to see the amazing continuity of the story God has been telling for all time but also prepares our hearts for the coming of Christ.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. There are two psychological concepts addressed in this message related to the children of Israel and the dynamics we observe playing out in this drama.

Early in the message, Pastor Keith discussed the concept of learned helplessness illustrated by the elephant tied to a stake using a small rope and the damage done to the children of Israel by long-term slavery. Discuss the concept of learned helplessness and talk or write about where have you seen this played out in your life or that of others.

The other concept is that of the victim triangle where those who have been victimized tend to see others only in one of two roles; their rescuer or their persecutor. This, too, is something we see very clearly in how the children of Israel related to Moses. Talk or write about where you have seen this played out in your life or that of others.

1. What is your God image like? How do you see Him as He relates to you in your pain? In your failure? In your successes? In your doubts? The last crisis you went through, how did you pray? Did it reveal anything to you that might be askew in your God image?

2. After the great victory at the Red Sea (where for the first time Scripture tells us that the people believed), they are dropped off in Marah where the waters were bitter and undrinkable. Often, after a great victory, comes times of great testing. What do you learn from the story of the exodus about times such as these? What were your big takeaways from the message? Where and how have you experienced this in your own life?

3. There is so much more to this story than what meets the eye, especially what happened in Exodus 17.5-7. Take some time to re-read this passage of Scripture. Pastor Keith shared how these verses show us how the people put God on trial, found Him guilty, and executed Him. Just like we would do with Jesus many years later. This is what’s more commonly referred to as an Old Testament shadow. It is giving Israel a glimpse into a much bigger reality and story that will play out with Christ, His trial, and execution. Discuss the things that stood out to you about this story. Next week, we’ll be looking at another Old Testament story that brings a very similar message about what Christ would one day do and that’s the story of Esther. But for now, what other Old Testament stories, symbols, or practices give us insight and glimpses into what God would one day do through His Son Jesus Christ?

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ENGAGED
All the Church Wants is Money - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 18, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #allthechurchwantsismoney #money #engaged #temple #exploit #vulnerable #Jesus

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

If you want to know how Jesus feels about those who, in the name of God, take advantage of the less fortunate, there’s an incident, recorded by all four gospel writers that speaks definitively to this issue. The way Jesus responded is a pattern for our engagement with a world full of need. Bottom line, there will always be those who exploit the vulnerable, even in church. But true Christ followers take their stand alongside the vulnerable just like Jesus did.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Review the things you learned about the Temple’s role in first-century finance and the corruption of the priestly class especially the family of Annas. What are some of the ways we see these same practices being played out in society today like unfair loan terms, greedy business owners, practices that prey upon the vulnerable, and exorbitant mark-ups on necessities?

2. Today, there is a new movement that is trying to merge the Christian faith with the State often referred to as Christian Nationalism. What are your thoughts on this movement? What dangers exist within this thinking? How can Christians allow their faith to inform their politics rather than allowing their politics to inform their faith?

3. It is always wrong to shut our hearts off to those who are different from us, of a different ethnicity, who speak a different language, or are from a different place. God’s heart is all-inclusive while sometimes His follower’s hearts are not. How do we make a place of welcome in our hearts for those unlike ourselves? What would you say to someone who spoke or acted in ways that were off-putting to those unlike them? What habits can we engage in on a regular basis that challenge the way we see and treat others?

4. If there is any unmistakable truth taken from the cleansing of the Temple it is this - to take advantage of the poor stirs the anger of God. The hefty mark-ups on sacrificial animals and exchange rates for currency were nothing but profit-gouging off the backs of those who could least afford it. In what ways does society or the church prey off of the most vulnerable? When does a profit cease to be a normal and expected expense and cross the line into exploitation? How do our Christian values regulate how we do business in the marketplace?

5. God has always wanted to dwell among His people. Can you recap his examples from the beginning of the Bible to the end? It’s clear from this explanation that church buildings are not the best parallel with the Temple but you and I are. We are God’s temple today. What does the cleansing of the Temple say to you about your own heart as the Temple of God?

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CYNICAL
All the Church Wants is Money - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 11, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #allthechurchwantsismoney #money #tithe #church #give #giving #charitablegiving #God

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Cynical is how we feel when we have been constantly exposed to people who are obviously only looking out for their self-interests. Truth be told, that’s the way many feel about the church. That it’s a racket – a money-making enterprise – a pyramid scheme that enriches those at the top at the expense of all those at the bottom. Sadly, that does represent a fair number of churches these days. But what we’re not accustomed to hearing is honest, truth-telling messages as to why these things happen, how to discern when Scripture is being distorted, and what God actually says about what should motivate our charitable giving. That’s what this message sets out to do.

SERIES: ALL THE CHURCH WANTS IS MONEY

It’s important to acknowledge the abusive money messages churches can send and to practice discernment in regard to how we give and to whom we give. That’s what this new series will equip you to do.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What, if any, experiences have you had around prosperity gospel churches or preachers?

2. Pastor Keith talked about how the prosperity gospel has really taken root in Africa in some of the deepest pockets of poverty that exist in the world. It’s also fairly well rooted throughout Latin America and in places like India. Why do you think the prosperity gospel seems to thrive in such desperate places? When so many never actually receive all the material benefits promised, why do they continue to hang on and attend such churches?

3. Pastor Keith discussed how easy it is to read Scripture from a me-oriented filter. This basically means, that whenever we read the Bible, we are constantly asking ourselves, “What does this verse mean to me?” But this is a very problematic approach because it divorces Scripture from its original context, culture, setting, and people. The first question we should be asking ourselves in Bible study is, “What did this verse mean to the original hearers?” Things like the 100-fold heresy (Mark 10.29-30) and the distortion of Jeremiah 29.11 are the direct result of reading these passages and asking only what they mean to us. Review these Scriptures and discuss what these passages meant to the original audience. Can you think of other Scriptures that we miss the meaning of because we are too quick to apply them to ourselves without first discerning their original intent?

4. There are repeated warnings in Scripture about greed and money – far too many to cover in a single message like this. Take some time to search out some of these other Scriptures and share them with each other. With so many explicit warnings about wealth and the desire for wealth, how is it that prosperity preachers and churches circumvent these passages and justify the pursuit of wealth?

5. Paul addresses the proper motivations for giving in 2 Corinthians 9, “…each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” 2 Corinthians 9.6-9. What stands out most to you about this verse? In what ways have you observed the truths you read about here? What would you say to encourage someone who wanted to begin a habit of giving but had fears or misgivings about it?

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Won't You Be My Neighbor
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez
February 4, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #wontyoubemyneighbor #loveyourneighbor #loveothers #love #lovegod #mrrogers

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" isn't just a question; it's a profound invitation into a journey of transformation. Just as transition is necessary yet challenging, becoming an externally focused church is an essential, although uncomfortable, shift. It's about stepping out of our comfort zones to embrace those not like us, much like the Good Samaritan did. This sermon emphasizes the church's vital role in reaching out and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, breaking down barriers, and fostering a sense of universal neighborliness. God is preparing us, not just to serve, but to transform - to be a neighbor in the truest sense. Let's be that neighbor, that church, that reaches out, not knowing the full scope of God's plan but trusting in His panoramic view of our journey.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How can I become a better neighbor in my own community?

2. In what ways can I extend mercy and compassion to those who are different from me?

3. How can our church more effectively serve the needs of our neighbors?

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Ecclesiastes (Wisdom When it Comes to Life's Ultimate Meaning)
The Smartest Man in the Room – Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 28, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #thesmartestmanintheroom #solomon #ecclesiastes #themeaningoflife #songofsongs #lovelife #love #relationships #proverbs #wisdom

In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon asks the question, “How can anyone discover the meaning of life?” (Ecclesiastes 7.24). At some point, it’s a question we all have to answer. Why am I here? What’s it all about? Because every one of us longs to find the meaning of life. Ecclesiastes is a deliberate attempt to explore all the options available to us to see what, if anything, gives life ultimate meaning.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As Pastor Keith pointed out, when Solomon says, everything is meaningless or vanity, the original Hebrew word was havel. Havel literally means “vapor, breath, or wind” in Hebrew. Think of a mere puff of air, the vapor on a coffee cup, or a passing sigh. That’s havel. Figuratively speaking, havel refers to something that is empty of genuine gain, something that is fleeting and doesn’t last, or is past the full understanding that you can’t wrap your mind around. If you’ve done some reading in Ecclesiastes, what are some things that fall into this category? Now how about for you personally, what are things that are fleeting, don’t last, or things that you just can’t get your mind wrapped around?

2. The perspective that must be kept in mind as you read Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s perspective of life “under the sun.” In other words, from a purely human standpoint, a view of things if you take God out of the picture, life as we see it, and experience it apart from God. In the message notes online, you can re-read the quotes from numerous celebrities who discovered that having money, fame or beauty was not all they thought it would be. Why do you suppose that is? Why is it so difficult to find satisfaction in life?

3. We’re impacted by two universal laws. The law of unfulfilled expectations is all about achieving what we set out to do only to discover that it’s not everything we dreamed it would be. And the law of diminishing returns is about how over time, the return we get from various activities and accomplishments is lessened. So it takes more and more to get the same level of high or euphoria. How do you see these two laws played out in society or among your friends? How have you experienced them in your personal life?

4. Think of work or money or pleasure as balloons. We fill them with our time, our energy, and our hope. We watch them expand. From the outside, they look to gain mass and you might even assume weight. But inside it’s still only vapor. Death is the needle that shows the truth. It can all be taken away in a moment. This is part of Solomon’s learning and something we seem to have forgotten in our death-denying, death-avoidant culture. How does the idea of death, facing our own mortality, teach us to live better and more intentionally?

5. Pleasures are not goals to live for, but they are bonuses or consolations that we learn to accept with gratitude. The things talked about in Ecclesiastes are not inherently bad; they are just passing away. And because of that, they can never provide a permanent basis for happiness, contentment, or fulfillment. They’re not bad things, just not a good foundation. So pleasure and happiness can never be our aim, not our goal, not our purpose. But they can be enjoyed when they come into your life. How does this inform the way you live?

6. As we have immersed ourselves in the wisdom literature of Solomon over the last three weeks, what have been your biggest takeaways? Where have you been challenged to think differently about these books or about your life?

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Song of Songs (Wisdom for Your Love Life)
The Smartest Man in the Room – Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 21, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #thesmartestmanintheroom #solomon #songofsongs #lovelife #love #relationships #proverbs #wisdom

Could it be that an Old Testament book written nearly 3000 years ago contains the keys to relational success we desperately need today? The Song of Songs defines love as it should be while at the same time helping us navigate the obstacles and challenges every marriage will face. It’s a fascinating little book that has more than meets the eye.

SERIES: The Smartest Man in the Room (Life Lessons from the Writings of Solomon)

God handed the man a blank check. He told him to ask for anything he wanted. While many of us might have asked for something else, Solomon asked for and was granted wisdom. Wisdom is God-given and God-centered discernment regarding the practical challenges we face in life. As part of his legacy, Solomon gifted future generations three books chocked full of wisdom for our daily lives. There is so much we can learn from the smartest man in the room.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The Song of Songs has the unique distinction of being written almost entirely in a woman’s voice and from a female perspective. Pastor Keith also pointed out some apparent parallels and contrasts with the original story of the first couple (Adam and Eve). At the very least, this book seems to be showing us a redeemed perspective on what can happen in a marriage of mutuality as opposed to the power and control associated with the fall. How does this perspective challenge or encourage you? What have you been taught about the nature of the husband/wife relationship in marriage? What does it mean for a marriage to be a place of mutuality?

2. In the Song of Songs, the writer uses three different words to describe the fullness of love; RAYA – Intimacy or friendship, AHAVA – Commitment, and DOD – Passion. Which of these do you think society values most? Least? What would a relationship look like that was high on friendship and commitment but lacked passion? What would a relationship look like that was high on commitment and passion but lacked friendship? What would a relationship look like that was high on friendship and passion but had no commitment? In your present relationship or past ones, where have you been strongest and where have you been weakest?

3. Pastor Keith underscored the importance of genuine compliments in relationships and marriage. He pointed out how insecurities inhibit expression – that if there’s an area of our life where we feel insecure, in that area we will always hold back to some degree. One of the greatest gifts we give our partner is praising away their insecurities. Has anyone ever done this for you? If so, how? Have you ever done this for someone else? If so, how?

4. Big issues that end marriages seldom start out big. Instead, they are best described as “little foxes that spoil the grapes.” They are small things that we ignore that eventually begin to take their toll on us in the form of resentments, score-keeping, and ongoing pain. What are some small issues that tend to grow bigger over time? What ways have you discovered for dealing with them? How do you keep little things from becoming big things?

5. In many ways, our closest and most intimate relationships can be a mirror of how God loves us. At least, that’s the case when we are living by God’s principles and have a healthy love life. What have you learned about God through your marriage or that of others? In all the things you learned about love and keeping a relationship healthy in the Song of Songs, in what ways do any of those principles remind you of the way God loves and relates to you?

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Proverbs (Wisdom to Get Started Right)
The Smartest Man in the Room – Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 14, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #thesmartestmanintheroom #solomon #proverbs #wisdom

In this new series about the wisdom literature of the Bible, we’re going to begin with one of the best-known, most loved books in the Bible and that’s the book of Proverbs. This is a book about life – your real life – your 9 to 5, day-in, day-out grind. It’s practical and chocked full of wisdom for navigating the challenges life throws our way. If you haven’t figured it out by now, it’s our choices, not chance, that determines our destiny. The message of Proverbs, taken to heart, can help you make a better future.

SERIES: The Smartest Man in the Room (Life Lessons from the Writings of Solomon)

God handed the man a blank check. He told him to ask for anything he wanted. While many of us might have asked for something else, Solomon asked for and was granted wisdom. Wisdom is God-given and God-centered discernment regarding the practical challenges we face in life. As part of his legacy, Solomon gifted future generations three books chocked full of wisdom for our daily lives. There is so much we can learn from the smartest man in the room.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith pointed out that proverbs are general truths but not necessarily absolutes. Can you think of any well-known proverbs (whether they were things you were told while you were growing up or those from the book of Proverbs) that have exceptions or caveats? If so, what are they? If you can think of any, take a few moments and google “popular proverbs in English” and discuss your thoughts about them.

2. Wisdom is defined as the skill in making life-enhancing choices. In light of that, what have been some of the wisest decisions you have made? And conversely, what are some decisions you have made that were not life-enhancing? What did you learn from both?

3. Solomon constantly reminds us of the importance of the quality of people with whom we associate. The foolish lead us down the wrong path and the wise lead us down the best path. C.S. Lewis underscored the importance of surrounding ourselves with those who are wiser than us. Who has that been for you in the past? In the present? What sort of qualities would you benefit from most in a new friend?

4. Pastor Keith shared a chart in today’s message that shows the range of the meaning of the word “fear” in the Bible. Where have you been on that continuum? Where are you now? Where would you like to be? If you are not where you desire to be, what past experiences or present struggles are proving to be an impediment?

5. The Solomon Paradox is a real issue that many of us deal with but seldom acknowledge. We know the right thing to do but we don’t do it. We have wonderful advice for our friends but struggle to apply it in our own lives and relationships. In what ways have you seen this play out in the lives of people you know or have read about? What’s the best way to counteract the Solomon Paradox? Who do you know and trust so much that you allow them to speak truth into your life even when you don’t want to hear it?

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ALIGNMENT
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 7, 2024

realspringcreekchurch #alignment #priorities #synch #purpose #life

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

We’ve all had the experience of driving a car with tires out of alignment. The vehicle invariably pulls to one side or the other negatively impacting both handling and safety. Just like our vehicles, our lives are also susceptible to misalignment. When our lives are misaligned, it’s because our priorities have become disordered and are no longer in synch with God’s purposes. You don’t want to miss this message that shows us not only how to get the most out of the new year but also the most out of life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The church in Ephesus lived in a particularly challenging time. As you read Revelation 2.1-7, you notice that Jesus commends the church for several things. As you look over the commendations, why do those things matter? How well do Christians do the same thing today? In what areas are you strong? In what areas do you still need to grow as it relates to the things Jesus says He loves about this church?

2. As Pastor Keith shared, Jesus’ complaint is not that they don't love him. His complaint is they don't love him first. What does it mean to love Christ first? In the Christian life, what other things crowd Jesus out of first place? Is that the first thing people notice about our faith – our distinctive love for Christ? And if not, what would people say about us and what we loved most?

3. The very things Christ commended this church also became their stumbling block. Satan is so clever. He loves to take virtues and corrupt them. He loves it because we never think to look for Satan in the good stuff. We don’t think of him as primarily twisting good things into bad things. So being doctrinally correct began to eclipse loving people as they are and where they are. They were in danger of losing their witness (their lampstand). Take some time to discuss our tendency to want to be right more than we want to be loving.

4. Why is it important to stay in touch with our own brokenness and need of grace?

5. What we ultimately love will determine how the rest of our life is lived. It’s why it is so important to love Christ supremely above all things and all others. As Juan Carlos Ortiz shared in his book, Disciple, about the young man who did not have time to do much of anything in church He said he was so busy. But once he met a girl and fell in love, somehow he found the time to be with her three times a week. Ortiz’s conclusion? Love did it. And Love will do the same thing with us and to us. Whatever we love the most will determine the rest. What practical things can you do that cultivate your love relationship with Christ?

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BREATHE | FINDING REST IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS
Jerrid Fletcher, Lead Associate Pastor
December 31, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #breathe #findingrestinthemidstofchaos #chaos #rest #jesus

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Reflect on the past year, specifically focusing on those extraordinary moments that took your breath away. These could be moments of awe, beauty, surprise, or even challenge. With affirmation of faith and hope, let's pause and appreciate the depth and richness of these experiences. Carry the lessons learned from the past year's breathless moments into the new year, breathing deeply into the future with faith, courage, & an open heart.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How does the song "Seasons of Love" and Jonathan Larson's story resonate with you in understanding the value of time and measuring life in love?

2. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which of the mentioned seasons do you personally relate to the most, considering the events of 2023?

3. In what ways do you define chaos in your life? How does chaos manifest itself in your everyday experiences?

4. Can you think of a specific situation in 2023 that felt chaotic, and how did you navigate through it?

5. Reflect on your experiences of surrendering burdens to Christ. How has faith and trust in God's love brought you comfort in challenging times?

6. How can you apply the principles of finding rest in chaos in your life as you step into the upcoming year?

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THE LIGHT OF JESUS FOR YOUR DARKEST DAYS
Pastor Keith Stewart
December 24, 2023

thelightofjesusforyourdarkestdays #god #jesus #light #overcome #darkness #godslight #hope #christmas

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Christmas celebrates the arrival of God’s light in the midst of our greatest darkness. Join us for a message of hope in anticipation of Christmas Day.

SOLSTICE: Latin solstitium, from sol, "sun" and stitium, "a stoppage”

“Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.” - Carl Sagan

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1.3-5

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1.5

Let there be light. Genesis 1.3

I am the light of the world. John 8.12

Jesus said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in darkness.” John 12.46

You, Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness. 1 Samuel 22.29

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1.6-8

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THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 24, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #thetruechristmasstory #christmas #jesus #jesusbirth #goodnews #perfectlyimperfect

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

When we don’t know the Christmas story as well as we think we do, we run the risk of turning Jesus’ birth into a fairytale or a bedtime story. This is one of the worst things we could ever do to Christmas. The Christmas story, as told in Scripture, is unsanitized, dark and gritty. Everything about Jesus’ birth is the opposite of the way it should have been. But in telling the story as it actually happened, it sends a powerful message to every person who has ever felt like an outsider, excluded or unwanted. The TRUE Christmas story is incredibly good news to broken people. Come hear it again this Sunday in all of its imperfect perfection.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. It’s obvious that the Christmas narrative surrounding the birth of Christ gets sanitized in so many different ways. In what ways has society made the story of Christ’s coming into the world something more akin to a fairytale than the real and gritty reality it actually was? Why do you think we do this to the story of Christ? How do we correct those mistaken notions?

2. The choosing of the shepherds as the first eyewitnesses to the birth of Christ and the proclamation that they are “those with whom God is pleased” upends the thinking of the day and prioritizes the least, the last, and the lost. The truth about whom God values still gets lost even today. How does this aspect of the Christmas story comfort you or challenge you?

3. The adoration from the shepherds is spontaneous and natural. In thinking about the C.S. Lewis quote Pastor Keith shared, why is praise something that characterizes the humble and is absent in the cranks and malcontents? When was the last time you saw or experienced something amazing and just had to share it with someone?

4. Take some time to think about all the ways, even in His infancy, that the Jesus story reminds us of the real reason Christ came. How do you connect the cradle and the cross?

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A LITTLE NORMALCY
My Life is Not a Hallmark Movie – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 17, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #mylifeisnotahallmarkmovie #hallmarkmovie #hallmark #alliwantforchristmas #christmas #normalcy #normal

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Do you know difficult people, sandpaper people or extra-grace-required people? These are people who spin off hurricanes in our emotions. They get to us in ways others don’t. They’re hard to be around. At Christmas, when we most want happy and special memories, they often throw a wet blanket on everyone’s good time. This year can be different. Let's walk us through practical steps in dealing with the most challenging relationships you have. Consider this an essential guide to holiday survival.

SERIES: My Life is Not a Hallmark Movie

In this series, we’ll rediscover how the true meaning of Christmas speaks into our less-than-perfect world and relationships. Christmas is the birth of hope in an imperfect world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Difficult people get to you like few others ever will. They seem to know how to push your buttons and get reactions out of you that others don’t. Have you ever had a relationship with a difficult person? Without naming names, who were they in relation to you? Why do you put them in the difficult category? What sorts of things did they do or say that were bothersome? How do you or did you manage that relationship? Was your approach successful? Why or why not?

2. Pastor Keith listed four non-starters when it comes to dealing with difficult people; reasoning with them, excusing them, threatening them, or blasting them. He gave examples of as to why these approaches seldom if ever work. Do you remember why he said they were seldom effective in bringing about change in the relationship? What has been your experience with them?

3. Discuss the following quotes by Dr. Mark Rosen (author of Thank You for Being Such a Pain):

“In the school of life, difficult people are the faculty. They teach us our most important spiritual lessons, the lessons that we would be most unlikely to learn on our own.”

“The teacher would have to be someone who would shatter our incorrect beliefs, frozen feelings, and self-delusion. Someone who would help us to break free of our current, limited understanding. Someone who could uproot the very things in life that we are most invested in holding onto and keeping the same. Someone who causes us so much pain that we finally out of desperation must begin the necessary changes that we have resisted so long. It would have to be a difficult person.”

1. It is absolutely essential that we learn to have good boundaries in place when it comes to our relationship with those who are difficult. What sort of boundaries are important to protect yourself in the presence of someone who easily offends or creates havoc in the lives of others?

2. Learning to love as Jesus loves does not necessarily involve warm, fuzzy feelings. In fact, quite the opposite. The way Jesus taught us to love is to seek someone’s highest and best good. Which sometimes means having to draw a clear boundary, confronting someone over disordered behavior, or allowing them to fully reap the consequence for their own bad behavior. None of those things are unloving. They are all done in hopes that the person you’re dealing with becomes what they were meant to be rather than continuing with destructive communication or behavior. Why do people struggle so much with understanding why limits express love? When Jesus corrected the Pharisees, it was as loving as it was when He welcomed the outcast. Both were done with the individual’s best interests at heart. Why do we see love only in one and not the other?

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WHEN SILENT NIGHT IS THE LONELIEST NIGHT
My Life is Not a Hallmark Movie – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 10, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #mylifeisnotahallmarkmovie #hallmarkmovie #hallmark #silentnight #loneliestnight #lonely

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Loneliness is a condition made worse by the things we tell ourselves when we’re lonely; “There must be something wrong with me.” “I must be weak and immature.” “I’m the only person who feels this way.” But none of those things are true. Loneliness is part of the human condition but it’s often amplified at Christmastime when so many gather to celebrate. Loneliness is about a lack of meaningful connection with others. Join us for what could be a brand new beginning in your life and relationships as we explore, “When Silent Night is the Loneliest Night.”

SERIES: My Life is Not a Hallmark Movie

Hallmark movies have become practically synonymous with sappy storylines, cliché answers to complex problems, and “happily ever after” endings. Our lives are anything but that. But during the holidays, especially at Christmas, we get drawn into the nostalgia and sentimentality of the season and as a result, set unrealistic expectations for what this time of the year will be. In this series, we’ll rediscover how the true meaning of Christmas speaks into our less-than-perfect world and relationships. Christmas is the birth of hope in an imperfect world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Professor William Swan said, “…people with negative self-views prefer, even seek out, people who will evaluate them in the same way.” When we engage in negative self-talk, pity parties, and distortions in our thinking as to why we are lonely, we will end up creating relationships that perpetuate all those negative self-reflections. In your loneliness, have you noticed yourself developing an “incoming” versus an “outgoing” personality? What can you do to interrupt negative thinking? What’s the truth you are learning about loneliness? How can you make the shift to becoming more outgoing in your personality?

2. Robin Williams said, “I used to think being alone was the worst thing. It’s not, it’s being alone with people who make you feel alone.” Have you ever been in a relationship where you experienced this to one degree or another? What did the other person say or do that made you feel discounted, abandoned, or rejected?

3. Why does comparison make us feel lonely? Pastor Keith suggested limiting your exposure to social media simply because the more you engage in it, the more lonely you are likely to feel. Do you set limits for yourself or your kids when it comes to the amount of time you or they spend on social media? Why or why not?

4. Loneliness and solitude are two different ends of the spectrum of being alone. What do you know about the spiritual discipline of solitude? Have you ever engaged in this discipline? What are the challenges of solitude? What are the benefits? How important is it to have time alone with God? If you do this now, explain the benefits that you have experienced. If you don’t engage in solitude as a spiritual discipline, what is standing in your way?

5. What was your greatest learning from this message? What did it reveal about you? Your present relationships or past relationships with which you were involved?

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WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS?
My Life is Not a Hallmark Movie – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 3, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #mylifeisnotahallmarkmovie #hallmarkmovie #hallmark #expectations #whereareyouchristmas #christmas #reality

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Everything within our culture, from Christmas movies to television specials to depictions in cards, magazines, and commercials paints Christmas as a magical and idyllic time of the year. Seldom does our reality measure up to all the hype. Often, we feel disappointed and wonder, “Where are you Christmas? Where’s my Hallmark moment? When will my family ever look like that Norman Rockwell portrait?” This Christmas doesn’t have to look like the dashed expectations of Christmas past. There’s a better way to experience what this season is all about. Let us show you how.

SERIES: My Life is Not a Hallmark Movie

Hallmark movies have become practically synonymous with sappy storylines, cliché answers to complex problems, and “happily ever after” endings. Our lives are anything but that. But during the holidays, especially at Christmas, we get drawn into the nostalgia and sentimentality of the season and as a result, set unrealistic expectations for what this time of the year will be. In this series, we’ll rediscover how the true meaning of Christmas speaks into our less-than-perfect world and relationships. Christmas is the birth of hope in an imperfect world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever had your expectations dashed at Christmas? What were you expecting? What actually happened? What did you do with your hurt, disappointment, or anger? Looking back on it now, is there anything you wish you had done differently?

2. Describe the biggest influences in your life when it comes to the Christmas season. What was central to your Christmas celebrations as a child? What is now central to your celebrations? How much and in what ways have nostalgia, movies, music, commercials, the church, and social media affected your feelings, mood, and thoughts around Christmas?

3. What’s the difference between a healthy versus an unhealthy expectation? Or realistic versus unrealistic expectations? Have you ever or do you presently struggle with this? Based on today’s message, what might you try to do differently in the future?

4. Go back to the message notes and find the full text of the serenity prayer. As a group, go through the prayer line by line and think of ways this might apply to your life today. How does it shift your thinking? Where are you most needing to learn and grow?

5. Hope is the one expectation most encouraged in Scripture – that we have every right to expect God to keep His promises. As you reflect on this and the reality that we are not promised a pain-free, hassle-free, problem-free existence but are promised that God will never abandon us, always work in our best interests (for our good and growth), and redeem what is meant to harm us. How have you seen God do this in your life? Where are you struggling to see His hand at work? What promises can you claim and apply to your life right now?

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WHOSE RACE ARE YOU RUNNING?
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez
November 26, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #whoseraceareyourunning #runtherace #race #Joshua #faith #hebrews #perseverance #divineguidance #challenges #overcomer #purpose #endurance

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

"Whose Race Are You Running" is a sermon that encourages us to reflect on our personal spiritual journey, urging us to discern whether we are running the race set by God or following our own desires. By applying Joshua's lessons of faith, perseverance, and divine guidance to our lives, we are motivated to stay committed to God's path despite challenges and distractions. This sermon is not just a message but an invitation to recommit to running the race God has set for us, armed with the strength, courage, and clarity gleaned from Joshua's extraordinary example. It challenges us to consider whether we are following our own paths or the race marked out for us by God in Hebrews 12:1.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some ways you can identify whether you are running your own race or someone else’s in your life? How can you align your race more closely with God's plan for you?

2. What can we learn from Eliud Kipchoge's discipline and Joshua’s faithfulness about perseverance in our spiritual journeys?

3. How can the concept of endurance in a marathon help us face challenges in our spiritual life? Can you share a personal experience where endurance was key to overcoming a challenge?

4. Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about laying aside every weight and sin. What are some practical steps we can take to do this in our daily lives?

5. How do we recognize and appreciate the 'track', 'team', and 'resources' that God has provided us to run our race successfully? How can we make better use of these gifts?

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LETTING GO OF WHAT WON’T LET GO OF YOU
Unfinished Business – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
November 19, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #unfinishedbusiness #lettinggo #stuck

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

If you’ve struggled with the idea of forgiving those who’ve hurt you in the past, you’re not alone. But the primary reason we stay stuck in unforgiveness has to do with erroneous understandings of what it means to forgive. This message will separate fact from fiction but more importantly, free you up to release a past you’re powerless to change in order to move into the future untethered from those who hurt you most. Don’t miss this liberating conclusion to our series on Unfinished Business.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith shared four myths that are popularly believed in regard to forgiveness but are untrue.

2. MYTH: Forgiveness releases offenders from consequences

3. MYTH: Forgiveness means to invite new injury on top of the old
4. MYTH: Forgiveness requires reconciliation
5. MYTH: Forgiveness and forgetting are synonymous

Have any of these myths ever been something you believed? If so, which one(s)? Why do you think people believe these myths? What did you learn today that helped dispel these myths? Of all the myths, the one that has become most prevalent is the last one that equates forgiveness with forgetting. Why is this not true? Why is it not true even of God? Some things are literally impossible to ever forget, what do we do instead of forgetting that is helpful?

1. Forgiveness is a process we commit to. It’s never just a matter of saying the right words or a singular moment in time. Instead, every time a past injury, hurt or injustice comes to mind, we should use that as an opportunity to do something other than dwell on it. Pastor Keith suggested a couple of things, maybe you can think of a few others. What might we do instead of reinforcing the hurt through more stewing or rehearsal of the painful event?

2. Corrie Ten Boom is a holocaust survivor and one with a lot of first-hand experience when it comes to having something to forgive and needing help to do that. What stood out most to you about her story? What did you find most helpful from her perspective? How can you apply the things she learned to your story in order to deepen your own experience of forgiveness?

3. What was your biggest takeaway from today’s message? How does that apply personally to you or to someone you care about? How has unforgiveness been a problem for you in the past? How were you able to get past your unwillingness to forgive OR if you are still there, based on the things Pastor Keith shared today, what’s your next step?

4. Take some time to share with one another in your group what it means to you personally to be forgiven by God. How does your own experience of forgiveness translate over into forgiving others who have sinned against you?

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Putting the Past Behind You
Unfinished Business - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 12, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #unfinishedbusiness #puttingthepastbehindyou

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

If you liked last weekend’s message, you won’t want to miss this next installment in the series “Unfinished Business.” Think of the first message as an overview. This week, we’ll dive deeper into how the unfinished past continues to impose itself in the present. But more importantly, we’ll discover how God meets us in our deepest hurts with affirmation and healing. Plan on joining us and invite a friend.

We’re going to talk about the wounding that exacerbates these needs and how to break free from the prison of approval addiction. I believe we’re going to see a lot of people experiencing spiritual breakthroughs and I’d love for you to be one of them. If you’ve ever felt abandoned by people who should have cared for you - if you feel like you care for others but they seldom reciprocate - if you live with a constant ache to be loved just for who you are - then don’t miss this Sunday’s message (Nov.12).

SERIES: Unfinished Business
When you have unfinished business in the past it will never remain in the past. Instead, it will continue to rear its ugly head at the least appropriate times and in the most unpredictable ways. We might become people who are easily triggered. The unhealed past can be what fuels our addictions. It’s even possible to end up taking it out on the wrong people simply because they do or say something that reminds us of our pain. In short, a buried pain refuses to stay buried. There’s a better way. This series will show you how to send the past into the past forever.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Take some time to discuss the five symptoms of a dysfunctional family. In particular, take some time to rate your own family of origin in the following areas…
2. Estrangement—Family members who avoid other family members.
3. Anger—It may be expressed or repressed.
4. Lack of Trust—Seen in faulty patterns of communication.
5. Deception—Inability to speak the truth to other family members.

6. Unhealthy Secrecy—Refusal to face the truth.

7. What are some of your biggest takeaways from the stories of Jacob and Esau? Which brother can you relate to most and why? Have you ever hungered for acceptance or approval? Would you describe what you’ve experienced as an approval addiction? Can you trace this to any event or events in your past?

8. What’s the significance of Jacob wrestling with God? Why was it so important for him to be defeated where he was most strong? Why is it important for our methods of manipulating to get our needs met to fail? What does God do for Jacob after he is powerless to go on wrestling? Why is that significant?

9. Take some time to think about the implications of God primarily identifying Himself as “The God of Jacob” as opposed to Jacob’s new name “Israel.” What does it mean to you that God is the God of the cheats and manipulators, the wounded and the broken, the ones who don’t have it all together?

10. Jacob is a changed man after his encounter with God. He now truly knows that he is blessed. Armed with that knowledge, he makes things right with his brother by returning what he’d taken through deceit and manipulation – the birthright and the blessing. When we finally know that we are blessed by God, we, too, will experience the freedom to make things right with others, release unrealistic expectations of them, and move confidently through life that we have the approval and acceptance we most need and crave from God Himself. How is God setting you free to do just that OR how can you pray to that end?

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The Root of Bitterness
Unfinished Business - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 5, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #unfinishedbusiness #therootofbitterness #bitterness

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

How do I know whether I have unfinished business in my past especially if I'm not consciously aware of anything? Believe it or not, there are telltale signs of unresolved hurt, buried pain, and unaddressed issues. Explore these roots that sabotage God's best for us in the present.

SERIES: Unfinished Business
In short, a buried pain refuses to stay buried. There’s a better way. This series will show you how to send the past into the past forever.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some of the messages (by word and deed) children receive while they are growing up that they never question? What coping mechanism do they adopt to deal with distorted messages? Has anything like this ever happened to you? What have you found helpful in dealing with these distortions, lies, and manipulations?

2. Bitterness is a common result of the refusal to deal with hurts from our past. What are some of the signs of bitterness? How does bitterness affect us personally? Why is bitterness counter-productive? What has been your personal experience with bitterness?

3. One of the surest signs that you have unfinished business from your past is when you're having reactions that are bigger than the moment calls for. This is a strong indicator that you're rolling the present situation into past events that were similar to it in your life. You’re combining new anger and old anger – new injury with old ones. So when you have big reactions, you should pay attention to what triggered it, then start asking questions of yourself. Can you name one example of questions you should ask? Why is it important to ask those questions? How do big reactions hold the key to unlocking past hurts?

4. Doctors Les & Leslie Parrott wrote, “Repressed feelings, especially painful ones, have a high rate of resurrection. Be aware, however, that healing your hurts is a process of painful self-exploration.” Which means, we have a choice. Continue to push down our pain and therefore both deal with it for the rest of our life and allow it to come out in unpredictable ways OR revisit old hurts once and for all, see them for what they actually are, and forgive them so that we’re through with them forever. Have you ever had to make this choice? What was your biggest fear? What was the result once you did?

5. Forgiveness is not excusing or explaining. Frankly, many of the things we need to forgive are inexcusable and sometimes we’ll never know why the people in our life hurt us the way they did. Forgiveness is not saying, “I don't feel the pain anymore because now I understand it.” Instead, it’s saying, “I don’t feel the need to hold on to your involvement in my pain anymore even if I never understand it.” Forgiveness is all about releasing the emotional energy attached to that event or circumstance. It’s to set ourselves free and to realize we’re holding an uncollectable debt. Who do you need to forgive or who have you forgiven? What happened after making that decision? What would you say to someone who is stuck in unforgiveness?

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MELTDOWN
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez
October 29, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #meltdown #elijah #emotions #godsresponse #god

Life has a way of piling on challenges, testing our faith, resilience, and sometimes pushing us to the brink of emotional and spiritual meltdowns. In these vulnerable moments, it's natural to question where God is and how He responds. This sermon seeks to dive deep into understanding God's compassionate response during our times of crisis, showcasing how His unfailing love remains a constant even in our moments of sheer breakdown. Join us as we journey through Elijah's emotional roller-coaster, drawing parallels to our own lives, and finding solace in the truth that God's love remains unwavering in both our victories and vulnerabilities.

1. Have you ever experienced a situation where you felt an intense emotional shift similar to an emotional meltdown? What triggered it and how did you cope?

2. How do you differentiate between an emotional meltdown and a momentary outburst or tantrum in your life? Can you recall a moment where you felt overwhelmed, and how did you cope?

3. Why do you think Elijah, after witnessing such a grand display of God's power, fell into despair so quickly? How does this relate to our personal highs and lows in faith?

4. In moments of despair, how can we better remind ourselves of God's past provisions and promises in our lives? How can sharing testimonies with others strengthen our faith and hope?

5. Elijah experienced God in a gentle whisper after significant events. How do we recognize God's still, small voice in our lives amidst the loudness of our daily challenges?

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POSITIVELY SINGLE
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 22 2023

realspringcreekchurch #positivelysingle #single #married #purpose #one #whole #blessed

God promises those who remain single in Christ will receive blessings even greater than the blessings of marriage and children. If you’ve never heard about these amazing promises, find out why God’s special blessings reside on singles.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Many singles sometimes have similar experiences in church like; others who are always trying to set them up for dates, or questions that imply there must be something wrong with them if they are unmarried, or when singles ministries are started in churches, they quickly devolve into “meet markets” where singles are expected to become couples. All of these things and many others create challenges for singles wanting to follow God’s plan in this present moment. What has been your experience with singles in church (either being one or watching how they’re treated)? What can we do better as a church to connect, validate, and encourage singles? What benefits might come from small groups that include both marrieds and singles?

2. There is no question, the Old Testament relies heavily on imagery of marriage, family, and offspring. The reason for this is that God was primarily raising up a people for Himself and preserving a bloodline through which Christ would make His entrance into the world. Yet, even in that context, the Bible foresees a day in which those who are childless (eunuchs) would have greater blessings and offspring than those who are married with children. Because once Christ accomplished His mission, the church (God’s new offspring) would be reproduced through the new birth. This is a seismic shift in thinking and yet it’s one of the metanarratives of Scripture. What are the implications of this? Why don’t more churches understand this? How should singles be viewed in light of this?

3. Marriage is not eternal. All of us will be single in Heaven. The Scripture is explicit on this point. In light of this, singleness should never be viewed as an incomplete state. Single people are not inferior in any way. In the following passage, Paul addresses the limitations marriage brings to our service to God…
   To the unmarried and the widows, I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am… I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife… I say this… to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7.8, 32-33, 35

Take some time to discuss this verse. What stands out to you? What will you take away from this verse to help you in your own service to God?

1. Colossians says this, “…you are complete in Him...” Colossians 2.10 (KJV). What does it mean to see God as our completer and not our mate?

2. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 7, “God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.” 1 Corinthians 7.7 (MSG).

To see marriage and singleness as a gift is as God intended. It doesn’t mean it’s a permanent gift (because neither estate is assured as lasting forever in this life). It just means if you’re married now, it’s a gift that God decided to give you because He wants to continue His work of conforming you to His image and He chose marriage as the means to do it. If you’re single now, it’s not because you haven’t done enough to deserve marriage. It’s just that He wants to continue His work of conforming you to His image and He chose singleness as His means of doing that. God’s work is to conform us to the image of His son, so wherever we find ourselves in life, God will use it to complete His work. Discuss how your marriage or your singleness has brought you closer to Christ.

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JESUS PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENCE MAKERS
The Jesus People – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 15, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #thejesuspeople #jesuspeoplearedifferencemakers #jesuspeopleareopposed #jesuspeoplearefilled #jesuspeopleareempowered #jesus #father #god #holyspirit #spirit #spiritfilled #presence #church #wearethechurch #opposed #armorofgod #war #battle #victory #jesuspeople #differencemakers #saltoftheearth #salt #salty

Jesus once gave a simple but powerful illustration of the difference His followers would make in the world. He said, “You are the salt of the Earth.” This weekend, discover how “salty” believers have changed and are changing the world.

SERIES: The Jesus People
In the late 60s and early 70s, a counter-cultural Christian movement began in California among young people called the Jesus People. It happened at the height of the sexual revolution and drug culture of the time, young people sincerely hungered for the supernatural and were finding it in Jesus even when they couldn't find it in the institutional church. In this series, we want to ask the question, "What does it mean to be the Jesus People today in a world where people seem to have lost their way and find the institutional church irrelevant?"

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Everyone at some point in their life wants to make a difference. In what ways do you hope your life has made a difference? Why do some people give up on this dream? What would you say to someone who is discouraged or feels like they have nothing to contribute?

2. Pastor Keith talked about three qualities of salt; it preserves, it purifies and it seasons. Likely, Jesus had all three ideas in mind when comparing His followers to salt. How do believers best influence the brokenness of our world today? What really works? What repels people? What Christians have you known who are great examples of “salty” believers – who embody and live out a compelling, life-giving alternative to the systems of this world?

3. Pastor Keith gave several examples of “salty” difference makers who were all Christ followers. What stood out most to you in these stories? How is your life like them or unlike them? In what ways might God use your own story, struggles, and life learnings to be a blessing to others?

4. The Bystander Effect is a very real social phenomenon that occurs when people are in a group and something happens that requires action. Most people assume others will respond to the call for help, action, or decision. This happens in church all the time. Because there are so many who hear the same message, we assume others will step up and volunteer, others will sacrifice and help with a financial need, or others will do something about a challenging message – but we never think of someone as ourselves. Unless and until we understand the bystander effect, we will effectively tune out challenges intended for us personally by deflecting responsibility onto others. Has this ever happened to you? What can you do to safeguard against it? How will you apply this message today?

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JESUS PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED
The Jesus People – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 8, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #thejesuspeople #jesuspeopleareopposed #jesus #father #god #holyspirit #spirit #spiritfilled #presence #church #wearethechurch #opposed #armorofgod #war #battle #victory #jesuspeople

We were born in a battle zone. As C.S. Lewis once said, “There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.” In this war, we cannot afford to be ignorant. So in this message, we’re going to learn about the nature of the warfare we’re engaged in, how we’ve been equipped to do battle, and how our victory is assured.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. It is easy to misidentify an enemy. Since Paul was writing this letter in chains, it would have been easy for him to think of his enemies as the Romans who placed him under arrest or the Jewish people who weaponized the legal system against him as his enemies. Instead, Paul made clear that our real enemy is not made of flesh and blood but is the true power behind all those aligned against us. People may be pawns of the enemy or even victims of the enemy themselves, but they are never our true enemy. Do you approach your current situation whether it’s personal, familial, or political in this way? If not, why not? How might thinking Biblically about enemies help you when dealing with problem people?

2. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is intended to lay the groundwork for seeing ourselves as a new creation in Christ. In fact, the first three chapters are all about who we are in Christ. Take some time as individuals or as a group to find at least three statements in Ephesians chapters 1-3 that describe your new standing in Christ. What verses did you find? What did they say? How does that encourage you? Strengthen you? Cause a shift in your thinking?

3. Putting on the armor of God is to be clothed in Jesus Christ. The first three armaments are all spoken of in past tense (so they are things we already have). They are the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the sandals (or shoes) of peace. Recall what Pastor Keith had to say about each one and how they relate to who we are in Christ. Why does our battle against the enemy begin with truth? What does it mean to be given the righteousness of Christ? How do those truths contribute to our foundation of peace?

4. The last three pieces of armament also belong to us by virtue of Christ, but are taken up in the moment of battle – the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Once again, recalling Pastor Keith’s explanation of these, how do they factor into our battle against the enemy?

5. As Paul wraps up this section on spiritual warfare, he reminds the church in Ephesus that it’s upon the truth of Christ, who He is, and what He’s done, that we make our stand. We are never to surrender even so much as an inch of ground to the enemy that Jesus bought with His death on the cross. Yet, every time we fall for the enemy’s lies, we are giving up ground? Each time we allow the enemy to convince us that we’ll never change, aren’t truly forgiven, aren’t loved by God in an irrational way, we surrender hard-fought territory that need never be surrendered. One of the best exercises you can do this week is to spend time reading the first three chapters of Ephesians. Write down every truth about who you are in Christ. Make a list. Read the list daily. Read until you memorize it. Then start living like the truth is true. You’ll find yourself experiencing more victory and less defeat. It’s Christ and Who He is and what He’s done that assures our victory and the enemy’s defeat. Thank God that the war has already been won.

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JESUS PEOPLE ARE FILLED
The Jesus People – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 1, 2023

realspringcreekchurch #thejesuspeople #jesuspeoplearefilled #jesuspeopleareempowered #jesus #father #god #holyspirit #spirit #spiritfilled #presence #church #wearethechurch

Being Spirit-filled is one of only four commandments given to us in the New Testament in regard to the Holy Spirit. So it’s vitally important to our spiritual life to understand what that means, how it happens, and why it’s so essential. Join us this Sunday as we delve deeper into our relationship with the Holy Spirit as He makes our life look more and more like Jesus People.

SERIES: The Jesus People
In the late 60s and early 70s, a counter-cultural Christian movement began in California among young people called the Jesus People. It happened at the height of the sexual revolution and drug culture of the time, young people sincerely hungered for the supernatural and were finding it in Jesus even when they couldn't find it in the institutional church. In this series, we want to ask the question, "What does it mean to be the Jesus People today in a world where people seem to have lost their way and find the institutional church irrelevant?"

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith began this message by exploring the connection between what happened in the book of Acts around Pentecost and Israel’s ages-long festival of Shavuot. Sometimes, we miss important connections like these because we’re lacking in our Old Testament knowledge and customs of the Jewish people. Take some time to discuss what were some of the parallels Pastor Keith pointed out between the birth of the church and the birth of the nation of Israel. If you want an excellent resource to do some of this exploration for yourself, check out some of the books by Kenneth E. Bailey (Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes, and others).

2. The New Testament only gives four commands related to the Holy Spirit. Two are positive and two are negative.

Live by the Spirit. Galatians 5.16

Be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5.18

Do not grieve the Spirit. Ephesians 4.30

Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5.19

This message only explored the concept behind the commandment in Ephesians 5.18. What do the other commands mean? Can you give examples of them?

1. Being Spirit-filled is NOT a one-time event. Even the command in Ephesians 5.18 makes that clear since it literally says, “be being filled” with the Spirit. This means, being Spirit-filled is a lifestyle, not a one-time event. The question is always are we yielding to the Spirit’s control and direction today, not did we do that at some point in the past? How do you cooperate with the Holy Spirit? How do you yield to Him? When we grieve or quench the Spirit, we are not choosing to be filled, have you ever grieved or quenched the Holy Spirit? Give an example.

2. Which best describes your life and why?

3. A motorboat, a raft, or a sailboat?

4. The “L” train in Chicago?

5. God has a monopoly on my life?

6. If you’re a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit. The question is, does He have all of you? We have all we need in the resources God has provided and especially in the indwelling Holy Spirit. So why do so many Christians live beneath their privilege? Why do we live like paupers on oil-rich land (like Mr. Yates)? Why do we struggle in life depending exclusively on ourselves and our abilities when we have the power of God in the Holy Spirit? If you ever lived that way or are living that way right now, what do you think is the number one reason why people don’t allow the Holy Spirit to fill their lives?

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JESUS PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED
The Jesus People - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 24, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #bible #thejesuspeople #jesuspeopleareempowered #jesus #father #god #holyspirit #spirit #spiritfilled #presence #church #wearethechurch

People are hungry for the supernatural and that’s evident everywhere you look in society. But the one place where the realness of God should best be understood and experienced is often the very place most bereft of His presence. It’s not supposed to be that way. The people of God are meant to be more than just carriers of a message but the very temple of God Himself – the place where God dwells and manifests His presence is supposed to be IN US. This message will show us how.

NEW SERIES: The Jesus People
In the late 60's and early 70's, a counter-cultural Christian movement began in California among young people called the Jesus People. It happened at the height of the sexual revolution and drug culture of the time, young people sincerely hungered for the supernatural and were finding it in Jesus even when they couldn't find it in the institutional church. In this series, we want to ask the question, "What does it mean to be the Jesus People today in a world where people seem to have lost their way and find the institutional church irrelevant?"

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. It’s always easy to critique what’s happening in the world. But in what ways do you see evidence of hunger for the supernatural, even if it is often misdirected and aimed at other things? How does the message of Christ speak into that spiritual hunger?

2. God wants to dwell with his people. Pastor Keith pointed out the progression in Scripture from the Garden of Eden to the Tabernacle, then the Temple, followed by the coming of Christ (God with us) and ultimately in our bodies (the new temple of God). Since we are the very repositories of the presence of God, how does that affect the way you see yourself on the job? In your neighborhood? At School? In a crisis? Or in the presence of someone who doesn’t know God?

3. In the section of the message dealing with discerning the Spirit’s presence, Pastor Keith highlighted several things the Scriptures highlight that help us discern what is of God and what is not. He listed several comparisons;

• Spirit-centered versus Jesus-centered

• Gift-centered versus Fruit-centered

• Out-of-Control versus Self-Controlled

• Bravado versus Power

What were your biggest takeaways from these discernment principles? Have you ever seen any of them abused and if so, in what ways (give an example)? How have you seen these discernment principles positively? Describe a believer you have known who definitely manifested the positive side of these principles.

1. In the last section, the story of a man named Stephen was told. He was chosen for a task because he was filled with the Spirit. But that task for which he was chosen was to wait on tables. Why are the Spirit filled the ones who…

• do whatever needs to be done.

• react gracefully under provocation.

• are mighty in the Word.

• are like Jesus.

1. How has this message challenged you? Where is God asking you to grow? In what ways were you encouraged?

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REBRANDED | GOD’S SIGNATURE ON YOUR LIFE
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
September 17, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#re... #rebranded #godssignatureonyourlife #identity #identityinchrist

In today's world, branding is more powerful than ever, shaping perceptions, decisions, and value systems. But what if the most transformative rebranding wasn't about products, but people? Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are not only restored but also marked with God's signature, affirming our true worth, and purpose. Shed the world's fleeting labels and embrace your eternal identity in Christ as He rebrands us to reflect His image.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Think about a time when societal expectations or judgments impacted your sense of identity. How did it make you feel, and how did you navigate through it?

2. In the context of Jesus' sacrifice, how do you understand and relate to the concept of rebranding in your personal spiritual journey?

3. What practical steps can you take daily to put on the armor of God and stand firm against the schemes of the enemy?

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THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH IS RELATIONAL, NOT TRANSACTIONAL
Consumer or Contributor? – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 10, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/ #realspringcreekchurch

consumer #contributor #relational #nottransactional #thefutureofthechurch #church #thechurchisnotabuilding #wearethechurch

In a time when more and more people are walking away from the institutional church due to toxic, controlling, and abusive behaviors, it become increasingly difficult to convince people that relationships are worth the risk. Especially when so many have experienced the hurt of relationships rather than the healing that comes in healthy ones. Is it possible for broken people to experience healing relationships? I believe it is. This message will explore how.

SERIES: CONSUMER OR CONTRIBUTOR?
When we were kids, many of us were taught a little finger exercise as we recited, “This is a church, here is the steeple, open the doors and there are all the people.” Somewhere along the way, a good idea got lost – that the church is about people. That simple verse underscored an important truth that God’s church is flesh and blood, not bricks and mortar. In this series, we want to ask, “What if we dared to think differently about church? What if we re-imagined our space to better align with Scriptural truth? What if in simply getting back to the Bible, we ended up seeing the church and being the church more like what God meant us to be? What lies ahead for us as a church is exciting, uncharted territory. But all of it is fueled by the dream of being God’s church in our city.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. We need each other. Why is community important to you? What positive experiences have you had? What negative experiences have you had? Have you ever met someone who was deeply wounded by a church? What happened? How did it affect them? What, if anything, did you say to them?

2. As necessary as relationships are in our spiritual growth, even though we know what they should look like ideally, our experience often falls short of the ideal. The truth is, relationships can heal or they can hurt. And most times, it’s a mixture of both. But what’s supposed to make Christian community different, is the willingness to resolve conflict, confess our brokenness, and forgive one another. Describe the experience of working through a breakdown in communication, resolving a conflict, or forgiving and reconciling with someone. What were the key elements of that process?

3. We often see ourselves as the needy ones in Bible stories as opposed to the ones meeting the needs. Why is that? Why don’t we put ourselves in the position of the one meeting the need?

4. All of us have hurts. Everyone of us has been through some sort of adversity, problem, or overcame some obstacle to get to where we are today. What did you learn? How did you heal? Who did God use? How long did it take? Now ask yourself, how does my experience benefit others? Where might God be leading me to minister to others in pain? What ministry or ministries might benefit from my involvement? How can God use me to lead others to the same resources He used in my life?

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FLESH AND BLOOD, NOT BRICKS AND MORTAR
Consumer or Contributor? - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 3, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #consumer #contributor #fleshandblood #bricksandmorar #church #thechurchisnotabuilding #wearethechurch

We need to be living proof of a loving God. This message is all about how God is leading us to do precisely that.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Describe a time in your life when you felt most connected to other believers. Why did you feel so connected or cared for? How do you do that for others?

2. Remaining anonymous and disconnected is a great temptation in a larger church. We sabotage ourselves in shortchanging our spiritual life, in depending exclusively on what we get from a weekend service, and in not being known or connected to others when troubles or difficulties arise. Have you ever done this and if so, why did you make the shift? How would you encourage someone to move into a deeper sense of connection with the church?

3. The home is an ideal environment for the experience of church for many reasons. Can you name some of the reasons mentioned in the message or can you think of others that weren't addressed?

4. Take some time to re-read the quote by Alex Roxburgh. What stands out to you in this quote. What resonates and/or what does not and why?

“We need a movement of God’s people into neighborhoods, to live out and be the new future of Christ. It must be a movement that demonstrates how the people of God have a vision and the power to transform our world. This is not the same as current attempts to grow bigger and bigger churches that act like vacuum cleaners, sucking people out of their neighborhoods into a sort of Christian supermarket. Our culture does not need any more churches run like corporations; it needs local communities empowered by the gospel vision of a transforming Christ who addresses the needs of the context and changes the polis (or city) into a place of hope and wholeness. The corporation churches we are cloning across the land cannot birth this transformational vision, because they have no investment in context or place; they are centers of expressive individualism with a truncated gospel of personal salvation and little else. Our penchant for bigness and numerical success as the sign of God’s blessing only discourages and deflects attempts to root communities of God’s people deeply into neighborhoods. And until we build transformed communities there is no hope for a broken earth.” - Alex Roxburgh

1. What stirs your imagination? How might Springcreek leverage the resources it presently has to better serve our community? What sorts of businesses do you think could provide a meaningful service to our community and help create revenue that could be poured into serving the vulnerable in Garland and surrounding areas? Have you ever seen, read about or personally been involved in other churches doing similar things? If so, describe that to the group and talk about what you learned fro

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KINGDOM LIVING AND LOVING IN BABYLON
Consumer or Contributor? – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 27, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#re... #consumer #contributor #living #loving #babylon #paul #marshill

Times have changed. In terms of America’s values and beliefs, we are more like the first century than at any other time in our history. For some, this causes a constant pining for how things used to be and sometimes even a sense of hopelessness. But for others, they experience a sense of anticipation and hopefulness because they remember how the church grew exponentially under these same conditions in the first century. Which posture you assume depends largely on your ability to adapt and change to meet the needs of the present reality. This message will show you how.

CONSUMER OR CONTRIBUTOR?
What lies ahead for us as a church is exciting, uncharted territory. But all of it is fueled by the dream of being God’s church in our city.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Read Acts 17.16-33 (about Paul’s visit and message on Mars Hill). Paul’s example is perfect for where we find ourselves today in engaging a culture that doesn’t see truth or God as we do. What stands out to you about this passage? How does it inform how we share our faith today? What was the result of Paul’s preaching (there are three different responses)?

2. Take some time to discuss bounded set versus centered set thinking. In particular, discuss how this plays a role in how we share our faith and how we see those with whom we share our faith.

3. Rob Bell said, “It is when the church gives itself away in radical acts of service and compassion, expecting nothing in return, that the way of Jesus is most vividly put on display.” What needs have you noticed in our community (church, neighborhood, or city) that are being neglected? In what ways can we better serve those needs? Since the need has gotten your attention, what might God be asking you to do to address this need?

4. Learning to listen is one of the hardest lessons many of us learn. But in these changing times, the need to really hear people out, where they’re coming from, what’s been their life experiences, what they believe and why, is absolutely essential in creating relationships of influence. How has listening changed the way you saw a person, situation, or challenge?

5. Creating space for people in our hearts and lives lies at the heart of Biblical Hospitality. This is especially true as it relates to those who are different from us (nationally, ethnically, linguistically, etc.). What has been your experience with people from other parts of the world? What is the general sentiment toward immigrants in America today? How do we reconcile whatever political views we may have with the clear teaching in the Old and New Testaments as to how we’re to treat the stranger among us?

6. Tell your own story, the story of how you came to know Christ briefly and succinctly. Now try to do the same when it comes to telling the Jesus story – who He is – why He came – and what He can do for those who trust in Him.

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LIVING AND LOVING IN BABYLON
Consumer or Contributor? – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 27, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#re... #consumer #contributor #living #loving #babylon #paul #marshill

Times have changed. In terms of America’s values and beliefs, we are more like the first century than at any other time in our history. For some, this causes a constant pining for how things used to be and sometimes even a sense of hopelessness. But for others, they experience a sense of anticipation and hopefulness because they remember how the church grew exponentially under these same conditions in the first century. Which posture you assume depends largely on your ability to adapt and change to meet the needs of the present reality. This message will show you how.

CONSUMER OR CONTRIBUTOR?
What lies ahead for us as a church is exciting, uncharted territory. But all of it is fueled by the dream of being God’s church in our city.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Read Acts 17.16-33 (about Paul’s visit and message on Mars Hill). Paul’s example is perfect for where we find ourselves today in engaging a culture that doesn’t see truth or God as we do. What stands out to you about this passage? How does it inform how we share our faith today? What was the result of Paul’s preaching (there are three different responses)?

2. Take some time to discuss bounded set versus centered set thinking. In particular, discuss how this plays a role in how we share our faith and how we see those with whom we share our faith.

3. Rob Bell said, “It is when the church gives itself away in radical acts of service and compassion, expecting nothing in return, that the way of Jesus is most vividly put on display.” What needs have you noticed in our community (church, neighborhood, or city) that are being neglected? In what ways can we better serve those needs? Since the need has gotten your attention, what might God be asking you to do to address this need?

4. Learning to listen is one of the hardest lessons many of us learn. But in these changing times, the need to really hear people out, where they’re coming from, what’s been their life experiences, what they believe and why, is absolutely essential in creating relationships of influence. How has listening changed the way you saw a person, situation, or challenge?

5. Creating space for people in our hearts and lives lies at the heart of Biblical Hospitality. This is especially true as it relates to those who are different from us (nationally, ethnically, linguistically, etc.). What has been your experience with people from other parts of the world? What is the general sentiment toward immigrants in America today? How do we reconcile whatever political views we may have with the clear teaching in the Old and New Testaments as to how we’re to treat the stranger among us?

6. Tell your own story, the story of how you came to know Christ briefly and succinctly. Now try to do the same when it comes to telling the Jesus story – who He is – why He came – and what He can do for those who trust in Him.

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THE PREFERENCE-DRIVEN CHURCHConsumer or Contributor? – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 20, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#realspringcreekchurch #strapped #generosity #pathway #freedom #thepathwaytofreedom

Few messages in the history of our church have been as important as the ones in this series. As we begin this weekend, I want to lay out the damage consumerism has done to the church, this generation, and the next. At the same time, it’s my prayer that by the help of God, I will be able to show you where God is leading us and what it’s going to take to get us there. Buckle up. It’s gonna be quite the ride.

SERIES: CONSUMER OR CONTRIBUTOR?
When we were kids, many of us were taught a little finger exercise as we recited, “This is a church, here is the steeple, open the doors and there are all the people.” Somewhere along the way, a good idea got lost – that the church is about people. That simple verse underscored an important truth that God’s church is flesh and blood, not bricks and mortar. In this series, we want to ask, “What if we dared to think differently about church? What if we re-imagined our space to better align with Scriptural truth? What if in simply getting back to the Bible, we ended up seeing the church and being the church more like what God meant us to be? What lies ahead for us as a church is exciting, uncharted territory. But all of it is fueled by the dream of being God’s church in our city.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How does consumerism affect your life? Since it is our environment and has been since we were children, in what ways can we become more conscious of our conditioning to be consumers? In what ways can we combat it? In what ways have you seen it affect the way you see the church?

2. Pastor Keith shared three signs that consumerism has taken over the church.

• We’ve become weekend oriented

• We’ve become worship junkies

• We’ve substituted numerical growth for spiritual growth

Discuss your takeaways from one or all of the points above. Can you think of other signs of consumerism’s influence on the church?

1. We are seeing a huge falling away from churches across this country. With Baby boomers, there is virtually no difference between them and outsiders when it comes to ethics. They are even less likely to believe in moral absolutes than the population in general. And 1 in 5 now attend church less often than before the pandemic. But it gets worse in the children of baby boomers. Only 2 out of 10 millennials believe church attendance is “important or worthwhile.” Nearly 40% of millennials consider themselves “Religiously Unaffiliated.” And members of Gen Z (the generation currently leaving high school) are twice as likely to identify as atheists than the general population. All of this reality is a wake-up call to churches. Take some time to talk about why you think this is happening and what needs to be done.

2. The beginnings for Springcreek are tied up in three priorities:

• Centering on the ministry of the people not the ministry of the pastor.

• Focusing on reaching the few in order to reach the many instead of reaching the many but seeing few transformed.

• Raising the bar of expectation instead of lowering it to accommodate more customers.

Take some time as a group not only to share your own insights from these points, but very specifically, pray for your leaders and pray for one another as Springcreek enters a new chapter. We want to be God’s church, learning from one another, growing alongside each other, and moving into the spheres of influence God has for us. God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s resources to carry it out.

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GENEROSITY (THE PATHWAY TO FREEDOM)
Strapped – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 13, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#realspringcreekchurch #strapped #generosity #pathway #freedom #thepathwaytofreedom

Entwined in the very definition of generosity is the well-being of others. When we are generous, we are moving outward – away from selfishness – and toward the interests of others. This is why generosity is the opposite of greed. Greed is self-centered while generosity is other-centered. That’s what makes generosity the true pathway to freedom. It’s the virtue that sets us free from the prison of thinking only of ourselves and our own interests.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As a group, take some time to discuss why you think teachers and pastors are two of the lowest paid degreed professions. Do you agree or disagree with the low pay associated with both professions? Why or why not?

2. As Pastor Keith explained, tithing (giving 10% of your income) is a practice that proceeds the law of Moses (more than 400 years separate the first occurrence of tithing in Scripture from it being codified in the law). But what’s most compelling is the fact that both before the law and after the law, the primary focus of tithing was caring for God’s workers. In addition, there was an annual tithe called the “festival tithe” that helped to fund the seven yearly national feasts. There was also a separate tithe collected every 3 years called the ”poor tithe” which was designated to care for the poor. But the issue that is repeatedly addressed in the Old Testament was the failure of the people of God to properly care for the Levites who led them in worship and connection to God. How does this impact your view of tithing in the Old Testament? What did you learn that you didn’t previously know? Knowing that tithing began hundreds of years before the law, how does that fact shift your thinking?

3. In the New Testament, both Jesus and Paul addressed the similarities between care for the Levites in the Old Testament with care for God’s workers in the New Testament. Why do you think God keeps pastors and Christian workers in a position of forced dependency on the generosity of others? How does this affect your own views and practice when it comes to giving? In what ways, besides appropriate pay, can we express our valuing of our spiritual leaders?

4. Take some time to discuss the following realities as it relates to pastors…

71% report fatigue and burnout on a daily or weekly basis.

80% of pastors report feelings of wanting to leave the ministry at any given time.

1700 pastors leave the ministry every month in the U.S.

8 out of 10 pastors will leave the profession for good after 10 years of service.

Half of ministers won’t last 5 years.

Only 1 in 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister.

What can the church do to combat these toxic elements in the ministry? If you have personally seen or experienced these realities in pastors you have known, what was that like? What did the pastor eventually do? How do we better support our pastors?

1. Read and discuss the following verses…

Each man or woman should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. For God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things, at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9.7-8

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GREED (The Underlying Sickness)
Strapped - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 6, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #strapped #greed #sickness #slave #whatkeepsusenslaved

We all do it but few of us admit it. We can be greedy for money, popularity, influence, Facebook likes, control, or even recognition. Every sinful behavior is rooted in the selfish desire to look out for one’s own welfare and disregard what’s in the best of others. That’s what it means to be greedy. But, there is a better way and Jesus taught us that way. Discover how.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why do some Christians define sin in terms of external observable acts alone? Why are we so reluctant to admit that our desires are the real problem? Why do we try to justify our greed or explain it away? Why do we only deal with the fruit instead of the root?

2. In the story in Luke 12, a man comes to Jesus asking him to make his brother divide the inheritance with him. This was an attempt at triangulation which Jesus absolutely refused to do. Have you known people like this - people who tell their side of a story to a friend in an attempt to get them on their side and build a coalition to confront another person? Besides it being the sign of a very unhealthy individual, the Bible says it’s foolish to decide on a matter after only hearing one side of the story. What is a better response to someone who tries to triangulate you into taking their side in a relationship breakdown?

3. The parable Jesus told the man gets to the heart of this man’s real issue – which was greed. Why are blessings not meant to be hoarded for ourselves? Can you think of a time when you were blessed and chose to share instead of hoarding it all for yourself? When and what was that? How did that impact you? What difference was made?

4. God enters this parable and speaks to the man (the only time God appears as a character in a parable and speaks). He calls the man a fool and reminds him that his life was only on loan. How would our lives be different if we truly believed that everything we have and everything we are is only on loan? Much like the Monopoly game illustration, in the end, it all goes back in the box. The idea of stewardship is directly tied to the concept that none of what we have is our own but that we manage it on another’s behalf. If it’s not my money but God’s money, if it’s not my life but God’s life He lent to me, how does that shift our perspective? Attitude? Choices?

5. If vices are cured by their contrary - If, as Ephesians 4.22-32 teaches, lasting change is a two-factor process – putting off and putting on (Read Ephesians 4.22-32 out loud together as a group and note the examples Paul gives), then the only remedy for greediness is generosity. The way selfishness is reversed is by cultivating a more selfless, generous attitude. If you have ever struggled with greediness or stinginess, share with others that pathway that led you out of that darkness. Talk about ways to cultivate a spirit of generosity. How do you make sure you face this lesson regularly?

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DEBT (What Keeps Us Enslaved)
Strapped - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 30, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #strapped #debt #finances #money #whatkeepsusenslaved

According to the latest studies, 2 out of every 5 Americans have lied to their significant other about pricey purchases, income levels, credit scores, or credit card debt. In fact, the younger you are (ie. Gen Z and Millennials) the more likely you’ve lied about finances. In fact, it’s more than half of them who have lied about money matters. Anything that has the power to produce that level of shame and secrecy is something that is crying out to be addressed. Come join us this weekend as we honestly and compassionately explore how debt is keeping us strapped and what to do about it.

SERIES: Strapped
This series is designed to address core financial topics of presumption, debt, greed, and generosity and leave you with a plan that better prepares you for the future regardless of what it may hold. Move you from feeling strapped to being set free.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Debt has been used as a mechanism for slavery throughout all history of the world whether that slavery is actual or metaphorical. Even though a person may not live their lives in chains, debt produces a relationship where one is bound, mentally, physically, and legally to another. According to Publilius Syrus, “Debt is the slavery of the free.” Of course, Scripture echoes this same sentiment when it tells us, The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender (Proverbs 22.7). Take some time to discuss this aspect of indebtedness. In particular, think of times when you felt particularly burdened by the money you owe(d). How did that feel? What pressures did that create? What strain did it put on relationships? Did you feel free?

2. There is tremendous dishonesty in our most intimate relationships here in America when it comes to money, what we pay, what we owe, what’s our credit standing and credit card balances. More than 40% of all Americans and a majority of Gen Z and Millennials have lied about these money matters to their spouse or significant other. What do you think about that? Why do you think people lie about these matters? Have you ever lied to someone you cared about in regard to something financial? What did you lie about? Were you ever found out? What was the result?

3. In order to break free from debt slavery, Pastor Keith suggested three principles that could lead to breaking free from debt slavery.

a.) Stop the bleeding – no new indebtedness

b.) Stay the course – take the route of slow but intentional discipline.

c.) Stand on God’s promises – the proven path out of fear is faith. Take the promises of God to heart and believe that by doing it His way, He will lead you to freedom.

Take some time to review the Scriptures referred to in this 3rd major point and share your reflections with the group about what they say, how they apply in your life, and how you have personally benefitted from them or why ignoring them has led to other problems.

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PRESUMPTION (What Gets Us into Trouble)
Strapped - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 23, 2023

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #strapped #presumption #finance #money #trouble

In this message, Pastor Keith takes the ever-popular Serenity Prayer and uses it as a lens through which to view our finances. Specifically examining the things we can’t control versus the things we actually can. This message is chocked full of practical wisdom for navigating challenging financial times.

SERIES: Strapped
We experienced two years of a global pandemic with the accompanying upheaval to supply chains, jobs, and uncertainties about the future. The US and nations all around the world have endured a stretch of runaway inflation when wages could not keep pace with skyrocketing prices. If there’s any word that describes the present reality in many American families, it’s strapped. Many have tapped into what meager reserves they had, others have raided 401k’s, and others have gone deeper into debt. We need help. We need a way out of this mess & into the future. This new series is designed to address these core issues and leave you with a plan that better prepares you for the future regardless of what it may hold. Move you from feeling strapped to being set free.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As you get started with today’s message, take some time in your group or if you’re alone, some time to reflect on why it is we are so adverse to talking about money. Share your reflections with the group or write them down.

2. Beginning with the things we cannot control when it comes to finances, Pastor Keith mentioned the two biggies; unexpected life difficulties and unpredictable economic conditions. What have been your experiences in both of these areas? How did you handle it? What advice would you have for someone enduring a financial crisis? What resources are you aware of that can help people? Are there other things we can’t control financially that can have a real impact on us?

3. We often make presumptions in regard to the future. These are suppositions we hold that may not be entirely true or dependable, yet we build our future on them anyway. Not the least of which is presuming that life will be without major problems, setbacks, or challenges that require pre-planning. What are some of the things we presume about the future especially as it relates to finances? How does that affect our financial behavior?

4. In keeping with the Serenity Prayer, the path to peace is one of acceptance of reality – the things I cannot change. But also doing what I am capable of doing – the courage to change the things I can. In terms of what we can do to prepare for the inescapable reality of the unexpected and unpredictable, Pastor Keith offered three suggestions;

a. Construct a safety net – ie. have an emergency fund, a financial buffer, or cushion between you and a crisis.

b. Question the narrative – ie. not buying as much house as you can afford and not buying brand new vehicles that depreciate in value so rapidly in the first three years of ownership.

c. Live beneath your means – ie. we often think of living within our means which translates to spending all that we have. Unless we intentionally live beneath our means, we won’t have margin in our finances which means living with greater stress.

Just these three principles put together make life more manageable, reduce stress, create margin, and free us up to live. Have you implemented any of the above-mentioned principles into your financial life? What has been your experience? Can you think of other principles that help people in financially uncertain times? If you haven’t implemented any of the above, what steps could you begin taking in that direction so that over the course of time, you are able to create margin and a greater sense of se

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IS THE BIBLE FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS?
The Story of the Bible - Part 3
Pastor Keith Stewart
July 16, 2023

Occasionally, you’ll meet people who will say, “The Bible is filled with hundreds of contradictions.” It’s a common objection that I’ve heard many times over the years. But the vast majority of people who make this allegation can't name a single one. The old adage “many put down the Bible before they even pick it up” is sadly true. Now I would never be dismissive that someone might have some genuine struggles with statements that appear to be contradictory in Scripture. Because in this message, I want to sincerely address those concerns. But when you encounter this objection, you must first ascertain whether you’re dealing with a sincere reason or merely an excuse masquerading as a reason.

SERIES: THE STORY OF THE BIBLE
Throughout history, the Bible has been burned, banned, ridiculed, distorted, outlawed, and abused - but it can’t be ignored. If we listen to its message, it has the power to change not just our lives and our cities but even the entire world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever had someone raise the objection to you that the Bible is full of contradictions? If so, did they cite any specific ones that they found troubling and what were they? Did you attempt to answer their objections? If you had the opportunity now, what would you say? If you encountered an objection and wanted to find the answer, where would you begin?

2. Pastor Keith shared the story of his middle school teacher who was openly hostile toward Christianity and Christians. His classroom dynamics in a public school might lead to disciplinary measures today but that wasn’t the case back then. His teacher raised an intellectual objection to Christianity but his overt display of anger spoke another message – that he was likely hurt by the church or Christian people, afraid of something, or frustrated in some way. Anger is a secondary emotion and always a symptom that something else is going on. When you engage with an outsider who is also showing signs of anger and/or rage, you can mark it down, you are not merely dealing with an intellectual issue. How do you shift the conversation in order to talk about what’s really going on? Have you ever had to do this with somebody? What was the result?

3. The benefit of the doubt goes with the Bible, not the critic. It has been proven over and over again in its many historical details (something we learned about in the other messages of this series). At times, you may encounter an objection or argument for which you don’t have an answer. It is not unreasonable to say, “I will suspend judgment on this issue until I have more information.” This is not the same as a person who sticks their head in the sand and pretends like there is no issue at stake. Instead, it’s the position of a thinking person who sees the overwhelming evidence supporting the Bible’s truthfulness and continues to believe and dig into the truth until they find satisfying answers to their questions. Are there any issues that you presently hold in suspension because you don’t have an answer for them but still trust God and His Word? If so, what is it?

4. Sometimes, the issue is not truly that people find the Bible to be self-contradicting but that the Bible convicts themselves. The Bible is like a mirror. It shows us ourselves in ways we don’t like to see or admit. What things have you learned about yourself from Scripture? How had reading the Bible made clear to you where and how you still need to grow?

5. What have been your biggest takeaways from this series on the Bible?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #thestoryofthebible #bible #canthebiblebetrusted #trust #translation #bibletranslations #isthebiblefullofcontradictions

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WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN A BIBLE TRANSLATION MAKE?
The Story of the Bible - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 9, 2023

Most Christians understand the importance of having the Bible in your own language so you can read it, understand it, and connect with Christ through it. In fact, that’s been the motivation for translating the Bible into more than 1900 languages to date. But, “What was it like when the Bible was first translated into English? What effect did it have on the world? What difference did it make?” In this message, we’re going to explore the answer to those questions, help you choose a Bible for yourself, and remind us all how easy it is to abuse the Bible.

SERIES: THE STORY OF THE BIBLE
Throughout history, the Bible has been burned, banned, ridiculed, distorted, outlawed, and abused - but it can’t be ignored. If we listen to its message, it has the power to change not just our lives and our cities but even the entire world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What Bible translation do you use? Do you like it? And if so, why? If not, why? After hearing about the differences in translations, is there another type of Bible you’d like to read? On the web, Bible Gateway is a great source to check out different translations and how they read before purchasing a Bible. Are there any precautions you would offer to someone making their first Bible purchase?

2. The translation of the Bible into English has had a major impact on society. Pastor Keith mentioned 5 different ways; language, literacy, literature, laws, and lives. What stood out to you most about the Bible’s impact and why? Can you think of other ways having the Bible in our own language has benefitted society?

3. The debate in Europe that centered around the proliferation of the Bible in English cut against the unjust system of feudalism. All because people began reading the Bible for themselves and discovering the message. What ought to impact us most when looking at the impact of Scripture’s message is how the people in those days didn’t restrict its message to the spiritual life. They saw God’s word as applying to all of life including the very economic and political system that surrounded them and kept them oppressed. Few people do this today. How might our world be different if the people of God began taking the word of God seriously?

4. Of course, not all of the Bible’s legacy has been good in that those who have professed to know Christ have used God’s word to wound, control, dominate and oppress others in bold contradiction to its message. Scripture is abundantly clear in regards to how we influence society and it is not through condemnation, judgment, or domination. Take some time to re-read the Scriptures regarding a believer’s relationship to outsiders. What stands out to you about these injunctions? How can the church do a better job of modeling the spirit of Christ when it comes to all of these attitudes and behaviors? What do you find most compelling in a Christian who loves and relates in this way?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#re... #thestoryofthebible #bible #canthebiblebetrusted #trust #translation #bibletranslations

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CAN THE BIBLE BE TRUSTED?
The Story of the Bible - Part 1
Pastor Keith Stewart
July 2, 2023

SERIES: THE STORY OF THE BIBLE
Throughout history, the Bible has been burned, banned, ridiculed, distorted, outlawed, and abused - but it can’t be ignored. In spite of tremendous opposition, it remains the best-selling book in the history of the world. It’s a book that demands to be taken seriously. If we listen to its message, it has the power to change not just our lives and our cities but even the entire world. After all these years of trials and testing, I still run back to the Bible for comfort, correction, and instruction. Join us online or in person as we ask and answer the question.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In the message, Pastor Keith called attention to the fact that 1/10th of everything Jesus ever said were quotations from the Old Testament.Jesus believed in the Old Testament scriptures, quoted them, and treated them as authoritative. Why do you think people want to throw away the Old Testament? Have you ever struggled with it? How might reading it expecting to find Jesus (which is what Jesus told us – that those Scriptures speak of Him) how might that perspective change the way you see and read the Old Testament? Take some time to discuss Dr. Timothy Keller’s quote, “We cannot, in the end, follow Jesus without adopting His loyalty to the Bible.”

2. Pastor Keith spent some time in the sermon explaining how scholars of all stripes evaluate the integrity, transmission, and fidelity to the original composition in ancient literature of all types. Two of the most important criteria are a.) the number of manuscripts and b.) the time elapsed between the original and its oldest copy. What were your takeaways from this discussion? Why are we so confident that the Bible has come down to us largely as it was in origin? The finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls beginning in 1947 and cuing for several years finally put to rest this idea that the Bible had been constantly changed by each new generation that handled it. How did the Dead Sea Scrolls definitively address this issue? Why did people who copied the Bible not feel free to change or delete what they didn’t like?

3. Archeology is an important scientific discipline that has verified and continues to verify the historicity of both the Old and New Testaments. Pastor Keith mentioned some old and some of the newer finds that undergird the reliability of the historical message in the Scriptures. Were there any that stood out to you? Are there others you’re aware of that Pastor Keith didn’t mention? If you wanted to learn more about archeology and the Bible, where would you begin?

4. If someone were to say to you, “I don’t really trust the message of the Bible. I don’t think it’s anything other than a bunch of made-up stories.” What would you say to that? How would approach someone like that? The Bible talks 1 Peter 3.15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” If someone asked you why you believe in the Bible. Why you believe in Jesus? What would your answer be?

5. Besides being a historical work, verified by outsiders, attested to by a myriad of archeological finds, and being the leading book in ancient history in terms of both the number of copies we have and the nearness to the original writings, many of us also know that the message of this book changed our life. It introduced us to Jesus and through its pages we get to know Him even better. What do you treasure most about the Bible? How has it contributed to your walk with God? If someone wanted to know Who God is and asked where to begin reading in the Bible to better know God, where would you direct them and why there?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #thestoryofthebible #bible #canthebiblebetrusted #trust

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EVANGELIZING IN A BROKEN WORLD
Let Me Tell You About My Jesus – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez
June 25, 2023

Our broken world is in desperate need of the Gospel's healing and hope. We will be equipped with the tools to evangelize effectively amidst the brokenness around us. We will explore how to address the deep needs of individuals, communities, and society at large, offering the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

Series: Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

In this dynamic sermon series, Let Me Tell You About My Jesus, we will explore the vital role of everyday evangelism in various aspects of our lives. We will focus on four essential themes: work, telling our story, breaking cultural divides, and evangelizing in a broken world. Join us as we discover how to effectively live out our faith and share the transformative power of the Gospel in our daily interactions. We will be inspired and encouraged to live out our faith boldly, allowing God to use us as agents of change in our workplaces, communities, and beyond. Together, let us embrace the call to everyday evangelism and participate in God's redemptive work in the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How would you answer the panel questions? Which was the most difficult to answer and why?

2. As the Body of Christ, what are some things that unite us as believers? Even though we have so many similarities, why do the differences stand out more than the similarities? What can we do about it?

3. What are some ways that the Body of Christ can impact evangelism in the world, in communities, in groups, and in homes?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #letmetellyouaboutmyjesus #evangelizinginabrokenworld

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BREAKING THE CULTURAL DIVIDE
Let Me Tell You About My Jesus – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
June 18, 2023

Our world is filled with diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. In this sermon, we will explore how to overcome cultural barriers and engage in meaningful conversations that foster understanding, respect, and unity. We will learn practical ways to reach across cultural divides, extending God's love to all people.

SERIES: LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY JESUS
In this dynamic sermon series, Let Me Tell You About My Jesus, we will explore the vital role of everyday evangelism in various aspects of our lives. We will focus on four essential themes: work, telling our story, breaking cultural divides, and evangelizing in a broken world. Join us as we discover how to effectively live out our faith and share the transformative power of the Gospel in our daily interactions. We will be inspired and encouraged to live out our faith boldly, allowing God to use us as agents of change in our workplaces, communities, and beyond. Together, let us embrace the call to everyday evangelism and participate in God's redemptive work in the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you dealt with, or do you have any unattended division in your heart? If so, ask God to help you deal with those things that keep you from experiencing his love fully and to embrace and share Jesus with others.

2. Have you developed a Christ-Centered Perspective on breaking the cultural barriers in your life? If not, ask God to help you, and to come in your life and heart to have Jesus' eyes.

3. Have you ever experienced prejudices? This question refers to the pre-judgment of people, groups, races, religions, and ethnicities and how we pre-judge them.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #letmetellyouaboutmyjesus #breakingtheculturaldivide

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HOW TO SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH A NON-BELIEVER
Let Me Tell You About My Jesus – Part 2
Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
June 11, 2023

Each of us has a story of what God has done in our lives. In this sermon, we will explore the significance and power of personal testimonies in sharing our faith with non-believers. Our individual stories are unique and serve as powerful tools to showcase the transforming work of God in our lives. In Apostle Paul's example in Acts 26, we will discover how to share our testimonies effectively and authentically. We can embrace our unique stories to share them boldly, knowing that God can use our testimonies to touch hearts and bring others into the light of faith.

SERIES | Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
In this dynamic sermon series, Let Me Tell You About My Jesus, we will explore the vital role of everyday evangelism in various aspects of our lives. We will focus on four essential themes: work, telling our story, breaking cultural divides, and evangelizing in a broken world. Join us as we discover how to effectively live out our faith and share the transformative power of the Gospel in our daily interactions. We will be inspired and encouraged to live out our faith boldly, allowing God to use us as agents of change in our workplaces, communities, and beyond. Together, let us embrace the call to everyday evangelism and participate in God's redemptive work in the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some of your reasons for being hesitant or not sharing your testimony with non-believers? Are these reasons justified? What could you do to address each of these reasons?

2. Has there been a time when God used someone else’s testimony to minister to your life? What was that experience like and how did it make you feel?

3. Following Paul’s example, do you have a testimony prepared to share with others? If you don’t, you should prepare it prayerfully! If you do have it prepared, you should share it with your group.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #letmetellyouaboutmyjesus #shareyourfaith #nonbelievers #testimony #story #seedsoffaith

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FAITH IN THE MARKETPLACE
Let Me Tell You About My Jesus - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Ferndez
June 4, 2023

I don’t know about you, but too often after having an amazing weekend filled with fun, family, and friends, we remember that tomorrow morning is Monday…Dun-dun-duuuun!!! And I have to go to work! But what if instead of dreading Monday morning, whether at home or in the office, we see it as God sees it? It's an opportunity to demonstrate Who He is, in everything we do. But also, an opportunity to see God working through all that we experience and all who we encounter in the workplace.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Work is a very big part of our lives. According to statistics, the workplace is full of broken people. What about the workplace statistics has been
   surprising and what are some statistics that don’t
   surprise you? Why?

2. Because work is our assignment, what strategies do you believe the enemy uses at your workplace to stop you from demonstrating your faith to all those who you impact on a daily basis?

3. When we think about our workplace, in what practical ways can you demonstrate your faith? Also, in what ways can you prepare your heart and mind for the workplace?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #letmetellyouaboutmyjesus #faithinthemarketplace #faith

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COMMUNION | COME TO THE TABLE
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 28, 2023

Pastor Keith is sharing a very special message about communion or as it’s called in other traditions, the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. We’re going to explore its origins, meaning, and practice. Best of all, as a church family, we’re going to participate in this holy meal together which binds us to Christ and one another. This is your invitation. Come to the table.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What did you learn today that was different or made you see communion in a different light?

2. It’s amazing how the ancient celebration of Passover connected to their deliverance from Egypt contained all the elements for explaining the gospel story; the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, and Cup of Salvation. Truly all the Old Testament celebrations and observances in some way find their fulfillment in Christ. Can you think of any other Old Testament examples or observances that do this?

3. The meal covenant was one of the ways people in ancient times mended broken relationships. In many ways, communion represents this same idea that we can now come together with one another and God in a statement that what was once broken between us is now healed and restoration has happened. It’s a celebration of our reconciliation with God – that what once stood between us has been removed. Take some time to share what it means to you personally to be reconciled with God. What barriers have been removed or remain? Take a few moments to consider this meal is also about being reconciled with one another. Are there any barriers that remain between you and others?

4. In some traditions, people have been erroneously taught that one has to be sinless to participate in holy communion. Yet in the very first one, the Gospel of Mark intentionally sandwiches the account of the Lord’s Supper between two incidents of betrayal. When you think about those gathered around the first communion, their hearts were anything but pure. Were you ever taught that only the worthy or morally upright and perfect could participate in communion? How did that make you feel? What sort of church were you in that taught that? What would you say to your younger self now that you know that what you were taught is untrue?

5. Communion is about connection, union with Christ - to experience Him afresh. And it’s an active invitation on our part to invite Christ into our present reality to be in, through, and for us what we most desperately need. What do you need Jesus to do for you today? Where are you struggling? What are you fearing? Where are you feeling all alone? Now form your need into a prayer to ask Christ to be those things for you today. As you partake in communion, visualize Jesus confronting your fears and hear Him speaking words of hope. If you see yourself as all alone, in your mind’s eye, see Jesus walk into your empty space and join you there. What does Jesus say to you? Whatever you’re facing or feeling, see Jesus entering into that experience alongside you. This is what happens in communion, we become one with Him and He becomes one with us. Go from this moment in the strength of the Lord.

FIND MORE RESOURCES HERE:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/resources
Or, text RESOURCES to 96995

realspringcreekchurch #communion #cometothetable #jesus #lambofgod #breadoflife #cupofsalvati

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CANCER
Stuff We Don’t Talk About (but probably should) – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
May 14, 2023

Perhaps no other word in the English language is as feared as the word Cancer. When we hear the word cancer, immediately we associate it with other words like pain, suffering, disfigurement, and perhaps even death. Just how likely is it that you or someone you love will face a cancer diagnosis? Statistics tell us 1 in 3 people in this country will be diagnosed with some sort of cancer in their lifetime. This means the likelihood that you or someone you love will be given a cancer diagnosis is extremely high. What do you do when that statistic is you? How do you support friends and loved ones through this process? And where is God in all of this? Discover the answer to those questions and many more.

FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR HELP HERE:
www.springcreekchurch.org/resources/
Or, text RESOURCES to 96995

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith took some time to explain some of the many ways we deny death. What are some of the ways that stood out to you? Can you think of other ways we deny death as a culture? Would you say you personally lean more toward death denialism or death remembrance and why? Have you ever been to a funeral? Whose funeral was it? What do you remember about it? What did you like or dislike about it?

2. The purpose behind remembering death is not to become obsessed with death itself – far from it! Instead, it’s to teach us to number our days (Psalm 90.12) and live our lives intentionally, purposefully, and meaningfully. Discuss the following quote…

“It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - then we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

1. Pastor Keith made the case that the purpose of life cannot be to be remembered or that our name will live on. Just the simple reality that very few human beings who've ever lived will be remembered beyond two or three generations. He suggested that life’s true purpose that applies to us all is simply to live out our love for God and our neighbors because love is the one virtue that we carry with us into eternity. What do you think of this idea? If you disagree, then how would you answer the question, what is the purpose and meaning behind life? And how do we square that with the reality that we are all so soon forgotten?

2. There is no question that death is a different experience for a believer in many ways. How has Christ’s work on the cross changed the experience of death? How does your faith and walk with God impact how you experience the loss of others in death? If someone claims to be a follower of Christ and is struggling with the fear of death, how would you advise them, pray for them and support them?

FIND MORE RESOURCES HERE:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/resources

realspringcreekchurch #cancer #stuffwedonttalkabout

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CANCER
Stuff We Don’t Talk About (but probably should) – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
May 14, 2023

Perhaps no other word in the English language is as feared as the word Cancer. When we hear the word cancer, immediately we associate it with other words like pain, suffering, disfigurement, and perhaps even death. Just how likely is it that you or someone you love will face a cancer diagnosis? Statistics tell us 1 in 3 people in this country will be diagnosed with some sort of cancer in their lifetime. This means the likelihood that you or someone you love will be given a cancer diagnosis is extremely high. What do you do when that statistic is you? How do you support friends and loved ones through this process? And where is God in all of this? Discover the answer to those questions and many more.

SERIES: Stuff We Don't Talk About (But Probably Should)

People tend to hold in what they find upsetting, uncomfortable, or the things they fear. But our fear and avoidance of distressing topics actually magnify the distress and discomfort we’re feeling. There’s a better way. Honest, loving, and candid truth can dispel distortions, erase our fears and liberate us to face life’s most discomforting truths.

FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR HELP HERE:
www.springcreekchurch.org/resources/
Or, text RESOURCES to 96995

CANCER RESOURCES

WEBSITES

www.acor.org
Association of Cancer Online Resources

www.gildasclub.org
Great place in Dallas for anyone with cancer or a family member.

www.candlelighters.org

www.wish.org
For kids with a life-threatening illness (does not have to be terminal-I say this because the Make A Wish foundation used to be for kids who were dying).

BOOKS FOR KIDS OR PARENTS OF KIDS WITH CANCER
You can order these through Candlelighters and if you have a child with Cancer, they will send them to you for free, just call them.

• Chemo, Craziness, and Comfort My book about childhood Cancer, Nancy Keene and Trevor Romain (6 and older)
• The Amazing Hannah (2 and older)
• I had a Tumor it wasn’t a Rumor (4 and older)
• Childhood Cancer - A Parent’s Guide to Solid Tumors, Janes-Hodder and Keene
• I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Go to Boise, Erma Bombeck

BOOKS FOR ADULTS WITH CANCER

• Surviving Cancer by Dee Simmons
• When Your Friend Gets Cancer by Amy Harwell
• Is God to Blame? Beyond Pat Answers to the Problem of Suffering by Gregory A. Boyd
• Love, Medicine, and Miracles by Dr. Bernie Siegel
• Peace, Love, and Healing by Dr. Bernie Siegel
• How to Live Between Office Visits by Dr. Bernie Siegel
• Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do by Greg Anderson

FIND MORE RESOURCES HERE:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/resources

realspringcreekchurch #cancer #stuffwedonttalkabout

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REGRETS
Stuff We Don’t Talk About (But Probably Should) – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 7, 2023

Regret is a heavy burden. It gets us mired down in things that are beyond our control. It fixates us on the past. It paralyzes us in the present and it leaves us unmotivated for the future. We end up stuck in a place we never wanted to be with no one to blame but ourselves. It doesn’t have to be that way. Discover the freedom that comes from releasing regrets.

SERIES: Stuff We Don't Talk About (But Probably Should)

People tend to hold in what they find upsetting, uncomfortable, or the things they fear. But our fear and avoidance of distressing topics actually magnify the distress and discomfort we’re feeling. There’s a better way. Honest, loving, and candid truth can dispel distortions, erase our fears and liberate us to face life’s most discomforting truths.

FIND RESOURCES FOR HELP HERE:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/resources/
Or, text RESOURCES to 96995

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. According to The World Regret Survey, there are four types of regrets;

• Foundation regrets – saving money, studying in school, the sort of things that prepare for the future.

• Boldness regrets – not speaking up, not taking the initiative, not attempting to do something.

• Connection regrets – relationships that got away, went south, weren’t treated with value

• Moral regrets - failures in kindness, breaches of integrity, lapses in loyalty.

As you feel comfortable, share with the group what sort of regrets you have had in one or several of the areas above. Why did that regret affect you so much? What do you wish you had done or hadn’t done? What’s your biggest learning that came from that experience?

1. In the first half of the message, Pastor Keith shared several ineffective but common ways of dealing with regret.

• We bury them

• We blame others

• We beat ourselves up

Of the three primary and ineffectual ways of dealing with regret, has there been a time or times when you tried to bury a regret, blame others for it or even beat yourself up? If so, how did that work for you? Why do you think you responded in that way? What advice would you give to others prone to burying resentment? Blaming others? Or beating themselves up?

1. Pastor Keith explained the process of grief and it looks like this…

The Process of Guilt

1. Violation of a standard

2. Feeling of guilt

3. A need for one of three things

a. punishment

b. forgiveness

c. repayment

1. Freedom from guilt

He explained if we don’t feel forgiven, then our problem comes in step three so we default to punishment or repayment. So we either go through life setting up scenarios in which we are punished Give some examples of this. Or repaying for our mistakes by trying to make up for them by being good. Give examples of this. In what ways have you struggled with feeling forgiven?

1. The problem so many have is believing and living as a forgiven person. Pastor Keith wrapped up this message by giving some examples and scriptures that assure us of our status as forgiven people. As a group, go back through the Scripture in the last point of the message. Discuss them and talk about which was your favorite and why. More importantly, discuss how your life is different or could be different moving forward by living like the promises of God are actually true. In other words, how does a forgiven person actually live?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #regrets #stuffwedonttalkabout

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SUICIDE
Stuff We Don’t Talk About (But Probably Should) – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 30, 2023

We may not want to talk about it but not talking about it is what has led to so much confusion and pain. Practically everyone you meet has had their life touched in some way by suicide. But because we treat it like a taboo topic, unsettling questions are turned inward where they do incredible damage. Honest conversations about suicide are what is needed most of all. Not only does that decrease its likelihood in those who are struggling but it also helps individuals and families who are dealing with the aftermath. That’s what this weekend’s message is all about. My hope is that you’ll never need it, but if you do you’ll be grateful your understanding of suicide begins with grace and truth.

FIND SUICIDE RESOURCES HERE - RECOMMENDED BY PASTOR KEITH

SERIES: Stuff We Don't Talk About (But Probably Should)

People tend to hold in what they find upsetting, uncomfortable, or the things they fear. But our fear and avoidance of distressing topics actually magnify the distress and discomfort we’re feeling. There’s a better way. Honest, loving, and candid truth can dispel the distortions, erase our fears and liberate us to face life’s most discomforting truths.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Take some time as an individual or group to think about and discuss (if you’re comfortable doing so) how your life has been personally impacted by suicide. How did it affect you? What questions did you have? How did others respond? What, if any, direction were you given?

2. Why do you think this is such a taboo topic? Have you been in a church or religious environment that addressed suicide? If so, what was said and did you find it helpful?

3. There is no question, suicide rates are skyrocketing even as the average age for suicide is getting younger and younger. What do you think is driving this phenomenon? What can we do as a society to better address these issues?

4. Pastor Keith suggested those who struggle with self-destructive thoughts to construct a Hope Kit. Whether this is a journal, scrapbook, or box of mementos, the idea is to have a plan and be proactive when troubling thoughts arise. What are some of the things Pastor Keith suggested? What are other things that might be helpful to include in a Hope Kit?

5. Our identity, who we actually are in Christ, is essential in battling lies both the enemy tells us and we tell ourselves. Lies must be countered with truth and truth must be put into practice. In the list provided in the message notes, how do you put those truths into practice? How do you live like the truth is truth?

6. Grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide compounds normal grief and adds a dimension of guilt, hurt, and anger. This is normal – expected – what most people experience. What have you found most helpful in working through negative emotions like these?

7. As Pastor Keith wrapped up, he spent some time unpacking how grace and forgiveness actually work and then applied that to the person who takes their own life. How does this align with what you have been taught about suicide? Do you struggle with this explanation at all? If so, why?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #stuffwedonttalkabout #stuff #suicide

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Where Do We Go From Here?
The Encore – Part 2
Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
April 23, 2023

Jesus died and He resurrected. He revealed Himself to His followers and disciples in ways that each needed so that they would believe He was the Messiah. When it was all said and done, those who followed Him might be asking where do we go from here? He left them and us with a worldwide mission that may seem overwhelming but a mission that He empowers us to accomplish. He instructs us to preach the name of Jesus while calling for repentance and promising forgiveness. Because this is the greatest mission for all of humanity, this mission can’t be done without the empowerment of the Spirit of God.

SERIES: THE ENCORE

ENCORE! ENCORE! Just when we think it’s over, He is risen! He is risen, indeed! In the wake of Jesus’ resurrection, the people who loved Him, walked with Him, and were discipled by Him respond in conflicting ways to this revelation. They reacted with doubt, despair, grief, hopelessness, confusion, and wavering. Though their reactions are different and unexpected, Jesus reveals himself to them in the ways each one needed so that they could believe. With all the evidence Jesus provided that He had risen, at some point, they had to simply choose to trust Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In John 21: 1-14 Peter decided to go fishing and the other disciples decided to go with him. With everything that happened with the arrest, death, and resurrection of Jesus, it probably felt good to go back to something familiar. Just because the familiar feels good, doesn’t mean it’s where God wants us. Has God ever placed you somewhere or delivered you from something and when it got difficult it seemed easier to go back? What is it about a familiar place that makes you want to go back?

2. Jesus makes it clear that if we love Him, we need to be obedient to His commands. In what ways has it been difficult or challenging to be obedient? What are your feelings about it? What would help you to be obedient?

3. As His witnesses, we can’t wait for the perfect conditions to go out and spread the good news. What circumstances or conditions have made it difficult for you to share the good news? If you were able to overcome it, how did you overcome it?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/ #realspringcreekchurch #theencore #lifeaftertheresurrection #encore #wheredowegofromhere #jesus #divineidentity #makedisciples #baptize #teach #empower

Join us at Springcreek Church Online Campus at:
https://springcreek-church-online.circle.so/c/lobby
Watch The Way sermon series at https://youtu.be/g3EPbUmqnfk

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LIFE AFTER THE RESURRECTION
The Encore - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
April 16, 2023

ENCORE! ENCORE! Just when we think it’s over, He is risen! He is risen indeed! In the wake of Jesus’ resurrection, the people who loved Him, walked with Him, and were discipled by Him respond in conflicting ways to this revelation. They reacted with doubt, despair, grief, hopelessness, confusion, and wavering. Though their reactions are different and unexpected, Jesus reveals himself to them in the ways each one needed so that they could believe. With all the evidence Jesus provided that He had risen, at some point, they had to simply choose to trust Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Mary Magdalene teaches us that what matters most, is that we walk in obedience no matter how the world receives the message. Have you ever chosen to not obey what God told you to say or do because you were afraid of how it would be received? Why were you afraid and what is the worst thing that could have happened if you did walk in obedience and were rejected?

2. God brings revelation in His perfect timing. Tell about a time when God revealed something to you about yourself and it was in His perfect timing. Meaning, were you ready to deal with and address it?

3. Jesus is showing us that it is only His truth that can kill a lie. In what ways has God used His truth to debunk misconceptions, ideas, and traditions that you have held onto that are not in alignment with His Word?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theencore #lifeaftertheresurrection #encore

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JESUS AND THE CONDEMNED (THE DEVIL)
Easter Villains Meet Easter’s Victor – Part 4
Pastor Keith Stewart
April 9, 2023 | Easter

Join us this Easter for what is sure to be an unforgettable message. Throughout this series, we’ve been taken back to the days and weeks leading up to Christ’s death by crucifixion. There is an undeniable and menacing darkness that builds in the story until it reaches its consummation in the cross. Yet when all hope seems gone and the very light of the Son of God has been extinguished, God does what we least expect and brings light from darkness, hope from despair, life from death, and victory from defeat. Come discover why the Easter message brings light and life into your darkest night.

SERIES: EASTER’S VILLAINS MEET EASTER’S VICTOR

It’s easy to assume that good guys have the only lessons we need to learn. But that’s not even remotely true. There are plenty of things to learn from the bad guys as well. On a basic level, villains often propel the story forward and provide contrast to the hero. Honestly, stories can’t exist without them. Typically, the worse the bad guy, the greater the triumph of the good guy. This is especially true when it comes to the Easter story. As the salvation story reaches its climax, the villains multiply and bring their collective power against the Son of God. But far from a message of despair and hopelessness, Easter’s Victor soars above the conflict to bring light and salvation to all who seek it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith began today’s message by exploring different explanations put forth as to why Satan would be so intent on killing Christ despite the fact that in killing Christ he was killing his own power and influence. What are your thoughts as to why Satan went through with his diabolical plan?

2. In the message, Pastor Keith highlighted that God didn’t want to merely DESTROY Satan, He needed to REFUTE Satan. We know that Satan’s accusation began with God even before he ever leveled an accusation toward us. How did the cross refute Satan’s lies about God? How many people have you met that still believe lies about God? What have they said and how would you answer them?

3. Based on the messages and other Scriptures you know, how has what Christ accomplished on the cross stripped the devil of his power? What specifically can he no longer do against the people of God? How does this affect your view of the evil one? How will you respond differently in light of this?

4. Talk or write about the difference between thinking of the Christian life as “Jesus in me” versus “my life in Christ”.

5. What have been your biggest learnings throughout this entire series? How has it changed the way you see Easter or the villains of Scripture? In what ways has your spiritual life been enhanced? How have you been challenged to dig deeper into other familiar stories of the Bible?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #easter #villains #darkness #betrayal #conflict #devil #satan #theenemy #Jesus #victor #love #redemption #hope #encouragement #thecross

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JESUS AND THE CONFLICTED (PONTIUS PILATE)
Easter Villains Meet Easter’s Victor – Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 2, 2023

As we inch nearer to the cross, the villains surrounding Christ unite in their intent to kill the Son of God. Only one man now stands in their way - the Roman governor who must authorize and ratify their decision to execute Christ. Pontius Pilate is known as a ruthless Prefect of Rome with no love for the Jewish people he governs. This will not be an easy sell. Join us this weekend as we dive into the story of Pilate and what it has to say to us about Who Jesus is and why He came.

SERIES: EASTER’S VILLAINS MEET EASTER’S VICTOR

There are plenty of things to learn from the bad guys. In the Easter story, the villains multiply & bring their collective power against the Son of God. But far from a message of despair & hopelessness, Easter’s Victor soars above the conflict to bring light & salvation to all who seek it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith compared the entry of Pilate and his army into the city during Passover with that of Jesus Christ on the donkey. The contrast could not be more stark. Yet in this bit of prophetic theater, Jesus is making a strong statement about the nature of His kingdom. Why do you think people are so impressed by overt displays of power and strength? Why does Christ (Whom we know is God in human flesh) not choose that same path even though His own power is greater than all the armies of this world? How does Christ’s example affect your own attitude and example as a believer?

2. Looking at the trials of Christ both at the hands of the Jewish people and the Roman authorities, there is no question that there is an organized, intentional effort on the part of the Jewish leaders to see Christ put to death. At the same time, given the reality that the power of capital punishment was stripped from the Jews during this time of Roman occupation, apart from Rome’s approval, Jesus would have never been put to death. Pilate had to give his approval to Christ’s death – which he did even though he tried to absolve himself of responsibility by washing his hands. In your mind, are the Jewish leaders guilty of Christ’s death, or is Pilate, or are both the Romans and the Jews responsible? Explain your answer.

3. We don’t know much about Claudia Procula, Pilate’s wife, based on the single verse that describes her attempted intervention in this mockery of justice. We see a woman who was discerning, possibly even spiritually open because of listening to a dream that God directed and even more than willing to act on that knowledge. This is a big theme in the gospels – women who are spiritually discerning and act on what knowledge or information they have. Can you name any other women in the gospels who are singled out for their unique contributions or faith? What does the example of Claudia say to people who assert that God doesn’t speak to anyone besides His own children?

4. Barabbas or Jesus? It seems like a no-brainer, right? Yet the people chose Barabbas over Christ. Why is that? What does that say about people? In what ways are we like them in choosing Barabbas-like people, strong men, tough talkers, those who do whatever it takes to advance their cause?

5. Dying in the place of a truly underserving man like Barabbas, Jesus makes one of the powerful statements about the nature of why He came and Who he came to save - He loved us and died for us at our worst. If you’re a Christ follower, how has Jesus’ unconditional love changed you? What does it mean to be accepted at our worst? How has that made you into a different sort of person? How does that impact the way you see others?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #easter #villains #darkness #betrayal #conflict #PontiusPilate #Jesus #victor #religion #hate #love #redemption #hope #encouragement

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JESUS AND THE BETRAYER (Judas Iscariot)
Easter Villains meet Easter’s Victor - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 26, 2023

Few things will put you in a darker place than experiencing betrayal. As the Easter story unfolds, the darkness grows deeper when one of the trusted twelve betrays Jesus into the enemy's hands. Learn from Judas and still find hope in this story.

SERIES: EASTER’S VILLAINS MEET EASTER’S VICTOR

There are plenty of things to learn from the bad guys. In the Easter story, the villains multiply & bring their collective power against the Son of God. But far from a message of despair & hopelessness, Easter’s Victor soars above the conflict to bring light & salvation to all who seek it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As Stephen Covey said, “Trust is the glue of life.” It’s the foundation of all healthy relationships. Have you ever had your trust violated? What happened? How did it affect you? Have you healed from that experience and if not, what scars remain?

2. What made Judas’ betrayal so stinging was how implicitly he was trusted by all the others. He had a good name, an excellent reputation, and the full confidence of the disciples as evidenced by them putting him in charge of the group’s finances. Even when Jesus explicitly singles out Judas as the betrayer and Judas exits the feast, the others only impute good motives to his departure and do not suspect Judas at all. In light of that, what do you think of efforts throughout history to paint Judas as villainous, all bad, evil through and through? Why do we do this with those who have done awful things? What does this say about us?

3. Shame is a reality all of us have had to deal with in our lives. They say, guilt is a doing word and shame is a being word, meaning, I feel guilt over the things I’ve done, but when I do bad things, shame makes me feel like a bad person. Whenever we feel shame, the accompanying messages of shame distort the truth. Pastor Keith mentioned several of them.

• There is never a way back
• My sin is too great
• I have to atone for my sins

Think about your own self-talk when you have messed up. Do you fall prey to any of shame’s distortions? Based on what Pastor Keith shared in the message, what is the answer to shame’s distorted messages? How will you apply these truths in the future?

1. One of the most common ways people deal with shame is through self-punishment. This is an attempt to self-atone, to make ourselves suffer for the wrongs we’ve done. A.W. Tozer called it, “…the perpetual penance of regret.” How have you seen this played out in your own life or that of others?

2. Take some time as a group to compare Peter’s denial with Judas’ betrayal. How were they similar? How were they different?

3. On the day of atonement, there were two goats brought before the High Priest. One goat was slaughtered to pay the price for the sins of the people and the other symbolically had the sins of the people laid on it and it was abandoned to the wilderness to die. In a very real sense, Christ was the fulfillment of both types of sacrifice – the One Whose blood was shed to pay the price for our sins and the One upon Whom our sins were laid as He was led outside the city to be abandoned on a hill called Calvary. This means Jesus not only carried our sin but also carried the consequence of our sin which is shame. Both sin and shame met their match in Christ and He died so we could be freed from both. There’s no need to carry your shame or self-punish for your misdeeds. Jesus died so you wouldn’t need to do that ever again. Take some time to offer your thanks to Christ for all that He has done to remedy sin and shame in your life.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #easter #villains #darkness #betrayal #Jesus #Judas #victor #redemption

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JESUS AND THE BELLIGERENT (RELIGIOUS LEADERS)
Easter Villains meet Easter’s Victor - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 19, 2023

There is no hate quite like religious hate. Jesus knew all too well what it meant to be targeted by religious extremists. This message exposes the truth. Discover how even the greatest darkness could not extinguish God’s purpose in Jesus Christ.

SERIES: EASTER’S VILLAINS MEET EASTER’S VICTOR

It’s easy to assume that good guys have the only lessons we need to learn. But that’s not even remotely true. There are plenty of things to learn from the bad guys as well. On a basic level, villains often propel the story forward and provide contrast to the hero. Honestly, stories can’t exist without them. Typically, the worse the bad guy, the greater the triumph of the good guy. This is especially true when it comes to the Easter story. As the salvation story reaches its climax, the villains multiply and bring their collective power against the Son of God. But far from a message of despair and hopelessness, Easter’s Victor soars above the conflict to bring light and salvation to all who seek it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Jesus included the excluded and it infuriated the Pharisees who saw this as a violation of the purification laws. What other examples are you aware of in the Gospels where Jesus included the excluded? What do you love about the story you cited as an example? In what ways have you personally made attempts to include the excluded? What has been your experience? What would your response be to those who misunderstand or judge you for the company you keep?

2. Though we may not deal with the level of judgmentalism regarding Sabbath law observe that Jesus did, even today, there are those who have their one rule that determines whether someone is in or out in their book. Have you ever met someone like this? What did they consider as their one all-important rule? How would you respond to a judgmental Christian?

3. What the Bible lays out in terms of opposition to Christ is a process of intensification and escalation. It begins by questioning the company He keeps. This puts Him on the outs with them. Then they begin policing His every move in an attempt to catch Him breaking more serious laws. Once He violates their idea of sabbath-keeping, they feel justified in regarding Him as a false teacher and a threat. Then once Jesus exposes the corruption in the entire temple system of exploitation of the poor worship goers, they become convinced that Jesus must die. It’s a dangerous pathway that begins as we judge and paint others as the enemy. Maybe this is why Jesus taught us that hate is the moral equivalent of murder because we’ve already killed someone in our heart. Though it’s easy to judge others for doing this, even we ourselves can be guilty of dehumanizing others, painting them as the embodiment of their worst mistakes, and feeling justified in treating them poorly. How do we interrupt this downward, negative spiral? Have you ever had to reverse course because you found yourself going down this path about someone who hurt you?

4. Jesus took on the exploitation of the poor that was happening at the Temple in Jerusalem – effectively shutting down on one of the busiest and most important days of the year. Of course, the religious leaders took this very personally and seriously. But Jesus’ anger was fully justified and appropriate. Anger is not the opposite of love – apathy and indifference are the opposite of love. Have you ever known or experienced an injustice that provoked you to anger and action? What was it? What did you do? What happened as a result?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/ #realspringcreekchurch #easter #villains #darkness #Jesus #victor #religion #hate #love #redemption #hope #encouragement

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GUIDING YOUR CHILD TOWARD GOD
RATED PG: Parental Guidance Needed - Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 12, 2023

This message has something for everyone. It's about the importance of spirituality in kids & what parents can do to encourage it. But it’s also about the reasons kids walk away from church & the best way to respond to faith exiting.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In the introduction, Pastor Keith talked about the growing academic and psychology studies around childhood spirituality & its importance. He mentioned how there is an objective and calculable benefit for children who’ve been encouraged spiritually that includes, being less likely to abuse substances, less prone to depression, less prone to risky teenage behaviors, better academic performance, & fewer thoughts and attempts at suicide. What other benefits have you seen in yourself, your kids, or others that have had a solid spiritual upbringing?

2. What are some of the ways you or your parents have tried to instill spiritual values in your kids or you? Was spirituality important in your family? What lasting lessons did you carry into adulthood? If not, when did you discover the importance of spirituality? What would you say to a parent who thought teaching or modeling spirituality to their children was unimportant?

3. Based on the sacred Shema in Deuteronomy 6, Pastor Keith described 5 areas of emphasis. Healthy, spiritual families...

4. Discipline their children

5. Are built on a spiritual foundation
6. Model the values they teach
7. Have good communication skills
8. Keep their promises

Of the above qualities, in which area are you strongest and why? In which area are you weakest and why?

1. In terms of why Christian kids walk away from their faith, citing the work of Tom Bisset, Pastor Keith listed several reasons for departure from church and the faith;

2. They have troubling, unanswered questions about their faith

3. Their faith isn’t working for them
4. Other things in life become more important than their faith
5. They never personally owned their faith
6. The X Factor in departure

Of these factors listed, which have you personally observed in kids who once were a part of the church? How did they express it? What did you do or say in response to it?

1. How can you as a parent & we as a church be more effective in reaching those who have walked away from the church or faith? What is effective and what is totally ineffective? What would you say to a parent with a prodigal child who is worried about the trajectory of their life?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #ratedpg #whatkidsneedmost #choices #consequences #anger #patience #reaction #deescalation

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HELPING YOUR CHILD EXPRESS ANGER APPROPRIATELY
RATED PG: Parental Guidance Needed - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 5, 2023

Learning to express anger appropriately is something all of us need, but some were never taught. Instead, we had parents who merely mirrored our intensity, shut us down & shut us up, or sometimes even escalated the conflict. There is a better way. This message powerfully addresses anger in us and our kids.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Take some time individually or as a group to talk about these three scenarios;

a. How your kids express anger
b. How you express anger
c. How your parents expressed anger

2.) Because kids are still developing emotionally, socially, and physically, they don’t always have the capacity to understand the source of their anger or express it appropriately. If parents are unwilling or unable to help their child process it, understand it and express it appropriately, the child will move into adulthood more prone to angry outbursts and more prone to getting stuck in their angry feelings. What are some ways you have found useful in helping kids better understand and express their anger?

3.) A parent that can’t control their anger will be unable to teach a child to control theirs. What do you do to “tap the brakes” (so to speak) when you find yourself getting angry? Since anger is a secondary emotion (never the first thing we feel), but always flows out of hurt, fear, or frustration, how do we use that to help us better understand the source of our anger and address the actual precipitating event?

4.) The Bible says, ...the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness... Exodus 34.6. These words are so important that they are quoted verbatim throughout the rest of the OT (Numbers 14.18; Nehemiah 9.17; Psalm 103.8,17; 145.8; Jeremiah 32.18-19; Joel 2.13; Jonah 4.2). You can also hear echoes of it in Deuteronomy 5.9-10; 1 Kings 3.6; Lamentations 3.32; Daniel 9.4; and Nahum 1.3. Can you name any Old or New Testament examples that illustrate how God is “slow to anger”?

5.) Patience is intimately tied to the proper management of anger because the word literally means “to be slow to heat up”. Patience is also tied to being an understanding person (A patient man has great understanding. Proverbs 14.29). The better we understand our own anger and what drives it – the more we can control it. The same thing is true with our kids. So what do you know about yourself and how anger affects you? With your child(ren), what makes them angry? Where do they struggle the most with expressing anger appropriately?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #ratedpg #whatkidsneedmost #choices #consequences #anger #patience #reaction #deescalation

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CONNECTING CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
RATED PG: Parental Guidance Needed - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 26, 2023

Teaching responsibility is one of the most important jobs of a parent. It’s what equips our child for life. Helping our children understand that they are in charge of the quality of their own life – that literally everything boils down to the quality of their choices – will make the difference between a child who thrives versus one who flounders. This message will help us avoid the pitfalls, assist us with practical suggestions, and show us how God does this with us. Whether you are in the thick of the parenting years, an empty nester, or without children, this message has something helpful for us all.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. One of the primary responsibilities of all parents is to teach our children about personal responsibility. This is best done by helping them make the connection between their choices and the consequences that follow. Today’s message illustrated what that progression should look like by utilizing Dr. Sylvia Rimm’s “V” of Love chart. When a child is young, they have fewer choices and freedom. As they mature and begin to understand the connection between choices and consequences, they are given more choices and freedom. Give some examples of what you believe are age-appropriate choices for toddlers, elementary, middle school and high school.

2. There are ways in which a parent can sabotage this growth in their child and interfere in the learning of consequences. Pastor Keith offered three parenting styles as an example of problem parenting. Take some time to discuss the following examples. Specifically for each example;

3. Can you offer any examples of how you’ve seen these parenting styles in people you have known?

4. Were your parents anything like these parents?

5. Have you ever personally struggled with any of these areas?

EXAMPLE #1 – RESCUERS - “I don’t want to hurt my kids”

EXAMPLE #2 - AVOIDERS - “If I ignore it, it’ll go away”

EXAMPLE #3 - OVERREACTORS – “Do this because I’m the parent”

1. Have you ever known parents who use guilt, fear or shame as a way of getting conformity out of their kids? Why do parents do this? What is the downside? Why is this an example of a pyrrhic victory?

2. The price tag for learning about the negative consequences of irresponsibility is very affordable when we are young, loved, and protected in our homes. What are some ways a child might make a poor choice and suffer an affordable negative consequence that might hurt in the short term but not do any real lasting harm?

3. There is a big difference between discipline and punishment? What differences stood out to you and why? Were you disciplined or punished as a child? For those of you who were punished as children, how did that make you feel toward your parent(s)? How did it make you feel about yourself? If you could go back and speak to yourself during that experience, what would your adult self say to your child self?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #parents #kids #choices #consequences

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Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 | 7PM CST

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/easter/

realspringcreekchurch #ashwednesday #lent

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WHAT KIDS NEED MOST IN A PARENT
RATED PG: Parental Guidance Needed - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 19, 2023

Parents are often exhausted, stressed out, & under constant pressure. Clear up the confusion, relieve unrealistic expectations, & get focused on the essentials that enable our kids to become all that they were meant to be.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. According to the Britannica Dictionary, a stereotype is an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic. What other stereotypes exist in our society in relation to moms and dads?

2. Take some time as a group to discuss the modern phenomenon of the increasingly mobile and as a result isolated nuclear family. As parenting falls more exclusively and squarely on the shoulders of just the mom and dad (as opposed to the extended family), the pressure becomes unbearable, the knowledge and limited experience take a toll and parents feel completely alone against their challenges. What can parents do to mitigate those realities? Who else do you rely on when the going gets tough? What are the benefits of having others involved in helping to raise your children?

3. Take some time as a group to discuss the developmental chart that Pastor Keith shared in the message. Ask yourself about the three primary developmental needs; nurture, affection, and attention and modeling – what was your experience in those areas growing up? Which did your parent(s) do particularly well? Were any of these diminished or not what you hoped they would be? How does that affect you today? Discuss your thoughts on parental absence as it relates to these developmental needs.

4. Pastor Keith discussed the importance of play as it relates to nurturing. Did your parents play with you? Did you play with your children? Why do you think play is regarded as frivolous? If your parents didn’t play with you, how did they spend time with you? Kids spell love T-I-M-E. They both want and need to be with their parents. Some parents overestimate how much time they spend with their children. Realistically, how much time did your parents spend with you? How much time did you spend with your children?

5. We desperately need both affection and attention. How affectionate were your parents? How affectionate are you? According to Ross Campbell, who wrote the book, How to Really Love Your Child, “6-year-old boys receive 1/6th as much hugging and kissing as 6 year-old-girls.” He also discussed the truth that first-grade boys get into trouble 6x’s more frequently than first-grade girls. Do you think there’s a correlation between those two facts? Why aren’t little boys treated with the same affection as little girls? Do you think this is a good thing or not?

In terms of attention, our kids really do desire ours. In particular, they want parents who listen well. In fact, they will often seek out other adults in order to get an adult perspective on their problems. They just want someone who will listen as opposed to react to everything they’re saying. Were your parent's good listeners? Are you a good listener? What are some good open-ended questions that lead to great conversations?

1. There are three messages God spoke to His Son that serve as a great pattern for parenting today, I love you, I believe in you, and I’m proud of you. Talk about the importance of those messages and your personal experience with them in regard to your parents and parenting.

Pastor Keith added one more message that God does not need to communicate but we most certainly do and that is “I am sorry.” Have you ever apologized to your kids? For what? How was that received? Were you ever apologized to by your parents? For what? What effect did that have on you?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting

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HEALING THE WOUNDS OF BETRAYAL
Springcreek Church | Dr. Jessica Fernandez, Lead Associate Pastor
February 12, 2023

Betrayal, the breaking of a trust bond, runs deep. In this message, find a greater understanding of how to heal the wounds of betrayal and move forward in life with more strength and clarity as we look at the life of Hosea.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Discuss the quote, “Most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience.” - Dr. John Maxwell

2.) The Bible is very clear that God uses our experiences with hardship and trials to mature us. That doesn’t mean that God causes the hardship or trials (since we live in a broken world, they are inevitable) but He does use that experience to bring us to maturity.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1.2-4

Where have you had experience with this in your life presently or in the past? How has it affected your prayer life – especially if the trial or difficulty you’re experiencing is something that you will be facing long term? Within Christianity, there are segments of the church that always and only believe in miraculous deliverance from every disease, difficulty, or setback. When someone doesn’t experience deliverance, the suffering individual is often indicted for a lack of faith. How does that set with you? What does Scripture actually say about such things? What would you say to someone who was suffering then, on top of that, made to feel like an inferior Christian?

3.) It's not our actions but our reactions that are the best barometers for how far we’ve come or how much we’ve grown. How often do we respond as Jesus did to unjust treatment, unfair accusations, or actions meant to bring us harm? Have you ever had a time in your life when you experienced God’s power enabling you to have a truly Christlike response to bad treatment? Share that with the group.

4.) If you look over these questions in advance as a group, download Henry Drummond’s book, “The Greatest Thing in the World” and read it through at least once before your time together. Share with the group your biggest takeaway from the book.

5.) Spiritual formation truly is all about love formation. Everything God is doing in our life is to make us more and more like Jesus especially in our capacity to love God, our brothers and sisters, and our neighbor as ourselves. How is God challenging your right now to love? Where have you seen progress in love since becoming a Christ follower? Take some time to discuss the following definition of love. Love: to seek the highest and best good of another.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theway #jesus #searching #embarking #walking #advancing #grow #connect #serve

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CONSUMMATING
The Way – Part 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 5, 2023

We’ve been on a journey throughout this series looking at what it means to be a growing Christ-follower – a follower of the way. Now as the series wraps up, we turn our attention to the truly transformed soul and what the consummation of our journey looks like.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Discuss the quote, “Most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience.” - Dr. John Maxwell

2.) The Bible is very clear that God uses our experiences with hardship and trials to mature us. That doesn’t mean that God causes the hardship or trials (since we live in a broken world, they are inevitable) but He does use that experience to bring us to maturity.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1.2-4

Where have you had experience with this in your life presently or in the past? How has it affected your prayer life – especially if the trial or difficulty you’re experiencing is something that you will be facing long term? Within Christianity, there are segments of the church that always and only believe in miraculous deliverance from every disease, difficulty, or setback. When someone doesn’t experience deliverance, the suffering individual is often indicted for a lack of faith. How does that set with you? What does Scripture actually say about such things? What would you say to someone who was suffering then, on top of that, made to feel like an inferior Christian?

3.) It's not our actions but our reactions that are the best barometers for how far we’ve come or how much we’ve grown. How often do we respond as Jesus did to unjust treatment, unfair accusations, or actions meant to bring us harm? Have you ever had a time in your life when you experienced God’s power enabling you to have a truly Christlike response to bad treatment? Share that with the group.

4.) If you look over these questions in advance as a group, download Henry Drummond’s book, “The Greatest Thing in the World” and read it through at least once before your time together. Share with the group your biggest takeaway from the book.

5.) Spiritual formation truly is all about love formation. Everything God is doing in our life is to make us more and more like Jesus especially in our capacity to love God, our brothers and sisters, and our neighbor as ourselves. How is God challenging your right now to love? Where have you seen progress in love since becoming a Christ follower? Take some time to discuss the following definition of love. Love: to seek the highest and best good of another.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theway #jesus #searching #embarking #walking #advancing #grow #connect #serve

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ADVANCING
The Way – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 29, 2023

In this series, we’ve been challenged to think of the beginnings of the spiritual life in ways we never have before. This week, we learn what it takes to grow and mature as a follower of the Way.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Discuss the quote, “Most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience.” - Dr. John Maxwell

2.) The Bible is very clear that God uses our experiences with hardship and trials to mature us. That doesn’t mean that God causes the hardship or trials (since we live in a broken world, they are inevitable) but He does use that experience to bring us to maturity.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1.2-4

Where have you had experience with this in your life presently or in the past? How has it affected your prayer life – especially if the trial or difficulty you’re experiencing is something that you will be facing long term? Within Christianity, there are segments of the church that always and only believe in miraculous deliverance from every disease, difficulty, or setback. When someone doesn’t experience deliverance, the suffering individual is often indicted for a lack of faith. How does that set with you? What does Scripture actually say about such things? What would you say to someone who was suffering then, on top of that, made to feel like an inferior Christian?

3.) It's not our actions but our reactions that are the best barometers for how far we’ve come or how much we’ve grown. How often do we respond as Jesus did to unjust treatment, unfair accusations, or actions meant to bring us harm? Have you ever had a time in your life when you experienced God’s power enabling you to have a truly Christlike response to bad treatment? Share that with the group.

4.) If you look over these questions in advance as a group, download Henry Drummond’s book, “The Greatest Thing in the World” and read it through at least once before your time together. Share with the group your biggest takeaway from the book.

5.) Spiritual formation truly is all about love formation. Everything God is doing in our life is to make us more and more like Jesus especially in our capacity to love God, our brothers and sisters, and our neighbor as ourselves. How is God challenging your right now to love? Where have you seen progress in love since becoming a Christ follower? Take some time to discuss the following definition of love. Love: to seek the highest and best good of another.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theway #jesus #searching #embarking #walking #advancing #grow #connect #serve

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WALKING
The Way – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 22, 2023

In this week’s installment of The Way, we turn our attention to our part in spiritual growth. What does it mean to walk with God? How do we cooperate with what He’s doing? And are we practicing life’s sacred rhythm like Jesus modeled for us? I used to say all the time, “I learned all about God in Bible college and Seminary but never really learned to walk with Him until I got involved in spiritual direction.” I want to share with you the things that excite me, challenge me and keep me on the path of spiritual growth. It's pathway proven over many years of walking with Jesus and is laid out clearly in the pages of God’s Word.

SERIES: THE WAY

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” – Jesus

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) In the first part of the message, Pastor Keith talked about how the answer to our sin problem is relational. In this section, he shared several principles that you can discuss as a group:

• We try to be LIKE Jesus rather than try to be WITH Jesus.

• Spirituality is not about competency. It’s about intimacy.

• Spirituality is not about perfection. It’s about connection.

• They are trying to make themselves good enough to gain God's favor by keeping laws and customs - but that is not God's way of salvation. Romans 10.3 (Living Bible)

• “If you try to become Christ-like in your external behavior you will simply turn into a devoted legalist, and people will run from you.” - Dallas Willard

Where have you seen these principles play out in churches? In others? In your own life? Why do you think so many invert what Scriptures teach and put all the emphasis on trying to be a good person rather than trying to be with Christ (which is the key to victory)?

2.) The three spheres of spiritual growth or what Pastor Keith referred to as Christ’s sacred rhythm, are growing, connecting, and serving. It’s time to do a spiritual check-up. Where are you strongest and where are you weakest? In what ways did today’s message challenge you to devote more time to the area where you have room for growth?

3.) The spiritual disciplines are all various ways of creating space for God in your life. Which disciplines have you tried and what has been your experience? Which ones have you never tried? How has God met you during your engagement with the spiritual disciplines?

4.)Of course, none of us grows in the way God intended in isolation from others. The Christian life, following in the ways of Jesus, means doing life in connection with a community of believers. How does individualism work against this? What have you found to be the benefits of connection in community? What are the challenges and fears people have of community? What can we do better as groups to bring down the barriers people have toward opening their lives up to others (and in the process opening up themselves more fully to God)?

5.) The final sphere of growth Pastor Keith discussed was service. We all need to be giving away what we have received from God. It helps both keep us tethered to reality and strengthens our faith as we trust God in challenging situations. Where have you had the most fulfillment serving? How has it challenged you and maybe even pushed you out of your comfort zone? How has your connection to God been strengthened through acts of service? If you met a believer who felt too timid, unfit, or even unqualified to serve, what would you say to them to encourage them to take this step toward service?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theway #jesus #searching #embarking #walking #grow #connect #serve

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EMBARKING
The Way - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 15, 2023

Last week, we were challenged to think of the beginning of our spiritual awakening as a pivot - a change in direction - a new orientation toward God. Having embarked on this journey, we begin to see more clearly the exact nature of our problems and how God meets us in our brokenness. As God draws us deeper into Himself, the broken distorted image we have of Him is healed and we are set free. What God does in, through, and for us at this juncture solidifies our commitment to the Way. We become convinced that this is the best Way to do life. So join us for this message and join us on the Way.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) In Pastor Keith’s introduction, he shared the illustration of a seminary professor who did two surveys of his students. Early in the semester, his survey asked questions about their relationship (or lack thereof) with their fathers. At the close of the theology class that taught extensively about the nature of God, they were given a nearly identical survey but this time the questions were about God Himself. Surprisingly, even after months of great teaching, the students' relationship with God still largely mirrored the relationship they had with their fathers. Can you see any parallels between the relationship you have with your Dad (or even a lack of a relationship) and how that might have affected your own relationship with God? Have you ever noticed this in others?

2.) All of us have sinned (Romans 3.23). But how we define sin is often superficial and centered around external behaviors. The true nature of sin, really the fountainhead of it all, is coveting – wanting our way and wanting that more than what God wants for us. In terms of your biggest struggles and ways in which you have fallen in the past, the root of every sin is somehow linked to coveting. Can you think of an example of this? If we just treat the symptom and ignore the cause, we will just end up repeating our failures. It’s our desires that need to shift. How does that happen?

3.) Jesus modeled for us just how good God is. Think back through His teaching and example and share with the group how Jesus modeled the goodness of God.

4.) When we think in terms of bounded sets, we not only pass judgment on those we think are outside the Christian faith. In addition, we also often pass judgment on our fellow believers because they still remain rough around the edges, and still struggle with besetting sins, in other words, they don’t look like good Christian folk. But redemption begins at our core and depending on how long and how extensive the infection of sin has spread, it may take some time before God’s antidote reaches into all the affected thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Where have you observed this sort of judgmentalism? What’s been your personal experience with this? How can we be a safe place for people in process who are moving deeper and deeper into the heart of God?

5.) Personally, it’s easy to become discouraged because the process of change takes time. Very few of us experience instantaneous transformational change. But we take comfort in knowing that even though we are not yet where we would like to be, the hunger is there, the desire is there, and that in itself is proof of new life in Christ. God gives us both the desire and the ability to accomplish what He wants for our life (Philippians 2.13). But the desire always comes first. In what ways do you experience this? In what ways are you longing for change (you have the desire) but the actual transformation lags behind? How can you as a group support and pray for one another concerning your growing edge?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theway #searching #embarking #Jesus #follower #discipleship

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SEARCHING
The Way - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 8, 2023

This first installment in our brand new series is to help you better understand how the journey into a new life following Jesus actually begins. No matter how far you may feel you need to travel to get to where you want to be, with God what matters most of all is the direction your life is heading.

SERIES: THE WAY

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” – Jesus

Before we were called “believers,” the early Church in the book of Acts was referred to as “followers of the way.” Christians are supposed to be a people who spend their lives as followers of the way of Jesus Christ. You could say we’re on a journey deeper and deeper into the heart of God. This series explores what that journey looks like, the mileposts along the way and what God is doing to make our lives look more like His Son.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Spend some time talking about the many ways Christians are referred to these days, Christians, believers, and converts, and contrast that with Followers of the Way. What are some of the distinctions? How might Christianity be different today had the original designation as Followers of the Way actually stuck and became the dominant way Christians were known?

2.) In the first part of the message, Pastor Keith spent some time talking about soul hunger (craving for the eternal) that God placed in the human heart. He spent some time elaborating on how that soul hunger often gets misdirected and can actually be the driving force behind addiction, obsession with money, or even preoccupation with relationships. Yet, nothing in this world can satisfy the depth of that soul hunger that can only be satiated in God. If you have ever misdirected this appetite, share with the group what that looked like and what your experience was. Have you ever observed this in a friend, family member, or acquaintance?

3.) C.S. Lewis is an example of a man whom God pursued; his youthful deep yearnings for joy, his respect, and friendship with authors who had a Christian worldview and a fellow atheist who shocked him by describing the historical reliability of the New Testament. At the same time, Lewis’ coming to Christ was gradual, even incremental. His first step toward God was simply an acknowledgment that God existed. Can you relate to Lewis’ experience? In a very real sense, as society moves with greater speed away from a Christian consensus, we should expect more conversions like that of Lewis because people will simply lack the knowledge of the most elemental aspects of the gospel. They will begin at a more rudimentary level with first an acknowledgment that there is a God. Share your own thoughts on what Pastor Keith shared about AA and the twelve-step emphasis on God as a Higher Power.

4.) Spend some time as a group discussing bounded versus centered set thinking. Where have you seen this thinking played out? What effects did it have? Have you ever fallen into bounded set thinking when it comes to determining who’s a Christian and who is not? How does thinking in terms of centered sets help us deal with those whom society is prone to judge?

5.) Conversion is truly an ongoing experience. It’s never one-and-done like what is implied in churches that place an emphasis on altar calls. Each and every day, we are surrendering more and more of our life to God – as much as I know of me to as much as I understand about God. Share with the group how that dynamic has played out in your life. As you have grown, matured, and healed, how has the knowledge you have of yourself changed? As you have grown, matured, and healed, how has your understanding of God changed?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #theway #searching #Jesus #follower #discipleship

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MAKE YOUR MARK
Springcreek Church | Pastor Jessica Fernandez, Ph.D.
January 1, 2023

Every new year causes us to think about the impact we want to have on the world. We want to do something that will cause us to be remembered, famous, or successful. In the Bible, Samson, a lifelong Nazarite who was set apart and devoted to God was given the gift of incredible strength, and yet many times we see that Samson’s choices are less than ideal. We learn that gifts can be used for good or ill. Like Samson, making your mark can go both ways. We can make a positive or negative impact based on how we decide to make our mark. It is dependent on whether we use our gifts to honor God or bring honor to ourselves. Join us this Sunday, in-person or online, as we kick off the new year together!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) What mark do you want to make in 2023?

2.) God sometimes uses evil actions to accomplish His good purposes. God will never lead us to sin but God used Samson's own self-interests to create an opportunity to deliver Israel. Have you ever made a bad decision and God used it for His glory? Tell us about it.

3.) Have you been in a situation where you were about to make a bad decision, and an inner voice of reason (the Holy Spirit) rushed upon you and confronted you on what you were about to do? Did you decide to submit to the counsel and confrontation of the Spirit or did you do things your way?

4.) As people who want to imitate Jesus, are we staying away from things, people, and places that cause a separation between us and God? Are you consuming things that bring life? Or are you consuming things that bring death? What are things that draw you closer to the Lord and what are things that draw you further away from God?

5.) Are you allowing the Spirit of God to lead you? Are you willing to consecrate and separate yourself for God’s purposes with sacrifice and submission to his will? How will you do that?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #makeyourmark #samson #identity

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This series on the minor characters of the Christmas story has been so well received and has so enriched our understanding and experience of Christmas that I decided to add a bonus message for our Christmas Day devotional. Simeon is the priest who blesses the newborn baby Jesus and with prophetic words confirming everything Mary and Joseph had been told. But Simeon is also a man who waited for many years for this moment and has something to say to all of us who live between the now and not yet. If you struggle with waiting, this message is for you.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #christmasinaminorkey #christmas #simeon #waitingonchristmas #Jesus

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INNKEEPER: HOW EASY IT IS TO MISS CHRISTMAS
Christmas in a Minor Key – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 24, 2022

On Christmas Eve, we wrap up our series on the minor characters in the Christmas story by looking at the innkeeper - a man never even mentioned by name. Bethlehem’s inn has become the most infamous of all hotels, not because of what happened there, but because of what might have happened but didn't. You could say, the inn has become a symbol for the human heart. Why is life so much like the inn? Why is there no room in it for Jesus?

SERIES: Christmas in a Minor Key
In truth, Christmas is both joyous, because of what it represents, and dark, because of the reality of the world into which Jesus was born. For people who are struggling, facing loss, or lacking supportive families, Christmas becomes just another reminder of everything they lack. The original Christmas story is a message of hope for all people in all circumstances. Join us this December as we re-discover the real Christmas story in all its gritty, beautiful reality.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Pastor Keith shared three plausible reasons as to why the innkeeper missed Christmas that still hold true to this day; preoccupation, indifference, and inhospitality. Have you ever been so preoccupied (or indifferent or inhospitable) that you missed out on the significance of what was happening in the moment? Describe that experience. While Pastor Keith focused on issues related to that first-century inn, there are plenty of other reasons why people today miss out on Christmas. Name and explain what other reasons people might be missing out on Christmas. What can we do as believers, without trying to force our values on others, that might help people better understand what this season is all about?

2.) In our overly crowded lives, none of us will ever find room for Christ. We have to make room for Him. This is true about so many of the things that we long to do. We often complain about not having the time to do what we want to do but we will never find the time we have to make time – we have to prioritize it over the other things that are taking too much of our time. When people say they don’t have time for their spiritual life, time to go to church, time for connecting to other believers, and time to seek God by engaging in spiritual disciplines, what do you say? Did you ever think the same way? What was the key to breaking out of that mindset? How do we ensure that Christ remains central to our Christmas celebration?

3.) Pastor Keith’s final story was about a young man with a learning disability who was asked to play the innkeeper in the community Christmas pageant. His tender heart couldn’t bear turning Joseph and Mary away so he flipped the script and offered them his room instead. Some thought he had ruined the play but others were so moved and touched by his tenderness that it helped them see Christmas in a whole new light. Truly, for each and every one of us, we are the innkeeper and each of us decides whether to welcome Jesus in. If you have welcomed Jesus into your life, describe why you did that, where you did it, when, and how.

Merry Christmas!

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #christmasinaminorkey #christmas #innkeeper #noroom #Jesus

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ELIZABETH: SPEAKING TO OUR FEAR AND SHAME
Christmas in a Minor Key – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 18, 2022

She’s just a minor character in the Christmas story but she has a major impact in how the saga unfolds. Elizabeth’s influence on the young, pregnant Mary is profound - speaking directly into her fear and shame. In fact, the conversation between these two women is the longest recorded between two female characters found anywhere in Scripture. It’s time we discover why.

SERIES: Christmas in a Minor Key
In truth, Christmas is both joyous, because of what it represents, and dark, because of the reality of the world into which Jesus was born. For people who are struggling, facing loss, or lacking in supportive families, Christmas becomes just another reminder of everything they lack. The original Christmas story is a message of hope for all people in all circumstances. Join us this December as we re-discover the real Christmas story in all its gritty, beautiful reality.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) What surprised you in this message today?

2.) Why do you think Mary wanted to see her relative Elizabeth? What do you think Mary hoped to get out of the visit?

3.) How does Elizabeth respond to Mary and why? How else could she have responded?

4.) Have you ever had someone like Elizabeth in your life? Studies have found that adolescents thrive when they have at least one strong, sustained relationship with a significant adult, this can be a coach, a teacher, an extended family member, a youth pastor, a small group leader, etc. Who besides your parents has made significant contributions to your life, especially in an area where you were struggling, growing, or learning? How did they help you? How are you different today as a result of their influence? Have you ever been that kind of person for someone else? Why or why not?

5.) We often have the opposite view of blessing from Scripture. Too often, we equate blessings with money, health, and happiness. In the Bible, to be blessed was to be used by God for His kingdom purposes. How have you been Biblically blessed? Why are people so hungry to be blessed today?

6.) Take a few moments to read and reflect on this quote from Henri Nouwen…

“To bless means to say good things. We have to bless one another constantly… In our society, so full of curses, we must fill each place we enter with our blessings. We forget so quickly that we are God’s beloved children and allow the many curses of our world to darken our hearts. Therefore we have to be reminded of our belovedness and remind others of theirs.” - Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved

7.) Now take a few minutes and bless one another. Remind each other of their belovedness just for being who they are. Think beyond what people do or even what they do for you and think about what it is about them that makes them the kind of person they are. Praise and bless that quality.

8.) Mary is emboldened by her time with Elizabeth and maybe even sees things about who she is and her purpose that are truly monumental – to usher in the Messiah Who would upset the status quo, reverse the warped value system of this world that elevates the rich and powerful, and deal a fatal blow to the enemy. Luke lays out a revolutionary theme in this story that is so unlike how we typically today tell the Christmas story. Even the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” is so absolutely incongruent with the understanding Mary so impressively demonstrates in Luke 1. Why do we do this to the Christmas story? What is lost when we do this? Take some time and read together the Magnificat in Luke 1.46-55. Share with one another what you glean from this passage.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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SHEPHERDS: THE MARGINS RETURNED TO THE CENTER
Christmas in a Minor Key – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 11, 2022

When Christians don’t know the Christmas story as well as we think we do, we run the risk of turning Jesus’ birth into a fairytale or bedtime story. That is truly one of the worst things we could ever do to Christmas. The Christmas story is anything but sanitized and the minor characters were looking at in this series prove that. In particular, this is something we do with the shepherds. We romanticize their profession and altogether miss the point as to why they were chosen as the first witnesses to the birth of Jesus Christ. Experience Christmas as it actually was in all of its beautiful, gritty reality.

SERIES: Christmas in a Minor Key
In truth, Christmas is both joyous, because of what it represents, and dark, because of the reality of the world into which Jesus was born. In church, we often only tell the Christmas story in one way - the happy, festive, joyous way. But for people who are struggling, facing loss, or lacking in supportive families, Christmas becomes just another reminder of everything they lack. The original Christmas story is a message of hope for all people in all circumstances. Join us this December as we re-discover the real Christmas story in all its gritty, beautiful reality.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Both Old and New Testament perspectives on shepherds were negative. Shepherds were judged, stereotyped, and treated as if all of them were terrible sinners. Who else do we treat in this way? Of the people you think fall into this category today, have you ever had a personal relationship with one of them? How did that affect your perceptions? Given the horrible reputation shepherds had, share your thoughts and feelings about God choosing them as eyewitnesses to the birth of Christ.

2.) The Glory of God - the shekinah glory or presence glory of God - is often a neglected topic among Bible students today. What new understandings do you have now that you didn’t have prior to this message? At the heart of the topic of the glory of God is the idea of God wanting to dwell among His people. The heart of the Christmas story is the return of the glory of God to live among His people in the person of Jesus Christ. The prophetic name given to Jesus is Emmanuel which means God with us. How is God with you today? How do you become more conscious of His presence? What would you say to someone who struggles with sensing the presence of God?

3.) Why is the presence of shepherds as the first witnesses to the birth of Christ one of the most compelling reasons as to why this story is true?

4.) God coming to the most despised, untrusted, unworthy, and marginalized people in society makes a powerful statement about God joining us where we are and valuing us as we are. Luke’s gospel places special emphasis on the poor and marginalized and how they are included in God’s kingdom (even prioritizing them). In a similar vein, Pastor Keith often says, “If you go after the people nobody wants, you’ll end up with the church everybody wants.” Do most churches think this way? If not, why? If so, why? How do we as a church keep God’s priorities as our own?

5.) God’s desire to dwell among us is now fulfilled by living within us. We carry God into every situation where we go. Have you ever had someone meet you at a place of real need in your life with exactly what you needed in that moment (and you knew it was God Who arranged it all)? Have you ever stepped into a desperate situation, a crisis, a difficulty, and through what you did or said, you brought a godly solution or timely word? Describe what that was like for both you and the other person(s) involved.

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HEROD: THE MAN WHO TRIED TO KILL CHRISTMAS
Christmas in a Minor Key – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 4, 2022

Herod is the Scrooge of the original Christmas story but whose heart never grows. He’s the man who tried to kill Christmas. If you really want to understand what Christmas is all about, you need to understand why the story of Herod is included in the Christmas story.

SERIES: Christmas in a Minor Key
Christmas is a time we associate with happiness, fond memories, enjoyable time with friends &families, & lots of presents around the tree. In many ways, how we do Christmas now is the complete opposite of everything that first Christmas was; it was shrouded in darkness, a time of hardship and plagued by scandal from the first mention of Mary’s pregnancy. In truth, Christmas is joyous because of what it represents and dark because of the reality of the world into which Jesus was born. In church, we often only tell the Christmas story in one way - the happy, festive, joyous way. But for people who are struggling, facing loss, or lacking in supportive families, Christmas becomes just another reminder of everything they lack. The original Christmas story is a message of hope for all people in all circumstances. Re-discover the real Christmas story in all its gritty, beautiful reality.

DISCUSSION

1.) We gravitate toward the main characters in a story while ignoring the role minor characters play. What other Bible stories can you think of where minor characters play an important function and help us see & understand things we might otherwise neglect? Who are some of the Bible villains and what do we learn from their inclusion in Scripture?

2.) Herod had a Messiah complex. Being called the King of the Jews was a Messianic title but not conferred upon him by the Jewish people. It was Rome that dubbed him by that name. Couple his Messiah complex with his paranoia and it was a sure recipe for constant suspicion, brutality & murder. Though none of us will likely ever sink to Herod’s level, sometimes seeing sin expressed in its most egregious form can illuminate those same sins in their milder forms in us. Sometimes we can see something of ourselves in even the worst of people. How are you like Herod? How have his sins (even in less developed form) been issues you’ve struggled with as well?

3.) The murder of the children of Bethlehem is both an egregious evil and a stark statement about the reality of the rejection of Christ from the moment He set foot on this planet. What other examples of Christ’s rejection do you see in Scripture? Why was this important to include in the gospel record? How is Christ still being rejected today?

4.) All of Herod’s greatest accomplishments now lie in ruins. What can we learn from that?

5.) All of Christ’s accomplishments continue to multiply and give birth to all sorts of amazing ministries & institutions dedicated to improving the lives of people all over the world. What can we learn from that?

6.) How are the Herods of the world different from Jesus Christ? What are you personally doing to ensure that your own legacy is one that looks more like Christ than Herod?

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THIS WAY, THAT WAY, THE OTHER WAY
God’s Will: Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 27, 2022

We want to take the mystery out of discovering & doing the will of God. Learn some of the major misconceptions about the will of God & about the essential markers needed in determining God’s leadership & direction for our lives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Of the three popular misconceptions concerning the will of God, to which have you been most susceptible in the past;
1. The will of God always equals smooth sailing

1. The will of God will leave me with a peaceful feeling

2. The will of God is to make me successful
   Explain why you believed that in the first place. Then take some time to reflect on other times in your life when those misconceptions were proven wrong.

2.) “The long defeat” was an apt description when it comes to what is real and right and true. Oftentimes, if we align ourselves with Christ and His kingdom values, we will be at odds with society. As a result, we will suffer the same treatment Jesus endured. But we must never fail to raise our voice in dissent. We must always stand with those in the margins, the poor, the outcast, the very ones with whom Christ associated. How does this thinking impact you? How counter is this to the way most Christians live?

3.) If God’s purpose – His will – is to see Christ fully formed in us, He will likely take us through some character-building experiences that we might consider losses, adversity, and difficulty. Why is it that winning and success don’t always leave us more like Christ? What is it about losing that had the potential to make us more like Christ?

4.) God uses leading lights – navigational lights – that confirm His leadership in multiple ways. God affirms His will with His inner voice, circumstances, and godly friends. Have you ever experienced such an alignment of internal and external witnesses like this in regard to a decision you were trying to make?

5.) His inner voice – One of the most important questions we must ask ourselves in regard to what we think God might be saying to us is this, “How will my spiritual life be enriched? Or which choice helps me to love God better?” Sometimes when it involves a career change or promotion, we never ask this question or factor into our decision-making the impact of a choice on our spiritual life. Why is this unwise? Have you ever failed to factor into a decision its impact on your spiritual life and regretted it or factored it in and were really glad you did?

6.) Circumstances are not the primary way God leads us but they are one factor to consider, favorable or unfavorable circumstances, open or closed doors. When everything else seems to line up, circumstances are often the icing on the cake – they confirm that this is in fact an opportunity God is providing for you. Where do you see this in your life? In the Bible? In others?

7.) Being in a group is one of the best things anyone can do for their spiritual life, especially in regard to discerning the will of God. It is hard to resist the urge to give advice or problem-solve. We need to have confidence that God is leading every member of the group and that the answer they need is within them. We do them a great service by asking great questions, listening well, and allowing them to process what they’re hearing with us. How can you do this better for one another as a group?

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FIRST WORD, LAST WORD, GOD’S WORD
God’s Will: Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 20, 2022

God’s will is easy to understand. There is no clearer articulation of the will of God than the one God has left us in His word. So before we can begin to explore how God might be leading us, we must begin with what we know.

SERIES: God’s Will: Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else
Our lives are shaped by hundreds of decisions we make each and every day. For the most part, God and what He desires barely even enters into our daily decision-making process. But on occasion, when the implications of a decision are huge, we wonder, “What would God have me do? If there’s a master plan, am I following it?” We need a discernment process for the will of God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Although we would like to see the grand plan for our lives, God usually guides us one step at a time. The light He gives us is enough to illuminate the path immediately in front of us – for the next step. Why do you think God does it this way? Has this ever happened to you? Describe what that was like and what was the result.

2.) With God, who we are always takes priority over what we do. This means, regardless of our circumstances, the drudgery of our job, the joylessness of our marriage, the discontent we have with where we live, what God is most concerned with is the person we’re becoming. This is why the emphasis of Scripture is about the will of God as expressed for all believers, that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, seek justice, practice gentleness, love our enemies, care for the poor, and let our light shine. This is the will of God that applies to us all. Take some time as a group to share your experiences with the revealed will of God in the Bible. How does knowing and living His revealed help you with matters where you are uncertain as to what God might have you do?

3.) Obedience to God’s known will is tied to loving God. Jesus Himself asks, how can you call me Lord, Lord (a term of endearment and loving connection) and yet not do what He asked them to do? How is this understanding different from what you might have experienced or heard other Christians say? Why are those who tie obedience to a sense of duty or willpower mistaken?

4.) Pastor Keith said, “Maybe the will of God is about who I am and how I live regardless of whom I marry, what I do for a living, or where I happen to call home. And maybe if our emphasis was on being the sort of person who lives God’s will regardless of my circumstances, then maybe we wouldn’t have so many miserable people who think because life is hard, life is difficult, then I must have missed the will of God and married the wrong person or chose the wrong profession or went to the wrong city.” Take some time to unpack this as a group. Explain your thoughts and experiences to the group in regard to this. How often have you seen people scapegoat onto having missed the will of God simply because their marriage, job, or place where they live is not working well or is very unfulfilling?

5.) God knew all our problems before He made the plan. So many people give up hope because they feel they are past being used by God because of some choice they made along the way (as if God didn’t know that would happen). So because He knew it, He’s already worked it into the plan. You’re still on plan “A” and you don’t have to settle for a life of mediocrity or being sidelined for the rest of your life. What will you let God do in your life today? What’s your next right step? Of all the things God has declared in His word as His will, where is He growing you right now?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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ARE WE JUST TALKING TO OURSELVES?
A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers - Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 13, 2022

Are we just talking to ourselves when we pray? No! Prayer is a two-way conversation between us and God – where we both speak and listen. Learn how to feel closer to God and more in tune with what He wants from you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) How have you seen preachers or believers abuse hearing “messages from God”? What didn’t set right with you when you heard someone make a statement like that?

2.) Learning to distinguish how we talk to ourselves from how God talks to us is so essential when it comes to learning to hear the voice of God. Take some time to discuss how you talk to yourself. What are some things you know you say to yourself regularly? Besides the content or substance of what you say to yourself, how would you describe the tone, spirit, or intensity with which you speak to yourself?

3.) What did you learn today in the message that was most helpful when it comes to the things that make God’s voice unique in your spirit? Why was that helpful? How will make use of it in the future?

4.) Take some time as a group and discuss the following chart and how it applies to your own walk with God…

GOD’S VOICE INNER CRITIC
Stills you Rushes you
Leads you Pushes you
Reassures you Frightens you
Enlightens you Confuses you
Encourages you Discourages you
Comforts you Worries you
Calms you Obsesses you
Convicts you Condemns you

5.) How has your church family or Christian friends helped you with discerning the voice of God or getting clarity on what God might be saying to you?

6.) As Pastor Keith described the 5 signs you are hearing God’s voice (and not your ego), he shared a couple of illustrations about how these general guidelines have worked in his life (ie. hearing God say “match my pace” and his prayer to know how to pray for the sick woman “you’ll know when you get there”). Have you seen any of the following principles play out in regard to a message you received from God? Explain to the group how you received that message and what you did with it.

1. They are short.
2. They are surprising.
3. They make sense.
4. They get to the point.
5. They leave their mark.

7.) As Pastor Keith wrapped up the message, he offered several practical ways for hearing the voice of God; Ignatius’ method, Dr. James Dobson’s method, Dallas Willard’s Paradoxical method, and Eli’s method. What, if anything useful, did you get from these various methods to hear from God? Have you used any of them yourself? Have you found a way that works well for you to put yourself in a position to receive from God?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #prayer #pray #answers #love #talk #listen #bestill #conversation #God #hear #messagefromGod

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KILLING THE SAUL WITHIN
Dr. Jessica Fernandez | Springcreek Church
November 6, 2022

What do you do when someone in your life makes it difficult for you to be around them? When they have caused you frustration, heartache, and pain? When nothing you do seems to please them and it almost feels like they are setting you up for failure? Young David, in the Bible, knew exactly what this felt like. Nothing he did ever pleased King Saul and it was Saul’s insecurity and jealousy that caused him to fervently chase David and try to kill him multiple times. David’s first instinct could have been to kill Saul but instead, he recognizes that he must kill the Saul within.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) We have all dealt with difficult people. In dealing with them, how did you respond? Do you regret responding that way? What could you do differently? What did you learn about yourself from that experience?

2.) Saul’s insecurity led him to continuously chase David with the goal of ultimately killing him. Some people use insecurity as an opportunity to work on the reasons why they feel insecure. Others react to their insecurity by reacting to others in a negative way. In what ways have you reacted to insecurity in the past? Was the reaction positive or negative? Was anyone hurt in the process?

3.) When David was being chased by Saul for years and years, he had the opportunity to kill Saul multiple times. David preferred life as a fugitive away from home and obedient to God, rather than on the throne in disobedience to God’s commands. What does this statement mean to you?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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STUFF YOU DON’T NEED TO PRAY ABOUT
A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 30, 2022

There are some things that you don’t have to pray about because God has already settled them in His Word, He has already provided it, or it’s something He’s expecting you to do. Could it be that some of the prayers we pray are actually a hindrance to our spiritual growth?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Pastor Keith began this message by citing the critique of the Christian sentiment of “thoughts and prayers” in relation to national tragedies and mass shootings. He pointed out that critics are wrong when they claim prayer is ineffectual but that critics also have a point when that’s the only thing we do in response to suffering. Now that you’ve heard the entire message and have seen what God has to say about those who only offer prayers, how does this change your perspective on criticism by the world? How can the faith community respond in times of national crisis without falling into the same camp as those who offer pious platitudes without any effort to address the issues? What else might you say? What else might you do?

2.) It may be shocking to see how many times God told His people to stop praying. He said it explicitly to the children of Israel, Joshua, and Jeremiah. Other times, the Bible makes equally clear there are sometimes greater priorities than prayer, like obedience or reconciliation in a troubled relationship. How does this teaching shift the way you think about prayer? How have you seen prayer used as an excuse to procrastinate or even refuse to do what God has clearly laid out for you? Has this ever happened to you? What was that like? How did it get resolved?

3.) Sometimes people treat prayer like it’s a request for God to do everything for us and absolve ourselves of any responsibility in the matter. But this is clearly not what the Bible teaches at all. Why is that such a tempting thought? Why is personal responsibility a good thing? Have you ever found yourself wanting God to do something for you with no effort on your own?

4.) Pastor Keith talked about the two paths to inner peace (this was in his discussion on dissonance). One way or another, we will rid ourselves of the uneasy feeling. When what we believe does not align with how we actually live, the feeling of dissonance, a lack of peace, and a feeling of uneasiness settles in. One path to inner peace is to change our behavior so that it realigns with our beliefs (and God’s values). But the other path to inner peace is to change our thinking to match our behavior (which often involves compromising our beliefs). This is why the feeling of peace is never a good way of determining whether or not you’re where God wants you to be. Can you think of a time when you faced this dilemma? What was the issue? Which path did you choose for peace?

5.) Obviously, we don’t have to pray and ask for the things God has already provided for us in Christ Jesus. Pastor Keith mentioned a couple of them, like not needing to beg God to not abandon us. He is with us always. 2 Peter tells us we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness – we lack nothing that we truly need to live a life pleasing to God. Paul, in Ephesians, tells us that his prayer is that we come to fully comprehend the power available to us in Christ. So everything we’ve already been given, we don’t have to pray and ask God for these things. We just need to realize it and make use of it. What else has God already promised to us in Christ? As a group or on your own, come up with a list of all the things that God has promised to us as our present possessions in Christ.

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WHEN PRAYER FEELS LIKE A BORE OR A CHORE
A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 16, 2022

Richard Foster once said, “…real prayer comes not from gritting our teeth but from falling in love.” Prayer becomes a bore or a chore when we lose sight of what prayer is and turn it into something it’s not. Let's examine all the distortions that have crept into our understanding of prayer so that we can be set free to enjoy and even relish our time in prayer.

SERIES: A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers

For some people, prayer is just not their thing. They don’t understand it or enjoy doing it. Instead, more often than not, they feel guilty for not wanting to pray. They suffer in silence keeping their questions and frustrations about prayer to themselves. If you’re one of the many who has struggled with unanswered prayer, are easily bored or frustrated while praying, or never seem to hear a message from God, then this series is for you. In it, we’re going to address some of the most common difficulties with prayer and encourage new ways of revitalizing this powerful connection with God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) In the first half of the message, Pastor Keith talked about multiple things that tend to reduce prayer to something boring or laborious.

Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 as to whether this is a problem in your life - 1 (never an issue) - 10 (almost always an issue). If you don't have an issue, offer your insights.

We can be too busy – an overcrowded schedule has a way of turning prayer into just another item on your to-do list. As a result, it often gets pushed aside in the name of needing to get other things done.

We can be too restless – with an overabundance of entertainment, amusements, and distractions, society has not only grown accustomed to a myriad of offerings like this but has also indulged in them frequently. Prayer being a more silent and reflective time allows these other issues to bubble up to the surface. This can be one of the reasons we avoid prayer.

If you don’t relate or have issues with being too busy or too restless, were any of the other points Pastor Keith mentioned areas where you have vulnerabilities, like being too one-dimensional, too cognitive, too phony, or too wounded? Share with the group where you have struggled whether in the past or present.

2.) Prayer is primarily not about asking and receiving. Prayer is primarily meant to build our relationship with God – Him getting more of us and us getting more of Him. It’s not that asking and receiving are not part of prayer but so many treat it as the only thing there is to prayer when it’s not even the primary reason we pray. How does this shift your thinking? Your approach? What do you pray about? How does one deepen their connection to God in prayer?

3.) Simple praying is the most common type of praying in the Bible. Share with the group some of the single-sentence or single-thought prayers you know that are found in the Bible.

4.) Praying what’s in us not what ought to be in us is some of the most practical and Biblical advice one can ever receive regarding prayer. We need to bring our authentic selves to God knowing that we are accepted as we are. Has there ever been a time when you prayed a very authentic, maybe even messy prayer? What were you dealing with or going through? What happened as a result of that prayer?

5.) Take some time to read through some of the Psalms in a more modern translation like The Message which uses language you’re more accustomed to. How would you turn the Psalm you’re reading into a prayer from your heart? Do this as a group or sometime later in the week.

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WHY PRAY WHEN I DON'T GET AN ANSWER?
A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers - Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 16, 2022

A lot of people have wondered about the title of our new series, “A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers.” What we really long to address are all those areas where people have expressed frustration with prayer - not to justify it but empathize in the same way that Scripture does by showing us examples of how God’s people struggled with the same issues. This weekend’s topic is a major hurdle for many - the problem of unanswered prayer. If you’ve ever struggled with praying in earnest for something or someone only to be left profoundly disappointed, you don’t want to miss this message.

SERIES: A Prayer Series for Non-Prayers

For some people, prayer is just not their thing. They don’t understand it or enjoy doing it. Instead, more often than not, they feel guilty for not wanting to pray. They suffer in silence keeping their questions and frustrations about prayer to themselves. If you’re one of the many who has struggled with unanswered prayer, or are easily bored or frustrated while praying, or never seem to hear a message from God, then this series is for you. In it, we’re going to address some of the most common difficulties with prayer and encourage new ways of revitalizing this powerful connection with God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Have you ever had a prayer go unanswered? What was it? What were you expecting to happen? What actually happened? Did it make you question God? How did it affect your faith? What, if any, resolution did you find?

2.) Part of the problem of unanswered prayer is the bad theology that has been taught in churches that lays the problem at the feet of the petitioner (the one who is praying) ie. they don’t have enough faith, they prayed incorrectly, there’s obviously sin in their life. Have you ever known people like that? Have you or someone you know ever been blamed for a lack of a miracle or supernatural intervention?

3.) Pastor Keith mentioned some explanations we know about for unanswered prayer; that is, prayers that are delayed, disguised or denied. Talk about or write about your experience with these categories of unanswered prayer.

4.) The power to keep on walking when we are out of hope and have nowhere else to turn is a powerful manifestation of faith. We often reverse the reading of this verse in Isaiah…

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40.29-31

Even when it is plain as day that Isaiah is emphasizing, making his climactic thought, the idea of “walking and not fainting” the vast majority of Christians invert this verse to make it say we can all soar like eagles. That was not going to happen for God’s people in Babylon and it’s not what Isaiah is saying at all. Why do you think people invert the meaning of Isaiah’s message? Why is it an even greater comfort the way it is actually written?

5.) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once preached about the difference between an “IF” faith and a “THOUGH” faith. Share your own reflections on the difference between these two types of faith. Which do you think is more prevalent today and why? How would you assess your own journey of faith? Did you ever have an “IF” faith? If you did, what changed? How would you encourage someone who seems to only have an “IF” faith?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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MADE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Service or Serve Us - Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 9, 2022

There is something you, uniquely, were made to do. You were created on purpose and for a purpose. Though none of us gets to spend 100% of our time just doing that one thing, you want to be sure at the end of the day and most definitely by the end of life you’ve accomplished what God put you on this planet to do. Join us this weekend as we wrap up our series on service by examining the role individual gifting plays in determining how and where we serve.

SERIES: Service or Serve Us
It was the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Albert Schweitzer who once said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” This is something both Dr. Schweitzer and Jesus shared in common - a stunning reversal of the Me-First paradigm with an approach that is radically other-centered.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1.) Where did God challenge you most through this message? Were there any new learnings about what God has said regarding our purpose or who He has made you to be? What do you think your next step might be?

2.) In the first half of the message, Pastor Keith spent a lot of time talking about the reality that we are all uniquely gifted and created for a divine purpose. Do you know what your gifts are? Do you have a clear understanding of your purpose? Why or why not? For those of you who lack clarity, share with the group what things get you excited, motivated, or that you can talk about easily. What characteristics do others affirm in you? Have you had any “God moments” – times when you think God was especially at work through something you did or said?

3.) Have you ever sensed a nudge from the Holy Spirit prompting you to say something or do something but you resisted it? What was the thing you felt compelled to do or say? What held you back? How much of a factor was it that you were afraid of looking stupid or your old wounding was talking to you?

4.) As a practical exercise, make Howard Henrick’s prayer your own prayer every day for the next week…
“Lord, here I am. I want to be Your suit of clothes today. I want You to take me and use me. Lord, just walk around in me today.” – Howard Hendricks
As you pray this prayer each morning, pay attention to opportunities that present themselves. Have the courage to do whatever the Lord is laying on your heart to do. You don’t have to force any of this. You’re not trying to make things happen on your own. You just want to be sensitive that God might want to use you in situations where you would normally remain unengaged.

5.) One of the keys to discovering and refining our sense of who we are and why we are here is simply to make a beginning by using what we have at our disposal in service of others. What are some natural talents that you have, areas of experience, or even work-related skills that might be useful to other people? Have you ever put those skills to work outside of your job?

6.) One of Pastor Keith’s key points was this:
God has given you a supernatural enablement - that’s His gift to you.
How you develop and use that gift - that’s your gift to God.
What are you doing to develop your gifts and put them into use?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #serviceorserveus #service #serving #serve #Jesus #fuelyourpassion #passion #findyourpurpose #purpose #straightouttaexcuses #excuses #useme #usedbyGod #availability #gift #makeadifference

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STRAIGHT OUTTA EXCUSES
Service or Serve Us - Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 2, 2022

Have you ever sensed God might be asking you to do something for which you felt totally inadequate? You’re certainly not alone. But you’re never too old, too young, or too inexperienced to be used by God. The only ability God seems to care about is availability.

SERIES: Service or Serve Us
It was the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Albert Schweitzer who once said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” This is something both Dr. Schweitzer and Jesus shared in common that is radically other-centered.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.) Bob Goff said, “God often uses the least qualified, most available people to get things done.” Can you think of any other Bible characters besides the ones Pastor Keith addressed in this weekend’s message that also fit this description? Who are they? What did they do? Have you ever experienced this personally or in someone you know well? How did God use them?

2.) Daniel and his friends were so very young when they were carried off into Babylonian captivity, yet the way they withstood the tests their Babylonian captors put on them puts many adults to shame. Both this week and last week, Pastor Keith has emphasized how God used and still uses young people all the time to accomplish what He wants done in the world. The Bible is filled with examples and so is life. Who are some young people that have really left a mark on the world? How and why is that?

3.) Caleb at age 85 is an example of someone who, though elderly, still had passion in his bones and purpose in his life to accomplish something great for God. Robin Russell, a few weeks back, shared a message that dealt in part with ageism and how we often don’t value the wisdom & experience of age. Who are some older people in the church and outside the church that are making a big difference in the world? How and why is that?

4.) Many of us lack experience, education, formal training, or have been cowered down so much by criticism that we think we have nothing of value to offer. There’s no question, Moses thought this way and of all characters in the Bible, puts up the most strenuous string of excuses to evade doing what God asked him to do. What are some common excuses people make for not serving God or attempting something outside their comfort zone? Have you ever made excuses for not sharing your faith? Being involved in serving in the church? Or connecting with a need in the community that moved your heart? How did you work through that? If you attempted to do something you’ve never done before, what was that experience like for you? How did God show up? What did you learn?

5.) Troy Freeman is an excellent example of someone who could’ve dismissed having a role in changing the world for Christ given his background & track record. But Troy was convinced something needed to be done to help those coming out of prison and off the streets – not a hand-out but a hand-up. He had a dream, dared to believe it, & put it into shoe leather. Even with all the strikes against him, God used Troy Freeman because he made himself available to God. Right now, offer your life as it is to God for His service. Pray for one another to have the courage to say “yes” to God for whatever He asks of you. No matter what obstacles stand in your way, remind yourself, “If God wills it so, if He wants it done, then no obstacle, no giant is really in my way. It’s in God’s way. And there simply is no giant too big for God.”

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #serviceorserveus #service #serving #serve #Jesus #straightouttaexcuses #excuses #availability

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FUEL YOUR PASSION BY FINDING YOUR PURPOSE
Service or Serve Us - Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 25, 2022

Each of us was made to crave so much more than what we settle for. We were created by God in such a way that there’s a song our lungs were made to sing, a race our legs were made to run, and a purpose our lives were meant to fulfill. That’s what this message is all about – discovering your purpose in order to fully live out your passion.

SERIES: Service or Serve Us
It was the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Albert Schweitzer who once said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” This is something both Dr. Schweitzer and Jesus shared in common - a stunning reversal of the Me-First paradigm with an approach that is radically other-centered.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Adolescence is a time in all of our lives when we are most in touch with our passions. We feel things fiercely; love, hate, desire, dreams, hunger, etc.. Everything within us wants to matter and make a difference. Share with the group some of your adolescent dreams. What did you long to be when you grew up? What causes did you take on? What did you feel most passionately about? How has that helped to make you who you are today? What part, if any, still remains?

2.) Take some time to discuss passion drainers or passion killers. What happened or what was said to you that dampened your enthusiasm or squelched your dreams?

3.) One passion killer that really needs to be discussed is low-gear living. What does it mean to live in low gear? How often, especially in church, do we hear a message asking for minimal, low-level commitments? What effect does that actually have on people? What happens in a Christianity that sets the bar too low creating followers who are under-challenged and overindulged?

4.) Pastor Keith described 3 Levels of Living. Share with the group your experiences, if you have any, with each of these levels.

• The Survival Level
• The Success Level
• The Significance Level

5.) The two essentials in re-igniting passion are to listen to the call of God and listen to the cry of the world. The call of God is those times when God pushes us out of our comfort zone and often uses us in areas where we feel weak or inadequate. Have you ever gone through something like this? What was that like for you? How did God work through you? The other aspect of God is listening to the cry of the world. This is where some need in the world around us grabs hold of us in ways that other things don’t. It doesn’t mean that those other things don’t matter but that God is calling on us to focus on this particular area of need because it fits with who we are and how He’s wired us up. What sort of people or situations create a heightened sense of caring, connection, and desire to make a difference in you? This could be your ministry from God. Try stepping into the situation just to lean in and learn more.

6.) Rosa Parks is a prime example of someone who decided to no longer live in contradiction to who she actually was. Not only did she take a heroic stand on that bus in Montgomery that day but she also decided she would no longer be complicit in her own diminishment. Her stand that day changed history. God made you a certain way for His reasons. Be who you are. Don’t contradict who you are on account of the pressure from others who surround you. Have you ever made a stand or statement because you knew in your core who you are and decided you would no longer sit on the sidelines while life passed you by? How did it feel? What was the result?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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SERVICE IN A "SERVE ME" WORLD
Service or Serve Us - Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 18, 2022

Do you want to know the secret to a blessed life? It’s no mystery. Jesus couldn’t have been clearer. He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16.25). Jesus radically reorients our thinking and priorities. Rather than pursuing selfish interests, living for one’s self, and making our own needs #1, Jesus tells us to do the opposite – if we give our lives away, we’ll find what we’ve been looking for all along. Join us on this journey as we explore how to live and serve like Jesus.

SERIES: Service or Serve Us
It was the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Albert Schweitzer who once said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” This is something both Dr. Schweitzer and Jesus shared in common - a stunning reversal of the Me-First paradigm with an approach that is radically other-centered.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Pastor Keith shared, how the more we make our own happiness the focus and center of our life, the more happiness eludes us. Discuss your own thoughts about this concept. How have you seen it play out in your life and that of others?

2.) Psychologist Bernard Rimland, at the Institute for Child Behavior Research in San Diego, published a simple test. He tells his students to...

“Make a list of ten people you know the best. After each name write either H (for happy) or N (for unhappy). Then go down the list again, this time writing S (for selfish) or U (for unselfish) after each name. Once you have completed your list, add up all the categories, Happy-selfish, Happy-unselfish, Unhappy-selfish, unhappy-unselfish.”

Try this experiment on your own or with your group. Discuss the results. Give examples

3.) Pastor Keith shared the signs that something has gone wrong in regard to how we are serving or what is motivating us to serve. In particular, he highlighted three attitudes.

• When I feel used and unappreciated

• When I feel possessive and overprotective

• When I feel disrespect and resentment

Has any of these scenarios ever been something you had to face? If so, which one(s) and did you recognize it as problematic? How did you deal with it?

4.) One remedy Pastor Keith suggested for dealing with problem attitudes when it comes to serving is practicing the discipline of secrecy. Secrecy about the ways in which we are serving crucifies our need for self-importance. It keeps the focus on who we are doing this for – the Lord not people. Have you ever practiced the discipline of secrecy in regard to service? Share with the group your experience with that – both your struggles and your breakthroughs.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #serviceorserveus #service #serving #serve #Jesus

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STRENGTH IN SOLITUDE
Pastor Jessica Fernandez, Ph.D
September 11, 2022

There are many times in life when we experience loneliness - times when we feel alone, empty, and disconnected. On the contrary, solitude is a sense of deep connection with our God where we find a sense of belonging. Jesus often spent time in silence and solitude to encounter the Father. Loneliness is dependent on what is happening around us, whereas solitude is time alone that is focused solely on our dependence on God. In times of loneliness, encountering the Father produces strength in solitude.

1. SOLITUDE IS GOD’S REMEDY FOR LONELINESS.

“Like many other feelings in our lives, it’s easier to experience it than to define it. Loneliness is being all by yourself even when you’re surrounded by people. Loneliness is a feeling of isolation even in the midst of a crowd. You feel unwanted. You feel unneeded. You feel as though there’s nothing to live for. You feel as though nobody really cares anymore. That’s loneliness. Loneliness eats away at the inner person. It saps you of strength. It robs you of hope, Loneliness, as it were, puts a wall around you no matter how free you may be.”
- Warren Wiersbe

1. LONELINESS IS NOT BEING ALONE, BUT FEELING ALONE. You can BE alone and not FEEL lonely at all.

“I found solitary confinement the most forbidding (hostile) aspect of prison life. There is no end and no beginning; there is only one’s mind, which can begin to play tricks. Was that a dream or did it really happen? One begins to question everything.” - Nelson Mandela
“Solitude is a gift from God, but isolation is a tool of the enemy.” - Carey Nieuwhof

1. IN TIMES OF LONELINESS, ENCOUNTERING THE FATHER PRODUCES STRENGTH IN SOLITUDE.

“If we possess inward solitude we do not fear being alone, for we know that we are not alone. Neither do we fear being with others, for they do not control us. In the midst of noise and confusion, we are settled into a deep inner silence. Whether alone or among people, we always carry with us a portable sanctuary of the heart.” - Richard Foster

• If Jesus, the son of God, the savior of the world had made time to connect with God, without distractions, how much more do we need to be practicing the spiritual discipline of solitude?

• If time with God is so important and beneficial - why is it so hard?

“Solitude is the Spiritual Discipline of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes. The period of solitude may last only a few minutes or for days. As with silence, solitude may be sought in order to participate without interruption in other Spiritual Disciplines, or just to be alone with God.”
- Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

1. IN THE BUSYNESS AND CRAZINESS OF OUR LIVES, HOW CAN WE DISCONNECT AND UNPLUG TO PRACTICE SOLITUDE?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have there been times when you thought you were engaging in solitude and you were actually isolating yourself?

2. Have there been specific times when engaging in solitude gave you the strength to deal with certain situations? Or, has God revealed to you areas in your life that need to be dealt with?

3. What are some strategies you can implement in your life to increase time in solitude?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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DEALING WITH RELATIONAL DRIFT
Marriage Rescue - Part 6
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 4, 2022

Modern aircraft have an autopilot. It’s an excellent feature that allows pilots to complete other tasks while flying. But autopilot was never intended to be used for the entire duration of the flight. Sometimes our marriage gets put on autopilot. Maybe it’s a busy season or you’re having your first baby or you’re tending to a health crisis with a family member. Whatever the reason, it’s good that our relationships can sometimes be placed on autopilot to allow us to focus on other things. But marriages can’t run on autopilot indefinitely - too long can cause partners to feel abandoned. Though it does not cause affairs, it creates environments in which affairs can and do happen. This final message will deal honestly with our vulnerability to infidelity.

SERIES: Marriage Rescue
In this series, Pastor Keith will share out of his 40-year relationship with Brenda the keys to helping a couple move from status quo to spectacular – pointing out the stumbling blocks and stepping stones in achieving healthy, mutually-satisfying relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.) Have you ever put a relationship on autopilot in order to attend to more pressing matters? What was it that was needing your time, attention or energy? Was your mate understanding? How long did that season last? Did things just go back to normal after that demanding season of your life or were there things you did to intentionally reconnect?

2.) Pastor Keith talked about three things that make us more vulnerable to an affair;
Unfulfilled Expectations
Unexpressed Emotions
Unaccountable Relationships
Of the three factors, where do you feel strongest and where do you feel weakest? What can you/will you do to shore up areas of weakness? What can you share with others regarding what you’ve learned from your area of strength?

3.) The following two points fell closely together in Pastor Keith’s message;

Characteristics of a good confession;

• It names the wrong
• It acknowledges it was wrong
• It doesn’t try to explain unless asked.

Three levels of confession;

“I’m sorry, I was caught.”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry for what I caused.”

Talk about your experience with others around those defining characteristics of confession. Have the people you have known been good at making good and honest confessions? Why or why not? How about you? When you have to own up to a failure, would you say these are the things that characterize your confessions?

4.) Dr. Victor Pentz described our 9 to 5 life and our routines with the one we love as the straight life. There is a certain level of predictability and routine to our lives that sometimes creates a sense of boredom when we’re really craving excitement and romance. Dr. Pentz then described how often this becomes the catalyst for leaving our partner in search of what we lack in the straight life. But the reality is, all relationships eventually return to the straight life because there is a level of routine to everything we do. But, we don’t have to go off in search of adventure and romance in the embrace of another, we can have that with the one we are with right now. It takes time, intentionality, and a willingness to try new things that break up the routine or boredom. What are some things you would recommend to others that put the spark or life into your relationship?

5.) What was your biggest takeaway from this message? How did that affirm you? Correct you? Inform you? Guide you? Encourage you?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #marriagerescue #relationaldrift #relationships #marriage #infidelity #affair #autopilot #vulnerable

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THE LONELY MARRIAGE
Marriage Rescue - Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 28, 2022

There is no worse feeling in the world than sleeping inches away from a person with whom you feel miles apart emotionally. According to a 2018 survey by the AARP, a third of all married people over the age of 45 reports feeling lonely. It’s a reminder that being alone is not what produces loneliness. A lack of intimacy – relational distance - is what produces loneliness. In this weekend’s message, we’re going to examine what things contribute most to our loneliness and what’s necessary to close the gap and revive the connections between us. You don’t want to miss God’s cure for loneliness.

SERIES: Marriage Rescue
It’s a hugely popular show on the Paramount Network and it’s called Bar Rescue. Jon Taffer, who has more than 40 years of experience in the business, offers his no-nonsense straight talk to struggling bar owners to help save their business and put them back on the road to success. What if there was such a person who could help us with our real life and relationships? What if a little no-nonsense straight talk about what it takes to build a healthy relationship could actually save our marriage and gets us back on the road to success? In this new series, Pastor Keith will share out of his 40-year relationship with Brenda the keys to help a couple move from status quo to spectacular – pointing out the stumbling blocks and stepping stones in achieving healthy, mutually-satisfying relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Loneliness can have its origins in things other than being ignored or rejected. Pastor Keith talked about two of them. One reason many feel so lonely is that they are not self-disclosing, not being open or vulnerable. When we are not truly known, we never feel truly loved. Why do people withhold themselves in relationships? What does that do to both them and the relationship?

2.) Another reason that loneliness is so rampant today is the comparison trap many fall into by comparing their reality with what they see in their friends’ lives on social media. Why does comparison make us feel lonely? Have you ever done this yourself? Pastor Keith suggested limiting your exposure to social media simply because the more you engage in it, the more lonely you are likely to feel. Do you set limits for yourself or your kids when it comes to the amount of time you or they spend on social media? Why or why not?

3.) Robin Williams said, “I used to think being alone was the worst thing. It’s not, it’s being with people who make you feel alone.” Have you ever been in a relationship where you experienced this to one degree or another? What did the other person say or do that made you feel discounted, abandoned, or rejected?

4.) When it comes to healthy relationships, responding appropriately to “bids for connection” is key. Are there ways you have in prior or present relationships made frequent bids for connection? What were they and how did your partner respond to them?

5.) Pastor Keith mentioned and illustrated the three main types of responses to bids for connection: “turning away,” “turning against,” and “turning toward”. Turning away might better be described as an apathetic or disengaged response – give examples of this. Have you yourself ever given a “turn away” response to your mate?

6.) Turning against could also be described as antagonistic or even a way of completely shutting down any overture for connection. Give examples of this. Have you yourself ever given a “turn against” response to your mate?

7.) Turning toward is really just another way of saying “yes” to the bid for connection by engaging, listening, or interacting. Give examples of this. Have you yourself ever given a “turn toward” response to your mate?

8.) This topic in particular is a great one to take home with you and discuss more in private. Learn

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THE ENEMIES OF INTIMACY
Marriage Rescue - Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 21, 2022

You were made to crave intimacy. We all have an insatiable desire to be known and loved at the deepest level. At the same time, our understanding of love has been distorted by our upbringing, our culture, and our experiences in relationships. In this weekend’s message, we’re going to discover what love is all about - the very love God designed for our hearts to crave. Do you have the kind of love that can go the distance? This message is all about how to keep your marriage healthy, happy, and strong.

SERIES: Marriage Rescue
It’s a hugely popular show on the Paramount Network and it’s called Bar Rescue. Jon Taffer, who has more than 40 years of experience in the business, offers his no-nonsense straight talk to struggling bar owners to help save their business and put them back on the road to success. What if there was such a person who could help us with our real life and relationships? What if a little no-nonsense straight talk about what it takes to build a healthy relationship could actually save our marriage and gets us back on the road to success? In this new series, Pastor Keith will share out of his 40-year relationship with Brenda the keys to help a couple move from status quo to spectacular – pointing out the stumbling blocks and steppingstones in achieving healthy, mutually-satisfying relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Most of this message was an amplification of the three love foundations of marriage, looking at it first from an Old Testament perspective, then a New Testament perspective, followed by Sternberg’s psychological findings that validate all three as essential qualities in healthy, happy relationships.

1.) Take some time to discuss what you remember about each of the following qualities. What are their defining characteristics? Why are they so essential? What happens when they are absent? What area of loving needs more attention in your life, not just what you would like to experience more of but also where do you tend to be weaker in meeting that need in your mate?

PASSION – Eros (Greek) and Dod (Hebrew)
INTIMACY – Filia (Greek) and Raya (Hebrew)
COMMITMENT - Agape (Greek) and Ahava (Hebrew)

2.) Sternberg’s research has found that when one aspect of love is neglected or absent, it leads to imbalanced, unfulfilling, and non-enduring loves. Discuss the following and if you have known examples of this.

High passion + high intimacy = Romantic love
High passion + high commitment = Foolish love
High intimacy + high commitment = Companionship love

3.) God loves us in all three ways. In fact, it’s because of Him that we even have the capacity to love others in this way. What would you say to someone who says they struggle with really knowing, understanding, or experiencing the love of God? What practical ways would you suggest to them to have a greater experience of the love of God? How have you come to better know, understand and experience the love of God?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #marriagerescue #relationalbaggage #relationships #anger #mad #intimacy #enemiesofintimacy

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LEARNING TO BE GOOD AND MAD
Marriage Rescue - Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 14, 2022

Anger is a sign that there’s a problem that needs our attention. You should know, God intends for anger to be a visitor not a resident in your life. If we can learn how to make it a visitor that comes and goes, and not allow it to live in our hearts, we’ll create a climate in our relationships where we can deal in a positive way with things that go wrong.

SERIES: Marriage Rescue
It’s a hugely popular show on the Paramount Network and it’s called Bar Rescue. Jon Taffer, who has more than 40 years of experience in the business, offers his no-nonsense straight talk to struggling bar owners to help save their business and put them back on the road to success. What if there was such a person who could help us with our real life and relationships? What if a little no-nonsense straight talk about what it takes to build a healthy relationship could actually save our marriage and gets us back on the road to success? In this new series, Pastor Keith will share out of his 40-year relationship with Brenda the keys to help a couple move from status quo to spectacular – pointing out the stumbling blocks and steppingstones in achieving healthy, mutually-satisfying relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In this message, Pastor Keith discussed a lot about anger, what was your biggest take-a-way? Where did you feel personally challenged? On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best), how well do you manage anger in your closest relationships? Is that the same score your spouse would give you?

2. When it comes to conflict, there are five default ways of dealing with conflict. Which way best describes you? Have you always been this way? If not, what changed?

• I’ll get them - MY WAY
• I’ll get out - NO WAY
• I’ll give in - YOUR WAY
• I’ll go halfway - HALF WAY
• I care and confront. - OUR WAY

1. People tend to be one of two things, exploders or imploders, what way did you observe most in your parents, family members, teachers, or people in authority in your life?

2. In the message, Pastor Keith shared the following quote from the highly respected Gottman Institute…

“If your marriage is going to succeed – you need a minimum of 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interaction.” – The Gottman Institute

Share your thoughts about this finding. Have you ever had a time in your marriage when that percentage wasn’t true in your relationship? What was the time like? Even when a marriage seems to be struggling or failing, beginning to express gratitude for your spouse will do wonders for your marriage. Right now, make a list of ten qualities or things your spouse does for which you are truly grateful. When you’re finished, share your list with your spouse, reading it out loud to them.

1. Lionel Whitston said, “’Broken marriages begin to mend and communication is reestablished when one of the partners is willing to make a breakthrough and say, ’Lord, begin with me. I am the one who needs to change, to love more deeply and more wisely.’” Take some time to pray for yourself and others in the group. If you feel safe in doing so, share with the group what one thing you’d like to most see change in your own life.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #marriagerescue #relationalbaggage #relationships #anger #mad

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FACING YOUR RELATIONAL BAGGAGE
Marriage Rescue - Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 7, 2022

There are some topics churches never address or when they do, they do so poorly. Abuse, abandonment, boundary violations, rejection and hurt are a part of the life experience of so many. Those experiences load us up with baggage that we then carry into every subsequent relationship. This weekend, we’re talking honestly and candidly about these realities and how to deal with them. Pray that God will use our time together as a new beginning for those weighed down by life’s hurts.

SERIES: Marriage Rescue
It’s a hugely popular show on the Paramount Network and it’s called Bar Rescue. Jon Taffer, who has more than 40 years of experience in the business, offers his no-nonsense straight talk to struggling bar owners to help save their business and put them back on the road to success. What if a little no-nonsense straight talk about what it takes to build a healthy relationship could actually save our marriage and gets us back on the road to success? In this new series, Pastor Keith will share out of his 40-year relationship with Brenda the keys to help a couple move from status quo to spectacular – pointing out the stumbling blocks and steppingstones in achieving healthy, mutually-satisfying relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Having good boundaries is essential to happy and healthy relationships. Boundaries are all about limits – the ability to say “no” or “stop”. Were you allowed, as a child, to say “no” or “stop” when you weren’t comfortable, didn’t want to hug or kiss a family member or friend, or didn’t like how you were being treated? If you said “no”, did you feel like that no was respected and that it didn’t result in the withdrawal of love from your parents.

1. Why are boundaries so important in relationship? Have you ever been manipulated into saying yes to something you didn’t really want to do? How did that make you feel?

2. Physical and emotional abuse is real and affects a lot of people in ways you might not ever know or expect. Here are examples of physical and emotional abuse.

3. Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force that can result in physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or other shows of force.

4. Emotional abuse refers to behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejecting, withholding love, and threatening.

5. Sexual abuse involves pressuring or forcing a child to engage in sexual acts. It includes behaviors such as fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities.

6. Had this ever happened to you or someone you know? What long-term effects happen as a result of this sort of treatment? If you became aware that this was happening to a child or a spouse, would you feel responsible to intervene? Report it to the police? Direct a spouse to a trusted professional or shelter for those fleeing domestic violence? What resources are you aware of that exist in the community to help those who’ve been abused?

7. So many have known a steady stream of rejection throughout their formative years. They were constantly made aware of their deficiencies and never felt like they mattered to those who mattered most to them. Needless to say, a lack of acceptance can be profoundly wounding. If we didn’t receive this from those who mattered most to us, the need for acceptance doesn’t go away, it just gets re-directed in other ways. What are some of the ways people try to find acceptance? Does that work for them? Why or why not?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #marriagerescue #relationalbaggage #relationships

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TO HELL AND BACK
Marriage Rescue - Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 31, 2022

There are few areas of life where expectations ride higher than in marriage and there are few areas of life where expectations are more routinely dashed than in marriage. Let’s face it, no one is immune to problems in relationships. It happens even in the best of marriages. But we need to understand why we have relationship struggles and what to do about them. In this message, Pastor Keith will draw upon his own experience, Scripture, and years of therapy to inject hope into otherwise hopeless situations and give direction to those who truly desire healthy and mutually satisfying relationships.

SERIES: Marriage Rescue
It’s a popular show on the Paramount Network and it’s called Bar Rescue. Jon Taffer, who has more than 40 years of experience in the business, offers his no-nonsense straight talk to struggling bar owners to help save their business and put them back on the road to success. In this new series, Pastor Keith will share out of his 40-year relationship with Brenda the keys to help a couple move from status quo to spectacular – pointing out the stumbling blocks and steppingstones in achieving healthy, mutually-satisfying relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. If you’re married or have been married or been in a dating relationship, share with the group how you met, what drew you to that person and what, if any, healthy or unhealthy issues you had that drew you to that person.

2. Talk about your family of origin. What did you learn about relationships, love, dealing with conflict, decision-making, from watching your parent’s relationship?

3. Pastor Keith talked about expectations and in particular, the expectation that our mate will match our effort in all things. Besides being unrealistic, it shifts our focus onto our mate and turns us into score-keepers. We no longer think about what we’re giving (or failing to give), our only focus is on what we’re not getting. Has this ever happened to you? What was expectation and how was it not being met? Were you ever able to find a solution to it?

4. Differences both draw us to others and repel us. We are fascinated by those who think differently, feel differently, act differently. There’s a definite attraction in it. But the flip side is, at some point in the relationship, those very same differences become an irritant. Has this ever happened to you? During the grand reversal, how did that play out? Did you ever come to a point of resolution or acceptance? If so, describe what that was like.

5. In the message today, Pastor Keith pointed out that there are two underlying problems that destroy relationships:
   • We are all wounded.
   • We are all selfish.
   How in touch are you with your wounding? If you feel safe in doing so, share some aspect of your wounding where you have received or are receiving healing?

6. In terms of selfishness, Pastor Keith mentioned, “The greatest obstacle in building truly great relationships is justified self-centeredness.” There are times when we justify and excuse our own behavior because our needs are not being met. Selfishness works against relationship more than practically any other thing. Where or how do you struggle with being selfish?

7. To seek help is a sign of maturity. None of us has everything we need in ourselves. This is why we were created for relationship. We really do need one another. Has there ever been an issue in your life where you felt compelled to reach out for help? What was that like? Did you get the help you needed? What did you learn? What would you say to someone who is afraid to go see a therapist or talk to a pastor about a personal or relational issue?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #marriagerescue #tohellandback #relationships

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COMMUNITY IN THE CALM
Called to Community - Part 4
Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
July 24, 2022

The time to build a storm shelter is not in the storm, it’s before the storm! What happens when we find security in the routine of our lives? When we become comfortable with the mundane and we find excuses not to engage in community because it doesn’t fit into our schedule. The time to prepare for a crisis is before it happens, in the monotony of life. So, what’s your excuse?

Series: Called to Community

We often use phrases like “let’s do life together!” Yet, what does that really mean? This series will discuss the importance of being connected with others in community whether we are in crisis or not. But not all community is created equal and may come in ways that we have not thought about before. God calls us to be connected so that we can provide support, encouragement, and objective perspectives as we live our lives together through all life’s circumstances.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When thinking about holy apathy, have there been times in your life that you recognize now as times of holy apathy?
2. When identifying some reasons for not joining a group, which one resonates with you the most?
3. Today, we have discussed various ways for you to be in community and create community. What are some ways that you are excited about trying to create community? What makes you nervous or apprehensive to be in community?

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CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
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COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GIVE: Text GIVE to 96995

Your generosity helps transforms lives. Be a part of something bigger. There are three easy ways to give from right where you are:

1) Text GIVE to 96995
2) Give online: https://www.springcreekchurch.org/give
3) Mail your gift directly: Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, TX 75044

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #calledtocommunity #community #calamity #findingtherightcommunity #thisaintit #wisdomincommunity #wisdom #friends #wise #spiritualwisdom #communityinthecalm #calm #storm #prepare #areyouready #excuses

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Wisdom in Community
Called to Community - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Lead Chaplain Robin Russell
Sunday, July 17, 2022

It’s always fun to hang out with folks our same age, with similar interests. There are good reasons for that. But there are great spiritual benefits in also having wiser, older friends to help deepen our faith journey. Wise people can help us grow in knowing ourselves and knowing God. Acquiring such spiritual wisdom helps us move with greater freedom as we walk out our lives and help others grow as well.

Series: Called to Community
We often use phrases like “let’s do life together!” Yet, what does that really mean? This series will discuss the importance of being connected with others in community whether we are in crisis or not. But not all community is created equal and may come in ways that we have not thought about before. God calls us to be connected so that we can provide support, encouragement, and objective perspectives as we live our lives together through all life’s circumstances.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How might you benefit from a relationship with an older and wiser person?
2. Where are you growing in self-awareness?
3. What are your greatest struggles in listening well?
4. Which wisdom skills do you want to begin practicing now? How will you start?

Engage with us for updates, alerts, and information by text...
CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
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CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
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BAPTISM: Text BAPTISM to 96995
COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GIVE: Text GIVE to 96995

Your generosity helps transforms lives. Be a part of something bigger. There are three easy ways to give from right where you are:
1) Text GIVE to 96995
2) Give online: https://www.springcreekchurch.org/give
3) Mail your gift directly: Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, TX 75044

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #calledtocommunity #community #calamity #findingtherightcommunity #thisaintit #wisdomincommunity #wisdom #friends #wise #spiritualwisdom

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Finding the Right Community: This Ain’t It
Called to Community - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
Sunday, July 10, 2022

There are communities (ie. relationships, friendships, work environments) in our lives that once served us well, that no longer serve us. The community where we were thriving in at one time, we are no longer thriving in. Then, there are communities where God never intended us to be a part. To continue to grow, we must learn where to find community and where NOT to find community!

Series: Called to Community
We often use phrases like “let’s do life together!” Yet, what does that really mean? This series will discuss the importance of being connected with others in community whether we are in crisis or not. But not all community is created equal and may come in ways that we have not thought about before. God calls us to be connected so that we can provide support, encouragement, and objective perspectives as we live our lives together through all life’s circumstances.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who in your life is committed to your healing, your betterment, your wholeness like these friends?

2. Are you in a community that sees you, even when you can’t see yourself?

3. Who are your real friends?

Engage with us for updates, alerts, and information by text...
CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
GUESTS: Text NEW to 96995
CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
PRAYER: Text PRAYER to 96995
BAPTISM: Text BAPTISM to 96995
COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GIVE: Text GIVE to 96995

Your generosity helps transforms lives. Be a part of something bigger. There are three easy ways to give from right where you are:

1) Text GIVE to 96995
2) Give online: https://www.springcreekchurch.org/give
3) Mail your gift directly: Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, TX 75044

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #calledtocommunity #community #calamity #findingtherightcommunity #thisaintit

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Community in Calamity: Called to Community - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
Sunday, July 3, 2022

What do you do when you’re in crisis? Do you isolate yourself? Do you hide when everything is falling apart? In the book of Ruth, Naomi finds herself in a crisis when her husband and her two sons die. Without anyone to care for her and her daughters-in-law, she decided to go back home because she understood the power of community. Her community sustained her during this difficult time but not just her, but for her daughter-in-law, who was considered an outsider to the Jewish people. This community birthed hope in their lives when the situation and circumstances seemed hopeless.

Series: Called to Community

We often use phrases like “let’s do life together!” Yet, what does that really mean? This series will discuss the importance of being connected with others in community whether we are in crisis or not. But not all community is created equal and may come in ways that we have not thought about before. God calls us to be connected so that we can provide support, encouragement, and objective perspectives as we live our lives together through all life’s circumstances.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. Think about a time or event that you considered a crisis? How did you get through that?

1. What did that situation reveal about the infrastructure of your community?

3. What are some reasons that have held you back from really being connected to a community of believers?

Engage with us for updates, alerts, and information by text...

CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
GUESTS: Text NEW to 96995
CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
PRAYER: Text PRAYER to 96995
BAPTISM: Text BAPTISM to 96995
COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GIVE: Text GIVE to 96995

Your generosity helps transforms lives. Be a part of something bigger. There are three easy ways to give from right where you are:

1) Text GIVE to 96995
2) Give online: https://www.springcreekchurch.org/give
3) Mail your gift directly: Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, TX 75044

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #calledtocommunity #community #calamity

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The Enemy
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, June 26, 2022

We are at war - not with a foreign invader, not with our culture, and certainly not with our neighbor. We are at war with a very real enemy whom the Bible compares to a roaring lion seeking those he can devour. In this war, an untrained soldier is just a target. This is why we simply must understand the nature of our enemy, how he works and how to resist him. Join us this Sunday for what is certain to be a memorable and extremely helpful message about this war and how to defeat the enemy.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As a result of this Sunday’s message, did you find any of your ideas about the devil being challenged or changing? Have you ever known people who tend to see a devil behind every bush or blame him for everything that goes wrong in their life (including those things for which they were personally responsible)? Why do you think people do this? In what ways do erroneous views of the enemy actually play directly into his hands?

2. Satan is not the equal and opposite of God. He possesses none of the attributes that Scripture says belong exclusively to God – omnipresence (to be everywhere at once), omnipotence (to possess all power), and omniscience (knowing everything there is including one’s thoughts). Why do people tend to equate Satan’s abilities with those of God? What effect does this have on people?

3. The nature of temptation is not first and foremost to get us to do evil. It is first to doubt who we are and question God’s plan. Once that is accomplished, failure will take care of itself. So Satan will always try to get us to question who we are – his attack is centered on identity. Once we fall, he redoubles his efforts in making us think we are unredeemable - beyond repair, beyond hope, and beyond love. We call it self-recrimination and it’s all about that internal dialog that Satan adds his accusation to that causes us to spiral out of control. How has that worked out in your life? How has the enemy used that to separate you from conscious connection with God’s love and grace?

4. Take some time to read and study the armor of God in Ephesians 6.10-17. As Pastor Keith explained, putting on the armor of God is symbolic of being clothed in Christ. The first three pieces of armament Paul mentions are spoken of in past tense because we always have them on if we’re believers (though we need to be reminded especially in times of temptation or assault) - those pieces are the belt, the breastplate, and the shoes. Take some time to discuss how remembering those things helps us do battle with the enemy. How do those pieces ground our being – our identity – in Christ? The next three pieces of armament are what we actively take up during times of temptation or assault – those pieces are the shield, the helmet, and the sword. Discuss how these pieces aid us in our fight against the enemy.

5. The hardest part of any temptation is to not allow the accusations of the enemy, the self, or others to mutilate our identity. Paul is clear, we must make our stand on who we are in Christ. We must know that who we are in Jesus is the truest thing about us. Take some time either in your journal or as a group to discuss what you know and understand about who we are in Christ and what comfort that is to you.

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CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
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CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
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FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GIVE: Text GIVE to 96995

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realspringcreekchurch #theenemy #war #battle #defeattheenemy #enemy

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A Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, June 19, 2022

Life is a journey. So much of the language of Scripture makes use of the metaphor of walking to describe our relationship with God. We’re told to walk In newness of life, to walk by faith, to walk in the light and in the truth and in the Spirit and in love. On this long walk with God, there will be both tears and joy. But no matter where you find yourself on this journey of life, God is reminding you in this present moment that He is aware, He cares, and He is always there with you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever gone on a long walk, hike or traveled any great distance on foot? What was that experience like for you? How was it different from seeing that same terrain by other means? Does it have any effect on your spiritual life? And if it did, how?

2. The whole point of pilgrimage (and for that matter any and all of the spiritual disciplines) is to experience more of God. Pilgrimage carves out a large block of time to spend with God while on a journey. The time on the way gives us plenty of opportunity for reflection, prayer, and even conversation with our fellow pilgrims. What have you found to be the most regular and enjoyable spiritual disciplines you engage in? How have they expanded your capacity for God?

3. Passing through the Valley of Baka appears to be a metaphor that represents times of difficulty in our life, times of bareness, and times of weeping. No believer escapes trials and difficulties in life we are told in Scripture. Even the assumption in the Psalm is not whether you will pass through the valley experiences of life but what to do when you do. In times of difficulty, what we believe is put to the test. But also, there is a real temptation to turn inward and become one with our pain. The Psalmist writer explains that it’s the pilgrim who transforms the valley experience. We mark the trail for others who will surely have to come this same way themselves. Have trials been something you merely endured or have you made sure that others have profited from your experience? Since God never wastes a hurt, have you allowed Him to use even the terrible things that have happened to you to be a conduit of healing to others? If so, share your experiences with others?
4. As Michelle Van Loon said, “A pilgrim is formed by the question ’Do I trust Him?’” How has your journey through life deepened or damaged your trust in God?
5. Since we can always find Christ in the deepest pockets of human need (based on what He told us in Matthew 25), what God experiences have you had among those who suffer, the poor, the elderly, and society’s most vulnerable people?
6. For Further Study: Take some time to read the Psalms of Ascent and Descent (Psalms 120-134). What else do you learn about pilgrimage from these Psalms? How might they help you in your daily walk with God?

Engage with us for updates, alerts, and information by text...

CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
GUESTS: Text NEW to 96995
CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
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COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GIVE: Text GIVE to 96995

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Be the Church
We Are the Church - Part 6
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, June 12, 2022

This weekend is the final installment in our series and will be unlike the others in this series because this one is intensely personal. Pastor Keith will take us on a journey from his earliest experience of church up to the present day and into the future where God is taking us. Needless to say, this journey has been one filled with much brokenness, painful learning, many surprises, and lots of amazing grace. God has been faithful even when we have not. More than anything, we want to be a part of what God is doing today. Lord, prepare our hearts, minds, and wills to say “YES” to You.

SERIES: WE ARE THE CHURCH
The Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In your conversations with others or in what you have seen on social media, what are some of the other more common criticisms of the church in America? Do you think there is merit in the criticism? How would you approach a conversation with a person raising such a critique?
2. The criticisms laid at the feet of the church don’t often resemble the criticisms aimed at Jesus. In what ways are they different? Why do you think that is?
3. The outsider was made to feel included by Jesus in both His teaching and behavior. Can you think of any specific examples of this? How might we as a church and you as a Christ-follower do a better job of this?
4. In the last half of the message, Pastor Keith pointed out the fundamental flaw in our thinking that leads to judgmental attitudes and behavior. It all boils down to the difference between bounded versus centered sets. So many want to define Christianity in terms of being a bounded set. When we do this, we invariably focus on externals that define us as Christians. That thinking is not just the basis of all legalistic Christianity, it’s also the way many Christians think who would never consider themselves to be legalistic. Can you give any examples of where you have seen this or had personal experience with it?
5. Jesus rejected the boundary-oriented approach to spirituality. In fact, this was His most common criticism of the Pharisees. Jesus instead used a centered approach to spirituality that focused on the movement of people either toward or away from God. Why is this a better approach? In your own walk with God, is your thinking more like the Pharisees or Jesus? In what ways would our relationship with those outside the faith improve by simply watching for signs of movement toward God?

Engage with us for updates, alerts, and information by text...

CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
GUESTS: Text NEW to 96995
CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
PRAYER: Text PRAYER to 96995
COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995
GENEROSITY: Text GIVE to 96995

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #culturalbaggage #baggage #traditionalism #areweworshippingworship #worship #outsiders #followers #whattheworldneedsnow #war #battle #spiritualwar #culture #bethechurch #journey #past #present #future #sayyestoGod #yes

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What the World Needs Now
We Are the Church - Part 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, June 5, 2022

There are some Christians who see themselves in a battle for the soul of our nation and believe only one side will emerge victorious and it isn’t the side that refuses to fight. The problem with the culture-war thinking is not necessarily that these believers are wrong about the ills of society but it’s how they choose to respond to it. We forget this fundamental truth about the nature of the war we’re engaged in. Paul wrote…

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6.12

Make no mistake about it, we are in a war but our battle is a spiritual one. The real question is, “Are we seeking to DESTROY or RESCUE our opponents?”

SERIES: WE ARE THE CHURCH
The Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Unlike the amnesia victim, someone with Alzheimer’s may not even realize something is wrong. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.

**DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.** As Pastor Keith said in the weekend message, there are some things that should make us angry. The greatest challenge you and I will face is being angry over the right thing, for the right reasons, and to the right degree. When we see things in the world that provoke our anger, we often direct our anger toward people instead of the real enemy – the Evil One. So may today get caught up in the Evil One’s traps. It is wrong to equate them with the enemy when they are victims of the enemy. How might this shift in thinking help you express your anger and direct it more appropriately?

1. Paul, in his sermon on Mars Hill, quoted Greek poets who had made statements about God (but specifically in reference to Zeus). Paul acknowledged both statements as true facts about the One God of Heaven. This is a powerful example of Paul practicing truthful agreement – that is, finding statements of truth even within pagan belief systems in order to begin from a common ground or understanding. It further illustrates the truth that your ideological enemy is seldom 100% wrong about anything. It is rare for people to believe a total lie. Can you see and affirm truth when you hear it? Can you give any examples of this in your conversations with non-believers?

2. Times of tension and transition are also times of heightened receptivity to the gospel – marriage, moving, a career change, having children, going through a divorce, experiencing a prolonged illness, loneliness, etc. Oftentimes, it is times like these that will cause people to seek out a spiritual community for direction or help. Have you ever seen this before? Was it a part of your story or someone else you knew? Describe what that was like.

3. Tell your story of coming to Christ, in 3 movements…

Before Christ
How I came to Christ
After Christ

Try sharing your story in under three minutes using those three movements as your framework.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #culturalbaggage #baggage #traditionalism #areweworshippingworship #worship #outsiders #followers #whattheworldneedsnow #battle #war #struggle #spiritualwar

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Outsiders Like Jesus, it’s His Followers They Can’t Stand
We Are the Church - Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, May 29, 2022

Ask people what they think of Jesus and for the most part, their eyes will light up as they say things like, “Jesus is awesome” or “He was a very wise and loving man.” Even the most irreligious people you meet seem to have nothing but respect and admiration for Jesus. But if you ask them, “What do you think about the church?” You will notice a dramatic shift in tone. You’ll hear things like, “The Church is messed up” or “The Church is nothing like Jesus.” This message will speak frankly as to why that is and point us in a new direction as we seek to engage outsiders. It’s a message you won’t want to miss.

SERIES: WE ARE THE CHURCH
The Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Unlike the amnesia victim, someone with Alzheimer’s may not even realize something is wrong. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In your conversations with others or in what you have seen on social media, what are some of the other more common criticisms of the church in America? Do you think there is merit in the criticism? How would you approach a conversation with a person raising such a critique?
2. The criticisms laid at the feet of the church don’t often resemble the criticisms aimed at Jesus. In what ways are they different? Why do you think that is?
3. The outsider was made to feel included by Jesus in both His teaching and behavior. Can you think of any specific examples of this? How might we as a church and you as a Christ-follower do a better job of this?
4. In the last half of the message, Pastor Keith pointed out the fundamental flaw in our thinking that leads to judgmental attitudes and behavior. It all boils down to the difference between bounded versus centered sets. So many want to define Christianity in terms of being a bounded set. When we do this, we invariably focus on externals that define us as Christians. That thinking is not just the basis of all legalistic Christianity, it’s also the way many Christians think who would never consider themselves to be a legalistic. Can you give any examples of where you have seen this or had personal experience with it?
5. Jesus rejected the boundary-oriented approach to spirituality. In fact, this was His most common criticism of the Pharisees. Jesus instead used a centered approach to spirituality that focused on the movement of people either toward or away from God. Why is this a better approach? In your own walk with God, is your thinking more like the Pharisees or Jesus? In what ways would our relationship with those outside the faith improve by simply watching for signs of movement toward God?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #culturalbaggage #baggage #traditionalism #areweworshippingworship #worship #outsiders #followers

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Are We Worshipping Worship: We Are the Church - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 22, 2022

According to the Barna Research Group, tens of millions of regular church attendees participate in worship events each and every week but actually have no idea what worship is. I mean, let’s face it, if you ask 10 different Christians to define worship for you, you’ll likely get 10 different answers. We don’t have to be in the dark about what worship is because the Bible clearly defines it as well as makes abundantly clear that worship is primarily about the other 167 hours in the week and not just the hour we gather together on the weekend. Join us as we answer the question, “Are we worshipping worship?”

Series: WE ARE THE CHURCH

The Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Unlike the amnesia victim, someone with Alzheimer’s may not even realize something is wrong. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #people #Christfollowers #Jesus #principles #culturalbaggage #traditionalism #patterns #worship

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Cultural Baggage We Layer onto Church: We Are the Church - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 15, 2022

Traditionalism has been called “the dead faith of the living." Traditionalism is the idea that the worship of God can be captured in a set of behavior patterns that are then passed on from generation to generation, and unless you conform to those patterns, your worship is unacceptable. That's traditionalism. In this installment of our We Are the Church series, Pastor Keith takes on the cultural baggage we layer onto the church.

Series: WE ARE THE CHURCH

The Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Unlike the amnesia victim, someone with Alzheimer’s may not even realize something is wrong. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #people #Christfollowers #Jesus #principles #culturalbaggage #traditionalism #patterns #worship

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It's Jesus' Church: We Are the Church - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 8, 2022

Sometimes, you’ve got to get back to the basics – back to the beginning – back to the fundamentals. This is especially true when it comes down to church. You see, it doesn’t really matter what you and I think a church ought to be because it was Jesus who laid its foundation and clearly defines who we are and what we’re supposed to do. No matter how cool the music is or how amazing the preacher, if we ignore how Jesus defines our life together, then we have utterly failed as a church. I hope you can join us as we sit at the feet of Jesus and He takes us to church.

Series: WE ARE THE CHURCH

The Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Unlike the amnesia victim, someone with Alzheimer’s may not even realize something is wrong. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #people #Christfollowers #Jesus #principles

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SET A FIRE
Consumed - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jerrid Fletcher
Sunday, May 1, 2022

The question that we must ask ourselves is not WHO is, but WHAT has become of our God? For many of us today, not only have we created a WHO, but we have depended on the WHAT in our lives to serve as our God. We’ve become so “Self” centered that God is no longer in the center, or the king, or ruler of our attention and our individual lives. Let's set a fire down in our souls!

SERIES: CONSUMED
What happens when your fire for God begins to diminish? Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. The Bible says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Over the next two weeks, we will dive into the conversation of recognizing the symptoms of when our fire and passion for God is diminishing and how to set a fire when it’s gone out! We get all of God, but does God get all of us?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are the things in your life that you are holding on to?

2. What are the good and bad things In your life?

3. Have you identified the situation?

4. What was your resolve?

5. Why do you need to hold onto things?

6. What are the good things that we hold on to?

7. Have those good things become your identity?

8. What is your security wrapped up in?

9. Why do people control?

10. Have you ever worried more than you trusted God?

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GENEROSITY: Your generosity helps transforms lives. Be a part of something bigger. There are three easy ways to give from right where you are:

1) Text GIVE to 96995
2) Give online: https://www.springcreekchurch.org/give
3) Mail your gift directly: Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, TX 75044

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IS YOUR FIRE FADING?
Consumed - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
Sunday, April 24, 2022

What happens when our fire for God begins to fade? When that excitement we once felt in our first love with Jesus is like a distant memory? We will discuss the symptoms of a fading fire and the atmosphere we’ve created to contribute to our dwindling flame. We must surrender to the Holy Spirit which is our true source of life!

SERIES: CONSUMED
What happens when your fire for God begins to diminish? Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. The Bible says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Over the next two weeks, we will dive into the conversation of recognizing the symptoms of when our fire and passion for God is diminishing and how to set a fire when it’s gone out! We get all of God, but does God get all of us?

Discussion Questions

1. In the Bible, Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. Fire illuminates, warms, refines, purifies, and can transform material to a completely different form than how it started off. The fire that’s described is the power of His presence that dwells in our hearts, that passion for His presence, the power that produces purity. How do you personally know, when your fire is fading?
2. We get ALL of the Holy Spirit but does the Holy Spirit have all of you? What things in your life are in place of the Holy Spirit?
3. How do we know if we are walking in the Spirit? Do the people around you see fruit in your life?

Engage with us for updates, alerts, and information by text...

CHURCH INFO AND UPDATES: Text SPRINGCREEK to 96995
GUESTS: Text NEW to 96995
EASTER RECAP: Text EASTER to 96995
CONNECT: Text CONNECT to 96995
PRAYER: Text PRAYER to 96995
COMMUNITY GROUPS: Text GROUPS to 96995
FAMILIES: Text PRESCHOOL or KIDS or MS or HS to 96995

GENEROSITY: Your generosity helps transforms lives. Be a part of something bigger. There are three easy ways to give from right where you are:

1) Text GIVE to 96995
2) Give online: https://www.springcreekchurch.org/give
3) Mail your gift directly: Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Road, Garland, TX 75044

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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A THIRD DAY GOD
Jesus on Every Page - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, April 17, 2022

The Jesus’ story doesn’t begin in the New Testament. It begins in the Old. We don’t learn of Jesus first in Matthew but in Genesis. Over countless generations, God had been preparing His people for the arrival of His Son telling us what He would be like and what He would do. Even the greatest miracle in the history of the world – the resurrection of Jesus Christ – is illustrated and explained in the Old Testament. Join us this Easter for an unforgettable message about the Third Day God!

SERIES: JESUS ON EVERY PAGE
Jesus is the central figure of the Bible – not just the gospels and not just the New Testament. From cover to cover, old and new alike, we are being told the story of Jesus. This is especially true when it comes to the gospel message of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. We see shadows of that truth in countless Old Testament stories. In these days leading up to Easter, we want to see Jesus in ways we never have before – we want to see Jesus on every page.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What did you learn from this message that you didn’t know or understand prior to hearing it? In what personal ways were you challenged? Encouraged? Corrected?
2. Just like the Israelites began treating the Ark of the Covenant like a good luck charm, religion has a way of reducing what is personal and relational down to something impersonal and ritualistic. They depended less on God and more on the presence of the Ark for power to defeat their enemies. In what ways do we still do this?
3. Jesus is represented in so many Old Testament stories. In this series, we only explored three; the first promise in regards to the first sin, Joseph as a type of Christ, and the 3-day pattern that prepared us for Christ’s resurrection. With each story, we learned something else about who Christ is and what He would do. Are you aware of other Old Testament stories, types, or patterns that God used to prepare us for His Son’s arrival or what He would do? If so, share it with the group, both what the example is and what we learn from it.
4. God is humble. Humility is all about having an accurate appraisal of oneself, which makes God supremely humble. Since He is humble, He has no need to prove Himself and no need to always appear as if He’s winning. God is willing to take a loss. Especially when the humiliation of that loss accomplishes so much for those He loves. The perfect example is the cross. God was taken captive, beaten and nailed to a cross, suffered derision from onlookers, and surrendered His blood and life. It looked like the enemy had won. But he had not. As believers, we have to ask ourselves from time to time, are we willing to follow His example? Can we suffer a loss if that’s what God asks of us? Can we trust that He knows best – that He knows the outcome?
5. Share with the group what Christ’s death and resurrection mean to you personally. When did you come to know Him? What has your journey been like? Where is He challenging you and growing you today? Then take some time to pair up and pray for one another.

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Easter | A Dreamer: Jesus on Every Page - Pt 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 10, 2022

A DREAMER
Typology is a major category of prophecy. They are pretty common in Scripture and often misunderstood. People, rites and ceremonies, events, objects, and offices are all used in Scripture as types. Think of them as prophetic symbols. That’s the subject of this Sunday’s message as we examine one of the best-known characters in the Old Testament – Joseph as a type of Christ. I hope you can join us as we continue our quest in finding Jesus on Every Page.

SERIES: JESUS ON EVERY PAGE
Jesus is the central figure of the Bible – not just the gospels and not just the New Testament. From cover to cover, old and new alike, we are being told the story of Jesus. This is especially true when it comes to the gospel message of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. In these days leading up to Easter, we want to see Jesus in ways we never have before – we want to see Jesus on every page.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is your biggest takeaway from this message? How did it strengthen, challenge or encourage your faith?

2. There are so many dysfunctional family relationships in Genesis, even in this story. Just because Joseph is a type of Christ doesn’t mean his life or family was perfect. Discuss the impact of favoritism in families.

3. It’s been said, Joseph’s dreams were in good shape but the dreamer was not. He had to go through a breaking and reforming process before he would be ready to see his dreams come to fruition. Discuss the youthful sharing of his dreams with his brothers. Was that wise? How did it impact their relationship with Joseph?

4. Hatred for Joseph is a recurring theme among the brothers. Two ways their hatred manifested were in name-calling and in referring to Joseph as “this son of yours” instead of “this brother of mine.” They spoke of him in relationally distant terms. Have you ever known people like this or have you yourself ever done this to somebody? Why do we call people names?

5. The scenario Joseph constructed after seeing his brothers again was brilliant. In favoring Benjamin and giving him 5x’s as much food, he would see for himself whether his brothers were changed men. Would they once again abandon their younger, favored brother? Judah’s willingness to step in and take Benjamin’s punishment was all the proof Joseph needed that his brothers had in fact changed. Joseph wanted a relationship with his brothers but not on any terms. This scenario proved they were changed men. Forgiveness is one way. I don’t need another’s confession or even acknowledgment of wrongdoing for me to forgive. But reconciliation requires not only a confession but must also be accompanied by meaningful actions that back up the sincerity of the confession. Have you ever forgiven someone with whom you knew you could never have a relationship again? When you’ve been wronged or when you’ve wronged another, what sort of actions lend credibility to one’s confession?

6. What other ways does Joseph’s life parallel Christ’s life that Pastor Keith did not mention or emphasize in his message? You can google “Joseph, a type of Christ” to find numerous resources that list many other similarities. Discuss these with the group.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Typology, or prophetic symbols, is an important part in God’s plan to reveal His Son to us. Through people, events, and things God was teaching His people about those things that would help us recognize Messiah. Do some study and try to find other examples of types in the Old Testament. Record and share your findings with others.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Easter | A Promise: Jesus on Every Page - Pt 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 3, 2022

A DREAMER
Typology is a major category of prophecy. They are pretty common in Scripture and often misunderstood. People, rites and ceremonies, events, objects and offices are all used in Scripture as types. Think of them as prophetic symbols. That’s the subject of this Sunday’s message as we examine one of the best known characters in the Old Testament – Joseph as a type of Christ. I hope you can join us as we continue our quest in finding Jesus on Every Page.

SERIES: JESUS ON EVERY PAGE
Jesus is the central figure of the Bible – not just the gospels and not just the New Testament. From cover to cover, old and new alike, we are being told the story of Jesus. This is especially true when it comes to the gospel message of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. In these days leading up to Easter, we want to see Jesus in ways we never have before – we want to see Jesus on every page.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is your biggest takeaway from this message? How did it strengthen, challenge or encourage your faith?

2. There are so many dysfunctional family relationships in Genesis, even in this story. Just because Joseph is a type of Christ doesn’t mean his life or family was perfect. Discuss the impact of favoritism in families.

3. It’s been said, Joseph’s dreams were in good shape but the dreamer was not. He had to go through a breaking and reforming process before he would be ready to see his dreams come to fruition. Discuss the youthful sharing of his dreams with his brothers. Was that wise? How did it impact their relationship with Joseph?

4. Hatred for Joseph is a recurring theme among the brothers. Two ways their hatred manifested were in name-calling and in referring to Joseph as “this son of yours” instead of “this brother of mine.” They spoke of him in relationally distant terms. Have you ever known people like this or have you yourself ever done this to somebody? Why do we call people names?

5. The scenario Joseph constructed after seeing his brothers again was brilliant. In favoring Benjamin and giving him 5x’s as much food, he would see for himself whether his brothers were changed men. Would they once again abandon their younger, favored brother? Judah’s willingness to step in and take Benjamin’s punishment was all the proof Joseph needed that his brothers had in fact changed. Joseph wanted a relationship with his brothers but not on any terms. This scenario proved they were changed men. Forgiveness is one way. I don’t need another’s confession or even acknowledgment of wrongdoing for me to forgive. But reconciliation requires not only a confession but must also be accompanied by meaningful actions that back up the sincerity of the confession. Have you ever forgiven someone with whom you knew you could never have a relationship again? When you’ve been wronged or when you’ve wronged another, what sort of actions lend credibility to one’s confession?

6. What other ways does Joseph’s life parallel Christ’s life that Pastor Keith did not mention or emphasize in his message? You can google “Joseph, a type of Christ” to find numerous resources that list many other similarities. Discuss these with the group.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Typology, or prophetic symbols, is an important part in God’s plan to reveal His Son to us. Through people, events, and things God was teaching His people about those things that would help us recognize Messiah. Do some study and try to find other examples of types in the Old Testament. Record and share your findings with others.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #jesusoneverypage #jesus #easter #apromise #God #image #grace #love #gospel #death #burial #resurrection #adreamer #joseph #typology #prophecy #propheticsymbols #symbols #Joseph #misunder

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WHO IS YOUR GOD?
Questions Jesus Wants Answered - Part 2
Sunday, March 27, 2022

How much of our life is planned around money? We hate to admit it, but money has tremendous power over us. The most common marital fight is over money. We spend a lifetime working for it with no assurance that the unforeseen won’t take it all away overnight. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to put money back in its proper place and restore God to where He rightfully belongs.

SERIES: Questions Jesus Wants Answered
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus gets real about money and possessions. According to Jesus, there really are only two ways to live – as if it all depends on us or as if it all depends on God. He promises we’ll have all we truly need if we learn how to trust Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Mammon wants to dominate and so saturate your thinking that you never question its influence on your life and decisions. Much like a fish in water, the value system of Mammon is so pervasive that we just accept it as the environment in which we live. This is not good. Unless we make more conscious how it influences our money decisions and behavior, we will continue to live out Mammon’s lies and distortions. What are some beliefs about money that should be questioned (especially those that don’t align with God’s truth)?

2. Pastor Keith provided a list of contrasts in the weekend message. Discuss and give examples of the following:
   Mammon says TAKE; God says GIVE.
   Mammon says ACCUMULATE; God says SHARE.
   Mammon is SELFISH; God is GENEROUS.
   Mammon says “buy and keep.” God says “sow and reap.”
   Mammon says “cheat and steal.” God says “give and receive.”

3. Pastor Keith pointed out that “It’s not what I SAY, but HOW I LIVE that truly defines what is most important to me.” This is an age-old problem Scripture points out in both the Old and New Testaments - to give lip service to truth but not actually live it. It’s an easy trap to fall into and one that seems pretty common given the amount of space dedicated to calling it out in the Bible. Has that ever been true of you? What did you do to bring more integrity to your words? Why do you think people are prone to this?

4. Financial advisor and author Ron Blue said, “There are only 5 things we can do with money: pay taxes, spend it, repay debt, save/invest it, or you can give it.” Pastor Keith said most all of us do these five things but what separates us is the order in which we do them. Talk or write about how the order of these financial behaviors has changed in your life over time. Are you happy with how they’re ordered in your life right now? If not, what do you plan to change?

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Where is Your Treasure? Questions Jesus Wants Answered - Pt 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, March 20, 2022

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus gets real about money and possessions. In particular, He wants to know in what and in whom are we placing our security. According to Jesus, there really are only two ways to live – as if it all depends on us or as if it all depends on God. What we strive for in the pursuit of money can be ours without the anxiety, worry or stress. He promises we’ll have all we truly need if we learn how to trust Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Discuss or write about why money is such a sensitive subject. How have you personally been wounded around money issues? In light of all of that, why do you think Jesus spends so much time talking about money? What did you find particularly challenging about today’s message?

1. Since treasures are not about having or not having money, but instead about our attitude toward possessions, what are some things people treasure that have nothing to do with money? Kent Hughes said, “If anything in this world is everything to you, it is an earthly treasure.” What have been the treasures that at some point were all important to you?

2. Our heart and our treasures are bound together. Instinctively we seem to know this because we all know what it’s like to love something dearly and as a result, pour a great deal of time, energy and money into it. In other words, our treasure followed our heart. Name something like that in your life. Now consider what Jesus said. The opposite is also true, your treasure leads your heart. What becomes all important, whatever you invest in heavily, your heart invariably follows. Describe something like that in your life.

3. Jesus spent time talking about the difference between good and bad investments when it comes to treasures. He reminded us that on Earth, the things we store up are subject to decay or theft. In Heaven, what we store up is not subjected to those same forces. What are some of the lessons you have learned in regard to the limitations of Earthly treasures?

4. If your heart were to be buried in the place you loved most in life, where would it be?
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CATFISH: Who Are You, Really?
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
March 13, 2022

In a digital world with endless filters, photo editing software, and unrealistic expectations, you can fabricate the perfect profile and choose whoever you want to be. But the real question is, who are you, really?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. There are so many subtle ways that we may have been deceptive to obtain an outcome that we desire. Maybe we lied or exaggerated on a job application. Maybe we enhanced a dating profile. Or maybe you met someone who you are really interested in and you presented yourself as someone that you’re really not. Or have you used Instagram filters that make us look way younger, way skinnier, and way cuter than what we really are to portray something we’re not? In what subtle ways have you been deceptive for our own selfish gain? Who are you pretending to be with other people?

2. Have you ever heard the saying “Denial is not a river in Egypt”? Denial is the refusal to admit the truth or reality of something. Maybe it’s concerning our health? “I’m overweight because of my medication.” Actually, it’s because you eat 5,000 calories a day. Or you tell yourself, I need 3 glasses of wine at night to help relieve my stress. But in reality, you’ve been thinking about those 3 glasses of wine since you woke up. Or we even train ourselves to look happy and content when we’re not. Are there some things that you are in denial about concerning your true condition?

3. Though God knows every thought and emotion that we experience, are there things that you have not confessed to God or asked Him to address in your life? Are there thoughts, emotions, and/or struggles that you can’t even verbalize to God?

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Blessed Brokenness of Persecution: BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 8
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 6, 2022

In a day and a time when Christianity has become marked by endless catering to the self, Jesus words cut against the grain and remind us if our lives come to resemble His life, persecution is an inevitability. Jesus never downplayed persecution. In fact, He did the opposite - He featured it. He even went so far as to say when you’re being persecuted for following Him, you’re “blessed.” You’re blessed when you’re thrown under the bus for Jesus. This weekend we’ll learn how to recognize it when it’s happening, how to respond to it and what God longs to do through it.

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Blessed Brokenness of Peacemaking: BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 7
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 27, 2022

PART 7 - BLESSED BROKENNESS OF PEACEMAKING
The beatitudes are not spiritual extra credit. They’re not suggestions for self-improvement. And they’re most certainly not take-it-or-leave-it options for Christ-followers. The beatitudes are the path that God takes us down to transform our lives in order to make us more like Jesus. If you said “yes” to Jesus, then you said “yes” to this journey. This is the way. This is the thing God is trying to do in us. This is the kind of person He wants you and me to be. So in this, the seventh beatitude, we discover God wants us to be peacemakers.

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Blessed Brokenness of Purity
BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 6
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

PART 6 - BLESSED BROKENNESS OF PURITY
When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” I imagine a lot of us can identify with that. It’s not very hard to say, “That’s me.” Then when Jesus says, “Blessed are those who grieve,” once again, with all of the losses we’ve had to face in life, it’s easy for us to say, “That’s me, too.” But when Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” I don’t find myself saying “That’s me” at all and I don’t expect you do either. We think of purity as perfection and all of us know we fall way short of that standard. But what if purity means something else entirely? What if instead of discouraging and defeating us, this passage was meant to encourage us through what happens in a life totally surrendered to Christ?

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Blessed Brokenness of Mercifulness: BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 13, 2022

PART 5 - BLESSED BROKENNESS OF MERCIFULNESS

Mercy is in short supply these days. Instead, our eyes and ears are assaulted daily by violence, stubbornness, prejudice, intolerance and judgment. But in the Beatitudes, Jesus upsets some apple carts. He says, “The people in My kingdom aren't condemners, they're mercy givers. My kingdom kids aren’t known for their judgments but for their mercies.” Jesus is hitting them and us where we live. It's like Dietrich Bonhoeffer said after reading the Sermon on the Mount, “God has called on us to be a surprising people.” Mercy is the mark of those who have been with God. Join us this weekend for “The Blessed Brokenness of Mercifulness.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Mercy is counter-cultural because our society is anything but that. What’s the difference between holding somebody accountable for their words or behavior versus attempting to destroy them? As you critique what’s happening in the world all around us, be honest, have you ever gotten caught in the same type of extreme behavior? Why do we savor the destruction of people we don’t like? How might a Christian approach some of these same people or issues and bring a unique perspective that is not an extreme right or extreme left position?

1. Mercy is more than feelings of compassion. Mercy is action. Merciful people are moved to be part of the solution. Has God ever moved you to action in regards to a situation you witnessed? What was that like? What did you do? How did it make you feel? What was the result?

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Blessed Brokenness of Hunger: BLESSED BROKENNESS Pt 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 6, 2022

PART 4 - BLESSED BROKENNESS OF HUNGER

What are you hungry for? What do you crave? What can you simply not do without? That ache in the pit of your soul is what the fourth beatitude is all about. You see, once you have learned and lived the first three beatitudes, you begin to crave God’s ways in all your life – in both your relationship with Him and your relationships with others. Nothing else will do. Nothing else will satisfy. Discover the satisfaction for our deepest hunger.

1. What associations have you had with the word “righteous”? Have they been positive or negative? Have you ever heard a pastor or Christian abuse or misuse the word? What effect did that have on you? How might it have affected others?

2. As Pastor Keith explained in this message, there is not just one meaning for the word righteousness. It actually has a dual meaning. This is why it is sometimes translated as justice instead of righteous because the emphasis is more on the horizontal aspect of righteousness. In a nutshell, righteousness is a right relationship with God and others. In this way, the word righteousness reflects the dual command to love God and love our neighbor. Have you ever been in a church that only emphasized one aspect of righteousness? What was that like? How did that belief influence their perception of who they were and what they were supposed to be doing in the world?

3. The most powerful indicator of new life – the transforming work of Jesus Christ – is a fundamental change in our desires. Lifelong habits might be stubborn and slow to change but the desire to please God – to know Him and His ways – manifests itself almost immediately. Even in this beatitude, the blessing is not on obtaining righteousness. It’s in the hunger and thirst for that to be true in our life. How have you seen your desires change since becoming a Christian? How does this help you in conversations with new believers?

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Blessed Brokenness of Meekness: BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
January 30, 2022

PART 3 - BLESSED BROKENNESS OF MEEKNESS

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Though society doesn’t value meekness, God honors the meek and is demonstrated when we treat others with humility and gentleness. Meekness not only involves our attitude towards people, but it reveals our attitude towards God. It displays strength under the control of God. It is a form of submission to God’s unwavering sovereignty. You will never fully be all that you can be, and all that God wants you to be, until the power of your personality and the force of your convictions come under God’s control. The meek shall inherit the earth by experiencing joy through every circumstance by having faith, confidence, and hope that God will keep his promises now and in the future. Join us this weekend as we discover strength in meekness.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The true meaning of meekness is humility that rests in God and rejects the temptation to be self-sufficient, self-righteous, and prideful while trying to achieve all our wants and desires. When we think about the true meaning of meekness, do you believe that you hold this Christ-like attribute? If you are meek, how did you cultivate that? If you’re not meek, how are you going to cultivate that?

2. Kristin Schmucker describes the promise of inheriting the earth perfectly when she says, “The kingdom of God is now, and the kingdom of God is coming. It is already and not yet. He reigns now in our hearts, and someday, He will rule over every part of creation. The kingdom of God is in us because He is in us.” What are the benefits of inheriting the earth now and the benefits of inheriting the earth later?

3. “Makarios” describes joy that is serene, untouchable, and self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and the changes of life. How can we cultivate that type of joy in our lives?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch

BlessedBrokenness #beatitudes #blessed #brokenness #poverty #grief #meekness #loss #comfort #healing #Jesus #humility #gentleness #attitude #faith #God #promises

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Blessed Brokenness of Grief
BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

BLESSED BROKENNESS OF GRIEF - PART 2

You won’t live very long in this world before you will lose something that is precious to you. You may lose a mom, a dad, a grandparent, a sibling or a friend in death. You are going to lose opportunities, friendships, marriages, jobs, valuables, faith and sometimes even hope. As I’ve said many times over the years, in this broken world, “loss is inevitable, growth is optional.” But we can find comfort on the other side of a loss IF we allow ourselves to grieve. That is Christ’s promise and it also happens to be the second beatitude. I hope you can join us this weekend as we discover the healing path of grief for all the losses of life.

SERIES: BLESSED BROKENNESS

Go online and search the term #blessed and you’ll see a lot of vehicles, vacations, partying, and evidently, #blessed is also a code word for “take a selfie using duck lips.” But what strikes me about the way we define the blessed life is how absolutely incongruent it is with how Jesus described it. The beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount are the most extensive teaching Jesus ever did on what it means to be blessed. He described the blessed life as poverty, mourning, meekness, hunger and persecution – hardly the things we associate with blessings. Yet the Jesus’ way is the only true path to the blessings of God. Join us this weekend as we discover the secret to the blessed life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. A paradox is by nature something that runs counter to popular opinion or the way we normally think of things. What other paradoxes are you familiar with in Scripture? How have you struggled with them? In what ways have you found them to be true?

​2. Our society tends to go through life minimizing our pain and avoiding sorrow as much as possible. How does it do this? Have you ever done this? What was the result?

1. Can you share with the group the most difficult time of grieving you have experienced?

2. How has your Christian faith and your Christian friends be a help to you during times of grief?

3. Society tends to think grief work is something that should happen within about 3 weeks to 3 months when the reality is the time it takes to process a major loss is more likely between 3 months to 3 years. Why do you think most people don’t understand the time needed to grieve well? Have you ever felt rushed by others while trying to process a loss? Have you ever or are you presently processing a loss that occurred months ago?

4. How have you experienced God’s presence and strength in your grief?

5. Take some time to pray for one another, especially in regard to being fully in touch with reality, being patient with ourselves, asking also for a heightened awareness of God’s nearness and His touch in times of loss.Download and use the SPRINGCREEK CHURCH APP for interactive message notes, online giving, events, and so much more! Get all the info you need at your fingertips!

Thank you for the culture of generosity that exists here because of you!

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch #blessedbrokenness #grief #loss #growth #heal

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Blessed Brokenness of Poverty: BLESSED BROKENNESS - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 16, 2022

BLESSED BROKENNESS

Go online and search the term #blessed and you’ll see a lot of vehicles, vacations, partying, and evidently, #blessed is also a code word for “take a selfie using duck lips.” But what strikes me about the way we define the blessed life is how absolutely incongruent it is with how Jesus described it. The beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount are the most extensive teaching Jesus ever did on what it means to be blessed. He described the blessed life as poverty, mourning, meekness, hunger and persecution – hardly the things we associate with blessings. Yet the Jesus’ way is the only true path to the blessings of God. Join us this weekend as we discover the secret to the blessed life.

PART 1 - BLESSED BROKENNESS OF POVERTY

The beatitudes represent a radical re-ordering of our values. They re-define what it means to be blessed. The opening salvo in Jesus' most famous sermon stands in bold contrast to the value system of the world - Blessed are the poor in spirit. As Christ-followers, spiritual poverty is our baseline reality that we return to over and over again. Because it’s only the beatitudes that lead us to the blessed life. Join us this weekend as we discover how.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In this weekend’s message which is both an introduction to the beatitudes as well as an explanation of the very first beatitude, Pastor Keith talked about how the beatitudes are a stunning reversal of everything we describe as the blessed life. Why do you think we do this as a culture? Why do you think we do this as Christians?

2. To be poor in spirit is to be spiritually powerless – it means to be in touch with our brokenness. In what ways have you become aware of your own personal brokenness?

3. It is easy to play a part. It’s easy to pretend to be someplace we are not. If you hang around church any length of time, you pick up all sorts of ways of appearing and sounding spiritually fit. Given enough time, this sort of pretending becomes its own prison. We fake it for so long, we now fear admitting what we really don’t know, understand or live. Have you ever fallen for the trap of pretending? How long did it persist? What was the key to breaking free?

4. Discipleship is life-oriented not academically oriented. And discipleship best happens around what you’re dealing with right now – your biggest fears, your greatest weakness, your disappointments in relationship, your anger, selfishness, and frustrated desires. Who do you have in your life with whom you can share these issues? How have breakthroughs occurred in this area?

Download and use the SPRINGCREEK CHURCH APP for interactive message notes, online giving, events, and so much more! Get all the info you need at your fingertips!

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

BlessedBrokenness #beatitudes #Blessed #Brokenness #Poverty

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Wrathful God vs Loving God
January 9, 2022
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

areasonablefaith #wrath #love #God

You make a decision to read the Bible so you begin with the very first book. As you begin reading, you find out fairly quickly about God destroying the earth with a flood. Not long after that, He commanded the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then you read about the 10 plagues that fell on Egypt. You also discover, if you lived back then, you didn’t want to be a Canaanite or an Amalekite because God doesn’t seem to be all that fond of them either. So the more you read, the harder it gets for you to understand how the God of the Old Testament is the same loving Father that we learn about in the New Testament. That’s the dilemma we’re looking at this weekend because it’s a major obstacle to faith in the lives of many skeptics and seekers alike. Join us online or in-person at Springcreek Church for what’s sure to be a life-changing message.

Series: A Reasonable Faith
“Questions – I’ve had a lot of them. But in the church where I grew up, when I asked about things that didn’t make sense to me, I was told ‘just believe.’ I’m sorry but that answer never satisfied me. Belief is not a leap in the dark or a denial of our rationality as human beings. Christianity is a reasonable faith. Join us in this new series, A Reasonable Faith, as we explore some of Christianity’s toughest questions.” — Pastor Keith Stewart

1. In this message, Pastor Keith builds the case that specific Divine judgment in the Bible always follows a predictable pattern, announced by God or his prophets in advance, always directed toward a specific act of rebellion against God, a plea to repent to avert the judgment and there is always a way of escape. If it does not fit that pattern, then it’s not a judgment from God. Have you ever heard pastors or Christian leaders describe a national calamity or natural disaster as an act of God’s judgment? What affect does it have on people listening to such proclamations? Why and how does this thinking bring reproach upon Christ and his followers?

2. The plagues that fell on Egypt are one of the most explicit descriptions of Divine judgment anywhere in Scripture. In it, a pattern is laid out that is followed in every other judgment including the book of Revelation. What did you learn about judgment in the example of the 10 plagues or the other judgments Pastor Keith shared (the flood or conquest of Canaan)? In what ways were you challenged in your thinking? Why is there always a righteous remnant (some individual or group who is spared)?

3. Ultimately, whether you’re talking about atheism (no belief in God) or agnosticism (uncertainty about God), everyone must make a choice to believe on the basis of what they know and not what they don’t. Real faith is not about having all your questions answered but about having a reasonable faith. In other words, having enough of your questions answered that you lean in the direction of what you know instead of holding back because of what don’t know. How has this applied in your own life? What was the tipping point for you that made you trust Christ? And if you haven’t made a decision to follow Christ, what is the issue or issues that are holding you back?Download and use the SPRINGCREEK CHURCH APP for interactive message notes, online giving, events, and so much more! Get all the info you need at your fingertips!

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Jesus | The Gospel is the Kingdom
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 2, 2022

In this new year, we are going to be delving deeply into the Sermon on the Mount. This is Jesus’ most famous sermon. It’s been called the greatest sermon ever preached. His main subject is the Kingdom of God; who it’s for, how it manifests, and the ways in which we live it out. Throughout the year, we’ll be periodically returning to this amazing manifesto – the Magna Carta of the people of God. But to fully appreciate what Jesus has to say to us, we have to begin with a basic understanding of what Christ means when He speaks of the Kingdom of God. Join us this weekend for what is sure to be an informative, challenging, and inspiring message on Jesus Christ’s favorite subject.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The Kingdom of God is the very antithesis of the kingdoms of this world. In what ways is the Kingdom of God different from what we see and experience in this world? Write or describe those differences.

2. The dictionary defines “bread and circuses” as something offered as an expedient means of pacifying discontent or diverting attention from a source of grievance. Rome made use of bread and circuses to do just that. The modern equivalent is what some have termed “the politics of distraction.” In what ways are people pacified or otherwise distracted from some of the real and larger issues happening in government?

3. God’s Kingdom is a de-centered kingdom. What He is doing is happening in the margins and far from the centers of power. He builds His kingdom from the bottom up not the top down. In what ways did having power or influence at times corrupt the church? Pastor Keith emphasized that the only way to avoid the temptations of power and money is to be a church FOR the margins ministering FROM the margins. What does that look like? How do we become more effective as a church in doing both of those things?

4. Take some time to pray the Lord’s prayer privately or together as a group. This prayer is kingdom praying. But it’s not just in declaring “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”, it’s everything about this prayer. As you pray it alone or together as a group, talk about how the different aspects of the prayer represent God’s kingdom heart.

5. The German pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, said after reading the Sermon on the Mount, “We are called to be a surprising people.” Sadly, many so-called Christ-followers are anything but that. When was the last time you were surprised, had your breath taken away, because of what you witnessed happening in an exchange between a believer and non-believer?

6. Culture can be shifted, changed, even radically transformed by a dedicated minority of folks. It only takes 2% - just a small group of people – who have a new and just vision for society to bring about change. Discuss what it takes to be a part of that 2%.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #Gospel #Kingdom #SermonOnTheMount #KingdomofGod #TheLordsPrayer #Jesus

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Christmas | Shake it Off - The Gift of Christ
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
December 26, 2021

2021 what a year! I’m sure you’ve already started reflecting on all the events that have taken place this year! In 2022 and beyond, I don’t want us to dwell on things that happened in 2021, 2020, 2019, or any other year for that matter. You could be stuck in fear, anger, grief, sadness, loneliness, disappointment, worry, and anxiety. Hannah teaches us that even though we can go through hard things, we can still be favored by God. God calls us to go in peace, shake it off, heal from the past, and look forward, so we can focus on eternal things through Christ Jesus.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #shakeitoff #relections #stuck #peace #heal #focus #Jesus

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Christmas | Jesus is Still in the Transformation Business - This Changes Everything Pt 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 19, 2021

Jesus is Still in the Transformation Business: This Changes Everything
The best thing about Christmas is it’s only the beginning. The revolutionary spark that began with a baby lying on straw in a manger ignited a movement that’s still going strong even to this day. Who Jesus is and what He came to do touches and changes the lives of all those who welcome Him as their Savior and Lord. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace and the transformation business is what He’s all about. Join us this weekend as we celebrate the life change that’s possible in Jesus Christ.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, many have seen a pattern of transformation that is still applicable today. In particular, the lessons of the three spirits that visit Ebenezer Scrooge and what they teach him on that famous night, are as follows;

• Why we make the choices we do

• Where our choices have led

• Where our choices will lead

Discuss or journal about how you identify with these or how your own journey has been different.

1. The prophet Isaiah told us how we could recognize Christ.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9.6

If God became human, I would expect Him to...

1. Speak the greatest words ever spoken (Wonderful Counselor)

2. Have an acute sense of difference from others (Mighty God)

3. Satisfy the spiritual hunger in people (Everlasting Father)

4. Have a lasting and universal impact on humanity (Prince of Peace)

Pastor Keith gave a brief overview of some examples of these but there are many more. What other examples can you name? Which of these qualities have you found to be especially comforting or challenging to your life? How might these qualities be incorporated into your times of prayer and meditation?

1. We often doubt our belovedness to God, especially after we’ve fallen or failed. Why do people do this? Why is it difficult to believe that God’s love is constant, unwavering and based on a thorough knowledge of who and what we are? Based on Jesus’ prayer in John 17, He wants us to live in the intimate knowledge that we are loved as much and in the same way that He is loved. Do you live that way? Do you go through life confident in God’s love for you or not? What gets in the way of living in the love of God? What if you began living as if it were true (because it really is)? What difference would that make?

2. Most people who come to know Jesus Christ in a personal relationship do so through an individual – not through a church service, television program, or literature. This means, the most effective witness anyone has is their own personal experience of coming to know Christ. Share with the group or write in your journal about that experience. What or who made the difference in your life? Have you ever shared your faith with another person? What was that experience like for you and for them.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch #thischangeseverything #angels #mystery

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Christmas | Shepherds - This Changes Everything Pt 4
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD
December 12, 2021

SHEPHERDS: This Changes Everything
If Luke included the shepherds in his gospel, then they must be devout, honorable men and women to be privileged by God to receive such a grandiose announcement about the birth of Jesus. But on the contrary, shepherding had changed from a family business like in David’s time, to an occupation that nobody wanted or respected. Luke likes to point out extreme differences or contrasts to strongly emphasize the message that God uses the most unlikely of people. He shows us that the birth of Jesus changes everything and everyone including the shepherds.

SERIES: This Changes Everything
In these days leading up to Christmas, we’re going to look at how Jesus’ coming into the world transformed the lives of those who experienced a genuine encounter with Him. The truth is, Jesus changed everyone He ever met. There was hardly ever a hint of ambivalence in most reactions toward Jesus. You were either decidedly for Him or against Him. But in those whose lives were changed for the better, their life and testimony is an encouragement for us all to surrender to the One Who loves us like no other. Join us for this journey into the lives of those most changed by Christ’s coming into the world.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch #thischangeseverything #shepherds #luke #unlikely #change

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Christmas | Angels: This Changes Everything - Pt. 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
December 5, 2021

ANGELS: This Changes Everything
The largest concentration of angels anywhere in the Bible occurs around the birth of Jesus Christ. Who are these mysterious creatures? What do we learn from them? How were they impacted by the Christmas story? What is their message to us today? Join us this weekend, as we pull back the curtain and peer into the mystery of the angels and their message.

SERIES: This Changes Everything
In these days leading up to Christmas, we’re going to look at how Jesus’ coming into the world transformed the lives of those who experienced a genuine encounter with Him. The truth is, Jesus changed everyone He ever met. There was hardly ever a hint of ambivalence in most reactions toward Jesus. You were either decidedly for Him or against Him. But in those whose lives were changed for the better, their life and testimony is an encouragement for us all to surrender to the One Who loves us like no other. Join us for this journey into the lives of those most changed by Christ’s coming into the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Compassion, education, the value of children and women (two
groups that have been marginalized in many societies for
thousands of years), art, literature, music, civil rights, the slave
trade, community transformation, and many other sectors of life.
Take some time to discuss or reflect on some of the ways Jesus
changed the world whether they were examples given in the
message or others that you have thought about and
considered.

1. There have been truly evil things done in the name of
   Christianity, like the crusades, the inquisition, witch trials and
   slavery. Pastor Keith talked about the difference between those
   who call themselves Christians and those who are genuine
   Christ-followers. People who’ve done evil in the name of
   Christianity have done so not because of what it teaches but in
   spite of what it teaches. Take some time to discuss or reflect on
   these evils perpetuated in the name of Christianity, the thinking
   that was used to justify such atrocities and your own critique as
   to why it was absolutely incongruent with Christ’s teaching and
   example.

2. A church is a community of people who present living proof of a
   loving God to a watching world - living proof of a loving God to
   a watching world. Is that what we are? Does the world see
   evidence of a loving church when He looks at your life and
   mine? In all the ways Jesus has left an indelible mark on history,
   those are all the ways we continue to shine His light into a dark
   world. The last thing we would ever want as Christ-followers is
   to eclipse the teaching of Christ by our failure to live out His
   love at work, at home, and in our community. Yet it’s likely we all
   have failed from time to time to do just that. Share with the
   group times when God has used you to be an example of His
   love and at least once when it did not happen. When we fail at
   this, why do we fail? What do we do with that failure? How do
   we redeem those failures that have happened?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch #thischangeseverything #angels #mystery

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Christmas | Wise Men: This Changes Everything - Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Lead Associate Pastor Jessica Fernandez, PhD.
November 28, 2021

WISE MEN: This Changes Everything
Jesus changed everyone He ever met. His birth caused people to question their beliefs on who they should be following, their purpose, and who the true King is. This is exactly what the wise men experienced when they saw the star that would lead them to Bethlehem. During this season, let’s look at how His birth changed the lives of the wise men.

SERIES: This Changes Everything
In these days leading up to Christmas, we’re going to look at how Jesus’ coming into the world transformed the lives of those who experienced a genuine encounter with Him. The truth is, Jesus changed everyone He ever met. There was hardly ever a hint of ambivalence in most reactions toward Jesus. You were either decidedly for Him or against Him. But in those whose lives were changed for the better, their life and testimony is an encouragement for us all to surrender to the One Who loves us like no other. Join us for this journey into the lives of those most changed by Christ’s coming into the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Compassion, education, the value of children and women (two
groups that have been marginalized in many societies for
thousands of years), art, literature, music, civil rights, the slave
trade, community transformation, and many other sectors of life.
Take some time to discuss or reflect on some of the ways Jesus
changed the world whether they were examples given in the
message or others that you have thought about and
considered.

1. There have been truly evil things done in the name of
   Christianity, like the crusades, the inquisition, witch trials and
   slavery. Pastor Keith talked about the difference between those
   who call themselves Christians and those who are genuine
   Christ-followers. People who’ve done evil in the name of
   Christianity have done so not because of what it teaches but in
   spite of what it teaches. Take some time to discuss or reflect on
   these evils perpetuated in the name of Christianity, the thinking
   that was used to justify such atrocities and your own critique as
   to why it was absolutely incongruent with Christ’s teaching and
   example.

2. A church is a community of people who present living proof of a
   loving God to a watching world - living proof of a loving God to
   a watching world. Is that what we are? Does the world see
   evidence of a loving church when He looks at your life and
   mine? In all the ways Jesus has left an indelible mark on history,
   those are all the ways we continue to shine His light into a dark
   world. The last thing we would ever want as Christ-followers is
   to eclipse the teaching of Christ by our failure to live out His
   love at work, at home, and in our community. Yet it’s likely we all
   have failed from time to time to do just that. Share with the
   group times when God has used you to be an example of His
   love and at least once when it did not happen. When we fail at
   this, why do we fail? What do we do with that failure? How do
   we redeem those failures that have happened?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch #thischangeseverything #wisemen #followthestar #bethlehem

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Society Will Never Be the Same: This Changes Everything - Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 21, 2021

What if Jesus had never been born? If His presence, teaching, and influence were completely erased for all time, how different might our world be today? Those are the questions this weekend’s message is intended to explore - to look at the myriad of things indisputably the result of Christ and His influence. Not only has Christ changed our world exponentially for the better, many can attest, He’s done the same thing in us. Let’s begin this Christmas season with a reminder of how His birth changes everything.

SERIES: This Changes Everything
In these days leading up to Christmas, we’re going to look at how Jesus’ coming into the world transformed the lives of those who experienced a genuine encounter with Him. The truth is, Jesus changed everyone He ever met. There was hardly ever a hint of ambivalence in most reactions toward Jesus. You were either decidedly for Him or against Him. But in those whose lives were changed for the better, their life and testimony is an encouragement for us all to surrender to the One Who loves us like no other. Join us for this journey into the lives of those most changed by Christ’s coming into the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Compassion, education, the value of children and women (two
groups that have been marginalized in many societies for
thousands of years), art, literature, music, civil rights, the slave
trade, community transformation, and many other sectors of life.
Take some time to discuss or reflect on some of the ways Jesus
changed the world whether they were examples given in the
message or others that you have thought about and
considered.

1. There have been truly evil things done in the name of
   Christianity, like the crusades, the inquisition, witch trials and
   slavery. Pastor Keith talked about the difference between those
   who call themselves Christians and those who are genuine
   Christ-followers. People who’ve done evil in the name of
   Christianity have done so not because of what it teaches but in
   spite of what it teaches. Take some time to discuss or reflect on
   these evils perpetuated in the name of Christianity, the thinking
   that was used to justify such atrocities and your own critique as
   to why it was absolutely incongruent with Christ’s teaching and
   example.

2. A church is a community of people who present living proof of a
   loving God to a watching world - living proof of a loving God to
   a watching world. Is that what we are? Does the world see
   evidence of a loving church when He looks at your life and
   mine? In all the ways Jesus has left an indelible mark on history,
   those are all the ways we continue to shine His light into a dark
   world. The last thing we would ever want as Christ-followers is
   to eclipse the teaching of Christ by our failure to live out His
   love at work, at home, and in our community. Yet it’s likely we all
   have failed from time to time to do just that. Share with the
   group times when God has used you to be an example of His
   love and at least once when it did not happen. When we fail at
   this, why do we fail? What do we do with that failure? How do
   we redeem those failures that have happened?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

RealSpringcreekChurch #thischangeseverything #je

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Dealing with Doubt
Springcreek Church | Pastor Keith Stewart
July 4, 2021

All of us, at times, have struggled with doubt. Sometimes we have questions about God and what He is doing in times of national tragedy; or else we wonder why bad things happen to good people. Sometimes our doubts are about things we read in the Bible; or our own worthiness or even God’s forgiveness. The truth is that practically every one of us has had doubts.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1). Oswald Chambers said, “Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking.” What have your seasons of doubts been like?

2). Doubt can lead to sin, but it can also lead to faith. What started off as doubt, that ended up as an axiom of faith for you?

3). Re-read John 20.24-25 as a community group and answer these three questions:
1. What does this passage mean to me personally?
2. What does this passage say about the world I live in?
3. What about this passage is weird, cool, or confusing?

Download and use the SPRINGCREEK CHURCH APP for interactive message notes, online giving, events, and so much more! Get all the info you need at your fingertips!

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #difficultquestions #questions #dealingwithdoubt #doubt #realspringcreekchurch

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Betrayal | Broken Trust - How to Heal a Wounded Heart
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 27, 2021

So we all face the same problem at some point in our lives. What to do when trust breaks down? There’s wisdom in God’s word that shows us how many before us have healed from the shattering trust that comes from someone close to us who disappoints us. From Psalms to Jesus, we see how God tenderly leads us to face the pain of lost trust.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1). Forgiveness and Reconciliation are two different things. What’s something in your life you’re still looking for reconciliation for?

2). We still carry our scars from betrayal, even after they’ve healed, the way Jesus had his after the resurrection. What scars do you feel comfortable sharing from your past with your community group?

3). Re-read Romans 3:3-4 as a community group and answer these three questions:
1. What does this passage mean to me personally?
2. What does this passage say about the world I live in?
3. What about this passage is weird, cool, or confusing?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch

socialissues #betrayal #brokentrust #howtohealawoundedheart #wounded #heart

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Enough | More Than Enough Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 9, 2021

There’s no end to our world’s suffering caused by the hands of greed. And if greed is a problem that cripples us, what is the cure? Where can we find answers on both the personal and systemic levels that ease the pain caused by greed? This week we explore Jesus’ answers to having more than enough.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Enough: Part 2 - More than Enough
Becoming the answer to Greed (God is waiting on us)

There’s no end to our world’s suffering caused by the hands of greed. And ff greed is a problem that so cripples us, what is the cure? Where can we find answers on both the personal and systemic levels that ease the pain caused by greed? This week we explore Jesus’ answers to having more than enough.

1). Jesus had compassion for those in need. With vulnerability, what need do you have today?

2). God knows the answer before we know the problem. What problems do you face today that you need God’s answers to?

3). As a small group, re-read Mark 6:30-44 and answer these three questions:
1). What does this passage mean to me personally?
2). What does this passage say about the world I live in?
3). What about this passage is weird, cool, or confusing?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Enough | Never Enough Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 2, 2021

We often can see greed in others more than ourselves, but, do we really know the definition of greed? If we take a Kingdom look at greed, we might just find that our own hearts heed the fear that there isn’t enough. We need a spiritual answer to a spiritual problem. Join us as Pastor Keith shares what the Bible has to say about this.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Enough: Part 1 - Never Enough
The Danger of Greed (The antidote to greed is generosity)

1). If you were to mark the things in your life you can’t live without, what would they be?

2). What would it take for you to feel comfortable giving those things away?

3). As a small group read Jesus’ brief conversation found in Luke 12:13-15, and answer these three questions:
1). What does this passage mean to me personally?
2). What does this passage say about the world I live in?
3). What about this passage is weird, cool, or confusing?

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Wrathful God versus Loving God: How do I Reconcile the Differences?
A Reasonable Faith - Part 3
March 28, 2021

You make a decision to read the Bible so you begin with the very first book. As you begin reading, you find out fairly quickly about God destroying the earth with a flood. Not long after that, He commanded the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then you read about the 10 plagues that fell on Egypt. You also discover, if you lived back then, you didn’t want to be a Canaanite or an Amalekite because God doesn’t seem to be all that fond of them either. So the more you read, the harder it gets for you to understand how the God of the Old Testament is the same loving Father that we learn about in the New Testament. That’s the dilemma we’re looking at this weekend because it’s a major obstacle to faith in the lives of many skeptics and seekers alike. Join us online or in-person at Springcreek Church for what’s sure to be a life-changing message.

Series: A Reasonable Faith
“Questions – I’ve had a lot of them. But in the church where I grew up, when I asked about things that didn’t make sense to me, I was told ‘just believe.’ I’m sorry but that answer never satisfied me. Belief is not a leap in the dark or a denial of our rationality as human beings. Christianity is a reasonable faith. Join us in this new series, A Reasonable Faith, as we explore some of Christianity’s toughest questions.” — Pastor Keith Stewart

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​

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Science versus Scripture: Aren’t They Fundamentally Incompatible? A Reasonable Faith - Pt 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
Sunday, March 21, 2021

Are science and Scripture fundamentally incompatible? Is there a war between reason and faith? Should Christians fear science? How do Christians answer reasonable objections to our beliefs? These are all valid questions we’re wanting to explore in this second installment to our series on reasonable faith.

Series: A Reasonable Faith
“Questions – I’ve had a lot of them. But in the church where I grew up, when I asked about things that didn’t make sense to me, I was told ‘just believe.’ I’m sorry but that answer never satisfied me. Belief is not a leap in the dark or a denial of our rationality as human beings. Christianity is a reasonable faith. Join us in this new series, A Reasonable Faith, as we explore some of Christianity’s toughest questions.” — Pastor Keith Stewart

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​...

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Atheism versus Christianity: A Reasonable Faith - Pt 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 14, 2021

Series: A Reasonable Faith
“Questions – I’ve had a lot of them. But in the church where I grew up, when I asked about things that didn’t make sense to me, I was told ‘just believe.’ I’m sorry but that answer never satisfied me. Belief is not a leap in the dark or a denial of our rationality as human beings. Christianity is a reasonable faith. Join us in this new series, A Reasonable Faith, as we explore some of Christianity’s toughest questions.” — Pastor Keith Stewart

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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Finances & Giving | Overcoming Financial Fears: Trapped Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 7, 2021

Part 1 – Overcoming Financial Fears: This weekend, Pastor Keith is excited to share a message that’s part teaching and part personal testimony. It’s a message about money wounds and how those wounds get translated over into escalated fears and poor financial choices. Thank God, it doesn’t have to remain that way. In fact, the primary message in God’s Word is not about earning, managing, saving, or investing money. Instead, it’s all about addressing those deeply held fears. If you’ve ever felt trapped in your fear or you’ve longed for financial freedom, this message is for you.

Series: TRAPPED – There’s no better word to describe it than that. Like a bird in a cage, we are trapped – trapped by fears, distortions, and lies we’ve believed about money. Being trapped is no fun. But what if there was a way to be free? What if the bars that keep us from soaring are of our own making? What possibilities might be unlocked and what newfound freedom might we discover if we dared to believe the promises God has made?

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​

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Marriage | Learning What it Means to Really Love: The Struggle is Real Pt. 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 8, 2020

Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard - Pt. 4
In this video, we wrap up our relationship series by looking at a message called, “Learning What it Means to Really Love.” Listen to people define and describe love today and you will instantly know that many are clueless as to what real, lasting love actually is. Maybe it’s time we consult the original owner’s manual (the Bible). In its pages, we discover a kind of love that runs deep, heals the most ragged edges of our soul, and leads to a truly fulfilling life. If you feel like something’s missing in your relationship or you could just use a relationship tune-up, this message is just for you.

Series: The Struggle Is Real
Intimacy is never automatic or easy. It’s been said healthy relationships are mountains to climb. There are rocks and cliffs and all sorts of obstacles that get in the way. Sometimes the climbers have to double back and try another route. It’s not always easy but they keep climbing. Unhealthy relationships are whirlpools. The love-hate cycle just swirls round and round and ultimately, the relationship just goes down the drain. This series will help get you climbing again.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Marriage | Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard: The Struggle is Real Pt. 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 1, 2020

Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard - Pt. 3
Listening is a lost art. Yet it is a desperately needed one. In the midst of this hotly contested election, if there is anything abundantly evident it's this - no one is really listening to the other side or different perspectives. Whether you're talking about politics, race, or matters of public health, people have made up their minds and are more interested in heaving thought bombs at the other side than having a meaningful dialog. Listening is integral to understanding. Have we forgotten how to listen? There really couldn't be a more timely message than the one I'm sharing here about great relationships.

Series: The Struggle Is Real
Intimacy is never automatic or easy. It’s been said healthy relationships are mountains to climb. There are rocks and cliffs and all sorts of obstacles that get in the way. Sometimes the climbers have to double back and try another route. It’s not always easy but they keep climbing. Unhealthy relationships are whirlpools. The love-hate cycle just swirls round and round and ultimately, the relationship just goes down the drain. This series will help get you climbing again.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Marriage | A Great Marriage is Worth Fighting For: The Struggle is Real Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 25, 2020

A Great Marriage is Worth Fighting For - Pt. 2
When someone tells me they never fight in their marriage, my immediate thought is, “And you think that’s a good thing?” Normal people (Yes, even two people who love one another) are going to disagree, have bad days, say things poorly, and hurt one another’s feelings. If you tell me you never fight, then one of you is swallowing who you are to be in the relationship. This is why one of the best indicators as to whether or not a couple will stay together, is not whether or not they fight, but how they handle it when they do. That’s what this weekend’s message is all about.

Series: The Struggle Is Real
Intimacy is never automatic or easy. It’s been said healthy relationships are mountains to climb. There are rocks and cliffs and all sorts of obstacles that get in the way. Sometimes the climbers have to double back and try another route. It’s not always easy but they keep climbing. Unhealthy relationships are whirlpools. The love-hate cycle just swirls round and round and ultimately, the relationship just goes down the drain. This series will help get you climbing again.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

RealSpringcreekChurch #TheStruggleIsReal

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Marriage | I Dated Dr. Jeckyll But Married Mr Hyde: The Struggle is Real Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 18, 2020

I Dated Dr. Jeckyll But Married Mr Hyde - Part 1
“I just don’t think I love them anymore.” “They just won’t change.” “I’m constantly on the defensive.” “There’s just no more passion.” My heart breaks for people caught in the middle of a relational nightmare. I know how confusing and painful that can be. Some of the greatest pain you will ever go through in your life will not be broken bones but broken hearts. For many people, that wounding will be experienced in their most intimate relationships. This Sunday, we’re going to be talking about the things that set us up for poor relationship choices plus how to get the love you really want.

Series: The Struggle Is Real
Intimacy is never automatic or easy. It’s been said healthy relationships are mountains to climb. There are rocks and cliffs and all sorts of obstacles that get in the way. Sometimes the climbers have to double back and try another route. It’s not always easy but they keep climbing. Unhealthy relationships are whirlpools. The love-hate cycle just swirls round and round and ultimately, the relationship just goes down the drain. This series will help get you climbing again.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

RealSpringcreekChurch #TheStruggleIsReal

socialissues #marriage #intimacy #relationships #nightmare #obstacles #love #hate #dating #change #defensive #jekyll #hyde

SHOW LESS

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lifesdifficulties #Godalwaysworkstoredeem #redeem #whereisGod

God Always Works to Redeem
Where is God in all of this? Part 6
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

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lifesdifficulties #facingtheenemywithin #enemy #depression #whereisGod

Facing the Enemy Within: Depression 
Where is God in all of this? Part 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 14, 2020

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lifesdifficulties #peace #nopeace #whereisGod #chaos

Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace
Where is God in all of this? – Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 7, 2020

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How to Be a Friend in Crisis
Where is God in all of this? – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

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Where is God in All of This?
Part 2 - Why This? Why Me? Why Now?
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

Many of us go through life aware that bad things are happening all around us but assuming they won’t happen to us. But if and when they do, they tend to shatter our core assumptions and often wreak havoc on our faith. We wonder, “Where is God in all of this? If He’s aware and cares, why isn’t He doing something about it?” If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone, even some of God’s best saints had the same questions. Join us in this brand new series as we explore the questions, the mystery, and what we do and do not know about how God is working in the most difficult challenges of life.

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Where is God in All of This?
Part 1 - What Traumatic Events Do to Us
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart

Many of us go through life aware that bad things are happening all around us but assuming they won’t happen to us. But if and when they do, they tend to shatter our core assumptions and often wreak havoc on our faith. We wonder, “Where is God in all of this? If He’s aware and cares, why isn’t He doing something about it?” If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone, even some of God’s best saints had the same questions. Join us in this brand new series as we explore the questions, the mystery, and what we do and do not know about how God is working in the most difficult challenges of life.

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Total Trust: The Elephant in the Room - Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
09-08-19

There is a world of difference between saying we trust God and putting our money on the line. The law of the Harvest, sowing, and reaping, is one that governs all of life; relationships, farming and finances. This exposure of this final elephant is in hopes of creating greater integrity between the words we say and the practice of trusting God with our finances.

SERIES: The Elephant in the Room

The elephant in the room is a long-time metaphor in our society for a problem no one wants to discuss. There simply is no greater elephant that makes its presence known, impacts every aspect of our lives, and has contributed more to our general misery than money. Thank God, it doesn’t have to be that way. Join with us and many others who have found acknowledging the elephant in the room has actually led to new found freedom, hope, and a much more sane relationship with money.

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Unquestioned Assumptions: The Elephant in the Room - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
09-01-19

We live in a world whose beliefs and practices are at odds with God’s original design. Greed and presumptuousness about the future leads to a kind of slavery to the god of money. Much of our money problems stem from unquestioned assumptions which lead to debt bondage. As we bring this elephant out into the open, we are able to finally move into financial freedom.

SERIES: The Elephant in the Room

The elephant in the room is a long-time metaphor in our society for a problem no one wants to discuss. There simply is no greater elephant that makes its presence known, impacts every aspect of our lives, and has contributed more to our general misery than money. Thank God, it doesn’t have to be that way. Join with us and many others who have found acknowledging the elephant in the room has actually led to new found freedom, hope, and a much more sane relationship with money.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Rival God: The Elephant in the Room - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
08-18-19

The intent of this message is to move people from an unconscious relationship with money to a conscious one. The key to this transformation is understanding Jesus’ statement that one cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6.24). The rival god of money wants to dominate our values and decision-making without being known, recognized or acknowledged. This elephant must be made obvious.

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Singles/Love/Relationships | Imperfectly Matched Pt. 8 - Swipe Right: A Match Made in Heaven
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 24, 2019

Numerous dating sites boast about their in-depth personality tests and make claims to match people along lines of maximal compatibility. While it’s an excellent strategy to get people to sign up for their services, nothing could be further from the truth. In our last installment in the Swipe Right series, we want to take on the myth of compatibility in a message we’re calling “Imperfectly Matched.” This weekend we’ll learn all about what it takes to build a lasting, loving relationship.

SERIES: SWIPE RIGHT
Life is all about relationships - with ourselves and others. Truly nothing holds out more hope than great relationships and nothing brings more profound heartache than failed ones. But what if there was a way of finding our perfect match? What if we could avoid the pitfalls of mismatched relationships? Is it possible to build long-lasting, mutually satisfying relationships? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the answer to all those questions and many more.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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Singles/Love/Relationships | Relationslips Pt. 7 - Swipe Right: A Match Made in Heaven
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 17, 2019

As we’re nearing the completion of our Swipe Right series, this weekend’s message is about the devastating effects of infidelity. What are the warning signs that indicate increased vulnerability to an affair? If it happens to you, do you know what to do? What are the causes and cures for RelationSlips? And since marriage is a mirror of our relationship with God, let’s discover together why we veer from the path of fidelity, what it does, and how to heal what’s broken.

SERIES: SWIPE RIGHT
Life is all about relationships - with ourselves and others. Truly nothing holds out more hope than great relationships and nothing brings more profound heartache than failed ones. But what if there was a way of finding our perfect match? What if we could avoid the pitfalls of mismatched relationships? Is it possible to build long-lasting, mutually satisfying relationships? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the answer to all those questions and many more.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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Singles/Love/Relationships | Swipe Left Pt. 5 - Swipe Right: A Match Made in Heaven
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 1, 2019

How you argue is far more important than that you argue. Let’s face it, everybody has disagreements and arguments, especially in marriage. But there’s a type of fighting that clarifies and makes us stronger and another type that is extremely destructive. If the more destructive type becomes your default, it practically guarantees the end of the relationship. But there is hope, armed with the tools we’ll give you this weekend, it’s possible to see your arguments end in the bedroom instead of the courtroom. Join us for a message entitled, "I Love You, but Don't Like You."

SERIES: SWIPE RIGHT
Life is all about relationships - with ourselves and others. Truly nothing holds out more hope than great relationships and nothing brings more profound heartache than failed ones. But what if there was a way of finding our perfect match? What if we could avoid the pitfalls of mismatched relationships? Is it possible to build long-lasting, mutually satisfying relationships? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the answer to all those questions and many more.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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Singles/Love/Relationships | I Love You but Don't Like You Pt. 4 - Swipe Right: A Match Made in Heaven
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 27, 2019

How you argue is far more important than that you argue. Let’s face it, everybody has disagreements and arguments, especially in marriage. But there’s a type of fighting that clarifies and makes us stronger and another type that is extremely destructive. If the more destructive type becomes your default, it practically guarantees the end of the relationship. But there is hope, armed with the tools we’ll give you this weekend, it’s possible to see your arguments end in the bedroom instead of the courtroom. Join us for a message entitled, "I Love You, but Don't Like You."

SERIES: SWIPE RIGHT
Life is all about relationships - with ourselves and others. Truly nothing holds out more hope than great relationships and nothing brings more profound heartache than failed ones. But what if there was a way of finding our perfect match? What if we could avoid the pitfalls of mismatched relationships? Is it possible to build long-lasting, mutually satisfying relationships? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the answer to all those questions and many more.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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Singles/Love/Relationships | Check your Baggage Pt. 3 - Swipe Right: A Match Made in Heaven
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 20, 2019

Single or married, this message is for you. We’re going to take on some of the biggest relationship myths out there - the myths that sabotage even the best of relationships. So, join us for Part 3 of Swipe Right with a message we’re calling, “Check Your Baggage.”

SERIES: SWIPE RIGHT
Life is all about relationships - with ourselves and others. Truly nothing holds out more hope than great relationships and nothing brings more profound heartache than failed ones. But what if there was a way of finding our perfect match? What if we could avoid the pitfalls of mismatched relationships? Is it possible to build long-lasting, mutually satisfying relationships? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the answer to all those questions and many more.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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socialissues #singles #love #relationships #swiperight #matchmadeinheaven #singleness #baggage #checkyourbaggage #myths #sabotage #married

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Singles/Love/Relationships | Singleness is a Terrible Thing to Waste Pt. 1 - Swipe Right: A Match Made in Heaven
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 6, 2019

Life is all about relationships - with ourselves and others. Truly nothing holds out more hope than great relationships and nothing brings more profound heartache than failed ones. But what if there was a way of finding our perfect match? What if we could avoid the pitfalls of mismatched relationships? Is it possible to build long-lasting, mutually satisfying relationships? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the answer to all those questions and many more.

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/​​​​​​

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Part 4: Loving an Addict
Prison Break: Set Free from Addiction
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
10-14-18

Did you know that 3 out of 4 alcohol and drug abusers are married and still living at home? An estimated 95% of them still have their jobs or own their business. In fact, only about 3-5% of alcoholics ever reach skid row level. Addiction is everywhere and hides even in the most respected families. The likelihood of being personally impacted by someone with an addiction in your lifetime is actually quite high. It’s why we need the skill to love well – not with the sentimentality that only perpetuates the addiction but fiercely loving them the way they should be loved. Don’t miss this weekend’s message about what it means to love the addict well!

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Addiction: #addiction #addict #Jesus #love #prisonbreak #anonymous #healing #sin #socialissues

Prison Break: Part 3: Anyone Anonymous
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
10-07-18

So far in this series, we’ve explored the nature of addiction and dared to ask of ourselves, “Has my problem crossed a line and become an actual addiction?” In last week’s message, we learned about Jesus’ love for the addict, the broken, and the shamed. There is no pit so deep the love of God can’t reach. This coming weekend, we’ll learn about the healing path for addicts and discover the transformational truths needed to break free from addiction, sin, resentment, and grief. What heals the addict heals us all.

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Addiction: #addiction #addict #Jesus #love #prisonbreak #socialissues

Part 2: Jesus Loves Addicts
Prison Break: Set Free from Addiction
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
09-30-18

Over the many years I’ve been a pastor, I’ve discovered a common talking point among most addicts – they like Jesus. Not all, but certainly the vast majority, find Jesus a compelling, loving figure and they’re drawn to Him. They may not be all that crazy about church people but Jesus is alright in their book. It’s little wonder why. I mean, Jesus really does love addicts. Join us on this excursion through the Gospel of Luke as we discover Jesus’ heart for the most desperate.

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Addiction: #addiction #addict #Jesus #love #prisonbreak #spiritualroots #socialissues

Part 1: Spiritual Roots of Addiction
Prison Break: Set Free from Addiction
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
09-23-18

Addiction is one of the most common mental health issues of our day. Most everyone knows an addict, loves an addict, or is one themselves. Nothing can prepare us for the storms that addiction can unleash in a family or among friends; accidents, arrests, break-ups, battering, bankruptcies, ruined plans, and shattered dreams. But there is hope. If this is you or someone you care about, please don’t miss a single installment in this series, Prison Break: Set Free From Addiction.

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Unanswered Prayer | I Pray and Never Get an Answer
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 21, 2017

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Politics | Fearless Truth Tellers: What We Desperately Need this Election Pt.2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 10, 2016

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Politics | Fearless Truth Tellers: What We Desperately Need this Election Pt.2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 10, 2016

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #election #talk #listen #talktoGod #listentoGod #fearless #truthtellers #desperate

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Politics | People Who Talk and Listen to God - What We Desperately Need this Election Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 3, 2016

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #election #talk #listen #talktoGod #listentoGod

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Singles | Positively Single
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 31, 2016

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #singles #one #whole #positive #blessed

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Hypocrisy | The Church is Full of Hypocrites
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 13, 2015

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #hypocrisy #church

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Bible | The Bible is Full of Contradictions
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 6, 2015

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #bible #contradictions #truth #God #wordofGod

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Role of Women in Church | Truth or Tradition?
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 30, 2015

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #roleofwomen #church #women #truth #tradition

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Divorce | Valuing Marriage in a Throwaway Society
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 23, 2015

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #cancer #suffering #slowmotion #God

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Workers and Worker’s Rights | Wages Matter to God - Just Jobs Pt. 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 27, 2014

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #workers #work #workersrights #jobs #wages #God

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Workers and Worker’s Rights | Workers Matters to God - Just Jobs Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 13, 2014

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #workers #work #workersrights #jobs #God

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Workers and Worker’s Rights | Work Matters to God - Just Jobs Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 6, 2014

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Slavery | Philemon Seeds of a Revolution
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 2, 2013

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Harvest: The Law of Sowing and Reaping: Hidden in Plain Sight - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 13, 2013

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Manna: The ABC's of God's Economy: Hidden in Plain Sight - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 6, 2013

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Hell
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 8, 2011

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #hell #difficult #questions

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Singles | Mything Out on Life: Singled Out Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 27, 2011

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Singles | One is A Whole Number: Singled Out Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 20, 2011

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #singles #one #whole #singledout

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Influencing Like Jesus: Deliver Us from Me-ville - Part 7
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 3, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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World Changers: Deliver Us from Me-ville - Part 6
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 2, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Holy Ambition: Deliver Us from Me-ville - Part 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 26, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Practicing Passion: Deliver Us from Me-ville - Part 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 19, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose: Deliver Us from Me-ville - Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 12, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Being a Servant in a Serve-Me World - Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 5, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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The High Cost of Living in Me-ville: Deliver Us from Me-ville - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 28, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #deliverusfrommeville #highcostofliving #costofliving #service

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Environmentalism | This is My Father’s World
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 21, 2009

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #environmentalism #myfathersworld

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Jesus for President | How to Change the World Pt. 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 15, 2008

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #jesus #president #redandblue #church #blackandblue #God #commanderinchief #micahmandate #micah #changetheworld

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Jesus for President | The Micah Mandate Pt. 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 8, 2008

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Jesus for President | New Kind of Commander-in-Chief Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 1, 2008

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

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Jesus for President | Red and Blue Church, Black and Blue God Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 25, 2008

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #jesus #president #redandblue #church #blackandblue #God

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Bible Transmission | Re-Think
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 3, 2007

Accuracy of the Bible Text

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #bible #transmission #accuracy #bibletext

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Abuse | Battered No More - Hope for the Abused
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 10, 2006

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #battered #abuse #hope

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Abuse | Victims No More - Recovery from Sexual Abuse
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 10, 2006

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #victim #abuse #hope #sexual #sex

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Sex | The Best Sex Ever: Pure Sex Pt. 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 30, 2005

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #sex #lies #church #puresex #porn #sexualhealing #healing #bestsexever

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Sex | Sexual Healing: Pure Sex Pt. 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 23, 2005

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #sex #lies #church #puresex #porn #sexualhealing #healing

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Sex | Porn, What's the Big Deal? Pure Sex Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 16, 2005

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #sex #lies #church #puresex #porn

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Sex | Lies the Church Tells about Sex: Pure Sex Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 9, 2005

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #sex #lies #church #puresex

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Cancer | Is God to Blame? Dear God, It’s Cancer - Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 29, 2005

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #cancer #God #blame

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Cancer | Suffering in Slow Motion: Dear God, It’s Cancer - Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 22, 2005

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #cancer #suffering #slowmotion #God

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Parenting | I Wish My Kid Would... Make Better Choices in Friendship Pt. 6
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 8, 2004

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #kids #responsibility #bemoreresponsible #anger #angry #openup #talk #sexualpurity #purity #friends #friendship #choices #care #spiritual

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Parenting | I Wish My Kid Would... Make Better Choices in Friendship Pt. 5
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 1, 2004

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #kids #responsibility #bemoreresponsible #anger #angry #openup #talk #sexualpurity #purity #friends #friendship #choices

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Parenting | I Wish My Kid Would... Understand the Importance of Sexual Purity Pt. 4
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 25, 2004

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #kids #responsibility #bemoreresponsible #anger #angry #openup #talk #sexualpurity #purity

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Parenting | I Wish My Kid Would... Open Up and Talk with Me Pt. 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 18, 2004

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #kids #responsibility #bemoreresponsible #anger #angry #openup #talk

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Parenting | I Wish My Kid Would... Not Be So Angry Pt. 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 11, 2004

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #kids #responsibility #bemoreresponsible #anger #angry

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Parenting I Wish My Kid Would... | Be More Responsible Pt. 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
January 4, 2004

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #parenting #kids #responsibility #bemoreresponsible

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Suicide | The Fierce Good-Bye 
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 16, 1996

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

realspringcreekchurch #suicide #fierce #goodbye