Bachelor Creek Church of Christ: Recent Episodes
Bachelor Creek Church of Christ
Bachelor Creek Church of Christ is a non-denominational Christian church located in Wabash, IN. Our vision is to Glorify God through changed lives! For more from Bachelor Creek, visit us at www.bachelorcreek.com
Before sin, shame, or struggle, there was goodness—and grace. In this opening message of The Story So Far, we explore how the beginning of God’s story is also the beginning of ours—a story marked by purpose, brokenness, and a calling to trust the Creator who’s not finished with us yet.
As we wrap up our Weeds in My Garden series, we’re reminded through Philippians 1:6 that even when life feels messy and unfinished, God is still tending the soil of our hearts. This isn’t the end; your weeds don’t disqualify you, because the Gardener never gives up. If you’re feeling tired, stuck, or uncertain, this message is for you.
In a world where so many kids feel invisible, this message from our Weeds in My Garden series calls us to see and love the next generation the way God does. Drawing from the painful family story in Genesis 27, we’ll explore how presence, affirmation, and intentional care can shape a child’s identity and emotional health. If you’re a parent, mentor, teacher—or just someone who cares—this is your invitation to lean in and make a difference.
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired; it’s when your soul feels like it can’t go on. In this message, we look at the prophet Elijah’s breaking point and discover what God’s response reveals about His heart for us in seasons of exhaustion and emotional depletion. If you’re running on empty, this is an invitation to rest, recover, and reconnect with the God who restores.
This week in our Weeds in My Garden series, we explore what the Bible says about self-harm and suicide. Using Psalm 42, we tackle tough questions, confront common misconceptions, and offer practical steps for finding hope in the darkest seasons. If you or someone you love is struggling, this message brings clarity, truth, and help.
In a world consumed by worry, how can we find peace that lasts? In this message from our Weeds in My Garden series, we explore Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 and uncover the antidote to anxiety, not through control, but through trust in God’s goodness and care. Discover how seeking God first can lead to a life anchored in peace, not panic.
Anxiety often feels like an unavoidable part of life—but what if much of it is fueled by false threats and unrealistic expectations? This week, pastor and author Steve Cuss explore the difference between real and chronic anxiety, uncover the “false needs” that drive our fear, and learn how relaxing into God’s presence can free us from carrying a load we were never meant to bear. Let’s find peace by trusting the God who is already in the room.
Let’s Be Honest kicks off our brand-new series Weeds in My Garden—a raw and hope-filled look at mental health through the lens of Scripture. In this message, we tackle the misconceptions many Christians have about anxiety, depression, and emotional struggle—and reminds us that God’s desire is to make us whole: body, soul, and spirit. No matter what you're facing, there is hope, and there is help.
Even when we fail, God isn’t finished with us. In this powerful Easter message from John 21, we see how the risen Jesus meets Peter—right in the middle of his greatest failure—and offers him grace, restoration, and a fresh start. No matter your past, this message reminds us that because of the resurrection, there is real hope for everyone.
When the world pressures us to compromise, how do we stay faithful? In this message from Jeremiah 35 and 38, we explore what it looks like to live with conviction in a culture of convenience—and why direction matters more than distance when it comes to following Christ.
What do you do when life doesn’t turn out the way you expected? In Lessons from the Potter, we explore Jeremiah’s struggle between hope and reality and how God shapes us through life’s disappointments. Just like clay in the hands of the potter, we must trust the process—even when it’s messy—because God is forming us into something greater than we could imagine.
Jeremiah’s indictments of God’s people are no more popular today than they were in the ears of their original hearers. But if we are to receive the whole counsel of God as authoritative and relevant in our modern age, then we must approach prophetic oracles of judgement with humility and honesty. And if we do that, we just might discover the most surprising reality at the bottom of the abyss that is our hopeless, sin-stained state: grace.
Ever feel like you’re not enough for what God is calling you to do? You’re not alone—and that’s okay. In this message from The Quest for Life’s Best, we’ll see through the story of Jeremiah how God doesn’t recruit the ready—He readies those who respond. Your availability matters more than your ability!
Life feels exhausting, and the cultural chaos only makes it harder. In this message from Jeremiah 12:5-6, we’ll discover how God calls us to persevere, not by quitting or fighting, but by learning to 'run with horses'—developing the courageous faith we need to thrive in difficult times.
Nothing can separate us from God's love… but do we truly believe that? As we conclude our Romans 8 series, we’ll confront the lies that keep us feeling distant from God and discover the freedom and wholeness found in His unbreakable love. Whatever your “something” is, God's “nothing” is greater.
Romans 8 leads us to an understanding that we do not have to face life alone. God is for us and wants to do life with us! We are not alone!
No matter what you're facing—joy or sorrow, triumph or trial—God is at work. In this message from Romans 8:28–30, we’ll discover how God is weaving every moment of our lives into something good, even when it doesn’t seem that way. Join us as we find hope in His promises and learn to trust that, if it’s not good yet, He’s not done yet!
If you've scrolled your newsfeed lately, it doesn’t take long before you start to feel like things are off. Innocent people are hurting. Natural disasters are destroying lives. Anxiety and depression are running rampant. People we love are hurting. We are hurting. But as people of faith, how should we respond to the suffering we experience all around us? In Romans 8, Paul encourages us to enter the pain with a hope that groans.
As children of God, we are not slaves to fear but heirs to His kingdom. In this message from Romans 8:5-17, we explore how being led by the Spirit shapes our identity, transforms our lives, and gives us direct access to our heavenly Father. Understanding who we are in Christ changes everything—our worship, our relationships, and the way we navigate life.
No matter what your past looks like, Romans 8 declares a powerful truth: if you are in Christ, there is no condemnation—only freedom and grace. In this message, we’ll dive into the life-changing reality of God’s love, breaking free from guilt and shame to live fully in His Spirit. Join us as we begin a six-week journey through one of the most transformative chapters in the Bible!
God's game plan for life includes something many overlook: laughter. In this message from our Game Plan series, we explore Proverbs 15, discovering how joy and laughter are not only gifts from God but also essential for our spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. Join us as we learn how a cheerful heart lightens our load, strengthens our witness, and reflects the joy of Christ to a watching world!
Are you running through life at breakneck speed, too busy to truly live? In this week’s sermon, Time Out from our Game Plan series, we’ll dive into Jeremiah 2:25–32 to explore the dangers of a hurried life and the freedom God offers when we slow down and align with His pace. Discover how letting go of busyness can lead to breakthrough and thriving in His purpose.
Are you ready to take your faith to the next level? In this message from our "Game Plan" series, we’ll explore three essential principles to grow in spiritual maturity, pursue righteousness, and live a life that makes a lasting impact. Discover how to build a chain of consistent choices that reflect Christ's character and move closer to the ultimate prize.
Discover what it takes to build a thriving church and a fulfilling personal life by adopting the right mindset and systems. Drawing from Ephesians 4:11–16, this message explores how teamwork, equipping others, and focusing on Christ’s mission can lead to spiritual growth and multiplication. Join us as we learn to think, live, and serve like a winning team!
We wrap up looking at the gift of peace. We learn that peace is not a pace or a place but is found only in Jesus!
Discover the life-changing joy Jesus offers in this powerful message from our Christmas series, Tis the Season. Based on John 15:10-11, we explore how true joy is not an emotion or dependent on circumstances but an experience rooted in Christ. Learn how embracing His joy can transform your life and overflow into the world around you.
Discover the true meaning of Christmas through the lens of John 3:16—the greatest gift of all. In this heartfelt message, we’ll explore how God’s love gives freely and unconditionally, challenging us to reflect that same love in our own lives. Join us as we uncover how embracing God's love can make this the most meaningful Christmas ever.
This morning we kick off the Christmas season as we look at the gift of Hope. We see from the story of Ruth and Naomi how even in the midst of loss and hardship, hope is still rings louder than the pain.
We live in a world where our thanksgiving and gratitude are often tied to the circumstances of life. In this week’s message, we will explore the root of gratitude and how its foundation is found in the grace of Jesus and not in the circumstances of our lives!
How can giving transform our lives? In this week’s message, The Generous Life, we explore Proverbs 11:24-25, discovering the “surprising math” of generosity. Join us as we dive into God’s countercultural wisdom on how open-handed living brings true joy, lasting impact, and blessings beyond measure.
In The Battle for Your Heart, based on Matthew 6:21, we dive into what it means for God to truly have first place in our lives. Jesus teaches that our hearts follow our treasures, revealing the spiritual impact of where we invest. This message challenges us to examine if God genuinely holds our hearts and invites us to realign our finances with faith, putting Him first in every area of life.
Matthew 6:24 leads us on a journey of discovering true freedom in trusting God over money. This message unpacks the meaning of “mammon,” challenging us to confront the subtle ways financial security can become a rival to our faith and offers practical, life-changing insights for breaking free from the hold of materialism through generosity and reliance on God.
In this week's message, All Things New, we explore Revelation 21:1–6 and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Through this powerful passage, we'll discover how Jesus transforms not only our world but also our hearts, bringing hope beyond the brokenness we experience. Join us as we unpack the bold promise that Jesus is making all things new.
In this message, we explore the breathtaking vision of heaven from Revelation 21:10-23 and the joy that comes from anticipating our true home. Through vivid descriptions of the New Jerusalem, we’re invited to reflect on the glory of God's presence and the promise that our citizenship is not of this world but in heaven. Join us as we discover how fixing our eyes on eternity reshapes the way we live here on Earth.
In this message, we explore the breathtaking vision of heaven from Revelation 21:10-23 and the joy that comes from anticipating our true home. Through vivid descriptions of the New Jerusalem, we’re invited to reflect on the glory of God's presence and the promise that our citizenship is not of this world but in heaven. Join us as we discover how fixing our eyes on eternity reshapes the way we live here on Earth.
Have you ever felt torn between loving life on Earth and longing for more? Join us as we explore Jesus' words in John 14 and discover the truth about heaven. In this message, we’ll unpack the hope we have in our heavenly home, where Jesus has prepared a place for us that’s far greater than anything we can imagine on Earth.
We wrap up our series on Psalm 23 by looking at verses at 5& 6. Here we see a shift in which God is seen now not as a shepherd but as a host. We find that God is a gracious host who has a great desire to bless His people.
Join us for The Shepherd’s Protection, where we explore Psalm 23:4 and the comforting truth that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, doesn’t eliminate life’s valleys but empowers us to walk through them. Discover how He protects us—not from all pain, but from the power fear can have over us, offering His presence and guidance even in the darkest moments.
We all need guidance, especially when life leads us into places of exhaustion and uncertainty. In this message, we explore Psalm 23:2-3, discovering how Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads us to true rest and restoration. Join us as we learn how surrendering to His leadership allows us to experience peace and healing in the midst of life’s busyness.
This week we kick off a new series looking at Psalm 23. We will start to see that God is our ultimate great Shepherd. He is a shepherd that we can trust and find true contentment in!
In the final message of our "We Are the Church" series, we tackle the fear of sharing our faith and challenge the consumerist mindset that views church as just an event. Drawing from Romans 10:14-15, this message will inspire you to embrace your calling as a sent person, to live out the gospel in your everyday life, and to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus as our saving King.
In a world where gathering together is increasingly de-prioritized, Hebrews 10:19-25 reminds us of the critical importance of coming together as the church. This week, we explore how we can confidently draw near to God, hold fast to our hope, and encourage one another toward love and good deeds as a family united in faith. Don’t miss this powerful message on the significance of belonging and the strength we find in community.
In a culture that often views church as something to attend and consume, 1 Corinthians 12:12–26 challenges us to rethink what it means to be part of the body of Christ. This sermon explores how we are not mere spectators but active contributors, supernaturally connected and vitally needed within the church. Discover how embracing our role in the body of Christ leads to a flourishing, unified community that transcends our differences and mirrors the love of Christ.
Fear can keep us from stepping into God's calling, but what if the very thing we’re afraid of is exactly where He wants us to be? Join us as we explore the story of Peter in Luke 5 and discover how stepping out in obedience and faith can lead to a life of purpose and significance beyond our imagination.
In this message we explore one of Jesus' most challenging questions: "You do not want to leave too, do you?” (John 6:67). Discover how Jesus confronts our deepest desires and calls us to true discipleship. We'll uncover the powerful truths behind His teachings and what it means to genuinely follow Him, even when His words challenge our comfort and understanding.
In this message, we look at Jesus’ question to Peter as he begins to sink on the Sea of Galilee: “Why did you doubt?” Like Peter, we all experience the winds of doubt. Instead of being scared of the wind, we can fight the wind and use doubts to grow our faith. In fact, the best thing we can do is to keep following Jesus through our doubts.
In John 8:2–11, we discover one of the most thought-provoking encounters in the Bible. Jesus confronts the accusers of a woman caught in adultery, asking the piercing question, "Has no one condemned you?” This message explores how Jesus’ radical grace transforms lives and challenges us to see ourselves and others through the lens of His unconditional love and forgiveness.
In this message, we explore Jesus’ challenging question from Matthew 16:26: “What good is it to gain the whole world but lose your soul?” It’s easy for us to fall into the danger of prioritizing worldly pursuits over our relationship with God. The call of Jesus is to reflect on our own priorities, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ wholeheartedly.
In this message, we dive into Jesus' powerful question from Matthew 12:46-50, revealing the true meaning of spiritual family. Join us to understand how faith redefines our closest relationships and what it means to be part of the family of God.
In Matthew 16, Jesus takes his disciples to the pagan region of Caesarea Philippi to ask them the most important question they would ever answer: “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks us the same question today. How we answer this question shapes the quality and direction of our life, both now and for eternity.
Jesus addresses fear and faith as he calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee but most importantly He helps the disciples understand where real peace comes from. This week's sermon discusses the importance of Jesus' presence in our lives and explores themes such as control, faith and the true source of peace even during the most difficult of times.
In John 5:1-9, Jesus asks a paralyzed man a seemingly obvious yet profound question, "Do you want to get well?" This question invites us to confront our own struggles and excuses, encouraging us to embrace Jesus' power and take steps toward healing and transformation.
Whatever burden you’re carrying, Jesus sees, Jesus knows, and Jesus cares. Like the woman in Mark 5, we are encouraged to reach out to Him in our moments of need. When we do, Jesus responds to our pain and suffering with compassion, providing holistic healing that extends beyond the physical to include emotional, relational, and spiritual restoration.
Jesus regularly asked questions throughout the Gospels to get to the heart of the matter. In Mark 10:35–52, Jesus asked James and John and blind Bartimaeus the very same question: “What do you want me to do for you?” The question was the same, but the answers were completely different. In this exchange we discover that surrendering control to God leads to a life of trust and fulfillment in His plan, far better than what we could imagine for ourselves.
Today we explore the awe-inspiring nature of worship through Psalm 40:3 and Psalm 100. Discover how worship's two dimensions—vertical and horizontal—mirror the breathtaking experiences we share and the life-changing encounters with God's presence that drive us to share His love with others. This message will help us embrace worship in its fullness, both in uplifting God and in inspiring those around us.
In Romans 12:1–2, we discover the true essence of worship. In light of everything God has done for us and the mercy He has shown us, worship is our response and gift back to Him. God desires our total commitment, fully surrendered to Him. We must all examine our lives and identify areas where we’re holding back, because partial surrender is no surrender at all.
In an increasingly polarized world that celebrates differences, one experience we have in common iis this: everyone worships. We were created to worship. The same God that created the universe invites us to draw near to Him in intimacy and relationship. This is all possible through Jesus who made a way for us back to God.
Worship isn’t just the songs we sing, it’s the life we lead. It doesn’t matter who you are, we are all made to worship.
All of us have experienced sexual brokenness, either by our own actions or the actions of others. In today’s message, we learn how God can take the broken pieces of our lives and put them back together into something even more beautiful. As we delve into Psalm 32 and the story of King David, we see how God's grace not only forgives but also restores and brings forth new beauty from our brokenness. Whether you feel like a collection of shattered pieces or a stunning masterpiece of grace, God invites you to encounter His transformative work in your life.
God has a divine design for sexuality. Song of Songs shows us what godly intimacy looks like in marriage from a real couple reflecting on the highs and lows, and good, bad, and ugly of marriage. By following God’s design, husbands and wives can light the fire in their marriage, experiencing God’s best in their life.
Explore Jesus' radical teachings on sexuality with us as we continue our God & Sexuality series. Discover how Jesus challenges religious traditions and emphasizes the heart behind God's design for sexuality. In this message, we navigate through apologies for past church hurt and offer a reasonable defense for why we're committed to speaking truth in love regarding sexuality.
Join us for the kickoff of our God & Sexuality series as we explore God's Divine Design based on Matthew 19:4–6. In a culture where spirituality and physicality often clash, discover how God's original intent for sexuality brings healing and wholeness to every aspect of our lives. Whether you're excited, hesitant, or unsure, this sermon unpacks the truth that before sin, there was sex—a divine gift designed to reflect the beauty of God's creation.
At Bachelor Creek, we believe that Jesus Changes Everything! What’s the reason? Three words: BECAUSE HE LIVES. The real story of Jesus dying, being buried, and raising again has huge implications for every believer. In Romans 6, Paul outlines that because He lives, my past is redeemed, my present is transformed, and my future is assured.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are exiles in this world. God has invited us to join Him in the work He’s doing in this world to make things right once again.God uses our circumstances and decisions to make a difference in the lives of others. Like Esther, we are here “for such a time as this.” Will we live for God’s glory and be fully committed to Him?
We live in a world where evil exists. There is such a thing as good versus evil. The more pressing question for believers is “How do we stay faithful in the face of evil?” In Esther 3, evil rears its ugly head as Haman attempts to exterminate all of the Jewish people when Mordecai refuses to bow before him. Mordecai faces a dilemma: stand strong or give in? He shows us what it looks like to have an even if faith in an evil infused world.
Have you ever had a moment where you wondered what God was doing? Could something good ever really come out of this situation? As we continue the story of Esther, we realize even when we don't realize it, God is moving. God is in the business in turning tragedies into victories!
The stories we claim shape the stories we live. This week, we begin a new series on Esther—a story of God’s persistent yet silent movement through flawed people and tragic circumstances to enact salvation for His people.
Do you ever feel the pressure of prayer? Sometimes we don’t know when to pray; sometimes we don’t know how to pray; and sometimes we don’t know why we should pray. James addresses all these questions and more in James 5:13–20. Prayer is the most misunderstood and underutilized resource Christians have at their disposal. By following the wisdom in this passage, we learn that earnest prayer and expectant prayer is effective prayer.
The waiting is the hardest part. We live in a world where we expect things to happen right now, and when we don’t get what we want when we want it, we grow impatient, which leads to grumbling and complaining. In James 5, James teaches us how to wait well by practicing patience, following the example faithful men and women in Scripture, and holding on to the hope of Christ’s imminent return.
We’ve all made plans that didn’t go the way we expected. The problem with our planning is that we think we’re in control, but life has a way of reminding us that our lives are transient and uncertain. Arrogantly boasting in our own plans disregards God’s sovereignty and causes us to miss what matters most. James 4:13–17 calls us to submit our plans to God, embrace humble dependence and trust in His wisdom.
Conflict is all around us. We see wars between countries and fighting in politics, marriages, and even in churches. It’s become so commonplace that many just accept that it’s a way of life. The book of James gets to source of why we fight in the first place, the devastating consequences of fighting, and most importantly, how we can get to a place of peace with God and one another. What conflict kills, humility heals and repentance repairs.
We’ve all heard it before, and most of us have probably said it: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” It sounds good, but the problem is it’s not true. Words hurt. James says that words have incredible power to both bless and curse. Words are like rudders that dictate the direction of our lives. We can’t tame our tongue on our own. In fact, we need the Holy Spirit to take control, because if He directs your tongue He directs your whole life.
Jesus searched out the un- in society. And it made all the difference. He searched out the un-wealthy. He searched out the un-desirable. He searched out the un-acceptable. Jesus took the un-wealthy and made them rich towards God. He took the un-desirable and made them beautiful in the eyes of heaven. He took the un-acceptable and welcomed them into His arms.
To be human is to be tempted. Every one of us faces temptation in our lives. In James 1:13–18, James tells us where temptation comes from, what makes it so enticing, and what happens when we give in to temptation. But he doesn’t stop there. Most importantly, James teaches us how we can overcome temptation. Because every good and perfect gift coms from above, every temptation is an opportunity to choose God over sin.
Trials. Nobody likes them yet everyone faces them. Trials are like death and taxes; they’re just a fact of life. The book of James teaches us to reframe the way view trials and tests. Instead of dwelling on what happens to us we should seek to see what God is doing through us. Trials develop us to persevere, mature, and ultimately prepare us for the blessed promise of what’s to come.
We often move on too quickly in life, failing to thank God for what He has done and discerning what He wants us to learn. On Celebration Sunday, we look back at the victories and blessings of God through Bachelor Creek in 2023. We also take time to look at the challenges and obstacles we’ve faced and how we’re overcoming those. Ultimately, we look ahead to the new year in anticipation of what God will do in 2024!
Can you imagine a world without Christmas? On that first Christmas night, the town of Bethlehem was large oblivious that the Messiah was in their midst. The lowly shepherds, though, we open to the angelic proclamation. But the biggest surprise of all were the wise men who were looking. Today, many people still live unaware of God’s work in our world. The challenge for us this Christmas is to be open and aware of God’s presence. Wise men still seek Him.
Our society increasingly longs for more control: We want more control of our work, schedule, diet, relationships, you name it. In the Christmas story, Herod exhibits a desire to control the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. He serves as a cautionary tale reminding us that the pursuit of control leads to emptiness and despair. Mary, though, shows us the fulfillment found in surrendering to God’s plan, the One who is in total control. Ultimately, Christmas is about giving up control, not gaining control.
If there’s one thing we almost all struggle with, it’s waiting. We don’t like waiting for food, waiting in traffic, waiting on people getting ready, or waiting for answers. We don’t wait well, but the Christmas story highlights several people in seasons of waiting. In this message, we will explore Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary to see how they waited and how we can capture that same spirit. To start we must answer two questions: "What are we waiting for?" and “How are we waiting?” Our response to these questions reveals where our priorities lie.
At Bachelor Creek, we are FOR Wabash and Beyond. The story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus teaches us to “See the Tree,” to see the unseen and pursue the outcast so that they can experience the transformative power of Jesus. Our call to make and grow disciples of Jesus compels us to engage and love our community, both locally and globally. Why? Because we are FOR what God is FOR, and God is FOR people, especially to unseen and overlooked!
At Bachelor Creek, we pursue excellence for God’s glory. Excellence isn't about extravagance or perfectionism but a mindset rooted in faithfulness, stewardship, and a heart devoted to God. Through biblical examples like Solomon in the Old Testament and Paul’s writings in the New Testament, the Bible encourages us to "Grip the Plow," diligently working, stewarding gifts, and maintaining consistency in character. Why? Because excellence honors God and inspires people in both the church and personal lives.
The church has a responsibility to pass the torch of faith and leadership to the next generation. Of all the activities a church engages in, perhaps nothing is more important than raising up the next generation, because we’re always one generation away from extinction. If we don’t pass on the stories of God’s love and faithfulness, who will? Psalm 78:4 instructs to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.” At Bachelor Creek, we are committed to following the biblical command to invest in the next generation for the glory of God!
Sacrificial giving lies at the center of God’s story. John 3:16 says that “God so loved the world that he GAVE.” At Bachelor Creek, our third core value is “We Give Sacrificially.” We give because He first gave all. Matthew 26:6-13 highlights the story of an extraordinary woman who poured out her most precious possession in an act of unwavering devotion. She “emptied the jar,” giving us a powerful image of what it looks like to give our time, talents, treasure—our very lives—for the glory of God.
The Bible warns us of the dangers of isolation. Contrary to the popular pursuit of independence, God has designed us to be interdependent. We are better together. At Bachelor Creek, our #2 core value is “We Connect Relationally.” When we connect with others in small groups and over meals, we find that our walk with Jesus grows. It’s smarter, safer, and more supportive than going at it alone.
In this brand new series “This is Us, we dive into our church’s core values, beginning with value #1: “We Stand on Biblical Truth.” In a world of constant change, we need an unchanging foundation. The Bible serves as the solid anchor for our lives. Join us as we unpack the significance of carrying the sword of the Spirit, exploring the power, guidance, and transformative potential of God's Word. Discover how Bachelor Creek is committed to upholding this foundational value by teaching, prioritizing, and living out the truth of the Bible.
The Gospel is not something to be kept to ourselves; it’s to be shared freely with others. For many Christians, sharing the Gospel is intimidating and overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be. We’ve made it more complicated than God ever intended. Sharing your faith is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. When you’re able to identify what made the Gospel good news to you then you can’t help but share that with others. As Paul instructs in Colossians 4:2–6, sharing the Gospel effectively means praying for open doors, making the most of your opportunities, and speaking clearly and graciously!
1 Peter 2:9–12 highlights the profound connection between our identity in Christ and our actions. Our new identity in Christ shapes our behavior, emphasizing that we don’t earn our identity; it is given to us. Because we’ve been made different, we’re called to live differently among unbelievers so that they can see the beauty of the Gospel and be transformed by its power. Are your actions pointing people to Jesus or away from Him?
The New Testament knows no such thing of a churchless Christian. God created us to live in community because other people can see what we can see and can speak the truth of the gospel into areas of our life when we need it the most. The early church understood this and devoted themselves to one another. They realized that we grow most when we go together.
We are in a war; an invisible war; a spiritual battle. Satan is our enemy and he attacks us with lies, accusations, and temptations. What lies are you believing? It doesn’t have to be that way. God has not left us defenseless.. We combat Satan’s lies with God’s truth by remembering what God has done in the Gospel and using the armor God has given us.
What do you love more than anything else? Take a look at the actions you take and the decisions you make; they demonstrate what you really love. Jesus teaches that what we love comes from our heart. So any lasting change requires a change of heart. When we realize God’s love for us in the Gospel, it changes us and causes us to love God in return. And because it’s easy for our love to grow cold, we need the Gospel daily, not just once. We constantly need to remind ourselves of God’s love and grace.
Every person on the planet lives under a dominant story which shapes how they view the world, make decisions, and find meaning. Many of us settle for lesser stories that ultimately let us down. The Gospel is the true and better story. When we live under God’s story, all of life’s biggest questions are answered in a way that gives us purpose and significance. Only the Gospel satisfactorily answers what’s truly wrong, how to make it right, and where we can find hope.
Many of us have been in cross-cultural environments where people spoke a language we didn’t understand because we weren’t fluent. The same thing happens with the Gospel. We think we’re sharing the Gospel, but people aren’t hearing it as good news. In this series, we’re going to discover how to become Gospel Fluent: speaking the truths of Jesus into the everyday stuff of live. The Gospel isn’t just a get-out-of-hell free card; it addresses and speaks into every part of our lives. It saves us, sustains us, and grows us into maturity, which is why we need to be Gospel fluent!
Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a story about two builders. By looking closely at story, we see similarities and differences between the two men that help us understand what Jesus is saying. All of us are builders. We’re building a life; and no matter our foundation, storms will come. But a firm foundation ensures that when the rain falls you won’t fall apart. The question is, are you building upon a foundation that will last?
Life is full of choices, some easy and some hard. Some choices seem inconsequential and some have lasting consequences. In Matthew 7:13–23, Jesus presents us with a series of choices: between the narrow road and the wide road, between good fruit and bad fruit, and between true disciples and false disciples. Each of these choices require us to answer who Jesus is and what we will then do as a result of that answer. Today’s choices define our eternity tomorrow, so choose wisely.
When it comes to prayer, many of us fall short. We stop praying because we don’t think God will answer or we get discouraged or we don’t think God cares. Jesus, though, teaches us to persist in prayer. A persistent prayer life shows that we trust and depend on God because He is a good Father who gives good gifts to His children. What answers to prayer have you never received because you gave up too soon? Don’t give up! Keep on praying!
There are times in Scripture where we’re called to hold two seemingly opposite truths in tension: God’s sovereignty vs. man’s free will, grace vs. truth, shining our light for others to see vs. doing our righteous acts in private. In Matthew 7:1–6, Jesus calls us to avoid judging others on one hand while also using discernment in ministering to others. While on the surface it might seem incompatible, the key is finding balance. In the balance of mercy and discernment, we find the path to healthy relationships.
Many of us are plagued by worry and anxiety.. We worry about finances, relationships, school, parenting, the economy, our health, work, social injustices; it goes on and on. We think that worrying will somehow make things better, but worry doesn’t work. Worry is a pill that actually makes us worse, not better. Fundamentally, worry demonstrates a lack of trust in God. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to worry, but even more importantly, He shows us how.
Life is a journey of decisions, and often difficult ones at that. However, in Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus simplifies things as He lays out three sets of alternatives that point towards the answer to one crucial question: Where will I place my heart? As we navigate through the choices laid out in this text, we see that Jesus requires nothing short of our undivided allegiance.
One of the greatest temptations we face is doing the right things for the wrong reasons. In Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18, Jesus highlights the danger of doing acts of righteousness to get praise from people. Jesus challenges us to examine ourselves and check our motives. Why do you do what you do? A life transformed in the hidden, secret place helps us live for an audience of One.
Jesus’ call to not resist an evil person and to love your neighbor are two of the most challenging things to hear today. In a world based on justice and retaliation, Jesus calls us to lay aside our own personal wants and desires. We so often are told to 'stand up for yourselves', to 'live the life you want', and to 'take matters into our own hands', but is that really how Jesus envisions Christ followers to live? If we want to truly want to live out these words from Jesus it will take one thing: Radical Selflessness.
We’re always looking for loopholes, ways to get around what’s required while still fulfilling our obligations. We do it in life, we do it in relationships, and we do it with God. In Matthew 5:27-37, Jesus takes us beyond the letter of the law to the heart. And we find that under it all is a radical call to faithfulness. Faithfulness is the foundation for following God’s will. Jesus calls us to be faithful in our desires, our marriages, and our words.
Beginning in Matthew 5:21, Jesus shares six common interpretations of the law, followed by the true meaning of the law. He starts with murder. What we discover is that Jesus looks beyond the physical act and gets to the heart of the matter. Behind evil actions lie angry hearts. By inspecting our intentions and rushing to reconcile fractured relationships we can ensure that our hearts are pure and live out God’s will.
Let’s be real. Some of the commands we read in the Old Testament seem outdated and no longer applicable for Christians today. We say things like, “We have the New Testament, so we don’t need the Old Testament anymore.” In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus shares how He views the Old Testament and how we should relate to it today. And what we discover is that we should embrace the Old Testament as a vital foundation for our faith, understanding that Jesus fulfills its message, transforms its demands, and empowers us to live out its timeless principles.
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus uses two metaphors, salt and light to describe the responsibilities of Christians. Jesus calls us to preserve godly values, enhance the world around us, and illuminate the darkness. When we fail in this responsibility, like unsalty salt and hidden light, we’re good for nothing. But when we live out our calling, a salty church shining bright changes the world.
What if life in the kingdom of God is radically different from what people would expect? Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, a series of eight blessings with correlated promises for those who live according to the values of the kingdom. It’s a way of live that flips our cultural expectations upside down, but as believers who belong to a different kingdom, it’s not just a better way, it’s the only way to truly live.
It’s considered the greatest sermon ever preached. Christians and non-Christians alike have long admired Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. The problem is there’s disagreement on what this transformational sermon really means. As we kick off our “Summer on the Mount” series, we look at how this sermon has been misunderstood followed by the right way to read it. The Sermon on the Mount details the kingdom way of life followers of Jesus are invited to live here and now.
If you get your friends right, the right friends will help set you up for success in every area of life. Proverbs offers a wealth of advice on cultivating great friendships. It's important to assess the kind of friend you are and the types of friends you have. Remember, you are influenced by your five closest friends, so aim to surround yourself with positive influences.
No matter what you may be told, marriage is hard. When two fallen, sinful people enter into a committed relationship with each other, there’s bound to be conflict and struggle. Add to it the pressures to give in to the world’s standards, and you may wonder if there’s any hope for you. The book of Proverbs teaches us how we can glorify God in our marriage and gain the wisdom we desperately need. By giving up our pride and selfishness and serving our spouse we can find joy, fulfillment, and a marriage that stands the test of time.
Today’s parents face unprecedented challenges in raising their kids. Increasing technology, mental health issues, and school violence are just a few issues parents have to navigate. In light of this, how can parents wisely lead their kids to follow Christ into adulthood? Through loving discipline, faithful modeling, and godly training, wise parents set the foundation and direction of their children’s lives.
It seems a lot of people get uncomfortable talking about money, especially in church. But as a church that stands on the authority of the Bible, one of the wisest actions we can take is to listen to what God says about money. At least 101 verses in Proverbs talk about money and possessions. When comparing what the world says about money with what the Bible says about money, we discover that the contrast could not be greater. Wisdom with money all begins with trusting the Lord with all our heart. When that happens, we are able to honor God with our money.
Proverbs has much to say about the power of words. There are over 120 proverbs that directly address our speech! If we want to be people who pursue wisdom, we have to let the Spirit of God guide our words every day.
Ever since God created humans in the beginning of Genesis, He has invited us to work. In His wisdom, God designed us with unique and specific skills, gifts, and abilities that we use while doing our work. Proverbs gives us wise principles we can apply to our work, regardless of what we find ourselves doing.
Life is hard. We desperately need wisdom if we’re going make good decisions in our friendships, finances, career, marriage, parenting—every area of our life. Thankfully, we’re not left to our own devices. The book of Proverbs teaches us how to obtain and apply wisdom to our lives. When we put God first, when we have a healthy “fear of the Lord” we put ourselves on the path to wisdom.
What comes to mind when you think of hope? Wishful thinking? Naive optimism? True hope isn’t wishful thinking; it’s unshakeable living. It’s the confidence that can and will do something good–in this life, and the life to come. It’s what's offered to every one of us because of the empty tomb. In John 20, Mary discovered that hope has a name and his name is Jesus!
In John 11:1-44, Jesus performs His 7th sign by raising Lazarus from the dead. God shows His love by experiencing the suffering of humanity so that we can live with Him. To believe in Jesus means that death is defeated because He is the resurrection and the life. Do you believe?
Throughout the story of the man born blind, we find four truths of the Gospel as Jesus cures his blindness the first time. After the mans interrogation and excommunication, we see Jesus seek this man out to cure his blindness a second time. Through his healing and presence, Jesus reveals in this story that he is the light of the world, both physically and spiritually.
It’s been said that you’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or getting ready to head into a storm. As much as we don’t like them, storms are a part of life. We can relate with the disciples’ fear being in the middle of the lake during a storm. The account of Jesus walking on water in John 6:16-21 shows us that because of Jesus’s power, person, and presence we can keep calm and carry on even in middle of life’s most difficult storms.
In John 6, Jesus takes five small loaves of bread and two small fish and miraculously feeds thousands of people. Jesus shows himself to be the Bread of Life, the only One who can satisfy hungry souls. What’s even more incredible is that God uses us–our whole selves devoted to Him–to accomplish His plans. It’s been said that you may be the only Jesus someone ever sees. The challenge is to bring what we have to God and trust Him to provide, because a little in God’s hand goes a long way.
In John 5, Jesus encounters a man who has been unable to walk for 38 years. He asks a question that seems like it should have an obvious answer: “Do you want to get well?” Upon closer inspection, perhaps it’s not so obvious. Like the man at the Pool of Bethesda who is paralyzed and unable to walk, we too have limitations–physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. Jesus asks us the same question: “Do you want to get well?"
In John 4:46-54, we find the second sign of Jesus: healing an official’s son. The official begs and pleads Jesus to heal his dying son. Any parent can identify. We would sacrifice anything for our children. Jesus shows generous grace in healing this man’s son. What’s most significant is the journey of faith for this official. He comes to Jesus in a panic, but he moves to a confident faith. True faith in Jesus takes us from crisis to calm.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus’s ministry is centered around 7 miracles or “signs” that reveal God’s glory. The first sign takes place at a wedding in Cana as Jesus’s miraculously turns water into wine. This sign demonstrates that God shows up in the ordinary moments in life and pours out more than enough grace for us. We also see that Jesus is the best wine that’s saved for last. Like the disciples, the only proper response is to believe.
With man, healthy marriages are nearly impossible; with God, healthy marriages are more than possible. The key is found in mutual submission, which Paul discusses in Ephesians 5:21-33. Any relationship - marriage, dating, friendship, etc. is best built around God in Christ.
What is love? That question surfaces in books, movies, music, and everyday life. We all want love, but our view of love is often distorted and confused. Before we can accurately love the people in our lives, we must first understand where love originates and experience love ourselves. Scripture plainly states that God is love and has shown us His love in the most incredible way imaginable.
Who’s your ONE? Like a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep in search of the one who is lost, Jesus pursues lost people today, and implores us to have the same burden for the lost people in our lives. Like the four men carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat to Jesus in Mark 2:1-12, we need to bring our “ONE” to Jesus because He’s only One who can forgive their sins.
Something special happens when people come to the table for a meal. The table turns strangers into neighbors and enemies into friends. In Luke 22:14-20, Jesus shared a meal with His twelve disciples that we know as the Last Supper. The people gathered together that night had different personalities, circumstances, weaknesses, and failures. Despite that, Jesus still gave them a seat at the table, and Jesus pulls out a chair for you, too.
Research shows the number one reason we don’t get to know our neighbors is a fear of what makes us different. In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well who was different than Him in many ways, but that interaction revealed there are some universal human longings that we all thirst for, no matter who we are. Most importantly, only Jesus is the living water who can quench our thirst.
For 33 years, Mr. Rogers was America’s favorite neighbor. He modeled what it looked like to love others well. Today, the need to love our neighbors and community is greater than ever before. In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus shares the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us that the best way to love our neighbors is to be a good neighbor.
There’s one habit you can cultivate in 2023 that will make a bigger difference in your life than any other, and it’s prayer. Instead of prayerful, most of us lives would be characterized as prayerless. James 5:13-20 uses the example of Elijah to teach us to keep on praying. When we understand the power of prayer we are motivated to persevere in prayer.
At it's core, Christmas is a love story. Love came down when God sent His Son Jesus to show us what love looks like, ultimately expressed in His death on a cross. The love God showed through Jesus becomes our motivation to love others.
We wait for Jesus by living like Jesus. A practical application of the Incarnation helps us to give more of ourselves and be present with anyone God has put in our paths.
It’s easy to believe the lies consumerism tells us about spending, especially around Christmas. Jesus invites us this Advent to spend less and receive a heart posture of contentment. It is possible at Christmas. We just might need to spend a little less.
If we don’t begin the Advent season with a heart of worship, everything else will fall apart. Worship is not just something that happens at church. Worship is a state of your heart. The characters in the Christmas story expressed their worship in a variety of ways: Mary was moved to sing a song of gratitude to God. Joseph obeyed and followed God’s plan. The shepherds stopped their work to go and find and worship the newborn child. Magi confronted anything that stood in the way of worshiping the one true God. A deeper understanding of Christmas leads to a fuller worship of the Savior.
Jesus’s 7th and final letter in Revelation is to the church at Laodicea. He says they aren’t hot or cold—they’re lukewarm. They’re stale. They’re stagnant. They’re ineffective. Because of that Jesus says, “You make me want to vomit!” He couldn’t be more blunt. Despite the stinging force of this letter, within it we learn how we can tell if we’ve become lukewarm and what it takes to overcome a stagnant life.
The greatest thing about the church at Philadelphia is its remarkable opportunity. Jesus provided them with an open door for greater ministry impact. The only question was would they walk through? Today, Jesus gives individuals and churches open doors of opportunity, too. We can easily talk ourselves out of taking that step, but Revelation 3:7-13 shows us that not only does Jesus call us to walk through open doors, He gives us the strength we need to do so.
Nothing kills a church quite like complacency. Thousands of churches in the United States close their doors every year; churches that at one time were vibrant and growing, committed to reaching people for Christ. In Revelation 3:1-6, Jesus issues a stinging indictment on the church in Sardis: although they have a reputation of being alive, they are dead. Despite this sobering reality, Jesus says there is still hope if they wake up.
John Wesley said, “What one generation tolerates, the next generation embraces.” Jesus complimented the church at Thyatira for their growing love, faith, service, and perseverance, but criticized these believers for tolerating destructive, false teaching. In Revelation 2:18-29, we discover what leads growing Christians to tolerate such wickedness and how we can avoid the same mistake today.
How do we remain faithful when internal and external pressures start to build? The churches in Smyrna and Pergamum received letters from John addressing the pressures they were facing. Through John’s Revelation, Jesus spoke words of encouragement and challenge to these struggling churches, but His words can continue to spur us forward in our faithfulness today.
The church at Ephesus possessed many positive qualities that Jesus praised. Unfortunately, though, they had forsaken their first love. How did that happen to them and how does that happen to us today? Jesus graciously directs us to remember, repent, and return to the things we did at first. In essence, he’s inviting us to define ourselves by love: Christ’s love for us and our love for Jesus and others.
The Apostle John, an old man exiled on the island of Patmos because of his faith in Christ, writes down what he hears and sees from Jesus in the book of Revelation. More than any future descriptions Revelation may provide, this letter is foremost about a person, Jesus, who stands above the future. The seven churches John wrote to faced all kinds problems, many of the same problems we face today. What we learn from Revelation 1 is that when we measure our problems against the size of our God, fear is diminished and life is supersized. It starts with a full view of the majesty of Jesus. #SevenWords
Faithfulness is one of the supreme attributes, whether it’s in marriage, friendship, or business. Daniel was consistently faithful, both publicly and privately. His exceptional qualities set him apart from his peers and his reputation withstood harsh scrutiny. When his life was on the line, Daniel refused to compromise!
The opposite of humility is pride, and Daniel 4 reveals it in a dramatic way. Nebuchadnezzar will learn (and then tell) about the greatest lesson God showed him in his long reign—that He is able to humble those who walk in pride. So why not learn it the easy way? Listen carefully and apply these truths diligently. Be humble so you don’t stumble!
Everyone worships something. And we are faced daily with the temptation to go along with the crowd and fit in with the world around us. Do we have the faith and trust to worship God alone, especially when the heat is on? In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego find themselves under intense pressure to cave, but by knowing who God is, they stay strong. In the midst of the fire, they discover that God is with them.
As a young man, Daniel found himself far from home, exiled to Babylon. It was a culture with very different values and beliefs than his own. In the midst of the chaos and hostility around him, Daniel teaches us what it takes to live as followers of Christ in our world today. Like Daniel, we need to be people of deep conviction who draw a line in the sand on where we stand.
God created us for community. There are things that can happen in circles that can’t happen any other way. You can’t grow spiritually unless you’re connected relationally. When you make the commitment to get out of a row and into a circle, it will have a preventative impact in your life. You have no idea what all is being prevented, but someone else can see what you can’t see, and you can see what someone else can’t see. That’s why we need each other and why small groups are so important at Bachelor Creek.
At some point in time we’ll have questions and doubts in our faith. They will come. Thankfully, God is not afraid of your questions. He wants you to honestly deal with your doubts. In Scripture, Thomas doubted, but ultimately overcame his doubts and believed fully in Jesus. His story teaches us how we, too, can overcome our doubts, and have a growing faith.
We try to avoid thinking about death at all costs. Yet anytime we attend a funeral or someone close to us dies, we wonder, “What is the afterlife going to be like?” Someone has said that the purpose of this life is to prepare for the next. So maybe one of the most helpful things we can do is look into what happens when we die. Jesus shares an interesting story in Luke 16 that gives us a lot of answers about death, life, eternity, heaven, and hell.
Many questions are hard to answer, but probably the most difficult question is “Why does God allow suffering?” Maybe you’ve heard it put this way: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” If God is all-powerful and all-loving then why’s there so much heartache? If God’s really in control then why is there so much pain? Today’s message looks at why we experience pain and suffering, but more importantly, what God as a Father wants us to know in the midst of suffering.
The Bible teaches that we have an adversary called Satan, or the devil. But how does this enemy attack us? What does he use to attack us? In this message, we look at Satan’s intentions and how he wants to distract, destroy, and discourage us through the Old Testament story of Job. Above all, we see that Satan is no match for God. The Apostle John says, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
The question a lot of us have for God is, “Why haven’t you answered my prayers?” Often times we pray and it seems like God is silent. But the problem isn’t that God doesn’t answer prayers; really the issue is He doesn’t answer them the way we think He should. Today, we look at what the Bible says about some of the reasons why God doesn’t answer prayer.
The Bible is the most read book in the history of the world, but is it reliable? How do we know the Bible is really God’s inspired Word? Today we look at a variety of evidences that demonstrate the Bible’s reliability. Determining Scripture’s trustworthiness is just the first step. The truth of the Bible only impacts us if we apply it to our lives. The real question is, will we allow the Bible to transform our lives?
Is Jesus the only way to Heaven? When it comes to the way or the road to Heaven, many people feel differently. Some believe you must work your way to Heaven, others believe there are many roads to Heaven, and still others believe Jesus isn’t the way. So what’s the answer? Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Who is Jesus? Is he really the Son of God? C.S. Lewis famously said that Jesus is either a lunatic, a liar, or he is, in fact, Lord. All of eternity hangs on that question. Who do you say Jesus is? In this message, we address that question and others, like “Why did Jesus have to die?” and “Did Jesus really come back to life?"
"Hey Siri…how was the world created?" This question begins with another question to precede it. Is there a God? If so… In the beginning God created.
In our day of Google searches, Siri, and Alexa, we have answers to virtually everything at a moment’s notice. But what about the bigger, deeper, life-defining questions that Siri can’t answer? What do we do with those? In this message, we begin a 10-week series answering questions many people have, but never ask out loud. We begin with answering some foundational questions about God, like, “Where does God from?” “Why doesn’t God just reveal Himself?” “Is God all-knowing?”
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus invites us to the upside down, to reimagine the world we live in through the lens of His Kingdom. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector helps us see the strong, debilitating grip pride has in our lives. Like the Pharisee, we often believe that our value is based on what we do and what we produce. Humility is the way forward in the upside down kingdom of Jesus.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is actually more about the father in the story than the son. In what Charles Dickens’ called “the finest short story ever written,” this parable reveals to us the heart of God. No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve gone, the glorious reality is that God loves you. The question is whether or not we’ll receive that love.
So often we fail to come to God in prayer because we think we’re bothering Him, that He’s too busy, or that He’s taking care of bigger problems. Sometimes we pray for something once, but when we don’t receive an answer, we stop. The parable of the persistent widow teaches us to pray and never give up. It also teaches us that the God we pray to is a just God. When we come to Him, He hears us as a caring and compassionate Father.
In most contexts we know a lost and found pile is a desolate wasteland of items that get donated. Items that are long forgotten and no longer claimed or wanted. In Luke 15:1-10 we find the bottom line that Jesus wants lost things to be found. So what is our response? In this message we look at what Jesus calls us to do in his desire for lost things to be found again.
In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus shares the parable of the barren fig tree, teaching us that repentance is urgent and God is patient. We don’t know how much time we have, so it’s vital that our lives bear fruit in keeping with repentance. In this message, we see what genuine repentance looks like and the means God has given us to bear good fruit.
Affluenza is the disease of greed; it’s the materialistic mindset that says getting more money and possessions is the ultimate aim of life. It describes the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21, and sadly, many of us, too. In order to release ourselves from the grip of greed, we need the Lord to slice through the layers of greed we’ve taken on, because we can’t change by ourselves.
The book of Hebrews describes Jesus as our intercessor. That means that He appears in the presence of God and prays for us. Can you believe it? The reality is that Jesus is praying for you today, right now. This amazing truth gives us great comfort and encouragement to take all of our struggles and needs to Him.
Christians today are recipients of God’s promise to Abraham. If we understand the promise God made to him, we will have an anchor for our lives today. We know this promise is true because Jesus has gone before us. Because He entered the throne room of God, we can, too.
Jesus is our source of eternal salvation in His exaltation, empathy, and example. Because of this, we will hold on, draw near, and follow Him.
Before we understand what Jesus is doing, we have to understand who Jesus is. The first verses in the book of Hebrews tell us that God has spoken definitively through His Son, Jesus. When we see Jesus, we see God Himself. That means that when Scripture speaks we need to listen, because we’re hearing God’s Word.
Bold predictions backed up with bold actions change the course of history. Jesus made a bold prediction, saying he would die and then three days later rise again, and it happened. The tomb is empty. Jesus made some predictions about us, too. They’re called promises. We can trust Jesus because when he precuts something, it happens.
We live in a world fractured by division. Division comes naturally, but we are designed for unity. Psalm 133 paints a compelling picture of what happens when we pursue unity in the body of Christ. Life is better and we are better at life when commit to living in community.
We spend so much of life waiting: waiting in lines, in traffic, for our kids, for test results, for a promotion, for our turn, etc.. We would rather not wait, but Scripture shows that God does some of His best work in the waiting. Better yet, God does not waste the waiting. How we choose to wait determines whether we experience spiritual growth or spiritual decline.
Most of us have a distorted view of work. On one extreme, some are content to sit back and take it easy, expecting everything to be handed to them. On the other extreme, some of us put too much weight on what we do by finding our identity in our work. God invites us to partner with Him. Yes, we plan, work, and give our best effort, but we trust God with the outcomes. This type of living allows us to truly embrace rest as we receive God’s divine love.
Psalm 121 assures us that our help comes from the Lord. When we’re in need, we can turn to God because He watches over us. While God doesn’t promise to prevent us from walking into harm, He does promise to preserve us when we encounter harm.
In the final chapter of Colossians, Paul closes his letter by refocusing the church on what matters most: the gospel. His practical advice for the early church is still applicable for us today.
We all submit to somebody. We submit to our parents, or our teachers, our boss, our Governing Authorities, the police… even the Elders of this Church. Submission sounds like a bad thing but God, in His infinite wisdom, has made submission something honorable. Ultimately, we submit to Jesus Christ, who is the head of the body… the Church. Submitting to my Savior is not a burden because I know that He loves me. I know that He provides for me. I know that He protects me. I know that He would die for me.
Like cleaning out an old closet, new life in Christ means getting a new wardrobe. It involves taking off our old selves and putting on virtues that reflect the inner transformation we’ve experienced. The hope found in the Gospel teaches us how to honor Christ in both word and action.
If we’re not paying attention, it’s easy to be deceived. In Colossians 2:6-23, Paul describes how a life rooted in Christ is the key to avoiding the deception the enemy wants to bring in our lives. Without deep roots, we’ll topple over when the storms come.
When we catch a glimpse of Christ as He truly is, we bow in humble worship. Christ is Lord of All; He requires and deserves nothing less than everything we have to give.
Who is Jesus? Paul’s letter to the Colossians tells us. No book in the New Testament presents such a comprehensive picture of the supremacy of Christ as Colossians. In chapter 1, vs. 1-14, Paul begins the letter with a prayer for the believers. In it, he outlines what it looks like to live a life that pleases God. If we take to heart what Paul says, every one of us can move from people-pleasing to God-pleasing.
Memories are great, but when your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. We follow Jesus, the pioneer of our faith. With our eyes fixed on Him, we move forward. Christ has not called us to settle, He’s called us to go! Our best days are ahead of us.
The greatest motivation for being FOR other people is understanding that God is FOR you. He doesn’t just put up with you or tolerate you; He loves you unconditionally. He proved His love by sending Jesus. The love we’ve received in Christ compels us to love those around us. What would it look like if we actually started acting like we love our neighbors? It’s time we stop wondering and find out for ourselves!
God hasn’t blessed our church with potential with success. God has blessed our church with potential. Our assignment is to be faithful stewards of the potential the Lord has entrusted to us. One significant way we do that is by saying yes to those who’ve said no.
For far too long the church has been known for what we’re against. We should be know for what we are FOR. We are FOR our community because God is FOR them.
The beginning of a new year provides us the opportunity for a fresh start. We get to reboot or reset, and reestablish the right routines. What do you need to reboot in 2022? Whether you need to reboot physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, the good news is that God is full of grace and mercy. His mercy shop is always open because His mercies are new every morning.
Looking beyond the manger means we’re people who follow Jesus all the time, not only when it’s convenient to us. We follow wherever, whenever, no matter the cost. As we see in John 4, God calls us to both go and tell and invite others to come and see.
We learn so much from both the content and context of two parallel stories in Luke 2 and “O Holy Night." God chose to make His presence available to ALL people. Our calling is simple in this season: Spend time in the presence of the King & proclaim the presence of the king.
The wise men crossed deserts and mountains to seek Jesus. They were overjoyed when they saw the star in the sky because they had made the greatest discovery of their lives - they had found the Messiah! Wise men still seek Him. True joy is found only in Jesus because He gives us what we need most, the gift of salvation.
Adoration means to worship God for Who He is. The miracle of Christmas is that when we see Jesus, we see One who is fully man and fully God. When we see Him for who He really is, it leads us to adoration, and when we engage in adoration, it causes us to see Him more fully. O Come Let Us Adore Him!
Emmanuel, “God with us.” The wonder of Christmas is that the God of all creation came from heaven to earth. God’s presence makes a difference in our life. Because God is with us, what is impossible for man is possible with God. God’s presence give us courage, takes away fear, and reminds us He is for us.
If money could talk, it would tell us: “I’m easy to keep up with, but I’m difficult to catch up with.” All of us should know where our money is going. The best way to do that is by keeping tabs on our actual spending. Our spending matters because it’s not our money; it’s God’s. It all belongs to Him. We’re managers, not owners. And how we manage our money speaks volumes about who and whose we are.
“Do you have money, or does money have you?” That’s the question Jesus asks us in Matthew 6. Maybe it’s time to flip the script. Instead of using our money to build our kingdom, Jesus encourages us to build His kingdom by using our resources for others. That’s how we put money in its proper place. It starts by surrendering what we have to God and walking by the Spirit.
What's the meaning of money? Many people see money as an end in itself. For many, it is the goal of life. Jesus tells a fascinating parable in Luke 16 that turns our understanding of money upside down. He says that the right way to view money is to see it as a means to a greater end. When we devote our lives to something, or rather, Someone, greater than ourselves, money takes on a whole new meaning.
Have you ever wondered, “Where are we going?” As exiles, it’s easy to feel like we’re wandering through life with no direction. In the last chapter of his letter, Peter tells us where the life of an exile takes us. He teaches us that a strong faith family requires servant leaders, humble followers, and awareness of danger. Most importantly, he give us a rock solid promise we can hang onto that will help get us through whatever life throws at us.
Suffering, Judgement, and the end of the world can be a scary topic. Nate explores these topics through the sense of 1 Peter 4 and how what is hard can actually bring us great joy.
Throughout his letter, Peter reminds us to live differently. We don’t belong to this world, so we shouldn’t expect to fit in. But the question remains, “How do we reach a culture we don’t belong to?” Some Christians withdraw completely; others fully assimilate. Peter shows us a better way in 1 Peter 3:8-22. It won’t be easy; in fact, it comes with a cost. But the way of Jesus is worth it.
Perhaps no other word in the Bible makes people cringe like “submit.” Because of sin, the language of submission has been twisted and abused. Men turn these roles into domination and indifference and women react with insubordination or unconditional servitude. Christian submission, though, rejects both of these distortions. Christian submission demonstrates the power and beauty of the Gospel. People struggle with submission because most have never seen godly submission lived out. In the words of G.K. Chesterton: “The Christian ideal has not been tired and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."
Our world suffers from a crisis of commitment. These days it’s common for people to be flaky and non-committal; our culture expects it. Peter says we’re different. Christians are marked by a radical commitment to follow in the steps of Jesus. The way of Jesus looks different, but it creates holy desires in us and impacts others. In this message, we’ll look at four commitments of an exile and how Jesus’ example motivates all we do.
Too many Christians act like kids. Maybe they’ve been believers for years, but spiritually they’re still toddlers. In 1 Peter 2:1-10, Peter says the only way we're going to endure the persecution and ups and downs of life is to grow up. Living in a harsh world requires a grown up hope, not warm fuzzies and a constant stream of signs. In this message, we’ll discuss four practical ways to grow up.
As Christians, we live as exiles in this world. That means we act in ways that are different and out of sync with this world. What’s it look like to live as an exile? 1 Peter 1:13-25 lays out the God’s game plan for exiles. We can’t obey these commands easily on our own. It happens only by surrendering to Jesus, our living hope. Join us for week 2 of our current series, "Exiles".
This week we begin a new study through 1 Peter titled “Exiles.” As believers, we often feel out of place in this world. The reason, according to Peter, is because this world is not our home. In this message, we learn what it means to live as exiles and how our “living hope” helps us endure hardships.
Judges 17-21 are some of the darkest and most disturbing stories in the Bible. They describe “Christian atheists” - people that believe in God, but live as atheists. In this message, we learn that in the absence of God the weak are abused and we live in despair. Through the darkness, though, Judges.
The story of Samson is a tale of the strong becoming weak and the weak becoming strong. Join us for part 2 of Samson’s story as Joel looks at how we sometimes become our own worst enemy.
Samson is one of the most interesting judges that God used to redeem Israel. In today’s sermon, Joel shows us that Samson’s life summarizes the message of Judges and points us beyond the book. Through Samson’s story, God gives us a picture of how He will save His people once and for all.
Joel continues the Summer Blockbusters series by looking at the story of Jephthah from Judges 10-12. Through Jephthah’s story, it becomes clear that the culture can influence us more than we realize.
In today's sermon, Joel takes a look at a good leader who turns sour. Through the story of Gideon and Abimelek (Judges 8-9), Joel gives us some signs to look for in our lives that reveal it has become all about us.
Joel continues the Summer Blockbuster series in Judges by pointing out several lessons in weakness found in the story of Gideon.
Fear of all kinds is a part of life and your success in large part is determined on how while you manage your fears. Courage is a virtue we should be talking more about as Christ followers! In today’s sermon, Joel discusses courage in today’s sermon as he looks at the story of Gideon.
Today’s sermon focuses on the only female judge, Deborah. In Deborah’s story, we see justice being served. As Christ followers, we can be certain that God is the perfect judge who will one day bring justice to all.
Joel spends time in Judges chapter 3 looking at the story of the lefty, Ehud. God is teaching us to rely on his strength and not our own.
Israel’s history is full of ups and downs. Our faith journey looks very similar. In today’s sermon, Joel discusses our spiritual rollercoaster as he turns to the book of Judges.
Joel takes a look at the final chapter of Jonah in week 4 of our Summer Blockbusters series. Jonah’s behavior conformed to what God wanted but his heart was still far from him. There is much to learn from the end of Jonah’s story.
In today’s sermon, we continue our Summer Blockbusters series by looking at Jonah’s 8 word message. God took Jonah’s 8 word message and used it to lead the people of Nineveh to repentance.
In Jonah chapter 2, Jonah is tossed overboard and swallowed by a great fish. This miraculous account was an act of mercy from God towards Jonah. Sometimes God uses our circumstances to regain our attention.
Today we begin a new series called, “Summer Blockbusters”. For the next few months, Joel will be diving into the books of Jonah and Judges which contains stories that sound like they could be made into Hollywood blockbuster movies. At the heart of it, these are stories that point to the Glory of Christ.
Bow your head, close your eyes, and fold your hands - that’s how you’re supposed to pray right? Unfortunately, we often make this small act much more difficult than it needs to be. In this message, guest speaker Matt Pineda breaks down how we can easily talk and commune with God, and change our perspective on prayer with four simple ideas.
With the school year quickly coming to a close and summer looming on the horizon, David pauses to celebrate all graduating seniors. With a message based on transition and change, this isn’t a message merely for seniors, but people of all ages. Based on the teachings of Paul and Timothy, we learn how to navigate the tricky waters of acclimation.
Your focus determines your reality. Through Paul and Silas, we learn how what we focus on can either build up or tear down our faith.
in this final message of “The Good Life” series, Tyler takes a close look into the Apostle John’s letter to the New Testament churches. Specifically, he breaks down how we can find eternal life, which is found only in God’s son - Jesus Christ.
How do you know if you have the Spirit of God? In this message, Ryan walks us through several tests to recognize the Spirit, before concluding with a breakdown of how love can be one of our biggest indicators of Godliness.
Whether we like to admit it or not, often in life we start to act like our parents. Diving into 1 John 3, Joel helps us explore what it means to be a child of God and for God to be our Father.
Living in a broken world, we as humans are prone to sin. In 1 John 2, we are reminded that God does not leave us in this place of sin; through Christ we are forgiven. In this message, Nate helps us understand that “the good life” is a life in response to a good God.
In this message, Michael kicks off a new series called, “The Good Life”. Here he looks at the first chapter of John’s letter. In this first chapter John shows us that Jesus was and is everything He claimed to be.
Wrapping up part three of this series trilogy, David takes a look at how Jesus changes our future. As we all seek to be more like Jesus, it is clear that there are still things that we need to change about ourselves. In this message, David takes us on a journey of a few key people in scripture who’s lives and futures were forever changed because of Jesus.
What does it mean to be present? Through the familiar story of Zacchaeus, we see how he grasped the vision of what Jesus wants to do in our lives, here and now. Jesus takes one of the stingiest and most fiscally corrupt men and turns him into one of the most generous men of the New Testament.
We all have a past. Reading the account of the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11, today’s message looks at a story of life change. Through this story we find that Jesus is ready to forgive and forget our past.
The bible is very clear: Christians are to belong to a church - to belong to the body of Christ. Furthermore, as members of the church, we don’t attend, we belong. This week’s message is centered around a passage of Romans that emphasizes the practicality of belonging to the church.
Some things about being a Christian seem to get easier the longer we have known Jesus. However, one that usually doesn’t get easier, and often becomes harder is sharing our faith. This week we dive into why and how we can share the Gospel message with others.
The way we think about money and the place it has in our lives is extremely important. So important, that Jesus taught more on money than faith and prayer- more than anything else except the Kingdom of God. In this message we look at the practical lessons the Bible teaches us about how to handle our money.
Do you ever find yourself asking “How can I maximize my life?”. It might go something like, “I can maximize my life if get that next promotion at work”. Or “I can make the most out of my life if I just have the right friends group”. Picking up from the previous week, Tyler leads us on a journey of how the answer to how to make the most of your life comes by following Jesus.
As we progress in our spiritual journeys, and want to do the work we are called to do, we can sometimes get stalled by not knowing how to proceed. We may not be sure where, or how we are to fulfill our God-given purpose. In this first installment of a two-part lesson, Ryan takes a look at helping us answer a very common, but difficult question - “How Can I Make the Most Out of My Life?”
Have you ever been in that place in your life when things didn’t go as you planned? You might have asked yourself “How did I get here?”. Through the sharing of his story and how his life hit rock bottom, Justin White, reveals to us that there is a powerful enemy, in Satan, among us. Thankfully the story doesn’t end there. Woven into Justin’s story is the thread of hope that connects [and saves] us all from this powerful enemy - God.
Throughout human history the question of “Why is there so much pain and suffering in God’s world?” have confounded well-studied scholars and small children alike. In our broken world, the reality of hardship and suffering are guaranteed. So how do we deal with these? Join us as Michael walks us through how we, as Christians, can make sense of and navigate the rough waters of tragedy.
Over the ages God has demonstrated His desire to communicate to us. And because God is personal, He desires to connect with us, and lead us into greater intimacy with Him. Join Nate as he shares how the embodiment of God, in the person of Jesus, was God’s ultimate expression of His desire to communicate to us in a way we could grasp.
No matter who we are, or where we come from, we each have an idea about God. Our limited minds and finite lives simply cannot fathom the depth and breadth of God. In this second week of Rooted, David teaches how it is only as God reveals Himself to us that we can truly begin to get an accurate picture of who He really is.
Join us in this new 10-Week series called Rooted. The goal for this experience is for you to deepen your connection with God, His Church, and your purpose in the epic story He is writing through human history. Centering around 7 Rhythms, this series is sure to inspire questions, conversations, and beyond-what-is-comfortable group experiences that are designed to help you find your story in God’s story. By rooting ourselves in God’s Word and His truths, we have a firm foundation on which we love the world. Come with an open heart and mind, and see how God will surprise you!
Invitations are a part of our daily lives. Looking at the passage in Revelation 22, Jesus invites us to enter Christ’s rest and to join Him in restoration. Take a journey with guest speaker Aaron French as he helps us understand how we can respond to Jesus’ invitation to reset our lives.
Have you ever received a gift that changed your life? In this final episode of the series of “The Gift”, Michael Eaton dives into what the result of the gift of Jesus Christ is to humanity.
When receiving a gift, we often try to figure out its purpose. Looking back on the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, Michael explores the purpose of the gift of the savior and the purpose behind Jesus’ name.
In this message, Michael begins a new series called “The Gift”. He looks at the ultimate gift - the birth of Jesus Christ. Is it a real thing or there a counterfeit in its place? Follow along as Michael breaks down the authenticity of the gift that was Jesus Christ.
In this message, Tyler wraps up the “Jesus For President” series. Looking at the last two verses of Matthew 7, we learn about the response of the people and the final words Jesus speaks in His famous Sermon on the Mount.
Do you often worry in your life? Who is your master? In this episode, BCC Intern, Noah Crouch, dives into Jesus’s instructions from His Sermon on the Mount instructing us not to worry about anything in our lives. Follow along as Noah unveils three key questions and responses to stack ourselves against when life throws worry our way.
Our nation is more divided than ever. Republican or Democratic? Trump or Biden? In this political season, we can take hope knowing that Jesus is the one reigning as our King. So what does it look like to follow Him? In this week's sermon, we begin a 5-week series looking at the Jesus' upside down campaign speech to his disciples in his Sermon on the Mount. David Diener • Jesus for President • Matthew 5:1-12
On Father's Day, we took a look at the heart of our heavenly Father. In today's message, Solomon has a conversation about what God's Word has to say about race and how followers of Jesus can respond.
Join us as we look back on the 175 years of God's faithfulness to His people and look forward to where He is calling us next!
In the final sermon of the Upside Down Kingdom series, Solomon takes one last look at the King of the Kingdom...Jesus. A King like none other. A King who chose to wear a crown of thorns on his head. A King who freely died so that His people would live.
It seems like everywhere we go there are signs that tell us if someone isn't like us, they don't belong. This is not the case in God's Kingdom. In this week's message, Solomon reveals the inclusive nature of God's Upside Down Kingdom. Jesus died to reconcile people back to God!
Sometimes we think that this life is all about us...but it's not. In today's message, Solomon shares that God's Kingdom was established for His Glory, not ours. God deserves the glory, not us!
Is it possible to be too generous? We live in a world that says you get what you earn. But Matthew chapter 20 demonstrates the radically generosity found in the Kingdom of God.
Self-interest unites all humanity yet Jesus showed us another way. What does greatness look like in the Kingdom of God? Find out what the Bible says about it in this sermon!
Solomon continues the series, "Upside Down Kingdom," as he looks at how Jesus put others first in his words and actions.
Solomon continues our current series by diving into the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God. This week, Solomon discusses the idea that in God's Kingdom more is less, and less is more.
What is the Kingdom of God? And who is the king of this Kingdom? Find out in the first message of our brand new sermon series, "Upside Down Kingdom".
In the midst of our darkness, we have the light of Easter Sunday. In this year's Easter sermon, we look to the cross. It reminds us that we are not alone and that God cares about what we are going through.
In this Palm Sunday message, Solomon takes a glance back at the final hours of Jesus' time on earth leading up to the cross.
Every human being has a destiny with death. What really happens when we die? We all have questions centered on this topic, and Solomon addresses these questions in this week's message.
How do we live a life of faith instead of a life of fear? In light of who God is and what he promises, we can let go of fear and unconditionally trust God! Solomon begins the series, "Fear < Less" with a message on overcoming fear in our lives.
What does the Lord care about in our lives? It's not the things we tend to pursue. Find out in this week's sermon from Micah 6.
How can we call on the name of God when he doesn't feel close? How can we hold on to faith when we have so many questions? And how do all of our faith questions connect to our forgetfulness as humans? Nate takes a look at these questions and more as he dives into the importance of remembrance.
The past two months of sermons have been focused on dissecting the Lord's Prayer. In today's message, Ryan takes what we have been learning and helps us put it into action. He turns to Luke 5 to show us that prayer is all about letting down your net.
Temptations. We all face them on a daily basis. In this week's sermon, Solomon continues where he left off in the Lord's Prayer by looking at the importance of acknowledging our sins in the future.
As a follower of Jesus, it is important to acknowledge our past sins. In this message, Solomon continues the series on the Lord's Prayer as he discusses what the Bible says about praying for the forgiveness of our sins.
As we continue the series, "Your Kingdom Come," centered on the Lord's Prayer, the focus shifts to our daily needs. Solomon points to the reality that everything we have comes from the hand of a gracious God!
There is one thing that humans want more than anything else on earth...control. David challenges us to release our control to God as we seek for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.
When's the last time you've used the word, "hallowed"? In this sermon, Solomon defines this word for us and gives us a bigger picture of the God who holds the name above all names.
Solomon picks up where he left off in the "Your Kingdom Come," series by looking at how powerful our God actually is.
How do we address the God of the universe in prayer? Jesus tells us to start by calling him, Father. As Solomon continues the series on the Lord's Prayer, he reminds us that our God wants to know us intimately.
Prayer isn't measured by how polished or public our words are but rather by the authenticity of our prayers. In today's message, Solomon points to Jesus' definition of prayer: Real people...talking to a very real God...about real life.
In the last message of 2019, Tyler challenges us to recapture the picture of Jesus found in the book of Revelation. Sometimes we need to take a look at the risen Christ with fresh eyes.
Can I change the trajectory of my life? The answer to that question is answered in this sermon as Solomon finishes his series on the Ghosts of Christmas.
As we continue the series, Ghosts of Christmas, Ryan Keim looks at the life of Scrooge from the classic, A Christmas Carol. As he dives into the story, Ryan asks us the question, "Who are you influencing? And what are you influencing them with?" He turns to God's Word to help us in that conversation.
In this message, Solomon begins a new series called, "Ghosts of Christmas". He looks at a classic redemption story, " A Christmas Carol," in light of the greatest redemption story ever told.
We are called to be rich toward God, but God doesn’t merely what something from us. He wants something FOR us. Solomon ends the Rich Toward God series reminding us that God wants the same thing as us when it comes to our money.
In week 3 of the Rich Toward God Series, Solomon challenges us to see our resources as God sees them and to respond in the way that God would respond.
For many of us, one of the most difficult things to trust God in is our financial resources. God wants us to be faithful with our money, and one of the ways we show this faithfulness is through giving generously.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus talks a lot about money! He wants His people to have abundant life and speaks into things that try to derail people from having that kind of life in Him. Solomon begins the series, Rich Toward God, by looking at what it means to trust God with our money.
As a follower of Jesus, there is one destination that we are all moving towards. Solomon discusses this and more in the final sermon of the Followship series.
At Bachelor Creek, we are about one thing: Following Jesus. And we recognize that the same Spirit that was within Jesus is also within His followers. In this message, Nate Plyler looks at what this means for us today and how we can serve like Jesus served.
Has there ever been a question that you felt like you needed to ask someone that you didn’t have the courage to ask them? As we continue the Followship series, Solomon challenges us to confidently invest and invite others into a life-changing relationship with Jesus because God is more concerned about the lost and He is about the found.
What is the cost of giving? Ryan Keim takes a look at this question from a biblical perspective in week 6 of the Followship series.
At Bachelor Creek, our mission is to make and grow disciples of Jesus which is taken directly from Matthew 28:19-20. So what does it look like to grow in Christ? This week in the Followship series, Solomon shows us that growth in Christ comes in doing life together.
Solomon continues the series on Followship by discussing what it means to connect with God daily. What is your motivation in connecting with God on a regular basis?
In week 3 of the Followship series, Solomon begins to answer the question, “What does the life of someone look like who is following Jesus well?” There are six core qualities that tend to define the lives of Christ-followers. The first quality found in those who follow Jesus is that they worship regularly. Faithful followers worship faithfully.
Our goal for every person who identifies Bachelor Creek as their spiritual home is to help you look like, act like, talk like, serve like, and love like Jesus. So how do we follow Jesus, our leader? Find out in week 2 of the Followship series.
In this message, Solomon begins a new series titled, Followship. The word Followship is centered on the expectations Jesus has for those who are going to follow Him.
How can we encourage others from a distance? Prayer is the best thing we can do to encourage people! We all would agree with this statement but it doesn’t always play out practically in our lives. Solomon challenges us to put our beliefs into practice in the final sermon from the Life of Encouragement series.
Solomon dives into the New Testament letter, 2 Timothy, as he continues the current Life of Encouragement series. Onesiphorus encouraged his brothers and sisters in Christ by showing up. We can encourage others in the same way.
Christians constantly need to be encouraged. In the New Testament, we are given one command over and over again. Encourage one another. In this message, Solomon continues the conversation about the importance of encouragement in our lives.
As followers of Jesus, our lives should be characterized as encouragers. Also, when we encourage others, we deliver life into their daily lives and motivate them to grow closer to Jesus. Solomon begins the Life of Encouragement series by looking at what God’s Word says about the importance of encouragement.
The family ministry team at Bachelor Creek encourages all of us to "imagine the end" for the next generation. Who do we want the next generation of students to become? Tyler, David, Janet, and Nate answer this and more in a panel-style discussion.
Looking out for #1 seems to be the norm in our culture. The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes points out the reality of how empty a human life is when it evaluates self over others. In the final message from the Friendship Mixtape series, Solomon discusses the wisdom of friendship.
In week 2 of the Friendship Mixtape series, Solomon continues in the book of Proverbs as he reveals the ugly side of friendship.
We are wired to be relational. And our lives are influenced by the friends who we are the closest to. Solomon talks about the power of faithful friends in week 2 of the Friendship Mixtape series.
Over the next four weeks, we will be in a series called Friendship Mixtape. In this series, our lead pastor, Solomon David, will be splicing together all the wisdom from Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes to find the perfect friendship mix.
How can God forgive me when I can’t even forgive myself? Guest speaker, Chad Kirtlan, discusses our need for forgiveness in the last sermon of the Asking for a Friend series.
What if I’ve been wounded by the church? So many people have been hurt by “bad Christians”, and the wounds inflicted by Jesus followers tend to cut the deepest. Solomon digs into the reality that the church is made of broken people who are in need of grace and forgiveness just like anyone else.
Is Jesus a Liar, Lunatic, or Lord? Jesus Christ is inarguably the most important person in the human race. Jesus has also become one of the most controversial people in history. In week 6 of the Asking for a Friend series, Solomon looks at why this is the case and challenges us to take seriously Jesus’ claim that he is Lord.
What happens when I die? When it comes to questions about faith and life, they don’t get any bigger than this. Solomon continues the Asking for a Friend series by uncovering what the Bible says about death.
How do we know God exists? The Scriptures intentionally leave room for doubt and don’t give us all the answers because we are called to have faith. Solomon shows us how we can have a confident faith based on what we know about our God.
Why would a good God allow pain and suffering? Does pain and suffering prove the non-existence of God? Nothing shows your theological beliefs more than being thrown in the furnace of life. As Solomon continues the Asking for a Friend series, he dives deeper into these questions by studying the story that God is telling throughout Scripture.
Why do we sing? The Creator made us, His creation, creative. Our worship minister, Michael Eaton, discusses why we sing in the latest sermon from the Asking for a Friend series.
Sometimes we are scared to ask the difficult questions, especially at church. At Bachelor Creek, we believe church should be the place you feel comfortable asking those questions! In the Asking for a Friend series, we will look at the tough questions we are sometimes afraid to ask. In week 1 of the series, Solomon turns to God’s Word to answer the question, “Are Faith and Science Compatible?”
Jesus is Alive! He is Risen! In 2019’s Easter message, Solomon shares the hope of Easter through the most popular verse found in Scripture.
In the final sermon from The Gift, Solomon shares one of the most comforting aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
If you could ask God to do whatever you wanted, what would it be? Do you believe God is able to do whatever you want? Through the story of Abraham and Sarah we learn that with God, anything is possible.
The world idolizes perfection. But what does Jesus have to say about this? Along with the idea that everyone is welcome, Jesus’ dream and vision for the Church is that it would be a place where people regularly and genuinely say “nobody is perfect”.
What does it mean to be a “dangerous church”? Join us as we take a dive into Jesus’ bold statement and the vision He has for the church which is found in Matthew 16:18. This vision starts with the Church being a place where everyone is welcome. Through this message, Jesus shows the early church, and the church today, that people matter to God. Which people? ALL PEOPLE.