Georges Creek Sermons

1 Peter 3:13-22Main Question: How should we respond when we suffer for righteousness sake?-We must shift our perspective heavenward.-We must fear dishonoring God more than we fear displeasing man.-We must hold fast to integrity, even when is cost us.Main Idea: We can persevere in suffering for righteousness sake because Christ has already secured the victory.Scripture References:1 Peter 3:13-22Matthew 5:11-12Luke 6:26Galatians 1:10Matthew 10:28Colossians 2:15

Main Idea: Christlike responses don't come from behavior modification, but from gospel transformation.Main Question: How does the gospel transform our responses when we're wronged?The gospel reshapes who you are before it redirects what you do.The gospel frees you to release the reflex to retaliate and trust in God instead.The gospel reframes our understanding of the good life.

What is the impact should we choose to Omit instead of Commit the commands given to us in scripture?As believers we have given the ultimate responsibility to carry out the ultimate mission by the ultimate authority.Jesus did not commit us to the "What" and omit the "How".Jesus doesn't give us the "What" and the "How" and omit the "Who".Jesus doesn't give us the "What" and the "How" and the "Who" and omit the metric to measure success.

What best explains the empty tomb?The only explanation for the disciples' transformation is the resurrection.Stealing Jesus' body would have produced the very thing they were trying to prevent. The best explanation for the empty tomb is the bodily resurrection of Jesus

Christ CrucifiedBMatthew 27:32-56Main Idea: Jesus endured the agony of the cross to secure our eternal salvation.*Jesus fully committed to suffering for your sin because He was fully committed to saving you from your sin.*Jesus was forsaken so that we would never have to be.*Jesus didn't die to make salvation a possibility for His people, but a certainty for His people.Scripture References: Matthew 27:32-56, Habakkuk 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Who is responsible for the death of Christ?Christ was condemned due to cowardly compromise.Christ was condemned because people preferred to get rid of Him rather than submit to Him.Until you accept the blame, you cannot receive the blessings.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study

What do you think Jesus came into your life to do?Jesus came to save souls, not systems.Jesus's teachings are prophetic, not peaceful.Jesus's authority is eternal, not earthly.Jesus is not what we expect, but far beyond what we need.

Main Question: If our flesh is weak and God requires perfection, how can anyone be saved?*God's intentions are an insufficient Savior.*Overconfidence will often lead to compromise.Main Idea: Certainty of Salvation does not depend on a willing spirit, but on a willing Savior.Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:48, Matthew 26:31-46

How can we be sure that our faith is genuine?Main Idea: Our faith will be sure when we focus on Jesus instead of ourselvesWe can trust in the sovereignty of GodTruly believe Jesus is who He says He isAccept Jesus' sacrifice for us

Main Question: Is Jesus worth our worship and our lives?Costly worship will always look wasteful to people who don't see Jesus clearly.Nothing is more urgent than rightly responding to Jesus now.Main Idea:Worship is never wasted because Jesus is worthy of it all.

1 Peter 1:22-25Main Idea: The children of God love like God loves.Main Question: What does it look like to love like God loves?*Christian love is not a role we play it's a reality we live.*Christian love is not casual; it's costly.*Christian love is not temporary; it's enduring.

We must intentionally discipline ourselves in holiness because no one drifts towards holiness.How do we discipline ourselves in holiness?Discipline in holiness begins by developing a mindset that earnestly desires holiness.Discipline in holiness is motivated by a desire to honor our Father.Discipline in holiness is sustained by reverent awe for the cost of our redemption.

Main Idea: All trials are temporary and necessary for our growth in Christlikeness.Main Question: What do we need to know to help us endure the trials of this life?Every trial God allows is a trial God intends to use.What God gives us in Christ is far greater than anything the world could ever take from us.

Main Question: How can we have hope whileliving as exiles in a fallen world? The world cannot undo what God hasalready accomplished. Worldly hope depends on outcomes, butliving hope depends on an empty tomb. What God promises, He protects—and Heprotects the people to whom He promised it.Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 1:1-5 Philippians 3:20 John 6 & 16, 1 Corithians 2 Ephesians 2 John 6:39,40 Romans 6:23

Main Question: If all I have is vanity, what should I hold on to?In the face of death, we must not hold on to what we are or what we do.While the dead have nothing to hold, the living hold onto hope.Main Idea: While death is certain, so are hope andjoy for the living.Scripture References: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, 8:14 Proverbs 10:9,27 Ephesians 2:10 Romans 6:23 1 Timothy 1:1 Colossians 1:27 Romans 5:2-5 Matthew 15:26-27 James 4:17 John 10:28-29

Main Idea: The people of God receive the blessingsof God to use for the purposes of God.Main Question: What causes people to rob Godtoday? We rob God when our trust is based on ourcircumstances rather than God’s character. We rob God when we make obediencetransactional and conditional. Return to God before you return anything toGod. Trust God enough to obey Him where itfeels risky. Live like God sees, remembers, and rewardsyour faithfulness.

Before God confronts the sin in the world, He first confronts the sin in usWhat should we expect when God confronts our sin?God confronts our sin by exposing our distorted view of justiceGod confronts our sin by subjecting us to the fires of refinement in order to spare us from the fires of judgmentRefining is personal, not mechanicalRefining is purposeful, not randomRefining is protective, not punitive

When bad things happen, how can we respond and thrive because of them?3 props to lean on:Assurance of abiding faith in GodAwareness of a purpose being servedAnticipation of a reward waiting for me

Main Idea: If we misrepresent God, we will misleadpeople.Main Question: What causes us to misrepresentGod today? If we aren’t faithfully following God, wewon’t be able to help others follow Him. We misrepresent God when we measureourselves by the wrong standard. We misrepresent God when we tell peoplewhat they want to hear rather than what theyneed to hear.

Main Idea: God is too great to be given less than our best.Main Question: What does it look like to give God less than our best?A diminished view of God always leads to dishonoring worship of God.What we offer to God reveals what we believe about God.Half-hearted worship is more burdensome to God than it is to you.

Main Question: What does God want His people to know about His love? If we base God’s love on our circumstances, We will never have assurance. God’s love for His people is special. God’s love for His people is unchanging.

We must be prepared to go at a moment's notice.You can't borrow someone else's preparationBe ready to go when He comes and be faithful to serve until He does.It's not about how much you have but what you do with what you have been given.The reward for faithful service is greater responsibility.

You can't claim to love Jesus if you don't love His people

CTW: Psalm 47:5-9Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:31-39Sermon: Ephesians 6:10-12

Mathew 23:29-39

How do we hold onto our faith until the end?Remember the faith of Christians before us.Get rid of whatever slows you down.Look to Jesus as our ultimate example.

What are the characteristics of Spiritual Blindness?Spiritual Blindness prioritizes religious adherence above a personal relationship.Spiritual Blindness twists God's Word to serve its own agenda.Spiritual Blindness majors in the minors.

What is our responsibility in an evil world?

Main Idea: Greatness in God's kingdom is measured by humble service, not worldly status. Main Question: How can we tell the difference between godly service and worldly status? Worldly status thrives by bringing others down, but godly servants strive to bring others up. Worldly status lives for the approval of others, but godly servants live for an audience of one. Worldly status seeks to be exalted, but godly servants choose the path of humility.

Main Idea: If we don’t get the Word right, we won’t get God right.Main Question: What’s the danger of getting God’s Word wrong?When we undervalue the Word, we will underestimate God’s power.When we misunderstand the Word, we will misrepresent God’s priorities.When we don’t rightly understand God’s Word, we will misrepresent God’s Son.

Main Question: What is a Christian's Responsibility to God and Government?We must render submission to Caesar and never compromise obedience to God.We must render to God all that we are and have and never compromise our devotion.

Main Idea: True faith isn’t about living a perfectlife but trusting in a perfect God.Main Question: How can imperfect people deepentheir trust in our perfect God? Just because God is silent doesn’t mean Heis absent.True faith can be real and still messy at thesame time. Just because you’ve fallen doesn’t meanGod can’t use you again.

We must anchor our soul in God because the slow drift of compromise leads to big collapses.

Main Idea: God will disturb your peace to deliver you from your compromise.Main Question: How does God disturb our peace to deliver us from compromise?· God delivers us from compromise by exposing what we’ve been excusing.· God uses our mess to move His mission forward.

Main Idea: Our distrust in the next step exposes doubt in our promised destination.Main Question: What does trusting God in life’s next step look like? God provides assurance through his Word. God refines our understanding through His timing. God steadies our steps by His light. God perfects our faith through His work. Our trust comes through faith in God’s promises.

Main Idea: When our zeal for God isn’t grounded in the truth of God, it ends in disaster. Main Question: How does misguided zeal lead to disaster?A misguided view of God always leads to misguided zeal. When your zeal for God is disconnected from the character of God, it leads to destruction.

Main Idea: God thins the ranks to deepen our faith.Main Question: How can we trust God when Hethins the ranks in our lives?God thins the ranks not to punish us withloss but to position us for growth. God strengthens our faith not by sayingsomething new, but by helping us finallybelieve what He has already said.

Main Idea: Before God uses you publicly, He first purifies you privately.Main Question: How does God purify us to be prepared to answer His call? Before revival can happen around you, repentance must happen within you. God examines private obedience before entrusting public influence. When God confirms your purification, He commissions you with a purpose.

Main Idea: God calls unlikely people and equips them with His presence to accomplish His purposes.Main Question: How can we discern and answer the call of God?When God burdens you with a cause, it’s often because He’s already been preparing you to be part of the solution.When calls you to a purpose, He sends you with His presence.

True faith depends on only one person: Jesus.True faith understands that God is sovereign over everything.True faith will lead us to join in the fight.

Main Idea: God shows us how to choose overwhelming joy over overbearing judgment.God's love for His children is stronger than our sin and rebellion.God's love for His children is patient enough to let us learn from our choices.God's joy for our future exceeds the shame of our past.It's possible to be in the house of the Father but not yet in the family of the Father.The heart of God is joy in repentance not judgment for past choices.

Main Idea: God calls His people to stop feeding the flesh and, by His strength, put it to death.Main Question: How do we put the flesh to death? In order to kill the flesh, you must use the sword of God’s Word.We overcome the flesh through the victory of God’s Savior.

Main Idea: If we don’t learn from the cycle of Judges, we’ll fall into the pattern of Judges.Main Question: What causes us to fall into the pattern of Judges? When we allow small areas of disobedience, it often leads to large areas of disaster. One generation’s compromise becomes the next generation’s standard.

Main Question: Who will be at the Son’s wedding feast?Being invited isn’t the same as being in.Those we expect to be included at the feast might actually be excluded.The invitation is radically inclusive, but entrance is distinctly exclusive.Main Idea: Many are invited into God’s kingdom, but only those clothed in the righteousness of Christ may join the celebration.

Revelation 21

Main Idea: Jesus isn’t looking for spiritual subscribers but surrendered followers.Main Question: What’s the difference between spiritual subscribers and surrendered followers? Spiritual subscribers resist Jesus’ authority to the degree that it threatens their own. Spiritual subscribers reject truth to the degree that it endangers their image.

Revelation 6

Main Pont: To know Jesus correctly we must know scripture correctly.The truth of Scripture leads us from hoping in Jesus to trusting in Jesus.Every part of Scripture points to Jesus.We should study Scripture expecting God to do something amazing.

1 King 19:11-21