Woodcreek Church

Jesus made it very clear that if you and I want to line up with him; if we really want to follow him then our life needs to be characterized by surrender. And Jesus shows us how. (Luke 9:23, 24; Matthew 26:42, 52, 53; Matthew 27:32-44)

In the story of the Calming of the storm in Luke 8:22-25 the disciples concluded they were in an impossible situation and they paniced. Jesus' only question to them as a group was "Where is your faith?" That is the question Jesus asks each one of us. (Lk. 8:22-25)

Jesus modeled obedience. Jesus taught obedience. Our only appropriate response should be to obey. We will obey for many different reasons, but ultimately it is because we love Jesus and are becoming more like him.

Because we are the most forgiven people in the world, we should be the most forgiving. Jesus provided great lessons and a great example about the priority and practice of forgiveness. (Matthew 5:23, 24; Matthew 6:12, 14,15; Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:31, 32)

If times of solitude were so important and necessary for Jesus, why do we think we can live without them in our own lives? Jesus not only models the importance of solitude but also gives us some lessons to guide its practice. (Luke 4:42; 5:15, 16; 6:12; 9:28; 22:39-42 Mark 6:30-32)

Jesus considered the Scripture as the very words of God revealing Himself to the world. Because the Scripture is the Word of God we should value and follow it as closely as Christ did when He was here on earth.

Jesus proclaims God's profound passion for the poor as a defining component of His ministry in Luke 4. His followers are bound to personally own and effectively act on that passion. (Luke 4:16-22, Isaiah 58:6-7, Job 29: 12-17)

Worship is the greatest privilege and responsibility of every disciple of Jesus Christ. It was one of Jesus' highest priorities and he tells us what it really involves. (John 4:20-24)

If Christians don't share the gospel with others, no one else will. The Republican or Democratic parties won't do it. The board of education won't. The Rotary club won't. The church has a unique calling no other organization has to share the Gospel. (Matthew 9:35-38 and John 4:1-42)

Bottom line, if we want to experience the transforming power of Christ in our lives and in our church, we need to pray more than we do. So the question is, What is that going to look like for you? I hope it looks like Jesus. (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:5-8; Matthew 7:7-11)

Jesus talked more about money than any other topic because he wanted us to understand that life is more about giving than getting. And Jesus modeled what he taught - giving his life for us. (Matthew 6:19-24; Matthew 13:44-45; Mark 14:3-9)

Observe how Jesus calls his disciples to follow him and why? What is your response to Jesus' call to follow? (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11 Luke 6:40)

The goal of every Christian is to become more and more like Christ. However, we get easily sidetracked in this process. In this New Year's sermon we are challenged to resolve to become more like Christ in 2012, no matter what it takes. (Col 1:28, 2 Cor 3:16-18, Gal 5:16-17)

Excerpts from the Christmas Morning Communion service.

When you read the Christmas Story in the Gospels, it is interesting that everyone's response to the revelation of Christ's coming was joy! Could it be that God preserved this story for us so we would have the same response? (Matthew 1, 2 and Luke 1, 2)

The birth of Christ was announced by a choir of angels proclaiming that peace had come to mankind.  But as we look on mankind today there seems to be very little peace.  This message explores the places where the Bible says we can find and expect peace. (Luke 2:8-14; Isaiah 9:6)

These last verses in Colossians remind us that there are no little people in the Kingdom of God.  We all matter and our contribution counts.  It also reminds us of the value of "Team." (Colossians 4:7-18)

The health and impact of the Church is not dependent on more buildings, parking lots or programs. Rather, it is depends on more committed prayer and a more contagious witness in the lives of its people. (Colossians 4:3-6)

"It is only through a strong prayer life that we find God's presence real, His power felt, His will clear, and His service easy." W.H. Griffith Thomas

You may not actually be a slave but you might feel like your boss treats you like one.  This passage  has direct application for us today in that most of us are either employees or employers.  Col 3:22-4:1 contains principles for all of us and our jobs. (Col 3:22-4:1)