In God We Trust | Gratitude | March 5

Sermon by Ant Frederick on March 5, 2023.

The Bible, and Jesus in particular, have an awful lot to say about money and resources. One commentator says there are over 2,000 references to material wealth in Scripture. Jesus spoke more about money than he did about faith and prayer combined. In fact, Jesus goes so far as to say that our approach to money is a primary indicator of the health of our hearts.

So how do we think and live well with our money? How can we learn from Scripture to get our financial house in order and, in the process, help our hearts to flourish in the Kingdom of God?

WEEK 1 HOMEWORK

Spend some time reflecting and journaling through the questions below. If you are married, then discuss these questions with your spouse.

• What is your financial story? How does your family treat money?

• Where have you experienced seasons of financial strength or hardship?

• What is your overall perspective and attitude towards money (Do you want more of it? Does it make you scared or nervous? Do you stress out because of it? Etc.)? 

• What purchases do you make to fill a perceived need in your life? Where are you tempted to overspend?

• Read Luke 12:15-21. What do you think it looks like to be rich toward God? If someone looked at your bank account, would they naturally conclude that you are rich toward God? Why or why not? 

• Read Luke 12:32-34. What does it mean to provide yourself with treasures in heaven? Where are you sacrificing potential treasures here on earth in order to send your treasure forward to heaven? How might you grow in generosity through this series?

• Are there any beliefs, attitudes, or actions you currently have regarding money that you know are unhealthy or sinful? Where do you hope to see your life grow in light of this series?

• This week, regularly ask God to remind you that your identity is found in him, with true security and significance

Upon This Rock | Forever and Ever, Amen | February 26

Sermon by Ant Frederick on February 26, 2023.

Scripture does not tell us how Peter’s life ended, but we are told in John 21 by Jesus the kind of death Peter would die. Somebody would stretch out his arms, and he would be crucified just like his Lord for preaching the gospel. In the end, Peter lived what he told us in 1 Peter 5. His last act was an act of humbling himself before the Lord. As he suffered and died, he cast his anxieties on the one he knew cared for him. He knew that crucifixion was the way Jesus conquered Satan, so he was okay with facing the same fate and even facing execution through a wooden cross. He knew he wasn’t the only one. Other friends, disciples, and, most importantly, his Lord had already walked that path. What a beautiful example for us to follow. What a solid foundation for us to build our lives.

Upon This Rock | The Bad Won’t Last Forever | February 19

Sermon by Ant Frederick on February 19, 2023.

In light of 1 Peter 5:10, suffering does not have the final word. Nothing bad lasts forever if you are in Christ. So what does it look like to remember this and rehearse our hopes?

Upon This Rock | Know You Are Not Alone | February 12

Due to one of our pastors being sick there was no sermon on Feb. 12.

The second half of 1 Peter 5:9 reminds us we are not alone in our suffering. While the devil wants to isolate us in our pain, the good news is we belong to a vast family of Christians throughout the world who have faced the same struggles and more.

Upon This Rock | Resist Him, Firm in Your Faith | February 5

Sermon by Ant Frederick on February 5, 2023

In 1 Peter 5:9, the call for us to resist Satan and stand firm means that, in Christ, we are not helpless - against Satan, against addiction, against long-term sin patterns, against anything. So what does that look like practically?

Upon This Rock | Stay Sober | January 29

Sermon by Wayne Penn Jr. on January 29, 2023

In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re given some sobering news: a powerful, spiritual enemy seeks to destroy you. If we knew just how deceptive this enemy was, how would we live differently than we are now?

Upon This Rock | Cast All Your Anxieties on Him | January 22

Sermon by Garrison Weiner on January 22, 2023

The second command Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:6-11 is to “cast your anxieties on Him.” The invitation here is to put all of our cares into perspective, to hand them off to someone capable of sustaining you, even when the cares feel overwhelming.

Upon This Rock | Humble Yourselves | January 15

Sermon by Adam Gibson on January 15, 2023

Peter's first command in 1 Peter 5:6-11 is "humble yourselves." Humility is the posture of not seeking to sinfully elevate yourself over others. This passage says that if you go in the direction of humility, that's the path of blessing, flourishing, and wholeness.

Upon This Rock | January 8

Sermon by JayWill on January 8, 2023

Finding your way towards spiritual health in the chaos of modern life can prove quite difficult, and when you survey the landscape of mental health in our culture things don't get any rosier. It can feel like solid ground to stand on is hard to come by, so we are taking a season to study and meditate on five simple verses that offer a robust Christian worldview pulled from the life of Peter--a place to stand against the winds and lies around us--not only so we can stand, but so we can offer much needed hope and stability to those in our neighborhoods and workplaces.