As our church prepares for 2024, we seek God’s help through His Word to navigate challenging times. Through much prayer and planning, we believe this plan will serve Rocky Creek Church and the Recommission Network well.

The four main series are:

1. Psalm 119
2. I AM
3. Ecclesiastes
4. 1 Peter

📁 Sermon Spreadsheet

Here is the weekly breakdown so you can pray and plan before each Sunday.

Psalm 119

The longest chapter in the Bible speaks to our need for all chapters within it. If we desire to live a joyful, God-honoring life, we must be relentlessly dependent upon knowing and applying the Scriptures.

• 01.07.24 – Treasuring God’s Word
  • Psalm 119:1-16 – If you consider the Bible a hindrance from the life you desire, you will never value it accordingly. God’s Word is a blessing to apply and not a burden to avoid.
• 01.14.24 – Strengthening Weary Souls
  • Psalm 119:17-32 – We live in an increasingly strange world with combative critics and challenging circumstances. God has given us the Bible as an uplifting gift to strengthen our souls when we’re weary.
• 01.21.24 – Avoiding Disgraceful Endings
  • Psalm 119:33-48 – If you desire to finish strong at the end of your life, it is necessary to apply God’s Word now. To avoid a disgraceful ending, diligently learn and relentlessly stay on the scriptural paths.
• 01.28.24 – Befriending Faithful Companions
  • Psalm 119:49-64 – The company you keep will dramatically affect how well you follow biblical principles. Beware the wicked and befriend the wise.
• 02.04.24 – Interpreting God-Given Afflictions
  • Psalm 119:65-80 – The only way you can say that God does all things well is if you can accept that He does rightfully bring discipline in our lives. God can even use afflictions for our instruction.
• 02.11.24 – Investigating Biblical Inerrancy
  • Psalm 119:81-96 – This culture seeks to lead us astray from God’s truth by planting doubt and distrust in our minds. The more we investigate Scripture, the more we find it trustworthy.
• 02.18.24 – Seeking Lifelong Discipleship
  • Psalm 119:97-112 – Just because someone is seasoned does not mean they are scriptural. We need personal commitment and committed disciple-makers to follow God’s ways for the long haul.
• 02.25.24 – Rejecting Cultural Compromise
  • Psalm 119:113-128 – Our world is rampant with people who not only defy God’s Word but persecute anyone who seeks to do the opposite. We cannot compromise commandments to be accepted by our rebellious culture.
• 03.03.24 – Awakening Unmotivated Evangelists
  • Psalm 119:129-144 – The closer we become to understanding the love of God as portrayed in the Scriptures, the more we should desire others to comprehend it as well. Don’t desensitize yourself to the lostness around you.
• 03.10.24 – Prioritizing Holy Habits 
  • Psalm 119:145-160 – To maintain awareness of God’s presence, we must prioritize holy habits to reinforce that reality. Know God better through consistent time committed to spiritual disciplines.
• 03.17.24 – Experiencing Abundant Peace
  • Psalm 119:161-176 – We cannot avoid trouble in this life, but we can experience abundant peace through every trial. Keep a diligent desire to follow God’s instructions through hard times so you can endure.

I AM

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus claims to be God in the flesh by using powerful metaphors that speak to His critical attributes. Discover how Jesus came to transform your life.

• 03.24.24 – The Good Shepherd
  • John 10:11-18 – Jesus refused to flee when our endangered souls were in dire need. We marvel at the Good Shepherd who laid His life down for us on the cross to save us from our sinful wanderings.
• 03.31.24 – The Resurrection and the Life
  • John 11:17-44 – Outside of Lazarus’ tomb, it appeared as if death had claimed another victim. Jesus proved His power over death through resurrection and now invites us to come alive.
• 04.07.24 – The Bread of Life
  • John 6:22-40 – For people who desired another heavenly handout, Jesus offered Himself as the only thing to sustain us. Only through Christ can you be truly satisfied.
• 04.14.24 – The Light of the World
  • John 8:12-20 – In a world full of darkness, Jesus claimed to be the light that each of us needs. His illumination provides insight into who He is and clarity about where we should go.
• 04.21.24 – The Door
  • John 10:1-10 – Jesus is aware of the dangers of untrustworthy spiritual figures. He watches over our souls and protects us from those whose only interest in our spiritual conditions is themselves.
• 04.28.24 – The Way, the Truth, and the Life
  • John 14:1-11 – Life is short, eternity is long, and each of us will spend somewhere forever. We can confidently trust Jesus because He has prepared a place in heaven for His followers.
• 05.05.24 – The True Vine
  • John 15:1-9 – We cannot settle for a human intermediary that regulates our relationship with God. Jesus has invited us to know Him and to abide with HIm closely.

Ecclesiastes

Solomon had everything this world had to offer and was still miserably discontent. We must learn God’s perspective if we are to free ourselves from the meaningless pursuits that are rampant in our society.

• 05.12.24 – Why Life Often Seems Pointless
  • Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 – Even when King Solomon had everything, he felt it was all for nothing. No matter how personally successful you are, you will reach a place where you question the meaning of life’s pursuits.
• 05.19.24 – No Amount of Stuff Will Ever Satisfy
  • Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 – We can experience pleasures, obtain possessions, and intensify pursuits, and still feel empty inside. Even if we have all this world tries to offer, we will not find our satisfaction here.
• 05.26.24 – Temporal Experiences and Eternal Realities
  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 – Time doesn’t slow down, and experiences don’t linger. We will encounter many transitions throughout our lives, but we must prepare for our eternal state, which will not change.
• 06.02.24 – Power Corrupts, and Injustice Continues
  • Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 – As long as people have authority over others, injustice will be rampant. Political and financial influences govern our society, and these structures reveal how people often take advantage of others.
• 06.09.24 – Ambitiously Rich and Relationally Poor
  • Ecclesiastes 4:4-5:7 – You can have all this world has to offer and no one to share it with due to how you align your priorities. Ensure your life has the margin to grow relationally with God and others.
• 06.16.24 – The Danger of Discontentment
  • Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12 – Without contentment, we will protect our possessions with unhealthy perspectives. The treasures of this life are gifts from God as long as they don’t replace Him.
• 06.23.24 – Life Doesn’t Have to Be That Complicated
  • Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 – We often complicate our lives by making unwise choices. This world promises us trouble, but we don’t have to add more to it by refusing to live according to God’s ways.
• 06.30.24 – When Life’s Not Fair
  • Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 – When we see the ungodly flourish and the godly struggle, we might question God’s standard of fairness. Part of trusting God is acknowledging that we may not understand why certain things happen.
• 07.07.24 – Don’t Die Before Living
  • Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 – None of us can escape that our lives will end, but we can do something about how we take advantage of the opportunities given. Don’t overlook God’s gifts along the way.
• 07.14.24 – Don’t Do Stupid Stuff
  • Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20 – While limited to how much wisdom we can possess, we should use well what insight God grants us. God’s wisdom can help us avoid doing stupid stuff that causes pain to ourselves and others.
• 07.21.24 – Aging Well
  • Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8 – We grow older daily, which positions us closer to our final day than ever before. Age well by presently preparing for your future state.
• 07.28.24 – The Two Simple Points of Life
  • Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 – Through the meaningless troubles of life, we can find clear purpose in Solomon’s final lesson. The purpose of life comes into focus when we do the two simple things prescribed.

1 Peter

The Apostle Peter wrote to scattered disciples trying to survive in a world that contradicted the ways of Jesus. His instructions provide sanity for us as we live fully in a place we don’t belong completely.

• 08.04.24 – I Don’t Belong Here
  • 1 Peter 1:1-5 – Peter addressed his fellow disciples as exiles with the reality that this world is not our home. Given that fact, our hope must be in something beyond this life.
• 08.11.24 – Suffering Is Short-Lived
  • 1 Peter 1:6-9 – No matter how challenging our circumstances may become, all of the suffering in this world is temporary. Once we understand its limit, we can better see God’s refining process.
• 08.18.24 – All of the Bible Points to Jesus
  • 1 Peter 1:10-12 – Peter realized that Jesus fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah. Looking back over the Scriptures, we realize that the gospel was always God’s original plan.
• 08.25.24 – God Expects Holiness
  • 1 Peter 1:13-21 – Since the gospel has transformed us, our lifestyles should alter significantly. God’s perfect holiness empowers and expects our personal holiness.
• 09.01.24 – Disappointment and Deconstruction
  • 1 Peter 1:22-25 – Many people stifle their discipleship due to complex relationships in a church or mounting questions regarding the Bible. Discover how you can handle both and not wander away from the faith.
• 09.08.24 – The Do’s and Don’ts of Spiritual Growth
  • 1 Peter 2:1-3 – To see consistent spiritual growth, we must be careful to avoid interpersonal drama and pursue biblical truth. A failure to do either will cause spiritual stagnation.
• 09.15.24 – Why the Church Is Still Essential
  • 1 Peter 2:4-10 – Our culture has recently debated if a church’s services should be deemed essential during times of emergency. Through the Scripture and our experiences, we realize how necessary a church remains to be.
• 09.22.24 – Don’t Be a Hypocrite
  • 1 Peter 2:11-12 – If this world is not our home, we cannot give ourselves to every available temptation. The war against hypocrisy is important so that we don’t hinder others from seeing Jesus.
• 09.29.24 – Government and God’s People
  • 1 Peter 2:13-17 – No matter how a government treats Christians, Scripture commands us to respond in God-honoring ways. God has made His will very clear regarding how we should respond to civil authorities.
• 10.06.24 – Jesus and Our Jobs
  • 1 Peter 2:18-25 – Our jobs will be difficult, but we don’t have to make them extra complex by misaligned behavior. Look to Christ as the guide for responding to challenging work environments.
• 10.13.24 – The Loudest Message a Wife Should Give
  • 1 Peter 3:1-6 – If a wife desires to get a message across to her husband, she may require an unconventional approach to be successful. Discover how the Bible encourages women to speak volumes without saying a word.
• 10.20.24 – The Strongest Attitude a Husband Should Show
  • 1 Peter 3:7 – Our society is full of toxic masculinity that disrespects and disregards women. Discover how the Bible expects men to live with their wives in a uniquely countercultural way.
• 10.27.24 – Living the Good Life
  • 1 Peter 3:8-12 – We all seek to have good days and experience some form of the good life described by society. Scripture gives us clear instructions to attempt if we desire to see better days.
• 11.03.24 – Christian Civility Among Political Insanity
  • 1 Peter 3:13-17 – In a super-charged political society, our confidence is not in parties, platforms, or persons, but our hope is in Jesus. Prioritize your gospel witness in a hostile culture as you keep a clear conscience.
• 11.10.24 – The Chasm Between God and Humanity
  • 1 Peter 3:18-22 – Our sin created a great chasm, but Jesus’s death can truly bring us to God. Jesus’ willingness to suffer provides our salvation to enjoy and our purpose to share.
• 11.17.24 – When a Culture Pressures Unrestrained Behaviors
  • 1 Peter 4:1-6 – Our culture seems shocked and annoyed if Christians don’t join or support expressions of wild living. It is better to suffer for refusing temptation than it will be for those who embrace defiance.
• 11.24.24 – How to Live in the End Times
  • 1 Peter 4:7-11 – None of us know when Jesus will return, but we know the time is approaching. As it draws near, discover the proactive priorities Christians should keep.
• 12.01.24 – Unusual Responses to Unavoidable Suffering
  • 1 Peter 4:12-19 – While the tendency is to respond to suffering with complaints, Scripture encourages us to rejoice instead. Suffering is unavoidable, but our response is supposed to be unusually hopeful.
• 12.08.24 – The Shepherding We Need
  • 1 Peter 5:1-5 – God gathers His people together because He knows sheep need a shepherd. In His wisdom, He calls leaders to imitate the chief Shepherd so they can serve as examples to the entire flock.
• 12.15.24 – God Exalts, and Satan Devours
  • 1 Peter 5:6-9 – God has a plan to lift us up, but Satan has another plan to take us down. We must learn the path of humility to continue firm in the faith, undeterred by our enemy’s plans.
• 12.22.24 – God and Sinners Reconciled
  • 1 Peter 5:10-11 – Just as humanity awaited a Savior to come once before, we now anticipate the return of Christ to usher in His eternal glory. God and sinners will finally and completely be reconciled.
• 12.29.24 – Stand Firm Together
  • 1 Peter 5:12-14 – God does not intend us to navigate the challenging paths of this life alone. If we are to endure to the end, we must commit to standing firm but doing so together.