Back Creek Church | Charlotte, NC

What Are You Looking For? (1 John 1:1-4)

The Christian faith is objective reality and ultimate relationship.

Easter 2024: Resurrection Reality (Luke 24:1-12)

If the resurrection of Jesus is reality, it's time to change our expectations.  If resurrection is reality, the last will be first.  If resurrection is reality, the dead will be alive. If resurrection is reality, the world will be changed. 

Rooted In Christ: Church (Colossians 4:7-18)

Salvation, transformation, proclamation - we're all in this together! We are the Church. In these final greetings, Paul models and commends at least seven characteristics of a church growing more deeply rooted in Christ: Affection Affirmation Reconciliation Communication Hospitality Unity Service

Rooted In Christ: Proclamation (Colossians 4:2-6)

Gospel transformation brings Gospel proclamation by changing our posture (inward focus to outward focus) and our participation in God's mission - we prepare with prayer, walk with wisdom, and speak with saltiness.

Rooted In Christ: Transformation Pt. 2 (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

We need all of Christ for all of life. He is our Savior and the Lord of all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities: As husbands and wives As children and parents As workers and bosses

Rooted In Christ: Transformation (Colossians 3:5-17)

The root of the Gospel is Christ. The fruit of the Gospel in change. In Colossians 3:5-17, the Apostle Paul calls us to seek transformation by killing sin and living Christ.

Rooted in Christ: Glory (Colossians 3:1-4)

We are naturally inclined and oriented to this world and the things in it. But they can't bear the weight of glory. We need a reorientation of our glory (our identity, our honor, our pursuit, our satisfaction) to that which is actually glorious. Being rooted in Christ reorients our glory. The Apostle Paul teaches us to reorient our glory by dwelling on our past, our present, and our future in Christ. 

Rooted in Christ: Victory (Colossians 2:6-23)

If we are rooted in Christ, we can walk in victory... victory over the world victory over  the flesh victory over the devil  

Rooted in Christ: Community (Colossians 2:1-5)

We are called to fight for community by - struggling for one another's encouragement - struggling for one another's belonging - struggling for one another's assurance - struggling for one another's good

Rooted in Christ: Mission (Colossians 1:24-29)

We have a mission.  Three essential parts of our mission:  The cost of our mission: a ministry of suffering and stewardship The content of our mission: a mystery of riches to be revealed The culmination of our mission: a maturity in wisdom and work

Rooted in Christ: Hope (Colossians 1:13-23)

What is the hope of the Gospel?  The One who is above everything (Jesus) has done everything so you can have everything and overcome everything.

Rooted in Christ: Prayer (Colossians 1:9-12)

The Apostle Paul prays for the local church in Colossae and provides a model for us to pray for our church (to grow).  Pray for your church to grow full of wisdom (1:9) Pray for your church to grow fruitful in works (1:10) Pray for your church to grow fortified for the walk (1:11-12)

Rooted in Christ: Gospel (Colossians 1:1-8)

Thank God for the root and the fruit of the Gospel.  The root of the Gospel is Christ, as we receive and rest in him alone. The fruit of the Gospel is change, as we are transformed by grace and bear fruit of faith, hope, and love.  

Rooted In Christ (Colossians 2:6-7)

Are you rooted in Christ? In this first message on Paul's letter to the Colossians, we unearth the essence of being firmly planted in faith. As we navigate Colossians 2:6-7, we see the deep connection Paul fostered with the Colossian believers through Epaphras's ministry, and we confront the allure of the "Jesus plus" gospel that threatened their spiritual stability. We share insights on why having a foundation in Christ alone is not just necessary, but life-changing. This passage reminds us...

Promises: Full Joy (John 15:1-17)

Promises: A Place for Us (John 14:1-6)

Promises: The Helper (John 14:25-27

Promises: Greater Works (John 14:12-14)

"whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." - Jesus

Promises: Abundant Life (John 10:10-11)

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.   - Jesus

Promises: Tribulation (John 16:33)

Jesus promises that in this world we will have tribulation, but we can have a conquering peace because he has overcome the world.

Promises: Eternal Life (John 3:16)

Those who are in Christ are loved forever and will live forever.

Promises: Promises (2 Peter 1:3-11)

The Burden Is Too Heavy (Numbers 11)

Restoration: Rest(oration) (Ruth 4:13-22)

Restoration: Finding Rest (Ruth 4:1-12)

Restoration: Waiting for Rest (Ruth 3:14-18)

Restoration: Seeking Rest (Ruth 3:1-13)

Restoration: Rumors of Rest (Ruth 2)

Restoration: No Rest for the Weary (Ruth 1)

The story of Ruth is about how God is at work in the circumstances and lives of ordinary people to restore what is broken - to bring rest to the weary, fullness to the empty, hope to the hurting. He is making all things new. But the beginning of this story is one of weariness, tragedy, and loss. We see in chapter 1 that our weariness comes from circumstances beyond our power and decisions within our power. But rest comes from the God of all power. 

Easter | Jesus Has the Keys (Revelation 1:17-18)

Death is our enemy, but a defeated enemy because of the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He has the keys. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Invite: Into Your Life (John 1:35-39)

In this series, we want to learn from Jesus and his apostles about how to engage our disciple-making mission with one very simple but powerful strategy: the invite. In this passage, Jesus provides a model for how to invite others into your life through intentionality ("the next day again..."), curiosity ("what are you seeking?), and hospitality ("come and you will see").    35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and sai...

Pilgrim Songs: Unless The Lord... (Psalm 127)

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."  Living without The Lord looks like seizing control of my life - my work, my world, through my worry - and with it vanity and anxiety. Living with The Lord looks like surrendering control of my life - and receiving meaning and purpose, rest and peace.

Pilgrim Songs: The Lord Has Done Great Things for Us (Psalm 126)

Because The Lord has done great things for us, we have the experience of his past faithfulness, the encouragement of his present faithfulness, and the expectation of his future faithfulness. 

Pilgrim Songs: Those Who Trust in The Lord (Psalm 125)

Those who trust in the Lord are secure in the Lord, surrounded by the Lord, and saved by the Lord. We express our trust through prayer for provision, protection, and peace. 

Pilgrim Songs: If It Had Not Been The Lord (Psalm 124)

Pilgrim Songs #5: If It Had Not Been The Lord (Psalm 124)

Pilgrim Songs: Have Mercy Upon Us, O Lord! (Psalm 123)

Pilgrim Songs #4: Have Mercy Upon Us, O Lord! (Psalm 123)

Pilgrim Songs: Let Us Go to the House of The Lord (Psalm 122)

Pilgrim Songs #3: Let Us Go to the House of The Lord (Psalm 122)

Pilgrim Songs: My Help Comes from The Lord (Psalm 121)

Pilgrim Songs #2: My Help Comes from The Lord (Psalm 121)

Pilgrim Songs: I Called to The Lord (Psalm 120)

Pilgrim Songs #1: I Called to The Lord (Psalm 120)

Starting Point: The Church (Romans 12:1-21)

Starting Point #5: The Church (Romans 12:1-21)

Starting Point: The Standards (Acts 15:1-35)

Starting Point #4: The Standards (Acts 15:1-35)

Starting Point: The Christian Life (Galatians 5:13-26)

Starting Point: The Christian Life (Galatians 5:13-26)

Starting Point: The Bible (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Starting Point #2: The Bible (2 Timothy 3:14-17)  

Starting Point: The Gospel (Ephesians 2:1-10)

Starting Point #1: The Gospel Starting Point is our class for those exploring membership with Back Creek Church. In this series, we take a deeper dive into that content as a helpful refresh for our members and to help our guests know better who we are and why we exist. It all starts with the Gospel. 

Easter: He Is Not Here, For He Has Risen (Matthew 28:1-10)

On the morning of the resurrection of Jesus, the women at the tomb (and through them, we) receive three invitations: Come and see! Come and worship! Go and tell!

Persecuted: The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:27-66)

For Jesus to have been persecuted unto death must have looked and felt to everyone involved - both his followers and his enemies - that he had lost and his enemies had won. But persecution means the opposite of how it looks and feels! The darkest hour in human history - this trial of weakness, mocking, humiliation, crucifixion, condemnation, and death - meant the decisive victory of God over sin, Satan, and death and full atonement for God's people! Jesus may have been too weak to carry his...

Persecuted: The Crowds (Matthew 27:15-26)

Those who persecuted Christ and those who persecute His Church do so because they are deceived by the evil one - we see this in the crowds who shouted "crucify him!" Because they were deceived, the crowds rejected Jesus. Because they were deceived, the crowds released Barabbas. Because they were deceived the crowds received judgment. Recognizing the reality of deception should help us in the way we see ourselves (as vulnerable to deception), the way we see our enemies (deceived by the de...

Persecuted: The Cowards (Matthew 26:47-27:31)

Jesus not only prepares us to endure persecution for His sake, He endured persecution for our sake. In Matthew 26:47-27:31, we see Jesus face persecution from cowards who had the opportunity to honor Him, but chose instead to participate through: Betrayal (Judas) Abandonment (Disciples) Denial (Peter) Abstaining (Pilate) Mocking (Soldiers) Yet, ultimately we must realize that we are as responsible as these cowards for the persecution and death of Jesus - through which God has brought s...

Persecuted: The Council (Matthew 26:57-68)

Jesus taught that those who were persecuted for his sake would be blessed. And Jesus himself endured persecution from the most revered and respected men in his community - the council of the Sanhedrin, with all their civil, social, and religious power, would seek to kill him from false motives, by false witness, with false judgment. A disciple is not above his master, so we can expect to face this kind of persecution as well, and seek to endure it in emulation of our Savior. 

Blessed: The Persecuted (Matthew 5:10)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake - Jesus expects us to face persecution as we seek to live as citizens of His kingdom in the hostile kingdom of this world. And how does he teach us to respond to persecution arising from irreconcilable value systems? Not with retaliation for, retreat from, or reveling in our persecution - but rejoicing! Why? Because the reward is the reaffirmation of our faith (we suffer on Christ's account) and our future (your reward is great in ...