Back Creek Church | Charlotte, NC

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. 

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!

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 said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

John 1:35-39

"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.

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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!