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Paul killed believers, then met Jesus. Could he really forget? Pastor Chris shows how Paul faced the memory that haunted him, and how we can turn our regrets into resolve. Pastor Chris wraps up the Regret series with a question: what do we do when regrets resurface after God has forgiven us? He explains that conviction from the Holy Spirit looks back at unconfessed sin and moves us forward, while condemnation looks back at forgiven sin and pulls us backward. We resist condemnation with Scripture, as Jesus did in the wilderness. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and in Isaiah 43:25 God says he remembers our sins no more. Pastor Chris said that means God chooses not to hold them against us. He then walks through the story of Saul, who approved of Stephen's stoning, persecuted the church, and met Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. Pastor Chris said Saul, who became Paul, could not have forgotten his past, and points to Philippians 3, where Paul writes about forgetting what is behind and pressing on. According to Pastor Chris, Paul did three things: he remembered his best day alongside his worst day, he turned laments into lessons, and he turned regrets into resolve. The message closes with a prayer and an invitation to make today your best day. Chapters 00:00 Wrapping up the Regret series02:22 Conviction versus condemnation03:59 God remembers our sins no more08:27 Saul, Stephen, and the church15:56 Saul meets Jesus on the Damascus road23:18 Paul's words on forgetting what is behind28:28 Three things Paul did with his past36:31 Prayer and an invitationScripture Romans 8:1Isaiah 43:25Acts 9:1-20Philippians 3:7-14Series: RegretSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Pastor Chris continues the series on the seven deadly sins with the fourth one: lust. He starts with the plain meaning of the word. In its purest form, lust is a desire to gratify our physical appetites, and Pastor Chris said that in itself isn't sin. It becomes a deadly sin when it turns excessive and seeks unrestrained gratification. Pastor Chris turns to James 1, where lust conceives and gives birth to sin, and full-grown sin gives birth to death. He explains that this death takes several forms: physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and eternal. He draws a line between spiritual death, a loss of vitality with God that can be revived, and eternal separation from God. Because James wrote to believers, Pastor Chris called it a warning to believers. He shares a conversation with a man stuck in pornography, and he quotes Dan Allender on how lust tries to possess another person. Pastor Chris said that emotional health and strong relationships come from serving, not using, and from the love of Jesus that lays down its life for friends. Chapters 00:00 What lust is, and when it isn't sin00:38 James 1: desire gives birth to sin02:15 Forms of death: spiritual versus eternal03:58 A man spiritually dead from lust05:03 Physical, emotional, and relational death06:43 Serving, not using: how we overcome lustScripture James 1:14-15Series: 7 Deadly SinsSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Regret isn't always a bad sign. Pastor Chris explains why some regret is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and how to tell it apart from the guilt the enemy uses to keep us stuck. Pastor Chris turns from preventing regret to a harder question: what do we do with the regrets we already have? He starts with a surprise. Regret isn't always bad. Pastor Chris says it can be a sign of a healthy conscience, the way the Holy Spirit alerts us when we've crossed the line. He walks through John 16, where Jesus says the Advocate will come, and Matthew 13, where Jesus describes the separating of good fish from bad. From there, Pastor Chris draws a clear line. Conviction looks back at sin we haven't confessed, and it leads us to confess, repent, and receive forgiveness. Condemnation looks back at sin God has already forgiven. Pastor Chris says that voice is the accuser, who wants us to believe we are our sin. He points to Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:8-10, and 2 Corinthians 7:10 to show that in Christ there's no condemnation. If you aren't sure whether you've confessed something, he suggests praying Psalm 139:23-24 and asking God to search your heart. Chapters 00:00 A truth that sets you free01:46 From preventing regret to dealing with it03:27 Regret as a healthy conscience10:30 Walking in righteousness and confessing20:57 Conviction versus condemnation24:52 The accuser and the advocate29:33 What to do with guilt and regret32:32 Psalm 139 and closing prayerScripture John 16:7Matthew 13:47-50Romans 8:11 John 1:8-102 Corinthians 7:10Psalm 139:23-24Series: RegretSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Is it possible we're hungering for something food can't satisfy? Pastor Chris says gluttony isn't about how much we eat but why we eat, and he points to how Jesus answered temptation in the wilderness. Pastor Chris starts with numbers. He cites the CDC saying 74% of Americans are overweight and 40.3% of adults are obese, then says obesity is a symptom, not the problem. Scripturally, the problem is gluttony, and you can be a glutton at any weight. The issue isn't how much we eat but why we eat. Do we consume our food, or does our food consume us? Pastor Chris reads Paul's words to the Philippians about people whose god is their stomach. He says that when we refuse to deny ourselves what we crave, our appetites become our master, and that's idolatry. Quoting Doug Jackson, he describes three kinds of gluttony: excess, delicacy (demanding a certain food and getting angry when we don't get it), and substitution (raiding the icebox for a cure for spiritual malnutrition). The antidote comes from Jesus in the wilderness, when Satan tempted him to turn rocks into rolls. Jesus answered that we don't live on bread alone but on every word from God. Pastor Chris says to let our appetite trigger us to seek God first, and to eat with gratitude to the God who meets our every need. Chapters 00:00 The numbers on weight and spending01:07 Who's to blame?02:14 Gluttony is about why we eat02:46 Paul and the god of the stomach04:57 Three kinds of gluttony07:16 The antidote: seek God firstSeries: 7 Deadly SinsSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Peter ate with the Gentiles until a certain group walked in, then he moved tables. Pastor Chris shows from Galatians why people pleasing leads to regret, and who we should be aiming to please instead. Pastor Chris closes the Regret series with its fifth question to ask before a big decision: who are we aiming to please? He says there are only two choices, God or people, and that a people pleaser lives for the praise and approval of others. The Bible calls that living in the fear of man rather than the fear of God. Pastor Chris walks through Galatians. Paul says in chapter 1 that he can't be a servant of Christ and still be trying to please people. In chapter 2, Peter pulls away from the Gentile believers when a group from James arrives, and even Barnabas follows him. Paul confronts Peter because the gospel is at stake. Pastor Chris also points to John 12:43, where some leaders loved human praise more than the praise of God. He then gives ten signs of people pleasing and three steps. First, admit it. Second, replace the fear of man with the fear of God, trembling in awe of his love, mercy, and grace. Third, resolve to please God and love people, which Pastor Chris says sometimes means telling them the truth. Chapters 00:00 Two truths about regret and a quick review03:46 The fifth question: who are we aiming to please?07:45 People pleasing is the fear of man08:49 Paul and the Judaizers in Galatians17:22 Peter moves his place card at Antioch25:07 Ten signs of a people pleaser28:40 Overcome the fear of man with the fear of God31:20 Please God and love peopleScripture Galatians 1:9Galatians 1:10Galatians 1:13-14Galatians 2:11-14John 12:43Psalm 96:9Psalm 118:62 Timothy 2:4Mark 10:45Series: RegretSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Pastor Chris continues the series on the seven deadly sins with the second one: envy. He opens with an ancient Greek story about an athlete who finished second. Night after night he chiseled at the base of the winner's statue, until it fell and killed him. Pastor Chris says he was dead long before the statue hit him, a victim of deep resentment at the good fortune of others. Pastor Chris turns to Proverbs 14:30, which says a heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. He sets that peace beside the green pastures and still waters of Psalm 23. Envy does the opposite: it's a hidden malignancy that ends in stress. He gives three steps for anyone infected with envy. First, bring it into the light through confession to God. Second, practice thanksgiving, and he reads Philippians 4:8-9. Third, find a victory for someone else and celebrate it. Pastor Chris says you can't truly celebrate others and envy them at the same time. Envy is hard to get rid of, he says, but not impossible. Chapters 00:00 Envy, the second deadly sin00:34 The athlete and the statue02:17 Proverbs 14:30: envy rots the bones02:59 Peace and the green pastures of Psalm 2303:59 First step: confess it04:30 Second step: practice thanksgiving05:07 Third step: celebrate someone else's win05:42 God is healer and delivererScripture Proverbs 14:30Psalm 23Philippians 4:8-9Series: 7 Deadly SinsSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Pastor Chris continues the Regret series with the fourth question to ask before we decide anything: is there a grudge that won't budge? He starts in James 3, where James describes two kinds of wisdom, God's and man's. Then he compares a grudge to too much alcohol. Both distort our view of reality. In Mark 6, Herodias nursed a grudge against John the Baptist, and it ended with John's death. Leviticus 19:18 tells us not to seek revenge or bear a grudge, and Pastor Chris said grudges are anti-God because they are anti-love. In Luke 15, the father in Jesus' story refused the grudge his community expected him to hold. He ran to meet his returning son. The older brother kept his grudge, stayed outside the party, and lost both his brother and his father. Pastor Chris said grudges are rooted in man's wisdom and always lead to regret. For a grudge that feels stuck, he pointed to Mark 11, where Jesus talks about faith that moves a mountain. Ask God to cast it into the sea, keep asking, and be willing to let it go. He closed with two questions: do you have a relationship with God, and do you hold a grudge? Chapters 00:00 Welcome, worship, and prayer for persecuted believers32:41 Two kinds of wisdom and the first three questions37:57 A grudge blinds us like too much alcohol41:46 Herodias and her grudge against John46:26 Grudges are anti-God because they are anti-love48:55 The father and the older brother in Luke 151:04:53 Asking God to move the mountain1:09:27 God moves toward us: two questionsScripture James 3:13-18Proverbs 1:33Proverbs 28:26Mark 6:19-20Leviticus 19:18Luke 15:11-32Mark 11:22-24Series: RegretSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Pride was once seen as a fatal flaw. Today it's celebrated. Pastor Chris traces it back to the garden, names three forms it takes, and shows why it drains our spiritual life. Pastor Chris opens the series on the seven deadly sins with pride. He defines it as the desire to be something you're not. He takes us back to Genesis 3:5, where the serpent told Adam and Eve they could be like God. They bit, sin entered the world, and they became self-conscious. Then they hid from each other and from God. That hiding, he says, is why pride drains spiritual vitality. We spend our energy protecting an image instead of becoming who God calls us to be. He points to Proverbs 11:2 and Proverbs 16:18 on disgrace and destruction, then names three forms of pride: vanity, stubbornness, and exclusion. Stubbornness is being stiff-necked, and he reads Proverbs 29:1 about the consequences. Exclusion looks down on others and is the opposite of love. All three put us at the center and push God aside. The answer is humility. Pastor Chris calls on Jesus' words that those who humble themselves will be exalted. He also cites Peter's call to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand. We can choose praise over vanity, service over stubbornness, and encouragement over exclusion. Chapters 00:00 Pride: a sin once seen as a fatal flaw00:36 The serpent's temptation in the garden02:14 Why pride makes us hide03:18 What Proverbs says about pride03:53 Three forms: vanity, stubbornness, exclusion06:04 Pride puts me at the center06:36 Choosing humility insteadScripture Genesis 3:5Proverbs 11:2Proverbs 16:18Proverbs 29:1Series: 7 Deadly SinsSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Regret rarely comes from bad luck — it comes from decisions made in a hurry. One question can stop it before it starts: what's the hurry? Continuing the Regret series, Pastor Chris presents a third question for avoiding regret before it happens: "What's the hurry?" Drawing on his grandmother's example, a Tony Campolo survey of 95-year-olds, and a 1960s Time Magazine report on leisure time, he argues that hurry produces regret rather than progress. Working through Proverbs 19:2, Proverbs 21:5, James 1:19-20, and Proverbs 29:20, he shows that hurry breeds waywardness, poverty, anger, and foolish speech, and concludes that wisdom is never in a hurry. He then turns to Mark 6:30-32, where Jesus invites his hurried, crowd-pressed disciples to come away and rest, showing that hurry is a spiritual threat that crowds out time with Jesus. Two remedies are offered: stop, as Psalm 46:10 commands ("Be still, and know that I am God"), and follow Jesus at his pace, as pictured in Psalm 23:2-3. He closes with Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to trade a hurried, weary life for rest, tying regret-prevention to trusting and following Christ, who proved his love by dying on the cross. Chapters 00:00 Preventing regret through wisdom02:12 Question three: what's the hurry?05:08 The lie that hurry means significance07:59 What Proverbs and James say about hurry13:31 Jesus was never in a hurry (Mark 6)18:32 Stop: Psalm 46's call to be still21:54 Follow: Psalm 23's unhurried shepherd25:56 Jesus' invitation to rest (Matthew 11)Scripture Proverbs 19:2Proverbs 21:5James 1:19-20Proverbs 29:20Mark 6:30-32Psalm 46:10Psalm 23:2-3Matthew 11:28-30Series: RegretSpeaker: Pastor Chris Next steps Plan your visitAll episodesYouTubeInstagram (@skycrestfamily)Facebook Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Truth Worth Living is back this week with the second installment in our series on the seven deadly sins, and before we ever get to pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, or sloth themselves, there's a question worth settling first: why call any sin "deadly" at all? This episode digs into where that label came from, what the Bible actually says about sin and death, and why these seven still matter for believers who already know their eternal future is secure in Christ. Where the List Came From The seven deadly sins were compiled by Pope Gregory the Great, and his framework rests on a Roman Catholic distinction between venial sins, which are minor and don't rupture a person's relationship with God, and mortal sins, which do and require the sacrament of confession to repair. That distinction leans on 1 John 5:16-17, where the Apostle John writes about "a sin that leads to death" and sin "that does not lead to death." It's a genuinely curious passage, and this episode walks through two ways to read it: as a reference to physical death, or as support for the mortal-versus-venial framework. What We Actually Believe Here's the key correction: sin doesn't come in two tiers of eternal consequence. Romans 6:23 is plain that "the wages of sin is death," full stop, for every sin, not just seven of them. The episode makes the case that when John talks about "sin that leads to death," he has physical death in view, not a spiritual rupture that only some sins can cause. No sin has the power to strip a believer of eternal life, because that would make sin stronger than the cross. That said, the list still deserves our attention. Pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth won't cost a Christian their salvation, but they will drain spiritual vitality and pull us away from the life God has called us to in Christ Jesus, which is exactly why they're worth studying one at a time. The Better Path to Restoration So what do we do when we find ourselves tangled up in one of these sins, or any sin? We don't need a confessional booth. Because Jesus is our great High Priest, we can go straight to God. First John 1:9 promises that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That's the whole plan: confess, receive forgiveness, and let your spiritual vitality be restored. As you go about your week, take a moment to sit with that truth. Sin is serious, all of it, and it deserves to be named and confessed rather than excused. But forgiveness through Christ is real, complete, and always available the moment we bring our sin to him honestly. If this episode helped clarify something you'd been wondering about, share it with a friend or a family member, and join us again next week as we begin working through the list itself, starting with the deadly, debilitating sin of pride. Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Regret has a way of showing up uninvited. It sits quietly in the back of our minds, reminding us of the decision we wish we could take back, the words we wish we hadn't said, the year we wish we could live over. In week two of our series on regret, we look honestly at why we make the decisions we do, and we ask a question that might surprise you: what if chasing your own happiness is actually the thing causing your regret, not preventing it? Happy Is Not the Goal We live in a culture obsessed with personal happiness, but the word itself comes from an old root meaning "chance" or "luck." True happiness, in that original sense, depends entirely on circumstances we cannot control. Chasing it is like chasing the wind. Solomon proved this the hard way. In Ecclesiastes 2, he built houses, planted vineyards, gathered wealth, hired musicians, and denied himself nothing his eyes desired. His conclusion in verse 11 is sobering: "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind." The wisest man who ever lived tried every path to happiness and came up empty. If personal happiness were the answer, he would have found it. Looking Up and Looking Out So if the pursuit of our own happiness leads to regret rather than away from it, what's the better question? Scripture points us somewhere unexpected. In Deuteronomy 24:5, God gave newly married men a year free from other duties, not for their own comfort, but "to bring happiness to the wife he has married." And in Jesus's parable of the bags of gold, the faithful servants who put their master's resources to good use hear him say in Matthew 25:21, "Come and share your master's happiness." In both cases, happiness comes as a byproduct of serving someone else, not as the goal itself. That leads us to the real question to ask before any decision: whose happiness does this decision serve? Mine, or God's and others'? A Better Kind of Wisdom This doesn't mean we never make decisions for ourselves. We have to eat, rest, and care for our own needs so we're able to serve others well. But if every decision is ultimately about our own happiness, we're setting ourselves up for the very regret we're trying to avoid. The wise path is the one that looks outward: toward God and toward the people He's placed in our lives. Jesus himself is the model for this. He didn't come to secure his own comfort; he lived, died, and rose again looking out for us. When we trust him and follow his example, we find something happiness alone could never give us: a life with purpose that doesn't collapse when circumstances change. The Path Beyond Regret Here's the good news in all of this: God doesn't just want to help us make wiser decisions going forward, he also offers healing for the regrets we already carry. That healing starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection secure our future and free us to stop striving for a happiness we were never meant to control. Wisdom says it's not about our happiness, it's about the happiness of the God we serve and the people we're called to love. This week, take a moment to reflect on your own decision making. Are you asking, "Will this make me happy?" or are you asking, "Whose happiness does this decision serve?" Talk with your family about the difference between the two, and consider one decision this week you could make for someone else's good rather than your own comfort. If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who might be wrestling with regret of their own, and join us next week as we continue exploring God's plan for a life beyond it. Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Seven Deadly Sins | Truth Worth Living We don’t like talking about sin—but ignoring it doesn’t make it any less destructive. In this new season of Truth Worth Living, we’re beginning a study through the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Envy, Anger, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. While this traditional list is not presented together in one passage of Scripture, each represents a very real spiritual danger addressed throughout God’s Word. Over the coming weeks, we’ll examine how these sins take root in our hearts, the damage they can cause, and how followers of Jesus can remain alert and resist temptation. Peter learned firsthand how easy it is to believe we are stronger than temptation. Later, he warned believers: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Join us as we seek to become informed, alert, and sober-minded so that we can recognize sin, resist the enemy, and faithfully follow Jesus. Truth Worth Living Understanding God’s Word so we can live in God’s will. Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

Rain never stopped anyone from getting a good word today, and this one's worth every drop. Pastor kicked off the new series "Regret" by pointing at a scene most of us have replayed in our own lives, even if it never made SportsCenter: a coach who calls the wrong play at the worst possible moment. That was the story of Super Bowl 49, the goal-line interception, and the coach who stood at the podium afterward insisting he had "no regrets," even though his face told a different story. A 2004 survey found only 11% of Americans claim to have no regrets, and a follow-up found most of those people weren't being honest. The truth is simpler and a little harder to admit: we all have regrets, and we're probably headed for more. The Side Effects of Every Decision Every decision we make carries the risk of regret, the same way a prescription drug carries a list of side effects. Some choices are low impact, like picking the wrong movie for date night. You'll hear about it, but you'll survive. Others are high impact: career moves, relationships, finances, faith. Those regrets stick because they reshape our lives. The good news is that God offers a defense against them. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault," and it will be given to you. Wisdom isn't a reward for the spiritually elite; it's a gift for anyone who asks. The Throne of Grace But what about the regrets we already carry? That's where the offense comes in. Hebrews 4:15-16 describes Jesus as a high priest who "is not unable to empathize with our weaknesses," because he was tempted in every way we are, yet without sin. Because of that, we're invited to "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." A throne reveals what a king values most, and God's throne is a throne of grace. Grace deals with the sin behind our regrets. Mercy deals with the misery that regret leaves behind. Together, they mean we don't have to keep carrying what Jesus already came to lift. The Heart We Can't Trust So why do we keep making decisions we know we'll regret? Because, as the prophet Jeremiah wrote, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah watched king after king in Israel ignore wise counsel because their hearts were already set on a bad decision, and the consequences were devastating. Our hearts aren't just dishonest; they're deceitful, mixing truth and half-truth until a bad choice feels reasonable. That's why the question to ask before any high-impact decision isn't "what do I want," but "can I trust what I'm telling me?" Four Steps Toward Wisdom The path forward has four simple steps: admit that your heart can deceive you, get honest about what's really true in the decision ahead of you, stop and pray for wisdom, and ask God to heal the heart itself, because only he can change it. That last part matters most. We can't fix our own hearts. But when we place our faith in Jesus, God turns a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, one that actually desires his glory instead of its own short-term comfort. Whatever regret you're carrying today, whether it's a decision from years ago or one you're circling right now, you don't have to face it alone or pretend it isn't there. Take a minute this week to sit with Jeremiah 17:9 and Hebrews 4:15-16 side by side, and ask God honestly whether you can trust what your own heart has been telling you. If this message meets you where you are, share it with someone who's been quietly carrying their own regret. You might be the reminder they need that grace and mercy are both still available at the throne. Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

One of a Kind Every pastor will tell you the same thing: nobody teaches you what to say when you're standing with a family in the valley of the shadow of death. It's the part of ministry we dread most and, oddly, the part that teaches us the most. The teacher in Ecclesiastes put it plainly: "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone, and the living should take this to heart." This week, as we came to the end of Moses's story in Deuteronomy 34, we sat with that same truth. Moses died, just as we all will. But the way he lived, and the faith that carried him there, is worth a long, careful look. A Mountain and a Promise At 120 years old, Moses climbed Mount Nebo, a roughly 4,500 foot ascent with no trail, to look out over the Promised Land he would never enter. God showed him "the whole land, from Gilead to Dan," all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, and told him plainly, "I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross over into it." Moses had lost his temper years earlier and robbed God of glory, and this was the consequence. But here's the beautiful part: that failure never altered his relationship with God. They were just as close as before. God himself buried Moses in an unmarked grave, and the people grieved for thirty days before finally reflecting on his life and moving forward into the land he'd led them to. Scripture sums him up simply: "Since then, no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." He was one of a kind, and the intimacy he shared with God is something we can still aspire to today. Faith That Shaped His Identity Hebrews 11 gives us Moses's eulogy, and it shows us exactly how that intimacy was built. First, his faith determined his identity. "By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter." Understand what that meant: Moses had already become great in Pharaoh's house, educated, decorated, and set up for a life of power. All he had to do was stay quiet and enjoy it. Instead, he chose to be identified with God and with God's enslaved people rather than with the palace that made him. That's the choice in front of all of us. Joshua later put it this way: "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Moses chose, and so must we. Faith That Shaped His Values Second, Moses's faith determined what he valued. He "chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin," regarding "disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than all the treasures of Egypt." He knew the pleasures available to him in Egypt were real, but temporary, and that chasing them would leave him thirstier, not satisfied. He understood something Jesus would later say plainly: if you want to find your life, you have to lose it. Only in laying ourselves down for God's glory do we find the satisfaction we're all searching for. Faith That Shaped His Resolve Finally, Moses's faith determined his resolve. He "left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger," and he "kept the Passover and the application of blood" even though nothing about painting lamb's blood on a doorpost made sense to anyone watching. That's resolve: persevering in our convictions and keeping God's commands even when the world around us says it's foolish. Moses obeyed anyway, and that obedience pointed forward to something greater. The blood on the doorpost that saved the firstborn of Israel points us to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose blood saves us from sin and death. A Life Worth Emulating Moses wasn't perfect. He stumbled and made real mistakes. But his faith was active, not just something he said he believed, and that's what set him apart. As James reminds us, faith without works is dead. So take a moment this week to ask yourself honestly: is your faith alive? Can the people around you look at your choices, your priorities, and your obedience and see that you belong to Jesus? We only get one life to make our mark, and the opportunity is now. If you haven't placed your faith in Christ, there's no better day than today to take that step. And if you already believe, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, and let Moses's example push you toward a faith that shows up in how you actually live. Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107

The Story of Moses and the Message of the Cross In this week's sermon, we delved into the transformative conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3. This discussion is pivotal because it introduces essential Christian doctrines such as the incarnation, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of being born again. Jesus, in his dialogue, references the story of Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness, drawing a parallel to his own crucifixion. The Encounter with Nicodemus The sermon begins with Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a respected teacher in Israel. Nicodemus approached Jesus under the cover of night, seeking to understand if Jesus was truly sent by God. In this conversation, Jesus introduces the concept of being "born again," explaining that entrance into God's kingdom requires a spiritual rebirth, not just adherence to the law. A Lesson from the Wilderness The story of Moses lifting the bronze snake, found in Numbers 21:4-9, serves as a precursor to the salvation offered through Jesus. As the Israelites wandered in the desert, they faced the consequences of their disobedience: venomous snakes. When they repented, God instructed Moses to create a bronze snake and lift it on a pole. Anyone bitten by a snake could look at it and live. Key Themes: Faith Over Law: The Israelites' journey highlighted the transition from law to faith. Their survival depended not on their adherence to the law, but their faith in God's provision. Symbolism of the Snake: The bronze snake symbolized the coming salvation through Jesus. Just as the snake provided physical healing, Jesus' crucifixion offers spiritual salvation. Jesus Lifted Up Jesus draws a direct line from this Old Testament story to his own mission. In John 3:14-15, Jesus states, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." This act of being "lifted up" is a foreshadowing of the crucifixion. Points of Reflection: The Cross as Salvation: The cross, like the bronze snake, may seem absurd as a symbol of salvation. Yet, it is through Jesus' death that believers find life. Faith in the Unseen: Just as the Israelites had to trust in the unseen power of God for healing, believers are called to trust in the unseen work of Jesus for eternal life. The Call to Action The sermon concludes with a challenge to the congregation: Look to the Cross: Believers are encouraged to place their faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as the only path to eternal life. Share the Message: Those who have found salvation are urged to share this message with others, lifting up Jesus so that others might be drawn to him. In summary, this sermon beautifully ties the story of Moses to the core message of the Gospel, emphasizing the transformative power of faith and the necessity of sharing this good news with the world. As believers, we are reminded that our journey to the promised land of eternal life is paved by looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Skycrest Community Church · 125 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 Sundays: Group Bible Studies 9:00 AM · Worship 10:30 AM Wednesdays: Pastor's Bible Study 6:30 PM Plan your visit, watch live, or give: https://skycrestfamily.org Questions or prayer requests: [email protected] · (727) 791-7107