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Step Out of The Boat
Springcreek | Part 1
Dr.Jessica Fernandez
March 30, 2025

#Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #fear #faithoverfear #anxiety #stepouttheboat #realfaith

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When Jesus called Peter to walk on water, it wasn’t about defying nature—it was about trusting Him fully. Peter stepped out, but fear and doubt made him sink. The other disciples? They stayed in the boat, paralyzed by fear and what-ifs. This message challenges us to stop letting overthinking hold us back. The real miracle isn’t the absence of fear; it’s choosing to trust Jesus despite it. Because in the end, it’s not the boat that keeps you safe—it’s the presence of Jesus. So what’s holding you back? Step out. Fix your focus on Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever felt God calling you to take a step of faith that felt risky or uncomfortable? What happened?
2. Can you relate to the idea of “overthinking” getting in the way of obedience? What does that look like in your life?
3. Read Matthew 14:22–33. Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples into the storm on purpose?
4. What does Peter’s experience on the water teach us about faith, focus, and fear?
5. How does Jesus’ response to Peter when he starts sinking reflect His character?
6. What is your “boat”—your comfort zone, fear, or excuse—that’s keeping you from stepping into what God has for you?

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LOVE: From Statue Quo To Spectacular
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 23, 2025

#Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships #protectinglove #protectlove

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In this series, we’ve saved the best for last. There are so many myths and misconceptions of love that permeate our society. And sometimes these distortions not only dominate our thinking but sabotage our best attempts at building a great love life. This Sunday we dispel the myths in order to build on the one sure foundation of love as it’s spelled out in the pages of God’s Word. This message will help you move from a ho-hum relationship to having a spectacular one.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some of the most common myths about love and relationships? What, if any, effect did those myths have on you? How do you think they play out in society?

2. Robert Sternberg wrote about triangular love that consists of passion, intimacy and commitment. He also gave three examples of what happens when one of the three is missing. Take some time individually or as a group to reflect on the following scenarios and how you have seen these play out in your life or those who surround you.

• High passion + High intimacy = Romantic love
• High passion + High commitment = Foolish love
• High intimacy + High commitment = Companionship love

3. What are the things that characterize Passion, Dod (Hebrew), Eros (Greek)? How would you rate your marriage in this area on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? What steps can you take to improve? Who has modelled this best in your life? What wounds or distortions might you have around this aspect of love?

4. What are the things that Intimacy, Raya (Hebrew), Phileo (Greek)? How would you rate your marriage in this area on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? What steps can you take to improve? Who has modeled this best in your life? What wounds or distortions might you have around this aspect of love?

5. What are the things that characterize Commitment, Ahava (Hebrew), Agape (Greek)? How would you rate your marriage in this area on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? What steps can you take to improve? Who has modeled this best in your life? What wounds or distortions might you have around this aspect of love?

6. What are your biggest takeaways from this series? Where were you challenged most? In what ways were you affirmed? What plans, if any, have you made to keep your marriage growing and strong?

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FIDELITY: Protecting Love
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 16, 2025

#Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships #protectinglove #protectlove

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If the statistics are to be believed, somewhere between 20-40% of all marriages will experience the heartache of infidelity. That’s a sobering reality. But that’s also why it’s vitally important to do a relationship check-up. What are the signs of vulnerability that we need to look for? How do you protect yourself and your marriage from life’s ultimate betrayal? What are the essentials to keeping a marriage growing and strong? That’s what we’ll discover in this message about fidelity and how to protect love.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you or someone you care about ever gone through the experience of adultery? How did they or how would you describe it? Did the relationship survive? If not, why not? If it did, how?

2. Pastor Keith talked about the environment that creates vulnerability to an affair; indifference, intensity and isolation. Go back over the message notes and share what you took away from this part of the message. Where are you strongest? Where are you weakest? What would you suggest to someone struggling with one or more of these areas of vulnerability?

3. Understandably, most people are deeply disturbed by sexual infidelity. But it is often the emotional entanglement that determines the difficulty of breaking free of an illicit relationship. At the same time, there are likely far more people who have been emotionally unfaithful than have been sexually unfaithful to their spouse. Why do you think this is so? How do people justify it in their minds? Why is this sort of bond so difficult to break? What precautions do you take to ensure this doesn’t happen to you?

4. As Pastor Keith wrapped up the message, he described the four fidelities of marriage as; to a person, to a vow, to a process of intimacy, and to a calling. Take some time and recap all four fidelities. Which stood out to you most? In which area do you need to grow? What steps will you take? How could you encourage your mate or other couples in regard to the four fidelities?

5. What was your biggest takeaway from this message? How did that affirm you? Correct you? Inform you? Guide you? Encourage you?

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FIGHTING: The Enemies of Intimacy
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 9, 2025

#Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships #goodfight #badfight

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Conflict is the price you pay for intimacy. There is simply no other way of achieving it. In the same way that the absence of conflict is not a healthy relational sign, neither is conflict that rages out of control. The key to a lasting, loving relationship is to learn to resolve conflict appropriately. Join us Sunday as we learn God’s way of building greater intimacy in marriage.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Conflict is to be expected in marriage. Yet so many act as if the opposite were true. What has been your attitude toward conflict whether in your marriage, family, friendship circle, or even at work? Poorly handled conflict will always result in hurt and further alienation. Conflict handled well will lead toward deeper intimacy. Can you think of examples of both?

2. Without a doubt, John Gottman’s explanation of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse as it relates to marriage is very revealing. The four horsemen are criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling. Did you see any of these characteristics in your parent’s marriage? What was that like? How about your own marriage? Where has your greatest struggle been? What things can be done to interrupt this downward spiral of broken communication?

3. Take some time as an individual or group to discuss the chart “Good Fight vs Bad Fight” (posted online with today’s message notes). Where are you strongest?Where are you weakest? What’s your biggest takeaway from the chart? What steps can you make toward improvement?

4. Pastor Keith reminded us to “Complain. Don’t blame.” No matter how“ at fault” your partner is, approaching them with criticism and accusation is not going to be productive. It’s all about the approach. One of the biggest ways to take the edge off of communicating concerns is by beginning with “I” statements instead of “You ” statements. When you begin with “I”, you are less likely to seem critical. Recall some of your more common complaints in marriage. How can you rephrase your complaints making “I” statements instead of “you" statements?

5. The magic ratio of 5 to 1 positive to negative interactions is an absolute essential to making improvements in communication AND having a happy, healthy love life. We need to be making far more deposits into our partners “love bank” than we are making withdrawals. How would you rate yourself in this area? How would your partner rate you? What can you do this week to begin to make improvements? For those of you who make a practice of doing this regularly, what difference has it made in your marriage?

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COMMUNICATION: Hearing and Being Heard
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 2, 2025

#Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships

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There is so much more to communication than the words we say. Communication is about content but it’s also about intent. It’s about how we say what we say. But the single most neglected aspect of communication by far is listening. Caring enough to hear what the other is saying and saying things in a way that they can be heard is the ability that is sorely lacking in most troubled relationships. This ability spells the difference between couples that end up in the courtroom versus the bedroom. And the best news is this – you can become a better listener and learn how to communicate in ways that connect. Don’t miss this message!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Take some time to read the story of the healing of the paralytic by the pool of Bethesda (John 5.1-15). Pastor Keith pointed out how the question Jesus asked was very important, “Do you want to get well?” Why was this question of such great importance? What other lessons do you glean from this story?

2. According to available data, the average couple spends around 37 minutes per month talking to each other – not per day, per month. As a couple, whether dating or married, try to estimate how much time you spend talking to one another daily. Rate yourself in terms of your listening abilities on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being bad and 10 being great. Now ask your partner to rate you in terms of your listening abilities. Are those numbers the same, close, or far apart? If those numbers differ significantly, this would be a good conversation for later as to why your estimation and theirs are so out of sync.

3. Take some time to go back through the Roadblocks to Listening from today’s message. Are there any roadblocks that are problematic for you? Where do you struggle and how? Are there any roadblocks that are not a problem for you or a problem that you learned to overcome? If so, what one or ones do you do well and what do you see as the key to your success in that area?

4. What was your greatest takeaway from today’s message? Were there any areas that you felt God was prompting you to pay attention to?

5. Who are the people in your past or present who were great listeners? What was it that made them a great listener? What effect did they have on you because of how well they listened? In what ways have you tried to emulate their example?

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INCOMPATIBILITY: GROUNDS FOR A GREAT MARRIAGE
Marriage Tune-Up | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 23, 2025

#Realspringcreekchurch #springcreekchurch #marriagetuneup #marriage #healthyrelationships

The Reverend Billy Graham once said about his marriage, “Ruth and I are happily incompatible.” It’s an unconventional way of describing a powerful truth. What makes for a great relationship is not sameness but differences – differences that have been honed to complement one another rather than contribute to never-ending conflict. In this message, Pastor Keith will walk you through the four stages of a healthy relationship and what it takes to turn your differences into assets. You don’t want to miss this message!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Although multiple studies confirm that compatibility is a non-factor in successful marriages, the mythology persists. Do you think compatibility is important? What reasons do you have for believing this?

2. We all begin at a fairly immature level of love and intimacy. As C.S. Lewis said, there is a sense in which all young love must die in order to give birth to a more mature and fully formed love. But he added that even though many have experienced the death of young love, far more have missed the rebirth. Which implies that many give up on love before it even gets good. What has been your experience with this? Have you ever experienced the death of young love? Were you able to move to a new level of loving with that person, or did the relationship die, too?

3. In the Four Stages of Intimacy that Pastor Keith addressed in today’s message, in present or past relationships, what level have you achieved? Did you ever find yourself stuck at a certain level and unable to advance? If so, why did you get stuck and what happened in the relationship? What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in making progress?

4. Differences both draw us to others and repel us. We are fascinated by those who think differently, feel differently, and act differently. There’s a definite attraction to it. But on the flip side, at some point in the relationship, those very same differences become irritant. Has this ever happened to you? During the grand reversal, how did that play out? Did you ever come to a point of resolution or acceptance? If so, describe what that was like.

5. Where would you say most of your friends and people you know fall on the four stages of intimacy? What was this like in your parent’s marriage? What about your spouse’s parents? Have you ever had a good model for healthy, mature love? If so, who was that person, and what did you admire most about their loving relationship?

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RELINQUISH SLAVERY
Less $tress | Part 3
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
February 16, 2025

#realspringcreekchurch #financialfreedom #stressfree #godandmoney

Debt is more than just a financial burden - it’s a form of modern day slavery that can control decisions, emotions, and even our faith. In this sermon, we explore what the Bible says about debt, financial bondage, and true freedom in Christ. Many of us unknowingly live under the weight of financial oppression. How does debt keep us enslaved? How can we break free and step into God’s provision and peace?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to be enslaved to debt, and how can financial burdens affect your ability to fully trust and serve God? Read Proverbs 22:7 and Matthew 6:24. How do these verses relate to financial bondage and our relationship with God?

2. Jesus said we cannot serve both God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24). How does the spirit of Mammon influence people’s financial decisions, and how can we resist its pull? What are some lies that Mammon tells us about money? How do they compare to God’s promises in Scripture?

3. The Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10) was a time when debts were canceled and slaves were freed. What does this tell us about God’s heart for financial freedom? How does this principle apply to our lives today, and how can we walk in financial freedom as believers?

4. In what ways does debt impact relationships, marriages, and families? Have you ever experienced or seen financial stress create tension in your relationships? How can biblical financial wisdom bring peace and unity?

5. What practical steps can you take today to begin the journey toward financial freedom? Read Philippians 4:19 and Proverbs 4:7. How does trusting in God’s provision and seeking financial wisdom help us break free from financial bondage?

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ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES
Less $tress | Part 2
Pastor Keith Stewart
February 9, 2025

This second installment in our series, Less $tress, is all about the steps you can take in your life to immediately begin relieving financial stress. In a message both personal and practical, Pastor Keith will share with you the three proven principles for getting out and staying out of financial distress It’s a message you don’t want to miss.

#lessstress #establishingpriorities #realspringcreekchurch #livingstressfree #putgodfirstfinancially


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Describe a time in your life that was financially distressing, past, or present? What happened? How did you deal with it? Were there ways you might have contributed to the problem? What did you find most helpful? Where are you now in regard to this issue?

2. Regarding the practice of frugality, Pastor Keith offered two guiding principles. One was to practice doing a regular inventory of your life. This keeps hoarding in check, makes sure that the things we have make an actual contribution to our life and allows us to see if there are things we have that might be better used by others or sold to produce a benefit for others. Have you ever engaged in such an inventory? Has God ever moved your heart to give something away or sell something to be a blessing? Describe what happened and whatever outcome you may be aware of.

3. Pastor Keith also suggested in regard to frugality, that we reconsider purchases. Sometimes, we are too quick to go buy the things we want without ever considering if God might want to bless us in another way; to receive something for free, or at a reduced cost or even have it loaned to us. Has this ever happened to you? If so, what was it? How did you respond? Have you ever delayed purchasing an item so you could consult with God whether that was the proper course? Have you ever blessed someone with something they needed? If so, what was that like?

4. When it comes to establishing priorities that will lead to greater freedom and less stress, we need to stop the bleeding. In other words, we must step off the endless debt cycle. The misuse of credit has gotten many individuals and families into trouble. Too often, we think only in terms of the affordability of the payment without considering the cumulative effect of long-term debt or how that payment might erode our margin. What has been your personal experience with using credit for homes, cars, major purchases or credit cards? If you have managed to get credit usage under control, what were the things that helped you most? If you could have a talk with the younger you, what advice would you give as it relates to the use of credit?

5. One of the most practical principles in getting money managed and moving toward a less stressful experience is involving God in your finances. Throughout the Bible, there are numerous promises from God about taking care of our needs IF we prioritize Him in our finances. For those of you who make a regular habit of giving, how have you seen God’s faithfulness in providing for your needs? If someone was a new believer and struggling to trust God with their finances, what would you say to encourage them?