“WITNESSING 101"
How Spirit-Filled People Changed the World, part 14
A sermon outline based on Acts 8:26-40
Hillcrest CRC, October 20, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Follow the Lord’s leading. (Acts 8:26-29)

2. Dare to cross racial and ethnic barriers. (Acts 8:27-31)

3. Watch for open doors. (Acts 8:32-34)

4. Be prepared to explain the gospel. (Acts 8:35, Colossians 4:5-6)

5. Take the next step. (Acts 8:36-40)

Next steps...

• Begin each day by asking: “Lord, what do You want me to do today?  How can you use me?” Then take advantage of every opportunity He gives you, even if it doesn’t seem to make sense in the moment.
• Dare to reach out to those who are different from you. Try to build relationships with neighbors and/or coworkers who aren’t from the same background as you.
• Can you explain the basics of the good news about Jesus to someone? If not, practice how to explain John 3:16 or “The Bridge Illustration” or “The Romans Road” or some other gospel presentation, so that you will “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:16)

"THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE"
Real Faith in Real Life, part 17
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 13
Hillcrest CRC, October 20, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Why does Paul encourage them to love? (1 Corinthians 1,3,6,11,12,13,14)

2. Failing to love is a fatal flaw. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

3. What love is not. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

4. What love is. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

5. Love is essential. (1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:13, 14:1, 16:14, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 1:9, Colossians 3:14, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 3:10&18)

Next steps...

• Share with family or friends a time in your life when you felt the most loved.  What was it about that moment that made you feel so loved?
• Read and reflect on Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Ponder the unconditional love that God has for you. Then thank and praise Him for being so gracious, merciful and forgiving, when we are so undeserving.
• Think of at least one tangible way that you can express to love to someone outside of your own family this week.  Then do it!

“NOT SO IDLE THOUGHTS ABOUT IDOLATRY”
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 10:1-14
Hillcrest CRC, October 13, 2024, 5pm
Dr. Jeff Weima

INTRODUCTION (HISTORICAL CONTEXT)

I. GENERAL EXAMPLES FROM ISRAEL’S WILDERNESS WANDERING 

(vv 1-5)

1. Four “all’s” (vv. 1-4)

 2. “Nevertheless” (v. 5)

 II. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM ISRAEL’S WILDERNESS WANDERING 

(vv. 6-11)

 Four examples of “as some of them were/did”:

-          1st Example: Idolatry (v 7) = Exodus 32

-          2nd Example: Sexual Immorality (v. 8) = Numbers 25

-          3rd Example: Testing God (v. 9) = Numbers 21; Psalm 78:18

-          4th Example: Grumbling against God (v. 10) = Numbers 14

III. APPLICATION TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH (vv 12-14)

CONCLUSION

“EXPANDING OUR BOX” (part 2)
How Spirit-Filled People Changed the World, part 12
A sermon outline based on Acts 8:9-25
Hillcrest CRC, October 6, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. We are all preachers.  (Acts 8:4)

2. God can heal people. (Acts 8:7,13)

3. Evil spirits are real. (Acts 8:7)

4. Sorcery is evil and should be avoided. (Acts 8:9,11)

5. Receiving the Holy Spirit is essential (Acts 8:14-17).

6. We must fully surrender our lives to the Lord. (Acts 18-22)

7. God can reveal “words of knowledge” to people. (Acts 8:23)

Next steps...

• Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you and guide your thoughts, words and actions every day.
• Would you rather have God do your will, as opposed to having you do His will?  If so, confess that to the Lord and fully surrender your wishes and desires to Him, so that His will is accomplished in your life and He is glorified.
• Read and reflect on Romans 12:1-2 and examine your worldview. If it reflects more of our culture than of the Bible, expand your “worldview box” so that you no longer “conform to the pattern of this world” but believe in the truth of God’s Word.

“GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 15
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Hillcrest CRC, October 6, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. It’s important that we understand the gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1)

2. Faith is a gift. (1 Corinthians 4:7, 12:3, Ephesians 1:4&11)

3. God gives a variety of gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

4. We are given gifts to serve others. (1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 4:10)

• Some are gifted like prophets. (1 Corinthians 12:8&10, Romans 12:6-7) 
• Some are gifted like priests. (1 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 12:7-8,Mark 10:45)
• Some are gifted like kings. (1 Corinthians 12: , Romans 12:6&8)

5. God determines which gifts we get. (1 Corinthians 12:11, Matthew 25:14-15)

Next steps...

• Thank the Lord for the gift of faith that He’s given you. Pray that your faith would be strengthened and deepened; and pray that God would bring others to faith in Christ.
• What gifts has God given to you?  If you can’t list them, take a spiritual gifts inventory to discover which gifts He’s given to you.
• Read and reflect on 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Ask the Lord how you can use your gifts to serve others.

“EXPANDING OUR BOX”
How Spirit-Filled People Changed the World, part 12
A sermon outline based on Acts 8:1-8
Hillcrest CRC, September 29, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. We are all preachers. (Acts 8:4)

2. God can heal people. (Acts 8:7,13)

3. Evil spirits are real. (Acts 8:7)

Next steps...

• How might you “preach the Word” wherever you go? Who would you preach to?  And what would you say? Ask the Lord to help you be a more effective “preacher.”
• Read and reflect on Philip’s ministry in Acts 8:7: “With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.” Think about and discuss: Do we ask God for miraculous healing too often, or too little?  Why? What would the Lord want us to do?
• Share with others a time when you think you may have encountered an evil spirit.  The next time it happens to you, claim the authority you have in Jesus Christ, and command it to leave in His name, and see what happens.

“DISCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST"
Real Faith in Real Life, part 14
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Hillcrest CRC, September 29, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Is profession of faith required to participate in communion?

    (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

2. As reformed Christians, we’ve never been fans of  “proof-texting.”

    (Proverbs 13:24, Jeremiah 29:11, 2 Corinthians 8:9, James 4:2)

 
3. What is the context? (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

4. What does the word “body” mean? 

    (1 Corinthians 10:17, 11:27&29, 12:12-26)

 
 5. Instead of discriminating against the poor, are we discriminating against the young? (Mark 1013-16, Matthew 18:1-6, 1 Corinthians 12:21-27)

 
6. But what about...?

 
Next steps...

• Read and reflect on 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 and discuss it with family members or friends.  What is Paul referring to when he uses the phrase “the body of the Lord?”
• Reflect on and share your experience of being excluded from participating in communion as a child.  Ask your children, grandchildren, or young friends how they feel about it.
• What caused you to want to publicly profess your faith?  Did being able to participate in communion play any role in your decision?