“THE MIDIANITES vs. GOD (and Gideon)”

A children’s service outline based on Judges 6:11-22, 7:1-8, 15-21

Hillcrest CRC, May 17, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Gideon was scared.  (Judges 6:11,27, 7:10)

2. God often calls and equips the weak to do His will. (Judges 6:15, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

3. God is with us. (Judges 6:16, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:31, Philippians 4:13)

4. God chose Gideon’s army. (Judges 7:1-8)

5. God fought the Midianites. (Judges 7:15-21)

Next steps...

• The next time you’re scared, pray to God and remember that He’s always with you.
• Does God want you to do something hard?  You may not be able to do it all by yourself, but with God’s help you can! (Philippians 4:13)
• The next time you experience “success” – be sure to give God the credit and the glory.

“WHEN GOD GIVES IN”

The Power of the Gospel, part 3

A sermon outline based on Roma­ns 1:18-32

Hillcrest CRC, May 10, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

 1. We are easily deceived. (Romans 1:25)

2. At times God judges us by giving us what we  want.

    (Romans 1:24-32, Galatians 6:7-8)

3. God gives people over to sexual impurity. (Romans 1:24, 26)

4. God gives people over to a depravedmind. (Romans 1:28)

•  We are filled with greed and envy. (Romans 1:29)
• We foster a spirit of murder and strife. (Romans 1:29)
•  We gossip and are arrogant. (Romans 1:29-30)
• We disobey our parents. (Romans 1:30)
• We approve of sin. (Romans 1:32)

Next steps...

• As you reflect on your life, where are you prone to being deceived by the devil by exchanging truth for lies? Commit to reading and memorizing key Bible verses that will help remind you of what is true.
• Rather than relying on what others might think about homosexuality, read what the Bible says in Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:18-32, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
• Invite God to convict you of any of the sins listed under point #4 above.  Confess and repent of them and invite the Lord to renew your mind with the truth.

“DON'T LOVE THE WORLD”

 Living in the Love of God, part 3

A sermon outline based on 1 John 2:15-27

Hillcrest CRC, May 10, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Stop loving the world. (1 John 2:15)

2. What does John mean by “the world?” (Genesis 1:31, John 3:16,

    16:11, 17:24, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 John 2:15)

3. What does the word “love” mean? (1 John 2:15)

4. How can we tell if we love the world?

•  We’re consumed with the desires of our flesh.(Romans 13:14, Galatians 5:19-24, 1 John 2:16)
•  We want what we see. (Job 31:1, 1 John 2:16)
•  We’re proud of what we have and do. (1 John 2:16)

 5. We can’t love God and the world. (Matthew 6:24, 1 John 2:15b, 5:21)

 6. Don’t underestimate the power of these temptations.

    (John 15:18-25, 1 John 2:16-17)

 7. The things of this world are passing away.

    (Matthew 6:19-21, Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 John 2:17)

 8. Love the Lord with all your heart.

    (Matthew 6:33, Mark 12:29-31, Hebrews 12:1-3)

Next steps...

• In what ways are you guilty of “loving the world?” Admit and confess them to the Lord and ask Him to forgive your idolatry.
• Thank the Lord for all of His good gifts in this life that He has graciously given us to enjoy, but don’t make them your ultimate love, for they are all passing away.
• Read, reflect on, and memorize Mark 12:29-31. Discuss with family members and/or friends why this command is so important, especially in light of 1 John 2:15-17.

“WHEN WE TURN AWAY FROM GOD”

A sermon outline based on Romans 1:18-23

Hillcrest CRC, May 3, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. God reveals himself through creation. (Romans 1:18-20, Psalm 19:1-6)

2. Knowing God should result in worship. (Romans 1:21)

3. We tend to suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18-19)

4. Suppressing the truth results in wickedness. (Romans 1:18)

5. God’s love can result in his wrath. (Romans 1:18)

Next steps...

• Pay close attention to the world around you.  How do you see God revealing himself? Share your observations with people, including those who may not know Jesus and see where the conversation leads.
• As you see God reveal himself in creation, offer your praise, worship and thanksgiving to Him!
• Discuss with family members and friends why God’s wrath is compatible with his love.

“WALKING AS JESUS DID”

 Living in the Love of God, part 2

A sermon outline based on 1 John 2:1-14

Hillcrest CRC, May 3, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

 How can we tell when someone is a real Christian? 

 1. True Christians want to obey God. (1 John 2:3-6, John 14:15)

 2. True Christians try to live like Jesus. (John 14:15, 1 John 2:5-6)

 3. True Christians seek to know the Lord.

    (Jeremiah 31:33-34, John 17:3, 1 John 2:13-14)

 4. True Christians love God’s Word. 

    (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 John 2:14)

 5. True Christians love others. (1 John 2:1,7-11, Ephesians 5:1-2)

 6. True Christians try to avoid sin. 

    (2 Corinthians 6:14-17, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 John 2:1,14)

 7. True Christians believe the gospel. 

    (Romans 1:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:1-2,12)

 Next steps...

• Evaluate yourself based on the 7 points above. Where are you the strongest?  And what ones do you need to work on?
• Read and reflect on Colossians 3:12-17 where Paul talks about many of the same virtues that John writes about in 1 John 2. 
• Spend time with the Lord each day reading and reflecting on His Word and spending time communing with Him in prayer.  Ask Him to live in your heart and help you reflect His heart and His character, and to help you hate what He hates and love what He loves.

“THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL”

The Power of the Gospel, part 1

A sermon outline based on Romans 1:1-17

Hillcrest CRC, April 26, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

 1. Paul introduced himself. (Romans 1:1-6)

2. Paul greeted them. (Romans 1:7)

3. Paul shared his heart with them. (Romans 1:8-15)

4. Paul was passionate about the transforming power of the gospel.

    (Romans 1:16-17)

Next steps...

• Think about your primary identity. Does it have more to do with your job and your family than it does with your relationship with Jesus?  What would it be like if you introduced yourself to others like Paul did, as a servant of Jesus?
• What are your spiritual gifts? Prayerfully and intentionally use one of your gifts this week to serve someone else.
• How has the good news of the gospel transformed your life? How would your life be different if you’d never heard about Jesus?  Ask the Lord how you can share this life-transforming power of the gospel with someone this week.

Introduction

• Our union with Christ, and what it means to identify with him, is to share in both sufferings and Glory. 
  • To be a Co-heir means we are also Co-Suffering with Christ. (see Rom 8:17)
  • Acts 5:41; Romans 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17
• It can be hard to turn our eyes to the horizon and keep an Eternal  Perspective in the midst of suffering. 

The Text

• Creation’s Groan (Rom 8:19-22)
  • Creation suffers because of sin, but it suffers in hope. 
  • One of the hopes of Glory is that the Universe itself will be transformed. (Rev 21)
  • Pains of Childbirth (8:22)  
• Mankind’s Groan (Rom 8:23-25)
  • The already, but not yet. 
  • 2 Cor 5:2
  • We groan because our bodies fail
  • We groan because of wasted potential ,wasted life, and wasted relationships. 
  • We groan because of the sin that dwells within us. (1 Cor 15:20,42, 51-57) 
• The Holy Spirit’s Groan on Our Behalf (Rom 8:26-27) 
  • God’s answer to the problem of sin and death is a victory through the resurrection. 

Conclusion

• Nothing can separate you from the Love of God. (Romans 8:37)

“WHEN WILL JESUS RETURN?”

The Foundations of Our Faith, part 21

A sermon outline based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11 

and Belgic Confession article 37

Hillcrest CRC, April 19, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Many have made predictions about Christ’s return. (Matthew 24:36)

 2. Are we living in the last days? (Matthew 24)

 3. Jesus Christ will return. (2 Peter 3:3-10, Revelation 22:7,12,20)

• It will be unexpected.  (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)
• It will be sudden.  (Matthew 24:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
• It will be glorious.  (Matthew 25:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

 4. What will happen when Jesus returns?

•  There will be a resurrection. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15)
• Everyone will be judged.

            (Revelation 20:11-15, Matthew 12:36, 2 Corinthians 5:10)

 5. There are different attitudes about Christ’s return.

• Some people are indifferent. (Luke 17:26-30)
• Others are apprehensive.  (Matthew 24:3)
• We should be eager. (Philippians 3:20, 2 Peter 3:3-13)

Next steps...

• Read and reflect on what Jesus said about “the end of the age” in Matthew 24&25 and Peter’s instructions in 2 Peter 3.
• Think and pray about what you would do differently if you knew that Christ was coming back tomorrow – then live that way every day.
• Discuss with family members and friends why we don’t seem overly enthused about Christ’s return.  What would make us more excited?

“WALKING IN THE LIGHT”

Living in the Love of God, part 1

A sermon outline based on 1 John 1

Hillcrest CRC, April 19, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. What are the details of this letter? (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, 1 John 1:1)

2. John was an eyewitness. (1 John 1:1-3)

3. Jesus is life. (John 1:4, 10:10, 1 John 1:1-2)

4. God is light. (John 1:4-9, 1 John 1:5)

5. Confess your sins.

    (Psalm 32:3-5, Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16, 1 John 1:9)

6. Walk in the light. (1 John 1:6-7)

7. Only Jesus can make us clean! (1 John 1:7)

Next steps...

• Don’t cherish sin, but instead confess and renounce it. Ask the Lord to help you “walk in the light” each day.
• Read and reflect on John 1:4 “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Thank God that we can find both light and life in Christ!
• Thank the Lord that He can purify us from all of our sin and unrighteousness.  Share this good news with others as you have the opportunity.

1 John 1