“MARRIAGE AND SINGLENESS”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 8
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 7
Hillcrest CRC, May 26, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. It is good to remain single. (1 Corinthians 7:1,7-8, 25-27, 34-35,38,40)

2. Marriage is a good gift from God. (1 Corinthians 7:2,9,38, 1 Timothy 5:14,
     Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Proverbs 18:22, Hebrews 13:4)

3. Marriage comes with responsibilities. (Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Corinthians 7:3-6)

4. Marriage is meant to be permanent.
     (1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-9, Ephesians 5:31-32) 

5. Undivided devotion to Christ and His kingdom is our goal.
     (1 Corinthians 7:32-35, Philippians 1:20-21, 3:7-11, Matthew 6:33)

Next steps...

• How can you pray for and support those who are single, or those who are in a difficult marriage, or those who are divorced?
• Thank the Lord with those who have a good, strong marriage and pray that every married couple will be strengthened to keep their marriage vows.
• Read and reflect on the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:35: “I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” Invite the Lord to help you make that your goal every day.

“NOAH AND THE ARK”
A Children’s Service sermon based on Hebrews 11:7 & Genesis 6-9
Hillcrest CRC, May 19, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Adam and Eve rebelled against God and plunged the world into sin. (Genesis 3)

2. God was sorry that He had made the world. (Genesis 6:5-6)

3. Noah was a righteous man. (Genesis 6:9)

4. God told Noah to build a huge boat! (Genesis 14-16)

5. It took 100 years to build the ark. (Genesis 5:32, 7:11)

6. Noah obeyed God. (Genesis 6:22, 7:5)

7. All of the animals came to Noah. (Genesis 7:8-9a)

8. The flood destroyed everything and everyone. (Genesis 7:22-23)

9. God made a promise to Noah and to all the animals. (Genesis 9:1-17)

 Next steps...

• Read and reflect on what the Bible says about sin in Romans 3:9-20. What is it about our sin that makes it so serious to God – enough to destroy the world with a flood?
• Noah obeyed God.  How quick are you to do what God tells you to do – even when it’s difficult?
• Thank God that he has the heart of One who loves and saves what is lost.  Thank Him for saving Noah, his family, and the animals – and thank Him for saving you!

“THE SOBER REALITY OF HELL”
A sermon outline based on Matthew 25:31-46 & Lord’s Day 32
Hillcrest CRC, May 19, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Some people are universalists. (John 12:32, Romans 5:18, 11:32)

2. Some people are annihilationists. (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

3. How does the Bible describe hell?

      Gehenna – a garbage dump. (Matthew 5:22, 18:8-9)
     
      Blackest darkness (1 Samuel 2:9, Psalm 143:3, Jeremiah 23:12, Amos 5:20,                                 Zephaniah 1:15, Matthew 8:12, 25:30, 2 Peter 2:17)
     
      Weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12, 13:42&50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30,                       Luke 13:28)
   
      Eternal fire (Matthew 18:8, 25:41, Jude 7), or a lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15), or             a fiery furnace. (Psalm 21:9, Matthew 13:42& 50)

      Eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46)

      Eternal separation from God. (Isaiah 59:2, Matthew 25:41, Luke 13:28, 2                                      Thessalonians 1:9)

4. Who will go to hell? (1 Samuel 2:9, Matthew 13:41-42, 25: 42-43, John 14:6, Ephesians 5:5-7, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Revelation 20:15)

 5. Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? (2 Corinthians 5:11, 14-20, 2 Peter 3:9)

 Next Steps...

• Ponder your own eternal destiny and search for evidence in your life that you are saved.  Repent of your sins and commit (or recommit) your life to Jesus.
• Listen for the popular (but unbiblical) idea that everyone will go to heaven. If the Lord leads you to, challenge those who believe that’s true.
• Pray for the salvation of those around you – and do whatever you can to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.           

“BE A BLESSING”
Learning To Be More Missional, part 1
A sermon outline based on Colossians 4:2-6
Hillcrest CRC, May 5, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

 1. The mission field has come to us! (Acts 17:16-34, 1 Corinthians 9:22)

 2. Pray that God would open doors. (Colossians 4:2-3)

 3. Be wise. (Colossians 4:5)

 4. Look for ways to bless people. (Genesis 12:2, Colossians 4:5-6, Proverbs 10:7)

• Offer our time. (Acts 18:11, 19:10)
• Speak words of encouragement. (Colossians 4:6, Proverbs 12:25, 16:24)
• Perform an act of kindness. (John 13:1-17, Luke 6:27-31)

5. Don’t leave someone you care about outside. (Colossians 4:5, John 3:16-18, 1 Timothy 2:4)

 Next steps...

• Who is God calling you to pray for?  Write their name here:                                .  And pray daily for God to open the door to their heart. 
• Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to bless people.  Then take advantage of those opportunities when they happen. 
• Read and reflect on Paul’s heart for being missional in 1 Corinthians 9:22 “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”  Invite God to give you His heart for those who are spiritually lost.

“CHRIST, CANDY AND THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”
Basic Beliefs, part 23, Lord’s Day 31
A sermon outline based on Genesis 12:1-3, Matthew 16:13-20, 18:15-20 
Hillcrest CRC, May 5, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. God gave Abram “the keys of the kingdom.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

2. Whatare the keys of the kingdom? (Matthew 16:13-20)

3. The keys are intended primarily to invite people into the kingdom.

    (Acts 2:1-41; 8:14-17,25; 10-11,15)

4. Jesus entrusts the keys not just to Peter, but to all of his disciples. 

    (Matthew 18:18, Acts 8:4, Luke 10:16)  

5. God gives the keys to the church to make judgments. 

    (Matthew 18:18, John 14:6, 3:36)

6. How can we use the keys of the kingdom today? 

 Possible next steps:

• To whom might God be calling you to open the doors of His kingdom? (Keep in mind that, like the Samaritans, they might be outside of your social circle.)
• Like a bag of candy, do you tend to keep the good news of kingdom of God to yourself – or do you eagerly share it with others?
• Commit to pray regularly for God to soften the hearts and open the minds of unsaved people you know.  Pray also for opportunities to build relationships with them.

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“LORD’S SUPPER 101"
Basic Beliefs, part 22
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 & Lord’s Days 28-30
Hillcrest CRC, April 21, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial feast. (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

2. Communion points to what Jesus is doing in the present. (John 1:29, 6:35,
     Hebrews 9:22)

3. Why don’t we use wine for the Lord’s Supper today? (1 Corinthians 11:21,25)

 4. Jesus is mysteriously present in the sacrament. (John 6:53-58) 

 5. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that we are forgiven. (Matthew 26:27-28)

 6. There is unity in the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:33-34)

 7. Who should participate in the Lord’s Supper? (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

 Next steps...

• As you take communion, what do you remember and believe? Read and reflect on the awesome promise Jesus made in Matthew 26:26-28.
• How is Jesus mysteriously present with you when you take communion? If you could hear him speaking to you, what would he be saying?

“HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD HANDLE CONFLICT”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 7
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 
Hillcrest CRC, April 21, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Conflict is inevitable. (1 Corinthians 3:3, 6:1, Genesis 4:8, 27:1-45, John 16:33)

2. The court system is adversarial. (Acts 22:22 – 23:35)

3. We should resolve our own disputes.
      (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, 6:4, Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:6)

4. We are saints. (1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:2)

5. We will judge the world. (1 Corinthians 6:2, Matthew 19:28, 2 Timothy 2:12,                          Revelation 20:4)

6. We will judge angels? (1 Corinthians 6:3, Hebrews 1:14)

7. God established the governing authorities.
      (Acts 16:37, 18:12-17, 22:25, 25:11, Romans 13:1-5)

8. We can win the battle, but lose the war.
      (1 Corinthians 6:7-11, Luke 6:29-30, 1 Peter 2:19–23)

9. Jesus is key. (Philippians 4:13, Galatians 2:20)

 Next steps...

• Read and reflect on Matthew 18:15-17. Try to follow what it says when you’re not getting along with someone.
• Discuss with family members or friends: when is the court system necessary, and when should we resolve our own problems?
• Live into who you are in Christ so that you can absorb the wrongs that are done to you, and forgive others and be a peacemaker.

“THE CASE FOR INFANT BAPTISM”
Basic Beliefs, part 21
A sermon outline based on Genesis 17:1-14 & Lord's Days 25-27
Hillcrest CRC, April 14, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Arguing about what the Bible doesn’t say is a weak argument.

 2. Only those capable of believing are required to believe in order to be baptized and be saved. (Mark 16:16)  

 3. Baptism is for parents and their children. (Acts 2:38-39)

 4. Entire households were baptized. (1 Corinthians 1:16, Acts 16:14-25, 31-33)

 5. Infant baptism is much more typical of ancient middle-eastern culture.

6. Baptism is a mark of the covenant. (Genesis 17:7,11, Matthew 28:18-19, Colossians 2:L11-12) 

 7. Questions for those who don’t believe in infant baptism:

• When did God stop including children in his covenant?
•  If infant baptism didn’t originate in Scripture – when did it start?
• Where is the verse in Scripture that says infants and children shouldn’t be baptized?
• Where are the biblical examples of children who grow up to be baptized at a later age?
• And how is Scripture violated if a child is baptized first, and then grows and matures in their faith?

 Next steps...

• Keep this outline in your Bible so that you can use it to remind yourself about why baptizing babies is biblical and use it when the topic comes up in conversation with those who might disagree. 
• Thank the Lord that He is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God, and graciously promises to be a God to our children, and not just adult believers.