“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.

“HOW NOT TO HANDLE SIN”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 6
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 5
Hillcrest CRC, April 14, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. What was this man’s sin? (Leviticus 18:8, Deuteronomy 22:30, 27:30, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

 2. Our attitude about sin is key. (Acts 3:19, 20:21, 1 John 1:9)

 3. What’s so bad about yeast? (1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Exodus 12:15, Mark 8:15)

 4. It’s our responsibility to judge other Christians. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, 6:3, Matthew 7:1-6, Galatians 6:1)

 5. Paul supports the practice of church discipline. (Matthew 16:19, I Corinthians 5:2-5,11-13, 6:1-5, Hebrews 12:10-11)

 6. Repent and believe the good news! (Mark 1:15, Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:5-7, 5:18-20

 
Next steps...

• Invite the Lord to convict you of any sin in your life and to turn away from it so that you can be forgiven and walk with Him. (Psalm 139:23-24, Acts 3:19)
• Read and reflect on Acts 3:19: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord...”
• The next time you hear someone say that we aren’t supposed to humbly and gently judge others, point out that the Bible actually invites us to judge people who claim to be Christians, but that we should let God judge people outside of the church. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, 6:1-5, Galatians 6:1)

“WHY BOTHER DOING GOOD?”
Basic Beliefs, part 20
A sermon outline based on Romans 5:20-6:23 and Lord's Day 24
Hillcrest CRC, April 7, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters 

1. We have died to sin. (Romans 6:2,11)
2. We are no longer slaves to sin but to the Lord. (Romans 6:16,21,23)  
3. We love the Lord. (Romans 7:1-6, John 14:15)
4. We have the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:1-17)

 Next steps...

• The next time you’re tempted to sin, remind yourself that you have died to your sinful nature and that you no longer want to live as if sin is your master.
• Read Psalms of praise and thanksgiving, sing worship songs, and do other things that enhance your love for the Lord, so that you won’t want to sin.
• Read and reflect on Romans 6-8.  Actively pursue doing God’s will and advancing his kingdom in some way, so that you feel fulfilled doing what is right rather than wanting to do what is wrong.

“ANSWERING TO THE ULTIMATE JUDGE”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 5
 A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 4
Hillcrest CRC, April 7, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1.  Paul was Jesus’ servant, not theirs. (1 Corinthians 4:1-4, Romans 14:4)
2.  God is the best and ultimate judge. (1 Corinthians 4:5, Matthew 7:1-2)
3.  God makes us who we are, so we can’t boast.  (1 Corinthians 4:6-7, John 3:27, Romans 12:3,6)
4.  Following Jesus is costly. (1 Corinthians 4:8-13, Luke 9:23, 1 Timothy 3:12)
5.  We all need role models. (1 Corinthians 4:14-21)

  Next steps...

• Don’t live your life to win the approval of others, but to win God’s approval.  Live for an audience of One, since His opinion is the only one that will ultimately matter.
• Thank the Lord for how he has uniquely made you and given you gifts and abilities. And rather than envying other people, thank God for the way He’s made them too.
• As a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, find someone who can serve as a role model in the faith, and also find someone whom you can disciple and on whom you can have spiritual influence.

Scripture:  John 20:1-9
Message: "Resurrection Quartet"

I. MATTHEW: PROFOUND IMPACT

    Worship 

II. MARK: PERSONAL INTENSITY

      Urgency

III. LUKE: PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION

       History and God’s plan. 

IV. JOHN: PERSUASIVE INFORMATION

       Believe 

The Joke is on the Devil!