“THE MIRACLE OF GRACE”
Basic Beliefs, part 19
A sermon outline based on Ephesians 2:1-10 & Lord’s Day 23
Hillcrest CRC, February 4, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. We are spiritually dead without Christ. (Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13)

2. God gives us life. (Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 5:13-15)

3. We are saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:4-9, Romans 3:22-24, Titus 3:5)

4. Without Jesus no one stands a chance.  (Ephesians 2:6-7, John 3:18)

5. We are saved through faith. (Ephesians 2:8, Acts 16:31, Romans 3:22)

6. Christianity is unique among all other religions. (John 14:6)

 Next steps...

• Thank and praise God every day for His “miracle of grace” in your life – for reaching out to save you from your sins and offer you the free gift of salvation in Christ.
• Pray for God to bring your family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers who don’t know the Lord, to repentance and faith in Jesus, so that they may be saved.  And look for opportunities to share a verbal witness with them.
• The next time you hear someone claim that all religions are alike, inform them that Christianity is unique, because eternal life is a free gift of grace through faith, not something that we earn.

“BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 4
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 2
Hillcrest CRC, February 4, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Paul chose God’s power over human wisdom. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

2. What is God’s secret wisdom? (1 Corinthians 2:6-10)

3. We have the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12, Romans 8:5-9)

4. Be led by the Spirit and the mind of Christ.

    (1 Corinthians 2:13-16, Romans 8:5-9,12-14, 12:2, John 15:5)

Next steps...

• Where in your life do you tend to rely only on yourself or human wisdom and ingenuity? How might you be more productive for the kingdom of God if you learned to be led by Him each day? 
• Read and reflect on John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” How might abiding in Christ and His Word help you better listen to and follow God’s guidance in your daily decisions?
• Every morning invite the Lord to lead and guide you in your words, decisions and actions – even if it takes you out of your comfort zone – so that you may accomplish His will, rather than just your own.

“WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE?”
A sermon outline based on Luke 16:19-31 & Lord’s Day 22
Hillcrest CRC, January 21, 2024, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

 There are 3 steps that will happen to us:

 1. We will experience an intermediate state.

•  The Old Testament calls it sheol. (Genesis 37:34-35, Psalm 16:10)
• The New Testament calls it hades. (1 Corinthians 15:55, Revelation 1:18, 20:13-14)
• We will be in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
• We will go to be with Christ. (Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:8)
• We will have a building from God. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

 2. Our bodies will be resurrected. (1 Corinthians 15:20, Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 26:19,                  Daniel 12:2, Romans 8:11)

 3. We will live on a new earth and it will be heaven. (Revelation 21:5, John 3:16, 1                   Corinthians 2:9)                

 
Next steps...

• Read and reflect on what heaven will be like in Revelation 21:1-5, and Revelation 21:22–22:5.
• Think about what kind of bodies we will have some day when we live on a new earth. How does 1 Corinthians 15:35-57 describe them?
• Thank and praise God for giving us hope for eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord!

“CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
Real Faith in Real Life, part 2
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 1:10-31
Hillcrest CRC, January 21, 2024, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. We all long for shalom. (Isaiah 11:1-9)

2. Paul asks them to agree with each other. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

3. We look to others for our identity. (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)

4. Our identity is found in Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:13-17)

 5. The cross represented a real challenge. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

 6. There is power in weakness. (1 Corinthians 1:25-31)

 Next steps...

• Instead of looking to name brands, political parties or our cultures ideas of success, find your identity and worth in that you are a child of God through Jesus Christ.
• Read, reflect on and give thanks for 1 Corinthians 1:30: “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” (NLT)
• Try to find one person each day to humbly serve without expecting anything in return.

“WHY GO TO CHURCH?”
Basic Beliefs, part 17
A sermon outline based on Acts 2:42-47 & Lord’s Day 21
Hillcrest CRC, January 7, 2024, 5 PM
Rev. Curt Walters

1.  We need biblical teaching. (Acts 2:42a)
2.  We need koinonia. (Acts 2:42b)  
3.  We need to be reminded of foundational truths. (Acts 2:42c)
4.  We need to pray together. (Acts 2:42d, 6:3-4)
5.  We need to experience the presence and power of God.  (Acts 2:43)

 Next steps...

• How devoted to biblical teaching are you?  Commit yourself to reading and reflecting on a short passage in the Bible at lest 5 days a week. Or join a Bible study or discipleship group and study Scripture together!
• Start keeping a prayer list so that you can consistently ask God for certain things and see when and how He answers.  And pray with other believers if possible. Attend the prayer meeting this Wednesday at 7pm at church (even if you only pray silently) and see how it enriches your prayer life.
• Ask the Lord how He might want you to get involved with other Christians this year rather than simply doing the best you can on your own. 

“UNEXPECTED ENCOURAGEMENT”
Real Faith in Real Life, part 1
A sermon outline based on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Hillcrest CRC, January 7, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

 1. What was ancient Corinth like? (1 Corinthians 1:2)

 2. They had many problems. (1 Corinthians 1,3,5,6,8,10,11,12-14,15,16)

 3. They were sanctified in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

 4. They were eloquent and knowledgeable. (1 Corinthians 1:5)

 5. They had many spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 1:7, 12:1-31)

 6. God will keep them to the end. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9, John 10:28-29)

 Next steps...

• Who can you speak affirmation and encouragement to this week?  Resist the urge to point out someone’s flaws and instead look for the good things that God is doing or will yet do in their lives.
• Read and reflect on Question and Answer 1 from the Heidelberg Catechism: “What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”
• Thank God for the finished work of Jesus that makes you holy, righteous and pure and that He will keep you to the end, and assure others who have doubts of this truth.

“WHO GOES WITH US INTO THE NEW YEAR?”
A sermon outline based on Exodus 33:12 – 34:7
Hillcrest CRC, December 31, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Spiritual passion leaks. (Exodus 32:21-24, 33:3)

 2. They took off their ornaments. (Exodus 12:35-36, 33:4-6)

 3. This could be our prayer for the new year. (Exodus 33:13, Psalm 25:4-5)

 4. What distinguishes us from everyone else? (Exodus 33:16, 1 Peter 2:9)

 5. Invite the LORD to lead and guide. (Exodus 33:14-16, Isaiah 63:9)

 6. God revealed himself to Moses. (Exodus 33:18 – 34:7, Numbers 14:18)

 Next steps...

• Invite God to show you what you need to “take off and lay aside” because it is hindering your relationship with Him.  Then ask Him to show you what you can do to reignite your passion for Christ and his kingdom in the new year.
•  Read, reflect on and memorize Psalm 24:4-5 and make it your prayer for the new year: “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” 
• Refuse to settle only for God’s blessings in 2024. Instead, insist that He goes with you so that you experience the joy of knowing and abiding in Him and sharing Him with others. 

“THE LORD HAS COME!”
Prepare the Way, part 5
A sermon outline based on Psalm 97 and Luke 2:8-14
Hillcrest CRC, December 25, 9:30 AM
Rev. Curt Walters

1.  The LORD reigns, even though His people don’t see it. (Psalm 97, Exodus 19:16-19)
2.  The Lord came, even though they didn’t receive him. (Luke 2:11-14, John 1:10-11)
3.  Jesus Christ is Lord, even though it doesn’t always seem like it. (Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Peter 3:8-10, Revelation 19)
4. They bowed down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11, Psalm 97:7)
5. They offered him their gifts. (Matthew 2:11)

 Next steps...

• Read and reflect on the Christmas story in John 1:1-18. How does this passage explain who Jesus is?
• Declare that Jesus is Lord, over your home and family, over your community, over our nation and over the world!  Then choose to live in the reality that He is the King of the world!
• Think about what Jesus’ birth means to you, then pray that God gives you the opportunity to share it with someone who has yet to discover the joy of Jesus.