“FAITH AND RELATIONSHIPS IN LIGHT OF CHRIST’S COMING”
Prepare the Way, part 4
A sermon outline based on 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 
Hillcrest CRC, December 24, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. Paul valued relationships. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, 2:8, 3:6-10, 5:23-28)

2. Nothing is more important than faith. 

    (Mark 8:36, 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8, 3 John 4)

3. He longed to be with them. (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, 3:6,10-11)

4. He prayed that God would fill their hearts with love. 

    (Matthew 24:12, Luke 15:1, John 8:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 3:12)

5. He asked God to strengthen their hearts so that they would want to be holy.

    (1 Thessalonians 3:13, 4:7, 5:22-24, Hebrews 12:14)

6. Jesus is coming again. 

    (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:13-18, 5:1-5, 23, 2 Peter 3:11)

 Next steps...

• Work at loving and respecting family members you disagree with at family gatherings. Practice James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...”
• Recommit to praying fervently for people you know who do not know the Lord. Try fasting from a meal once a week in order to devote yourself to praying for them.
• Invite God to take full control of your heart, mind and desires, so that you value and seek holiness for yourself as much as He does.
• Consider joining a discipleship group in the new year to help you be more intentional about loving a group of other believers and growing in your faith. The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. 

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“PROMISED COMFORT”
Prepare the Way, part 3
A sermon outline based on Isaiah 40:1-11
Hillcrest CRC, December 17, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

 1. God loves and forgives His people. (Isaiah 40:1-2, John 10:28)

 2. How do we prepare the way? (Isaiah 40:3-5, 35:8, Luke 1:17)

 3. Build our lives on what endures. (Isaiah 40:6-8)

 4. Announce the good news. (Isaiah 40:9-11, Luke 4:18-19)

 
Next steps...

• Think about what you might need to do to prepare for Christ’s coming. Do you know, love and trust in Him? Do you need to repent of some sin? Do you want to draw closer to Him?
• Anticipate times in your life when you feel distant from God, like you’re in a spiritual wilderness.  But trust that God will use those times to refine you and ultimately deepen your trust in Him.
• Who might God be calling you to “announce” the good news of Jesus to? Pray that the Lord will give you an opportunity to share the hope that you have in Christ with someone.

“DEEP CLEANING”
Prepare the Way, part 2
A sermon outline based on Malachi 2:17 – 3:5
Hillcrest CRC, December 10, 2023, 9:30 AM 
Rev. Curt Walters

1. We long for God to make things right. (Malachi 2:17)
2. The Israelites longed for justice.  (Psalm 58, Isaiah 1:23, 5:23, 10:1-2, Malachi 2:17)
3. God will come to bring justice, but He will start with His own people.  (Malachi 3:1-5, Luke 3:1-20)
4. What kind of deep cleaning do we need? (Galatians 5:19-21, 2 Peter 3:11, Revelation 2:4-5,14-15,20, 3:1-2,15-17)

Next steps...

• Read and reflect on Jesus’ words: “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.’” (Luke 6:41–42, NLT)
• Take some time to reflect on your life.  Invite God to show you what He would like you to change.
• Thank God that when Jesus returns, all things will be made new, and righteousness and justice will be the new normal in our lives and in the world.

“WHY WE NEED CHRISTMAS”
Prepare the Way, part 1
 A sermon outline based on Hebrews 10:1-1
Hillcrest CRC, December 3, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

 1. What does this passage have to do with advent? 

 2. Why did God become human? (Hebrews 10:5-7)

 3. We have a sin problem. (Hebrews 10:3-4, Galatians 4:4-5)

 4. Animal sacrifices don’t remove sin. (Leviticus 4, Isaiah 53, Hebrews 10:1,4,8–11)

 5. Jesus came to do God’s will. (John 4:34, 6:38, Hebrews 10:7-10)

•  He came to obey God’s laws. (Matthew 5:17, Luke 2:51, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
• He came to be the final sacrifice for sin. (Romans 3:23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:27,10:10-14, 2 Peter 3:18)

 6. Why are we still so unholy? (Hebrews 10:10&14)

 Next steps...

• Read and reflect on 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
• Thank the Lord that you are holy, clean and forgiven through Jesus Christ. Celebrate that “...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1)
• Think of an area in your life where you struggle with temptation and sin.  Invite God to continue His sanctifying work in you to make you more holy and Christlike.

“THE GOODNESS OF GOD”
A Thanksgiving Day sermon outline based on Psalm 100
Hillcrest CRC, November 23, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters


1. The LORD is good. (Psalm 100:5, Luke 18:19, 1 John 1:5)

2. He created a good and beautiful world. (Genesis 1, 1 Timothy 4:4)

3. He chose to redeem us. (Psalm 100:5, Genesis 3:15, Romans 5:8, 2 Peter 3:9)

4. He gives good gifts to his children. (Matthew 7:11, James 1:17)

5. We are called to be like God. (Matthew 7:7-12)

Next steps...

• Notice the world around you.  What good things do you see, hear, taste, smell, or feel each day that causes you to thank and praise the LORD?  Make a list and add to it each day.
• Read and reflect on Psalm 145. How many different reasons does David list for thanking and praising the LORD?
• Think of a way that you can do something good for someone.  Thank God for the opportunity to be more like Him – One who enjoys giving good things.
  
  

“A SPIRITUAL NIGHTMARE – LIFE WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT”
Basic Beliefs, part 16
A sermon outline based on Romans 8:1-17
Hillcrest CRC, November 26, 2023, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters


Without the Holy Spirit...

1. We would be mired in sin and misery. (Romans 8:5-14, John 16:8)

2. We would be ignorant of God and His ways. (John 14:26, 16:13)

3. We would be spiritually stagnant.  (Romans 8:14,15:16, Galatians 5:22-23)

4. We would be spiritually dead. (Romans 8:9b,11,16, John 3:5, 6:63)

Next steps...
 

• Think about the many ways that your life is better because of the Holy Spirit and His work in your heart and life.  Offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for the blessing of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our world.
• Read and reflect on Romans 8:12-17. What aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work do you most appreciate in this passage?
• Invite God the Holy Spirit to teach you, lead and guide you, comfort you, convict you of sin, and assure you of forgiveness and life in Jesus Christ.
  
  

“THE DISCIPLINE OF BEING THANKFUL”

Growing Deeper, part 10

A sermon outline based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hillcrest CRC, November 26, 2023, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Ingratitude is common but toxic. 

•  We’re born ungrateful. (Psalm 51:5, 107:1)
•  Ingratitude is a mark of an unbeliever. (Romans 1:20-21)
•  Ingratitude is a sin. (1 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Timothy 3:1-3)

 
2. Give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:15)

• Be thankful when life is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:15)
• Be thankful when life is hard. (Philippians 1:15-18, 4:11-13)

3. Gratitude is a choice. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:15, Hebrews 12:28-29)

Next steps...

• Offer God a prayer of thanksgiving every morning when you wake up, before every meal, and before you go to bed every night.  Engage in this daily discipline of being grateful to God and see how it improves your life.
• Read, reflect on, memorize and recite to yourself 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
• The next time you face some challenging circumstance, pause to find something to be thankful for.  Thank God for His presence, His peace, His faithful provision, His promises, and the hope of eternal life in Christ.