“REMEMBER THE WONDERS HE HAS DONE"
A Study of the Psalms, part 5: A Psalm of Remembrance
A sermon outline based on Psalm 105
Hillcrest CRC, July 30, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

 1. We need to remember because we are prone to forget. (Psalm 105-106, Deuteronomy 8)

 2. God keeps His promises. (Psalm 105:6-11, 42-44)

 3. God is sovereign. (Psalm 105:16-36, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)

4. The LORD provides for His people. (Psalm 105:37-41)

5. Walk in His ways. (Psalm 105:45)

6. Tell people about the amazing things God has done. (Psalm 105:1-2)

 Next steps...

• Think about everything that God has done for you. Write down the highlights and share them with people as part of your faith story.
• Read and reflect on Paul sharing his faith story with King Agrippa in Acts 26.
•  Ask God to give you an opportunity to share with one person something that He has done so that you can show them how amazing God is.

“THE SIDE OF GOD NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT”

Basic Beliefs, part 3
A sermon outline based on Zephaniah 1:14-2:3 & Lord’s Day 4
Hillcrest CRC, July 23, 2023, 5pm
Rev. Curt Walters

1. God is angry about sin and punishes it.

               Adam and Eve. (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:23).

                The story of Noah. (Genesis 6:5-7).

                The Israelites. (Leviticus 24:10-23, Joshua 7, Judges 2:11-14).

                The prophets. (Jeremiah 14:10-2; 16:3-4, Isaiah 66:15-16).

                Ananias and Saphira. (Acts 5:1-11).

                People today. (Colossians 3:5-6, Hebrews 10:26-27,31).

2. God is also merciful and loves sinners. (Isaiah 53:6, 1 Peter 2:24).

Next steps...

·                     Read and reflect on Psalm 51.  Use it as your prayer to confess your sins to                               the Lord.

·                     Think about and discuss why God takes sin so seriously, and why many                                          people  today don’t.

·                     When you talk to a Christian who claims that God only loves people, ask                                     them  to help you understand what Jesus meant in John 3:36 when he                                         said:  "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the                             Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

“SING TO THE KING”
A Study of the Psalms, part 4: A Psalm of Kingship
A sermon outline based on Psalm 68
Hillcrest CRC, July 23, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

 
1. God is the world’s one, true king. (Psalm 68:1-4,12-14, 17-18)

2. He has a tender heart. (Psalm 68:6-10, Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 4:18-19)

 
3. God is a rescuer. (Psalm 68:19-20, 1 Peter 5:7, 2 Timothy 4:18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-          57)

 4. Sing praise to the King! (Psalm 68:4,19,26,32-35, 100:4, Revelation 7:9-12, 19:1-8)

 Next steps...

•                      Read and reflect on Revelation 19 as a chapter that celebrates Jesus as our                             ultimate King. What aspect of him or of us rule strikes you?

•                      Sing your own made-up song of praise to the Lord, when you get up in the                                 morning, in the shower, on your way to work, on a walk, or before you go to                             sleep.

•                      Offer yourself whole-heartedly to Jesus to love and serve Him so that you                                live to do His will and bring Him glory as his lifelong disciple.

Matthew 17: 1-13

Isaiah 24:21-25:5

“QUESTIONS ABOUT SIN”
Basic Beliefs, part 2
A sermon outline based on Romans 5:12-21 and Lord's Day 3
Hillcrest CRC, July 9, 2023, 5pm
Rev. Curtis A. Walters


1. Who's responsible for sin? (Q&A 6)


2. Should be we held accountable for sinning when we didn’t have a choice? 
     (1 Corinthians 15:22)


3. What is the extent of our sin? (Romans 3:10-12, Q&A 8)


4. What is total depravity?  (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10-12)


5. Are we as Christians still totally depraved? (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 

6. Does God forgive every sin?  (Romans 5:20, 8:1, Matthew 12:31)

“O GOD, HELP ME!”
A Study of the Psalms, part 3: A Psalm of Lament
A sermon outline based on Psalm 31
Hillcrest CRC, July 9, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. We should expect trouble. (Psalm 31:9-13, John 16:33)


2. Talk to God about it. (Psalm 31:1-5, 22)


3. The LORD is our refuge. (Psalm 31:1-4,19-20)


4. We are in His hands. (Psalm 31:5, 15)


5. Trust in the LORD. (Psalm 31:6-8, 14-20)


6. Love and praise the LORD. (Psalm 31:21-24)


Next steps...

• When you face trials or difficulties, read a Psalm of lament, like Psalm 3,6,10,13,22,31,41,54,64,70, 86 or 141 and make it your prayer to the LORD.
• Cry out to God when you experience suffering or have deep questions. Tell Him how you feel and ask Him for His help.
• Seek refuge in the hands of God and trust that in His time, He will take your sorrow and exchange it for joy.

“GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD”
A Study of the Psalms, part 2: A Psalm of Thanksgiving
A sermon outline based on Psalm 30
Hillcrest CRC, July 2, 2023, 9:30am
Rev. Curt Walters

1. David was thankful for healing. (Psalm 30:2-3, 8-10)

 2. He was thankful for God’s favor. (Psalm 30:4-5, 1 Chronicles 21:13, 2 Samuel 24:14)

• God is gracious. (Psalm 30:4-5)
•  God is angry about sin, but it’s short-lived. (Psalm 30:5)
• We need to keep suffering in perspective.
• This is not true for those who don’t love Jesus. (Hebrews 10:31)

3. He was thankful for God’s grace. (Psalm 30:6-10)

 4. He was thankful for God’s answer to his prayers. (Psalm 30:8-11)

 5. Don’t be silent. (Psalm 30:12)

Next steps...

• Think of at least 5 things every day that you are thankful for and keep a running list of them.  Review your list regularly to remind yourself to be thankful in all circumstances.
• Read and reflect on Deuteronomy 8. Why is it so easy to forget the Lord and to give ourselves credit for all of our blessings?
• Write your own prayer of thanksgiving, like David does in Psalm 30.  List the reasons why you are thankful to God.  Then share your prayer with others, just as David shared Psalm 30, and invite them to join you in thanking and praise the Lord.  

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43