“DAVID'S FAILURE AS A FATHER”

David: A Man After God’s Own Heart, part 9

A sermon outline based on 2 Samuel 13-18

Hillcrest CRC, March 15, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

 1. Amnon was obsessed with Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:1-20)

 2. David avoided a hard conversation. (2 Samuel 13:21-23)

 3. Absalom took matters into his own hands. (2 Samuel 23-37)

 4. He lacked the courageto do something. (2 Samuel 13:38-39)

 5. Joab tried to resolve the situation. (2 Samuel 14:1-23)

 6. David failed to take the initiative again. (2 Samuel 14:24)

 7. Absalom acted out. (2 Samuel 14:25-32)

 8. David acted as if everything was fine. (2 Samuel 14:33)

 9. Absalom conspired against David. (2 Samuel 15)

 10. It was too late. (2 Samuel 18:33-19:4)

Next steps...

• Ask God for the courage that you need to have a difficult conversation with someone that you’ve been putting off. Pray that you can say only what God wants you to say.
• If you’re holding a grudge against someone, humble yourself and ask the Lord to help you forgive them. You’ll know you’ve forgiven them when you can pray for God to bless them.
• What words do you need to say to those you love?  Say them before it’s too late.

“WHY BAPTIZE BABIES?”

The Foundations of Our Faith, part 21

A sermon outline based on Genesis 17:1-14 & 

Belgic Confession Article 34

Hillcrest CRC, March 8, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Arguing from the silence of Scripture is unwise. (Mark 16:16

2. Only those capable of believing are required to in order to be baptized and 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. Believer-only baptism is very individualistic.

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

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 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 grandchildren, and not just adult believers.

“THE GENEROSITY OF DAVID”

David: A Man After God’s Own Heart, part 8

A sermon outline based on 1 Samuel 30:9-25 and 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Hillcrest CRC, March 8, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Everything belongs to the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:20-23, James 1:17)

2. When God blesses you, bless others. 

    (1 Samuel 30:23-24, Ephesians 4:28, 2 Corinthians 9:8)

3. Giving is good for the soul. (2 Samuel 24:24)

Next steps...

• Wake up every morning thanking the Lord for every good thing you have and experience.  This acknowledges that He is the source of all of our blessings.
• Read and reflect on 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (NLT)
• Ask the Lord who you can bless in some way.  Then bless them, but don’t tell anyone about it so that only they and the Lord know.

“CARING ENOUGH TO CONFRONT”

The Foundations of Our Faith, part 20

A sermon outline based on Ephesians 4:1-16 

and Belgic Confession Article 32

Hillcrest CRC, March 1, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. What we tend to do – but shouldn’t.

2. We must deal with it. (Matthew 18:15-17) 

• Personally. (Matthew 18:15)
• With humility. (Ephesians 4:2, Galatians 6:1-3)
• Gently. (Ephesians 4:2, Galatians 6:1, John 1:14)
• Patiently. (Ephesians 4:2)
• Wisely. (Colossians 1:28, 3:16)
• In love. (Ephesians 4:2,13-15)
• Don’t be divisive. (Ephesians 4:3-13, Titus 3:10) 

 3. If necessary, ask for help. (Matthew 18:16-17)

 4. Be prepared to receive constructive criticism. (Proverbs 25:12, Ephesians 4:15)

Next steps...

• Take the initiative to have that difficult conversation you know you need to have with someone.  Pray for them and for yourself.  Think about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it and make sure it conforms to Ephesians 4:1-16.
• "Speaking the truth in love” rather than ignoring, avoiding, sugar-coating or lying about something.
• Read and reflect on John 1:14.  Which is more important – grace or truth?  Which is more difficult for you?  Why? 

“THE MORAL FAILURE OF KING DAVID”

David: A Man After God’s Own Heart, part 7

A sermon outline based on 2 Samuel 11:1-12:13

Hillcrest CRC, March 1, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. David’s relationship with God had grown distant. (2 Samuel 11:1)
2. Instead of resisting temptation, he pursued it. (2 Samuel 11:2)
3. David ignored the “red flags”. (2 Samuel 11:3-4)
4. David’s sin got more serious than he expected. (2 Samuel 11:5-17)
5. God confronted David with his sin. (2 Samuel 11:27- 12:7)
6. David confessed his sins. (2 Samuel 12:13)

Next steps...

• Seek the Lord through prayer and reading and reflecting on His Word. Doing this will help you resist temptation.
• The next time you sin, read and reflect on David’s prayer in Psalm 51. Make it your own prayer of confession.
• Turn away from any known sins in your life and initiate measures that make it less likely for you to repeat them.

Based on Psalm 2

"Finding Strength in Weakness"

A sermon outline based on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Hillcrest CRC, February 22, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Jim Busscher

•  In the Life of Paul
•  In the Life of Jesus
• In Our Lives 

“THE REAL DEAL”

The Foundations of Our Faith, part 19

A sermon outline based on 2 Timothy 4:1-8

and Belgic Confession Article 29

Hillcrest CRC, September 25, 2011, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. What are the marks of a true church?

• The pure preaching of the Word. (John 8:31-32, 2 Timothy 4:1-4)
• The proper administrationof the sacraments. (Luke 22:19)
• The appropriate exercise of church discipline. (Matthew 16:19, 1 Corinthians 5:13, Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 4:2-4) 

2. What are the marks of a true Christian?

•  Faith in Jesus. (Acts 16:31, Hebrews 11:1) 
•  Resisting sin and evil. (Romans 7:21-23, 1 Timothy 6:11, James 4:7)
•  Pursuing righteousness. (1 John 3:10, 1 Timothy 6:11, Romans 6:18-19)
•  Love for God.  (Mark 12: 30)
•  Love for others. (1 John 4: 19-21)

Next steps...

• Take the five characteristics of real Christians above and invite someone to evaluate you and tell you on a scale of 1-10 to what degree they see those characteristics in you.
• Read and reflect on what Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-17 about how followers of Jesus should live.
• Are there other “marks” (other than the one’s above) of true churches or Christians that you would add to the lists above?  If so, which ones and why?

“MEPHIBOSHETH”

David: A Man After God’s Own Heart, part 6

A sermon outline based on 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Hillcrest CRC, February 15, 2026, 9:30am

Rev. Curt Walters

1. Compassion is personal. (2 Samuel 9:1, John 10:14)

2. David treated him with dignity. (2 Samuel 9:4)

3. David took action. (2 Samuel 9: 9-10)

4. Compassion flows from love. (1 Samuel 20:13b-15, 2 Samuel 9:1)

Next steps...

• When you see a person with a disability, look past the disability and see the person.
• Read and reflect on the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.
• Think about a person or situation that you feel badly about, then think about something that you can do to help and do it. 

“THE FAMILY OF GOD”

The Foundations of Our Faith, part 18

A sermon outline based on Acts 2:42-47 & Belgic Confession article 28

Hillcrest CRC, February 8, 2026, 5pm

Rev. Curt Walters

1. They devoted themselves to biblical teaching. (Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:25)

2. They devoted themselves to koinonia. (Acts 2:42, 44-45)

3. They ate together. (Acts 2:42)

4. They devoted themselves to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Next steps...

• Join a Bible study of some kind so that you not only read Scripture yourself and hear it on Sunday but study it with other believers.
• Seek a deeper and more honest relationship with at least one other Christian (other than your spouse).  Pray for each other and hold each other accountable.  If you don’t have anyone like this in your life, pray for the Lord to lead you to someone you can trust.
• Focus on improving your prayer life.  Keep a prayer journal.  And pray out loud with others when you have the opportunity, even though it might make you feel uncomfortable.