Netherwood Park Church of Christ Sermons

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Episode 26-2

It's Just Practice

SERIES

Go, Jonah

DATE

January 11, 2026

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Ecclesiastes 12:12–14

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Jonah 1:6–8, 1:9–13, 1:13–16; Proverbs 1:7; 1 John 4:7

SUMMARY

While fleeing on a storm-tossed ship, Jonah serves as an unreliable witness to the pagan sailors who are desperately searching for answers. Before God calls us to the "big game" of major service, He often puts us through practice to prepare us and help others overcome their spiritual hurdles.

KEY POINTS

• Skipping spiritual practice and living unreliably makes it difficult for others to hear the truth.

• The sailors represented those who do not know God yet sought answers amidst life's storms.

• We must learn to help people over their "God hurdles" rather than becoming a barrier ourselves.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. How has God called me to go practice?

2. Am I lowering hurdles for others or acting as an unreliable source of faith?

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Episode 26-1

I Do Not Want To Go!

SERIES

Go, Jonah

DATE

January 4, 2026

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Second Kings 19:32–36

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Jonah 1:1–5, 1:3; Jonah 3:1–2; Genesis 10:8, 11–12; Hebrews 11

SUMMARY

God calls Jonah to go and preach against the wicked city of Nineveh, but Jonah blatantly refuses and flees in the opposite direction toward Tarshish. Despite our tendencies to choose comfortable routines over divine calling, God remains persistent in directing us toward where we are needed.

KEY POINTS

• God calls us to step out of our comfort zones and go to unique places.

• Choosing the "chair life" of comfort means prioritizing our own control over God's calling.

• Running from God's mission not only creates problems for ourselves but also impacts those around us.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Where is God calling me to go each day?

2. Am I choosing personal comfort over God's specific calling for my life?

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Episode 25-51

Honor the Past, Embrace the Future

SERIES

Rejoice

DATE

December 28, 2025

SPEAKER

Skip Cole, Elder

SCRIPTURE READING

First Samuel 1:12–17

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Exodus 12:24–27, Jeremiah 29:11–14

SUMMARY

In this sermon, Skip Cole reflects on the transition of seasons, the passage of time, and the human tendency to look both backward and forward at the close of the year. Drawing parallels from the night sky, ancient calendar traditions, and biblical instructions from Exodus and Jeremiah, he encourages believers to live lives marked by hopeful anticipation rather than anxiety. Ultimately, the congregation is reminded to honor past faithfulness while looking forward to God's promised future with trust and expectation.

KEY POINTS

• Creation and Time: The celestial bodies and orderly changes in seasons display God's power and establish a reliable framework of time to mark our days and years.

• Anticipation vs. Anxiety: Believers are called to live with pleasurable expectation and hope for the future, rejecting paralyzing anxiety.

• Honoring the Past: Remembering God's past actions and faithfulness—much like the Israelite tradition of the Passover—serves as a vital anchor and a teaching tool for future generations.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. In what ways can you actively choose hopeful anticipation over anxiety as you look toward the coming year?

2. How does remembering God's faithfulness in your past shape the way you trust Him with your future?

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Episode 25-50

Praise Precedes Promises

SERIES

Rejoice

DATE

December 14, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Luke 2:3-7

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Luke 1:46-55, Matthew 14:22-33

SUMMARY

Examining Mary's song of praise (the Magnificat), this sermon contrasts self-centered attitudes with God-centered worship. Minister Trevor Richt encourages believers to offer their praise to God in the present moment rather than waiting for circumstances to resolve, reminding them that true worship precedes the fulfillment of promises.

KEY POINTS

• Mary's song teaches us to magnify God by giving Him the highest glory, focusing on His enduring mercy and steadfast love (hesed).

• Believers are called to praise God in the present moment for what He is currently doing, as well as looking forward in faith to His future promises.

• Unlike the disciples who only worshipped after the storm subsided, mature faith chooses to praise God in the middle of the trial.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Am I guilty of withholding my praise until God fixes my circumstances, or do I worship Him in the present?

2. What specific blessings can I thank God for right now as we close out the year?

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Episode 25-49

Impossible Faith

SERIES

Rejoice

DATE

December 7, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

1 Samuel 1:12-17

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Luke 1:34-37, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:3-4, Genesis 1, Isaiah 35:14-15, Hebrews 10, Genesis 18:13-14, Isaiah 9:6-7

SUMMARY

Addressing the human tendency to look at life's hurdles as insurmountable, this sermon explores the miraculous conception of Jesus and the limitless power of the Holy Spirit. Minister Trevor Richt reminds listeners that with God, no word will ever fail and what appears impossible on a human level is entirely possible through Him.

KEY POINTS

• The Holy Spirit possesses the power to cover, cause change, and create life where there was none, making the virgin birth a divine reality.

• Jesus had to be both fully human through Mary and fully divine through God to serve as the perfect, sinless sacrifice for humanity.

• God's track record throughout Scripture—from barren wombs to parted seas—proves that His word never fails and nothing is impossible for Him.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What area of impossibility in my life do I need to surrender to God's capable hands today?

2. How does Mary's response of "I am the Lord's servant" challenge my own level of faith?

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Episode 25-48

The Royal Baby

SERIES

Rejoice

DATE

November 30, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Samuel 7:11b-16

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Luke 1:26-31, Psalm 2:7, John, Matthew 1

SUMMARY

Shifting into the Christmas season, this message examines the angelic announcement to Mary and the breaking of 500 years of biblical silence. Minister Trevor Richt emphasizes that God chose an ordinary young woman from the modest town of Nazareth to bring forth the true King who rules with eternal authority.

KEY POINTS

• After centuries of prophetic silence, God chose to break the silence in an unconventional way by sending the angel Gabriel to Mary.

• Jesus came not just as a Savior, but as the rightful royal King destined to sit on David's throne and establish an everlasting kingdom.

• Embracing Jesus requires more than celebrating a holiday; it calls for absolute submission to His supreme authority and sovereignty.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Am I truly ready to submit to the authority of Jesus as the King of my life?

2. How can I better reflect the hope of Christ's birth during this holiday season?

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Episode 25-47

Rippling Redemption

SERIES

Rejoice

DATE

November 23, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Ruth 4:11-12

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Ruth 1:20-21, Ruth 3:17, Ruth 4:13-22, Acts, Matthew 1

SUMMARY

Concluding the series on the book of Ruth, this sermon highlights how God's redemption extends beyond individuals to bring restoration and hope through unexpected packages like Naomi and Ruth. Minister Trevor Richt compares the choices we make to skipping stones on a lake, illustrating how a single act of faith can trigger generational ripple effects.

KEY POINTS

• God often delivers His greatest blessings and hope through unlikely, uniquely shaped packages, just as He restored Naomi through Ruth.

• Every choice we make carries a ripple effect that can impact those around us and leave a lasting generational legacy.

• The historical lineage from Ruth and Boaz ultimately leads to King David and, eventually, Jesus Christ, proving that God works through complex family trees to bring ultimate redemption.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. For what specific ways has God brought redemption and rescue to my family or life?

2. How are the daily choices I am making creating positive spiritual ripple effects for those around me?

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Episode 25-46

Going to the Chapel

SERIES

Rejoice

DATE

November 16, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Ruth 4:7-10

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Genesis 2:20-24, Ephesians 5, 1 John 4

SUMMARY

Drawing from the example of Ruth and Boaz, this sermon explores God's foundational design for marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Minister Trevor Richt emphasizes that when couples are ready for marriage, they must step forward into independence, embracing its responsibilities while keeping Christ at the center.

KEY POINTS

• God established a clear plan for marriage from the beginning in the garden, designed specifically between one man and one woman.

• Entering marriage means taking on mature responsibilities, which includes building a new immediate family unit and financial independence.

• A successful marriage requires mutual submission, selfless love, and keeping Christ at the very center of the relationship.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Am I truly ready for the next step of responsibility that comes with marriage?

2. How can I better place Christ at the center of my relationship to handle conflicts as a team?

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Episode 25-45

I Cannot Do It

SERIES

Rejoice (Continuing the Rejoice, Ruth arc)

DATE

November 9, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Ruth 3:16–18

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Ruth 4:1–6; Titus 2:11–14

SUMMARY

This concluding sermon centers on Ruth chapter 4 and the concept of redemption, contrasting the unnamed guardian redeemer who refused to buy the land if it meant marrying Ruth with Boaz, who willingly stepped up. This narrative mirrors humanity's ultimate spiritual redemption through Jesus Christ, who chose to rescue us from sin despite the personal cost.

KEY POINTS

• Redemption is a deliberate choice; the nameless kinsman-redeemer passed on his duty to protect his own estate, while Boaz chose to redeem Ruth.

• Just as Boaz rescued Ruth from a hopeless situation, Jesus chose to sacrifice Himself on the cross to redeem us from sin.

• Like a discarded piece of marble transformed into Michelangelo's masterpiece, broken individuals are fully redeemed and restored through Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What does spiritual redemption truly mean to me on a personal level?

2. Have I accepted the salvation and grace offered through our true Redeemer, Jesus Christ?

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Episode 25-44

The Birds and the Boaz

SERIES

Rejoice, Ruth

DATE

November 2, 2025

SPEAKER

Trevor Richt, Preaching Minister

SCRIPTURE READING

Song of Songs 3:1–5

SERMON SCRIPTURES CITED

Ruth 3:1–3, 4–5, 8–9, 10–13; Titus 2 (referenced contextually)

SUMMARY

Addressing God's design for sex and purity, this sermon breaks down the events of Ruth chapter 3 on the threshing floor. It clarifies that Ruth's late-night visit was a request for honorable marriage and protection (a kinsman-redeemer proposal) rather than a compromising encounter, illustrating that godly individuals choose to respect God's boundaries over physical desires.

KEY POINTS

• God has a specific, intentional design for sex—reserving it exclusively for a man and a woman within marriage.

• Even in potentially compromising situations, Ruth and Boaz maintained their moral integrity and honored God.

• The church must reject sexual sin according to God's standard while responding to those who stumble with prayer, love, grace, and repentance.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What is God's plan for my life regarding purity and relationships?

2. Am I allowing God's Word rather than worldly culture to guide my physical and emotional boundaries?