Cedar Hills Community Church - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

MEETING JESUS: The Testimony of John the Baptist - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Jesus is the one who delivers us in our weakness!TEXT - John 1:14-33, Mark 1:1-11, Matthew 11:1-19OUTLINEA. Before Jesus: Strength and goodness.1. The voice of one calling in the wilderness. Mark 1:1-82. The prophet of repentance. John 1:14-26B. Meeting Jesus: Awe and Wonder. 1. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:27-532. In humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:33. A lamb led to slaughter. Isaiah 53:7C. After Jesus: A world upside down.1. Are you the one or is there another? Matthew 11:32. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Isaiah 35:3NEXT STEPS1. Are you ready to meet Jesus? 2. How does Jesus turn our world upside down?3. Do you want to know more about John the Baptist’s meeting Jesus?4. See podcast in links!

FUTURE FORWARD: Walk in Submission - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - When the way forward becomes complicated, we need submission, surrender, and trust. TEXT - Ephesians 5:21OUTLINEA. Walk into the future. 1. Walk in love. Ephesians 5:1-52. Walk in light. Ephesians 5:6-143. Walk in wisdom. Ephesians 5:7-20B. Walk toward complexity. 1. Complexity requires submission. Ephesians 5:21.2. Submission requires surrender. Matthew 16:243. Surrender requires trust. Matthew 7:7C. Walk with confidence.1. We love people and denounce hatred.2. We pursue justice for all and deplore prejudice.3. We treasure peace and condemn violence.NEXT STEPS1. What idea or ideal do we need to hold more lightly (surrender)?2. What issue needs to be more personal?3. Where do we need greater trust?

FUTURE FORWARD: Walk in Wisdom - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - The way forward requires love, light, and wisdom.TEXT - Ephesians 5:15-21OUTLINEA. Walk into the Future. 1. Walk as imitators of God who love. Ephesians 5:1-72. Walk as light shining in the darkness. Ephesians 5:6-14B. Avoid Foolishness.1. How long will you, who are simple, love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:222. Beware of simpletons, scoffers, and rebels. Ephesians 5:153. Matthew 7:24-27.C. Seek Wisdom. Ephesians 5:15-211. Make the most of every opportunity.2. Follow the Lord’s will.3. Life in the Spirit.4. Sing songs.5. Give thanks.NEXT STEPS1. What is the loving thing to do?2. What is the light thing to do?3. What is the wise thing to do?

FUTURE FORWARD: Be the Light – Steve PooleTHEME - Because God holds our future in His hands, our future is secure.TEXT - Ephesians 5:6-14A. Warning - Do NOT be deceived, Do NOT partner with the deceivedB. Progressive Christianity 1. Progressive Christianity Has a Low View of Christ 2. Progressive Christianity Is Focused on Moralism, Not Salvation 3. Progressive Christianity Downplays Our Fallen-nessC. “Welcome is our language, but transformation is our vocabulary” ~Pastor KentD. Because we ARE light we do ‘light’ things.1. Ephesians 5:12. Ephesians 2:4-63. Exposure to the light is hazardous to our status quo.NEXT STEPS1. Have you been transformed by the light of Jesus? 2. Who do you need to share the light of Jesus with?3. Know the truth so you will NOT be deceived.4. Pray for your church and elders as we continue the process of joining new partners in ministry - The Alliance.

Future Forward: Imitate God - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Because God holds our future in His hands, our future is secure.TEXT - Ephesians 5:1-7OUTLINEA. Imitators of God forgive. 1. We are forgiven. Ephesians 1&22. We forgive others. Ephesians 4:31-32B. Imitators of God love.1. Love sacrifices. Romans 5:6-8, I John 42. Love Protects. Ephesians 5:1-23. Love corrects. Ephesians 4:25-30, Ephesians 5:3-7C. Imitators of God obey.1. Put off the old. Ephesians 4:21-23, 2. Put on the new. 2 Corinthians 5:17NEXT STEPS1. When you face anticipatory anxiety, what substitute do you use make your future feel secure?2. List the areas of your life where you can imitate God with forgiveness, love, and obedience.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD BRINGS EXTRAVAGANT GRACEPastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - The fear of the LORD runs toward God.TEXT - Jonah 4A. The fear of the LORD yields ridiculous transformation. • Jonah 1-3• Psalm 51B. Our ridiculous reluctance won’t deter God.• Jonah 3-4.• But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah 4:1C. God’s ridiculous extravagance keeps coming.• Luke 15• “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20D. Three Questions:• Do you know how much God loves you?• Do you how much God loves our city?• What is holding you back from loving our city?

THE FEAR OF THE LORD – JONAH 3Gary SagerTHEME – God uses reluctant people.REVIEW1. 2 Kings 14:23-27 – 1st mention of Jonah (vs. 26- 27)2. Jonah 1 - Jonah’s Call and Rebellion (vs. 1-3)3. Jonah 2 - Jonah’s Resolution (vs. 9)4. Jonah 3 - Jonah’s 2nd Chance (vs. 1 & 2) • Jonah’s Relenting Message (vs. 4) • Nineveh’s Response (Verse 5) • The King’s Declaration (Verses 6-9) • God’s Restoration5. Jonah 4 • Jonah’s Ridiculousness (Verses 1-3) • God’s Rejoicing (Verse 9 & 10) Jonah’s Reactions vs. God’s desired Response1. Jonah Rebelled (Jonah 1:3) vs God wants Relationship (Hosea 6:6)2. Jonah Relented (Jonah 2:9) vs God wanting Repentance (Psalm 51:17)3. Jonah Resolved (Jonah 3: 3 & 4) vs God wanting Restoration (Isaiah 40:31)4. Jonah’s Ridiculousness (Jonah 4: 1, 2 & 9) vs God’s wanting Rejoicing (Luke 15:7)Jonah 4:11 - Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?ASK YOURSEL

THE FEAR OF THE LORD – JONAH 2 - Steve PooleTHEME – Lack of the fear of the LORD leads to downfall.TEXT - Jonah 2A. Jonah was in the pit because he didn’t fear the Lord. 1. The fear of the Lord is reverent awe that leads to obedience and sacrifice.2. “As I walk with the Lord, I discover that God poses an ominous threat to my ego, but not to me. He rescues me from my delusions, so he may reveal the truth that sets me free. He casts me down, only to lift me up again. He sits in judgment of my sin, but forgives me nevertheless. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but love from the Lord is its completion.” ~ William D. EisenhowerB. Encounter the good news of Jesus1. God hears us when we cry for help. (2:1-2)2. God uses pits in life to draw us closer to Him (2:3-6)3. God doesn’t abandon us in our pits (2:6)4. Salvation belongs to the Lord! (2:9)APPLICATION1. Where are you running from God?2. Is there any area in your life where you feel “in the pits”?3. How can the truth of God's compassionate love for yo

THE FEAR OF THE LORD REORDERS LIFE - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - The Fear of the Lord drives out all other fears.TEXT - Jonah 1OUTLINEHow does the Fear of the LORD drive out other fears?1. Without the Fear of the LORD, we go down.a. Jonah 1:1-3b. Psalm 139c. Without Fear of the LORD, we flee God’s presence.2. With the Fear of the LORD, we see truth.a. Jonah 1:4-10.b. Isaiah 44:6-8c. With the Fear of the LORD, we enter God’s presence.3. The Fear of the LORD, reorders life.a. Jonah 1:11-17b. Deuteronomy 10:12c. The fear of the LORD creates the desire to dwell in God’s presence. NEXT STEPS1. Face your fears - make a list of what scares you.2. Seek God’s presence - meditate on the story of Jonah this week. 3. Trust God to reorder your life - pray and ask God to guide you.

Glittering Vices: The Laws of Hope - Pastor Kent Landhuis - THEME - Because the world is broken - we need hope. And we have it in Jesus!!TEXT - Romans 8:22-25OUTLINEMurphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will. 1. The Law of Universal Hope: Hope springs eternal.a. Romans 8:25b. Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. Martin Luther2. The Law of Dissonance: Hope grows in the dark.a. Romans 8:22.b. "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutuc. Romans 8:183. The Law of Connection: Hope requires relationship.a. Ephesians 2:13-14 b. Romans 8:28-29c. "If it were not for hopes, the heart would break." Thomas Fuller.NEXT STEPS1. Diagnosis: Do you need hope? Are you living in isolation?2. Confess: Admit you need help finding hope.3. Seek: Find a community to support you.SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.cedarhillscr.org/give

EASTER 2022: Resurrection Glory - Pastor Kent Landhuis - THEME - We find our true glory in Jesus. (Not in our vainglorious, prideful pursuits) - TEXT - Philippians 2:5-11OUTLINEPeople are made to seek glory - seek it in the right place. A. Who is glory-worthy?1. Jesus is supremely glory-worthy.2. Worship ascribes worth to Jesus.3. Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:3B. Why are we so glory-needy?1. Vainglory is the excessive and disordered desire for recognition and approval of others.2. Vainglory attempts to grab worth from God and others.3. Proverbs 29:23, Philippians 2:5-11.C. How do we become glory-rich?1. We share in the glory of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 2. In Jesus, we are enough. (No need to go glory-grabbing!)3. Romans 6:4-5, 1 Peter 1:3-4D. Next Steps 1. What glory trophies are you seeking?2. Confess your vainglory (pride) and ask forgiveness.3. Trust that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for you.4. Go live in freedom!SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.cedarhillscr.org/give

LENT 2022: Glittering Vices: Wrath - Pastor Kent Landhuis - THEME - Sin destroys our souls. Jesus restores our souls on the cross. TEXTS - James 1:19-22 OUTLINEAnger registers a wrong and responds with a desire to set it right. A. Ground rules - James 1:12-15. 1. Own your own sin. 2. No secret sin. 3. Confession brings hope.B. Righteous Indignation. Mark 3:1-6 1. Righteous indignation aims at the correct target. 2. Righteous indignation hits the target with the proper force. C. Deadly Wrath. James 1:19-22 1. Deadly wrath aims at the wrong target. 2. Deadly wrath hits the target with improper force. 3. Deadly wrath comes too fast. a. Deadly wrath hits with too much intensity. b. Deadly wrath lasts too long.D. Next Steps 1. Look at your own soul.2. Where has anger in your life been off balance? Too hard or too soft? Too fast? Too intense? Too long?3. Confess your anger.4. Go live in freedom!SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.cedarhillscr.org/give

LENT 2022: Glittering Vices: Sloth - Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Sin destroys our souls. Jesus restores our souls on the cross. TEXTS - Matthew 25:14-27, James 1:12-15 OUTLINESlothfulness is short-sighted self-protection. Proverbs 6:6-11A. Ground rules - James 1:12-15.1. Own your own sin.2. No secret sin.3. Confession brings hope.B. Two paths lead to slothfulness. Matthew 25:14-27. 1. Couch Potato Sloth. The plight of the lazy.2. Workaholic Sloth. The plight of the busy.C. Jesus sets us free. Luke 15.1. The couch potato son finds freedom.2. The workaholic son remains trapped. D. Next Steps 1. Look at your own soul.2. Where have you taken the easy road to avoid more important work?3. Confess your slothfulness.4. Go live in freedom!SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.cedarhillscr.org/give

LENT 2022: Glittering Vices: Greed - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Sin destroys our souls. Jesus restores our souls on the cross.TEXTS - Matthew 10:17-26 James 1:12-15OUTLINETo what is your soul most attached?A. What ground rules guide us? James 1:12-15.1. Own your own sin.2. No secret sin.3. Confession brings hope.B. What keeps us from Jesus? Matthew 10:16-22. 1. Greed: Inner attachment to wealth and possessions.2. Now I had discovered the great pearl. To buy it, I had to sell everything that I had; and I hesitated. (Augustine, Confessions)3. What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul? (Matthew 16:26)C. What draws us toward Jesus? Matthew 10:23-26.1. God does the impossible.2. Salvation brings life to the dead soul.3. Sanctification wakes the sleeping soul.D. Next Steps 1. Look at your own soul.2. What inner attachments keep you from Jesus?3. Confess your greed.4. Go live in freedom!SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.cedarhillscr.org/give

LENT 2022: Glittering Vices: Gluttony - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Sin destroys our souls. Jesus restores our souls on the cross.TEXTS - James 1:12-15, Matthew 4:1-4, Psalm 36:1-10OUTLINEAre you seeking the real thing or settling for a cheap substitute?A. Sin: Not the way it’s supposed to be.1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth - and it was good. (Genesis 1)2. Cursed is the ground because of you. (Genesis 3:17a)B. Ground Rules: James 1:12-151. Own your own lust.2. Your lust is not a secret.3. Confessing lust brings hope.C. Gluttony: A disordered desire to consume. 1. A glutton raids the icebox to cure spiritual malnutrition. (Fredrick Buechner)2. It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4)3. Taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:1-10)D. Next Steps 1. Look at your own soul.2. Where do you settle for cheap substitutes?3. Confess your gluttony.4. Go live in freedom!SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.ceda

LENT 2022: Glittering Vices: Lust - Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Sin destroys our souls. Jesus restores our souls on the cross.TEXTS - Galatians 5:19-25, James 1:12-15, Matthew 5:27-30OUTLINEWhat is the state of your soul?A. Ground Rules: James 1:12-151. Own your own sin.2. No secret sin.3. Confession brings hope.B. Ground Rules: Matthew 5:27-301. Own your own lust.2. Your lust is not a secret.3. Confessing lust brings hope.C. Next Steps 1. Look at your own soul.2. Confess your sins - particularly lust - to God.3. Confess your sins - particularly lust - to a trusted friend.4. Go live in freedom!SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CEDAR HILLSwww.cedarhillscr.org/give

Epistles: Letters about Jesus – Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - The churches received love letters to help them grow as followers of Jesus. TEXT - Romans 15:1-7OUTLINERecap: The Bible tells one story through five key literary types. 1. Narrative - History.2. Poetry - Passion.3. Prophecy - Warning and Encouragement.4. Gospel - Jesus.5. Epistles - Letters.1. Who received letters? The people we love.2. Why write letters? To show our love.3. What difference can a letter make?Living in love transforms us.NEXT STEPS 1. Dig deeper at Bibleproject.com.2. Write a letter to someone you love.

Bible Recap: Gospel - the Jesus Story. – Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - The Gospels announce the good news that Jesus is the Savior. TEXT - Mark 1:1-11OUTLINE * Recap: The Bible tells one story through five key literary types. * Narrative - History. * Poetry - Passion. * Prophecy - Warning and Encouragement. * Gospel - Jesus.Epistles - ?1. Eyewitness testimony about the one. * Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - John 1 & Luke 4. * John the Baptist - John 1:29-30. * Peter - Matthew 16:13-17 * The Centurion - Matthew 27:50-542. Miraculous signs of the one. * Signs and belief - John 20:29-31 * Healing the man born blind - John 9 * Blindness and the one - Isaiah 35 & 42.3. True faith and the one. * Is Jesus the one? Matthew 11:3-5 * Who do you say Jesus is?NEXT STEPS 1. Answer the question: Is Jesus the one?2. Dig deeper at Bibleproject.com.3. Tell the gospel story: Tell the story of Jesus.

JESUS ON EVERY PAGE: Prophecy – Steve PooleTHEME - Biblical prophecy is a message from God.TEXT – Daniel 2:31-45OUTLINERecap: The Bible tells one story through five key literary types. · Narrative - History.· Poetry - Passion.· Prophecy – Warning and Hope· Gospel -?· Epistles -? 1. Biblical Prophecy is about warning and hope. · Consequences for unfaithfulness (Hosea 4:12-13)· Unjust with the poor/needy. (Hosea 12:7-8) 2. HOPE = God is faithful to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness even when His people are unfaithful· God will protect a remnant and bring them through exile. (Jeremiah 23:3-6)· The promise of a coming Messiah. (Ephesians 2:8-9)· Jesus is our ultimate hope!3. The Apocalypse· Means "unveiling" - Type of biblical literature that emphasizes the lifting of the veil between heaven and earth and the revelation of God and his plan for the world.· Nebuchadnezzer’s Dream (Daniel 2:31-45)· The Kingdom of

Jesus on Every PageHistory - God’s Special People – Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Biblical narrative is history. The narrative tells us about God’s character and God’s plan for us. TEXT - Joshua 1:1-9OUTLINE1. The Bible uses hundreds of stories to tell one story. * Narrative * Poetry * Prophecy * Gospel * Epistles2. The narrative portions of the Bible are history. * God is the hero of the story. * These stories are true. * Stories tell what happened. * Stories are incomplete. * Stories are descriptive, not prescriptive.3. God keeps his promises.“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9NEXT STEPS 1. Dig deeper at Bibleproject.com2. Be encouraged - God is in control of history.