Cedar Hills Community Church - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Grace & Truth: Who Calls the Shots?Pastor Kent Landhuis  THEME - Resurrection messes with our expectations TEXT - 2 Samuel 1:1-4, Mark 16:1-8 1. We expect ________ to ____.·        2 Samuel 1:1-4·        Genesis 2:16-17·        1 Corinthians 15:55-57·        We live in denial of ________. 2. We expect ______  ______ to ______  ______. ·        Mark 16:1·        Luke 23:52-24:4·        Luke 4: 5b. Why do you look for the _______ among the _____? 3. We expect _____   ___________ to _______   ___________. ·        Mark 16:6·        Luke 24:3-8·        Ephesians 2:1-10·        Thanks be to God for _____  __________! NEXT STEPS: ·        Put your faith in the risen Jesus.·        Embrace the victory of resurrection. Easter ReflectionsUse these songs of praise to continue your Easter reflections throughout the week. Celebrate the gift of life. The gift of resurrection. And the gift of eternal life! Lord, you have been our dwelling place    throughout all generations.Before the mountains were born    or you brought

Grace & Truth: Songs and KingsPastor Steve PooleTEXT - 1 Samuel 18:6-9, 14-16TRUTH 1 – Worshipping ourselves leads to destruction.TRUTH 2 – Worshipping God leads to blessing.TRUTH 3 – King Jesus saves us from sin!TRUTH 4 – Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s LOVE.NEXT STEPS: 1. How does your life demonstrate that Jesus is the King?2. How do you sing God’s praise and extol Jesus with your words?3. How do you sing God’s praise and extol Jesus with your actions?LENTEN JOURNEY – WEEK 6“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ~ James 4:8The seven weeks leading up to Easter is Lent. It is a season of confession, renewal, and praise. Use this prayer guide as a tool to help you draw near to God in this season. Meditate on the verse and then pray as prompted.CONFESSION: I confess that although I know God, I do not glorify Him as God, nor am I thankful, but have become futile in my thoughts, and my foolish heart is darkened. I profes

Grace & Truth: BittersweetPastor Kent Landhuis THEME - God graciously provides. TEXT - Ruth 1-4Three questions when tragedy strikes:1. What story does bitterness tell? * Ruth 1:1-22 * Tragedy’s sweet to bitter slide into sadness.2. What is the first glimpse of hope?     * Ruth 1:6-4:21 * God’s bittersweet provision.3. What does God do with tragic stories?  * Ruth 4:13-22 * God’s bitter to sweet redemption. * Jeremiah 22:5-6 * Luke 1:31-33NEXT STEPS: 1. God is still working in your story.2. God is still working in the whole world.LENTEN JOURNEYCome near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8The seven weeks leading up to Easter is Lent. It is a season of confession, renewal, and praise. Use this prayer guide as a tool to help you draw near to God in this season. Meditate on the verse and then pray as prompted.CONFESSION - Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in m

Grace & Truth: Cycle of Sin and RedemptionPastor Steve Poole THEME – The book of Judges has a clear pattern of peace, sin, oppression, repentance and deliverance.TEXT – Judges 2:10-191. Sin is not just what we do, it is a power that enslaves us. * Romans 3:23 * Romans 3:24-25 * Romans 6:6-72. Jesus mortifies our sin on the cross and has set us free from sin. * Jesus’ deliverance is “…an act of holy, vicious violence by which Christ wrenches his people out of the clammy clutches of the prince of darkness.” from Focus on the Bible Commentary * Psalm 106:37-383. God’s love is demonstrated both in His jealous anger and outrageous mercy.NEXT STEPS1. Believe in Jesus as your Savior, Deliverer and King.2. Offer ALL of yourself to God.3. Confront the lies of our culture so that we can remain holy.LENTEN JOURNEY – WEEK 4“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ~ James 4:8The seven weeks leading up to Easter is Lent. It is a season of conf

Grace & Truth: Strength and Courage Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - God gives. We, God’s people, receive. TEXT - Joshua 1:1-9Three gifts of grace.Grace Gift #1: God gives His promise.Joshua 1:1-6Deuteronomy 34:10-122 Corinthians 1:20Grace Gift #2: God gives His Word.    Joshua 1:7-8Psalm 1Proverbs 3:1-8Grace Gift #3: God gives HIs presence. Joshua 1:9Matthew 28:20John 15:5-8NEXT STEPS: Grace and truth assessment - where do you live?Weak and anxious.Weak and compromised.Strong and judgmental.Strong and courageous.Lenten Journey: Week 3Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8The seven weeks leading up to Easter is Lent. It is a season of confession, renewal, and praise. Use this prayer guide as a tool to help you draw near to God in this season. Meditate on the verse and then pray as prompted.ConfessionSurely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you

Grace & Truth: Zero Tolerance Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - God does not tolerate impurity and we should not tolerate it either.TEXT - Deuteronomy 16:18-20Three purity commandments:1. Thou shalt not tolerate compromise.Deuteronomy 17:1-5Deuteronomy 5:7-8Deuteronomy 6:4-5Deuteronomy 16:21-222. Thou shalt not tolerate “respectable “ sins.   Deuteronomy 7:1-6Matthew 5:483. Thou shalt not tolerate injustice.Deuteronomy 16:18- 20Luke 12:16-33Deuteronomy 15:7-8Psalm 41:1NEXT STEPS1. What are you worshipping?2. What impurity are you tolerating?3. What can you do to advocate for justice?4. Throw yourself at the foot of the cross!LENTEN JOURNEY – WEEK 2“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ~ James 4:8The seven weeks leading up to Easter is Lent. It is a season of confession, renewal, and praise. Use this prayer guide as a tool to help you draw near to God in this season. Meditate on the verse and then pray as prompted.CONFESSION - For I

Grace & Truth: Journey RecapPastor Kent Landhuis  THEME - Every journey has stages; God is with us in every stage.TEXT - Numbers 33:1-2 Recap Question 1: Where is God? * Genesis 1:1 * Genesis 2:7 * Genesis 3:8 * Genesis 6:6-9 * Genesis 12:1-3 Recap Question 2: What does God want?   * Deuteronomy 7:6-8 * Exodus 34:5-7 Recap Question 3: Will I be good enough? * Numbers 33:1-2 * John 1:1-19 * Romans 8:28-30 NEXT STEPS1. Draw near to God in your Bible Recap Journey.2. Draw near to God in your Lenten Journey.LENTEN JOURNEY – WEEK 1 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ~ James 4:8 The seven weeks leading up to Easter is Lent. It is a season of confession, renewal, and praise. Use this prayer guide as a tool to help you draw near to God in this season. Meditate on the verse and then pray as prompted. CONFESSION - “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eye

Grace and Truth: Rebellion In the WildernessPastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Rebellion has consequences but God does not give up on us.TEXT - Numbers 16:1-71. Wilderness Survival Guide: Keep Breathing. * The Rule of 3s. * Air, Shelter, Water, Food.2. Wilderness Misery Slide: Three Ds.  * Disappointment, Doubt, Distrust. * Numbers 16:1-7. * Seven Rebellions from Numbers 11- 21.  3. Wilderness Grace Meter: So be it. (Amen) * Numbers 16 * Psalm 42, 45 - 49  * “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ~Luke 22:42NEXT STEPS1. In the Wilderness - Keep Trusting.2. Sing a song. Psalm 42

Grace and Truth: God’s ArmyPastor Steve PooleTHEME – “In the wilderness” surrounding Mt. Sinai, God’s glory dwelt in an orderly fashion among His people… They all had a position in relation to God’s presence in the Tabernacle… Our identity in Jesus is so much greater and more intimate than the presence of God they experienced.”TEXT – Numbers 2:1-4Truth #1: We are God’s army. * Ephesians 6:10-12 * Colossians 2:13-15Truth #2: Jesus has won the victory!Truth #3: We fight by standing in and declaring God’s truth. * 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 * “We are in a war against the lies of the devil. Thus we proclaim the truth, seeking to persuade others.” ~Martin Pakula, Numbers: Homeword BoundNEXT STEPS1. Join God’s Army2. Declare God’s truth to the lies and strongholds in your life.3. Use the self-assessment to reflect on your spiritual maturity.SPIRITUAL SELF ASSESSMENTWeek 8: Growing in Grace and TruthWe are growing in grace and truth. Healthy things grow and we are the kind of people who measure our growth. One way to meas

Grace and Truth: Set ApartPastor Kent Landhuis  THEME - God wants us to be holy.TEXT - Leviticus 13:1-3 Truth #1: The impurity gap is huge.·        Leviticus 10·        Isaiah 6:1-6 Truth #2: We must be made holy. (set apart) ·        Leviticus 13.·        From Leviticus 1:1 to Numbers 1:1·        “You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.” ~ Leviticus 18:4 ESV Truth #3: Only God can make us holy.·        “On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” ~ Leviticus 16:30·        Psalm 51:1-4·        Matthew 8:1-3 NEXT STEPS1. Identify your impurity gaps.2. Pray through Psalm 51:1-4SPIRITUAL SELF ASSESSMENTWe are the kind of people who take Paul’s invitation in Ephesians 4:1 seriously. We want to “walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel with which [we] have been called.” We believe that growth in obedience and holiness matter. In addition to self-assessments, we are willing to be held accounta

Grace and Truth: Idol-MakingPastor Kent Landhuis THEME - There are no gods like GOD.TEXT - Exodus 32:1-14Truth #1: We are idol factories.* Exodus 32:1* "What is an idol? It is anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give." ~ Timothy KellerTruth #2: Idols are worthless. * Exodus 32:2-8* Isaiah 44:1-23Truth #3: There are no gods like GOD.* Exodus 32:9-14* "This is what the Lord says - Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me?" ~ Isaiah 44:6-7aNEXT STEPS1. Are you growing in grace and truth?2. What have you substituted for God? 

Grace & Truth: Trust in God's SovereigntyTyler and Lindsey SteinkampKEY POINT - Through the plagues, God demonstrates his sovereignty over creation and uses His sovereignty to save usTEXT - Exodus 10:1-6INTRODUCTION - What leads up to this point in the story?TRUTH: God is sovereign over His creation * God is sovereign over the natural world * Exodus 10:5-6 * God is sovereign over our hearts * Exodus 10:1 * Romans 9:17-21 * Ephesians 4:18GRACE: God uses His sovereignty to save us. * Genesis 15:13-14 * Exodus 12NEXT STEPS1. Trust in God’s sovereignty.2. Know that God has a plan and is constantly working in your life.3. As you read the bible this year, look for the connections to Jesus.

Grace and Truth: God is sovereign.January 26, 2025Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Nothing can stop God.TEXT - Genesis 37:1-11Truth #1: Beware dreamers. * Genesis 37 * Genesis 40-41Truth #2: God is always near. * Genesis 39:2,23Truth #3: God prepares his people. * Genesis 41-43Truth #4: God is in control. (Genesis 45:1-8)Sovereignty flows from God’s character. * Grace * Truth * Grace and TruthNEXT STEPS * Nothing is random.  * Nothing is meaningless. 

Grace and Truth: This is a TestJanuary 19, 2025Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - God relates to the world by trust - not by force. TEXT - Genesis 22:1-14Truth #1: God prepares us for what’s coming.  Genesis 22:1Genesis 15Truth #2: God promises good.Genesis 17Genesis 18Truth #3: God keeps his promises.Genesis 21Truth #4: God provides a lamb.Genesis 22John 1:29NEXT STEPSWhen in doubt, trust God.Grow in grace and truth by dwelling in the Word. 

GRACE & TRUTH: No Man Suffers Alone… Jan. 12, 2025Pastor Steve Poole TEXT – Job 29:1-14    Job put his trust and hope in the wrong things. * Job feels abandoned because he trusts his own righteousness. * Job has a ‘middle class spirit’ * Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3)TRUTH #1 – None of our good works entitle us to God’s mercy. * Ephesians 2:1, 4-9 * Ephesians 2:10TRUTH #2 – Being poor in spirit helps us discover purpose, meaning, and peace in our suffering. * “Examining the life of Christ can be a way to orient oneself during suffering…” ~ Richard P. Belcher Jr * Hebrews 12:1-2NEXT STEPS1. Receive God’s grace and mercy as a free gift through faith in Jesus2. Spend time appreciating the beauty of the Gospel so you are not tempted to trust your own righteousness as Job did.3. Find comfort, peace and purpose in enduring suffering faithfully WITH Jesus.

GRACE & TRUTH: Unjust Suffering and God’s MercyJan. 5, 2025Pastor Steve Poole  TEXT – Job 91. How did we get to Job?· Job likely lived between Noah and Abraham.· In a chronological reading of the Bible, this is in the middle of Genesis.· Job belongs to the poetic books.2. Who was Job?·  A farmer in the Middle East·  Successful and Wealthy·  Righteous3. Friend Logic: If God is good/just, then suffering is a punishment for sin.4. Job’s Argument: If God is all-powerful and we are not, then we have no grounds to judge and debate right and wrong, justice and suffering, with God.5. What can we take away?·  Our only hope is to appeal for God’s mercy and grace.·  The truth is that Jesus is the merciful Judge and the arbitrator for us.Growing in Grace & TruthIn 2025, we aspire to grow in grace and truth. To measure our growth, we will assess spiritual health and spiritual maturity.Spiritual maturity describes the stage of development.(For example: toddler, teenager, adult).Spiritual health measures well-being at every

Just a king… worrying. Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Most kings are tyrants, but Jesus is a different kind of king. TEXT - Matthew 2:31. Too much king brings worry.  Matthew 2:1-3Psalm 119:1342. Too much king brings trouble.Matthew 2:3-8Matthew 2:16-18Jeremiah 31:153. Too much king brings the unexpected.Matthew 2:9-15Hosea 11:1Isaiah 54:15NEXT STEPS1. Watch out for tyrant kings. 2. Welcome the newborn king.3. Read about the grace and truth of King Jesus in the Bible recap.GO DEEPER - Reflect on these lyrics:It came upon the midnight clear,That glorious song of old,From angels bending near the earthTo touch their harps of gold;"Peace on the earth, good will to menFrom heaven's all-gracious King" –The world in solemn stillness layTo hear the angels sing.Still through the cloven skies they comeWith peaceful wings unfurled,And still their heavenly music floatsO'er all the weary world;Above its sad and lowly plainsThey bend on hovering wing,And ever o'er its Babel-soundsThe blessed angels sing.But with the woes of

Unexpected Encounters: Just a Baby... CryingPastor Kent Landhuis

Just a shepherd… laughing.Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - The angel promised good news of great joy for all people.TEXT - Luke 2:101. Unexpected interruption.  Luke 2:8-9What is joy?2. Unexpected invitation.Luke 2:10-11Who needs joy?3. Unexpected sign.Luke 2:12-14Where do we find joy?4. Unexpected glory.Luke 2:15-20What happens when we find joy?NEXT STEPS1. Celebrate joy beyond circumstances.2. Translate joy to praise.3. Share joy with the joyless.GO DEEPER - I Heard the Bells on Christmas DayHenry Wadsworth Longfellow suffered greatly. His wife, Fannie, died when her dress caught fire. Henry tried to smother the flame with his own body, but it was too late. Two years later his 18-year-old son Charley left home and signed up to serve in Lincoln’s Union Army where he was severely wounded in battle. On Christmas day, 1863, Longfellow - a 57-year-old widowed father of six children - sought to capture in writing both his despair and his hope. He heard church bells that day and the singing of "peace on earth" (Luke 2:

Just a Ruler… CountingDecember 15, 2024Pastor Steve PooleTEXT – Luke 2:1-71. Jesus’ birth is historical--not mythical. * Luke 1:5 * Luke 3:1-22. Jesus’ kingdom is out-of-sync with the kingdom of man. * 2 Cor. 8:9 * Phil. 2:6-8 * Mark 10:43-453. Hope, peace, love and joy come from being in-sync with Jesus’ kingdom.“…we seek to be/remain out of sync with the world and in sync with Jesus.”NEXT STEPS1. Believe in Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.2. Reflect on your Christmas plans and consider how they reinforce the “Christmas lie”.3. Reflect on these questions: * How are you too in-sync with the world right now? * How is God calling you to get better in-sync with His kingdom?GO DEEPERLuke 2:1-7 - "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of D