Cedar Hills Community Church - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Spiritual WarfarePastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!TEXT - Ephesians 6:10-171. Know your enemy.Ephesians 6:10-121 Peter 5:82. Know your armor. (Ephesians 6:13-17)Belt of TruthBreastplate of RighteousnessShoes of the Gospel of PeaceShield of FaithHelmet of SalvationSword of the Spirit: Word of God3. Know your posture.Ephesians 6:10-12Romans 12:21NEXT STEPS1. Rehearse your identity in Christ.2. Stand firm no matter what.3. Check out this resource: The Whole Armor of God: How Christ's Victory Strengthens Us for Spiritual Warfare. Iain M. DuguidTHE ARMOR OF GOD Ephesians 6:14-17Paul uses the language of “putting off the old” and “putting on the new” as a description of the Christian life. Consider what it means that Jesus put on the Armor of God for us. Stand firm in your identity in Christ Jesus!The Belt of Truth. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” The enemy is the father of lies. He is defeated with the truth.The Breastplate of Right

Spiritual MaturityPastor Steve PooleTEXT - Ephesians 5:1-211. Goal: Spiritual MaturityWalk in a manner worthy of our calling.1 Corinthians 9:24-272. Standard 1: Walk in love as Jesus loved us.3. Standard 2: Walk in light instead of darkness.Ephesians 5:84. Standard 3: Walk in wisdom.Make the most of your time.NEXT STEPS1. Reflect on your life—is spiritual maturity a goal in your life?2. Where are you falling short of God’s standards?3. Confess where needed, and recalibrate daily through spiritualdisciplines.4. Re-read Ephesians 5:1-21, and 6:9. Reflect on God’s standards forour relationships.

Spiritual CallingPastor Kent Landhuis THEME - We demonstrate the unity of the Spirit by using our spiritual gifts to build up the body.TEXT - Ephesians 4:17-321. Who? You.Ephesians 4:17-18God calls everyone.2. What? Obey.Ephesians 4:20-24Put off the old, put on the new.3. When? Now.Ephesians 4:25Don’t wait to do good.4. Where? Here.Ephesians 4:26-31Do good wherever God places you.5. How? Love.Ephesians 4:32Love because you are loved.6. Why? Glorify God.Ephesians 4:1-32Honor God and grow the body.NEXT STEPS1. Discover your gifts.2. Follow the Spirit. REFLECTIONGod’s Calling on Your LifeUse these passages to help you explore God’s calling. With your personality, passions, and spiritual gifts in mind – reflect on these passages and ask God to speak to you. Make notes about what you hear God telling you. (If you have not completed your FIT profile, complete a paper copy from the round tables in the back and leave it in the offering baskets, or Complete the "My Fit" gifts assessment.)“You did not choose me, but I

Spiritual GiftsPastor Kent Landhuis  THEME - We demonstrate the unity of the Spirit by using our spiritual gifts to build up the body.TEXT - Ephesians 4:11-16 1. America has always been divided. * Ephesians 4:14* Matthew 12:252. Why are we (Christians) not more united?* Ephesians 4:1-6* 1 Corinthians 12:1 3. The Spirit brings unity.* Ephesians 4:13* 1 Corinthians 12:12-3 4. We demonstrate unity by using our gifts.* Ephesians 4:11-12* 1 Corinthians 12:7,27 NEXT STEPS1. Discover your gifts. (Learn by doing.)2. Use your gifts. (Grow the body.) 3. Don’t make excuses. (We need everybody.) REFLECTION: Gift-Based MinistryAt Cedar Hills, our ministry is shaped by the spiritual gifts, personalities, and passions of our congregation. “The right person, in the right place, at the right time” is the essence of this approach.  Prayerfully consider what this means for you!  ·        Gift-based ministry requires reliance on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to build up the body. It is God’s job to give gifts. It

Spiritual Inheritance: The WalkPastor Steve PooleTHEME – Walking the walkTEXT - Ephesians 4:1-6Recommended Resource – John Piper’s video, “Why Is Lowliness Fitting for Our Calling? Ephesians 4:1–6”CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CALLINGWe walk worthy of God’s abundant calling in our lives.We walk in humility and lowliness.We walk in meekness.We walk in enduring love.We walk in unity.NEXT STEPSRead Ephesians 1-3. Ask God to help you understand the abundance of our calling.Confess the ways we have been walking on our own and let God lead our walking.Reflect--How are humility, lowliness, and meekness are evident in your life?Seek unity with other believers--there is more that unites us than divides us!

Spiritual MissionPastor Kent Landhuis  THEME - Our mission is to dwell with God in the power of His Spirit. TEXT - Ephesians 3:14-21 THREE PRACTICES TO STAY ON MISSION1. Admit our vulnerability. ·       Ephesians 2:11-18·       2 Corinthians 12:9-10·       Mark 9:19-27 2. Access God’s abundance.·       Ephesians 2:13-18·       Ephesians 3:14-21 3. Abide in God’s abundance.·       Ephesians 2:19-22·       John 15:1-15 NEXT STEPS1. Spend time abiding.2. Help others access God’s abundance.  WEEKLY REFLECTION: Abide. PRAY THIS PRAYER: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able

Spiritual Identity.Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - The foundation of our identity is found in Christ Jesus. TEXT - Ephesians 2:1-10Two identity absolutes.1. You were dead.  * Ephesians 2:1-3 * Romans 1:18-31 * Romans 3:10-18 * Romans 6:20-23 * James 1:12-152. BUT GOD made you alive. * Ephesians 2:4-9 * John 10:10 * Romans 5:6-8 * 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 * Ephesians 2:10 NEXT STEPS1. Memorize Ephesians 2:8-10.2. Reflect on the call to be an ambassador. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)BUT God!One of the best ways to start a verse might be “But God.” Life may be unraveling “But God” is still God - and God works in amazing, mysterious, surprising ways. Reflect on this while you meditate on the following verses. You might need to read the verse in context to get the full impact!) * But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. (Psalm 9:18) * But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:15) * But God has surely listened and has heard my praye

Spiritual Inheritance: Spiritual ClarityPastor Kent LandhuisEphesians 1:1-23

The Parable of the Ten MinasPastor Steve Poole TEXT: Luke 19:11-27FOUR MAIN POINTS1. The faithful servant submits to the Lord’s authority.2. The faithful servant acts with integrity even in the lord’s absence.3. The faithful servant doesn’t make excuses.4. The faithful servant is rewarded with more authority, providence and responsibility. Luke 19:11-27 ESV11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had ga

Good Seed, Bad Seed, and Kingdom Treasure.Pastor Kent Landhuis  THEME - When good and evil grow side by side - we keep trusting! TEXT - Luke 13:18-19 Three responses to evil in the world:1.   Plant seeds.  * Luke 13:18-19 (Matthew 13:31-32) * Matthew 13:1-9, 24-27 * Romans 12:9 2. Leave weeds.  * Matthew 13:28-30 * Wisdom * Patience. * Luke 13:24-43 * Romans 12:17-21 3. Trust God. * Matthew 21:28-32 * Matthew 21:33-46 * Ask “need” questions. * Beware “trap” questions. NEXT STEPS1. Ask God to grow your trust.2. Keep planting seeds!.GROWING IN TRUST If we trust in God, we will obey. God is King and the King is in charge of the Kingdom—always. Disobedience and trust cannot coexist; if we trust God, we will walk in God’s ways - even when bad things happen to us or around us! Consider the fruit of trusting and obeying: * Trusting God helps us wait on him when he delays or is silentregarding our prayers or the fulfillment of his promises. When God delays, itis for a good reason. God’s actions are founded on wi

Speakers: Kent Landhuis, Tim Vink, Gary Sager and Steve Poole.Scripture: Luke 14:25-33.Theme: Treasure hunters (disciples) must count the cost of following Jesus. 

The Treasure of a Merciful Moneylender (Luke 7:36-50)Pastor Leah Carolan1. Which Subtitle Best Describes the Story * "Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman" * "A Sinful Woman Forgiven"2. No Ordinary Tears3. Three Basic Signs of Hospitality Ignored * Washing of the Feet * A Kiss on the Face * Head Anointed with Oil4. Another Story to make a Point * A Story About Money? * Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate * A link to Aesop’s Fables for Children5. Categories of People * Righteous > Sinner * Clean > Unclean­ * Worthy > Unworthy * Pure > Impure * Notable > Despicable * Debt = More DebtNEXT STEPS * Confess to trying to look good on the outside but ignoring your heart. * Ask God to search your heart and show you your sin. * Pray, weep, journal – repent.LUKE 7:36-50 ESV36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an

A Formula for Finding Kingdom Treasure.Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Treasure Hunters in the kingdom actually find real treasure. TEXT - Luke 18:9-14OUTLINE1. Enter the Kingdom. * Luke 17:20-37 * Luke 18:9 * Luke 6:20-262. Receive Mercy. * Luke 18:9-14 * Avoid Contempt * Remain Humble * Luke 16:14-153. Go Justified.   * Luke 18:14 * Philippians 3:4-11 * Romans 3:21-26, 5:1-5, 8:28-39 * Galatians 2:16-17NEXT STEPS1. Give up trying to justify yourself and trust Jesus.2. Read Romans 8 and celebrate finding Kingdom Treasure. 3, Practice giving to others instead of judging others---------------------Humility Pledge - a path away from self-justification and judgment."Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye." ~ Matthew 7:5With God’s help, I will engage the ABC’s of humility.1. ADMIT__ Self-justification is subtle. (I have been deceived by self-justification.)__ I have judged others. (I have thought, “Thank God, I am n

Treasure Hunters CelebratePastor Kent LandhuisTEXT - Luke 151 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoic

Wealth ManagementPastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Each one of us has a responsibility to manage our wealth wisely.TEXT - Luke 16:1-13Three spirits of wealth enhancement:1. The spirit of money management.Luke 16:1-21 Peter 4:10Colossians 3:232. The spirit of relational investment.Luke 16:3-7Luke 153. The spirit of treasure multiplication.  Luke 16:8-14Matthew 6:19-33Matthew 25:14-30NEXT STEPS1. Plan and prioritize how to use our resources to love people.2. Invest in community groups, family groups, and small groups.3. Bring people into the community of Jesus. PEOPLE MATTERSpend some time reflecting on these truths about relationships and pray that Holy Spirit will lead you to invest in deeper relationships:1. Jesus showed us that we meet God through other people.When we gather with other Christians, God is with us. (Matthew 18:20). 2. Jesus said love is non-negotiable.The most important commandment Jesus gave us is to love God and love others (Matthew 22:34-40). 3. Jesus showed us how to love people.Jesus did ever

Beware the Love of MoneyPastor Steve Poole TEXT - Luke 16:19-31 The Big Ideas Jesus Wants to Challenge:1. The rich man goes to hell and the poor man, Lazarus, goes to heaven. 2. The resurrection will not persuade those who have not believed the truth revealed in Scripture. 3. Beware the love of money. ·        Luke 16:13-14·        “Mammon” is used in some translations and means wealth, money, riches or property.·        Do not neglect justice and mercy.·        1 Timothy 6:9-10 APPLICATION1.   Make Jesus the Lord of your life by faith in His death and resurrection. 2.  Practice generosity this week (living with open hands).

Treasure Hunters Ask Courageous Questions Pastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Beware of Greed.TEXT - Luke 12:13-21The Parable of Bigger Barns is about you.1. Do I want to know the truth? * Matthew 13:10-17 * Philippians 2:32. Do I recognize the seductive power of earthly treasure?  * Luke 12:13-21 * Luke 18:18-273. Do I build bigger barns?  * Luke 12:32-34 * Luke 12:21NEXT STEPS1. Be courageous.2. Name your barns.3. Hold earthly treasures lightly.4. Give away earthly treasure. GO DEEPER - Rich Toward GodBeing rich toward God is valuing what God values over ourselves. It is seeking God’s kingdom first. Consider a few more courageous questions: * How does God love me and how does God want me to love others? * How can I build God’s kingdom barns better, and avoid building my barns bigger? * How can I increase my need for God as my earthly treasures increase? * What does God want me to do with the possessions I manage for God? * How can I be wise and avoid being foolish about my wealth? * How can I know the real peril t

Where is Your Treasure: Following the Treasure MapPastor Kent Landhuis THEME - Parables provide a map to find kingdom treasure.TEXT - Matthew 20:1-16Treasure maps orient us in at least three ways:1. Know where you are going: What does the treasure look like? * Matthew 20:1-2 * Isaiah 52:7a. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…”  * Matthew 11:5b. “the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”2. Know where you are starting: Find the “you are here” button.  * Matthew 20:3-15 * Matthew 5:1-123. Know where to dig: X marks the spot.  * Matthew 20:16 * Luke 14:15-26NEXT STEPS1. Meditate on the kingdom treasure in the Beatitudes (see below) 2. Ask the Spirit to lead you to kingdom treasure. 3. Reflect on God’s Kingdom Reign by watching the BibleProject video: What is the Good News of the GospelThe Beatitudes - Matthew 5:1-12Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:“Blessed are the poor in

Where is your Treasure? What is of Greatest Value?Pastor Steve PooleMatthew 13:45-46 - “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”1. Two Interpretations of Matthew 13:45-46* God/Jesus is the merchant and we are the pearl of great price* We are the merchant and Jesus/the kingdom is the pearl of great price2. Three Questions* Have your eyes been opened to see the value of Jesus?* Do you really see God’s will and way as more valuable than yours?* What treasure are you withholding from God?3. Do you really see God’s way as more valuable than yours?* Is loving my enemy really better than retaliation or grudge holding?* Is tithing 10% and giving extra offerings as God calls me really better than that _____?* Is moderation in _______ really better than indulging in that excess ______?* Is Romans 5:3-4 really the abundant life?* Is God’s plan of for sex being one man and one woman who are married rea

A presentation of Noah's Ark Preschool