Friday, January 28, 2022

January 2, 2022 ~ "CBR: Malachi 3:16-18"

Guest Speaker Jason Harms

Malachi 3:16-18

God remembers and acts on behalf of those who fear Him.

Call to Action: When you choose to humbly honor God, He will be mindful of you and act graciously and powerfully on your behalf.
 
I. God is looking for a person who fears Him. (v. 16)

II. God remembers a person who fears Him. (v. 16-17)

III. God acts on behalf of a person who fears Him. (v. 17-18)

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

December 26, 2021 ~ Psalm 119:1-16

Elder Art Noderer

Psalm 119:1-16

(No sermon notes were available)

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also                   CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

December 19, 2021 ~ "The Promise to Come Again"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

Revelation 22

This text is tailored to teach us to live expectantly because Jesus has promised to come again.
 
I. What should we expect when Jesus comes again? (v. 1-5)
    When Jesus comes again, we should expect to experience abundant life, protection in God’s presence, and to reign with Him forever. 

II. How should we live expectantly until Jesus comes again? (v.6-21)
    a. We should keep Jesus’ Word because he is coming soon. (v.6-11, 18-19)
    b. We should come to Jesus because he is coming in judgment. (v. 12-15, 17b)
    c. We should long for Jesus to come again because he is coming in glory. (v. 16-17a, 20-21)

III. Reflection
    a. How does the picture of life when Christ returns encourage you to persevere in the faith?
    b. Where do you need to obey God’s Word? Where do you need to hold onto God’s Word?
    c. Where do you need to be or where have you been cleansed by the blood of Christ?
    d. What stirs your heart most to long for Christ to come again?

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

December 12, 2021 ~ "The Promise to Shepherd His People"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

Ezekiel 34:1-24

This text is tailored to teach us that God has promised that he will shepherd his people.
 
I. God will shepherd his people by opposing everyone who mistreats his people. (v. 1-10, v. 17-22)

II. God will shepherd his people by personally rescuing them. (v.11-16, 23-24)

III. Reflection
    a. What hurts do you need to bring to Jesus to trust him to heal you and rescue you?
    b. How have poor experiences tempted you to reject all authority rather than simply bad authority?
    c. How does Jesus willingness to sacrifice himself for you and his gentleness towards those whom others would neglect encourage you to trust him?

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

December 5, 2021 ~ "The Promise to Reign Forever"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

2 Samuel 7:4-17

This text is tailored to teach us to hope in God’s promise to establish his kingdom under his king.
 
I. God doesn’t need us to build his kingdom. (v. 4-7)

II. God’s kingdom is marked by peace, justice, rest, and his presence. (v.8-11a, cf. 1 Sam. 8:11-18, Deut. 17:14-20)

III. God promised to establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (v.11b-17)

IV. Reflection
    a. How does the fact that God doesn’t need you, but still is at work on your behalf in Jesus stir your heart?
    b. What aspect of God’s kingdom do you long for most? Where are you searching for God’s kingdom apart from Christ?
    c. How do you feel that God has forgotten you, abandoned you, or been unfaithful to his promises?
    d. How does seeing God work for centuries to accomplish his purposes in Christ encourage you to trust Jesus to be faithful yesterday, today, and forevermore?

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

November 28, 2021 ~ "The Promise to Break the Curse of Sin"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

Genesis 3:8-24

This text is tailored to teach us that despite the curse of sin effecting every aspect of our existence there is still hope because of the grace of God.
 
I. How has the curse of sin effected every aspect of our existence?
    a. Sin alienated us from God. (v. 8, 24)
    b. Sin distorted our personal identity. (v.9-13)
    c. Sin produced an ongoing spiritual war. (v.14-15)
    d. Sin corrupted our relationships with others. (v. 16)
    e. Sin subjected creation to futility. (v.17-19)
    f. Sin leads to physical death. (v. 22-23)

II. How does the grace of God still give us hope?
    a. A child will one day victoriously break the curse of sin and death. (v. 15)
    b. The shame from our sin would be covered by a sacrifice. (v.20-21)

III. Reflection
    a. What effects of the curse of sin and death are you experiencing most intensely?
    b. How does knowing Jesus has already broken the curse of sin and death, help you to trust and wait on him to make all things new?
    c. How can your life better demonstrate that God’s kingdom is breaking-in here and now even as we wait for it to come in all its fullness?

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

November 21, 2021 ~ "CBR: Hebrews 13:15-16, 20-21"

Guest Speaker Neal Brown

Hebrews 13:15-16, 20-21 

The text is tailored to teach us to fulfill our responsibility to offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God.
 
I. The Sacrifice of Praise  (v. 15)
    a. It means acknowledging what God is due.
        i. Honor God with thanksgiving. (cf. Ps. 50:23)
    b. It is to be continual.
        i. Giving thanks in everything is God’s will. (cf. 1 Thess. 5:18)
        ii. We are to give thanks always for all things. (cf. Eph. 5:20)

II. The Sacrifice of Good Works (v. 16)
    a. Do not neglect our responsibility.
        i. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. (cf. Eph. 2:10)
        ii. Bear fruit in every good work. (cf. Col. 1:10)
    b. Share with those in need.
        i. Love God and our neighbor. (cf. Matt. 22:37-39)
        ii. Is the love of God in you? (cf. 1 Jn. 3:17)

III. The God of peace will equip us in every good thing. (v. 20-21)
    a. So we can do His will. (v. 21)
        i. Teach me to do your will. (cf. Ps. 143:10)
    b. He will work in us what is pleasing to Him. (v. 21)
        i. God works in us to will & work for His good pleasure. (cf. Phil. 2:12-13)
        ii. Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill fleshly desires. (cf. Gal. 5:16)

IV. Reflection
    a. Is your life consistently characterized by praise and thanksgiving?
    b. What practical ways are you or can you offer a sacrifice of good works?
    c. What steps can you take to fulfill His will and good pleasure?

(No sermon recording is available)

November 14, 2021 ~ "Kingdom Partnerships"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5

This text is tailored to teach us that God’s kingdom advances powerfully when we partner with others in the gospel.
 
I. What is the identity of a kingdom partner? (8:23)
    Kingdom partners are our brothers or sisters in Christ, the glory of Christ, who labor for the good of the church as representatives of the church.

II. What are faithful kingdom partners like? (8:16-18, 22)
    Kingdom partners are earnest in their care, willing in their service, committed to the gospel, and they are tested and found earnest.

III. What is the purpose of a kingdom partnerships? (8:16, 19, 21, 24)
    Kingdom partnerships demonstrate the glory of Christ, the goodwill of our church, our love for the Church, and that God is at work in us.

IV. What do kingdom partnerships look like? (8:19-20, 9:1-5)
    Kingdom partnerships are both individual and institutional; involve sharing people and resources; provide mutual edification; are generous, planned, and willing; and are above all motivated by Christ’ work on our behalf.

V. What does this mean for Northwood?
    We aim to partner with others in the gospel by sharing our resources and sending out our members to advance God’s kingdom.
    a. We will slowly and purposefully develop partnerships with other gospel-centered and church-loving individuals, organizations, and churches.
    b. As the Lord sees fit to grow Northwood in both maturity and membership we hope to share our resources and send out our members.
    c. We hope that our kingdom partnerships will lead to the strengthening of existing churches, the planting of new churches, and the good of our city for the glory of Christ.

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

November 7, 2021 ~ "Mercy and Justice"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

Micah 6:1-8

This text is tailored to teach us that true worship is doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
 
I. God’s Problem With Our Worship (v. 1-5)
    We grow weary of the Lord because we’ve failed to remember his deliverance.

II. Our Problematic Solution to God’s Problem (v. 6-7)
    We try to appease God through religious rituals and significant yet misguided sacrifices.

III. God’s Solution to Our Problem: (v. 8)
    God calls us to worship him whole-heartedly by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

IV. What does this mean for Northwood?
    We aim to represent Jesus by seeking the welfare of our city through deeds of mercy and justice.
    a. Our primary focus as a gathered church is to make disciples who are fully like Jesus including like him in his mercy and justice.
    b. Our aim in meeting practical needs in our community is eventually to point them to their most fundamental need, the mercy of Jesus who satisfied God’s justice.
    c. We will do justice and show mercy unconditionally just as Christ showed mercy to us when we didn’t deserve it.
    d. It is our prayer that our efforts would help our community become an increasingly good place for all people to live and that many people would come to faith in Christ.

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

October 31, 2021 ~ "Multiplying Disciples"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

2 Timothy 2:1-2

This text is tailored to teach us that we need to intentionally cultivate the faith if our faith is going to persevere in us and throughout the generations.
 
I. We must be strengthened by the grace of Jesus to persevere in the faith personally. (v. 1)

II. We must entrust the faith to faithful disciples who will teach others also to preserve the faith corporately. (v. 2)

III. What does this mean for Northwood?
    We aim for every member to be intentionally investing in a few people at a time to multiply disciples, leaders, and ministry.
    a. We must view our formal gatherings, events, and programs as a launching pad for relationships not the end of our relationships.
    b. We must choose someone to intentionally invest in.
    c. We must intentionally develop leaders who will develop others also.
    d. We must preserve space in our calendars for intentional and informal investment of time in our fellow members and non-believing neighbors.
    e. We must take responsibility for our own equipping and intentionally seek ways to be equipped.

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

October 24, 2021 ~ "CBR: 1 Corinthians 2:12-16"

Guest Speaker Dave Hawes

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

(No sermon notes were available)

Since we are live streaming on YouTube during this time of separation, you can also CLICK HERE to watch the entire service if you prefer!

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