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.

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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.

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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)

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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 17, 2021 ~ "CBR: Mark 14:32-42"

Elder Ron Padilla

Mark 14:32-42

We will learn from Jesus’ perfect example that discipleship requires dependence.

 
I. Discipleship requires dependence on each other.

    a. Through intentional relationships with a few (vs. 32-33)

    b. Through full transparency with each other (vs. 34)

    c. Through teaching and admonishing each other in love (vs. 37-38)

II. Discipleship requires dependence on God.

    a. Through deep, meaningful prayer (vs. 35,39)

    b. Through a willingness to obey God no matter the cost (vs. 36,41)

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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 10, 2021 ~ "Redemptive Community"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit
1 John 1:5-10

This text is tailored to teach us that when we have fellowship with the God of light, we will walk in the light.

 
I. Our Message: God is light and in him there is no darkness, no not at all. (v. 5)

II. Three False Perspectives

    a. We can have fellowship with God without being transformed. (v. 6)

    b. We can be totally free from the presence of sin once we have fellowship with God. (v. 8)

    c. We are not sinners in need of a Savior. (v. 10)

III. Three True Perspectives (v. 7, 9)

    a. We have fellowship with God when we walk in the light.

    b. We have fellowship with others when we walk in the light.

    c. The foundation for walking in the light is the blood of Jesus.

IV. What does this mean for Northwood?

    We aim to be transformed by the redemptive power of the gospel as a transparent, gracious community.

    a. We will welcome one another as we are, yet we will not be content to stay as we are.

    b. We will not relate to one another based on performance, but grace.

    c. We will not hide our sin nor our burdens, but confess our sins and share our burdens.

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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 3, 2021 ~ "Reconciled Community"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

Ephesians 2:11-22

This text is tailored to teach us that Christ’s blood has purchased our reconciliation with God and to others across the barriers that divide us.

 
I. Remember who we were: we were separated from Christ. (v. 11-12)

II. Remember what Christ has done: Christ has reconciled us to God and to one another by making peace through his blood. (v. 13-16)

III. Remember who we are together:

    a. We have access to God through the Spirit. (v. 17-18)

    b. We are citizens with the saints. (v. 19a)

    c. We are members of God’s family. (v. 19b)

    d. We are a holy temple. (v. 20-22)

IV. What does this mean for Northwood?

    We aim to demonstrate that our community is united because of Christ across every barrier that could divide us.

    a. We will pursue being a reconciled community first by inviting others to be reconciled to God through Christ.

    b. We will pursue being a reconciled community by cultivating reconciliation among one another.

    c. It is our prayerful hope that many relationships in our community will defy explanation apart from the gospel.

    d. It is our prayerful hope that Northwood would increasingly give the world a glimpse of the age to come by reflecting the diversity of the Bay Area.

V. Reflection

    a. How many of your relationships within our church family defy explanation apart from the gospel?

    b. What are some of the identity markers in your life that make it difficult for you to cultivate friendship with someone who has a different identity marker than you?

    c. How can you or are you pursuing relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ who are different than you this week out of our shared identity in Christ?

    d. How does Christ’s reconciling work on the cross motivate you to pursue reconciliation?

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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!

September 26, 2021 ~ "Hospitable Community"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

Rom. 8:1, 8:15-16, 12:13, 15:7; 1 Cor. 9:12, 19-23, 10:32-33; Phil 2:3-5; 1 Pet. 4:9; Heb 13:2; Lk. 5:29-32, 10:38-42, 14:12-14, 19:5-8, 21:1-4; Mk. 6:42-44; Jn. 6:35-36; Rev. 7:17

We aim to welcome others into our community corporately and into our lives personally as Christ has welcomed us. (Rom. 15:7)

 
I. What does a hospitable heart posture look like corporately?

    a. Removing all barriers to the gospel except the gospel itself. (1 Cor. 9:12, 9:19-23, 10:32-33)

    b. Considering the interests of others as more significant than our own. (Phil. 2:3-5)

II. What does the practice of hospitality look like personally?

    a. It is about making others feel welcome and loved. (Rom. 8:1,15-16, 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9; Heb. 

        13:2)

    b. It helps others get into our homes. (Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9; Heb. 13:2)

    c. It is based on grace. (Lk. 14:12-14, 5:29-32)

    d. It is marked by generosity and joy. (Lk. 19:5-8, Mk. 6:42-44, Jn. 6:35-36, Rev. 7:17, Lk. 

        21:1-4)

    e. It helps others encounter Jesus both inside and outside the church. (Lk. 10:38-42)

III. What does this mean for Northwood?

    a. We want to remove every barrier to the gospel except the gospel itself.

    b. We want to regularly ask “How would someone who is new or different than me experience 

        our community and worship?”

    c. We want to practice hospitality by inviting one another and our neighbors into deeper 

        relationship through coffee, lunch, dinner, and time in one another’s homes.

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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!

September 19, 2021 ~ "Dependent on the Spirit"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

John 15:26-16:15

This text is tailored to teach us that the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to point others to Jesus.

 
I. The Principle (15:26-27)

II. Why do we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to point others to Jesus?

    a. We need the Holy Spirit to keep us from falling away. (16:1)

    b. We need the Holy Spirit because in Jesus’ absence the world will oppose Jesus by 

        opposing his followers. (16:2-6)

III. How does the Holy Spirit empower us to point others to Jesus? (16:7-15)

    a. The Holy Spirit helps us in Jesus’ absence. (16:7)

    b. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of their need for a Savior. (16:8-11)

    c. The Holy Spirit guides Jesus’ disciples into the truth about Jesus. (16:12-13)

    d. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus through Jesus’ disciples. (16:14-15)

IV. What does this mean for Northwood?

    We aim to depend upon the Holy Spirit to empower and direct our ministry. A few ways we 

    can do this is:

    a. by individually praying for one another using the Weekly Word and Prayer and the Church 

        Directory.

    b. by pausing to pray in the moment as a need is shared or wisdom is needed.

    c. by intentionally praying in corporate worship for the Spirit to work.

    d. by regularly gathering together to pray for God’s priorities to come to fruition.

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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!

September 12, 2021 ~ "Submitted to the Scriptures"

Pastor Mitchell Cruit

John 5:19-47

This text is tailored to teach us to listen, believe, and submit to the voice of Jesus.

 
I. Why should we listen, believe, and submit to the voice of Jesus?

    Because the Father offers life and executes judgment through Jesus. (v. 19-29)

II. Where can we hear the voice of Jesus?

    We can hear the voice of Jesus through the Father’s testimony about Jesus, especially in the 

    Scriptures. (v. 30-47)

III. What does this mean for Northwood?

    We aim to search the Scriptures to know Jesus and to submit all of our beliefs, values, and 

    practices to him.

    a. This involves letting Jesus set the agenda for us by preaching the whole counsel of God.

    b. This involves reading, discussing, and applying the Scriptures both formally and informally 

        in community.

    c. This involves showing how every Scripture points to Jesus and his gospel.

    d. This involves regularly asking how the Scriptures inform our beliefs, values, and practices 

        so that we are always growing into further submission to Jesus.

>>click here to listen or right-click to download<<

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!

September 5, 2021 ~ "CBR: Ezekiel 40"

Guest Speaker Gianluca Cueva

Ezekiel 40

(No sermon notes were available)

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