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?

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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!

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?

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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!

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.

>>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!

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.

>>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 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!