Cedar Hills Community Church

Grace & Truth: No Small Dissention Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME: The early church established communities of grace & truth. TEXT: Acts 15TRUTH: Disputes Happen.Acts 2:42-47Acts 4:12Acts 10:44-45Acts 13:1-2, 38-39Acts 15:1-2 - Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.Acts 15:5-7 - Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.GRACE: Jesus Saves.Acts 15:8-9 - God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.Acts 15:11 - We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.Acts 15:19 - It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.Galatians 1:6-7 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.Galatians 1:11-15Galatians 1:9 - As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Acts 16:31 - Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and all the people in your house.Ephesians 2:8-10Acts 22:16 - And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.NEXT STEPS1. Don’t fight over ridiculous things.2. Stand up for truth when it matters.3. Make room for Jesus to save anyone.

GRACE & TRUTH: Acts 1-3Commissioned, Empowered, and Unleashed Pastor Steve Poole TRUTHThe Church is COMMISSIONED to be the witness of Jesus Christ··· ACTS 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ··· ACTS 2:22-24; 2:36-38 – “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it… Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” GRACEThe Church is EMPOWERED by the power of the Holy Spirit··· ACTS 2:2-4 – “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” TRUTHThe Church is UNLEASHED to advance God’s kingdom ··· MATTHEW 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” NEXT STEPS1. Believe in Jesus Christ for salvation - Acts 2:38 - “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”2. Reflect on your spiritual gifts - How has God empowered you through the Holy Spirit?3. How is God calling you to unleash those gifts to advance His kingdom?

Grace & Truth: The Best is Yet to ComePastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Jesus brings hope through scandal.TEXT - Mark 14:27-311. Embrace the scandal of Jesus. * Mark 14:27 “All of you will fall away.” * Mark 6:3 “And they took offense at him.” * Matthew 15:12 “(They) were offended when they heard this.”2. Embrace the scandal of our weakness. * Mark 14:29 “Even if all fall away, I will not.” * 1 Corinthians 1:23. “...a stumbling block to the Jews, foolishness to the Gentiles.”3. Embrace the hope of this scandal. * 1 Corinthians 1:24 “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  * Mark 14:28 “BUT after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” * Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”NEXT STEPS: Embrace the truth: the best is yet to come!GO DEEPER: Real people. Need Jesus.2025 Congregational Bright Spots:* Real people coming to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.* Revival in our community and around the world.* Reading the whole Bible. (The Bible Recap.)* Intergenerational disciples making disciples.* Real people stepping up to teach and lead small groups.* Renewed commitment to hospitality that welcomes all.* Men and women engaging in new Sunday classes.* Real people engaged in reaching our community. (Thank you for loving and serving real people in need.)* Growth in the Alliance of Reformed Churches. (ARC)* Faithful giving that met (and exceeded) our needs.* Fifty-two weeks of God-centered worship, gospel-centered preaching, and relational discipleship.* Reaching 100’s of families weekly in need of food.* Leaders who love the Lord and love the church.* And more…2026 Congregational Goals:* Real people coming to faith in Jesus.* Real people growing as disciples. (beyond Sunday)* Reaching the next generation of disciples.* New small groups and small group new leaders. * Launching dinner church as a successful outreach.* Real people engaged in spiritual disciplines/pathways. (Nine practices coming in January)* Next generation mentored/discipled by adults. (more intergenerational connections with children and youth.)* Successful “Building Our Future Fund.” (Parking Lot resurfacing in 2026.)* Develop a strategic plan for the next season of our congregational impact.* Strengthen ARC partnerships.* And more… We know that God has plans for Cedar Hills Community Church. God is NOT done with us. The best days are ahead!

Grace & TruthPastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Jesus saves.TEXT - Luke 19:1-101. What must I do to be saved? * Acts 16:30-33 * Luke 18:18-23 * They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved - you and your household.” Acts 16:312. Who can be saved? * Luke 19:1-10. * For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:103. What does salvation change? * Luke 15:11-32 * Luke 19:35-43 * But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Luke 15:32NEXT STEPS1. Admit your lostness.2. Believe in Jesus.GO DEEPERFive Solas of the Protestant ReformationFive pillars of our faith that come out of the reformation.1. Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone.The Bible is the sole written divine revelation, our only infallible rule for faith and life, and alone can bind the conscience of believers absolutely. (Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy. 3:16-17).2. Sola Fide – Faith Alone.Justification is by faith alone. By God’s free grace, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to us by faith and is the sole ground of our acceptance by God, by which our sins are pardoned (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians. 2:8-10).3. Solus Christus – Christ Alone.Jesus Christ is the only mediator through Whose work we are redeemed (John 14:6; John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:30-33)4. Sola Gratia – Grace Alone.Our salvation rests solely on the work of God’s grace for us (Romans 2:4; Ephesians. 2:8-10).5. Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone be Glory.Salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, therefore to God alone belongs the glory (Isaiah 42:8; Colossians 3:17).

Grace & Truth: People Get Ready! Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Pay attention to the signs of readiness. TEXT -  Luke 12:13-56Four questions to diagnose readiness:1. Is your focus now or not now?Luke 12:13-21. Parable of the rich fool.Signs: greed or gratitude.2. Is your strategy wise or not wise?Luke 12:35-41. Parable of the unwise steward.Signs: unfaithful or faithful. 3. Is your posture ready or not ready? Luke 12:42-48. Parable of the thief in the night.Signs: not alert or alert?4. Is your heart trusting or not trusting?Luke 12:54-56.Signs: Afraid or unafraid.NEXT STEPS1. Get ready.2. Stay ready.GO DEEPER: People Get Ready by Curtis MayfieldPeople get ready, there's a train a-comin'You don't need no baggage, you just get on boardAll you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'Don't need no ticket, you just thank the LordThere is a lot that we don’t know about the return of Jesus (like the time) but there are some things we do know without a doubt. Three things we know for sure:1. Jesus will return again. (It could be soon.)2. The return of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected. (There will be no time to prepare after he returns.)3. We are called to get ready and stay ready for the return of Jesus.Preparing for Jesus' return requires living a life of active faith, vigilance, and holiness in one's daily duties. This means cultivating spiritual alertness, pursuing holiness, and faithfully living out our calling while wearing the full armor of God. Preparation also involves embracing suffering with hope; focusing on love for God and others; growing in faith through prayer, scripture, community, service, etc.; and reaching out with the love of Jesus to others. Getting ready for the return of Jesus is part of our walk as disciples of Jesus. Until Jesus returns we are called to trust God in all things. Are you ready?“He who calls you is faithful.  He will surely DO IT” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:24