Uncategorized

Abundant Love

In 2024, we are focusing on growing to be a generous people — so confident in our knowledge of God’s love for us that we are freed to give of our time, resources and skills abundantly to our family, church, and community.  Free in such a way we can give without fear, anxiety, or worry that we’ll have enough.

We are declaring it a year of living with open hands.

Do not forget to do good and to share with others. Hebrews 13:16a

Overview: Focus on the spiritual practice of giving.

Generosity involves so much more than simply giving money. All kinds of giving flow from gospel-transformed hearts touched by God’s lavish love. Radical, whole-life generosity flows from a grateful response to God’s generosity toward us.  

Goals: Grow generosity.

  • Grow awareness of our dependence on God.
  • Grow our response of sacrificial generosity.
  • Do good to everyone. (and not grow weary). Gal. 6:9-10

Some key verses:

    • Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
    • For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:
  • Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6
  • They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Acts 2:45

Themes: Whole-life generosity.

  • Generosity and God’s Grace
  • Generosity and Relationships/Forgiveness
  • Generosity and Hospitality 
  • Generosity and Ministry/Spiritual Gifts
  • Generosity and Money/Wealth
  • Generosity and Power/Influence
  • Generosity and Justice
Uncategorized

Connection Sunday Dec. 31

Come Sunday, Dec. 31 ready to connect with others over coffee and donuts in between services at 9:30-11am.  There are no Sunday Classes this Sunday.

If you are a Prayer Champion, makes plans to connect with your student or family.

We are focusing on intergenerational relationships at Cedar Hills, recognizing that the faith of the next generation can be greatly influenced by being surrounded by adults of another generation.  Youth and adults can be seen ministering next to one another in our worship ministries, youth ministries, food pantry and more!

One generation commends your works to another. They tell of your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

Cedar Blog

Don’t Choose Milk

Don’t Choose Milk

In the next few days many will begin thinking about New Year resolutions… I can’t say enough great things about how my life changed about six years ago when I started prioritizing (like crazy like) daily Bible reading and memorization. It’s something many of us profess and give lip service to, but hypocritically do not practice.
I was stirred (slightly insulted, but stirred) by this 4min clip from Francis Chan:
In 2024, let’s not just say it’s important to read or memorize the Bible. It’s time to dig in DAILY.  It is the foundation of a mature Christian life. Don’t choose milk any longer – go for the meat!
If you’re not there yet, I don’t want to guilt you into it. But I can testify to the fruit of going after God daily in Bible reading, memorization and prayer–it is so worth it! To be able to discern the voice of God with greater clarify, to know his heart and thoughts in a given situation, to be able to speak words of truth into another life with ease as the Holy Spirit brings to mind verses effortlessly, to feel a call to pray for strangers in the Target packing lot or Sam’s Club lobby and see God at work before your eyes–these make it so worth it!
I wish I had known the beauty of daily devotion in my younger years.  God literally does change you as you as you are in His word.
But here’s what I’ve also learned –don’t try to squeeze it in to a busy schedule. It won’t work. To really go after daily reading, you have to GIVE UP something for God–some other worldly practice of consuming entertainment or social media or news or sport or hobby or Insta reels or TikTok or evening news that has consumed your time. Say to the Lord, “I want you MORE!” and go after it with intensity. Go for the meat.  And He’ll make all those other things pale in comparison.
There are soooo many great programs to help you stay on top of things. The Bible Recap, the Bible Project (both available in the Bible app) both have year-long Bible reading programs.  The book “100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart” by Robert Morgan is a great starting place for scripture memorization.  (FYI I’ve set these all to music! In NIV and currently working through them again in ESV.)
I was recently inspired by this short article by John Piper: Make the Bible Part of Your Everyday in 2024.  He makes some great and motivating points!

Leah Carolan
Pastor of Worship & Media

Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry, or learn something new?  Let Leah know.

    Cedar Blog

    Joy and Peace to You

    Joy and Peace to You

    For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies… because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation… Colossians 1:19-22We’ve been reflecting on “the word made flesh” all month and my prayer is that the truths described in Colossians 1 have become more real to you. We have every spiritual blessing in Jesus, which brings us joy and peace beyond measure. May you know the peace and joy made possible in Jesus!The Lord be with you,Pastor Kent

    Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

      Cedar Blog, Uncategorized

      How Resilient Are You?

      How Resilient Are You?

      As one year rolls into another I like to do a review. How did I fair in the past year? How did our congregation fair?

      We are on a mission to make disciples who flourish. I recently learned that some people call flourishing disciples “resilient disciples.” Resilient disciples…

      • …attend church at least monthly and engage with their church more than just attending worship services.
      • …trust firmly in the authority of the Bible.
      • …commit to Jesus personally and affirm that he was crucified and raised from the dead to conquer sin and death.
      • …express a desire to transform the broader society as an outcome of their faith.

      Does this describe you? If not you might be a “habitual churchgoer.” (You have attended church at least once in the past month, but do not have foundational core beliefs or behaviors associated with being a resilient disciple.) Or you might be a nomad. (You have not attended church during the past month and have not been involved with a faith community for six months or more.)

      If you are taking stock – this matters. Those who claim to be Christian but do not have resilience do not flourish. To see the data on why this matters, look at what the Barna researchers discovered.

      How resilient are you? Right now is the best time to re-engage and find flourishing by following Jesus!

      May the Lord be with you,

      Pastor Kent

       

      Kent Landhuis
      Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

      Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

        Cedar Blog

        Err on the Side of Righteousness

        Err on the Side of Righteousness

        We’ve been talking about the Word Made Flesh – one of the prophetic names we use to talk about Jesus in the season of Advent.  Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, Immanuel, God with Us. Word Made Flesh. Jesus.

        All of these names feel sacred and holy. They contain parts of God’s identity and how He has revealed Himself to us.

        We know him by other names as well:

        There is so much contained in God’s names! So much truth and holiness and identity.

        His name is sacred.

        And so I’ll be honest – my spirit is completely grieved when I hear my Christian brothers and sister flippantly using the OMG phrase or saying “Oh my God” in every story they tell.

        It is a scheme of the enemy if I’ve ever seen one. If it were not,  the world would be using phrases like, “Oh my Buddha” or “Oh my Satan” or “O my Molech.” But they don’t.  There is only one god’s name that gets used flippantly… and it is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob – the one true God.  Our God.   The enemy is smart and goes about like a roaring lion looking for whom he may devour.  He has tricked many.

        What does Scripture say about God’s name?

        • Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. – Matthew 6:9 (NLT)
        • I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. – Isaiah 42:8
        • The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. – Proverbs 18:10
        • Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. – Psalm 100:4-5
        • Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations. – Psalm 135:13
        • And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. – Acts 2:21

        There is debate among many online about this particular phrase… is it sin or not sin?  My thoughts… does it matter? I would rather err on the side of righteousness any day than grieve my heavenly Father with my speech.

        Leah Carolan
        Pastor of Worship & Media

        Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry, or learn something new?  Let Leah know.

          Cedar Blog

          The Word Became Flesh

          The Word Became Flesh

          I mostly take my body for granted even though most of my daily rhythms involve taking care of my body. Waking and sleeping, dressing and undressing, eating and drinking, working out and avoiding a workout – these things I do (or don’t do) mostly without much thought.

          As I’m prepping for the Christmas season, I’ve focused more on the significance of our bodies. The wonders of our flesh and blood complexity and the frustrations of our physical Iimitations. We are more than our bodies, certainly, but not less. Our bodies matter.

          Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” I recently noticed that God made Adam’s body first and then God breathed life into it. The body was not an afterthought created to hold the disembodied person that was Adam. Adam’s body mattered.

          And now – the Incarnation. God made flesh and blood. (John 1:14) Jesus became a man. His body is not merely a container designed to hold God for a while. Jesus is fully divine AND fully human. Always. We celebrate Jesus made flesh at Christmas. Made flesh – of all things – as a baby. Jesus’ body matters.

          Merry Christmas,

          Kent

          P.S. 2023 Advent Season

          December 3 – Word Made Flesh – resurrection and return.

          December 10 – Word Made Flesh – life and death sorrow.

          December 17 – Word Made Flesh – water into wine feasting.

          December 24 – Word Made Flesh – the flesh is weak…temptation.

          Christmas Eve – Candlelight Services @ 3 and 5 – Word Made Flesh – Baby.

          December 31 – Word Made Flesh – massacre of innocents and sympathy.

          Kent Landhuis
          Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

          Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

            Cedar Blog

            Giving Season

            Giving Season

            It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the time of year when every day I receive mail, emails, and texts from various organizations requesting donations. Charities, ministries, animal shelters, foundations, humanitarian causes, nonprofit institutions – they are all asking for gifts.

            This annual barrage of requests for my money used to annoy the heck out of me. But I’ve been rethinking this in two ways. First, I give thanks that so many organizations commit to making our world a better place. Nonprofit organizations do so much good! Second, I give thanks that so many generous people give to support these important causes. Did you know that individuals donated $319.04 billion in 2022? That’s billion!

            Did you also know that December giving accounts for roughly one-fourth (26%) of annual nonprofit revenue? That includes the church and we are a 100% donor-funded organization. We have no trusts or endowments or corporate sponsorships. We depend on the generosity of God’s people for all of our resources.

            We are making the world a better place. We offer hope to a world in need of hope. We feed the hungry and encourage the outcast. We help every generation flourish in faith. We make a difference and we depend on your generosity to make that happen. Your giving to Cedar Hills matters.

            I am so thankful to be part of a congregation committed to making the world a better place. And I am so thankful to be part of a congregation of generous people. And I am so thankful it is giving season.

            But wait there’s more. God promises blessings to those who give generously. Consider this great promise in 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

            The Lord be with you,

            Pastor Kent

            P.S. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

            Kent Landhuis
            Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

            Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

              Love. Belong. Serve.