CCFDL Podcast

The Name Ep. 4: Prince of Peace

Preached on December 19, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht.

The Name Ep. 3: Eternal Father

Preached by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht on December 12, 2021.

The Name Ep. 2: Jesus is Mighty God

Preached on December 5th, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

Sermon Notes

1. Jesus is 
2. Jesus is all-
3. Jesus  over all

The Name Ep. 1: Jesus is Wonderful Counselor

Preached on November 28th, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

Sermon Notes

1. He is 
2. He  to us
3. He us

Three ways to be wonderful counselors:

1. Grow in 
2. Become a better 
3. Give godly 

Going Deeper 

1. Isaiah is a lengthy OT book that points to coming Messiah. We see Jesus in Isaiah often. Read Isaiah 7:14. Where is this quoted in the New Testament?
2. Read Isaiah 11:1-2. This is pointing to the Messiah, Jesus. Commentator Derek Kidner points out: “Whereas [Isaiah] 7:14 concentrates on his birth and 11:1-16 on his kingdom, [Isaiah] 9:6-7 emphasizes his person.”
3. Read Isaiah 9:2-7. What is one of the themes in this passage?
4. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. He is wise, he listens to us and he gives advice. In what ways have you seen Jesus do this in your life? Take time right now to thank Him that He is your Wonderful Counselor.
5. Read about God’s wisdom in Job 12:13 and Isaiah 40:12-14.
6. God’s wisdom is shown in the cross. Read 1 Cor. 1:18-25. What does this passage say about the cross? What does it mean to those who are perishing? What does it mean to those who are being saved? How is God’s wisdom shown at the cross?
7. Read Psalm 66:17-20. God listens to us – but what stops God from listening to us? How is this a good warning?
8. To go deeper this week read Matthew 5-7. How do you see Jesus giving advice? What do you need to do to follow His counsel this week?
9. Read Matthew 11:25-29. What is the connection between God the Father and God the Son? How will you better yoke yourself with Jesus this week?
10. How will you be a wonderful counselor for others this week?

Galatians Ep. 9: Final Thoughts

Galatians 6: 1-18 Final Thoughts

Preached on November 21st, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

Sermon Notes

1. Clean up the  of others (v. 1-6)
   1.  against others (v. 1-2)
   2.  (v. 3)
   3.  (v. 4-5)
2. Keep doing (v. 6-10)
   1.  with those who teach you (v. 6)

Going Deeper

1. Read Galatians 6:1. What should we do when a brother or sister is caught in sin? How should we do it? Read Matthew 18:15-17 for more details on how to lovingly confront someone caught in sin.
2. How can you carry someone’s burdens this week? How can you allow a brother or sister in Christ carry your burden?
3. Read Galatians 6:3. How does pride show up in your life? What can you do to battle a prideful heart? Read Romans 12:1-3.
4. Read Galatians 6:4-5. How is comparison a problem in our lives? Read Romans 14:12.
5. Read Galatians 6:7-8.
   1. John Stott describes what it looks like to sow to the flesh: “To ‘so to the flesh’ is to pander to it, cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it. The seeds we sow are largely thoughts and deeds. Every time we allow our mind to harbour a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh. Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness.”
   2. How are you sowing to the flesh? What will you do this week to stop?
   3. John Stott describes what it looks like to sow to the Spirit “We are to ‘seek’ and to ‘set our minds on’ the things of God, ‘thing that are above, not…things that are on earth’ (Col. 3:1, 2). By the books we read, the company we keep and the leisure occupations we pursue we can be ‘sowing to the Spirit.’ Then we are to foster disciplined habits of devotion in private and in public, in daily prayer and Bible reading, and it worship with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s Day. All this is ‘sowing to the Spirit’; without it there can be no harvest of the Spirit, no ‘fruit of the Spirit.’”
   4. How are you sowing to the Spirit? What will you do this week to continue?
6. Read 2 Cor. 9:6-8. How are you sowing for eternity?
7. Read Galatians 6:9-10. What causes you to lose heart or stop doing what is right?
8. Read Galatians 6:12-13. What is the motivation for those who compel Gentiles to be circumcised? What is a modern day “circumcision”? In other words, what do religious people compel unbelievers to do to be accepted by God?
9. Read Galatians 6:14. What do you find yourself boasting in the most? What does it look like to boast in the cross of Jesus? How can you boast more in the cross.
10. How can you be “crucified to the world”?
11. Read Galatians 6:17 and now read about Paul’s suffering in 11:24-25. In what ways are American Christians unprepared for real suffering? In what ways are we soft?
12. Why do you think Galatians ends with grace (Galatians 6:18)?

Galatians Ep. 8: The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5: 16-26

Guest Speaker John Grusynske

Galatians Ep. 7: Freedom!

Galatians 5: 1-15 Freedom!

Preached on November 7, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

Sermon Outline

1.  in Christ (v. 1-6)
   1. Holding on to  (v. 1)
   2. The  fails to set us free (v. 2-4)
   3. We are set free by  (v. 5-6)
2.  to freedom (v. 7-12)
   1.  (v. 7-8)
   2. A  false teaching (v. 9-12)
3.  to use our freedom (v. 13-15)
   1. Not for (v. 13)
   2.  others (v. 14)

Going Deeper

1. Review Galatians 4:28-31. How does Galatians 5:1 speak to what Paul has just said? Why is it important?
2. How can we “stand firm and not submit to…slavery” (to sin, death and the devil)? What are some practical ways we give in to spiritual slavery?
3. Read Galatians 5:2-3. What signal would it send if uncircumcised Galatian believers got circumcised? Commentator Frank Thielman says it signals “a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of Christ’s death to redeem the believer from the law’s curse and a vote of confidence in one’s own ability to keep the law and receive life by that means.”
4. Read Galatians 5:4. John Stott makes this point: “‘Circumcision means law, works and bondage; ‘Christ’ means grace, faith and freedom.” In what ways might do people add something to Christ’s work to be saved?
5. How are we set free according to Galatians 5:5-6? Have you been set free in Christ by faith?
6. What persuasion, what little false teaching is out there today? See below three false gospels that are thriving in America.
7. Read Leviticus 19:18. What does the full context say? How can you apply this in your life?
8. Galatians 5:13-15 get really practical. Philip Ryken makes this point: “What we believe and how we behave cannot be separated.” In what ways do we separate what we believe and how we behave?
9. In what ways do we use our freedom “as an opportunity for the flesh?” Read Romans 13:13-14.
10. Read Leviticus 19:18 in context. In what way are we to love our neighbor as ourselves? How can you love your neighbor this week?
11. How do believers today bite and devour one another (Gal. 5:15)? One of the best ways to stop fighting is to submit to the Holy Spirit (see Gal. 5:16-26).

Three false gospels written by Steven Madsen:

Prosperity Gospel

The prosperity gospel teaches that Jesus is a means to health, wealth and prosperity as opposed to a Savior who reconciles us to God. Also known as the Word of Faith Movement, the prosperity gospel is one of the fastest growing movements within Protestantism.

We can easily see why the prosperity gospel would be appealing. After all, Jesus is mentioned frequently. Scripture is quoted. And you can have your best life now. Just have faith! What’s not to like? The Bible is abundantly clear that our best life is not rooted in anything this world can offer nor is our faith a means to futile possessions. Yet this heretical gospel movement continues to gain traction because Bibles remain on the shelf.

The Word of Faith movement must be exposed for what it is: an act of insurrection. It is the attempt to dethrone Jesus and enthrone mankind. It is the public proclamation that a Suffering Servant is not the King we want. It is the active attempt to fill the throne with our own desires for power and status. The church must clearly condemn the prosperity gospel so there is no confusion on where we stand.

Personal Gospel

For clarification purposes, we can also call this the “self-help” gospel. Many openly denounce the prosperity gospel yet dive head first into the personal gospel. These people can clearly see the unbiblical nature of the Word of Faith movement but are blind to its cousin– the “me-first movement.” 

The central fallacy in the self-help gospel is not that the gospel is personal, but that the gospel is about you. Self-help preaching tends to look more like a motivational speech or an inspirational monologue than it does a proclamation of the Word of God. Just like the prosperity gospel, such messages are filled with Bible references and the name of Jesus; however, the focal point is not on the Son of God, it’s on you. And who doesn’t want to hear a message about themselves every week? A message about how you can become a better person, be more productive, defeat your Goliaths, part your Red Sea. The self-help gospel is running rampant in our culture, promoting the ability of “self” while using the name of Jesus.

Like the prosperity gospel, the self-help gospel elevates man and uses the Bible to do it. Jesus is positioned to be a means to self-improvement rather than a means to redemption. So ultimately the focal point of the message falls directly on how you feel, think and act. Now to be clear, the gospel infiltrates every aspect of our being. Our feelings are certainly important, as well as our thoughts and actions. However, when these things become the primary emphasis, we are no longer making disciples of Jesus. We are peddling a form of religious therapy, preaching a message that cultivates “me-centered” churches rather than Christ-centered churches. Again, the church must separate itself from this form of gospel so that the world around us sees Christ and not simply a better version of ourselves. 

Political Gospel

As with the other two false gospels mentioned above, the Political Gospel’s subtlety makes it dangerous. The Political Gospel is not necessarily a message that any particular President or elected official is our Lord and Savior. The subtlety lies in the position of our heart. This false gospel is not dangerous because of what we claim to believe but because of what we functionally believe.

In other words, it is possible for people to proclaim Jesus as Lord but place their hope in political parties or systems. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The things we place the most value on will have the most of our heart. If a political outcome is more important to us than the eternal outcome, these misplaced priorities will be evident in the way we engage the world around us. Our words and our actions will reveal who sits on the throne of our heart.

Of course politics are important. Jesus lived within a political scene of His own. His execution was the result of political scandal. The powers of the government certainly have massive implications on our lives and nation as a whole. The church is not called to ignore or be silent about our political context. However, we are called to engage it differently. We approach the powers of America with the truth that they are subject to a Greater King. We have the hope that assures us no matter who sits in the Oval Office our future is secure.

The church is the only institution on earth with the promise of God’s security attached to it. Jesus promised us in Matthew 16 that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. When our government and our nation are long gone, the church will still be standing.

Pure Gospel:

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus has satisfied our greatest need: to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Anything added to the cross of Christ belittles His grace. Our calling is not to make the gospel more appealing by adding to it but to take the gospel to the people. C. S. Lewis reminds us, “God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because… there is no such thing.” The world needs the pure gospel. Let’s be a people who rest in the saving work of Jesus and display to the watching world that our only hope is in Him.

Galatians Ep. 6: Defeating Legalism with Grace

Galatians 4: 21-31 Defeating Legalism with Grace

Preached on October 31, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

Sermon Outline

1. God’s promise is _____ than man’s effort (v. 21-23)
2. _____ is given, not earned (v. 24-27)
3. _____ instructions (v. 28-31)
   1. Expect _____ (v. 28-29)
   2. Do not tolerate ______  (v. 30-31)

Going Deeper

1. Legalism forbids what God allows, while licentiousness allows what God forbids. How does this help you understand the difference between legalism and licentiousness (or antinomianism)?
2. Philip Ryken says, “The epistle [of Galatians] was written to help the slaves of religion find true freedom in Christ.” What is a slave of religion? Have you ever been a slave to religion? How did you find freedom?
3. What is legalism? In what ways do you fall into legalism?
4. To go deeper, read Genesis 16-17 and 21. How do these chapters help you understand what Paul is saying in Galatians 4:21-31?
5. In what way does Hagar represent the covenant of the law at Mount Sinai? In what way does Sarah represent the covenant of grace in Christ?
6. Have you ever experienced persecution for your faith in Christ? By whom? How did you respond? How does it help us to expect persecution will come if we hold to the true gospel?
7. Why does Paul borrow from Sarah’s outburst (in Genesis 21:10) in Galatians 4:30? What does Paul mean?
8. How can we drive legalism out of our hearts?
9. How have you confused legalism with conviction? How can we tell the difference?
10. What ways can you remind yourself of the gospel this week?
11. How can you do good works motivated by love?
12. How can we avoid swinging to antinomianism?

Galatians Ep. 5: Cling to Sonship, Not to Slavery

Galatians 4: 1-20- Cling to sonship, not to slavery

Preached on October 24, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

1. Redemption leads to ______ (v. 1-7)
2. It is ______ to desert the gospel (v. 8-20)
   1. It exchanges ______ for slavery (v. 8-11)
   2. It ______ relationship (v. 12-20)
      1. Once ______ (v. 12-15)
      2. Now ______? (v. 16-18)
      3. Paul’s ______ (v. 19-20)

Going Deeper

1. Galatians 4:1-3 describe life before Christ. What is it like? 
2. Simon Gathercole describes the elements of the world as: “The elementary principles the Galatians previously followed, which for Jews would be the Mosaic law and for the Gentiles the basic concepts of their pagan religions.”  What are the elements of the world for you?
3. Why is the Law not enough to make us right with God? Read Romans 8:3-4.
4. How did the time come to completion to send Christ (Gal. 4:4)?
5. Why is adoption so important (Gal. 4:5-7)?
6. We are adopted as “sons” – not sons and daughters – why? In this culture and time, only sons would receive the inheritance. Paul is making a point: spiritually speaking, you are all sons in Christ. Men and women, brothers and sisters are all sons because you will all receive the full inheritance.
7. Read Romans 8:14-17. How does the Holy Spirit help us who have been adopted?
8. Slaves in the first century is very different than slavery in the way we might think of it today.

• Slaves made a salary and would earn enough to buy their freedom.
• Slavery was not bound to ethnicity. There were Romans who were slaves, Greeks where slaves, Jews who were slaves. In fact, slaves were accounted for on every level – rich and poor.
• Often when a slave was considered free, he stayed and continued to work for his master and would even adopt the family name as their own.

Why did the Galatians’ rejection of Paul’s gospel cause such relational damage? Why is it so important that our closest friends are believers? Read 2 Cor. 6:14-18.  In what ways do you find yourself trading sonship for slavery? What steps can you take this week to cling to sonship?

Galatians Ep. 4: The Precious Promise

Galatians 3: 16-29- The Precious Promise

Preached on October103, 2021 by Senior Pastor Adam Utecht

Sermon Outline

1. The ______ and the ______ (v. 15-26)
   1. The ______ Promise (v. 15-18)
   2. The ______ of the Law (v. 19-22)
   3. The ______ of the Law (v. 23-26)
2. ______ with Christ (v. 27-29)
   1. ______ with Christ (v. 27)
   2. ______ in Christ (v. 28)
   3. ______ with Christ (v. 29)

Going Deeper

1. Read Galatians 3:15-18. Why is it important that God’s Promise came before the Law? How does this strengthen Paul’s argument that one does not have to follow the works of the law to be saved?
2. Philip Ryken says, “Salvation in Christ does not rest on a law that we inevitably break; it rests on a promise that God cannot ”How does this encourage you?
3. Read Galatians 3:19-20. What is the purpose of the Law? Read Romans 5:20-21. How does this relate to what Paul is saying in Galatians 3?
4. Read Galatians 3:21-22. How do the Law and the Promise work together?
5. Paul compares the Law to a prison and a nanny in Galatians 3:23-26. How is the Law limited? What does the Law do for us?
6. Union with Christ is described in Galatians 3:27-29. First, we all believers are clothed with Christ (v. 27). We are baptized into Christ and we can “put on” Christ. Read Romans 6:1-11. How is our union with Christ a life-changing union? How should we live as a result?
7. Philip Ryken says, “Now that we are in Christ, our standing before God does not fluctuate with the inconsistency of our daily obedience. On the basis of the promise that he made before the law, God loves us with an unconditional love.” Why does salvation based on the promise rather than the law matter for our daily lives?
8. Read Galatians 3:28. Is Paul telling us there are no gender distinctions? Why or why not? What is Paul saying? How should we live as a result?
9. When Paul says we are Abraham’s seed in Galatians 3:29 how does this relate to what he says in v. 16? What are the implications for us?
10. In what way is your identity settled in Christ? Read Rom. 8:14-17 and Galatians 4:4-7.