Word of Salvation - May 2018   Issues in Living: Money By Rev. John Westendorp Text: Proverbs 3:9,10,13-16   Theme: The place of money in the life of God's children. Introd:  If you read the sermon title in the bulletin you may be a little curious. A sermon on money - is that really necessary in this congregation? Over the last decade or so things have gone well for us financially as a church. Our congregation manages its financial affairs rather well. Okay, occasionally we're a few thousand dollars behind budget. That's happened often before and we’ve always manage to catch...

Word of Salvation - April 2018   Blessed is a God-fearing Family By Rev. John Westendorp Text: Psalm 128 Scripture Readings: Ephesians 5:21 – 6:4 and Psalm 128   Theme: Blessing for the family is found in the fear of the Lord... and that blesses God’s Church and Kingdom.   Introd:  You may be tempted this morning to dismiss this Psalm as irrelevant.  For several reasons. For starters... it’s a song about families... and you’re sitting here as a single person.. The unmarried, the widowed and the divorced seem to be bypassed in this Psalm. But that’s not true.  Take another...

Word of Salvation June 2018   Always Thankful - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Psalm 118 Readings: Luke 17:11-19; Psalm 118 Theme: The thankful psalmist calls all the covenant people of God to respond in gratitude to the Lord for his constant goodness and ever faithful love. Proposition: Jesus is the reason to be always thankful.   Introduction Helen Keller, American author, political activist, and lecturer, was struck by an illness when she was under two years old which left her blind and deaf. With the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan, she learned to communicate and went on to graduate...

Word of Salvation June 2018   Saving Grace - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Acts 11:17-18 Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 33:9-16; Acts 11:1-18 Series:             Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q&A) Theme:           The Holy Spirit works the saving graces of repentance and faith in all God’s chosen people thereby giving them life in Christ Proposition:   Give glory to God for his gifts of repentance and faith   Introduction “Look there’s a conversion!” – what exactly does that indicate? The word ‘conversion’ has many meanings in our English language usage, depending on which sphere of life it is used within e.g. In finance,...

Word of Salvation June 2018   Calling on the Name of the Lord - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Romans 10:13 Readings: Romans 10:5-13 Theme: The Apostle Paul summarises the only means of salvation for all people in the act of calling on the name of the Lord. Proposition: Calling on the name of the Lord does result in salvation for everyone who calls.   We are all familiar with passwords which we use to gain access to our phones, online bank accounts and a myriad of internet websites and applications. Later model devices allow voice activated passcode entry. Just say...

Word of Salvation June 2018   The Coming day of Complete Fulfilment (2) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 14:16-21 Scriptures: Zechariah 14:16-21, Revelation 19:6-16 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 19 of 19 (part 2 of a two-part sermon) Theme:           On the last day, all the promises of God come to complete fulfilment as the final battle is fought, peace is won, great numbers celebrate from all the nations and everyone and everything remaining is completely holy. FCF:               At times we can feel like giving up in the Christian life Proposition:  Persevere today in the certain hope that all God’s promises...

Word of Salvation June 2018   The Coming Day of Complete Fulfilment (1) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 14:1-15 Scriptures: Zechariah 14:1-15 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 18 of 19 (part 1 of a two-part sermon) Theme:           On the last day, all the promises of God come to complete fulfilment as the final battle is fought, peace is won, great numbers celebrate from all the nations and everyone and everything remaining is completely holy. FCF:               There are times in the Christian life when we can feel like giving up Proposition:   Persevere today in the certain hope that all...

Word of Salvation June 2018   What Next? – The Shepherd and His Flock - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 13:7-9 Scriptures: Matt 26:31-35; Zechariah 13:7-9 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 17 of 19 Theme: God promises to strike his own shepherd, causing the sheep to be scattered and his own people to be tested and refined FCF:  We may think that following Jesus is easy Proposition:   Following the Good Shepherd brings both suffering and comfort Points: The Shepherd is struckHis Sheep are refinedHis covenant is confirmed   Introduction Opening question to those who have recently professed their faith – what...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   The Great Day of the Great Lord (2) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 12:10-13:5 Scriptures: Zechariah 12:10-13:5; John 19:31-37 Series:  Zechariah. Sermon 16 of 19 (part 2 of a 2 part sermon) Theme:  Zechariah prophesies of the coming Day of the Lord when the sacrifice and grace of God in Christ will be seen by all FCF:  We can loose heart in the midst of our own sin and struggles in this life Proposition:   Press on – Christ is coming!   Introduction Militant Jihadist Islam seeks to dominate the world by...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   The Great Work of the Lord (1) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 12:1-9 Scriptures: Zechariah 12:1-13:6; Revelation 19:11-16 Series:  Zechariah. Sermon 15 of 19 [part 1 (part 2 is designed for an evening sermon the same day but could be read on a consecutive Lord’s Day). Part 1 has one sermon point, part 2 has two points.] Theme:  The final war at the end of this age FCF:  We can be anxious and fearful of the future yet to come Proposition:  Do not fear, but have certain hope, because Christ is the...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Hope for the Vulnerable - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 11 Scriptures: Zechariah 11 Series:  Zechariah. Sermon 14 of 19 Theme:  The vulnerability of sheep without a shepherd FCF:  We naturally detest Christ (we all like sheep have gone astray) Proposition:   Do not follow false shepherds, follow Christ   Introduction As human beings living in a fallen world we are all vulnerable. We may be attacked and sustain injury to body and/or soul. Our bodies, physically and mentally, are open to the ravages of disease/sickness in a groaning creation. Spiritually we are...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Your Greatest Need - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 10 Scriptures: Zechariah 10 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 13 of 19 Theme:  The redeeming work of the Shepherd-King FCF:  We can forget (or not know) that our greatest need is for a Saviour Proposition:   Continue to follow Jesus because His flock is transformed when their Lord is with them   Introduction What is your greatest need? If your greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If your greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;...

Word of Salvation - August 2018   Jesus' Emotions - by Steve Voorwinde Scripture Readings: Exodus 33:12-23; John 1:1-18 Scripture Text: John 1:14   Opening Exercise (Optional) Do you mind if I begin this sermon by doing a little experiment? I want to start by asking you how well you know Jesus. Just raise your hand when you think I am making a statement that is true: Jesus loved – he was a loving person. (18)Jesus showed compassion. (9)He could get angry. (5)He was sorrowful or grieved. (5)He experienced joy. (4)Sometimes he was amazed. (3)At times he was troubled. (3)He was...

Word of Salvation – Vol.22 No.13 - January 1976   Every Baby Among You Shall Be Baptised!   Sermon by Rev. W.F. Van Brussel, B.D. on Genesis 17:9-14 Scripture Readings: Genesis 17:1-14; Acts 2:38/9; Rom. 4:9-12 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal: 77; 446:1,2; 210.1,2. 169:1,2,3,4; 445:3   Not every member of the Reformed Churches seems to be convinced any longer that Infant Baptism, or perhaps rather, Covenant Baptism, is Biblical practice and ought to be maintained for that very reason.  It may be necessary also to include a sermon on this particular subject in our series, “The Word of Salvation”.  All of...

Word of Salvation – Vol.22 No.14 - January 1976   Faith as a Grain of Mustard Seed   Sermon by Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen, B.D. on Luke 17:5,6. Scripture Reading: Psalm 27; Luke 17:1-10. Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal: 259 (Opening Psalm); 438:2,3 (after proclamation of grace); 431:4 (after 10 Commandments); 48:1,3 (after sermon); 408:1,3 (before benediction).   Do you ever think about what it means, TO BELIEVE?  No, I do not mean the content of our faith, WHAT we believe, but the FACT of our believing, the ACTIVITY of believing, the DEED of our faith. It is good and necessary to...

Word of Salvation – Vol.22 No.15 - January 1976   Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!   Sermon by Rev. A.I. de Graaf, B.D. on Luke 14:15-24 Scripture Readings: Romans 13:7-14 (law); Luke 14:1-24 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal: 195; 379; 371; 420; 325.2.   Brothers and sisters, boys and girls, Congregation of our Lord, At the moment Jesus tells this parable, He is sitting at a meal.  Nice and quietly, leisurely, for it is Sabbath.  And at this meal Jesus tells this parable             ABOUT that meal. It's like a hitchhiker striking up a conversation with the driver who picked him up.  And what...

Word of Salvation – Vol.22 No.16 - January 1976   Confusion Of Speech   Sermon by Rev. C.W. Oppelaar, Th.Grad on Genesis 11:8b, 9a; Acts 2:11 Scripture Reading: Genesis 11:1-9. Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal: 324:1,2,3; 379:1,2,3,4; 304:1,2; 384:1,2,3,4; 327:3.   "They quit building the city, which accordingly was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the whole world's language.'” “We hear them telling in our own languages the excellencies of God.”   Brothers and sisters, girls and boys, There, in Babel the Lord confused the speech of all the people.  I believe that the confusion of language was much more serious,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.17 No.24 - June 1971   This Do In Remembrance Of Me   Preparatory sermon for Lord's Supper             by the Rev. P.G. Van Dam on 1Corinthians 11:24,25. Scripture Readings: I Corinthians 11:23-29. Suggested Hymns: PSALTER HYMNAL: 77; 55:2,1,3 (with law) 491 (with creed) 438:1,2,4; 424:1,2,3,5; 493 (doxology)   Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, Our text speaks             (1) of a COMMAND,             (2) of an ASSURANCE, and             (3) of COMFORT. Of a command; for it says: "Do this". Of an assurance; as it says: "This is my body for you",             and...

Word of Salvation – Vol.17 No.23 - June 1971   Bringing Up Children   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma, Th.Grad. on Eph.6:4. Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 6:1-12 Psalm 115 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal  264; 272; 414; 45; 493   Dear Congregation, When the Lord commands children to honour and obey their father and mother, this clearly implies that parents are placed in authority over their children.  However, this does not give the parents the right to treat their children as they like or see fit.  Every authority that anyone has over others is an authority given him by the Lord.  So that...

Word of Salvation – Vol.14 No.40 - September 1968   Preparing Children For Heaven   Sermon by Rev. P.J. Berghouse, Th. Grad., on Ephesians 6:4. Scripture Readings:  1Samuel 2:22-26; Hebrews 12:4-13 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal:  89 (New); 235:2,3; 272: 2,3 (Law); 443 (Creed); 311; 298:2; 493   Beloved of the Lord Jesus Christ, Many children like this text!  Especially the first part of it: "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger". The story is told of one youngster who was due again for a spanking one day.  This particular time, it was not long after he had read our text.  Of...