Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.41- November 1996   The Lord's Supper   Sermon by Rev W Wiersma on Lord's Day 28-30   Dear Brothers and Sisters, Question 75 spells out what I will be talking about this morning.  It speaks about your share in Christ's sacrifice and gifts. The Lord's Supper is intended to remind and assure you that you have a share in Christs' one sacrifice on the cross and in all his gifts. The Lord's Supper, therefore, focuses our attention on the Lord Jesus and all that He has done and is doing for our salvation.  What that...

Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.44 - November 1996   One Body – Many Parts Sermon by Rev G Vander Kolk on Romans 12:3-5 Scripture Readings: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Suggested Hymns: BOW 22A; 425; 398; 434; 525   Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction In CS Lewis' book “The Screwtape Letters," a senior devil writes letters to a junior devil.  There is one letter that goes like this: "I note with great displeasure that your patient has become a Christian...  There is no need to despair, hundreds of these adult converts have been reclaimed after a brief sojourn into the...

Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.46 - December 1996   The Servant King   Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Isaiah 42:14 Scripture Readings: Matthew 3:13-17; Isaiah 41:1-16; 42:1-4 Suggested Hymns: BOW 96:1-3, 5; 286; 72B; 357:4   Congregation of our Lord. It has been said that this book of Isaiah is all about the Messiah.  So, in a more particular way than any other Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, the son of Amoz, seven hundred years before Christ was physically born and lived for a while among us, gives us a very clear view of what would happen. In fact, if...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.1 - January 1997   The Power of the Church   Sermon by Rev W Wiersma on Lord's Day 31   Dear Congregation, The Lord Jesus has given the church – which is his body and his ambassador corps on this earth – a tremendous responsibility.  The church controls the door to the kingdom of God.  As we read in Matthew 16, Jesus said to Peter and the other apostles, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.3 - January 1997   A Win or a Sin?   A Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Proverbs 16:33 Scripture Reading: 2Thessalonians 3:6-15; Proverbs 16:9, 25, 33 Also Lord's Day 10   Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord. No one can deny that gambling is a major social problem.  One needs only to remember the inter-state television news story of those children being left in a car outside a casino while their mother was blowing the family budget inside. And locally, consider just the proliferation of pawn-broking shops, now in every suburb, exactly able...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.4 - January 1997   A Book of Remembrance   A Sermon by Rev P G Van Dam on Malachi 3:16-18 Scripture Readings: Esther 2:21 - 3:11, 6:1-10; Revelation 20:11-15 Suggested Hymns: BOW: 138; 157:1, 5-6 (with reading of the Law); 158:1, 4 (with Creed); 111:1, 3, 6-7; 517; Three-fold Amen in response to benediction   Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord. In the Book of Esther we read of a Persian king, Xerxes (or, Ahasverus), as well as of Haman whom the king had given a place of honour higher than that of all...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.25 - July 1997   Worship Our Response to God   Sermon by Rev W Wiersma on Lord's Day 35, Q&A 96   Dear Brothers and Sister in our Lord Jesus Christ, young and old. You must have big and awesome thoughts about God if you are ever going to worship God properly. You see, it is what we think of God, it is how we see God that will determine the way we worship God, the way we adore and serve Him.  So as we worship remember who it is that we do worship.  God...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.26 - July 1997   Now – Where’s Your Part?   Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Romans 12:6-8 Scripture Readings: Rom.12:3-8; 1Peter 4:7-11; 1Cor.12:1-11 H.C. Lord's Day 21, Q&A 55 Suggested Hymns: BOW 164:3; 66:1-3; 440; 206; 525   Dear Body of Christ. What we see here in this part of Romans 12, with this aspect of the gifts in the church, is part of a theme found right through the New Testament letters, whether of the apostle Paul, the apostle Peter or the apostle John.  We have already read from 1Peter and 1Corinthians, about...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.27 - July 1997   What Awaits Christ’s Disciples Then and Now   A Sermon by Rev D Van Garderen on Mark 13:9-13 Scripture Readings: Mark 13:1-13; Matthew 10:1, 5-31 Suggested Hymns: PsH: 14:1-3; 424:1-3, 5; 18; 135; 187:5-6   Dear Congregation, When you look at the history of the church, both ancient and modern, it soon becomes clear that time and time again God's children, faithful communities of believers who really love and look to Jesus, have been abused, attacked, beaten, scattered, and even murdered.  Suffering and persecution has been a part of the essence...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.28 - July 1997   The Bible, God and Us   A Sermon by Rev M P Geluk on Acts 17:11 Scripture Readings: Acts 17:1-15 Suggested Hymns: BoW 95; 217; 421; 514; 479   Congregation, In the Greek city of Thessalonica, Paul, and his helper Silas, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ on three consecutive Sabbaths.  The Lord blessed that preaching, and some Jews, a large number of God-fearing Greeks, and a number of prominent women became Christians (Acts 17:4).  However, other Jews in that city became very jealous about these people turning to Christ and...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.29 - August 1997   Our Shame Taken   Sermon by Rev W J Van Schie on John 19:23-24 Scripture Readings: Gen 2:15-25; John 19:16b-24; Suggested Hymns: BoW 32:1-3; 186   Dear Congregation, INTRODUCTION There is a story of Johnny and his friend walking down the road going home from school.  They decided this day to go a different way home.  They came past this high wall and it intrigued them.  They wanted to know what was on the other side.  They could just spell out the letters that were there, the sign sort of said,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.31 - August 1997   What has to Happen for the Lord to Bless Us?   A Sermon by Rev DK Baird on Ephesians 1:1-3 Scripture Readings: Deut. 28:1-6, 15-19; Eph. 4:1-16 Suggested Hymns: BoW:  332, 487, 163, 331:1,2,4   Dear Congregation, Today I want to ask the question: "What has to happen for the Lord to bless us?" You might be thinking, Oh, good!  Business has been a bit slow lately; I need the Lord to bless me.  But it's not financial prosperity I want to talk about.  Sorry! I realise some churches these days...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.32 - August 1997   Be Strong in the Lord   A Sermon by Rev KV Warren on Ephesians 6:10a, 12a Scripture Readings: Matthew 12:22-32, 43-45; Ephesians 6:10-18 Suggested Hymns: BoW 135B; 67, 374; 425; 531   Congregation of Jesus Christ. Just imagine that someone would ask you: "What is your Christian life like?  Is it nice and easy, comfortable, a pleasure-cruise?  Or is it a war, a struggle, a fight?" How do you answer a question like that?  Is it a fair question to ask: is your Christian life a battle, a struggle?  Does such...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.19 - May 1998   Follow Me!   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Mark 10:17-27 Scripture Readings: Matthew 8:5-22   Congregation, In Australia and New Zealand today, there is a lot of confusion over the word 'Christian' and how a person becomes a Christian.  Many people describe themselves as "Christian" – but what does that really mean?  And how does someone become a Christian?  What do you need to know?  What do you need to do? The Bible describes a Christian as a follower of Jesus.  Jesus calls everyone to follow him.  Today, as we...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.29 - August 1998   Standing in the Gap   A Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Ezekiel 22:30 Scripture Reading: John 17:13-26; Ezekiel 22:1-12, 23-31 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal 455; 211:1, 2, 3, 11, 12; 467   Congregation, Over the past few years there has been a lot of concern expressed about the present state of our society, especially with the general decline in standards and the rise in violence and crime. An ever increasing number of marriages end in divorce; more and more children are born outside of marriage; young women are virtually paid...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.31 - August 1998   Thankful for the Gospel Church   Sermon by Rev P Smit on Colossians 1:1-8 Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28-39 Suggested Hymns: BOW 8a; 210; 118a; 372; 383; 525   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a world of countless spiritual alternatives, where religions and philosophies abound, what is the mark of true Christianity?  What in essence is the heart of it?  Can we mix and match Christianity with other religions?  In God's eyes do all religions merge at the one intersection of heaven? Well, the Colossian church was a young church. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.45 - December 1998   True Peace this Christmas?   A Christmas Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Micah 5:5a Suggested Hymns: BoW 271; 277; 279; 268; 265 1st Reading: Micah 5:2-5; 2nd Reading: Matthew 2:13-23   Sermonette 1: THIS PEACE IS... LIVING DESPITE OUR STRIFE   Congregation, It has been nearly two thousand years since Jesus Christ came and shared in our humanity by being born in a stable in a small town in Palestine.  That's twenty centuries ago, since He lay as a baby upon an animal feeding trough. The Divine Deity graced us...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.47 - December 1998   “O Little Town of Bethlehem”   A Christmas Sermon by Rev J De Hoog on Micah 5:1-6 Scripture Readings: Matthew 2:1-18; Micah 5:1-6 Suggested Hymns: Bow 247, 261; 253; 272 (before the sermon); 264   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ. "O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!" A poem, a Christmas carol we have sung since childhood.  And the only way most people remember Phillips Brooks, the author of this lovely hymn.  Brooks was a nineteenth century American preacher who became so well known that he...

Word of Salvation – Vol.44 No.3 - January 1999   Out of the Depths   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Psalm 130 Scripture Readings: Job 19:13-27; Psalm 86 Suggested Psalms: Ps 32; 51; 130   Congregation. It is always hard to wait for something.  Children, you know how hard it is to wait for your birthday.  "How long is it?" you ask.  “Two months."  Two months?!  That seems like forever! Waiting is hard for adults as well – you’re waiting to be served in a supermarket; all the lanes are full and you are in a long queue and the...

Word of Salvation – Vol.44 No5 - February 1999   Encouragement and Rebuke   Sermon by Rev D Baird on Titus 2:14-15 Scripture Readings: Matthew 12:15-21; Titus 2:1-15 Suggested Hymns: BoW 357; BOW 217; BOW 205; BOW 133a; R 342; R 57   Congregation, important in any congregation – in any church - is the way we talk to one another. Some of us talk more than others, but all of us talk. We'll go outside after this and talk about all sorts of things. Things that have happened since we saw each other last. Things other people have toid us....