Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 15 – April 1997   Our Victorious King   A Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on 1Chronicles 14 Scripture Readings: Psalm 72; 1Chronicles 11:1-3, 9; 1Chronicles 14   Congregation, There are some Christians who don't know a lot about the Old Testament, and that doesn't really bother them.  They don't really want to know a great deal about it either.  For them the New Testament seems so much more relevant, so much more applicable to their situation, while the Old Testament seems so far away and so far removed from our situation today.  What...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 33 – September 1998   Grief Beyond Mourning   A Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Ezekiel 24:15-27 Scripture Reading: 2Kings 25:1-12; Ezekiel 24:1-2, 15-27; 33:21-22 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal 49; 384; 470   Congregation. Some clearly recall the beginning of WWII.  Others remember the day J.F. Kennedy was shot.  Some will remember the day the two American astronauts landed on the moon.  Many of us will remember the day that Princess Diana died suddenly in that car accident.  In fact, many people remember the day someone died – a husband, wife, son, daughter,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 21 – June 1998   Right With God Through Faith   A Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Romans 4 Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6; Romans 4   Congregation. Over the past couple of decades in our western society we have seen a great emphasis on people's needs; not just their basic needs for shelter, food and clothing, but also their social and psychological needs. We all recognise that there are great needs in our society, needs generated by the present state of our nation – broken marriages and homes, unemployment and racial tension. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 44 No.14 – April 1999   He is Risen!   An Easter Sermon by Rev J.A. Haverland on Mark 16:1-8 Scripture Readings: 1Corinthians 15:1-22; Matthew 28   Congregation. Some stories have sudden endings.  You are watching a movie on TV and you are right into the story and then suddenly it stops, and you're surprised – you expected more.  Or you're reading a novel and you seem to come to an abrupt end; the story is left hanging in the air. When you come to the end of Mark's gospel you are left with the same...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No.34 – September 2001   If Your Brother Sins...   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 18:15-17; Heidelberg Catechism LD 31 Scripture Readings: Matthew 16:13-20; Proverbs 25:6-18 Suggested Hymns: PsH: 159; 278; 479   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, What would you do if you knew that someone in the church was doing something that was sinful – something that was clearly against God's law?  You know that this person is failing to live up to God's standards in a particular area of his life.  Now this sin is not widely known.  You...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No.17 – May 2002   Overcoming Worry   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 6:25-34 Scripture Readings: Philip.3:17-4:13; Psalm 34; Mat.6:19-34   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme of this sermon is as follows: Rather than an anxious worry over food, drink and clothing, we must trust God and seek His kingdom.  And the purpose of the sermon is: To explain how believers can overcome worry and to urge us to trust God and seek His kingdom. A recent study showed that children and teenagers are much more anxious now than they...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No.13 – April 2002   A Matter of Priorities   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 6:19-24 Scripture Readings: 1 Timothy 6:3-21; Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 17-26   Theme: Our life must be focussed on serving God and laying up treasure in heaven, not on earth. Purpose: To urge you to make serving God and treasures in heaven a priority.   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes children complain that they don't have enough time to play: "I have too much homework and I have to do too many jobs at home and I never...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No.9 – March 2002   Fasting - A Neglected Discipline   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 6:16-18 Scripture Readings: Isaiah 58; Esther 4:1-5, 12-17; Jonah 3   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Probably many of you have never heard a sermon on fasting.  It isn't part of many church traditions.  In fact, it has been widely neglected by most of the church in the western world for a few hundred years. Initially that neglect was perhaps an over-reaction to the excesses and abuses of fasting in the Roman Catholic Church.  More recently...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No.29 – August 2002   Two Ways   Sermon by Rev. John Haverland on Matthew 7:13-14 Scripture Readings: Deut.30:11-20, 31:9-13; Luke 13:22-35   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Most of us, I'm sure, have been out travelling in a car, or walking on a track and have come to a T-intersection, or a fork in the road.  When that happens we are faced with a decision.  Which direction will we go?  What route will we take?  Which path will we go down?  The two tracks go in quite different directions: one is the right...

Word of Salvation – Vol.47 No.5 – February 2002   Genuine Prayer   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 6:5-15 Scripture Readings: Daniel 9:1-19   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Many of us find it difficult to pray.  We know we should pray, that we should do that regularly and that our lives ought to be marked by constant prayer.  Yet we are often frustrated in prayer.  We feel that our prayers are inadequate, that we don't pray enough, that we are easily distracted and that we can't find the right words.  I'm sure this reflects the feelings and...

Word of Salvation – Vol.47 No.21 – June 2002   Do Not Judge   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 7:1-6 Scripture Readings: Romans 14:1-18; 2 Samuel 12:1-7   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme of this sermon is: As people who will be judged by God we must not be judgmental of others yet still be discriminating.  And the purpose of the sermon is: To warn us against being judgmental while also encouraging a right judgment. Maybe you have tried to offer someone some advice at some time, or a criticism, or maybe you only gave your...

Word of Salvation – Vol.47 No.33 – September 2002   Recognising False Prophets   Sermon by Rev J Haverland on Matthew 7:15-23 Scripture Readings: 1John 1:5-2:6; Jeremiah 23:13-32   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This sermon is about how false prophets and disciples can be recognised by their failure to produce the fruit of obedience.  And the purpose of the sermon is to urge you to examine false prophets and your own life for the fruit of obedience. People have an amazing ability to deceive themselves.  We have all seen this in people.  If someone has set himself on doing...

Word of Salvation – Vol.42 No.24 – June 1997   An Eternal Kingdom   A Sermon by Rev J Haverland on 1 Chronicles 17:1-15 Scripture Readings: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-52 Suggested Hymns: PsH 277; 372; 399   Congregation, One of the great themes that runs right through the whole of the Bible is the theme of the covenant – the relationship that God establishes with his people.  Now when you hear that word you will probably think of the covenant that God made with Abraham - to be his God and the God of his descendants after him.  And that's natural that...

Word of Salvation – Vol.39 No.10 - March 1994   Trust In The Lord   Sermon: by Rev J. Haverland on Proverbs 3:5-6 Readings: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10, 20-21; Proverbs 3:1-6 Hymns/Psalms: 'Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah' 'The Lord's My Shepherd'   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, Each Sunday we come together to worship God and to receive help and encouragement from His word.  We do that because we are conscious of our need for guidance in our lives.  In a world of confusion and turmoil we need the light and clarity that comes from God.  Each Sunday again we...

Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.43 - November 1996   A Godly Prayer   Sermon by Rev J. A. Haverland on 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 Scripture Reading: 1Chronicles 4:9-10, 38-43   Congregation, There are times when our lives seem to get stuck in a rut.  When we seem to have slipped into a pattern, and we don't seem to be able to dig ourselves out of it, and everything seems to be against us.  We get discouraged, and we get down, and we get depressed, and our minds are full of doubt, and we don't seem to have any hope for the...

Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.40 - October 1996   Worshiping A Holy God   Sermon by Rev J A Haverland on 1 Chronicles 13 Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 13, 15:1-4, 11-15, 25-16:3   Congregation. There are a number of startling stories in the Bible – stories that make us sit up and take notice.  Some of those stories are notable because they are beautiful, and others because they are unusual.  Then there are still others that make us sit up and take note because they are so severe; they seem so harsh; they seem to support the view of some...

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.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.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 - January 2012   WHAT IS TRUE FAITH? John Haverland   Text: Acts 16:30-34 Heidelberg Catechism LD 7. Readings: Phil 1:1-11; 4:4-9; Acts 16:11-34   Theme: In response to the jailer's great need and question about salvation Paul directs him to faith in Christ. Purpose: To explain how you can be saved through faith in Christ and to urge you to this.     Sometimes you hear someone ask a very perceptive question – a question that shows a good understanding of the subject under discussion, a question that is thoughtful and clear. That can happen in a...