Word of Salvation - Vol.51 No.18 - May 2007   Pray for the City A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Jeremiah 29:1-14 Scripture Readings:  2 Kings 24:8-17; 1 Timothy 2 Theme: The exiled people of Israel were called to settle down in Babylon and seek the well-being of that city and trust that God would bring them home. Purpose: As a pilgrim people Christians are to seek the good of the cities we are in, trusting that one day we will receive a heavenly city.   Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Most of us have had the experience of moving...

Word of Salvation - Vol.52 No.13 - April 2007   The Last Temptation of Christ A GOOD FRIDAY Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Mark 15:29-32   Scripture Readings: Psalm 22; Mark 15:16-47 Theme: The mockery of Jesus on the cross is a final temptation to abandon his sacrificial death. Purpose: To help us understand the temptation this mockery presented and his love that kept him on the cross to pay for our sin.   Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This sermon has the title, "The Last Temptation of Christ". Some of you will recognise that as the title of a...

Word of Salvation - Vol.52 No.14 - April 2007   Unfinished Business An EASTER Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Mark 16:1-8   Scripture Readings:  Psalm 16; Matthew 28; Mark 15:40-16:8 Theme: The gospel of Mark records the angel's news to the women and then ends abruptly. Purpose: To emphasise the reality of Christ's resurrection and the need to tell others.   Explanation before reading this sermon: You'll see in the notes of the NIV and NASB that verses 9-20 of Mark chapter 16 are not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts. Most scholars agree that these verses are written in...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.9 - March 2007   Where is Your Boast? A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Jeremiah 9:23-24 Scripture Readings:  Jeremiah 8:4-12, 9:10-24; 1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5   Theme: People are not to boast in their own achievements but rather in the Lord. Purpose: To discourage trust in our own resources and direct us to know the Lord and his love, justice and righteousness.   Congregation, We all have things we are proud of. Maybe you take special pride in something you have made - a piece of furniture, a dress you have sewn, a cross-stitch you...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.5 - February 2007   External Religion A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Jeremiah 7:21-23 Scripture Readings:  Jer 7:1-29; Rom 2:17-29, Mt 23:23-39   Theme: The Lord rejected Judah's sacrifices and called for genuine covenantal obedience. Purpose: To warn against the practice of mere external religion and urge obedience arising from a genuine relationship with the Lord.   Congregation, The beginning of this book of Jeremiah informs us that he began his ministry in the thirteenth year of Josiah, king of Judah. Josiah was only eight years old when he became King and he reigned...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.1 - January 2007   At the Crossroads A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Jeremiah 6:16 Scripture Readings: Jer 6:13-30; Phil 3:17-4:9; Mt 7:13-29, 11:25-30   Theme: At a critical time Judah is urged to choose the path of the Lord and to follow him. Purpose: To emphasise the necessity of choosing to follow the Lord and walk in his ways.   Congregation, Many of us have had the experience of travelling by car and trying to head for a certain place. As you went on your journey you came to an intersection - to...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.45 – December 2006   The King From Judah   An Advent Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Genesis 49:1-2, 8-12 Scripture Readings:  Isaiah 11; Matthew 1:1-6, 15-21   Theme: Jacob prophesies about the King coming from Judah who would establish a world-wide rule of blessing. Purpose: To direct us to trust, honour and serve Jesus as the King who is ruling.   Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Around this time of the year you hear a lot of Christmas carols being sung or played. You hear them in the shopping malls and in supermarkets and...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.41 – November 2006   The Great Invitation   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Luke 14:15-24 Scripture Readings:  Isaiah 25:1-9; Rev.19:1-10; Luke 14:1,12-24 Suggested Hymns:  PsH: 115; 309; 413   Children, I'm sure all of you love a good story. And not only children love stories - everyone does! This is why movies and videos are so popular; because they are stories, stories you can see. Most of us also enjoy reading a story in a book or a novel, and we enjoy hearing one read to us. And we enjoy listening to a...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.37 - October 2006   Rest in God Alone A Reformation Sunday Sermon, by Rev John Haverland on Psalm 62 Scripture Readings:  Psalm 118, Galatians 2:11-21   Theme: When others opposed him, David found his rest and security by trusting in God alone. Purpose: To direct you to the Lord for your rest and security, also in times of opposition.   Congregation in the Lord. It has been said that more books have been written about Martin Luther than any other human person apart from Jesus himself. Luther has been a powerful, complex and influential figure...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.33 - July 2006   The Final Victory!   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Scripture Readings:  1 Corinthians 15:50-58; Isaiah 25   Theme: Believers who are living when Christ comes will be gloriously changed and death will be defeated through Christ. Purpose: To encourage you to continue to work for the Lord because of our hope in Christ's return and the final victory over death.   Congregation. These words we have just read (1 Cor 15:50-58) are often heard at a Christian grave side service. As friends and relatives and church...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 51 No.30 – December 2006   The Resurrection Body   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Scripture Readings:  Psalm 103; Ecclesiastes 12; and Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 22   Theme: Paul answered questions about the character of the resurrection body of believers based on the resurrection of Christ's body. Purpose: To explain the nature of our resurrection bodies for our comfort and hope.   Congregation, At some time or other you have probably walked through a cemetery and looked at all the headstones and read the names and dates that have been...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.25 - July 2006   He Must Reign   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Scripture Readings:  Psalm 110; Matthew 13:31-35   Theme: Paul describes the present progressive reign of Christ until his return and the final defeat of his enemies so that God may be supreme. Purpose: To encourage us with the assurance that Christ is reigning and that he will defeat all his enemies at the end.   Congregation, Some years ago J B Phillips, who did a translation of the New Testament, wrote a little paperback with the title,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.21 – June 2006   But Christ Has Been Raised!   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on 1 Corinthians 15:12-23 Scripture Reading:  Daniel 12   Theme: Paul explains the logical consequences of not believing in the resurrection of Christ. Purpose: To emphasise the importance of the resurrection of Christ to our faith and to show that it guarantees our physical resurrection.   Congregation, Probably most of us here have had family members or friends who have died. You may have attended their funeral service. You may have stood by their grave side as the coffin...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.17 – April 2006   The Resurrection Gospel   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Scripture Reading:  Psalm 16; John 19:28-20:9   Theme: Paul testified to the truth of the resurrection of Christ which he preached and which was saving those who believed. Purpose: To remind you of the importance of the resurrection and its witnesses and so encourage your confidence in Christ and your salvation.   Congregation, For the last 100 years or so, liberal theologians and preachers have been raising doubts about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They want...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.13 – April 2006... (repeated from: Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.3 – January 2006)   What is Your Boast?   A Good Friday Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Galatians 6:14 Scripture Reading: 1 Cor 1:18-25, 2:1-5; Gal 2:11-16, 6:11-18 Suggested Hymns: BoW 34a; 63; 517; 519   Theme : Our boast must be on the cross of Christ and not on the world. Purpose : To help us keep our lives focussed on the Lord Jesus and not on the boasting of the world. Congregation, The cross has always been a central symbol for...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.14 – April 2006   As Secure As You Know How   An Easter Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Matthew 27:62-66, 28:11-15 Scripture Readings:  1 Corinthians 15:12-25; Matthew 27:57-28:15   Theme: Nothing man can do or say can prevent Jesus from rising from the dead. Purpose: To demonstrate the certainty and the evidence for the resurrection.   Congregation. In your reading of the Scriptures you may have noticed that there is quite a bit of comedy in some passages! Some of the proverbs are amusing, like the ones describing the sluggard: The sluggard says, 'There...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 51 No.10 – March 2006   HOSANNA!   A Palm Sunday Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Matthew 21:1-17   Scripture Readings:  Zechariah 9:9-17; Psalm 118 Suggested Hymns:  Psalm 8; Psalm 118; PsH 348; 349; 484   Theme: Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the king of peace in the line of David who deserves worship. Purpose: To help us see that Jesus is the great King of peace and direct us to worship him.   Congregation, Most of us have been at large parades along the streets of our city or town or we have seen...

Word of Salvation - Vol.51 No.7 - February 2006   This Present Time A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Romans 13:11-14   Scripture Readings:  Eph 6:10-18; 1 Thess 5:1-11; Rom 13   Theme: In view of our imminent salvation Paul urges us to put off the deeds of darkness and live lives in keeping with those who follow Christ.   Congregation. We live in uncertain times. None of us know what the future holds or what tomorrow will bring. It is impossible to predict what will happen next year or in the next decade. We also live in times of...

Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.42 – November 2005   Back to Basics   Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Acts 16:31-34 (A Sermon on Lord's Day 7) Scripture Reading:  Acts 16:16-34   Theme: In response to the jailer's great need and question about salvation, Paul directs him to faith in Christ. Purpose: To explain the essential elements of salvation through faith in Christ.   Congregation... There are many situations in life where children and adults need to be well grounded in the basics. Children, when you start learning, you begin with what has traditionally been called the three Rs: reading,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.38 – October 2005   A Refuge and Strength   Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Psalm 46 (A Reformation Sunday Sermon) Scripture Readings:  Romans 3:19-31   Congregation. This Reformation Sunday gives us an opportunity to look back to what has happened in the past. We don't do that merely out of historical interest or out of mere curiosity about what happened in times long ago. Rather, we look back to see what we can learn from the past that will help us here and now - in the present. As we look back over the...