Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 34 – May 1978   The Greatest Is Love   Sermon by Rev. H. L. Hoving, B.D., on Lord's Day 2 Scripture reading:  Psalm 119:169-176, Colossians 3:1-17 Psalter Hymnal: 162; 249; 239; 390   Congregation, one thing is for sure: when we confess the Biblical truth summarized in the Lord's Day 2, we are out of tune with today's world.  In a permissive society where everyone is supposed to do his own thing, it is completely unacceptable that some higher authority should give binding commands.  And it is equally unacceptable that good people would...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 33 – May 1978   Our Only Comfort   Sermon by Rev. P. G. Van Dam, M.Sc., B.D. on Lord's Day 1 Scripture reading: Romans 8 Psalter Hymnal: 233:1, 2, 6; 230:1, 4, 5; 386; 406   Most of us know the need of comfort; of comfort which will give peace and hope in sorrow, in suffering and hardship, in uncertainty and despair.  No one knows that need of comfort better than our heavenly Father, for He loves us with a perfect love and knows our hearts with perfect understanding.  In His power and...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 39 – June 1978   Such A Nice Chap   Sermon by Rev. P. H. Pellicaan, B.D. on Luke 15:11-32 Scripture reading: Luke 15:25-32. Psalter Hymnal: 76; 10:1, 2; 10:3; 450:1; 186; 438:1, 4   Our text is the second part of the parable which is usually called 'The Parable of the Prodigal Son'. This is however, not the right name for it. The central figure is not the son who, after having wallowed in the mud of depravity, decides to go home. No, the central figure is: THE FATHER WHO LOVES HIS SONS,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 38 – June 1978   I am The Way   Sermon by Rev. W. F. Van Brussel, B.D. on Joshua 3:14-17 Scripture reading: Joshua 3 Psalter Hymnal: 306; 194; 192; 249; 378; 210:9, 10.   Through the events as recorded in Joshua 1 and 2, the new leader, Moses’ successor, had received tremendous encouragement. What a beautiful start for a leader among God's people! In Chapter 3 we find that not only the leader, Joshua, but the whole nation of Israel were greatly encouraged as they set out entering the promised country, west of...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 37 – June 1978   The Christian Life - A Life Of Thanksgiving   Sermon by Rev. P. Koster, B.D. on Colossians 2:6-7 Scripture reading: Psalm 73, Colossians 1:15-23, 2:1-7 Psalter Hymnal: 212; 139; 14; 440   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, The last few words of our text today call us to be thankful. The Christian life, says Paul, is one where there ought to be an abundance, an overflowing of thanksgiving. But we must also be realists, don't you think? After all, there are many circumstances in which we simply don't...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 44 – July 1978   The Celebration Of Forgiveness   Sermon by Rev. J. Goris, Th.Grad. on Revelation 1:5b-6 Scripture reading: Micah 7:14-20, Matthew 18:23-35, Revelation 1:1-8 Psalter Hymnal: 120; 45:1-3; 55:1-3; 322; 488   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, What is the New Testament picture of a Christian? Is it like this? "A person who has seen the awfulness of sin but who stands helpless and defeated before it. One who loves the Lord, but who has no power to put his love into action. One who believes in forgiveness and daily...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 43 – July 1978   Second Chance   Sermon by Rev. J. F. H. Vanderbom, B.D. on John 21:18-23 Scripture reading: Matthew 16:13-28 Psalter Hymnal: 198:1, 2; 428; 459; 463   Congregation, For a Christian there is still such a lot to learn! The Christian Church could well be called the school of the Risen Lord! Here we may come to learn of Him! On Sunday He calls us together because it is His pleasure to teach us the way of the new life. And the Risen Lord wants to teach us, because He...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 42 – July 1978   What A Friend   Sermon by Rev. J. H. Derkley, Th.Grad. on John 15:15 Scripture reading: John 15:1-17 Psalter Hymnal: 222:1-4; 389:1, 2; 389:3; 384; 436; 441   Congregation of the Lord Jesus, What is your relationship with Jesus? It makes you sometimes wonder, when you ask yourself this question. Yes, indeed, what IS my relationship with Jesus? IS there a relationship? DO I have any personal contact with Him? Some regard their relationship with Jesus as comparable to that between me and the Prime Minister. He is at...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 41 – July 1978   An Encouraging Display   Sermon by Rev. A. Leenman, Th. Grad. on Matthew 17:1-9 Scripture reading: Matthew 16:13-21 Psalter Hymnal: 287:1, 3; 317; 278; 379; 348   Beloved Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, From time to time we see or hear about a royal figure going on a good-will visit abroad. Or we hear of a President or a Prime Minister going on a tour abroad for the purpose of establishing diplomatic ties. Or to come to an agreement on some export or trade proposals. Such a visit...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 48 – August 1978   Father, Son And Holy Spirit   Sermon by Rev. J. J. Van Wageningen, B.D. on Lord's Day 8 Scripture reading: Isaiah 53:7-14, Matthew 3:11-17 Psalter Hymnal: 184; 298; 318; 317; 491   Congregation, Lord's Days 8 to 22 contain the explanation of the 12 articles of the Apostles' Creed. In other words, we confess our faith, our Christian faith, for the content of the Apostles' Creed is the gospel, the truth of God's Word. "That gospel is summarized for us in the Articles of our Christian faith a creed...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 47 – August 1978   How Does Your Faith Function?   Sermon by Rev. P. J. Berghouse, Th. Grad. on Lord's Day 7 Scripture reading: Hebrews 11:1-16 Psalter Hymnal: 186:1-3; 45:2, 4; 165:1, 2, 4, 5; 378; 99:4, 5; 135:4   Congregation of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Boys and Girls, Has anybody ever said to you: "You don't BELIEVE me, do you!"? Perhaps it was because you were not sure whether you could trust what that person said. Perhaps you thought it was only a joke. OR... maybe you KNEW that what the person...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 46 – August 1978   The Central And Only Saviour Of Human History   Sermon by Rev. H. W. Pennings, Th. Grad. on Hebrews 1:1-4, Lord's Day 6 Scripture reading: Hebrews 10:1-18 Psalter Hymnal: 281:1, 2, 7, 10; 412; 409; 284; 172:6   Beloved congregation, When you open your New Testament to the book of Hebrews and start to read the first chapter, you immediately find yourself in the middle of the history of what God has done for our salvation. You find that the centre of the first four verses is Jesus Christ,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 45 – August 1978   Who Then Can Deliver Us?   Sermon by Rev. D. J. Van Garderen, Th. Grad. on Lord's Day 5 & Hebrews 2:17 Scripture reading: Hebrews 2 Psalter Hymnal: 170; 317; 383:1, 2, 4; 373:1, 3, 4   Beloved in Christ Jesus, our Lord, There is a certain grimness about the first section of the Heidelberg Catechism. In a concise summary of the Bible's teaching concerning sin and misery, we are also told that God will in no way leave our sin and rebellion unpunished. Can we do anything ourselves...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 52 – September 1978   The Searcher For The Lost   Sermon by Rev. N. Teekens, L.Th., Th.Grad. on Luke 15:1-24 Scripture reading: James 4, Luke 15:1-24 Psalter Hymnal: 114; 205; 417; 407; 38; 380   Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, The parable of the lost sheep has an innocent beginning. The sheep is perhaps distracted by a bird rising suddenly from the grass just ahead; the rustle of the wind startles the grazing sheep; or a greener patch of grass just away a little distance seems a better place for feeding....

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 49 – September 1978   Christ Is All And In All   Sermon by Rev. K. V. Warren, B.A., B.D., M.Th. on Colossians 3:11b Scripture reading: Colossians 1:11-20 & 3:1-11 Psalter Hymnal: 85; 302 (tune 58); 55:1, 3, 5; 427:1, 2, 4; 470:3-5   Beloved Congregation, If, for you, the Christian life is smooth sailing, you're either in the wrong ship, or on the wrong sea, or you're fast asleep in your cabin. I remember an elder in one of our churches came to me after the service and he said: "What you just...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 08 – November 1978   God's Word And Mixed Marriages   Sermon by Rev. K. V. Warren, B.A., B.D., M.Th. on Deuteronomy 7:3, 2Corinthians 6:14 Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 7:1-11, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Psalter Hymnal: 324:13; 227; 222:1, 3, 6-7; 235:2-3; 425:3-4   Beloved Congregation, We have been considering the Christian family; the guidance of the Scriptures, the will of the Lord as regards HUSBANDS, WIVES, PARENTS, CHILDREN, DISCIPLINE, mutual RESPONSIBILITIES. Quite a practical book is the Bible, there is much that we found to be of help. And we asked ourselves the question: WHY...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 08 – November 1978   God's Word - Parents And Children   Sermon by Rev. K. V. Warren, B.A., B.D., M.Th. on Ephesians 6:1-3, Colossians 3:20 Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:1-14 Psalter Hymnal: 14:1, 3; 308; 235:1-3; 395; 490   Congregation in our Lord, "Fathers, do not provoke your children". But there is something else we must have a look at FIRST, it's very important, and it still has something to do with the previous sermon about "Children, obey your parents in the Lord", and it is all about the context of God's pattern for...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 07 – November 1978   God's Word And Children   Sermon by Rev. K. V. Warren, B.A., B.D., M.Th. on Ephesians 6:1-3, Colossians 3:20 Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 20-25 Psalter Hymnal: 121; 308; 26:1-2, 4-5; 414:1, 3, 4; 299:1-5   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, When I was a teenager it happened several times in our home during our family Bible reading, that my father read Ephesians 6. And after he read the FIRST verse: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right," he always paused and looked at his...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 06 – November 1978   God's Word And Husbands   Sermon by Rev. K. V. Warren, B.A., B.D., M.Th. on Ephesians 5:25-33, Colossians 3:19 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:18b-33 Psalter Hymnal: 310; 41; 46:1, 4, 5; 460; 490   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, Have you ever said: "I don't practise what I preach!"? Or: "My ACTIONS don't always tie in with my WORDS." If you haven't said that, if you've NEVER said that, you're either PERFECT, or you have no idea what kind of person you are. We are all guilty here, aren't...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 05 – November 1978   God's Word And Wives   Sermon by Rev. K. V. Warren, B.A., B.D., M.Th. on Ephesians 5:21-24 & Colossians 3:18 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:18b-33 Psalter Hymnal: 89:1; 318; 251; 467:34; 205:1,2,4,5   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, Over the years there have been quite a few sick jokes about marriage. I am thinking of the ones where there's that powerful, dominant WOMAN, like a battleship, and that meek, little HUSBAND, hen-pecked Henry, he always has the last word in any argument: It is: YES, DEAR! Or that man...