Word of Salvation – Vol. 20 No.40 - July 1974   Trials For Joy   Sermon by Rev. K. J. Campbell, B.A., B.D. on James 1:2-4 Scripture Reading: 1Peter 1:1-9; James 1:1-8 Psalter Hymnal: 264; 184 Opening; 95:1,2 Law;                         188:6,7 Praise; 368; 463; 490 Doxology   We turn to the letter of James at this time for our meditation.  James, as verse one tells us, was writing to the Church of Jesus Christ in general, to the various congregations scattered throughout the Roman world of that time.  His letter is one of encouragement and practical instruction for the living of...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 28 No. 04 – February 1983   Friends In High Places   Sermon by Rev. A. I. deGraaf v.d.m. on Romans 8.34 & James 5:16 Scripture Readings: Exodus 17: 8-13 & 28:15-35; Romans 8.31-39 Liturgy: BoW Ps 47; 369:1,2,3; BoW Ps.103:5,7; 381:3;                         408:3; BoW Hy 501:1,2,3,4   It must be a nice and safe feeling, to have FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES like in the city council or in the federal cabinet, someone who can speak up for you in case you get into trouble; someone who can mention your name there where it really matters....

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 33 – June 1979   The Church's Healing Ministry   Sermon by Rev. Keith Vethaak on James 5:14-20 The first of two Sermons on HEALING - PART 1 Readings: 2Kings 20: 1-7; Luke 18:1-8   Brothers and sisters in our Lord, Jesus Christ. The subject of healing is very much in discussion these days. At this very moment there are healings going on all around us. Many of the Eastern religions which are coming into this country offer healing in some way or another. Then there are the Psychics and the Spiritists, and all...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 27 No. 43 – August 1982   Healing By Elders, Oil And Prayer (II)   Sermon by Rev. John Westendorp on James 5:15 Scripture Readings: James 5; 1Corinthians 12:12-31 Singing: Ps.H. 324; 250; 232; 201:1,2; 410   Introd:            For a number of Sundays we have studied the matter of healing. In 2Corinthians we heard about Paul's thorn in the flesh.             We saw that there are times when (for good reasons) God does not heal. In Mark’s Gospel we studied the healing of the paralytic.             We saw that forgiveness is more important than healing. Then...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 27 No. 43 – August 1982   Healing by Elders, Oil And Prayer (I)   Sermon by Rev. John Westendorp on James 5:14 Scripture Readings: James 5; Acts 14:1-10 Singing: Ps.H. 302; 235; 428; 347; 301   Introd: There are many, many avenues to follow when it comes to healing.   -  Modern progress in medicine often borders on the miraculous.             Many worship the healing power that comes thru science.   -  There is the religious healing associated with special places.             Lourdes.  Or a healing stream in N.Z.  Or a miracle tree in Victoria....

Word of Salvation – Vol. 29 No. 48 – December 1984   Saved By Faith, Or By Works?   Sermon by Rev. S. Voorwinde, v.d.m. on James 2: 24 (Belgic Confession Art.24) Scriptures: Romans 4:1-8; James 2:14-26 Suggested Hymns: 110; 170; 95; 379; 450   Congregation of our Lord Jesus, To the average reader, the Bible seems to contain some stunning contradictions: (i)  On one occasion Jesus said to His disciples: "He who is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:40): On another occasion He said: "He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 31 – August 1991   Your Tongue: The Master Switch   Sermon by Rev. John de Boer on James 3:2-12 Reading: James 3:1-12 Singing: BoW 165, 119a, 155, 440, 436   Beloved congregation, Have you ever thought of your tongue as a master switch?  That's a helpful way to remember what James is saying in this part of chapter 3.  We know that on a switchboard there are various switches.  We only have to think about the meter box at home.  There is one switch for the hot-water system, another for the lights.  But...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 34 – September 1988   Fellow Saints   Sermon by Rev. S. Bajema on James 3:9-12 Reading: James 1:19-27; 3:1-12 Singing: Ps.H.89; 45:2,6,7,8; 252: 1,3; 295:2,3; 20   Fellow Saints..... The book of James is a very practical, down-to-earth book.  In this book we can see the concern of a Pastor for his flock.  Yes, a Pastor!  Here is a man, though an apostle, yet able to relate to the needs of the man and woman in the pew.  James does not begin with doctrinal explanations as Paul does.  Instead, James gets straight to...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 2 – January 1991   Snobbery In The Church   Sermon by Rev. J. W. Westendorp on James 2:1-7 Scripture Readings: 1Corinthians 1:10-31; James 1:19 - 2:7   Introd:  Discrimination is a deep-seated problem in the human heart. I grew up at a time when Australia still held to the “White Australia Policy”... despite the fact that our original inhabitants were very obviously non-white. Some of us in church have experienced South Africa’s Apartheid Policy... and more recently they have now witnessed a kind of apartheid in reverse. Discrimination was most shockingly seen in...

Word of Salvation – Vol.39 No.32 - August 1994   Doers Or Deceivers Of The Word   Sermon: by Revd. H. Pennings Text: James 1:22 Reading: James 2:14-26   Brothers and Sisters They came together that Wednesday evening as they usually did each week, except during vacation time, of course.  It was the Wednesday evening Bible study group.  Not a very spectacular name.  Quite forgettable, in fact.  Just the Wednesday evening Bible study group.  That's what it was called in the weekly church bulletin.  That's not such a spectacular name either.  Just the weekly church bulletin.  An ordinary name.  And every...

Word of Salvation - January 2011   Tried and Tested - by Rev. Dr. Steve Voorwinde Text: James 1: 1 – 12 Scripture: Romans 5: 1 - 11; James 1: 1 – 12 Introduction: What makes for a good minister? What kinds of qualities and gifts should such a person possess? What should a church be looking for?   Let me introduce you to someone really good. I want to introduce you to Pastor Jack whom I’ve never really appreciated as much as I should have. He’s the kind of person that everyone would want as the minister of their congregation....

Word of Salvation - September 2014   A Great Reversal Text: James 1:9-12 Scripture Readings: 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Luke 18:18-30 Song in Response: Book of Worship 246 "My spirit glorifies the Lord" (cf. rich/poor reversal in Mary's song)   We have a paradox before us today. A statement that's seems to be contradictory or opposed to common sense, and yet is true. The writer G.K. Chesterton once said "a paradox is truth standing on its head shouting for attention". Imagine, as one person has, truths lined up like ridiculous people on their heads, feet waving in the air. "Hey, look at...

Word of Salvation - November 2015   When the Going Gets Tough - by Rev. Dr. Steve Voorwinde Text: James 5:11b Scripture Readings: Job 1:1-2:10; 42:1-17; James 5:7-12   “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”   Introduction It’s the middle of WW2. A baby girl is born into a deeply religious family. Her mother has all the gifts and graces of a mature Christian woman. Her father is a hypocrite. He has affairs with different women and when his daughter is a teenager he...

Word of Salvation - Vol.52 No.27 - July 2007   The Sin of Presumption (Deo Volente) A Sermon by Rev Gerald Vanderkolk on James 4:13-17 Scripture Reading:  Isaiah 14:12-20 Suggested Singing:  BoW 358     Topic: Who controls the future? Us or God? Theme: James warns us against making bold and boasting predictions about the future because we do not have perfect knowledge in regards to the future, and we do not even know the length of our own life. Aim: To help us understand that thinking we can control our own future, is in reality sinful. This sermon is against...

Word of Salvation - Vol.52 No.25 - July 2007   The Nature of Faith Which Justifies A Sermon by Rev Martin Geluk on James 2:18 (Sermon 3 of 3 on Faith Alone) Scripture Readings: Hebrews 11:32-40; James 2:14-26   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our third sermon on faith alone through Christ alone. In the previous sermon we looked at Abraham and David and saw how God credited them with righteousness on the basis of what Christ has done. Christ took away their sin and guilt by being punished for them on the cross, and He gave them...

Word of Salvation – Vol.44 No8 - February 1999   Faith is proved by What We Do As Well As Say   Sermon by Rev Prof R. O. Zorn on James 2:17 Scripture Reading: James 2:14-26 Suggested Hymns: BoW 24a; 103a; 119b; 182; 436; 530   Beloved Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. in our text, the apostle James deals with the relationship between faith and works. But what is the relationship between faith and works anyway? Martin Luther had been taught in his early years that good works were all-important in the matter of a person's salvation. So he became...