Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.04 - October 1974   Sense And Nonsense Of Christmas   Christmas Sermon by Rev. C. Moerman, Th.Grad. on Luke 2:18 (with apologies to Dr. J. J. Buskes) Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20 Psalter Hymnal: 337: all; 335: 2 and 3 (after Law);              339: all; 336:1 and 3 (after sermon); 341: all; 345:5   Congregation of the Christmas Child, Yes, the shepherds HAD BIG stories to tell. For it IS something when you, all of a sudden, experience a bit of heaven already here on earth. A BIT OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. And isn't that...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.05 - November 1974   God's Private Christmas Present   Christmas Sermon by the Rev. N. Hart, B.A., B.D. on Luke 2:11a, 18,19 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20   Some 1970 years ago, the small town of Bethlehem was a crowded place.  From all over the country the descendants of David had gathered in the city of their forefather.  But there was nothing princely about their gathering.  They came at the command of a foreign emperor.  There they were, herded together.  How far the royal tribe of David had fallen! Yet, among them, happened the greatest...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.09 - December 1974   Remember Lot's Wife   Sermon by Rev. P. G. Van Dam, M.Sc.,B.D. on Luke 17:32 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:16-33; 19:12-28 & Luke 17:28-37 Psalter Hymnal: 233:6,7,8; 275 (law); 193 (creed); 1; 394   We know how it all had begun. Abraham and his nephew Lot had decided to part ways.  So, one day they stood at Bethel and Abraham offered Lot the first choice between the green, fertile plains of the Jordan river and the barren country around Mamre. Lot chose the valley of the Jordan river, and we know...

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.14 No.9 – March 1968   Sons Of The Kingdom   Sermon by Rev. P. van der Schaaf, B.D. on Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10. Scripture Readings: John 4:46-54 Suggested Hymns: Psalter Hymnal: 383; 100 (2,4) (old); 404; 403; 468.   Beloved congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ! As you know, in the days when Jesus lived on earth, the Romans ruled over Israel.  Therefore, in several towns, there were Roman garrisons to maintain law and order. Generally speaking, relationships between such garrisons and the population were not too good.  As a rule they hated one another. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No. 32 - April 1975   What Is Christianity?   Sermon by Rev. C. Moerman, Th.Grad. on Luke 9:23-26 Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10: 23-39; Luke 9:18-26 Psalter Hymnal: 301:1,2 and 4; 251:1 and 2 (after Law);                          198:1,2 and 3 (after Creed); 456: 1 and 4;                          457: all; 125:4 (doxology)   Congregation of Jesus, young and old, Australia a CHRISTIAN country;             many churches with open doors;             spires pointing to heaven,             with at the very tops crosses reminding us of the Calvary of Christ. Parliament – I believe – still opens with...

Word of Salvation – Vol.38 No.41 - November 1993   Discipleship: Call, Cost and Commitment   Sermon by Rev. J. W. Westendorp on Luke 9:57-62 Scripture Reading: John 1:35-51, Luke 9:57-62   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, There are different kinds of 'Jesus-followers'.  Some follow Jesus the way they followed the Gulf War.  They are interested, even fascinated.  And they want to stay informed of progress.  But there is no involvement.  They are not bound to Jesus in love and obedience. We read of people like this in John 6:66.  When Jesus began to say hard things, they soon left...

Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.45 - December 1996   A Saviour Has Been Born To You   A Christmas Sermon by Rev R. M. Brenton on Luke 2:8-20   Dear Brothers and Sisters, Way back in the olden days, when my parents were having their children, it was the custom for the expecting father to pace the waiting room floor, nervously biting his nails, while the mother laboured in the delivery room to bring forth the baby.  In those days the father was seen as an obstacle to baby's birth.  He was unwanted in the delivery room, and so was...

Word of Salvation – Vol.41 No.48 – December 1996   Glory To God For Bringing Peace To Men   A Christmas Sermon by Rev M P Geluk on Luke 2:14 Scripture Readings: Matthew 24:36-44; Luke 2:8-20 Suggested Hymns: Bow: 252; 272; 276; 279; 337; 265   Congregation, Shepherds in the field at night watching over their flocks and surrounded by many angels.  It's not hard for us to picture this scene because we have all seen it many times on Christmas cards and in nativity scenes.  Whether every one of those artists have imagined the scene correctly, going by the description...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 45 No.46 – December 2000   Glory to God... and on Earth Peace   A Christmas Sermon by Rev J Zuidema on Luke 2:14 Scripture Readings: Revelation 5; Luke 2:1-20 Suggested Hymns: BoW 255; 259; 268; 271; 279; 270; 265   Beloved people of God. It is without doubt that if you are a Christian then you have much to sing about.  Not just on Christmas day, but every moment of every day.  We can sing about the glorious birth of our Saviour and the ramifications of that birth.  We sing because we celebrate God's indescribable...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.46 - December 1998   On Earth Peace to Men   A Christmas Sermon by Rev D K Baird on Luke 2:14 Scripture Readings: Luke 2:8-15; Galatians 4:1-7 Suggested Hymns: BOW 264; 262; 276; 256; 268; 265   Brothers and Sisters in Christ. As you drive onto Kooragang Island, on the northern edge of Newcastle (NSW), you pass a BHP slag heap on your left.  Along the top of the slag heap four sculptures have been erected in a line.  It is a TAFE project funded by a local television station. The four sculptures depict the...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 47 – December 1997   The Decree Of Caesar Augustus   An Advent or Christmas Sermon             by Rev. M. P. Geluk on Luke 2:1 Scripture Readings: Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7 Suggested Hymns: BoW 264; 176 & 251; 285; 268; 271; 247; 265   Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. The earthly ministry of Jesus and the mission work of the apostles took place in the time of the Roman Empire.  And there are two Romans who have been known to Christianity for as long as the New Testament church has existed,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.43 No.48 - December 1998   The Gospel in Judah   A Christmas Sermon by Dr N K Weeks on Luke 2:1-20 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20   Dear Congregation. You are probably familiar with the fact that Christ was born in Bethlehem, and if you rack your brains a little, you could tell me that Bethlehem was in the tribal territory of Judah, because David was of the tribe of Judah and Jesus was born of David's line. You may not have thought about an equally simple fact of geography.  The gospels have no record of a...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 49 No.46 – December 2004   The Hidden Christ and His Sign   Sermon by Rev M Geluk on Luke 2:12 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-18 Suggested Hymns: BoW: 264; 268; 251; 247; 255; 276; 265   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout the Bible times, shepherds were ordinary people. Their job was as common as today's carpenters and mechanics. And it was to shepherds that all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appeared. Not to the teachers of the law and the scribes, not to the high priest or king or some high...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 39 No.41 – November 1994   The Shepherds' Reaction   Christmas Sermon by Rev. H. O. Berends on Luke 2:8-20   Brothers and sisters, young people, I find it very interesting, when I look at the various accounts of the birth of Jesus, to study the reactions, the attitudes of the people and groups of people involved in this.  There are Joseph and Mary, for instance, the earthly parents of Jesus. Joseph obeys the angel and takes Mary as his wife and is willing to accept this child of his own in humility and obedience. And...

Word of Salvation - Vol.48 No.47 - December 2003   What Could Be More Of A Sign?   Advent Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Luke 2:7b  Scripture Readings: Luke 2:8-20; Isaiah 7:1-17   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The scene described to us in our text is a sign. For 'sign' is the special word used to describe what happened in both Scripture readings. In Luke 2 verse 12 the angel tells the shepherds, "This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And this had also been...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No. 23 - March 1975   Easter   Sermon by Rev. C. W. Oppelaar, Th.Grad. on Luke 24:4a Scripture reading: Luke 24:1-9 Psalter Hymnal:      Opening hymn 356:1,2,3.;                                     After Nicene Creed 358:1,2,3,4,5;                                     After collection 361:1,2,3,4;                                     After prayer,                                     After sermon 360:1,2,3;                                     Doxology 310:1,2   "And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood near them in dazzling apparel."   Beloved Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, You cannot celebrate when you are perplexed, uncertain, in doubt, muddled up, and confused. Now, this is the strange thing, that...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No. 21 - March 1975   Satan's Offer Of Peace To The Saviour   Sermon by Rev. Fred Vanderbom, B.A. Th. Grad on Luke 4:5-8 Scripture readings: Daniel 6; Luke 4:1-13 Psalter Hymnal: 303:1,2,6; 240:1,2 (with Law); 124:5,6; 408; 467:1,4   Congregation! How many of us realise that in this world there are really only two nations?  The one nation consists of all those people who are ruled by the Lord Jesus, people who want to recognise and honour God in their daily life. The other half of the human race, whether people realise it...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No. 29 – April 1975   The Ascending Jesus Blesses The Believing Church (An Ascension Sermon)   Sermon by Rev. N. Teekens, L.Th., Th.Grad. on Luke 24:44-53 Scripture Reading: John 20:19-22 Psalter Hymnal: 366 all; 372 all; 233:5,6; 398:1,2,4; 444:2,3,4   Beloved congregation in the Lord, Today the Churches celebrate Jesus' Ascension. Oh, some may have been quite unaware that last Thursday was the day of Jesus' Ascension!  Compared to the traditional feasts of Christmas and Easter, Ascension Day passes by almost unnoticed.  There are no holidays, no special decorations, not even hot-cross buns!  Commercially-speaking,...

Word of Salvation – March 2024   He Is Not Here, But He Has Risen   Sermon by Harry Burggraaf, B.D. on Luke 24:5,6 Scripture Readings: 1Corinthians 15:1-23; Luke 24:1-12 Psalter Hymnal: 356; 362; 361; 383 (tune: Langham)   "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here but he has risen."   Congregation, Dead men don't come back to life! In the world as we know it that sort of thing just doesn't happen. Oh, it’s all very well for some emotional, hysterical women 2000 years ago to say that Christ rose from the grave; but...