Word of Salvation – Vol. 32 No. 06 – Feb 1987   The Boy Jesus At Home   Sermon: by Rev. A. I. de Graaf on Luke 2:51, 52. Reading: Prov. 4:1-18; Luke 2:39-52 Singing: 180; 237; 270; BoW.S.50; BoW.H.450; BoW.H. 214; BoW.H.902   "Christ is King!" we just sang.  And He is: "King of kings and Lord of lords!"  But He wasn't always that.  There was a time that Jesus, the Son of man, was a young incognito prince, growing up in the low-class home of simple people. The Bible doesn't tell us much about that period in Jesus' life. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 34 No. 08 – Feb 1989   The Shepherds’ Worship   Sermon by Rev. A. I. de Graaf on Luke 2:15-20 Readings: Titus 2:11-3:8, 2Kings 7:3-16 Singing: 180; Bow.H.205:3; -337, 346; Bow.H.502 To the Reader: You may need to add words to complete sentences and thoughts where I’ve been a little cryptic!   All of a sudden heaven is gone again.  There they stand – their feet once again planted on earth. The dying embers of the fire are, becoming visible again after the glare, and in their noses there is the smell of their sheep....

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 11 – March 1991   All Or Nothing   Sermon by Rev. S. Bajema on Luke 14:25-27 Reading: Mathew 19:16-30   Fellow saints... We're on our way to Jerusalem.  Yes, we're in among the huge crowd that's following Jesus.  It's a very exciting time.  Jesus has been performing many miracles, and healing literally hundreds upon the way.  And it's not just what He does that holds our attention.  He tells us very perceptive stories about human nature.  He calls them parables.  They hold our attention in a way that's hard to describe.  And He...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 45 No. 35 – September 2000   Jesus At The House Of Martha And Mary   Sermon by Rev. C. Kavanagh on Luke 10:38-42 Scripture Reading: John 11:11-44   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction: We have in our text this morning a very down to earth and a very true to life scene from everyday family life.  Does it not ring true for us?  Can't we all identify with what is going on?  The two sisters are so different in personality type – yet Martha loves the Lord and believes as much as Mary...

MARY’S SONG OF FAITH Rev. John Haverland (A Christmas sermon)   Text: Luke 1:46-55 Reading: 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Luke 1:1-55 Theme: Mary responds to God’s work in her with a song of praise that recalls God’s blessing to her and to his people. Purpose: To encourage you to respond to God’s gift of his Son with humility and praise for who he is and what he has done in Christ. ***************************   No doubt in the weeks leading up to Christmas you will have heard many Christmas carols. You have probably heard them played in the supermarkets and in the shopping...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No. 46 – December 2001   Burden Lifting   Sermon by Rev. A. Esselbrugge on Luke 1:5-7 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Suggested Hymns: BoW: 503; 73a; 470; 193; 394; 358   Brothers and sisters, young people, boys and girls, It's getting to that time of year again isn't it?  You can feel it in the air, there's something about how we react to the warming weather and the general air of anticipation for holidays and the new year, that puts an air of increasing momentum into our days.  It was with something of a shock...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 27 – July 1991   Discipleship – The Call   Sermon by Rev. John Westendorp on Luke 5:27-28 Reading: Matthew 9:1-13; Luke 5:1-11, 27-31 Singing: Loving shepherd of Your sheep / Who is on the Lord’s side?   Theme: Discipleship begins with the response to a call.   Introduction: Today we want to spend some time looking at DISCIPLESHIP. And that's certainly appropriate for all of us. Christians are known as DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.   -         But what does it mean for you to be a DISCIPLE?   -         How does one become a...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 47 – December 1992   The Greatest News Ever Told   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Luke 2:8-12 Reading: Matt. 1:18-25, Luke 2:8-15, 1Cor.1:20-31, Matt.2:1-11   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, Today we celebrate the most important event that has ever taken place on this earth.  We celebrate the birth of the person who has done more for mankind than any other person has done or ever will do. We celebrate the arrival of the Messiah who transforms the lives of those who place themselves under his care and treatment.  We celebrate...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 46 – December 1992   Christmas Hope   Sermon by Rev. B. G. Aldridge on Luke 2:25-40 Reading: Luke 2:25-40 Singing: Book of Worship 270, 263, 254, 285, 265   Dear people of God, There are people in our society who are called the 'forgotten people'.  These are people who, whenever we talk about something, are seldom mentioned, though they are vitally involved.  In a football team the players and coach get all the accolades if the team wins.  But what about all the other people: the club officials, the runners and others?  They...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 28 – July 1992   The Prodigal Father   Sermon by Rev. H. Berends on Luke 15:11   Brothers and Sisters, Our text for this afternoon is taken from what must surely be one of the best known and best, loved of all the stories in the Bible.  In fact, it has been called the best, loved short story in all the world, and for good reason.  For this simple story of the prodigal son is a beautiful story, a very moving story.  And one which expresses and brings together all of the richness...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 27 – July 1992   The Honourable God   Sermon by Rev. M. C. De Graaf on Luke 11:5-10 Reading: Luke 11:1-13 Singing: 65, 1a, 23, 104a, 72.   Brothers and Sisters, In our Call to Worship we heard Paul urge Christians to 'Be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances...!' As we've seen in the past, at first glance, that can strike you as being a pretty tall order!  How could anyone be constantly praying, or joyful, or thankful? But, of course, what we're seeing in that passage is a...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 48 No.13 – April 2003   The Father's Love for Sinners Who Repent   Sermon by Rev J Zuidema on Luke 15:11-32 Scripture Readings:  Ezekiel 33:1-11; Romans 5:1-11; Luke 15:1-32 Suggested Hymns:  BoW 399; 416; 476; Rej 387; 389   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. When you are in the ministry, you often get people who say that God cannot possibly love them anymore because they are such terrible sinners. When people say this to me, then it usually indicates three things. First, there is often a false piety involved - a reverse psychology; second,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 48 No.15 – April 2003   Jesus - A Man of Prayer   Sermon by Rev B G Aldridge on Luke 11:1-13 Scripture Reading:  John 17:1-26 Suggested Hymns:  BoW 65; 86; 424; 439; 241   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder what I would do if God said to me, "I will give you whatever sort of congregation you want, but they must all be gifted in only one area of ministry". What sort of congregation would I ask for? All evangelists? All leaders? All teachers? All givers? All encouragers? All healers? All missionaries?...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 12 – March 1990   Why Do The "Innocent" Suffer?   Sermon by Rev. M. C. De Graaf on Luke 13:1-9 Reading: Job 36:1-26, Luke 13:1-17 Singing: 190, 65, 223, 1, 299   Brothers and Sisters, One of the things that is essential to our make-up as human-beings is the ability to ask the question: "Why?" There is no question that God, when He formed us out of the dust, gave to man an enquiring mind!!  Without it there would be no scientists, or explorers, or even artists or theologians.  Philosophy is completely dependent...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 15 – April 1990   And Jesus Wept   Sermon by Rev. M. C. De Graaf on Luke 19:41,41 Reading: Psalm 48, 122; Luke 19:28-48 Singing: 233, 240, 349, 348, 308   Dear Brothers and Sisters, I guess at one time or other, on our travels, we've all seen places on this earth that we could describe as being truly "breath-taking" or perhaps even "awe-inspiring"...!  Maybe we we've seen the Alps in Europe or in New Zealand, or a Fjord or perhaps something like the Grand Canyon or maybe even the view from Echo...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 14 – April 1990   He Has Risen   Sermon by Rev. G. H. Kleinjan on Luke 24:5,6 Reading: Luke 24:1-53 Singing: 58,291,356,358,360:1   Today, we are remembering the resurrection.  Of all events, surely this is the greatest of all events in history.  The resurrection is the basis of our whole faith, because Jesus thereby conquered death once and for all time.  We wish, therefore, to see why this event is so significant for us today.  Many people deny the resurrection.  It is not recorded in the normal annals of history.  And yet, it...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 12 – March 1986   Risen Because Seen By Peter   Sermon by Rev. P. H. Pellicaan on Luke 24:24-34 Reading: 1Corinthians 15:1-11 Singing: BoW. H. 402, 305, 502, 504, 404.   Brothers and Sisters, It is Easter.  The Lord is risen.  A joyous feast.  Death is swallowed up in victory.  In these words is an element of surprise, of a sudden victory.  Death was not slowly pushed back, inch by inch but was swallowed up by almighty power, crushing all resistance.  That is the mighty fact of the resurrection. It is surprising that...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 20 – May 1986   Committed Τo Christ   Sermon by Rev. G. van Schie on Luke 9:57, 60, 62 Reading: 1Peter 2:13-25, Luke 9:51-62 Singing: 118; 459; 463; 465; 493.   Just what does it mean to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?  What does it mean to be committed to Christ? In our text we find a man who is enthusiastic for Christ.  A person who in following the Lord was not a member of what you could call the inner group of disciples.  When Jesus went through the land...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 24 – June 1986   Unconditional Commitment   Sermon by Rev. G. van Schie on Luke 9:57-62, (59, (59, 60) Reading: Eccl. 12:1-7, Luke 14:15-24 Singing: 89, 140;3, 455, 451, 490.   Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. [Last time we began with the question;] "What does it mean to be committed to Jesus?"  Commitment, [we saw,] means to bind yourself to something or someone.  When we say we are Christians, we are saying we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are saying we commit our lives to Him, we...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 43 – November 1987   The Cost Of Discipleship   Sermon by Rev. M. C. De Graaf on Luke 9:57-62 Reading: 2Cor. 5:11-21 Singing: 483; 452; BoW.H.602; 480; 376.   Brothers and Sisters, One of the corner-stones of the Reformation was the belief in the fact that we are saved by GRACE ALONE!!  Luther especially was enraptured by this great fact: God has come to man, has paid our bill in full, nothing is left for us to do.  We are saved – by grace ALONE!  A simple and yet beautiful truth... at least...