Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.16 – April 2006   God's Son Saves!   A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 11 Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25; Colossians 1:15-23   Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have confessed the first phrase of the Apostles' Creed. Each one of us have said, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." You know, that's a phenomenal thing to say. This believing is throwing your whole life on whoever this God is. And to confess that He is your Father is claiming a relationship that's quite...

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.20 – April 2006   All In Him Is Now In Me!   A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 12 Scripture Reading:  John 15:1-17   Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ. The picture before us in Lord's Day 12 is quite phenomenal. And I'm not talking here about the obvious word pictures which are here. There are three pictures which we will come to. Rather, there is a bigger picture which is showing us something incredible! All that the name "Christ" represents - and it represents the fulfilment of all the...

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.28 - July 2006   God Came Down!   A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 14 Scripture Readings:  Luke 1:26-38; Romans 1:1-7   Fellow saints... Think of the most powerful person you know. Picture in your mind how important that person is. He can do so much. He goes places - he's seen with all the famous faces. He has so much power and wealth. Now - what would he want with you? Not much! It's true, isn't it? We've all felt this immense difference at some time. Boys and girls,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.35 - July 2006   Forgiven and Forgiving   A Sermon by Rev Allan Quak on Matthew 18:21-35 Scripture Reading:  Matthew 6:9-15 Suggested Hymns: BoW 22A; 416; 498   Brothers and sisters in the Lord. Has it ever struck you how often Peter over-estimates his ability to understand the ways of the Lord? Just think about it for a moment. Who stepped out of the boat to walk to the Lord, only to sink into the sea? Peter. Who said he would never deny Christ? Peter. Of whom did Jesus say, 'Get behind me Satan'? Peter....

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.36 - July 2006   Who's Dead and Buried? A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 16 Scripture Reading:  Luke 23:26-47   Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Death is often called the great divider. It removes us from each other in the most conclusive way. In this world it is the last and final goodbye. That's why funerals take on the character they do. There could be nothing more separating than standing beside the open grave of a loved one. Death brings a terrible sadness and grief. Physically speaking, it is...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.39 - October 2006   Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura) A Sermon by Rev Martin Geluk on 2 Timothy 3:16-17  Scripture Readings:  Psalm 119:105-120; Matthew 5:17-20 Suggested Hymns: BoW 489; 100; 119b:1-4; 65:1   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. You should know that we are facing issues that concern the church a great deal. These issues influence the leaders and members of various churches in the way they 'do' church. In fact, the expression 'the way they do church' or 'the way we do church' is often heard. It suggests that not everyone thinks about the...

Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.40 - October 2006   Arise With Him! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 17 Scripture Readings:  Matthew 27:57-28:10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20   Beloved congregation. As we consider what happened with Christ's suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection, we know that His followers were confused. Our Lord had told them what was going to happen. But when it actually took place it took them by surprise. So they couldn't immediately work out what had happened. In fact, it wasn't really until after Christ's Ascension and Pentecost that they were able to put...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.2 - January 2007   Christ Alone A Sermon by Rev Martin Geluk on John 14:6 Scripture Readings:  John 8:12-30; 14:6-11   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have dealt with the 'Scripture alone teaching', which was the first of the five 'solas' from the Reformation. We now begin to look at the next 'sola', which is 'Christ alone'. So what does the Bible say when it speaks about salvation? Does it say that belonging to the church of Rome and being greatly involved with it will save you? Does the Bible say that in...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.4 - January 2007   My King Rules! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 19 Scripture Reading: Psalm 110; Colossians 1:15-23   Congregation... At first sight, it might seem that Lord's Day 19 doesn't hold together very well. We may wonder why the article in the Apostles' Creed about Jesus being seated at the right hand of God is "lumped in" with the article about Him coming back to judge the living and the dead. What is the connection between the two articles? Just think a little more about this: What...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.8 - January 2007   God's Spirit is His Life to Us A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 20 Scripture Readings:  John 16:5-16; Galatians 3:26-4:7   Congregation... The Person we are looking at in this sermon was busy right at the beginning of the Bible. He is the Person who works out everything, and yet we can't see Him doing anything with our physical eyes! Who am I talking about? Well, listen and try to pick it out: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.10 - March 2007   Christ the Only Mediator A Sermon by Rev Martin Geluk on 1 Timothy 2:5 (Sermon 3 on 'Christ Alone') Scripture Readings:  Hebrews 10:1-25; 1Tmothy 2:1-5 Suggested Singing:  BoW 470; 89b; 117   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. In our series on the five solas of the Reformation we're up to the third sermon on Christ alone. Firstly it was Christ the only Saviour, and we saw there that Christ is unique with regard to His claims and teaching. The second sermon was about Christ the only Sacrifice, and there we...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.12 - March 2007   This Body's Got Spirit! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 21 Scripture Readings: Acts 1:12-26   Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. The verses we read in Acts 1:12-26 tell us about a time in-between. The believers are waiting. Though small in number, they know that soon the Lord's promise would mean a huge blessing. At this point in time they stand between Christ's ascension and His pouring out His Spirit. All that our Lord Jesus Himself is will come upon His Body - the Church....

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.22 – June 2007   A Sound Investment?   A Sermon by Rev John Haverland on Jeremiah 32 Scripture Readings:  Matthew 6:19-24; Luke 16:1-9   Theme: The Lord commands Jeremiah to buy family land in the certainty of the return from exile. Purpose: To show that nothing is impossible for God and he will always keep his promises no matter how bleak the circumstances appear to us. (I want to acknowledge a book of sermons by Rev Philip Ryken that was helpful to me in this sermon, and in others in this series).   Brothers and...

Word of Salvation – Vol.53 No.48 – December 2008   Flower Power  A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, LD 41 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 5   Congregation... In our studies of the Catechism, we have recently been looking at the second table of the Ten Commandments using a picture of a fountain in a garden. We have used the fountain we are imagining to symbolise the family. What comes out of the family can be compared to the water which comes out of a fountain. The family is God’s way of controlling the quality of the water, of...

Word of Salvation – Vol.53 No.47 – December 2008   Skin, Not Sin A Christmas Sermon by Rev John De Hoog on John 1:14 Scripture Readings: Matthew 1:18-2:12; John 1:1-18   Beloved people of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is one of the most famous sentences uttered in the twentieth century: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong said these words on 21 July 1969 as he took his first step on the surface of the moon. It was the Apollo 11 mission. Richard Nixon was President of America at the time, and as Neil...

Word of Salvation – Vol.53 No.44 – November 2008   Letting the Water of His Goodness Flow  A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, LD 40 Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:1-11   Congregation of our Lord... The Lord saw right through Cain. He looked at his heart. He perceived what was about to happen. He knew he was going to kill Abel. He even says it to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7. “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what’s right, sin is...

Word of Salvation – Vol.53 No.43 – November 2008   My God, My Holy One Sermon by Rev John Zuidema Sermon 2 of 6, on Habakkuk  Scripture Readings: Habakkuk 1:12 — 2:1; Romans 8:28-39 Suggested Singing: BoW 337; 112; 359; Rej 529   Beloved people of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder whether you have ever thought about the fact that God is not just God of the many Christians in this world, he is also God over every non-Christian and every terrorist, and anyone else you would like to mention. God’s power is not just limited to Christians but his...

The Family is Love's Fountain A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, LD 39 Scripture Reading:  Ephesians 6:1-9   Fellow saints... There is a change here in the Ten Commandments. The fifth commandment has quite a different focus than the first four commandments. This is why the fifth commandment has often been known as the first command of the second table of the Law. And this is the structure our Lord Jesus demonstrated, when, in Matthew 22:37 he said that the greatest commandment in the Law was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with...