Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 02 – Jan 1986   The Enemy Of God’s People   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Ephesians 6:10,12 Readings: Dan. 10:10-11:1 Singing: P.H. 484, 467, 358, 466.   Many of our hymns speak of the Christian life as a battle.             "Stand up stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the cross"             "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war"             "Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb?" These hymns describe the Christian life as a conflict, a warfare, a fight between two opposing armies. It is a...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 34 No. 26 – July 1989   Remember Your Creator   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Ecclesiastes 12. Reading: Psalm 71; Eccl. 12; John 10:7-18. Theme: The need to turn to God and serve him while we are young.   One of the saddest features of the last ten or so years has been the rise of a generation of street kids. Children and young people who are out on the streets.  Who wander around during the day and have nowhere to go at night.  Who sleep out in garages and sheds and bus shelters...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No. 41 – November 2001   How Can You Get Right With God?   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Romans 3:19-24 (HC Lord's Day 23) Scripture Readings: Romans 3:19-31; 5:1-11, 18-21   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, There is a phrase that says, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."  That means that there are some things in our lives and our society that are always changing; but the more these things change and alter the more we realise that there are other issues and truths that remain, that are...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No. 45 – December 2001   Where is Your Boast?   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Galatians 6:14 Scripture Readings: 1Cor.1:18-25, 2:1-5; Gal.2:11-16, 6:11-18 Suggested Hymns: PsH: 350; 353; 454   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, Let me begin by asking you, “What you are proud of"?  If you reflect on your life, what are the things that you are pleased about?  What achievements and successes do you take pride in?  Most of us aren't into boasting, not too loudly anyway, but if you were going to boast, what would you boast about? ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No. 01 – January 2002   Our Duty to Give   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Matthew 6:1-4 Scripture Readings: Deut 15:7-11; 26:12-19; 2Cor 9:6-15   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, It is all too easy to slip into the pattern of doing the right thing for the wrong reason.  You can do good deeds but do them from the wrong motive.  For instance, you can come to worship every Sunday and sit here, not because you want to honour and praise God and hear His Word, but merely out of habit and...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No. 37 – October 2002   Two Builders   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Matthew 7:24-27 Scripture Readings: Matthew 7:13-29;             Ezekiel 13:1-16; James 1:22-25; James 2:14-20   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme of this sermon is: The storms of this life and the judgment will test whether we have heard and obeyed the word of Jesus.  And the purpose of the sermon is: To urge you to hear and obey Jesus' words.   When a building is going up, a person will come out regularly to check on the progress...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 35 – September 1991   My Lord And My God   Sermon by Rev. John A. Haverland on John 20:24-29 Reading: John 20:1-29   Beloved in Christ, Some names in the Bible have certain associations.  When we hear of Abraham we think of faith.  David makes us think of the Psalms and of a close walk with God.  We associate the name of Job with suffering and patience.  Luke is the historian, Barnabas the son of encouragement. ...And Thomas?  What do we remember Thomas for? Well, we could remember him for his courage.  When...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 42 – November 1991   Made Sin For Us   Sermon by Rev.  J.  Haverland on 2Corinthians 5:21 Reading: Genesis 22; Isaiah 53; 2Corinthians 5:16 - 6:2   Beloved congregation, The New Testament contains 27 books and letters.  They all have one thing in common: they focus our gaze on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Each one directs our attention to his person and work. They do that with a rich variety.  Each writer has his own perspective, his unique emphasis, his special purpose. Yet we can divide the books of the New Testament into...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 39 – October 1992   A Troubled Soul Hopes In God   Sermon by Rev. John Haverland on Psalm 42 Readings: Lamentations 3:1-27, 2Corinthians 4:6-18   Beloved congregation, We all know what it's like to be standing around waiting for someone.  You've made an arrangement to meet the person at a certain time and place.  You arrive on time, but the other is nowhere to be seen.  You check your diary to make sure you've got the right time and place and then you wait, patiently. But after a while you begin to get...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 48 – December 1992   Do You Love Me?   Sermon by Rev. John Haverland on John 21:15-19 Reading: John 13:31-38, 18:15-18, 25-27 Singing. 437, 459, 441 (Psalter Hymnal)   Beloved congregation, At some time or other all of us have had a difference of opinion with someone who is close to us.  Maybe with our husband or wife or a close friend.  Sometimes those differences or arguments aren't settled properly; they aren't dealt with; they aren't brought out into the open. So they simmer beneath the surface.  They make us feel uncomfortable with...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 23 – June 1988   Life Under The Sun   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Eccles. 1:1-11 Reading: Eccles. 1:1-11, Romans 8:18-30   Dear Congregation, beloved in Christ the Lord, Those of you who are parents will know what it is like when your children start to ask ‘why’.  Every question and every statement and every command is greeted with the response, "why?" For a time the why's are fairly straightforward.  Johnny, you need to have a bath.  Why?  Because you are dirty.  Why?  Because you were playing outside.  Why?...  and so it...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 27– July 1988   Man’s Place In God’s Time   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Eccles. 3:1-15 Reading: Psalm 90, Romans 8:28-39   Brothers and sisters, beloved in the Lord, Most of us here today have watches on.  Probably even most of the children have a watch.  We all wear a watch because we like to know what the time is.  We want to know when to do different things during the day.  When to get up, how late we are for school, when lunchtime will be, how soon it is before we...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 25 – July 1988   The Search For Satisfaction   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26 Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26   There are some questions that every human person asks at some stage or another.  There are a few key questions that occur to every thinking person on the face of the earth.  What is the point of life?  What am I doing here?  What is life all about?  What will give me meaning and purpose?  What do I have to do to find satisfaction? Those questions are as old as history itself. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 30 – August 1988   The “Dead Ends” Of Life   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Eccles. 3:16-4:16 Readings: Philipp. 4:4-13; 2Cor. 1:3-7   I wonder how many of you have come across a cynical person.  We're not thinking of a person who occasionally makes a cynical comment.  No, we are talking about someone who is really cynical.  Their whole outlook on life is twisted and bitter.  They don't see any good in anything.  They think the worst of every situation and of every person. Fortunately you don't meet too many people like...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 35 – September 1988   Wealth: The Various Options   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Eccles. 5:10-6:6 Reading: Luke 12:13-21, 1Tim 6:3-19   THEME: Wealth in and by itself cannot satisfy unless it is connected with God.   Brothers and sisters in the Lord, It is quite clear to most of us that we live in a very materialistic culture.  By this we mean that the people around us are very concerned with material things.  Whether they are relatively wealthy or relatively poor, people are all taken up with money and the things...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 40 – October 1988   Wisdom: Its Value And Limitations   Sermon: by Rev. J. Haverland on Eccl. 7:11-8:1, 16-17 Reading: 1Cor. 1:18-31, Eccl. 7:11-8:1, 16-17   Congregation, beloved in Christ, Some years ago Alvin Toffler wrote a book called Future Shock.  In that book he documented the rapid changes that were taking place in society.  He pointed out that we live in a technological world that is changing very fast.  New scientific and electronic discoveries are made every day. In a world like this the emphasis is on movement and speed, action and...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 31 – August 1990   The Lord, He Is God!   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on 1Kings 18:21 Readings: 1Kings 16:19-17:1; 18:16-40.   Beloved congregation, All of us have to make important decisions at times.  What job will we take?  Where will we live?  Who will we marry?  And sometimes even more fundamental issues: What direction will our lives take?  What will we live for? Some people find it very difficult to make these decisions; so difficult that they never make them.  They just muddle along, avoiding making clear choices.  They spend their...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 38 No. 09 – March 1993   By Grace, Through Faith   Sermon by Rev. John Haverland on Ephes.2:8-10 Scripture Readings: Ephes. 2:1-10, Rom. 6:1-14.   Congregation, beloved in Christ, One of the most controversial areas of Christian theology is the doctrine of election.  When people hear about God's predestination they often react strongly and negatively.  Through the centuries of church history the doctrine of election has been a much debated issue and it still is today. The Christian church basically divides into two camps on this matter. On the one side are the Arminians.  They...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 41 No. 36 – September 1996   A Sense Of History   Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on 1Chronicles 1-3 Scripture Reading: 1Chronicles 1:1-4, 2:1-4, 10-17, 3:1-5a   Theme: The genealogies of Chronicles show that God is at work through history in the lives of His people to fulfil His purpose and His kingdom. Purpose: To show you that you, individually and corporately, are part of God's great purposes and His kingdom.   INTRODUCTION   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people are interested in following their family history.  They trace it back to their...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 20 – May 1997   I Believe in God the Creator   A Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Genesis 1:1; H.C. Q 26 Scripture Reading: Psalm 104:1-9, 24-35; Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26   Congregation, Everyone around us has a way of looking at the world, a perspective on life, a viewpoint on living that guides their thought and action and behaviour.  This may be conscious or unconscious, well understood, or something a person hardly thinks about; but everyone has, what has been called, a "world and life view". For many in NZ/Aust today it...