Word of Salvation - Vol.51 No.20 - May 2007 Right with God? A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 23 Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:1-14 Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ. At the end of Lords' Day 22 of the Heidelberg Catechism, we have come to the end of the exposition of the Apostles' Creed. Through some sixteen Lord's Days, themselves divided up into thirty-six Questions & Answers, the Catechism explains this summary of what the Bible teaches us about the triune God. But having that, and after many Sundays of declaring that Creed, of what...
The CRCA
Word of Salvation - Vol.52 No.16 - April 2007 We've Only Just Begun! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 22 Scripture Reading: Corinthians 15:35-58 Brothers and sisters, boys and girls... Now here's a real mystery. In a religion filled with mysteries here's one to top them all! The Bible's teaching on the resurrection of the body seems so mind-boggling and faith-demanding! Even the language and phrases Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 15 are hard to understand. Paul knows it is a difficult doctrine, and yet it is absolutely fundamental. The fact that Paul spends...
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.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.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.51 No.44 – November 2006 Our Lord is Up There - and Everywhere! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 18 Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ... What do we mean by saying, "He ascended into heaven?" That actual Ascension Day happened long ago. Haven't two thousand years or so gone since Christ Jesus was taken up to His Father's right hand? How is it relevant to us today? Although it's been a long time, we still have a very clear picture of what happened. It's...
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.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.32 – December 2006 He Was Guilty As We Were Charged! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 15 Scripture Readings: 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 19:1-16 Brothers and sisters, young people, boys and girls. Let me begin by asking you this question: "When was the last time you felt guilty?" Perhaps you remember it very clearly. It was just yesterday, or the day before. It's still clearly in your memory. You see, it's an awkward moment for you. What you thought or said or did then really bugs...
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.24 – June 2006 The Only Son Makes Each Of Us A Son A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 13 Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18 Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Confession in the Heidelberg Catechism continues looking at the titles of the second person of the triune Godhead stated in the Apostles' Creed. So after having considered the name "Jesus", which means "Saviour", and which tells us about His mission; and after considering the name "Christ", which is His "Office", His anointing; we now look at God...
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.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.12 – March 2006 The Perfect Parent! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 10 Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28-39 Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. What was on the news this past week? A bomb-blast in one place, a murder in the next suburb, another major train crash somewhere else? What else? Nothing has changed in man's basic nature. The news won't be any different next year. The Middle East will still be a hotbed of unrest, and so will dozens of other places around the globe; there'll...
Word of Salvation - Vol.51 No.8 - February 2006 The Almighty God Is My Faithful Father A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 9 Scripture Reading: Luke 12:22-34 Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We begin our confession of faith in the opening words of the Apostles' Creed. These words are very familiar, aren't they? Nearly every Sunday we say or sing these words. They are words completely different from the vast majority of words publicly declared in this world today. The language of the media, of politics, and of finance, is so twisted...
Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.4 – January 2006 How to Be Sure You're Sure! A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 7b, 8 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 8 Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have learnt from the first part of Lord's Day 7 the vital necessity of true faith. That's what we need to be grafted into Christ and to have all His blessings. If you have true faith, though, then what do you believe? You believe in something - what is it? You see, every belief has a framework and...
Word of Salvation - Vol.50 No.48 - December 2005 Are You Sure? A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 7a Scripture Reading: Romans 4:16-5:8 Congregation... Is it all so easy? I mean, is it as easy to come to faith as some would have us believe? They say such things as, "You know, God has a wonderful purpose for your life! He wants you so much to be happy and enjoy absolutely everything!" And, somehow, it doesn't seem to gel, does it? We know the life of faith is hard. So was coming to...
Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.44 – November 2005 Here's the One! A Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 6 Scripture Reading: Hebrews 7:11-28 Congregation... The Lord Jesus Christ identifies with us in a very special way, even right down to the pits. The Bible says, "...we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." Because Jesus has been here and knows exactly whatever we're going through, anyone can go to Him with anything at all, and He'll understand. The whole Easter event proves...
Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.40 – October 2005 Where the Buck Stops! A Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 5 Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:5-18 Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ... The story is told of an American President Franklin D Roosevelt who insisted on a particular plaque on his desk. Roosevelt was actually the longest term American President ever, being in power from 1933 until his death in 1945. So what would this famous man, who was the American President for the longest time, who was re-elected a record three times, and who...
Word of Salvation – Vol. 50 No.36 – September 2005 You Can't Cop Out! A Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 4 Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 Congregation... Think of a situation when you're speaking with someone you disagree with. At the moment you're listening to their side of the argument. And you're being careful to do that with an attitude of not offending that person. Still, you want to make your point, because you certainly don't agree! And so, when that person has stopped presenting their position, you don't lose any opportunity to tell...