Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.08 - November 1974   The Encouraging Prospect   New Year's Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma, Th.Grad. on 1Pet.1:3-9 Scripture Reading: 1Peter 1 Psalter Hymnal: 188:1,6,7; 169:1,2,7; 209:1,3,6; 444   Dear Brothers and Sisters, Young and Older, The purpose of salvation is that we might again live to the honour and glory of God.  That is clearly expressed in the song we sang a moment ago:             Unto the Lord lift thankful voices,             Come worship while your soul rejoices.             Make Known His doings, far and near             That peoples all His Name may...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 22 No. 29 – April 1976   The Holy Spirit, Faith And Assurance   Sermon by the Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 25 Scripture Reading: Romans 10 Psalter Hymnal: 89; 116; 95; 378; 491   Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, Our life is to be found in Christ Jesus alone. This truth can never be stressed too much.  It can never be repeated too often. You and I need to be reminded constantly of this central Gospel truth, because we are so easily tempted to trust in things apart from Christ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 21 – February 1979   Growth In The Kingdom   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma, Th.Grad. on Mark 4:26-32 Scripture reading: Psalm 104 Psalter Hymnal: 439; 170; 350; 115; 315   Dear Brothers and Sisters, If you are interested in the work of God in the hearts and lives of people and in His making all things new, you will find some important lessons in these two small parables of the growing seed and the mustard seed. Jesus used these two illustrations to show those who are interested and involved in the progress of...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 21 – February 1979   The Present Absent Christ   Ascension Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma, Th.Grad. on Lord's Day 18Scripture reading: Ephesians 1:3-23 Psalter Hymnal: 183; 324; 368; 85; 319   Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, When we speak this morning/evening of the present Christ, we have in mind two meanings of the word 'present'. First, it is to be understood in the sense of time. Jesus Christ lives today. We must think more of Who and what He is now. Too often we think only of Jesus as...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 25 No. 39 – July 1979   Christ Suffered   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 15 Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27 - 9:9 Psalter Hymnal: 117, 187, 381, 398, 488   Dear Brothers and Sisters, The apostle Peter and the other disciples were obviously surprised when they heard the Lord Jesus talking about His suffering. And surely we should share some of that surprise and amazement. That's why we read the passage from Mark's Gospel. Here a clear reference to Christ's suffering is, as it were, sandwiched between two statements about the greatness of...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 26 No. 47 – August 1980   The Lord Our Shepherd   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Psalm 23:1 Scripture Reading: John 10:11-30; Psalm 31 Psalter Hymnals: 183, 148, 38, 211   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the Lord. It is amazing, isn't it, how much meaning can be packed into a few words. When David said, the Lord is my Shepherd, he was saying: I've got the Lord God to look after me, and the Lord will see to it that I get everything I need. This well known and loved psalm is,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 30 No. 35 – Sep 1985   Holy Is The Lord   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Exodus 4:24-26 Reading: Hebrews 12:1-13 Songs: P.H. 319; 289; 451; 307; 310   Dear Congregation of the Lord, We have to be careful when we talk about God being on our side.  We should be careful that we do not draw false conclusions from the promise that God is for us.  If, for instance, we would ask: Whose side was God on?  Was God on the side of Pharaoh and the Egyptians or on the side of Moses...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 06 – Sep 1986   Get Off The Fence   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on 1Kings 18:21 Reading: John 6:53-69 Singing: P.H. 188, 350, 407, 484, 188. 12367   Dear congregation of God's people who bear the sign of God's Covenant. How was it that the Israelites, who as you know were God's chosen people, how was it that the Israelites got involved with Baal worship which was directly contrary to what God had taught His people in His Word? And how was it that these Israelites, these people of God, actually thought...

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. 37 No. 04 – January 1992   The Covenant Of Grace (I)   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 27c Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-19, Galatians 3:6-22   Dear congregation, beloved in Christ, Our subject this morning is the Covenant of Grace and that comes to our attention in connection with Lord's Day 27 – the 3rd question and answer of L.D.27 of the Heidelberg Catechism – where the question is asked whether infants too, should be baptised.  And the answer of the Catechism is: 'Yes, infants, as well as adults are in God's Covenant and...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 06 – February 1992   The Covenant Of Grace (II)   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 27 Reading: 1John 1; Romans 4:1-17   Dear Brothers and Sisters, young and older, The question of infant baptism, or rather the baptism of the children of believers, is for us very much linked to the question of how the Bible teaches us to regard the children of believers.  You will remember that I referred to the Old Testament, particularly to the covenant which God made with Abraham and his descendants.  We saw that this...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 26 – July 1992   Belonging To Jesus Christ   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 1 Reading: 1Corinthians 6:18-21, Romans 8:1-17   The Catechism introduces its teaching on the Christian faith with a very personal question. 'WHAT IS YOUR ONLY COMFORT IN LIFE AND DEATH?' It is like asking: What is your handle on life? How do you cope?  Because life has all kinds of problems and questions, doesn't it?  So the question is: What do you know that helps you keep your sanity?  What truth gives your life meaning? That's...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 31 – August 1992   What Must We Know?   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 1b Reading: John 17:1-5   Beloved congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, This morning/evening we are going to have a closer look at the question: What must we know to enjoy life with a capital L.? That's what the Catechism is really talking about.  About enjoying life in Jesus Christ.  About knowing what it means to belong to Jesus.  That is life.  The Catechism itself points in that direction when it refers us to John 17:3,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 40 – October 1992   Jesus Saves Sinners   Sermon by Rev. Bill Wiersma on Lord's Day 2   Dear fellow human beings, The message for this evening/morning is that Jesus saves sinners.  This Message implies two things: 1.  That sinners need saving. 2.  That there are sinners to be saved. And it is this second point that many people have difficulty with: namely, that there are sinners to be saved. You see, nobody wants to be known as a sinner.  We find it offensive to be told, you are a sinner.  The natural...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 42 – November 1992   Whence Sin?   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 3   Dear Brothers and Sisters, Man was created to know and love God.  God made human beings in His own image so that He could communicate with them, and we with Him.  God gave us a mind with which to think and a heart with which we can love.  He gave us a soul with which we can enjoy life. Yes, God created us with great abilities.  God wanted man to be a creature who could respond...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 46 – December 1992   The Justice Of God   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Lord's Day 4   Dear congregation, beloved in Christ the Lord, There are two points in this sermon that I would like you to remember: The first is that since God is just, our hope of escaping eternal punishment is only to be found in Jesus (who perfectly satisfies God's justice on behalf of sinners).  And the second is that God's justice guarantees the possibility of life and love. So the first point is that our only hope...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 10 – March 1986   God Honours His Faithful Servant   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Isaiah 53:12 Reading: Matthew 20:17-28, Luke 23:1-4, 23-25, 32-42 Singing: 204, 352, 255, 381, 368   Dear Brothers and Sisters, young and older. Good Friday is a time to admire and praise our Lord Jesus Christ.  As we recall what happened on that fateful day in Jerusalem, let us be amazed.  Let us say to each other: Look at what Jesus did for us.  Look how Jesus loved us.  No, on Good Friday we don't have to...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 17 – May 1986   The Holy Spirit And The Christian   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on John 14:18-20 Reading: John 14:1-21 Singing: 301; 95; 400; 222.   When do believers have the Holy Spirit living in them?  And what is the evidence of His presence? When these questions are discussed, reference is often made to what happened on Pentecost day.  And that is fine, so long as we remember that Pentecost was a unique event.  For on that day the ascended and glorified Lord Jesus Christ passed on to the church, his...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 06 – February 1988   John’s Witness Τo Christ   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on John 1:19-34 Reading: Luke 7:18-30 Singing: 431; 204; 328; 169   Beloved Congregation, Who Was John the Baptist?  John's own answer to that question was, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  Make straight the way of the Lord". John gave this answer to a party of men (Pharisees) who were sent out by the religious leaders of Israel to check up on John's teaching and identity.  John had become quite famous because the Holy...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 29 – August 1988   Honour In The Home   Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Ephesians 6:1-4 Reading: Deut. 6:1-15 & Prov. 31:10-31 Singing:  12; 152; 170; 222; 449.   Dear Worshippers of God, Before we have a closer look at the meaning of our text, I want to say something about its context.  I want to draw your attention to a few things in this letter to the Ephesians, which we must be aware of, as we listen to what God has to say to Christian children and parents.  I shall try...