Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.12 - December 1974   The Steward of Unrighteousness... Preparing For The Future   Sermon by Rev. Dirk J. van Garderen on Luke 16:1-9 Scripture Readings: Psalm 49, Luke 16:1-12 Psalter Hymnal: 298; 66:1,3,7,9 (Hymn of penitence a.m. service only);                          412:1,2 (children’s hymn); 462; 211:1,3,23.   Dear Congregation, The parable of the unrighteous steward is very confusing.  It leaves you wondering what Jesus is telling us by this story.  The message doesn't come through too clearly. Reading this passage leaves us with some unanswered questions: What is the lesson of this parable?  How are...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.11 - December 1974   The Holiness And Majesty Of Our God   Sermon by Rev. K. J. Campbell, B.A., B.D. on Isaiah 6:1-5 Scripture Readings: 1Peter 1:13-25; Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalter Hymnal (New): 189:1-5; 318 Opening; 160; 352; 193; 310 Doxology   Introduction: Do you all remember the account in Exodus of Moses and the burning bush?  How Moses was shepherding a flock of sheep belonging to his father-in-law, Jethro, and how, as he wandered past Mt. Horeb, Moses noticed a flame of fire coming from the midst of a bush, but that the bush...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.10 - December 1974   The Intermediate State   Sermon by Rev. G. I. Williamson on Phil. 1:23 Psalter Hymnal: 307, 246 (Law), 22, 38:1-3, 38:4,5   The Bible does not contain a great deal of information about the intermediate state.  It is not the intermediate state that occupies the place of primary importance.  No, the great focus of Christian hope and expectation in the days of the Apostles was not the intermediate state, but the final state.  It was not the day in which the believer dies, but the great day in which Jesus...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.09 - December 1974   Remember Lot's Wife   Sermon by Rev. P. G. Van Dam, M.Sc.,B.D. on Luke 17:32 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:16-33; 19:12-28 & Luke 17:28-37 Psalter Hymnal: 233:6,7,8; 275 (law); 193 (creed); 1; 394   We know how it all had begun. Abraham and his nephew Lot had decided to part ways.  So, one day they stood at Bethel and Abraham offered Lot the first choice between the green, fertile plains of the Jordan river and the barren country around Mamre. Lot chose the valley of the Jordan river, and we know...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No. 03 – January 2002   The Challenge to Faith   Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on Joshua 1:2-3 Scripture Readings: Hebrew 13:1-9; Joshua 1:1-9 Suggested Hymns: BoW 135 (vss.1, 2, 3, 5 & 10); 450; 149; 314; 533   Congregation of our Lord Jesus. The book of Joshua is concerned with new beginnings for God's people.  Forty years of wandering in a wilderness was drawing to a close.  Under Joshua's leadership, Israel was poised to enter the land of promise.  The Israelites could cease their wandering.  At last, Israel can begin to think ahead...

Word of Salvation - Vol.48 No.2 - January 2003   The Eye of the Storm   New Year's Sermon by Rev. C. Berends on Psalm 46 Scripture Readings:  Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 46   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sea has often been a symbol for chaos. Biblically, the stories of the flood, the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan, have all reinforced the idea that the sea is chaotic. It does not always behave in a rational manner. One minute it can be calm and flat, the next minute a pounding wave....

Word of Salvation – June 2022   My Soul Thirsts for You   Sermon by Rev C.  Berends on Psalm 63 Scripture Reading: Psalm 63 Suggested Songs:  Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call,  O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer   One of my highlights in taking holidays in Australia has been the few times that we have spent time driving through the outback. There is something about these wide open spaces, somewhat desolate, that I just really enjoy. Long lines of horizon. The orange of the desert sand. The law lying shrubs. The night sky where you just have a...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No.26 – July 2001   Motivated by God's Grace   Sermon by Rev H. Vaatstra on Nehemiah 2:17-18 Scripture Reading: 1Timothy 1:12-20   Beloved in the Lord. How is it that we come along to church week after week, year after year, and give up our time and energy in church building programmes, Bible studies, catechism classes, volunteering time and energy in each other?  What is it that motivates us to keep going? Is it the fellowship we have with each other?  Or the fact that we have become familiar with one another and are...

Word of Salvation – Vol.46 No.30 - August 2001   The Holy Spirit Enables Faith and Spiritual Maturity   Sermon by Rev H Vaatstra on Ephesians 1:17-19a (Belgic Confession Art 5) Scripture Reading: 1Corinthians 2:6-16   Beloved in the Lord... In the third Article of the Belgic Confession we are reminded that the Bible is a unique book because its origin is not of man but of God.  2Timothy 3:16 says that the Bible is “God Breathed”.  2Peter 1:20 says that “the prophecy of Scripture never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 40 – June 1978   The Antichrist   Sermon by Rev. S. Voorwinde, M.A., M.Th. on 2Thessalonians 2:3-4 Scripture reading: 1John 2:18-29; 2Thessalonians 2:1-12   The passages of the Bible that predict the future are certainly the most difficult passages to understand in the Scriptures. Many of them have been the objects of the speculation, guess-work and fanciful interpretation of many people. But perhaps in no other area has this guess-work reached such epidemic proportions as in people's attempt to answer the question: Who is the Antichrist? No doubt as a regular reader of...

Word of Salvation – Vol.33 No.19 - May 1988   The King’s Kingdom   Sermon by Rev. M.C. de Graaf on Acts 1:6-11 Scripture Reading: Ps. 79:5-13; Catechism: L.D. 18 Suggested Hymns: PH: 42; 204; 125; BoW H.507; H.707   Brothers and Sisters, I guess we all know that Karl Marx and his followers are not very keen on Christianity – OR ACTUALLY, TO BE MORE FAIR AND ACCURATE – they are not keen on what they perceive as "religion" in general.  Not only do Christians get persecuted but so do Muslims, and Jews and whoever believes in something other than...

Word of Salvation – Vol.33 No.18 - May 1988   Christ’s Spirit of Victory   Sermon by Rev. D.J. Groenenboom on Acts 1:1-11 Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Singing: BoW H.4; S.54; 397; BoW.H.606; 169:1,3,7,9; 493   Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, There are many people in the world today who have difficulty believing in God because He does not act the way they would act.  They have a long hard look at the world and conclude that if God exists, and if he were active – as the Bible portrays Him – then surely the world would be...

Word of Salvation – Vol.33 No.20 - May 1988   And You Shall Be My Witnesses   Sermon by Rev. D.J. Van Garderen on Acts 1:8b Reading: Acts 2:1-21; Acts 5:17-32 Singing: 489; 87; 95; 393; 404; 405   Dear Congregation, The day of PENTECOST as recorded in Acts 2 marks the birth of a new age.  It is the beginning, or birthdate, of the CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The CHURCH as a Spirit-inspired, Spirit-filled, Spirit-powered communion of believers called to witness to the love of God in Christ Jesus, His only begotten Son. This birth or beginning of...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 39 – June 1978   Such A Nice Chap   Sermon by Rev. P. H. Pellicaan, B.D. on Luke 15:11-32 Scripture reading: Luke 15:25-32. Psalter Hymnal: 76; 10:1, 2; 10:3; 450:1; 186; 438:1, 4   Our text is the second part of the parable which is usually called 'The Parable of the Prodigal Son'. This is however, not the right name for it. The central figure is not the son who, after having wallowed in the mud of depravity, decides to go home. No, the central figure is: THE FATHER WHO LOVES HIS SONS,...

Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.6 – February 2005   We Have A Future   Sermon by Rev J Joubert on Romans 8:18-25 Scripture Reading:  Isaiah 40:26-31 Suggested Hymns:  Rej 500; 393; 295; BoW 177; Rej 404; 559   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ... Some time ago my wife and I watched a movie titled, The Indictment: The McMartin Trial, based on the true story of one of the longest, most expensive and most futile court cases in history. A very committed Christian family (mother, daughter, grand-daughter) owning a day care centre, and three female employees, were accused of sexually...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 28 No. 04 – February 1983   Friends In High Places   Sermon by Rev. A. I. deGraaf v.d.m. on Romans 8.34 & James 5:16 Scripture Readings: Exodus 17: 8-13 & 28:15-35; Romans 8.31-39 Liturgy: BoW Ps 47; 369:1,2,3; BoW Ps.103:5,7; 381:3;                         408:3; BoW Hy 501:1,2,3,4   It must be a nice and safe feeling, to have FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES like in the city council or in the federal cabinet, someone who can speak up for you in case you get into trouble; someone who can mention your name there where it really matters....

Word of Salvation – Vol. 39 No.47 – December 1994   All Things For Good   Sermon by: Rev. H.O. Berends on Roman 8:28b   Brothers and sisters, boys and girls, young people, Isn't it a beautiful psalm, this Psalm 91?  The psalmist is speaking about God's people.  He is speaking about those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and who rest in the shadow of the Almighty. And this is what he says: if you belong to God, then no harm shall befall you. If you trust in the Lord, then all will be well with you. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 21 – June 1998   Right With God Through Faith   A Sermon by Rev. J. Haverland on Romans 4 Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6; Romans 4   Congregation. Over the past couple of decades in our western society we have seen a great emphasis on people's needs; not just their basic needs for shelter, food and clothing, but also their social and psychological needs. We all recognise that there are great needs in our society, needs generated by the present state of our nation – broken marriages and homes, unemployment and racial tension. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol.53 No.14 – April 2008   He Was Raised to Life for Our Justification An EASTER Sermon by Rev John De Hoog on Romans 4:25 Scripture Readings:  1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Romans 4:18-5:5 Suggested Singing:  BoW 16; 312; 332   Brothers and Sisters in Christ. At 2.30 in the morning on Monday, July 9, 1984, lightning struck the York Minster cathedral. This majestic Gothic cathedral was the pride of the town of York in the north of England. A raging fire broke out, the beautiful, carved oak vaulting of the southern end of the cathedral was reduced to...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.3 - January 2007   Christianity vs Islam - what's the difference?   A Sermon by Rev Bill Bosker Scripture Reading: Gen 15:1-7; Rom 4:1-8, 13-25; Rom 3:21-26   Dear Congregation. Introduction: I think we all agree the world is a different place after September 11, 2001. If we hadn't thought about Islam and the Muslim faith before then, we do now. Islam is attractive to millions of people because it has a world-view where all of life is religion. Does that ring any bells for you? Rev Victor Attallah of Middle East Reformed Fellowship (MERF),...