Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 18 – June 1992   Heavenly Blessings   Sermon by Rev. Bruce Gillard on Ephesians 1:3 Reading: Ephesians 1:1-23 Singing: 168, 32, 412, 373.   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters, Isn't it fantastic when something good and unexpected happens to us in life?  Recently someone shared with me how they unexpectedly received a promotion at work.  They moved higher up the ladder, closer to home and more pleasant working conditions.  What a blessing when something like that happens, and particularly in these times of high unemployment. Or imagine that you...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 36 No. 40 – October 1991   Divine Election   Sermon by Rev. John TerHorst on Ephesians 1:4-6 Reading: Romans 9:1-21, Eph. 1:3–14   Congregation of Jesus Christ, National elections are a part of life.  We may become sceptical about the many promises.  Sometimes we are upset by the money needed to hold elections.  Yet, it is part of our democratic system of government.  And of course, the results are always well publicised.  That is because most people, not only politicians, are interested in the outcome.  Often results flow in, many hours before the final outcome...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 03 – January 1992   Divine Election Or Human Responsibility?   Sermon by Rev. John TerHorst on Ephesians 1:11-14 Reading: Psalm 33 & 1Peter 2:1-10   Congregation, friends and visitors, John Stott once wrote that man, '...imprisoned in his own little ego, has an almost boundless confidence in the power of his own will, and an almost insatiable appetite for the praise of his own glory.'  After all the lessons of history, mankind persists in believing he does not need God to build a better society.  However, the sad reality speaks for itself.  Human...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 24 – June 1992   Being Filled With The Spirit   Sermon by Rev. L. Douma on Ephesians 5:18-21 Reading: Acts 2:1-17 Singing: 345, 155, 345, 348, 344.   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, Today is Pentecost Sunday, the day we celebrate the fact that the Holy Spirit was poured out.  No longer was the gift of the Spirit given in a trickle to a few chosen people.  But as the prophet Joel announced: In the last days, God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'  And on Pentecost, ten...

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...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 37 – October 1988   Building The Body Of Christ   Sermon by Rev. M. P. Geluk Lord's Day 21, Q.&A. 54. Reading: John 10:1-16; Ephesians 4:1-16; Heidelberg Catechism: LD21 Singing: Ps.H. 89:1,2; 38:3; 426; 398; 402.   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The process of building is always very visible.   At first there is a vacant block of land.  The activity begins with stakes being put into the ground, indicating where the building will come.  Then the foundations are laid, the frame and the walls go up.  The roof is put on,...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 34 No. 17 – May 1989   Christ The Ascended On High Lord... His Absolute Supremacy   Sermon by Rev. D. J. Van Garderen on Ephesians 4:8-10 Reading: Eph 4:1-16, and alternative between Psalm 68 or Acts 1:1-11.   Dear Congregation, The first years of the life of the Church in Ephesus were truly glorious ones.  The message of salvation in Christ, the Gospel, had taken root.  It had become the foundation of a church in which a genuine love for Christ and fellow believers dominated all else. Paul wrote of this as follows..."Ever since I...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 18 – May 1990   Husbands, Love As Christ Loves   Sermon by Rev. S. Bajema on Ephesians 5:25-33 Reading: Hosea 2:2-3:5 Singing: 851,2; 424;389;62:1,3,4; 366; 85:3.   Church of our Lord Jesus Christ Marriage is one of the most misunderstood areas in our modern age. Here we have two separate unique individuals who come together in the most intimate and close relationship. And what a complex thing it is! There are hundreds of interactions occurring all the time. Like the way they are at breakfast, in saying hello, or goodbye, or not saying...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 41 – November 1990   Honouring Parents And Others In Authority   Sermon by Rev. M.P. Geluk on Lord's Day 39 Readings: Proverbs 4; Ephesians 6:1-4   From the catechism material, in use by our churches, comes the following story, which you may or may not have heard before. 'Once upon a time there was a father who had grown old and frail.  His eyes blinked and his hands trembled.  When he ate, he clattered the cutlery against the plate, missed his mouth with the fork and spoon as often as not, dribbled food...

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. 29 – August 1996   Will This Be The Last Year Of Your Life?   Sermon by Rev. D. Groenenboom on Ephesians 5:1-2 Scripture Readings: Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2 Suggested Hymns: BoW 121a; 176; 499; 503   Beloved Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just for a moment this morning/afternoon, you can see into the future.  You see forward to one year from now (name the date one year from today).  You see people are standing around, quietly.  You see others who look like they've been crying.  You hear the soft tones...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 41 – November 1997   The Christian Walk – Negative   Sermon by Rev. B. G. Aldridge on Ephesians 4:17-31 Suggested Hymns: BoW 497; 389; 431; 182; 240   Brothers and Sisters. Sometimes a book is published which changes the thinking of a whole generation of people.  I am sure you can think of some.  Norman Vincent Peale published one such book about 30 years ago, called: The Power of Positive Thinking.  He declared that the way we think influences who we think we are.  His thesis is simple: "Think well about yourself and...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 09 – March 1998   Christ's Ascension – Our Comfort!   An Ascension Sermon by Rev. P. Abetz on Ephesians 2:6 Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10             (other suitable readings include:               Hebrews 3:1-6; Philippians 3:12-16; Acts 1:1-11) Suggested Hymns: BoW 328; 373; 332; 519   Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction If I were to ask you where you are sitting at this point in time, I guess most of you would want to say to me: Well, open your eyes!  Can't you see?  Here on the chairs in this church! ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 44 No.11 – March 1999   Saved by Grace, but what about Works?   Sermon by Rev Dr K. V. Warren on Ephesians 2:8 & 6:8 [It will be advisable to read these texts somewhat in the context, so select a few extra verses to read, before and/or after these two verses] Scripture Reading: James 2:14-26 Suggested Hymns: BoW 176; 433:1,5,6; 32:1,3,5; 416; 367:1,4; 525   Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ. You arrive in church one Sunday morning, have a quick glance at the bulletin after you have found a seat, and all of a...

KNOWING GOD BETTER Rev Peter Smit   Sermon 2 of a series on Ephesians (Series title – “Ephesians: Portraits of the living church”)   Text – Ephesians 1:15-23   The title of this series on Ephesians is “Portraits of the living church.” The first portrait we looked at from the first half of Chapter 1 was of God’s amazing blessings poured out on us.   Today’s portrait is a picture on prayer.   When you pray for friends, family, parents, children, your church family what do you pray? Common prayers that we often pray are for protection, guidance in decision making,...

BLESSED BEYOND REASON Rev. Peter Smit Sermon 1 of a series on Ephesians (Series title – “Ephesians: Portraits of the living church”   Text – Ephesians 1:1-14 Reading – Acts 19   Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a portrait of the living church. It captures the church in all its differing aspects of beauty and power. More importantly it helps us see the head of the church, God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   Paul wrote this letter to Christians. He addresses them as, “The saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.”   These were people who...

Word of Salvation – Vol.52 No.43 – November 2007   Redemptive Relationships   By Rev. John De Hoog Text: Ephesians 4:1-6 Readings: Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-35 Suggested music: BoW 447; 434   What does it mean to be a Christian community? In our celebrations of the Lord's Supper, sometimes we read from 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for...

Word of Salvation December 2010   BEING PREPARED FOR BATTLE – PART 2 By Rev. Peter Smit (Sermon 14 (final) of a series on Ephesians, Series Title – Ephesians: Portraits of a living church)   Text – Ephesians 6:13-17   Spiritual warfare is real. Jesus faced it, the disciples faced it, and if you’re a Christian you’ll face it. We saw last week that our struggle; our up close and personal wrestle, is not against human forces but rather against spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers in this dark world; Satan and his rebellious demonic angels.   You ignore this at your...

Word of Salvation - February 2011   THE POWER OF TRUTH WITH LOVE, Rev. John de Hoog (Sermon 10 in a series on the Ten Commandments)   Reading: Deuteronomy 19:15-21; Proverbs 6:16-19 Text: Exodus 20:16; Ephesians 4:15   Human beings are made in God’s image. That basic fact about us gives the Ten Commandments all their power. A couple of examples:   “You shall not murder”. When we murder or attack another human being, it involves attacking God, because we are tearing up God’s image in that other person.   “You shall not steal.” God made human beings to own and...

Word of Salvation - October 2015   A Divine Cosmic Transition Plan Text: Ephesians 1 - by Rev. Pieter Tuit   Congregation of Jesus Christ, the church’s feast days are over. In this past church year we have celebrated Advent, Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day and two Sundays ago Pentecost. There are no special feast days anymore until we start with a new cycle with Advent 2014. However, it is good to remember that just because the feast days are over, this does not mean that the reality of these feast days is not with us anymore. Your life,...