Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 36 – September 1998   Sanctified Worship   A Sermon by Rev. M. Flinn on Psalm 29:2 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-5; Psalm 29   Congregation... One of the most popular subjects in church circles today, even churches across very different denominational lines, is the subject of worship.  What is done or not done in services of worship is both a talking point and a tension point with many.  But if we really want to be trendy and break new ground, we can speak of worship renewal or worship revival.  By this we mean that...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 40 No.30 – August 1995   The Lord Is My Shepherd   Sermon by Rev. H. O. Berends on Psalm 23:1 Scripture Readings: Psalm 23; John 10:1-18   Brothers and sisters, boys and girls, young people, Sheep are very common in our country, aren't they?  And they are very important for the economy of our nation – as they were in Palestine, both in the time of the Old Testament, and later, in the days of Jesus. In Palestine, too, sheep were both common and important.  And shepherds were, too – and so we often read...

Word of Salvation – Vol.49 No.38 – October 2004   Our Inheritance in Christ   Sermon by Rev C Kavanagh on Psalm 16 Scripture Reading:  Romans 8:28-39   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ... In this Psalm, the Psalmist, who is King David, expresses his great confidence in God. He tells about his reliance on God and his being taken up fully with God. He is also asking to be kept safe by God. He takes refuge in God. He may even be in some life-threatening situation, as we can see from the end of the Psalm and his confidence in...

Word of Salvation – Vol.44 No.2 - January 1999   Abused?  You Can Survive!   Sermon by Rev D. Groenenboom on Psalm 10 Scripture Readings: Psalm 10; Luke 4:14-21 (Psalm 73; Mark 5:1-20) Suggested Hymns: BoW: 386; 383; 20; 424; 57A; Rej: 500   [Author’s Note:  It is quite obvious that this Psalm does not mention the matter of Abuse per se, but given its frequent reference to violence perpetrated by one person on another, its application to Abuse is clear.] Brothers and sisters in Christ. 1.  The Reality of Abuse There is little doubt that one of the most painful...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 35 – September 1990   To Be Forgiven Is To Be Blessed   Sermon by Rev. J. P. De Boer on Psalm 32:1, 2 Readings: Psalm 32, Luke 18:9-14   This text is talking about something that most if not all people want: blessing.  Generally speaking, all people want to be blessed.  They may not use the same term but they want what this means.  The word blessed means happiness; when you are blessed you are happy; when you are blessed you are privileged, and you are someone to be envied.  And that's what...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 26 – July 1986   The Book Of Nature   Sermon by Rev. S. Cooper on Psalm 19 & Belgic Confession Article 2A. Singing: 31; 30 (402); 208; 315; 488.   Halley's Comet has helped to put the heavens back on the map.  Millions of people who seldom check out the heavens now crane their necks to look for the comet.  Thousands from the northern hemisphere have planned special excursions to the southern hemisphere in order to get maximum viewing.  Living in New Zealand has made it easier for us to check out the...

Word of Salvation - April 2011   KNOW THAT GOD IS HOLY; HE JUDGES SINNERS By Rev. John de Hoog (Sermon 1 in a series on Micah)   Text- Micah 1:1-7   What do you think of Psalm 137?   “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? If I...

Word of Salvation - January 2011   THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION By Rev. John Haverland (Sermon 1 in a series on texts related to the Heidelberg Catechism)   Readings: Ephesians 5:8-20; Romans 8:28-39 Text: Psalm 27:1-6 (read whole psalm) Heidelberg Catechism LD 1 Theme: David’s confident prayer that he will be delivered from his enemies & know God’s presence Purpose: To urge you to find your confidence and strength in God our light and salvation.   ***********************   The first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism is well known and much loved; “What is your only...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 40 – October 1998   The Divine Vine and His Line   A Sermon by Rev. S. Bajema on Psalm 144:12 Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:18 - 4:6; Psalm 144 Suggested Hymns: BoW 144:1, 2, 4; 435; 238; 78a; 331   Congregation... What do you see when you pray? Perhaps the boys and girls will be thinking: "But you're supposed to pray with your eyes shut!"  You're quite right, of course.  Keeping our eyes shut physically usually helps us to concentrate better while we're praying. But, now, you think about what you're praying.  Are you...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 39 – October 1998   Living Together   Sermon by Rev. B. Vaatstra on Psalm 133 Scripture Readings: Ephesians 4:1-16 Suggested Hymns: BoW: 22a; 133a; 428; 481; Rejoysing: 23; 333   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction: One of AESOP'S FABLES goes something like this: There was once a father who had five sons who were constantly quarrelling.  One day, tired and weary from their bickering he asked them to bring him a bundle of sticks.  Handing the bundle to the oldest, he said, "break it!"  The son tried to break it over...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 43 No. 06 – February 1998   De Profundis   Sermon by Rev. J. W. Deenick on Psalm 130 Scripture Readings: Psalm 6; Romans 8:18-25; Luke 13:1-9 Suggested Hymns: BoW 421; 51a:1, 5, 8; 154; 181; 443; 531   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why do we still read and sing these Old Testament psalms?  Why should we still dwell so much on the sins and the troubles that were part and parcel of Jewish life but from which we have been set free in and through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ? We do...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 40 No.39 – October 1995   Is Your God An Idol?   Sermon by Rev. J. De Hoog on Psalm 115 Scripture Readings: Psalm 96:1-6; Exodus 20:1-6; Isaiah 44:6-23 Suggested Hymns: BoW 96; 115; 157   Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have read the first two Commandments again today, and we often say that the Ten Commandments are just as relevant for us today as they were for the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai four thousand years ago.  But let's think about the first two commandments.  What are they about?...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 39 No.26 – July 1994   The Faithful God   Sermon by Rev. M. De Graaf Text: Psalm 106 Hymn: B.o.W.390   Brothers and sisters, There's probably no more effective way to put most people to sleep than to mention the possibility of a history lesson.  We don't mind the exciting things like knights in armour or the first fleet arriving in Botany Bay.  But remembering all those dates and strange names and places, no, most people would happily give it all a miss.  As you might guess I find that a real pity.  History does...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 44 No.35 – September 1999   Praise the Creator   Sermon by Rev B Hoyt on Psalm 104 Scripture Readings: Genesis 1   Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. [If relevant...  I'm sure I don't have to tell you that it's holiday time.  Many of you have had a week or two away enjoying yourselves and taking a break from your ordinary work.] One of the special things about holiday times is the opportunity to go out with family and friends for a tramp in the mountains or to spend few days fishing or...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No.35 – September 2001   When Heaven Is Your Home   Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Psalm 137 Scripture Readings: Revelation 18; Psalm 137   Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ... There are many Christians who have asked a lot of questions about this Psalm.  Perhaps you've got some questions too, after having heard it now.  There is one thing we cannot question about this Psalm, however – it is full of passion!  This psalmist leaves us in no doubt about what he feels, and why he feels that way.  A feeling, which certainly...

FULL CIRCLE! Rev Sjirk Bajema   Sermon 2 on Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 52 (Q & A 128-129) Scripture Reading: Psalm 115   Church of the Lord Jesus Christ...   Before we consider the way we end our prayers, let’s reflect on what has made up our prayer so far. We note that we began praying by looking up to where the Lord is - “Our Father who art in heaven.” Here is child-like faith. We know our place. To sum up, this is HIS POSITION.   And as we do that we know that we have to respect Him for...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 50 No.24 – June 2005   Delighting in the Fear of the Lord   A Sermon by Rev J Westendorp on Psalm 112 (esp verse 1) Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1-8 (or Psalm 111) Suggested Hymns: BoW 178; 371; 112; 34a   Introduction Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever heard someone say: 'I want to enjoy myself before I become a Christian'? I recall three young men in their late teens whom I knew many years ago. Over the years they had often been challenged by the pastor and the elders. But the answer...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 50 No.23 – June 2005   Be Wise... Fear God!   A Sermon by Rev J Westendorp on Psalm 111 (esp verse 10) Scripture Readings: Proverbs 9 (or Luke 12:1-7) & Psalm 111 Suggested Hymns: Rej 295; BoW 111; 416; 111a   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction We live in a sentimental age where love and tolerance are regarded as the only real virtues. And that has coloured people's view of God. God is a kindly grandfather-figure upstairs who gives us lots of good things. He is a loving, tolerant God who puts up...

Word of Salvation - June 2011   GOD’S PALACE; GOD’S PEOPLE, John de Jongh (Sermon 4 in a series on 1 Peter)   Reading – Psalm 34:1-8 Text – 1 Peter 2:1-10 Songs – 181, 337, 145, In Christ alone   Outline   Ridding yourself of evil, crave pure spiritual milk!   As you come to the Lord, the Living Stone, as living stones you are being built into a spiritual house.   To believers, this stone is precious; but to unbelievers, the stone causes them to stumble.   You are God’s people, that you may declare his praises!   And...

Word of Salvation - April 2018   Blessed is a God-fearing Family By Rev. John Westendorp Text: Psalm 128 Scripture Readings: Ephesians 5:21 – 6:4 and Psalm 128   Theme: Blessing for the family is found in the fear of the Lord... and that blesses God’s Church and Kingdom.   Introd:  You may be tempted this morning to dismiss this Psalm as irrelevant.  For several reasons. For starters... it’s a song about families... and you’re sitting here as a single person.. The unmarried, the widowed and the divorced seem to be bypassed in this Psalm. But that’s not true.  Take another...