God stirs His people to build – a sermon on Ezra 5:1-2 and Haggai 1:1-11 by Rev. Craig van Echten
The Lord reigns! – a sermon on Psalm 93 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. If you drive a couple of hours south from Auckland you get to the Waitomo district. The most famous attraction of the area is the Waitomo caves. In addition to its soaring limestone caverns and rock formations, there’s also an underwater lake. […]
This Body’s Got Spirit – a sermon read by Br. Gary Vowles, written by Rev. Sjirk Bajema on Acts 1 and Lord’s Day 21. Brothers and sisters, young people, boys and girls. 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 […]
From Passover to Lord’s Supper – a sermon on Luke 22:1-23 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. Symbols and signs are important things in our lives. They’re used to tell us things – such as to stop at an intersection. There are also status symbols – such as a luxury German car or a Rolex watch. But […]
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead – a sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 by Rev. Ralph Adams. In what is possibly the most devastating experience I’ve ever had, I was with my wife at the bedside of our son Troy… when doctors at St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney, told us that Troy was […]
It is finished! – a sermon on Good Friday on John 19:16b-30 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. It is the Day of Preparation – the day before the Sabbath – almost 2000 years ago. Across Judea, life goes on as normal. People eat and drink as they would any other day. In the marketplaces people barter […]
Come and kiss the Son – a sermon on Psalm 2 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. In the early part of the 20th century, a young Russian peasant boy was dutifully taught the Word of God by his parents and grandparents.[1] This young man later recalled how he was taught to kneel and pray and it […]
Four unexpected blessings – a sermon on Luke 6:17-26 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. What a world it is that we live in! Yes, there are wonderful people out there involved in fighting for things like justice for the poor or for refugees or for the rights of children. But in general that’s not what the […]
God is Good! – a sermon on James 1:16-18 by Rev Colin Pretorius In the church-based TV show “Greenleaf” the characters greet each other with “God is good” and the response is “All the time”. Despite the fact that almost all of the people in this show are so “plastic”, so superficial, this customary greeting […]
The Foolishness of God’s Salvation – a sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:21 by Rev. Ralph Adams. Perhaps you have heard of the ‘Mensa’ organization? Mensa is a club for those with very high IQ’s. One needs to have an IQ of 148 or more to be a member. ‘Mensa’ is the Latin word for ‘table, […]
The Eye of the Storm – a sermon on Psalm 46 by Rev. Clinton Berends, read by Br. Fred Bruinsma. Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, The sea has often been portrayed as being synonymous with chaos. Biblically the stories of the flood, the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, the crossing of […]
Doing good to all – a sermon by Rev. Renier Noppers on Galatians 6, read by Br. Gary Vowles. One of the most hurtful charges that could ever be made against any church is that we have consideration only of ourselves, meeting our own needs without any thought or regard for anyone else. To live […]
Scatterlings live and serve in humility – a sermon on 1 Peter 5:1-11 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. The sermon today, as you may have guessed from the sermon title, has to do with humility. And as we look at what humility means and how it plays out in the life of believers, I’d like you […]
Help for the weary – a sermon on Isaiah 40:27-31 by Rev. Ralph Adams. This sermon is a second from Isaiah 40, this time from the end of the chapter – verses 27 to 31: 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my […]
Only those who submit to God will be lifted up – a sermon on James 4:7-10 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. The theme of our verses in James is submission to God, or humility before God. When you read through the book of James, you cannot help but to be struck by its intensely practical nature. […]
Scatterling-elders shepherd God’s flock with a servant heart – a sermon on 1 Peter 5:1-11 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. If it is your first time with us today or if you’ve missed the past dozen or so sermons, you might be wondering what this scatterling –thing is all about. What is this scatterling-elders that I’m […]
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord – a sermon on Joshua 24:1-15 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. What do you see as your main task as someone who belongs to God? What is each one of us called to do? Throughout God’s Word we are called to “fear” the Lord, aren’t […]
Seek ye first the kingdom of God – a sermon on James 4:1-3 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. This passage has different titles in our various English translations: submit yourself to God, drawing close to God, warning against worldliness, friendship with the world, or things to avoid.[1] The first 12 verses comprise all of those things […]
Give God the glory – a sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Rev. Ralph Adams. Back in 1874, Gil Dodds ran the fastest mile ever, on an indoor track. At the end of [the] race, he picked up a microphone to acknowledge [the crowd] and said: “I thank the Lord for guiding me through the race, […]
Scatterlings entrust their souls to God while doing good – a sermon on 1 Peter 4:12-19 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. In the South-western part of Russia lies the town Saratov. It’s about 4 times the size of Ipswich, and prior to 1991 it was perhaps best known for being a city that was closed to […]
Christ came to set us free – a sermon on John 8:31-38 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. “I want to break free,” the group Queen famously sang. But what does “free” mean? It can of course refer to something that doesn’t cost you anything – perhaps like the gifts you may receive at Christmas. But it […]
Scatterlings are made for this. A sermon on 1 Peter 4:7-11 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. I know some of you like camping and doing all sorts of outdoorsy things, so you may appreciate the brief story I’d like to share with you.[1] Some years ago a young family went on a camping trip to a […]
Scatterlings live for the will of God – a sermon on 1 Peter 4 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. What do you live for? What’s your aim in life? What do you want to achieve? Is it to pass your final year in school so you can get out of the house into the big wide […]
Comfort for my people – a sermon on Isaiah 40:1-11 by Rev. Ralph Adams. Today, on the second Sunday of Advent, God’s eternal message is again couched in Isaiah’s words from this prophecy: ”Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” ’Comfort from your God’ is the gospel I’m to preach to you, today. I am […]
Christ the almond branch – a sermon on Numbers 17, written by the Rev J. Westendorp and read by Br. Brendan Strasser.
Living out our faith in the crucible of life – a sermon on James 1 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. So far 2020 has been a year of challenges, hasn’t it! Some said that this year we just had three months – January, February and Covid. And that third month has been one drawn out challenge […]
Be Still and know – a sermon on Psalm 46 by Rev. Colin Pretorius. Martin Luther is perhaps best known today for his “rediscovery” of the doctrine of justification by faith alone, which of course was a cornerstone of the Reformation. But what is perhaps less well-known is that he loved the psalms and found […]
God’s Word at work in believers – a sermon by Rev. Ralph Adams on 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Dennis Prager, of Prager University, once asked atheist philosopher Jonathon Glover this pointed question: “Professor Glover, just say your car broke down at midnight, stranding you in a desolate back-city street. Then, as you step from your car […]
Genesis 15:1-4, Deuteronomy 3:23-26 Take it to the Lord in prayer – a sermon by Rev. Colin Pretorius. Before the Covid crisis, going on a cruise was a favourite way to take a holiday. For some reason people really seem to enjoy bobbing up and down in a big ship. But if you’re prone to […]
1 Peter 3:8-12 – Scatterlings live in the the light of the cross. A sermon by Rev. Colin Pretorius. I once read that life is like an elevator ride – it not only has a lot of ups and downs, but it’s also filled with people who push all the wrong buttons. And if we’re […]