The Heidelberg Catechism - The Foundations Of Our Faith

When the Great Commission Caused a Great Commotion by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey Arthur T. Pierson explains in The Acts of the Holy Spirit: "When disciples have a true revival, society gets a revolution. When the Spirit moves mightily upon children of God we may look for other mighty movements among unbelievers, and need not be surprised if the devil himself comes down, having great wrath, as though he knew that his time were short." Acts 19:23 reads, "And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way." This happened as those of the Way carried out the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the four gospels and the book of Acts. Note three scenes in this segment of the life and ministry of the apostle Paul. First, he is in the line of sacred duty (Acts 19:21-27). Paul was in Ephesus at this time on his third missionary journey, where a silversmith named Demetrius who made shrines to Diana felt his livelihood threatened by the progres...

2 Timothy 4:16-18 CSB [16] At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. [17] But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. [18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen. Paul and your Dilemma 2 Timothy 4:9-15 CSB [9] Make every effort to come to me soon, [10] because Demas has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. [11] Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. [12] I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. [13] When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. [14] Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him...

F W Boreham on The Powder Magazine F W Boreham's essay entitled, 'The Powder Magazine', first published in 'The Other Side of the Hill' (London: Charles H Kelly, 1917), 253-264. 21   I  I have a special fondness for explosive people. I can never persuade myself that dynamite got into the world by accident. I intolerantly scout the theory that the devil built all the volcanoes, and that his minions feed their furious fires. I have admired an indescribable grandeur in the hurricane. I have felt the cyclone to be splendid, and the tornado to be next door to sublimity. Even the earthquake has a glory of its own. And how a thunderstorm clears the air! How deliciously sweet my garden smells when the riven clouds have passed, and the glittering drops are still clinging like pendant gems to the drooping petals and the bright green leaves! And, in the same way, I have discovered something terribly sublime in those stormy elements that sweep the realm within. There was a time...

J ESUS, and shall it ever be,    A mortal man ashamed of Thee, Ashamed of Thee, Whom angels praise, Whose glories shine through endless days?  2   Ashamed of Jesus!—Sooner far Let evening blush to own a star; He sheds the beams of light divine O'er this benighted soul of mine.  3   Ashamed of Jesus!—Just as soon Let midnight be ashamed of noon; 'Tis midnight with my soul till He, Bright Morning Star, bid darkness flee.  4   Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend On Whom my hopes of Heaven depend! No! when I blush, be this my shame, That I no more revere His name.  5   Ashamed of Jesus!—Yes I may When I've no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save.  6   Till then—nor is my boasting vain— Till then I boast a Saviour slain; And O, may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me!   Joseph Grigg , c 1728-68, alt Benjamin Francis, 1734-99 I Am No...

"LOOK WHO´S HERE! 'Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.' (Daniel 3:24-25) In Playing Marbles with Diamonds, Dr. Vance Havner writes, "John the Baptist stood at the Jordan and said to his listeners, 'There standeth One among you whom ye know not,' and the next day he declared, 'Behold the Lamb of God!' Every Sunday morning there stands among the churchgoers One Whom many of them know not. It is the business of the preacher to present the Christ Who is always there when we meet in His Name and bid the congregation, 'Look who's here!'" Dr. Havner comments, "One of these days, 'it ma...

Dr. Alan Redpath (1907-1989) exhorts, "Listen to me. Never, never, NEVER trust your own judgment in anything. When common sense says that a course is right, lift up your head to God, for the path of faith and the path of blessing may be in a direction completely opposite to that which you call common sense. When voices tell you that action is urgent, that something must be done immediately, refer everything to the tribunal of heaven. Then, if you are still in doubt, dare to stand still. If called on to act and you have not time to pray, don't act. If you are called on to move in a certain direction and cannot wait until you have peace with God about it, don't move. Be strong enough and brave enough to dare to stand and wait on God, for none of them that wait on Him shall ever be ashamed. That is the only way to outmatch the devil." Alan Redpath, Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua (Westwood, NJ: Fleming Revell Co., 1955), 143-143.

This is what it means to rest upon the Lord. Remember Refocus Rest "I need not ask whether I may call on Him or not, for that word 'Whosoever' is a very wide and comprehensive one...My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels. I am His servant, not His solicitor. I call upon Him, and He will deliver." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Remember Refocus Rest Rejoice. How to handle stress and anger. Psalm 4:1-8 CSB [1] … For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of David. Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. a You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. [2] How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Selah [3] Know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. [4] Be angry and do not sin; on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still. Selah Remember Charles H. Spurgeon said, "Memory is a fit handmaid for faith." Sacred memory encourages believers to trust and obey God's Word. Notice the movements in Psalm 103. Inwardly, David addresses his heart's purpose. Psalm 103:1-5 reads, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who...

Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Steve Grose <steve.grose@gmail.com> Date: 21 December 2025 at 6:23:45 am AEDT To: rev.stevengrose.millie@blogger.com Subject: Letter of Resignation  Saturday December 13, 2025 Dr. Steven Grose Dear Friends, I have had the pleasure of pastoring and being a personal friend to you over these last  eight years. I have enjoyed encouragement and growth together. The session at Blaxland Christian Reformed Church had authorised Kevin Rietveld to  preach and lead a funeral service for his cousin on November 8 th . He had pled guilty to  seven counts of indecent assault against four Solomon Islander girls all under the age of 15 between 2010 and 2012. He was imprisoned in the Solomon Islands for three years after trial in 2019. I have viewed a service available online on Youtube at Blaxland Reformed Church's website: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-L1QHbH6T80 The Youtube site indicates more than 250 peop...

Allow me to contextualise a reformed view against the context from which reformed churches arose, that of Roman Catholicism. This is the main reason for the term "reformed" it means to reform back from a distorted view back to the original new testament viewpoint. Let us understand first of all how Roman Catholicism understands the sacraments. The Seven Catholic Sacraments Baptism Confirmation Reconciliation Mass Marriage Priesthood Last Rites   The Latin word sacramentum  means "a sign of the sacred" The Seven Sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant, and important for Christians. The Seven Sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant, and important for Christians. "the Sacraments are Christ's own gifts that strengthen our relationship with him, a relationship we call grace." The Sacraments are signs of God's love. Sacrament: "A...