The Heidelberg Catechism - The Foundations Of Our Faith

 ‘Can a person be quite sure,’ I asked, ‘that, in the hour of perplexity, he will be rightly led? Can he feel secure against a false step? I shall never forget his reply. He sprang from his deck chair and came earnestly towards me. ‘I am certain of it,’ he exclaimed, ‘if he will but give God time! Remember that as long as you live,’ he added entreatingly—‘GIVE GOD TIME!’ More than ten years later I found myself face to face with a crisis. I had to make a decision on which my whole life's work depended, and I had to make the decision by five o'clock—the hour at which the telegraph office closed—on a certain Saturday evening. It chanced once more that a minister was my guest. But he could not help me. He thought it vastly improbable that God could concern Himself about individual trivialities. ‘The Lord has so much to see to, such a lot of beds in the ward!’ He was inclined to think that a certain element of chance dominated our mortality, that a person was...

But Christ is all and in all by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey Major W. Ian Thomas often said, “Go where you’re sent. Stay where you’re put. Give what you’ve got.” That is good advice for all God’s saints. May all God’s saints confess with Paul, “but Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11b). The epistle to the Colossians is a treasure trove of Christology, the study of Christ. Note three references to being with Christ in the first four verses of this great chapter. Colossians 3:1-2 reads, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This refers to a prioritization by the saints. Colossians 3:3 reads, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” This refers to a protection for the saints. Colossians 3:4 reads, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” This refers to a presentation of the saint...

Ephesians 1:7-11 ESV In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. [11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Psalm 139:1-16 ESV - . ...

Ephesians 1:7-11 ESV In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. [11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Psalm 139:1-16 ESV - . ...

I did a funeral for a fella who made his way across Australia with his family. He would hold a raffle for his kids’ dog at each pub in each town. But only one ticket number would come out each time, his mate’s number. Until one time another number came out. How? No one knows. Someone else one the raffle and they took the dog home. They had to go see a man about a dog late at night to steal it back and then move the whole family to the next town overnight. 6 months later I did another funeral in another area. That family told me a similar story of moving across from Perth 50 years before. The same raffle scam with the same dog. They said they had lost contact with the other family. I facilitated a two-family reunion.

TEXT: John Newton MUSIC: Alexander Reinagle ,  Bill Moore 1. How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,  And drives away his fear. 2. It makes the wounded spirit whole,  And calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul,  And to the weary, rest.  3. Dear Name, the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding place,  My never failing treasury, filled  With boundless stores of grace! 4. By Thee, my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain,  And I am owned a child. 5. Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King,  My Lord, my life, my way, my end,  Accept the praise I bring. 6. Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought;  But when I see Thee as Thou art,  I'll pra...

Our beautiful granddaughters Today we had half a day with our lovely kind loving daughter Beth and her two beautiful children Ella (4) and Mila (2). It moved me deeply when little Ella came and brought me over her mum’s book of poems by Sally Lloyd Jones “ pop, do you know Jesus?” I cannot begin to say how much it moved my heart that my granddaughter asked me that question. “Yes I do Sweet Ella” her confidence and trust overflowed her young heart. “We will one day be with grandma in heaven with Jesus. She is there now with Jesus.” Her dad’s mum had passed into glory just two years before. And how she missed her. Her simple faith as a child “Do you know Jesus ?” She did. Her simple witness. “Do you know Jesus?” Pop it’s for you We are permitted not simply to know about Him, but to know Him, not only to read of His excellency and beauty in the Book, but to have fellowship with the Apostles, who saw, heard, beheld, and handled the Word of Life. 1 John 1 That which was from the be...

the Hebrew the difference between the words  "wait " and "sing," as appearing in this passage,  is very slight. They are spelt, indeed, alike,  with the exception of a single letter. The  parallelism, therefore, between these two verses  is very marked.  9. Upon Thee, 0 my strength, I will wait,  For God is my high tower.  17. Unto Thee, 0 my strength, I will sing,  For God is my high tower,  The inscription indicates the occasion on which this Psalm,  one of the oldest, was written. "A Psalm of David : when  Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him." The.  allusions of the Psalm substantiate this title, especially that  of the sixth and fourteenth verses, in which the Psalmist  compares the troop of soldiers, bitten with their master's  spleen, who encamped around his house, belching out their  ...

Philippians 3:17-21 Do not disturb:  I am disturbed enough already! Don’t Let Them Mess With Your Head Phil 3:15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.         The Earthly Minded  vs The Heavenly Minded They are enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame --- who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Antagonistic Enemies Their Appetites   -bellies                            Their  Affections  Re...

During the months ahead you can expect that your courage will be tested. You'll face a wall you don't think you can get over, a battle you don't think you can win, or an obstacle you don't think you can get beyond. You've probably thought about that battle today. It may have robbed you of sleep last night or preoccupied your thoughts in random moments. Your "opponent" may be someone in your community, in your congregation, or among your leadership. It may be a battle with pride, anger, some habit, or perhaps a secret addiction. Whatever the challenge, the battle you face right now looks impossible to overcome. You may be right. You may not ever be able to win this battle because you're fighting the wrong way, using the wrong strategy. We were raised to match strength for strength. If the opponent is strong, we must be stronger. If he is smart, we must be smarter. The only way to win is through intimidation. All of this is true, of...

But wait…. I just told you where not to park.  I need to tell you where to park. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 2:8 the death of the cross.9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We live in a topsy turvy world.  If you seek to be first you will be last in God’s sight. Mk 9:35 If you seek to win you lose, and if you seek to lose you win Mk 10:25 If you seek to serve you will reign. Mk 10:35-45 Wait.. so if I really want to reign I gotta serve right...

Philippians 3 The Enemies Of The Gospel Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame --- who set their mind on earthly things.20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.   Paul has already warned against those who pervert the gospel of Christ.  He has called them: Beware of: The Dogs, The Evil Workers, The Mutilation.  He now has either another category or a summation the enemies of the gospel.     Paul has struggled with his d...