Sermons on Reuben:

The Burden And Blessing Of Forgiving Others

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

The gospel has made us all brothers and sisters, one in Christ Jesus. It has torn down whatever dividing walls used to stand between us, and it’s given us a reason to love and to forgive.

There are two sisters who aren’t speaking to one another because of things that happened, years ago: What does the gospel say to them? There’s a brother in the church who’s made a serious mistake: What does the gospel say to him, and those around him? There’s a whole congregation that needs ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:12-14, Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Follow Folly

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

Will we live on the streets of “sin city,” laying our head down in the gutter of wickedness? Or will we listen to the invitation of wisdom, to follow in God’s ways and live in the glory of his eternal mansions?

How wonderful all things were in the beginning! When we read Genesis 1, we hear this theme repeated: “And God saw that it was good.” Time and again, culminating with this declaration on the sixth day: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (v 31). It was very good. Man and woman ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:1-18, Proverbs 9:13-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Walk In Humility

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

God wants us to cast aside all human pride, and to humbly trust that we need nothing except in him and in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Humility is of great importance in our Christian lives. Think of the well-known “summary of the law” in Micah, “He has showed you, O man, what is good and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8). Humility is so vital, yet there’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith In Action

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 4, 2021

Take the Word of God with you—whether you’re an older man, an older woman, a young woman or a young man, or a child. Let God’s Word fill you and move you. May it be said of us, “Those are people who really know what the Bible teaches. And they also put it into practice.”

What does it mean to be a Christian? How would you answer that question? I think we’d start with what we believe. As Christians, we believe in the Bible as God’s Word. We believe that our God is Triune, that all people are dead in sin, and that we have new life through faith in Christ. As ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Do You Answer Jesus?

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 4, 2021

What is our reaction to the Saviour? What do we do with the message of Jesus Christ? That’s a good question for us, who hear and read often about the coming of Jesus in the flesh and about his dying on the cross. So what do we do now? How do treat the message of the gospel?

In this world there are scientists of all kinds. So many people, researching so many areas of knowledge. And among these many scientists, there are those who study human behaviour. They will even conduct social experiments because they want to know why people act and react the way we do. You could ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Luke 2:21-40, Luke 2:25-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Bridegroom Gives An Abundance Of New Wine

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 7, 2021

To those who love him, the Bridegroom gives this promise: his great marriage feast is coming! At that feast there won’t ever be the disappointment that it’s coming to an end, that the joy is running out, but there will be blessedness unending.

When you meet someone new, it can take a while to get to know them. Maybe you’re starting at high school or university, and you’re meeting all kinds of people for the first time. Or you just gained a few new colleagues at work. Well, it’ll take a while to get acquainted. You chat together on and ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, John 20:24-31, Joel 3:14-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Gives Life To The Dying

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 14, 2021

Jesus doesn’t give every answer, and He sometimes sends us on ahead without any certainty that things are going to change. He doesn’t give a sign that will ease every doubt about our future, or worries about our family, or whatever else. Yet we can be confident in all that He has said.

How much power do your words have? I mean, if you gave an order or a command, would your words carry any weight? Maybe they would, if you’re a mom and you asked your son to empty the dishwasher, or if you’re in charge at the office and you told your secretary to draft a letter. You speak, and it ...read more

Scripture: John 4:39-45, John 5:24-30, John 4:46-54

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Praying With Good King Hezekiah

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 22, 2021

Looking back on the last few months, do you feel like you’ve been praying more, or is it less? Is this a practice that has been strengthened with you, or has it struggled? Has the seeking become less diligent, or the knocking not so confident? A praying Christian is a living Christian!

In Luke 11:9 Jesus says these words to us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Simple commands, yet astonishing. For his words reveal the great privilege that we have when we pray. This is the heavenly power that we access whenever we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, 2 Kings 20:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Measured Against The Plumb Line

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 22, 2021

We are tested every day by the Word of God. Are we continuing upright in the ways of the Lord? Are we inclined toward sin, or are we striving to be true to the Lord? The Word of God tests us, every time that we read it, every time we hear it.

Have you ever seen a plumb line? Simply, it’s a string with a heavy weight tied to one end of it. A bricklayer will hang a plumb line beside a wall that’s under construction, to see if the wall is being built vertical and true. If things are out of kilter, then he’ll be able to see it right away: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Amos 2:6-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Blessing Of Tithing

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 22, 2021

It is easy to take the credit for our success. But if we understand where all blessing comes from, we start to realize that this is something that God has granted. Then we rejoice as we give, and we are glad to show him our gratitude.

They say that it’s bad manners to bring up certain topics in public. One of these sensitive issues is money. We could talk about finances in a general way—interest rates, property taxes, the markets—but when it comes to personal finance, it’s a different story. It’s not polite to talk about how ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-19, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Deuteronomy 14:22-29

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sing Of Your Salvation!

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 22, 2021

The keynote theme of Scripture is the great and marvelous works of our God. In Christ, God has redeemed us from sin and death. So let that be your chorus and your refrain, each day of your life. Rejoice in the Lord!

Sometimes there’s a reality so rich and so deep we can use many different words to describe it. It’s beauty and power can’t be captured by just one term. That’s the case when talking about what God has given us through our Lord Jesus. We might call it salvation. Or redemption. But it’s also ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:20-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Moment Everything Crumbles

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 22, 2021

Have you had one of those moments when it feels like you have hit rock bottom? Like everything has crumbled, and you are despairing? If you have had such a moment, then you may understand a bit of how Ezekiel felt in chapter 10.

Have you had one of those moments when it feels like you’ve hit rock bottom? Everything has crumbled, and you’re despairing? If you’ve had such a moment, then you may understand a bit of how Ezekiel feels in our chapter. For in a vision he sees a terrible thing: he sees the glory of the LORD leave ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 43:1-9, Ezekiel 10:18-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus' Mercy For The Hopeless

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 7, 2021

Do you want to get well? Do you want to be made whole? Then are you desiring Christ? Are you seeking the Lord, and putting your hope in him alone?

In the book of Proverbs we read this wisdom, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (13:12). Like so much of Proverbs, these words capture well the experience of our lives. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Someone who prays and prays for the healing ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-23, John 5:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Looking For Answers In The Wrong Places

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Oct 24, 2021

We must know beyond any doubt that our God does speak to us. The LORD God comes near to us, and with living words He tells us his will. God speaks to us, and directs us in what we’ve got to do.

Some years ago I saw a sign out front of a church. The sign read: “There are Some Questions that Can’t Be Answered By Google.” It’s a good point. Because where do you turn for answers to your questions? Many turn almost automatically to Google. If we want information, or directions, or inspiration, ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Real Repentance

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Nov 7, 2021

Repentance means change. What was I doing before I repented? What kind of life was I leading before? And how will things be different now? That’s not a one-time question, but it’s asked day after day. What shall we do? We bear fruit, for the glory of the God who saved us.

It’s a great privilege, being a minister of God’s Word. Yet preaching is a difficult job. What makes it hard is not really the years of study beforehand. It’s not the many hours spent every week writing sermons. It’s not even getting over the fear of public speaking. Preaching is difficult because ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed