Sermons on Reuben:

The Stubborn Missionary

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 16, 2021

More than Jonah could ever understand, Jesus reveals the greatness of God’s mercy. God’s mercy is for sinners. His mercy is for Jews, it’s for Gentiles, it’s for people of ever nation, for all who seek him.

What does someone do when they’ve been rescued from great danger—pulled from a burning house, or saved from drowning? Or how does a person act after his life’s been spared: when he should’ve been killed, but someone had mercy? A natural response is the desire to tell people about it. Because what’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Asking For Your Inheritance

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 16, 2021

Our greatest treasure, the inheritance that we seek, isn’t down here: not in the stuff, not in the people, not in the honours. But seek God. Desire Him. Long for the one inheritance that is incorruptible, that is undefiled, and that does not fade away.

They say that children should never talk about their inheritance. Sure, one day Mom and Dad might leave something to the kids. But until that day, children shouldn’t worry about what they’ll receive, or daydream about how to spend it. We know what happened to the Prodigal Son, when he started ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 27:1-11, 1 Peter 1:1-9, Joshua 17:3-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lord Of The Storm

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 21, 2021

As Lord of all creation, Jesus won’t let anything stop his plan to redeem sinners. So there is nothing more powerful than these words of comfort for his believers: “It is I.” His words overcome all our fears: “I am Jesus. Do not be afraid.”

It is humbling to stand at the edge of the ocean. Looking out over the water, seeing the pounding surf and hearing the noise of the breakers, you realize your smallness. This is creation’s awe-inspiring power. And it’s not only impressive, it can also be dangerous. Sometimes the surfers have to ...read more

Scripture: John 6:16-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Palm Sunday King

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 23, 2021

Have a song of praise on your lips for Jesus. Be ready to go out of your way to honour him. In your life, find the equivalent of coats that you can humbly lay on the road before him. In your life, find the equivalent of branches that you can wave in the air to praise him!

Every year again there’s a day on our calendars called Palm Sunday. It always falls on the last Sunday before the Easter weekend, when the church remembers Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But unlike for those other important days, we may not really understand what Palm Sunday is all about. Sure, we ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17, Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Stays On The Road To His Death

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Apr 4, 2021

Jesus didn’t sit on Death Row. Yet his life was always moving toward that certain and terrible end: He’d be killed on the cross. He knew this, because the Scriptures pointed to it. He knew this, and He predicted it himself more than once during his ministry.

In some prisons in America there is an area known as Death Row. It’s where those who have been sentenced to die go to wait for the time of their execution. Every day on Death Row is a day closer to death. So for a prisoner, after five or ten years, there might be only 30 days left. Then only 20. ...read more

Scripture: John 12:27-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Believing Without Seeing

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Apr 4, 2021

On the day of Jesus's return we will see him, in person, face to face. Until that great day, we are those who have not seen, yet believe. We are those who have not touched and seen and heard.

There are some things about us that we just have, naturally. Think about how children look. Every child receives some features from his or her parents, like red hair or brown eyes or a certain shape of nose or chin. And sometimes we think faith is like that too. We say, “I’m pretty sure I have ...read more

Scripture: John 20:28-29

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

No Place Like Home

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 9, 2022

We would sooner give up everything of human worth, even earthly joy, physical health and wholeness, than lose that gift. For this is our true home: in Zion, with God, and in his house. This is always home for God’s people: to be with Him!

There’s no place like home. You realize that when you’ve been away for a while: maybe on vacation, a business trip, or in the hospital. Home is a refuge. For when we’re at home, we’re surrounded by the familiar. Home is security and comfort. There’s no place like it. But how do we know when we’ve ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:4-6, Jeremiah 25:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rejoice In The Lord Always!

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 16, 2022

The source of our true rejoicing is found only through a right relationship with God! Everything apart from him is crumbling and disappointing. Yet our God is eternal, glorious, lacks in no way, and never fails. So those who enjoy a living fellowship with Christ are given true gladness of heart.

Are we known as a joyful people? Is that the reputation we have, that we’re often rejoicing? Perhaps not. On first impressions, our worship is pretty sombre. In speaking about our faith, most of us are reserved, and we keep our emotions well in check. Even when we have what we call “the celebration ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4, James 1:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Building Blocks In God's Holy House

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 23, 2022

We are “living stones,” called to be linked with one another in Christ, tightly integrated like stones in a wall. This requires us to strengthen our connections with each other, in fellowship, mutual support, and prayer.

God has given us a real blessing in this church building. In many ways, it’s a hub for congregational life. It serves as a centre of our worship, our learning and study, and it’s a place for our communion together. It’s a good gift of God to us. Yet how does the Bible speak about our places of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Encountering The Holy God Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 6, 2022

When all hope is lost, when it looks like nothing is left—when the king is dead and the world is a mess—God is still working. For He is the great and holy king, and He sits on his throne, high and lifted up.

Being a prophet was one of the hardest jobs in the Old Testament. A prophet had to speak unsettling words, confronting sinners with sin and warning of judgment. They were usually unpopular, often persecuted. So a prophet needed a really clear sense that this is what he was called to do, the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trust In Immanuel Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 13, 2022

Our Saviour is Immanuel, God with us—in the present tense. And He will be, now and always. This name can give us confidence. For if God is with us, no one can stand against us, and nothing can keep us from his love.

When Dad and Mom receive the good news that a child is on the way, there’s a few things they’ll do. Paint the baby room. Take a birthing class. And pick names. Dad and Mom might want to choose a name with a family connection, and name the little one after Grandpa or a favourite aunt. Or perhaps ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 16:5-9, Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Only God, The First And The Last Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Aug 7, 2022

It’s foolish to put our confidence in what we own, or in what we look like, or in the people we love. All these good things only spring from the Lord God, the overflowing fountain. And none of these things can save or redeem, for God alone is the First and the Last.

One of my favourite Bible stories is in 1 Kings 18. That’s the chapter where God has a showdown with Baal, a dramatic contest on the top of Mount Carmel. You remember how Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a competition. ‘Come up the mountain,’ he said. ‘Bring two oxen for sacrifice, wood to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:6-8

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

Step #1 "Our Need For Relationships!" Series

Contributed by Kyle Sullivan on Jun 16, 2011

5 Steps for Spiritual Disciplines.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 "Although we could have been a burden as Christ's apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

Disappointed Dreamer Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Aug 20, 2011

Don’t let anything stop you from pursuing your God-given dreams, not rejection nor reversals, because in God’s sovereignty, our setbacks are but stepping stones to success.

Before I get into my message today, I want you to pick a number, any number. Did you pick a number larger than a million? If not, then why didn't you? In 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin picked the number one followed by 100 zeroes while they were still graduate students at Stanford ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Evangelical Free