News – December 2009

One of our members organized a New year’s Eve bowling and pizza party. Several members and friends attended and it was a joyous time.

If you have an idea about how to bring people together for a time of fun and fellowship, please feel free to plan it and we will include it as a member-sponsored event in next week’s bulletin.

Morning

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” (John 7:37)

Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus, and until the last day of the feast he pleaded with the Jews, even as on this last day of the year he pleads with us, and waits to be gracious to us. Admirable indeed is the longsuffering of the Saviour in bearing with some of us year after year, notwithstanding our provocations, rebellions, and resistance of his Holy Spirit. (more…)

Morning

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Look at David’s Lord and Master; see his beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at his Father’s right hand, expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. “As he is, so are we also in this world.” You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. (more…)

When we think of the mother of Jesus, we usually think first of the blessed virgin Mary (and this is completely appropriate and biblical).

However, and if I were to ask you to think about Jesus’ grandmothers, my suspicion is that you might start thinking about similarly sanctified women who had halos over their heads and harps in their hands.

That is why the genealogy (i.e., family tree) of Jesus is so important; for it gives us a far more realistic record of the kind of women God chose to bring forth the Messiah.

Tamar – Mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-3 and Genesis 38)

Rahab – Mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-5 and Joshua 2)

Ruth – Mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-6a and the Book of Ruth)

Bathsheba – Mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-6 and 2 Samuel 11-12)

Mary – Mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16 and Luke 1-4)

Grace Reformed Church is committed to promoting and defending the biblical and reformed faith by providing expository sermons in worship and online.

Please feel free to download and distribute these sermons (with appropriate attribution).

Morning

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12)

The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, “hitherto the Lord hath helped!” Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us!”
(more…)