Épisodes

  • John 1:4-13 The Light of the World (Rev. Erik Veerman)

    John 1:4-13 The Light of the World (Rev. Erik Veerman)
    Jan 18 2026
    30 min
  • John 1:1-3 - Christ: the Logos of God (Rev. Erik Veerman)

    John 1:1-3 - Christ: the Logos of God (Rev. Erik Veerman)
    Jan 11 2026
    John 1:1-3 - Christ: The Logos of God Our sermon text this morning is John 1:1-3. If you read our weekly email, you may have seen that originally, I was planning to cover verses 1-5. I backed off a little because there is so much packed into the first 3 verses. That probably scares some of you because you’re thinking, “is this going to happen every week? And if so, are we going to be in the Gospel of John for years?” Well, I can’t say that this will be the last time that I narrow our focus to just a couple of verses. However, I will note that Jim Boice, the late pastor of Tenth Presbyterian church, preached 270 sermons in the book of John. Doing the math, that’s over 5 years. I’ve planned about 70. Ok, turning our attention to these verses, you’ll hear the word “word” three times. That is referring to Jesus Christ. We know that from verse 14 where John writes that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” So, as I read, be sure to make the mental connection between the Word and Christ. Reading of John 1:1-3 Prayer “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…” Those legendary words bring us back to the very founding of our nation. Or how about this on: “I have a dream” Those words take us back to Martin Luther King and the struggle of segregation in the 1950s and 60s. Or perhaps you recognize this: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Those are the opening words of Charles Dickens’s book The Tale of Two Cities. It takes us back to the French Revolution and the stark contrast between London and Paris. Each of those opening phrases is packed with meaning and significance. They each capture our minds and our hearts. In some ways, they transport us through time and space and turn our attention to lofty ideas or significant events. Well, the opening words of John’s Gospel do something very similar. For one, they are renowned. But also, their poetic language and expressive words raise the significance and consequence for the reader… and really for the whole world. Perhaps these words don’t bring us back to a specific place, but they transport us to the very creation of the world. “In the beginning.” In the very beginning of all time and space “was the Word.” Does that not raise our senses and our curiosity and even our wonder at what is being communicated? As far as familiar opening words in the Bible, John 1 is only second to Genesis 1. And those are iconic words. Genesis 1 certainly ranks up there among the most famous in the world. Genesis 1:1 says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.” Those 10 words reveal several things about God. · First, that he is one God. It doesn’t say, “in the beginning, the gods (plural)...” No, rather it’s a definitive statement. “In the beginning, God…” There is one God. · Second, Genesis 1:1 posits God as existing before the beginning of time itself – he is eternal. · And third those 10 opening words of Genesis speak about God’s nature and work. He is the creator God of all things - things in heaven and things on earth. And I think you have probably already made the connection in your minds. The opening words of the Gospel of John are very similar to Genesis 1. They start with the same three words. Of course, one was penned in Hebrew – that would be Genesis – and the other was penned in Greek. But the connection is unmistakable. Really, the connection between the opening of Genesis and the opening of John’s Gospel even further expand our understanding of God’s nature and the ministry and work of Christ - God the Son. In Genesis 1, we’re told of God’s creative work and in John 1, God reveals who accomplished that work and how. So, let’s jump into these opening three verses of John. As far as an outline, I want to highlight 3 things about Christ: 1. Christ’s Identity as the Eternal Logos 2. Christ’s Deity as One with the True God 3. Christ’s Work as the Agent of Creation Let me say those again if you are taking notes. We didn’t have room in the bulletin this week for an outline. 1. Christ’s Identity as the Eternal Logos – I’ll explain the word Logos in a minute. 2. Christ’s Deity as One with the True God – Deity meaning his nature as God. And 3. His Work as the Agent of Creation. It is through the agency of Christ that God created all things. So, let’s work through those. 1. Christ’s Identity as the Eternal Logos And the first thing to understand is the word “word.” In the original Greek, it’s the word Logos. Maybe you’ve heard that word before. Logos is one of two words that are often translated “word.” The other is the more common word, rhema in Greek, merely referring to words on a page or spoken words. But the word logos, on the other hand, is packed with meaning. Yes, it’s basic meaning is a statement or speech – you know, a “word” spoken....
    Voir plus Voir moins
    29 min
  • John 20:30-31 - The Gospel of John (Rev. Erik Veerman)

    John 20:30-31 - The Gospel of John (Rev. Erik Veerman)
    Jan 4 2026
    John 20:30-31 - The Gospel of John We’re starting a new sermon series this morning in the Gospel of John. Or more precisely the Gospel According to John. John is one of the four books in the Bible which considers the life and ministry of Jesus. The others are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We’re 5 and 1/2 years into our existence as a church and we have yet to work through one of the Gospel narratives chapter by chapter. That is not to say that we have not had sermons in the different Gospel accounts. For example such as during Advent and Easter. And as some of you know, David Fraser has preached a few sermons in Mark. By the way, I haven’t been avoiding going through one of the Gospels. It’s just a big task. John has 20 chapters and some of them are long. Some pastors have taken two years to work through John. We won’t take that long, but it will take over a year to complete. Now, if you look at your sermon text, you may be slightly confused. We’ll be starting with chapter 20 verses 30 and 31. That is because those two verses explicitly tell us the purpose of the book. Today’s sermon will be an overview. We’ll cover the author and audience and the book’s purpose and various themes. Then next week, we’ll get into its iconic opening. So, if you would please turn to John 20, verses 30 and 31. That is on page ?? Reading of John 20:30-31 Prayer Isn’t it nice to have such a clear purpose statement? We’re given 3 aspects to the book’s purpose John 20:31. · First, it says, “These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ” In other words, the author wants the reader to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah. · Second, that he is the Son of God. Jesus is more than a mere man. He is also God in the flesh. · And third, it says, “and that by believing, you may have life in his name.” Believing these things is not merely intellectual. No, they have life-changing results. As mentioned throughout the book– eternal life. So, God has given us the Gospel of John, that we may believe in Jesus and have life everlasting. I’ve read John several times in the last few months in preparation for this series. Quite honestly, it’s overwhelming how many times the word “believe” is used. There are just over 80 uses of the word “believe” (In the Greek, it’s the word pisteo – believing something which is trusted). 18 of those uses are about not believing. Throughout the book, we’re called to believe, and given examples of believing, but we’re also told the consequences of not believing and are given some examples of what it means to not believe – a majority of those are the religious establishment. Well, that brings us to some important questions. Who was the human author? Who was he writing to? What was their situation? And how does he make case to believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God? My goal is to answer those questions this morning. We’ll go through those in 5 points. And all 5 start with the letter “J.” You know, J for “John.” Maybe that will help you remember. 1. the first “j” is actually for “John” himself. Addressing the question of the author. 2. Second, Jews. They are the primary audience, although not exclusively. 3. Third, Jerusalem. That is the setting for the majority of the book. 4. The fourth “J” is, you guessed it, Jesus. Really, he is the big emphasis. You could, of course, say that about all four Gospels. However, this book focuses in on Jesus’ nature and identity. 5. And the last “J” is Jehovah. Jehovah is a derivative of the Hebrew word Yahweh for God himself. I would rather use the word Yahweh or the LORD, but it didn’t start with a J. John focuses not only on Jesus but on God himself. So that is where we are headed. John, Jews, Jerusalem, Jesus, and Jehovah. 1. John Now, as far as the author, you may be thinking, “well, of course it’s John, that’s the title of the book.” Well, yes, but titles were given by the early church in the second century. So, John is the traditional author. But interestingly, the author never directly identifies himself in the book. However, there is an overwhelming consensus that the human author of this book is the Apostle John. Not John the Baptist. We’ll get to him in the first chapter, but rather John who was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. And the case is pretty strong. The author speaks of being a disciple of Jesus and being a witness about the things he wrote. That narrows it. He’s present at the Last Supper where he indicates that he reclined next to Jesus. He was also one of the three closest to Jesus – he mentions that. Jesus calls out to this author on the cross to care for Mary, Jesus’ mother. And the author mentions that he outruns Peter to the tomb. John and Peter were very close. What seals the deal for me is that the author mentions almost all of the other disciples but never himself. That was ...
    Voir plus Voir moins
    30 min
  • Psalm 73 - Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People (Rev. Coleman Erkens)

    Psalm 73 - Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People (Rev. Coleman Erkens)
    Dec 28 2025
    30 min
  • Matthew 2:1-12 - Wise Men, a Con Man, and a King (Rev. Erik Veerman)

    Matthew 2:1-12 - Wise Men, a Con Man, and a King (Rev. Erik Veerman)
    Dec 21 2025
    Matthew 2:1-12 Wise Men, a Con Man, and a King Please turn to Matthew chapter 2. This is a very well-known advent passage about the wise men from the east bringing gifts to Jesus. There’s a lot of mystery and wonder in this text. Part of that is because we’re not given many details about the wise men. However, we are clearly given their goal. And so, as I read, listen for why they were seeking Jesus and what they did when they found him. Reading of Matthew 2:1-12. Prayer In our house, you’ll find several nativity scenes at this time of year. They’re festive and add to the aura of the season. But you know, they don’t really accurately depict the manger scene. And one of the inaccuracies is with the three wise men. Most nativity scenes have them. They’re usually tall, wearing middle-eastern attire, and bearing gifts as they stand next to the animals. Well, first of all, we’re never told how many there were. Yes, they had three gifts, but that does not mean there were only three of them. And second, they did not arrive when Jesus was born. No, actually, they arrived likely when he was 1 year old. They weren’t there to see Jesus in the manger. I’m not trying to be the grinch and steal your Christmas joy. Rather, I just want to be sure we distinguish what we actually know versus what tradition has come up with over the centuries. There’s a big difference. So, then, what do we know? Who were these wise men led by a star to Jerusalem and then to Jesus? Well, we are told they were from the east and we are given a clue of there origin base on their name. The name “wise men” comes from the Greek word magoi. Some translations give them the title of Magi. It’s a word derived from the Persian word for wise men. And because of that, some believe that the Magi came from where the Medo-Persian empire was centered (which is where modern day Iran is). Others believe that the Magi came from the region where the Babylonian empire used to be centered. That’s where modern day Iraq is. There are good reasons for both possibilities. If we go back to the book of Daniel, it uses a very similar word for the wise men of the land. Daniel, as you may know, lived in Babylon in exile. Similarly, the book of Esther, which takes place in the Persian capital, also uses a similar word for wise men. In both cases, the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the word magoi. And honestly, I don’t think it makes much of a difference whether the Magi came from Medo-Persian roots or Babylonian roots. Even though these empires were centered in adjacent regions in the middle east, they overlapped as each kingdom took control. A few decades after Babylon conquered the whole region, they were then overthrown by the Medes and then the Persians. After that it was the Greeks under Alexander the Great who conquered the land, and then Roman Empire, which was in control when Jesus was born. And when these empires overthrew one another, it’s not like they killed all the people. No, the people just were under the control of another kingdom. Yes, some of them moved out or were exiled. Others moved in to govern, but overall, the culture and history were preserved or intermixed with the new empire in power. Furthermore, when we consider the Babylonians and the Medes and the Persians, they each had their wise men. We know this from the Old Testament text as well as from historical writings from the time. The Magi were the highest educated men of the land. They were given utmost respect and they had major influence in the culture. In fact, extra Biblical writings about the Medes particularly emphasize this. Someone could not become a king in that empire without first the same rigorous study as the wise men. Even more, in the Median Empire, it was the wise men who anointed the king. Think about the significance of tht if the Matthew 2 wise men came from that region. The bottom line is that the Magi who were led to Jerusalem were held in the highest esteem and had significant cultural prominence. Now, let me mention something else important. These Magi knew some of the Hebrew Scriptures. Let me make that case. First, let’s go back to Babylon. When Babylon overthrew Judah in the early 5th century BC, thousands and thousands of Jews were relocated to Babylon. They brought their culture with them. They brought their history and they brought their writings. Even when they were later permitted to return to Jerusalem, most of them remained in Babylon and some even intermarried with the Babylonians. Not only that, think of the testimony of Daniel and of Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego. Their wisdom and faithfulness earned them great status in the Babylonian Kingdom. King Nebuchadnezzar found them 10 time wiser than the wise men and enchanters of the region. That’s mentioned in Daniel chapter 1. And when they were put to the test, God delivered each of them - you know, the three thrown in the fiery furnace, and Daniel from ...
    Voir plus Voir moins
    33 min
  • Matthew 1:18-25 - A Life Changing Sermon (Rev. Coleman Erkens)

    Matthew 1:18-25 - A Life Changing Sermon (Rev. Coleman Erkens)
    Dec 14 2025
    33 min
  • Malachi 4:1-6 - A Day of Deliverance (Rev. Erik Veerman)

    Malachi 4:1-6 - A Day of Deliverance (Rev. Erik Veerman)
    Dec 7 2025
    Malachi 4:1-6 A Day of Deliverance Please turn to Malachi 4. This is the last chapter in Malachi and our last sermon. Last week we considered the distinction that God would make between the righteous and the wicked. On the one hand are the righteous who reverently fear the Lord and who demonstrate their fear by serving and honoring him. On the other hand are the wicked, who do not fear nor honor the Lord. That distinction comes down to whether you know and follow Christ. And also last week, we touched upon the day of the Lord. That phrase is introduced in chapter 3. It’s described as the day of the Lord’s coming. It’s the day, as chapter 3 says, when God will make up his treasured possession. Well, this morning’s text continues and expands on that day. It answers the question of what that day is like and how we should prepare for it. As I read, be thinking about Malachi’s audience. They were in a dicey and unsettling situation in Jerusalem. Despite their situation, some of them feared the Lord… but others rejected him. So, as you hear these words, think about how each group would receive this prophecy. Reading of Malachi 4:1-6 Prayer In the summer after graduating high school, I worked at a summer camp. One of my responsibilities involved leading a group of teenagers on a long multi-day canoe trip. We were in northern Wisconsin. One day, after a long journey through the various lakes we decided to set up camp on a small island. We thought it would be fun. And it was until the middle of the night when a massive storm rolled in. We woke up to thunder and lightning and then heavy winds followed by a downpour. On top of that, when the front rolled in, the temperatures dropped about 20 degrees. We were cold and wet and since we were on an island, there was no place to go. Well, the rain stopped just before dawn. As soon as it started to get light out, we scrambled to get a fire going. But that was difficult given all the rain. Some of the kids were literally shaking because they were so cold. The fire helped some, but it was still breezy and we had limited wood. But then it happened. The clouds parted, the sun came up, the wind died down. We all just stopped and soaked in the rays. It was like instant warmth. Physically and emotionally… and spiritually. We had been praying for help and within minutes the sun warmed us. In Malachi 4, the people had been enduring a period of life storms in different ways. They had been enduring a period of darkness. They couldn’t see how the future promises of God would be fulfilled. Yet, they are told that when the day of the Lord comes, the sun of righteousness will rise. That’s spelled s-u-n. He will come. The promised Messiah will come. And his coming will be like the rising of the sun after a long cold night. As I mentioned, these verses are centered around the day of the Lord. That day is spoken of multiple times here. · Look at the first sentence there in verse 1. “For behold, the day is coming.” · Then the very next sentence in the same verse says the same thing: “the day that is coming…” and it goes on. · Now jump down to the end of verse 3. It says, “on the day when I act, says the Lord of Hosts.” · And the last one is there in verse 5. “I will send Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” …or as some translations say, the great and awful day of the Lord. I mentioned last week that the day described is a day of judgement. Well, that same idea is mentioned in chapter 4 verses 1 and 3. That final judgment will happen when Christ returns. So, there’s definitely a sense in which this day will be fulfilled in our future. However, the returned exiles are told that Elijah the prophet will come before that great day. That prophecy has been fulfilled in John the Baptist. We considered a similar prophecy earlier in chapter 3. In other words, there’s also a sense that Jesus first coming (you know, his first advent) fulfilled this prophecy about the day of the Lord. John Calvin held that view, and it makes sense considering the reference to Elijah. I think the best understanding is to consider that the “day of the Lord” began at Jesus first advent and will come to completion at his second advent. In other words, for us, there’s both a “now” and “not yet” to this “day of the Lord.” In the apostle Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, he quotes the prophet Joel’s prophecy about the day of the Lord. And he indicates that it is being fulfilled. Other New Testament texts speak of the last days that we are in, which will come to a final completion when Christ returns. So, the day has come, and it will come. However, from the perspective of the people in the Old Testament, it appeared to them be one event. Think about it this way. It’s kind of like driving through a mountain range. This last May we were driving through the Rocky Mountains. If you’...
    Voir plus Voir moins
    29 min
  • Malachi 3:13-18 - A Day of Distinction (Rev. Erik Veerman)

    Malachi 3:13-18 - A Day of Distinction (Rev. Erik Veerman)
    Nov 30 2025
    A Day of Distinction Please turn to Malachi 3:13-18. That is on page 955 in the Pew Bibles. We are in the home stretch of Malachi. Next week will be our last sermon. By the way, Malachi has often been used for an Advent series. It is the last book of the Old Testament, and, as we saw 2 weeks ago, it promises that the Messiah will come soon. Next week will be another advent prophecy. Our sermon this morning concludes the pattern of (1) God’s accusation, (2) the people questioning God, and (3) the Lord explaining. After that, we will we hear a surprising turn. There were some who did fear the Lord and responded to him. Listen for the contrasts between those who questioned the Lord, and those who feared him. Reading of Malachi 3:13-18 Prayer How do you justify sin in your life? I know that question presupposes an understanding of sin. I’m simply referring to breaking God’s commands as he has revealed in his Word. · Do you find yourself saying, “well, this is a small thing. It doesn’t really matter.” · Or, “everyone else does it, so what’s the big deal.” · Or “At least I’m not as bad as he or she is.” · Are you tempted to make the ends justify the means? You think, “well, the results will be good, so it doesn’t matter how I get there.” · Or maybe you are angry with God or wonder if he is even there? You think, “why does it even matter?” · Maybe you have been sinned against and therefore are tempted to respond likewise. · Or do you think that nobody will know. · Or do you tell yourself, “It feels right, how can it be wrong?” How do you justify sin? Really, the more important question is, will you respond to God’s Word? These verses give us a contrast between two responses. 1. Those who justify and continue in their sin and 2, those who repent and respond. All throughout Malachi, we’ve seen different ways that the priests and the people have justified their sin. Often it was about their situation. They were poor and didn’t want to bring their unblemished male animal to offer at the temple or bring their required tithe. Or they didn’t love their spouse anymore, so why not get a divorce. Why not marry someone who didn’t know Yahweh if they could get ahead economically. Based on their experience, they didn’t even believe that God was just, so why did it matter what they did or didn’t do. Verses 13-15 are the climax to their dismissal of God and how they justified their sin. The Lord said, “your words have been hard against me.” And they asked once again, “how” “How have we spoken against you?” And the Lord responds… you have said, , “it is vain to serve God. What is the profit of keeping his charge?” They didn’t see any value in continuing to honor God. Why bother? It was so bad they didn’t even want to mourn before the Lord because of their situation. They had gotten to the place where they weren’t even sure God existed. In verse 15, we learn they’d been saying that “the arrogant were blessed.” “Evildoers not only prosper, …but they put God to the test and they escaped.” In other words, good things were happening to bad people. Why would God allow that and leave them to flail in their situation? You see, the people were feeling despondent. They didn’t think God cared about them. In fact, to them, God seemed to care more about their enemies. And so, they responded by not caring themselves. They didn’t care about God, and they didn’t care about his commands. They felt defeated and wondered if God was even paying attention. Do you ever feel that way? You see other people seemingly doing well or prospering. Many of whom you don’t believe should be prospering. And you are struggling with health or with finances or in relationships or in a career. And it brings you to a place of despondency - hopelessness and asking why. I’ve found that in those moments, I have been very susceptible to temptation. You know, you get down about something and feel discouraged and disconnected from the Lord. And then, you wonder if trying to honor God is even worth it. Just like the people were saying, it is vain… you know, it seems worthless to pursue the Lord. You then ask yourself, why not just do what I want? Why not just take matters into my own hands? And then, you do. That’s exactly what the exiles who were back in Jerusalem were doing. They justified their sin. More and more, they rejected God. It was like a downward spiral of complacency and disillusionment that was leading them away from God. Instead of drawing closer to God, they were pulling away from him. Instead of seeking to honor him, they were dishonoring him. And then along came Malachi, the prophet. And he spoke God’s very words to them. You have done this, and this, and this. You have questioned my justice. In your hearts and in your actions, you have walked away in ...
    Voir plus Voir moins
    31 min