Wilderness Wanderings

" Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord " (Romans 14:8) The Heidelberg Catechism's first concern is comfort, but this is not a life of ease. Rather, comfort refers to the resources we need to make it through the difficult times of life. When asking the question, "What is your only comfort in life and in death?", the authors are suggesting that we might have many sources of comfort, but the...

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (Colossians 3:23). As I indicated last week, the Wednesday and Friday editions of Wilderness Wonderings are new ventures. The Monday edition will continue its theme: Work as Worship . As we begin each week, we will be reminded that everything we do, whatever our hands or minds set themselves to, where...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Ephesians 2:11-22. D ive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca Dive In! What are the four building blocks of fai...

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). On Wednesday, I mentioned that September is a goo...

When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. He named him Noah and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed" (Genesis 5:28-29). September often has new beginnings, so it's appropriate to begin something new with Wilderness Wonderings. You will continue receiving it 3 times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The new thing wil...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Mark 8:27-38.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca Dive IN  What tasks have you given to technology that...

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1) Psalm 14 invites us to reflect on at least two aspects of Christian spirituality. One is a frequent issue in the Psalms: unrighteousness people cause a great deal of injustice. These acts cause a great deal of pain for both the poor and the righteous (5 6). However, the psalmist reminds both the poor and the righteous that God is their r...

"You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you… (Psalm 66:12, 13). The Bible is one book, one story and should be read as such. Even though it has 66 different books, it is one book. It took over a millennium to write. Those who wrote the later material often re...

"At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. Give generously to [the poor] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. Remember tha...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Mark 8:27-38.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca Dive In What is the topic of the sermon? What three ty...

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Psalm 10:1) At first glance this verse is less than pious. Yet, as lament, it is right on the mark. Few of us address God this way. We use nice, polite, emotionless words. But this psalm expresses how we often experience life, inviting us to bring to God all the raw emotion we feel about the unfairness of life. When...

"You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you… (Psalm 66:12, 13). Authentic biblical faith exists in a creative tension: the personal life of the Christian and the corporate life of the church. Each of us is called to grow up, to mature in our faith; and as we...

"Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year" (Deuteronomy 14:22). This text introduces the 10% tithe. Each Israelite family was to set this aside for several purposes. First, Israel was to go and party (23, 26). God instructed his people to take their tithe (grain, wine, sheep, goats, etc.) to the place where God was worshipped. If they lived far away, they could sell t...

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1 & 9) God's name is compared to all the grandeurs of the created order. David knew a few of those: the delicate flowers along the creek banks, the roar of the lion, the bond between mother sheep and her lamb, the vastness of the night sky unmarred by modern streetlights. But among all the majesty of the created order, nothing...

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong" (Ecclesiastes 5:1). What is the "sacrifice of fools"? It is telling God all about ourselves. The prayer of the pharisee in Jesus' story found in Luke 18:9-14 is a prime example. Jesus' point is simple, "God isn't listening." Our text is followed with...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Matthew 16:21-28.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca Dive In  Why does this man come to Jesus? What doe...

As [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side…They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of G...

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long? (Psalm 6:1-3). This is a prayer of confession and repentance. The psalmist is under a great weight, feeling wretched and miserable, all because of God's anger, which, in turn, is caused by human sin...

"Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So, they began this good work" (Nehemiah 2:17-18). During a war...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Matthew 16:21-28. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca Dive In! What are some of the keys to life mentione...

As [Jesus] approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it'" (Luke 19:29-31). When Jesus was preaching in Capernau...

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). How many of us wouldn't love to be able to sing the ending of this Psalm? We know the guilt of lying awake at night stewing over this and that. If only we had more faith! We would like a worry-free life. Christians can feel guilty for not living up to Jesus' call to replace worry with trust (Matthew 6)....

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites (Nehemiah 2:10). Nehemiah finally makes it to Jerusalem. With letters from the king, he is official – coming with royal authority. And he did not come alone, but with an escort of officials and cavalry. His coming did not go unn...

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved and will endure forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forevermore. Evil people will not always rule the land the Lord gave to those who do right. If they did, those who do right might do what is evil (Psalm 125:1-3). Driving through mountains helps us grasp the central image of...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Matthew 15:21-28.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca DIVE IN What is a central question of this passage...