From The Pulpit - sermons by Pastor Aaron

Psalm 78 is a song of remembering God's faithfulness despite human failures. It is a lengthy psalm that repeatedly cycles through a pattern of God's saving acts, the people's rebellion and God's punishment. After these cycles, the song ends with God's salvation with David's rule. Psalm 78 gives us a big picture account of the history of God's people, revealing how monumental was the outpouring of...

"When God Closes a Door He Opens a Window" is a saying in Christian circles, but is it true? The story of David's opportunity to kill King Saul helps us answer the question. July 20, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronvriesman.substack.com

Psalm 38 is a prayer of repentance by someone who is suffering from sickness. Death is near and God is the only hope. Ultimately, Psalm 38 reveals Jesus Christ, who suffered for (our) sin. While the psalmist begs for forgiveness, Jesus is our assurance of forgiveness. July 6, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

"God doesn't give more than you can handle" is a saying in Christian circles, but is it true? 1 Corinthians 1.13 is the closest Scripture comes to this saying. Here we unpack that passage and evaluate the accuracy of the saying. July 13, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episo...

Psalm 140 is a prayer for deliverance and justice. Some people are simply cruel and we need God's protection from their schemes. Jesus Christ was persecuted and killed by cruel people. As applied to Jesus, the reader shockingly becomes the villain. Only in Christ can we pray a prayer like this. June 29, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you woul...

The Nicene Creed turns 1700 years old in 2025, but its importance has not waned. Your doctrine matters. The Holy Spirit is an often misunderstood person of the triune Godhead. One survey showed 60% of evangelicals agreed that the Holy Spirit "is a force but is not a personal being." The Bible presents the Holy Spirit as a person who thinks and feels and makes decisions. The Spirit's presence is of...

The Nicene Creed turns 1700 years old in 2025, but its importance has not waned. The identity of Jesus is critical to our salvation but also his work. If Jesus did not become incarnate as a fully human being, die by crucifixion, rise from the dead, ascend to heaven and reign, we would have no salvation. Each act is critical to our reconciliation with God. June 29, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christia...

Psalm 102 is a prayer by someone suffering from a terrible disease who blames God for the suffering but also finds hope in what God will do in the future. Jesus Christ is God the Son voluntarily taking on our afflictions. June 15, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episo...

The Nicene Creed turns 1700 years old in 2025, but its importance has not waned. The identity of Jesus Christ is critical to our own salvation. He is fully human and fully God. The first chapter in the Gospel of John hits Jesus' full humanity and divinity hard. Because of Jesus' identity, he is everything for our understanding of God. June 15, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church Thi...

Psalm 80 is a communal prayer seeking God's favor when the situation is dire. Once again, a biblical lament has a high view of God's power and providence, attributing the setbacks to God's own hand. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the answer to the prayer of Psalm 80. June 8, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with othe...

The Nicene Creed turns 1700 years old in 2025, but its importance has not waned. It was written to stop a dangerous belief system. Unfortunately, that belief system resurfaced in the late 1800s and is alive and well today. This belief is that Jesus is not fully divine but was a created being who is a lesser god. The Bible teaches there to be only one true God and only one way to this God, which is...

Psalm 39 is a song of repentance that is also a reflection on our mortality. Life is short. Our toil is for what does not last. We covet and have inordinate desires and God's loving discipline takes them away. Jesus Christ did not commit sin, but in bearing our sin, he knows its pain. June 1, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

The Bible is supposed to challenge us and make us uncomfortable. Hell and eternal damnation is not a pleasant thought, but the Bible and Jesus especially talks about hell a lot. The biblical reality is that sin is gross offense against God's divine holiness. Per Matthew 18, sin is an incalculable debt that we cannot possibly repay. Accounts will one day be settled. The good news is that Jesus Chri...

Psalm 142 is about desperation. Originally written by David while on the run from King Saul, the song is involves crying aloud to God for help. The desperate cry finds its ultimate connection in Jesus Christ on the cross. May 25, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episod...

The Bible is supposed to challenge us and make us uncomfortable. Gossip is easy to do, so considering what the Bible says about gossip is uncomfortable. Gossip is basically talking about someone behind their back. Sometimes it is harmless, but if the information is false or exaggerated or private, then gossip is sinful. May 25, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public ep...

Psalm 112 is about the blessedness of those who believe. If you want the good life, success and happiness, then fear God and delight in his commands. All of God's blessings are ultimately ours in Jesus Christ. May 18, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aa...

Psalm 61 is the prayer of a ruler who longs for the presence of God. In God's presence, every need and want is met. This psalm is about Jesus, who is God's presence among us. May 11, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronvriesman.substack.com

The Bible is supposed to challenge us and make us uncomfortable. No set of sermons on discomforting topics would be complete without discussing sexuality. The Bible talks about sex a lot, not because it is bad but because it is sacred. The most challenging Bible passage on sex is probably what Jesus said about lust in Matthew 5. May 18, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a...

Psalm 92 is a song celebrating who God is, about how God will prevail over all evil schemes. The center focus of the psalm is how God is on high. Ultimately, Christ is on high. May 4, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronvriesman.substack.com

The Bible is supposed to challenge us and make us uncomfortable. One of the more discomforting messages in Scripture is to rejoice in sufferings. This is not only in one Scripture passage but is a recurring theme. Especially for people going through hard times, it sounds insensitive. However, the Bible presents an entirely different view of life and its difficulties that goes beyond what one perso...

Psalm 70 is a short song that begs for God to intervene without delay. The shortness of the song is fitting for a fugitive on the run without much time to compose or sing a song. The psalm is ultimately about Jesus Christ who took upon the desperation expressed in the song. April 27, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss th...

The Bible is supposed to challenge us and make us uncomfortable. Money is one topic the Bible mentions frequently in ways that we might rather ignore. This is a look at Jesus' parable of the rich fool. May 4, 2025 AM at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronvriesman.subs...

Psalm 16 is a prayer of finding refuge in God during times of uncertainty. While David found confidence that he would not meet an untimely death, Psalm 16 ultimately is about Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead. In Christ, this psalm is ours too. Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

Psalm 20 is a pre-battle prayer. The king is about to lead troops into war and this is a prayer for protection and success. It recognizes that salvation and victory are in God's hands, so trust needs to be in him over strength or weapons. Psalm 20 is ultimately about Jesus Christ who has defeated sin and death. April 13, 2025 PM sermon at North Blendon Christian Reformed Church This is a public ep...

The resurrection account in Luke focuses on what was witnessed, even when it shows followers slow to believe. It also stresses multiple times that the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus was part of God's grand plan. This is significant. Christ's death on the cross and resurrection from the dead were on purpose. Considering the gravity of crucifying the Son of God, this means much for how...