Ontario United Reformed Church

<br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong><br>Galatians 3<br>Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 6<br><br><strong>Series:</strong><br>Catechism Series

<br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Morning<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong><br>Isaiah 5<br><br><strong>Series:</strong><br>Isaiah

Meditation implies conflict. We sinners have a dispute with God and His justice. Who is worthy and able to accomplish the resolution for us? <br> <br>In this message we look at Hebrews 7 and the mysterious figure of Melchizedek, as we consider the imperfect mediation of the Levitical priesthood, the perfect mediator who is Christ, and our perfection in Him.<br><br><stron...

The nation of Israel, as individuals, were only looking out for themselves. They were not worshiping God as He had called them to do. Many were getting wealthy at the expense of the poor. They were only looking out for themselves and not for the rest of the people. It is not much different with the church in this country. We are sinful and prone to wonder away from the Lord. Israel had an abundanc...

<br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong><br>Romans 9:14–24<br>Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 4<br>Psalm 85<br><br><strong>Series:</strong><br>Catechism Series

The Bible is rich with imagery of God meeting His people on the mountain—from the Garden of Eden, which some view as a high place, to Mount Sinai, and ultimately to the Mount of Olives. Yet, sinful humanity often gravitates toward the lowlands, avoiding the presence of a holy God. Why does life on the mountain represent something better? Why are sinful hearts drawn to the shadowy valleys instead?...

In this lesson we consider the meaning and relevance of the image of God for a relational ethic in society.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong><br>Genesis 1:26–31<br>Romans 5:12–19<br>Heidelberg Catechism: Lor...

There is something in us that longs for the perfect city. This longing is captured in stories that tell of such cities like Atlantis, El Dorado, Rivendell and Wakanda. Places like Xanadu that are hidden away waiting to be discovered. This is because God has made us to desire such a city. Israel had such a city during her golden days, Jerusalem. Yet Israel did not appreciate what God had given to h...

In this message we consider how the law of God is meant to drive us to the gospel. <br> <br>God doesn’t want us to stay in our guilt and misery. He wants to show us how great our sin is to reveal how much greater his grace is. He grace always eclipses our sin.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong&gt...

In the days of Isaiah the prophet the Lord laments over His people who have turned away from Him. In the courtroom of Heaven He charges them with rebellion. They carry on their sacrifices and temple worship, but their hearts are far away from Him. God calls them to wash themselves and be clean. The dilemma is that as sinful people we are unable to do this. Listen to hear how we might be more like...

From this Psalm we consider the vital importance of knowing your only comfort in life and in death, and also how to rest in it experientially.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong><br>Psalm 71<br>Heidelberg Catechism:...

When Neil Armstrong stepped out and his boot settled into the powdery dust of the moon humanity felt optimistic about the future and what man could accomplish. The is that that while the moon landing was quite a feet for mankind, it didn't really change anything. In the same way, the old covenant made with the children of Israel at Sinai didn't change anything either. It wasn't the...

The celebration of Christmas doesn’t make sense without celebrating what Christ came to do for us in our humanity. <br> We have seen that the Son of the God humbled himself by becoming a man. Here we see that He goes even further to become a man under the law to fulfill the law as our representative and to eventually be condemned in our place to liberate us from the condemnation of the law t...

We all worship something. But the question is, what is worthy of our praise? What can we worship without ending up feeling empty, guilty, and wanting more? What can we worship that won’t eat us alive, that won’t leave us to die a million deaths of emptiness, searching for more? The only thing worthy of our heart’s worship is God himself. This is our designed purpose: to glorify God and enjoy Him f...

In this Scripture passage about the glory of the Lord appearing to the Shepherds, God teaches us about the kind of people on whom His favor rests, namely, the down-and-outs of the world, the least and the last shall be the first and the greatest. <br> <br>Why is that? To the praise of His glorious grace. <br> <br>Listen to learn more about why God first invited lowly shephe...

This is a season of giving gifts. Let's pause together and properly orient our hearts in love for Christ, the only present who gives enduring joy. <br> <br>Jesus is better. Why? Listen to this brief meditation by pastor Taylor.<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Series:</strong><br>Advent

In this lesson we compare the idea of a career with vocation. One is about expressive individualism, the other is about loving service to others. We consider Christ’s calling as Messiah and also how the resurrection gives us a hopeful perspective to consider our labor in life<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</stron...

In our day parents get ready for the birth of their child by coming up with a birth plan. Where to have their baby, What they want during the labor such as music, lighting and the use of candles or incense or essential oils. <br>God had a long time to plan the birth of His son. He too planned where his son would be born, in what circumstances and even the scents. Listen to this Advent messag...

What is the unction of the Spirit? What is it like? How can we properly discern it from counterfeits? What was the nature of the boldness that the Spirit gave the apostles? How this unction it related to Jesus' teaching about not worrying what we will say when brought on trial for our faith because the Spirit will teach us? Is this gift something only given to and for ministers of the gospel...

Continuing on In the story of the incarnation we look in on Mary who has been visited by the angel of God and told a wondrous thing. She has been chosen by the Lord to bear and raise the promised one. We pick up the narrative as Mary makes a visit to her cousin Elizabeth.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Morning<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong&gt...

In this lesson on T is for Ten Commandments, we consider the nature and the various purposes of God's law. We also look at what it means for us to no longer be under the law but under grace.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong...

In this text we see that God loves to set his favor upon the lowly of this world to show off His lofty grace. This is good news for those who realize that they are not high and mighty ones, but instead are lowly and meager sinners in need of God’s favor. So Luke shows us that God favored the young virgin Mary in order to fulfill prophecies, to show the kind of people He favors, and to show us how...

In this lesson we consider the definition of Sanctification, its distinction and relation to Justification, the concept of definitive sanctification, progressive sanctification, and the end goal of sanctification in glory.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><...

Pastor Daniel points out to us that the race worth running is not a short sprint, but a long distance race. He tells us that anyone who runs in a marathon knows that in order to race well one must not be hindered by excess weight. In the race of faith we too must lay aside anything that would be a hindrance to completely our race. This is a race that has been set before us by God. Along the way, t...

The race of faith set before us is not easy. There are many walls and obstacles that we confront along the way. How can we endure them? In this sermon, pastor Daniel shows us from Hebrews 11 that the saints of old overcame such obstacles by faith in the promised power of God. In some cases this meant that God delivered them from bodily harm and danger, whereas in the case of many others, God empow...