Ontario United Reformed Church

In the letter to the Hebrews we learn that the Christian faith is the race worth running. Every race has a starting point and so too with our faith. In this sermon, Rev. Daniel Ventura first describes how the way people look and interpret the world is their lens of faith, even if they claim to be not religious. This is important, Daniel says, because what we behold with the eyes effects what our h...

This is a song for thanksgiving. It makes a basic movement from A) call to thanksgiving/praise to B) the reason/basis for that call. In each case the reason is our total dependency on God, our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.<br><br>We discover, then, that Knowing God rightly inspires thankfulness in our hearts. Listen to learn what God reveals about Himself in this psalm in order to...

Many Christians misunderstand the essence of our eternal hope in Christ. Sadly, often our thinking about life after death is more influenced by the Greek philosopher Plato than it is by the Old and New Testaments. In this lesson, we study key passages in the Scriptures in order to rediscover the full Biblical hope of the consummate renewal of God's good creation, including the redemption of o...

Sending letters in the ancient world was nothing like it is today. There were no digital email or any type of regular postal service. One had to send correspondence with someone trustworthy or it might never arrive intact to the one(s) it was intended for. The bearers of such letters often carried news of the sender with which to encourage the hearts of those who received it. Tychicus was one such...

In this unique recording, pastor Taylor leads us down a memory journey through the letter to the Ephesians. Listen and follow along as we consider the topography, the main topics of this majestic letter. We hope that this helps us all remember with gratitude our recent sermon series through this letter. Enjoy!<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br...

What is Divine Providence? <br>How do we explain it? <br>Can we fully understand it? <br>Does it make God the author of sin?<br>What Scriptures prove it? <br>What challenge and comfort does it bring to us?<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br>&...

In the previous message about the armor of God we looked at the three parts of armor that we put or fasten on. The imagery would bring to mind a soldier who is prepared for war. The belt, the breastplate and sandal/boots are kept on even when the solder is relaxing in his tent. When the battle horn is sounded the soldier would take up his helmet, his shield and his sword. In today's message w...

Tonight we consider O is for Ordo Salutis, that is the orderly way the Holy Spirit applies to the elect all the blessings won for them by Christ. These blessings do not come to the elect abstractly, but rather from their source, the Person of Christ. So, by our union with Christ, which the Spirit forges in our hearts through faith, we receive each blessing in order until we arrive in glory in full...

The only way that we can be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might is to put on the armor that Christ gives us. In this message we consider what it means to be gird about with the belt of Truth, to put on the breastplate of Righteousness and put on the Sandal-Boots of Readiness.<br><br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Morning<br><br><strong>Texts:...

In our ABC's of Reformed theology, we pause to consider N is for the Ninety-Five Theses of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther. This was especially fitting for us today, since it is Reformation Sunday of 2021. Listen to hear about the prophetic ministry of this 16th century professor of theology, pastor Taylor's Fab-5 of the 95, a lesson from the tactfulness of Luther's logical and imaginative r...

We must understand the Schemes of the Devil, the stance of faith and the strength of the Lord. Our struggle is not against humans who are mere puppets in the hands of the Devil and his unseen forces, but against Satan and his demons who are the true puppeteers. We are not called to go to war against earthly powers, but to stand firm against spiritual powers. What does it mean to stand and how do w...

One of the relationships in the Greco-Roman world was that of slavery. We must set aside our modern day understanding of slavery, which is far removed from the slavery of antiquity. Only then can we understand the context in which Paul writes concerning slaves and masters. Once we understand the relationship we can then see how the gospel affects the relationships we have today for those serving i...

<br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Series:</strong><br>Catechism Series

Preached at the Installation of Rev. Kern as Minister of Word & Sacrament. The congregation is charged with submitting to and obeying their leaders as men who under the Lord Jesus Christ. This is so our pastor may care for the flock with joy and not with groaning. The pastor is charges with keeping watch over the souls of the flock as one who must give account. Let both recognize that this wil...

We who have heard and believed the Good News of Jesus have been called to walk in a manner worthy of that calling in every area of our lives. One area of our lives is in the family. We have looked at how the gospel transforms our lives in the area of marriage. So too, the gospel forms our understanding of the relationship between parents and children. The family is the foundation of all of society...

We are picking up where we left off 2 weeks ago where Paul called us to be filled with the Spirit so that we might live full lives. He has already laid out for us the Good News about what God has done for us in Christ. Since chapter four he has been showing us how that gospel truth, that reality should change our lives. In this passage the Spirit is showing us how the Gospel of Jesus is model for...

<br><strong>Time:</strong><br>Evening<br><br><strong>Minister:</strong><br>Rev. T. R. Kern<br><br><strong>Texts:</strong><br>Genesis 32:22–32<br><br><strong>Series:</strong><br>Catechism Series

As Christians we need to understand the value and importance of Baptism in our lives.. The bible teaches us there is a correlation between circumcision and baptism, how they overlap and how both signs find their fulfillment in Christ. The identities that the world have to offer are hollow and empty, but the one in whom we can find our true identity is in Jesus.<br><br><strong>Tim...

We tend to spend far too much time watching our screens, whether it is on our phones, Ipads, or TVs. But God tells us in His word, through the apostle Paul that we should be careful how we live, not as unwise, but as wise, make the most of our time. Instead of amusing ourselves without thought, we are called to think, ponder and live purposely with intentionality as good stewards of what God has g...

How we conduct ourselves in the midst of those in the world should be suitable to those who called out of darkness into the Light. Our habits and speech should reflect this new life we have been called to. We are also given a stern warning about the what will become of those who refuse to repent of their old way of living. As the Light of the Gospel shines upon our hearts we are to walk as childre...

The church is an exiled community. Once we were in bondage to sin and the Devil, but God, in Christ, had delivered us and set us free. Christ is leading from that place of bondage to the promised land in the New Heavens and Earth where righteousness dwells. By His Spirit we are being made over into a new creatures made in His likeness. Therefore as returning exiles we are to put away from us our o...

As Christians we have received new life in Christ by the Spirit. This new life is like putting on a new set of clothes after having removed our old set of clothes that do not fit our new way of living. Once we we were darkness, but now we are light. Our hard, stubborn heart has been replaced with a heart of flesh. Once we were defined as Gentiles, alienated from the life of God we are now being cr...

As Christians we are one with Christ and called to be one with each other. This oneness of the church does not erase the diversity of church as today's message points out. Everyone enjoys getting gift. Gift giving is the way we express our love for one another. Those who grow up in a loving, giving home, will most likely grow up to be loving, giving people. God has given us wonderful gifts of...

In light of the Good News, the Gospel, of Jesus Christ we are therefore called to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. This takes place in the community of the saints as we walk together in humility and love by the Spirit. United in Christ to one hope we bear with one another in gentleness, patience and longsuffering. When we do this we maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.<...

In Paul's prayer in this passage, he is taking us from one degree of glory to another. It is as if he is placing before us a ladder leading us to a higher life into the fullness of what it means to be fully human. Each part of his prayer becomes the next step up that ladder lifting us up from the pit of our sin and misery and emptiness and taking us higher and higher into the fullness of God&...