The Semper Reformata Podcast

God's Rescue Applied We’re still reeling with the unforeseen realisation that despite our abhorrent corruption and pollution by sin, God has stepped in on our behalf, without any merit on our part, to rescue us from our eternal plight. He could have destroyed us for our sin. But he didn’t. Lamentations 3:22-23  We already KNOW how God has rescued us, for that is exactly what Paul has been tel...

Catechism Class, Lord’s Day 36.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord ! In this lesson we are going to look at the Catechist’s instructions on the Third Commandment. Let’s read the commandment itself first, and then the Catechism…    Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who t...

Why Did God Rescue Us? Text: Ephesians 2:4-7  Paul has given us a shocking assessment of the very nature of all humanity, in every age, in every location, people of all races and creeds, men and women… They are all polluted with sin, and we discovered in Ephesians 2:4, that Paul had inserted two very important and pivotal words:  BUT GOD . Someone once remarked that right here...

Victim Wars Victimhood and Intersectionality - A Biblical Response  Psalm 11 Have you noticed that nowadays it seems that victimhood is actually fashionable. Gone are the days of looking adversity in the face, determined to overcome it. We have great sympathy with those who have suffered, who are genuine victims, and there are many. But ‘fabricated victimhood’ is now a prevailing attitude in...

Catechism Class: LD35B Q97-98 Use and Misuse of Imagery and Art Read Isaiah 40:18-31 and see how the prophet Isaiah compares the greatness of God with the pathetic worthlessness of the idols made by man hands. He says, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” The question is rhetorical. There is nothing that can compare with Almighty God, – no ima...

The Soul's Pollution Text: Ephesians 2:2-4 To fully appreciate how vast the work that God has done for sinners we must understand the problem, the dreadful polluted corrupt nature into which and with which we are born.   To read the NOTES CLICK This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational church and at Templepatric Reformed Church. It was recorded live at Templepatrick an is...

Passover People: Thomas. Thomas the Doubter? Or more like us all than we care to think? The disciples of Jesus all had their own individual personalities, and these characteristics all come out in the Biblical record. Universally, the disciple Thomas has become known as a doubter – his name and his story has become legend – he is ‘Doubting Thomas’ – a pejorative description to this day, of anyone...

Catechism Class: Lord's Day 35 Q96 How NOT to Worship God The second commandment is a rule to help us to keep the first commandment. There is a danger that if we invent some image of God, using our own imagination, that we will be deflected from worshipping the One True God who reveals himself to us in Scripture. Because this is so serious, after all our very soul’s salvation is at stake, our...

From Death to Life Text: Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ezekiel 37:1–14. We have reached chapter two. Ephesians chapter one is full of superlatives, – an amazing charge through the wonderful works of God on behalf of his people, his elect, his church. Now we come to Paul’s clear declaration of the Gospel of Free Grace in Ephesians 2. Read the NO...

Catechism Class: LD34C - The Value of the Soul "...for the sake of my very salvation" We remain with Lord’s Day 34B for this short lesson, for I have been greatly concerned by the solemnity with which the Catechist begins his answer to Q94. He implies the importance of the human soul, its value, and the danger that it might be lost forever. It is for the sake of our very salvation t...

The Alternative Coronation Podcast (For those who are NOT watching the media version) Bob looks at how we fulfil the Biblical command to 'honour the king,' and compares the present monarch's attitudes and values with the values of King Solomon, - values that destroyed his nation. Find out more - listen to the podcast. To read THE NOTES, CLICK THIS LINK . Music by SoundGalleryBy from Pixabay Hosted...

Catechism Class: H/C LD34B Q94 – 95. Idolatry   Text.    Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me .    Q 94  What does the LORD require in the first commandment ? That for the sake of my very salvation I avoid and flee all idolatry, witchcraft, superstition, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. Further, that I r...

The Head and the Body Ephesians 1:22-23 (Supp. Readings 1st Corinthians 12:4ff, Col 1:15-19). Paul is going to remind us that Christ is ALREADY the head of the church, which is his body. So, Paul is illustrating our relationship with the risen ascended Christ like this: “CHRIST is the HEAD and the church is HIS BODY.” Let’s explore those two important ideas… This sermon preached at Bally...

Catechism Class: LD34 Q92-92 The LAW OF GOD The catechist has been teaching us about how to live in such a way to please God who saved us by his grace (unmerited favour) alone, and has given us a new life in Christ. We are to respond to his unconditional love for us by being grateful, and demonstrating that gratitude in our lives. In the obedient life we are not following our own notions...

Preaching is the Answer to Church Problems A sermon preached in Whiteabbey in 2012. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catechism Class: Lord's Day 33 Q89-90 Conversion It is important to remember that becoming a Christian is undergoing a complete change, not of lifestyle, but of life itself. We call it CONVERSION. It is a change that is initiated by God, and accomplished by God in our lives, - HE CHANGES US.   Read the NOTES HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Downpayment Paul tells us that the Ephesians were ‘sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise’ In this sermon we ask some relevant questions about this strange phrase. Preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. recorded at TRC and used here with their kind permission. read the NOTES HERE . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Passover People" - The People at the Cross Matthew 27:35. And they crucified him There were many people on Calvary's Hill that day - soldiers, thieves, religious leaders, by-passers, women - but who was it who crucified Christ that day? This message was part of a Good Friday Service at Ballymacashon, - please excuse the echo. Read the NOTES HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

"Passover People" - Simon the Crossbearer Simon of Cyrene, - probably just an ordinary man, going about his ordinary business. One minute he was an unconcerned passer-by, a foreigner visiting Jerusalem for a religious pilgrimage, and the next he was suddenly thrust into the greatest drama ever, God’s eternal plan of redemption. Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

"Passover People" - Peter the Failure Read Mark 14:53-72  In this study we see another man who betrayed the Lord, but who, when he repented had a totally different outcome than Judas – Simon Peter, a man who was a failure as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus, – just as we all are today, no matter how successful in life we may be – Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory...

"Passover People." Judas the Traitor. Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16, 45-50. Matthew 27:1-10 In this study we are looking a little at a very solemn and serious subject – we are looking at the man who betrayed the Lord, – Judas Iscariot. It is an important subject, – important for the unrepentant sinner who needs to prepare to meet God, important for the Christian who has grown cold in heart, or fallen...

The Holy Spirit of Promise Text: Ephesians 1:13-15 We need to look at this passage of Paul’s first chapter to the Ephesians very carefully, and in these few verses, quite a few important questions confront us. Questions like, Who is the Holy Spirit? Why is He the Spirit of ‘promise?’ What does it mean to be ‘sealed?’ When does this ‘sealing’ occur? What does Paul mean by the ‘Earnest of our inheri...

SECULAR HUMANISM RC Sproule writing in ‘Table Talk’ magazine in October 1993, wrote, “Secular humanism is one of the stupidest beliefs ever concocted.” In this podcast episode, recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob looks at the history and beliefs of humanism. READ THE NOTES HERE . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What To Do When You Get Bad News…. Text . Isaiah 37:1-7 What do you do when you get bad news? We have a ‘case-study’ in Isaiah 37. Hezekiah has been the recipient of some very bad news indeed. The three civil servants had reported back to King Hezekiah, and their message was the worst possible news, news that no one would ever want to hear. 36:22 What will Hezekiah, the godly King of Israel do now...

The Repentant Life Catechism Class. LD32 Q87-88 Read: 1st Corinthians 6:9-11   Q.87 Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and impenitent walk of life? A. By no means. Scripture says that no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, greedy person, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like shall inherit the kingdom of God . The Christian life is a life of r...