The Semper Reformata Podcast

Introduction to the Theology of WORK (Labour) Text: Ephesians 6:5-9, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Christians are live differently from the unconverted world.  Ephesians 4:17.  There is one area of the Christian life, upon which Paul has not yet touched, but where there are huge challenges for us. That is in our employment, our everyday work and labour where we must be careful not to sully our...

The Shepherd and the Sheep John 10:22-30 …My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” Heidelberg Catechism LD19 Q51, H...

The Prodigal Son Jesus teaches his disciples a valuable lesson, about the need for repentance and trust, in conversion, - but to repent and believe requires a spiritual awakening that only the Holy Spirit himself can bring about. In the pig-sty of sin, a young man 'came to himself...' This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon, so please excuse the poorer than usual sound quality. Hosted on Acast....

Malachi #8 - Rewards for A Faithful Remnant Read: Malachi 3:13 to 4:6 This is the last of studies in the Book of Malachi, and the last in the series of studies in the Minor Prophets.  Malachi has accused the Jews of disobedience to the God who created them, and who rescued them from slavery. Yet God does promise rewards to those who serve him, - who serve him for the right reasons… Who serve...

Eternal Life and the Life Within 1 John 5:9-12 V10 He that believed; on the Son of God hath the witness in himself… Do you know for sure that you are saved and forgiven, through repentance and faith in Christ, and that because of his atoning death on the cross you have forgiveness of all your sins and a certain home in heaven? The record is there for us! The testimony is available for all to see!...

How Have We Robbed God? Read: Malachi 3:4-12 Malachi says, in verse 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ” “You have robbed me!” What an accusation. the people of Malachi's day were astonished! "How have we robbed you?" - But they had, by withholding the tithes and offerings needed to maintain the order of faith a...

The Unchanging Faithful God A Sermon on Malachi 3:6 Text.  Malachi 3:6.  “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. God never changes!     The Bible warns us about trusting in men, even powerful men.   Psalm 118:9   Psalm 146:3     That’s why we depend only upon him. &nbs...

Return Unto the Lord. Malachi 3:6 When we think of the state of Israel in Malachi’s day, we are forced to consider the spiritual state of God’s people in our modern age and to conclude that some sections of the modern visible church are no better than the defiant, perverse people of Judah. Yet even for the OT Israel, there was hope. God calls upon them, through the prophet, to repent, to return un...

The Unique Role of a Father Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.   We cannot ignore the fact that verse four is specifically addressed to FATHERS. In addressing the FATHER, Paul is calling the whole household to be ruled in conformity with God’s Word. Read the NOTES HERE . This sermon was reco...

Wearying God With Our Words Malachi 2:17 to Malachi 3:6, We are STILL working our way through the last of the Minor Prophets, - and indeed the very last book in the OT - the book of Malachi.  Malachi challenges the people with another serious indictment, one that is perhaps related to their desire to take pagan wives. The prophet thunders, in V17 Ye have wearied the Lord with your w...

Children in Christian Families Ephesians 6:1-4   Let’s learn about what the apostle Paul teaches us about parents and children and their relationship in the family and in the church. Read the NOTES HERE . This sermon was recorded at Ballymacashon, - please forgive the poor reproduction - it's an echoey building! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malachi Study #4 - Yet Ye Say “Wherefore?” Malachi 2:10-16 In this passage Malachi deals with two sins which were besetting the people of Israel, and which were again, some of the causes of their being bereft of God’s blessing - which they certainly expected, and to which they thought they were entitled!  In verses 10-13, the people of God were causing God much grief, by intermarrying with th...

The Biblical Origins of the Family. Ephesians 5:33-6:1 In this sermon, we look at the origins of the family in Genesis 2 and 3, and see God's purposes in creating a family unit, - man, woman, child/ren. We then explore how the fall of man destroyed everything, sin entered the world and the family paradigm of intimate innocence within God's purposes, was shattered by guilt, same and blame, and that...

The Minor Prophets - Malachi #3 Malachi Chapters 1 and 2. "In what way have we despised your name?" The people of Malachi's day had despised God, his salvation and preservation, by their half hearted, lukewarm religion. Let's make sure we don't fall into that same trap... Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Hosted on Acast....

Last Words of Marriage - Consanguinity and Singleness Text. Ephesians 5:30-31  Marriage is a reflection of the order that exist in the kingdom of God. Before we leave the subject of marriage, there are one or two more observations that we must make. There are those whom we must not marry, and of course there are those who never marry at all. READ  Matthew 19:4-6  Read the NOTES...

The Minor Prophets - Malachi #2 Malachi 1:2-4 In this episode we continue our look at the Book of Malachi, and we try to understand why Malachi declared that Jacob was loved by God, while Esau was hated. Why, when Jacob was no better, - and perhaps worse than Esau? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Flesh - Implications for Marriage  Ephesians 5:28ff  Practical Help for Husbands Paul goes a step further in his teaching on marriage. Not only must a man love his wife, as Christ loved the church, but he must love her as much as he loves himself. Your wife, (your husband is MORE than just a partner.) Paul tells us here that a man’s wife is part of his own body, his own flesh an...

The Minor Prophets - Malachi #1 Malachi 1:1-5 (Part 1) Short introduction to the Book of Malachi, and then we ask, "How has God loved us?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Husbands and the Bride of Christ Text: Ephesians 5:25-26 and Matthew 22: 1-15 After addressing wives in verses 22 through 24, Paul switches focus to husbands has some wise words for them. A husband is to earn the respect of his wife, by loving her, as Christ loved the church. That prompts us to ask how OUR love for our wives can be Christlike love. APOLOGIES FOR THE SOUND QUALITY ON THIS RECO...

Was Paul a Misogynist? Ephesians 5:21-24 Let’s look at the verse that tells us that wives are to submit to their own husband… What can that mean? In some religions, particularly in Islam, women are regarded as inferior to men. Greatly inferior. Is that what Paul means here? This is a live sermon, recorded at Ballymacason. Apologies for the sound quality. Read the NOTES HERE . Hosted on Acast....

BONUS EPISODE: Prayer is the Answer! Speaking at TRC, Bob looks at the government's response to recent unrest and rioting in the UK, and seeks to understand what the underlying causes of that unrest might be. He suggests that there is a deep sense of unfairness in the population, which has already simmering tensions to rise to the surface and manifest itself in riot, civil disorder and violence. h...

The Symbols of Headship A reason why the doctrine of headship in the church is so unpopular could be because of the symbols of headship, which have been ordained by God in the church. For men, the symbol of headship is that the head should be uncovered during worship, and for the female, the head should be covered during worship. Many people, - (many women.) do not like that. People’s attitudes ha...

The Doctrine of Headship Colossians 1:15-22 & Ephesians 5:24ff Bob digresses from his meander through Ephesians to emphasise the importance of a much neglected doctrine, - the Doctrine of headship. In this episode we look at the doctrine of Christ’s headship over the church, which is mirrored in our marriages, and in the church also. 1 Corinthians 11:3. But I would have you know, that the head...

Marriage and the Headship of Christ Ephesians 5:21-24 Bonus episode, recorded at Tempepatrick Reformed Church, and used here with their kind permission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marriage Text: Ephesians 5:21-24 Before we can examine the text in detail, we need to note that when Paul speaks about a Christian home-life, he is referring to  marriage , – to a WIFE, and to a HUSBAND of that wife. One man, and one woman, in a married relationship. So, because of modern recent developments we must ask what, in biblical terms, before God, is MARRIAGE? This sermon was recorde...