Wilderness Wanderings

By faith, with Sarah's involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore" (Hebrews 11:11-12) . The Heidelberg Catechism defines true faith as " not only a...

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text 2 Samuel 3. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca Spiritual ECGs usually happen through the discipline of conf...

"Noah had faith. So, he built an ark to save his family. He built it because of his great respect for God. God had warned him about things that could not yet be seen. Because of his faith Noah showed the world that it was guilty. Because of his faith he was considered right with God" (Hebrews 11:7). Noah had faith. What does faith mean? It can be understood as 'faith equals creed'. So, if we belie...

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away." For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6)   Enoch is someone we...

"By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead" (Hebrews 11:4). The story of the brothers, Cain and Able referred to here, is told in Genesis 4. Here, as in Genesis, the details are stark and sparse. Our curious minds want more details; we want more info...

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.   This is what the ancients were commended for.   By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)   Maybe you've not noticed it, but these opening three verses of Hebrews 11 run almost directly parallel to the opening...

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). A little child, washing up before dinner, was overheard muttering: "Germs and Jesus. Germs and Jesus. That's all I hear, and I've never seen either one of them." The parents had likely never seen a germ either, yet they sent their child to wash their hands before eating. Their belief that germs exist...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!   The text comes from Luke 2:8-20 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!   To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube .   Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuel...

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce...

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them… The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:7-8). Many of us have heard the words of our t...

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. … Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go…"   (Isaiah 6:1, 8, 9a)   Justin Trudeau resigned Monday, the same day the American election result of Donald Trump was certified...

Our text is from Psalm 96: "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples" (Psalm 96:1-3). What's the point of life? Where is history headed? Is it just a random series of events? Why even ask questions like this? Isn't it better just...

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before a...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text 2 Samuel 2.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca What do you see as the goal of a sermon? How should we unde...

"Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord" (Psalm 117).   God does not require long prayers. The issue is not the length of the words, but the intention of our hearts. For this reason, Jesus warned us about elaborate praying, believing that we are heard for our many words (Matthe...

"Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.…You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The stream...

Our text is from Luke 2:46-47 Lost After three days they [Jesus' parents] found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers (Luke 2:46-47). Of all the stories about Jesus' childhood, why would Luke choose to tell this story? Certainly, there were more interesting ones; stor...

Our text is from Psalm 114: "Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, you mountains, that you skipped like rams, you hills like lambs? (Psalm 114:5-6). Psalm 113 asks: "Who is like the Lord our God?" Answer: No one. Nothing. Our God is utterly unique. And in his Son Jesus Christ, we get an even better look at him. He did not consider equality with God as something to be us...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!   The text comes from Matthew 2:1-12 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!   To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube .   Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: imman...

Our text is from Luke 6:35-36 Loving our Enemies But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:35-36). When is the last time you loved an enemy? Or shall we go even deeper:...

The Christmas 2024 edition of Wilderness Wanderings! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,  Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,  Obed the father of Jesse,  and Jesse the father of David. (Ruth 4:18-22)   This little tagged on genealogy that ends the book of Ruth is interesting.   It'...

Our text is from Ruth 4:13-17 So, Boaz married Ruth. Then he slept with her. The Lord blessed her so that she became pregnant. And she had a son. The women said to Naomi, "We praise the Lord. Today he has provided a family protector for you. May this child become famous all over Israel! He will make your life new again. He'll take care of you when you are old. He's the son of your very own daughte...

Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." (Ruth 4:11-12)...