Wilderness Wanderings

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation (Ephesians 1:11-13a). Thanks to Pastor Anthon...

With all wisdom and understanding,  he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:8b-10) The final verb is "bring," as in, "God's will is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Chris...

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Ch...

In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:5-6) The next verb is "given," and it has all to do with grace—"Grace which he has freely given us in the One he loves."  In Greek, this particular word for given and the word for grace c...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!   The text is 1 Samuel 21-22 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: immanuelministr...

In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—… (Ephesians 1:5) Following pretty closely on the heels of God's choosing grace, we find the next verb of "predestined."  Now, we can get hung up with this idea of predestination.  It can give us some reservations.  If everything is predestined, do we still have free will?  What about a...

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4) The next verb we meet in Paul's long run-on sentence running from verse 3-14 is the verb "chose."  As in, "God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."   Peterson quips that "everyone he has ever become acquainted with has a story, usuall...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) In attending to the story of God that we've been caught up in, it is important to pay attention to the action words.  That is, the verbs.  This tells us where things are happening and trains our attention for the places that God is at work. Eu...

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:1-3) While we've kept the music and graphics the same, we're...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is 1 Samuel 20 from the New International Version of the Bible.  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

You also are like living stones. As you come to Christ, you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done (1 Peter 2:5). We come to the end of our 4-weeks of reflections on Immanuel's tagline, Together in Faith. The image of the church as 'priests' will be our conclusion. Thi...

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  … I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1,2,5) It is incredibly easy for any of us to begin to believe t...

There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so, we are formed into one body. It didn't matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves, or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. So, the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts" (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). T...

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in w...

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear" (Revelation 19:6-8). For this final week of reflectio...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is 1 Samuel 19 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:  immanuelministries.ca DIVE IN!...

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47) This week we've focused on the horizontal relationships between us as a church, together in faith.  But today we retur...

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so...

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something...

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (Romans 12:16). We continue with our reflections of the horizontal plain, the relationship we have with each other -- the love Christians are called to have for one another. Before we get to our text, it is worth pointing out that this horizontal is never independent of th...

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13)  The first week of this new "Together, in...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is James 4:13-17 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:  immanuelministries.ca Dive...

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Colossians 3:15). I recall reading a storybook to my young children in which a child tags along with a fire truck and gets very dirty at the scene of a fire. So dirty, her dad does not even recognize her when she returns home. When dad finally allows her into the house, she is subjected to taking a...

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:15-16) The first half of Ephesians 4 is a beautiful passage for understanding how we grow as disciples.   In...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). What brings you comfort? Sitting in your favourite chair with a good book and a beverage? Watching a movie or TV show that you have seen c...