Sermons from September 2013

Galatians 6:1-10 Sermon: “Learning How to Do Good from One Another”

Rev. Richard Bodini - September 8, 2013

Everyone loves a good friend. Someone who is close by. Who can help you in difficult times. An encouragement in low moments. A heavy load bearer when you are weighed down. An honest, straight talker. Paul’s letter urges the Galatians to be that close friend to all people. Especially “to those who belong to the family of believers.” Not to say we shouldn’t help those outside of church, our calling is to encourage, correct, build up, instruct those in the family. And those in the family MUST receive these things with gladness and joy. You will have an opportunity to talk more about this text with your elders since this will be the text they will use for home visitation over the coming year.

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Genesis 18 - The Three Visitors

Rev. Richard Bodini - September 8, 2013

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Scripture: Luke 4:14-16a; Hebrews 10:19-25; Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 38 Sermon: “Why Go/Have/Join/Participate in Church?”

Rev. Richard Bodini - September 15, 2013

Church. Each of us has some idea or picture or understanding of what church is and what it’s all about and what it does. Why go to church? Why become a member? Why participate? Why give money and time and talents to something that will never give back to me? If you had a chance to “steal” and read a copy of the Calvin Seminary Forum last week, then you will hear some familiar words this morning. Professor Calvin Van Reken writes, “A church is the most important community to which a Christian can belong because Christians share a basic view of life that is much different than the currents of secular thought.”

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Job 1 and 2 - Have You Considered My Servant Job?

Rev. Richard Bodini - September 29, 2013

Job is one of those Bible books that we as Christians have a hard time explaining to those outside the church. And sometimes inside the church. The book certainly cuts to the chase and hits us with HUGE questions. The NIV Study Bible says, “Throughout recorded history people have asked: If God is almighty and is truly good, how can He allow such an outrage? Which leaves us with three possibilities: 1) God is not almighty after all; 2) God is not just; 3) humans may be innocent.” Which would mean our suffering in this life is directly related to the amount of our guilt seen in the eyes of God. Job is troubling. Job is comforting. Job doesn’t answer our questions. Job brings us to a place where we can acknowledge that we, God’s people, may not understand why God acts the way He does, we can rest in the assurance of knowing that God understands. During the sermon we watched this amazing video from Central Christian Church. You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtFV127i-s. Another version of the song by Matt Redman is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8zrhUYK144. An interesting comparison of the spectrum of where people are at in terms of "You give and take away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

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