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Archives - December 2016

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 29, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
What is the GUARANTEE that Jesus will make a MASSIVE CORRECTION of ALL systematic evil FOREVER? How can we BE CERTAIN that He is the SOLUTION to the evil that seems to reel its ugly head far too much in our world? "The zeal of the LORD of hosts WILL DO THIS." That's the GUARANTEE and there is NO OTHER. Accept it or reject it, WE are NOT the solution to the problem...GOD IS. God's ZEAL FOR US is the GUARANTEE.

From Sunday's morning sermon | CHRISTMAS: THE ZEAL OF THE LORD WILL DO THIS | Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 28, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
Into a world bent and broken by the weight of sin, where the people of God felt abandoned, hopeless, and homeless, Isaiah brought a WORD about a COMING MESSIAH. This coming Savior would not be of their own design and making. The Savior would be GOD HIMSELF who was coming to bring His people HOME to God and the Kingdom of God. "The ZEAL of the LORD of hosts WILL DO THIS." God HAS DONE THIS in Jesus.

From Sunday's morning sermon | CHRISTMAS: THE ZEAL OF THE LORD WILL DO THIS | Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

JOIN US for Christmas Worship

December 23, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
We invite you to join us in Christmas worship...

Christmas Eve... Saturday at 5pm...HEAR THE CHRISTMAS STORY in Scripture and in song.

Christmas Day...Sunday at 9:30am...CHRISTMAS: THE ZEAL OF THE LORD WILL DO IT | Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Watch services live at www.firstcrc.com > Sermons > Watch Services Live
 

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 22, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
There is ONLY ONE TRUTH and ONE WAY back to God and into a New Life in the Kingdom of God... The curse that our fall into sin brought upon the world was OUR FAULT. However, in His GREAT LOVE and MERCY towards us, God set into motion a plan of SALVATION. He's given us Jesus. In the One whose name means "Savior" we are SAVED from our sin IN ORDER to LIVE our lives on earth with GRACE and TRUTH. We GIVE THANKS to God for His GREAT SALVATION shown to us in Jesus Christ.

From Sunday's afternoon sermon | NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES | Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15 | Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 11 & 12 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 21, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
If you ever DOUBT that God is interested in your life and your concerns; if you ever WONDER if God really does INTERVENE into the life of this world and its people, then LOOK at the REVELATION of God. The Bible reveals a God who SEES and HEARS and ACTS on behalf of His people.

From Sunday's afternoon sermon | NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES | Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15 | Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 11 & 12 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 20, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
The IMMANUEL is the PROMISE of the INBREAKING Kingdom of God where ALL THINGS are MADE NEW. Therefore, we see in the Immanuel the "Year of Jubilee" that PROCLAIMS the FAVOR, the SALVATION, and the COMING of God to LIVE AMONG US.

From Sunday's morning sermon | ADVENT: SHE WILL NAME HIM IMMANUEL | Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-17 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 19, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
"Immanuel" is not so much a proper name as it is a DECLARATION of a NEW REALITY. Jesus is not called Immanuel, He IS the IMMANUEL. He is the Word made flesh: fully God and fully human. The Immanuel is not so much a name as it is the FULFILLMENT of ALL THINGS.

From Sunday's morning sermon | ADVENT: SHE WILL NAME HIM IMMANUEL | Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-17 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 15, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
As Christians, we are part of a NEW HUMANITY born in Jesus Christ. By GRACE through FAITH we have been TAKEN FROM sin and death and been MADE NEW persons in Christ. This new status is a GIFT of God's GRACE that was conferred upon us through the BIRTH, LIFE, DEATH, and RESURRECTION of Jesus. Though we may be connected biologically to Adam, our spiritual connection is with Christ. He is our PERFECT MEDIATOR and DELIVERER: truly human and truly righteous.

From Sunday's afternoon sermon | WHO IS THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS? | Scripture: Romans 5:12-21 | Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 5 & 6 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 14, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
ONE SIN, committed by ONE MAN, RUINED our relationship with our Creator. And yet, after thousands of years and millions upon millions of sins committed by us who are the descendants of Adam and Eve, ONE ACT of RIGHTEOUSNESS ATONES for it ALL. This is the INCREDIBLE Christmas GIFT we remember this time of year.

From Sunday's afternoon sermon | WHO IS THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS? | Scripture: Romans 5:12-21 | Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 5 & 6 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 13, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
If you want to be "home for Christmas", then the first step is to be AT HOME in the Gospel of Grace given in the COMING of the Son of God. Jesus Christ, born in a humble stable, brings us into the GLORY of a New Creation. To ALL who RECEIVE HIM, He GIVES THE RIGHT to be called CHILDREN of God. It's the "WAY of HOLINESS"... be sure to MOVE YOUR LIFE along it.

From Sunday's morning sermon | ADVENT: THEY SHALL SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD | Scripture: Isaiah 35 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 12, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
SALVATION is "homecoming" in the ultimate sense of the word. Jesus Christ enters this world not to give us some sentimental teachings about being good and kind and nice. The Son of God comes to TURN the WORLD AROUND. He comes to TURN your HEART AROUND. Jesus comes to TAKE AWAY the curse of sin and RESTORE humanity and the world back to the way they are SUPPOSED TO BE.

From Sunday's morning sermon | ADVENT: THEY SHALL SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD | Scripture: Isaiah 35 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

PREPARING our HEARTS for the WORD...

December 09, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
Third Sunday in Advent's morning sermon...

ADVENT: THEY SHALL SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD | Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Afternoon sermon...

WHO IS THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS? | Scripture: Romans 5:12-21 | Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 5 & 6

Note that we have afternoon worship at 4:30pm from December through February.

Bulletin | Order of Service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 07, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
The FIRST STEP towards a NEW LIFE in Christ is to RECOGNIZE that without Christ you have NO LIFE. We must resist the temptation to play down the reality of our human condition APART from the DIVINE INTERVENTION of GRACE. The Story of Advent and Christmas is about God's LOVE and GRACE IN Jesus Christ. This story SHINES MORE BRIGHTLY against the background of sin and misery.
The bad news of sin DRIVES US to the Christ born in Bethlehem. In the Christ-child we are BORN AGAIN and we find FORGIVENESS and STRENGTH to LIVE EACH DAY FOR our God.

From Sunday's afternoon sermon | WHY DO WE NEED THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS? | Scripture: Romans 1:18 - 2:3 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 06, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
We NEED the Christ of Christmas because we are sinners who cannot save ourselves... ONLY IN CHRIST can there be TOTAL SALVATION from our TOTAL CORRUPTION. This is the Gospel of GRACE in Jesus Christ.

From Sunday's afternoon sermon | WHY DO WE NEED THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS? | Scripture: Romans 1:18 - 2:3 | Listen to sermon online | Watch a video of the service

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 05, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
Advent and Christmas are part of the Story that CENTERS US in the WORK of God, who MADE the world and is REMAKING it through His Son. This is a Gospel of HOPE. It's about KNOWING and EXPERIENCING the FULLNESS of LIFE that God offers in Jesus Christ. The baby born in Bethlehem is not an object to be sentimentalized. Jesus is a SOVERIEGN RULER to be EMBRACED and ADORED. His Kingdom is to be the STRUCTURE and DIRECTION of OUR LIVES on earth.

From Sunday's morning sermon | ADVENT: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST ON HIM | Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

CARRYING the WORD into the week...

December 04, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
The holiday song may say, "It's the most wonderful time of the year", but it is the STORY of Christmas that is the MOST WONDERFUL, LIFE-CHANGING, EVIL-DESTROYING, WORLD-TRANSFORMING Word for the ages. 
ENJOY Advent and Christmas...LOVE what it REALLY BRINGS...EMBRACE Whom it REVEALS. Then the most wonderful time of the year WILL NOT END because you will SEE that ALL THINGS are MOVING FORWARD to where God INTENDS to bring them.

From Sunday's morning sermon | ADVENT: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST ON HIM | Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

PREPARING our HEARTS for the WORD...

December 01, 2016
By Rev. Mark Verbruggen
Second Sunday in Advent's morning sermon...

ADVENT: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST ON HIM | Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Afternoon sermon...

WHY DO WE NEED THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS? | Scripture: Romans 1:18 - 2:3 | Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 2 & 3

Note that we are beginning afternoon worship at 4:30pm from December through February.

Bulletin | Order of Service

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