When we look at the third commandment it seems, on the surface, and easy one to avoid breaking: just don’t swear using the name of God. Simple, let’s move to the fourth commandment. If that’s all that is at stake, a little self-control would bring compliance. But names in the Bible do more than identify and individual and delving into the name of God is key to a deeper obedience to the command. It is more than misusing God’s name, but ensuring we honour him.

Passage: Exodus 20:7

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Support the show

Psalm 90 is a psalm of meditation and reflection. It reflects on two massive truths about God and life here on this earth. But these reflections aren't just an exercise in navel-gazing, they lead to a response. Psalm 90 shows us how to respond to God in light of the truths that it reflects on. Knowing what God is like, and what our lives are like, drives us to make him our help and our dwelling place.

Passage: Psalm 90

Preacher: Jacob Greatbatch

Support the show

Last Sunday we looked at the first commandment which makes it clear who the object of our worship must be: YHWH alone. But how is he to be worshipped? That is the question addressed in the second commandment, which in brief says, with no idols. God’s uniqueness requires unique devotion. The warning is about avoiding any representation of God as if he is a part of creation, or even a created animal or being. So then, the commandment teaches us how we are to think of God, and it also teaches us how we are to worship God. It means we must worship God as he has revealed himself and as he has required: in Christ, through his Word and the sacraments, received by faith, in spirit and in truth.

Bible Passage: Exodus 32:1-24

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Support the show

Pastor: Jim De Witte

Passage: Exodus 20:1-21

Support the show

Preacher: Bill Berends

Passage: Zech 11:4-14; Mt 21:1-16, 23-46

Support the show

Psalm 15 is one of the shortest psalms, but it packs a punch as it asks the daunting question, ‘Who is worthy?’ Who is righteous enough to dwell in God’s presence? Who has the right, by the way they live, to be accepted with God? Our response might be that we long to be that kind of person and we pray that God’s empowering grace to help us. But the psalm doesn’t end with that. Instead, it points to Jesus, the ultimate answer to the question. Jesus lived a perfectly righteous life all of the time and in every way. He did that as our substitute because God knew that we would never live that way. Jesus, in his righteous life and acceptable death, purchased for us our acceptance with God. So, because we are now righteous in Christ, we can live in the presence of God.

Passage: Psalm 15

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Support the show

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Passage: Psalm 14

Support the show

In Psalm 13 there is a recurring question, “How long?” David wants to be delivered. He thought God had forgotten him and more. David faith is tested as he feels abandoned by God and so doubts his goodness. Can anything be worse than that? Maybe you have experienced the same painful feeling of being abandoned by God. Yet this kind of fear and doubt is not the opposite of faith as we are sometimes told, but an element of our faith. How do we know that? We have Psalm like this one that demonstrate ways we can cry out to God, taking our pain and complaints to him and trust he is with us. As Alistair Begg has written, ‘God’s care for his children is like the sun: it’s constant. Even though clouds obscure it, it doesn’t mean the sun is not there.’

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Passage: Psalm 13

Support the show