Sermons by Pastor Daniel Wiersema (Page 13)
“How Did I End Up Here?”
Ever ask yourself that question. You get to a particular stage or place in life and you sit down and ask yourself – “How did I end up here?”. It could be asked in a positive light and as you look back your are reminded about what God has done for you. Most often, the question is asked after going through a bout of trouble and trials. David, while he didn’t ask this question, did end up answer it and his…
“A Prayer for Those Yet to Come”
On Palm Sunday, often the focus is on Jesus entry into Jerusalem and the people shouting out “Hosanna!” This year, we went further on in John’s record of what took place. We went past even Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and the Lord’s Supper to just before He and the disciples depart for the orchard. As He speaks a few remaining words to His disciples, He takes some time to praye for them and for those who are yet to come,…
“The Lord Is My Shepherd”
Psalm 23 is a favorite among many people. We hear it read at funerals often. The Psalm is not for the dead though. It is for the living and it reveals much to us about the character of our God. The Lord, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God is our Shepherd. That simple statement in and of itself should leave us on our knees before God praising Him, because that word, shepherd, communicates in wonderful picture of care, protection,…
“Who Is Like Our God?”
Ever had one of those moments when you stand back in total amazement at what God has just done? David had more than one of those moments in his life I am sure, but we see one specifically in 2 Samuel 6. David wants to build a house for God. God’s answer and we find David sitting before the Lord in total amazement essentially asking this question–who is like our God?
“Extreme Contrasts: Foolishness & Wisdom”
We live in world of great contrasts. In the realm of colors: black & white. In the realm of geography: mountains & plains. In the realm of temperature and climate: fridgid cold/snow & sweltering heart/sun. In 1 Samuel 25, we find an extreme contrast as well: foolishness & wisdom. We see how the foolish response of one man leads to the foolish reaction of another and the outcome from these foolish decisions is dim. But wisdom finds its ways into…
“Trusting & Praising God in a Cave”
David was a man on the run for many years. Saul’s attitude toward him often changed at the drop of a hat. Saul was glad to have him around one minute and then wanted to kill him the next. On two particular occasions, David sought shelter in a cave as he was running from King Saul. We are unsure which instance this Psalm refers to but we do have a court side seats to the spiritual life of this young…
“Invitations – Will You Come?”
Ever considered what the word ADVENT actually means? I think so many people see it simply as a time or celebration or tradition around Christmas time. Perhaps you think of the candles at the front on a Sunday morning. Let’s look at the word itself though. Take some time and learn what the word means and what applications and challenges we can find from Scripture as we look at its definition.
“True Friends – Defining Biblical Friendship”
We continue with the life of David. After the account of David & Goliath, the next major part of David’s life that we find is the friendship between Jonathan & David. The bond between these two men was like that of brothers. Think about the friends that you have in your life. Think about their qualities, characteristics, what makes them who they are. As we look at the friendship between Jonathan & David, we are going to look at what…
“Fellowship with the Living God”
As you read various psalms that David wrote, you see the intimacy of his relationship with God. He was not afraid to speak his mind before the Lord and share the struggles he was going through and tell God that it was down right awful and asking God when He was going to show up. We also see him praising God for His character and various qualities and even the Law itself which was worth innumerable value to David. In…
“Learn from My…Follow My…Watch & Learn”
Ever remember your parents saying phrases to you as a kid like: learn from my example or follow my example or don’t make the same mistakes I did or just very simply watch and learn. God have given us examples in our lives, many godly men and women, from whom we can learn many valuable life lessons. The same is true of the Scriptures. There are many men and women who are examples to us and from their examples, we can extra timeless principles…
“Where Do You Stand?”
We aren’t asking where are you currently in your day or when you normally stand in your home. We are talking about the Word of God. The morality of our country has changed much since its beginning. Even the Christian community has change much in its beliefs and what it considers to be true within the Word of God. This sermon explores how you personally view the Bible and God Himself. Ask yourself that question though – “Where Do You Stand?”…
“Purpose in Suffering…Is It Possible?”
That’s a big question for believers. Suffering seems to be meaningless. If God is good, why doesn’t He just get rid of it? If He cares for us, why doesn’t He eliminate it? Those are honest questions we all ask at some point as believers…even if not out loud. The Scriptures tells us that, yes, purpose can be found in suffering. Paul expressed this. Jesus Himself understood this point. We will be exploring three different points (though there are many…
“If God Is Good…Balancing Life & Truth”
We look at the world around us and come face to face on a daily basis with the evil and suffering and pain that is present in this world. Turn on your local TV station at night and you will find report after report of bad news. How do we reconcile all we see on the news with what we read in Scripture saying that God is good? Mankind has provided a variety of solutions to this issue based upon…
“A Christian Response to Work”
The title was written before the sermon was completely written out. Paul in the last part of 2 Thessalonians 3 discusses the subject of work, but the principles we find there cover life in general in how we relate to one another and need to support each other. Take a few moments to listen to this sermon and be challenged in your ministry to others in the local body, your example before others as a redeemed child of God, and…
“Prayer & Confidence”
Two words. A very simple title. But those two words summarize the great truths that Paul expresses and challenges us to in this passage of 2 Thessalonians. As he wraps up his epistle, he focuses on these two subjects asking for the church to pray for him, the team, and the gospel of Christ Jesus. As he considered the church itself and it’s future, he was confident not in them alone but in the Lord and what He would bring…
IFCA National Youth Convention – GBC Teen Trip Report
In Acts 14:27, we read these words – “When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that He had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles” (NET). Following the example of Paul and Barnabas, we make it a practice here at GBC to report on the trips that we take. This year we went to the IFCA National Youth Convention in Cedarville, OH with a group of 8 teens.…
“The Judgment of God: Rest & Retribution”
Often we hear about the judgment of God through TV and movies. We don’t often get the correct facts though as people use their creative liberties rather than sticking to the truths of God’s Word. Other venues and people simply laugh at it and make mockery of it. Paul makes it clear though that the judgment of God is coming and that the situation the Thessalonians are going through is evidence of its coming. There are two groups that he…
“An Example to Other Believers”
The Thessalonian church was undergoing some intense persecution in their day. Their endurance as well as their growth as a group of believers was impressive to Paul. To him, they were great examples that other churches around them should look to and follow. The question before us as we go through this passage though is this–are we that same example? What are our lives communicating to other believers and are we living in such a manner as to encourage and…
“The Fish Bowl Effect – Being Living Testimonies”
How many times as a child did you drag mom and dad (or perhaps your kids or grandkids are dragging you) to the fish section at Walmart or any pet store. It is always so much fun to see all the different kinds of fish and how they interact with the other fish and even just move around the tank. Tanks are often made out of clear material for the very purpose of being able to do this. Have you…
“For this Is the Will of God…”
People often question what the will of God is. They search for decades, spend hours in prayer listening for a distinctive voice. However, the Word of God gives us His will pretty explicitly. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul conveys what the Word of God has said all along about sexual immorality. We live in a world that worships it though. The world approves of it as we see the pornography industry gross billions of dollars each year. Hollywood glorifies affairs…