RIEMY SYTSMA After a courageous battle with cancer, on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at her home in Uxbridge, at age 70. Riemy (nee De Wolf), beloved wife of Tony Sytsma. Loving mother of Louis Sytsma and his wife Tina, Cathy and her husband Peter Van Egmond, Bill Sytsma, Paul Sytsma and his wife Melanie, and Tony…
May 7 — 1 Peter 4:7-19
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 4:7-19 OBSERVATION: The whole letter speaks of suffering, and here Peter puts it in the context of the “last days” (the end of all things). I notice how this does not lead Peter to panic, but rather to prayer. What an amazing response to suffering, it leads to a renewed passion to pray, to…
May 6 — 1 Peter 3:13-4:6
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:13-4:6 OBSERVATION: When we suffer, we can see that as an opportunity to gently share the reason for our hope, in a way that will win over those who are troubling us. To set apart Jesus as Lord means to commit our safety to Him, and to devote ourselves to His way of life…
May 5 — 1 Peter 3:1-12
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:1-12 OBSERVATION: Peter is encouraging wives (and husbands) to imitate Christ’s humble love in submitting to their spouses to win them over. He urges husbands to be considerate and respectful, another way of saying “be humble” given the way men treated their wives in that culture. He summarizes, “live in harmony,be sympathetic, love, be…
May 4 — 1 Peter 2:13-25
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:13-25 OBSERVATION: Continuing his theme of how to live in this world as citizens of a hevanely kingdom, Peter urges believers to live in humble submission and service to others, including our leaders, masters. This is not a vindication of oppressive and unjust leaders, but a pattern for Christ-like living in a godless world…
Sermon on Luke 9:10-17
This Sunday (May 6, 2007) the GEMS want me to speak on the subject of thankfulness. I am looking at Luke 9:10-17. I am intrigued by Jesus “giving thanks” even though He didn’t have enough food for everyone. He was thankful because He trusted God, He knew God provided just enough to accomplish His purpose, to…
Lot Sunday
This coming Sunday we will be selecting our new leaders by Lot. Our practice is in keeping with the decision of Synod 2003 (Acts, p.609), which reads: 1. That synod declare that the use of the lot in the election of officebearers is permitted when a congregational vote is part of the process. Grounds: a….
May 3 — 1 Peter 2:4-12
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:4-12 OBSERVATION: Before Jesus came, God used a stone temple (with priests and sacrifices) to symbolize His relationship with people; Jesus is the reality, the living cornerstone of a living temple where God lives and His people love and serve Him. Peter uses words that originally described Israel (Exodus 19:3-6, Hosea 1:6-11) to describe God’s new…
May 2 — 1 Peter 2:13-2:3
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 OBSERVATION: God loves us by grace alone, but having received this grace, we are called to respond with action: obedience, holiness, love, reverent fear, ridding ourselves of sin and craving what is good and pure. This way of living is the evidence of a sincere Christ-follower. When we receive the message (the enduring…
May 1 — 1 Peter 1:1-12
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:1-12 OBSERVATION: Peter is writing to Christ-followers (those obedient to Jesus, forgiven/sprinkled by His sacrificial death) wherever they may be scattered, reminding them of their great joy and great hope in the midst of great trials. He reminds them that many people in the past longed to know Jesus as we do, but did…