Peter and James greet the church as one that is in exile or in the dispersion. This is reference to the time when Israel was outside the land of Canaan. What does a wilderness or exile have to do with prayer? How can this be encouraging? How will being in the wilderness help us to see what is really important? How can we know that the Lord hears our prayers if we do not see them answered while we are in this wilderness time? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “May It Certainly Be.”

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As we live our Christian life do we stop to think about what it really means when we ask the Lord not to test us? However, this is in the Lord’s prayer. Why is this request here that we do not want to be tested, and that we will stand up during this testing? What is the comfort in this request? Why is this request humbling for us as we come before God’s throne of grace? Why is this request encouraging even as it means we will be tested during our lifetime? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Deliver Us Through Our Testing.”

The post Deliver Us Through Our Testing (LD 52; Matthew 6:13) | 2009-2010 Catechism Sermons appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

The kingdom comes with Christ. It is in Christ that there is forgiveness, and reconciliation to the true God of heaven. If we are reconciled to the living God, why must we forgive others? Is this forgiveness conditional meaning that as we forgive someone we receive more forgiveness? Is this forgiveness fruit of living in the power of the kingdom? Why should we want to forgive those who offend us? What is the motivation? Why should we care if we are already forgiven? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Forgive us Our Debts as We Forgive our Debtors.”

The post Forgive our Debts as We Forgive our Debtors (LD 51; Matt. 6:12) | 2009-2010 Catechism Sermons appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

Many times when we go through life we pray after we need or want something. Many times it is easy for us to think that we pray when it is a Spiritual need, and when it is a physical need we will take care of it using our resources. Is this really consistent with what Christ teaches us in the Lord’s prayer? What does it really mean that we pray to our heavenly Father to give us our Daily Bread? Do we only want bread or does this extend beyond merely food and physical needs? Does the Lord really care about our physical needs? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.”

The post Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread (LD 50; Matthew 6:11) | 2009-2010 Catechism Sermons appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

When we read about Adam in the garden of Eden scripture tells us that he was created perfect, and was created to do the will of the Lord. We know that Adam failed to do the Lord’s will. Adam’s sin brought sin and death to humanity, and even this creation is under a curse. If Adam in his state of perfection did not do the will of the Lord, why would we, as fallen people, pray that we do the will of the Lord? How does this third request, your will be done, testify to the grace and power of God? How does this request make us marvel at our Lord, and His work? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Your Will Be Done.”

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Christ tells us not to pray like the Pharisees who make a show of their prayer. Also, we are not to pray like the gentiles who pray hoping that God or a god will hear a prayer. If we pray to our Father in heaven what sorts of things ought we to request? We continue with these requests moving from the Lord sanctifying HIs name to the request that His kingdom come. Is the kingdom here? When and how does the kingdom come? Do we realize the kingdom now? How much of the kingdom do we realize? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Your Kingdom Come.”

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Many psalms identify God as the Lord of lords and the King of kings. This is a very strong statement to make regarding the power of God. There have been strong emperors and kings who have ruled throughout world history. If this is a true claim about the Lord then why do we have to pray that God would sanctify or glorify or make his name holy? If he is already holy and almighty then why this request of Sanctify your name in the Lord’s prayer? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled “Hallowed Be Your Name.”

The post Hallowed Be Your Name (LD 47; Matt. 6:9) | 2009-2010 Catechism Sermons appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

When Israel had a king they knew to whom they could make their requests. Israelites could try to meet with the king or a king’s advisor to talk with the king. This must have been great to see the one who ruled over Israel, and to know that you could put your request to him. How about Israel having access to the priests and seeing someone bringing your request to the living God. Why is it better for us to pray to the living God as our Father in heaven? Why is it better to pray to HIm in the majesty of heaven than to have a king on an earthly throne? Please enjoy what was recorded of our sermon titled, “Our Father in Heaven.”

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Thank you for downloading our sermon preached on Sunday, April 11, 2010. Our Lord knows all things. God does not need us to teach him anything. In fact, Christ states in the context of prayer that our heavenly father already knows what we need. If this is the case why do we pray? What is the benefit of prayer? How are we to pray? Who are the hypocrites that receive Jesus’ warning? If you ever wondered about these things please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Do Not Pray as the Hypocrites Do.”

The post "Do Not Pray as the Hypocrites Do" (Matt. 6:5-8; LD 45) | 2009-2010 Catechism Sermons appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

We just had the opportunity to see another round of the Olympics in the not too distant past. It is still remarkable to watch the athletes as they compete with one another. The winner of each competition gets a gold piece of medal commemorating their accomplishment. Is this piece of gold really something that lasts all that long? It cannot survive extreme heat, and it still will break down over time. How do we attain something that is even better than gold? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, “Running the Race in Christ.”

The post Running the Race in Christ (LD 44; 1 Cor. 9:19-27) | 2009-2010 Catechism Sermons appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.