Grace Protestant Reformed Church

1. Two Gates 2. Two Ways 3. Two Destinations

1. What we Partake 2. How we Partake 3. Who Partakes

1. Healing in the Streets 2. A Church Guarded and Gathered 3. A Church Still Unified This sermon examines Acts 5:12-16 to illustrate how the ascended Christ guarded, gathered, and unified His church through signs and wonders. The text highlights miraculous healings, including the unique detail of Peter's shadow bringing restoration, which served to authenticate the gospel message amidst external persecution and internal hypocrisy. These divine interventions demonstrated that Christ's power sustains the believers, and ensures their perseverance and growth despite opposition from both outside forces and false brethren within. The passage emphasizes that the church remains unified 'of one accord' because its foundation is rooted in Christ rather than human strength. Ultimately, the transformed lives of Christians today act as living signs and wonders, testifying to the reality of the resurrection and inviting others to faith.

1. The Covenant 2. The Promise 3. The Lessons The sermon defends the practice of infant baptism by grounding it in the doctrine of God's covenant as a family relationship of love and friendship. It argues that just as infants were included in the Old Covenant through circumcision, they are included in the New Covenant church and receive the sign of baptism. The preacher addresses the theological difficulty of unbelieving covenant members by citing Romans 9 to explain that salvation depends on God's sovereign election rather than human merit or conditional promises. Consequently, believers are exhorted to approach their children with humility, recognizing their total depravity, and to view parenting as a divine privilege despite the pain of potential rejection. The message encourages the congregation to trust in God's particular promise to the elect among them while faithfully rearing all children in the faith.

1. Plagued Woman 2. Healing Touch 3. Comforted Daughter The sermon explores the biblical account of a woman with an issue of blood, highlighting how God's providence guides believers through prolonged suffering and failed human remedies to a definitive encounter with Jesus. It emphasizes that true healing originates from Christ's power alone but is received through genuine faith, which serves as the instrument for communion with God. The preacher illustrates how Jesus confronts the woman's insecurity and shame by addressing her tenderly as 'daughter,' thereby restoring her spiritual identity and peace. This divine interaction demonstrates that salvation involves not only physical deliverance but also the removal of spiritual defilement through Christ's atoning work. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to trust in Christ's sovereign mercy and to find their worth and wholeness in their relationship with Him.

1. Her Identity 2. Her Calling 3. Her Purpose This sermon explores the biblical doctrine of the antithesis, emphasizing the sharp distinction between the church as light and the world as darkness. It argues against both accommodation to worldly values and isolationist withdrawal, asserting that believers are called to actively shine their light through good works and gospel witness. The preacher explains that this identity is rooted in knowledge, life, and holiness mediated by God, not human merit. By living distinctively and engaging the world with truth and love, Christians demonstrate their separation from sin while pointing others toward the glory of God. The purpose of this visible faith is to lead unbelievers to glorify the Father in heaven.

1. The Meaning 2. The Reason 3. The Proper Partakers The sermon explores the Lord's Supper as a divine token of God's abiding love and personal assurance that believers belong to Christ. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 11 and the Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 28, it emphasizes that the sacrament confirms both what Christ accomplished on the cross for individuals and how He spiritually nourishes them daily. The preacher warns against minimizing or overemphasizing the ordinance, urging congregants to focus on its simple, biblical meaning rather than historical controversies. It highlights the communal nature of the meal, stressing that proper participation requires unity with other believers and self-examination. Ultimately, the message encourages those with doubts to approach the table confidently, relying on God's visible signs to dispel fear and confirm their redemption.

1. The Symbolic Act 2. The Example Set 3. The Lord's Commandment This sermon explores the theological significance of Jesus washing the disciples' feet in John 13, presenting it as both a symbol of spiritual cleansing and an example for believers. The preacher emphasizes that true greatness is defined not by status or ambition, but by humble, sacrificial, and enduring love that mirrors Christ's own self-emptying service. By examining the context of the disciples' selfishness and Jesus' voluntary humiliation, the message highlights how this act points to the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The text challenges listeners to move beyond mere knowledge of the gospel to active participation in serving others, particularly through menial and unglamorous tasks. Ultimately, the sermon calls the congregation to reflect Christ's love in their daily lives as a response to grace, finding true joy and happiness in obedient servanthood.

1. The Importance of the Sign 2. The Salvation in the Sign 3. The Present Testimony of the Sign This sermon explores the theological significance of baptism as a divine sign and seal that guarantees the believer's cleansing from sin through Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit. Drawing primarily from Titus 3 and the Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 26 and 27, the preacher emphasizes that baptism signifies God's initiative in justification and sanctification rather than human effort or mere memorialization. The message warns against various doctrinal errors, including Roman Catholic sacramentalism, Zwinglian symbolism, and Baptist restrictions on mode and subject. It further clarifies that baptism establishes a covenant relationship, marking membership in the church and separation from the world while assuring believers of God's enduring friendship. The preacher urges the congregation to view this sacrament as a present testimony of grace, encouraging daily reliance on its promises for spiritual strength and comfort.

1. The Unsuspecting Jailer 2. The Worshiping Prisoners 3. The Powerful Gospel This sermon explores the theme of witnessing through the lens of Paul and Silas's imprisonment in Philippi, emphasizing that ordinary worship serves as a powerful testimony to others. The preacher highlights how Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God amidst severe suffering, demonstrating that faithfulness in trials naturally draws attention from those who are otherwise uninterested in the gospel. By maintaining their hope and joy in Christ despite brutal persecution, they created an opening for the Philippian jailer to ask about salvation. The message encourages believers to let their light shine through daily acts of worship and trust in God, trusting that such visible faith will prompt questions and provide opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with neighbors and colleagues.