Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

Have you ever considered how thanksgiving can be an act of courage? David’s praise in Psalm 138 is not quiet or private. It is wholehearted and public, offered in the presence of the powerful and influential, and even offered in the midst of trouble.

David’s gratitude is not vague or generic. He praises the LORD by name, according to his Word, and testifies to the goodness of God he has personally experienced. That kind of thanksgiving can challenge the proud and the powerful, yet it also holds out the possibility that even hostile hearts might be changed. For God’s people, courageous thanksgiving means trusting the Lord’s purposes even when faithful praise comes at a cost.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

We spend much of our lives building something—houses, careers, families, and legacies. But how do we build in a way that brings delight rather than regret? Psalm 127 offers a wisdom for both our work and our homes.

Solomon calls us to a life of dependence upon God, dedication to our labor, and delight in the results. Hard work is not opposed to dependence; rather, faithful labor is itself an act of trust when it is shaped by God's Word and done for his glory. Whether building a house or raising a family, the goal is not simply successful results, but the peace that comes from knowing we have faithfully built according to the Lord's wisdom.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

Augustine said the rest of Scripture speaks to us, but the Psalms speak for us. But what happens when the Psalms put words in our mouths that we would rather avoid? Psalm 94 is pointed, passionate, personal, prophetic, pastoral, and even political, confronting us with the reality of God's vengeance, the certainty of his judgment, and the accountability of those who wield authority.

Yet this difficult Psalm is ultimately a Psalm of refuge. As God's people face the hard realities of life in a fallen world, the Lord disciplines, consoles, and sustains his people. His justice is certain, his promises are sure, and he remains a refuge for those who trust in him.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

What does it mean to find our home in God? Psalm 84 uses the beautiful imagery of dwelling places, courts, and even birds making their nests to describe the blessedness of taking refuge in the Lord.

The Psalmist longs for the place where God dwells, where even those passing through the valley of weeping find strength and a pathway back to him. There, the repentant are welcomed through the favor of God's Anointed One, and no good thing is withheld from those who walk uprightly. Truly, there is nowhere like the dwelling place of God—a place of rest, safety, joy, and lasting hope.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

What would be on your bucket list if you knew you had one thing left to accomplish? Psalm 71 gives us the remarkable answer of a man whose greatest desire is to proclaim God's might to the next generation.

The Psalmist's priorities did not arise simply from personality or preference. They were formed by a life of dwelling in God, an awareness of God's electing love, and an ongoing experience of opposition from the enemies of God. Together, these shaped his sense of purpose and urgency. His example challenges us to consider what is shaping our own priorities—and what we are passing on to the generation that follows us.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

We live in a world shaped by scarcity, where peace often seems just out of reach. Psalm 65 reminds us that true peace is found only in the inexhaustible bounty of God.

In this sermon, Pastor John DeVries examines God's abundant provision for his people. Whether forgiving our sins, protecting us from danger, or providing for our daily needs, the Lord's grace is never exhausted. As we recognize his bounty, we are called to respond with praise, renewed trust, and lives that bear witness to his goodness before the world.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

The longing to be vindicated is often dismissed as pride—but can it ever be righteous? Psalm 43 reveals that there are times when God's people rightly cry out for justice while continuing to trust in his goodness.

In this sermon, John DeVries explores how believers should respond to unjust suffering and the apparent silence of God. Rather than allowing pain to harden the heart, the psalmist asks to be led again by God's light and truth to the place of worship. There, the certainty of God's saving grace enables praise to rise above suffering as we wait for his perfect vindication.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

Our hope in Christ is certain—but it is also alive. Rather than leaving us passive or disconnected from daily life, biblical hope transforms the way we live in the present as we await God's promised future.

In this sermon, John DeVries examines Psalm 33 and explains how living hope is grounded in God's eternal counsel, directed toward our future salvation, and expressed through joyful worship. As we trust the Lord whose plans never fail, we are called to live with confidence, obedience, and praise in anticipation of his coming kingdom.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

People have always asked the same question: What must I do to please God? Psalm 50 reveals that the answer is far deeper than religious activity or outward obedience.

In this sermon, John DeVries examines God's definition of true religion. The Lord is not impressed by empty rituals or external conformity, but delights in hearts transformed by his saving grace. Through the new covenant in Christ, God's people are freed to offer lives of genuine thankfulness—the sacrifice that truly honors him.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries

God is often described as our refuge—but what if that means more than simply running to him in moments of crisis? Psalm 16 presents a richer picture: God is the refuge in whom his people are meant to live.

In this sermon, John DeVries shows how David embraces the Lord as his greatest good. By delighting in the people of God, following the Lord's counsel, and looking forward to an eternal inheritance, believers learn to live in the security, joy, and hope that are found only in Christ.

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Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph, Michigan. For more Reformed preaching and other confessionally Reformed resources, visit crcstjoseph.com.