Sermons

Free Text Sermons by Rev C Bouwman when he served as minister of the Church of Kelmscott
Please note: These sermons may be used in the worship services. As a matter of courtesy
please advise Rev C Bouwman. Thank You.

Text	Theme of the Sermon
John 1:51	THE SON OF MAN FORMS AN ABIDING LINK BETWEEN EARTH AND HEAVEN
Ecclesiastes 1:2 & 12:13	ONLY THE GOD OF LIFE CAN FIX THE BROKENNESS OF LIFE
Ecclesiastes 7:2	GOD’S PROSPEROUS PEOPLE ARE TOLD THAT A FUNERAL IS MORE WHOLESOME THAN A FEAST
Ecclesiastes 3:11a	GOD HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME
Ecclesiastes 4:12b	SOLOMON INSISTS ON THE TOGETHERNESS OF THE SAINTS
Ecclesiastes 4:15	(Ordination of Office Bearer)
Ecclesiastes 5:1a	BE HUMBLE WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOUSE OF GOD
Colossians 1:24	THROUGH HIS SUFFERING PAUL FILLS UP WHAT IS LACKING IN THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST
Hebrews 13:20-21	THE APOSTLE PRAYS FOR CONGREGATIONAL HEALTH ON THE BASIS OF GOD’S WORK ON EASTER SUNDAY.
Ecclesiastes 6:10	IT IS NOT FOR MAN TO CRITICIZE GOD
Ecclesiastes 7:13	THE HOLY SPIRIT INSTRUCTS US TO PUT UP WITH CROOKEDNESS AS LONG AS WE LIVE IN THIS FALLEN WORLD
Ecclesiastes 7:29	THE GOOD CREATOR ALONE PROVIDES MEANING FOR THIS FALLEN WORLD
Galatians 5:16	THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA MUST LIVE BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF PENTECOST
Psalm 2;4	GOD IN HEAVEN LAUGHS IN THE FACE OF HUMAN RESISTANCE ON EARTH
Philippians 4;19	PAUL’S GOD WILL FILL EVERY NEED OF ALL HIS PEOPLE
Ecclesiastes 8:17a	GOD’S CONTROL OF ALL THINGS GIVES REASON TO ENJOY LIFE
Ecclesiastes 10:10d	WISDOM IS GOD'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Text	Theme of the Sermon
Philippians 2:19a	TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL, PAUL SENDS AN AMBASSADOR TO PHILIPPI.
Mark 6:31a	JESUS ENCOURAGES HIS BELABOURED DISCIPLES WITH HIS INSTRUCTION TO REST
Mark 10:14c	JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES THAT COVENANT CHILDREN ARE HEIRS OF GOD’S KINGDOM
Mark 10:21b	THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS FREE, AND THEREFORE SO COSTLY.
Mark 11:14	IN CURSING THE FIG TREE JESUS PRAYS FOR GOD’S PROMISED JUDGMENT ON UNBELIEVING ISRAEL.
Mark 15:21	ON HIS WAY TO GOLGOTHA, CHRIST’S CROSS WAS TAKEN FROM HIM FOR OUR SALVATION.
Mark 16:8c	FEAR BESETS THE WOMEN ON EASTER MORNING BECAUSE THEY SEE SOMETHING OF GOD AT WORK
Genesis 6:2b	IN MARRIAGE AND OUT, NO ONE CAN SURVIVE INDEPENDENTLY OF GOD.
Genesis 6:22	NOAH SHOWED HIS FAITH IN GOD BY BLINDLY DOING WHAT GOD COMMANDED
Ephesians 4:3	THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS ONE BECAUSE THERE IS ONE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK
Ephesians 4:1	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
Genesis 7:16b	IN THE MIDST OF THE TERRORS OF THE DEADLY WATERS, THE LORD GOD IN MERCY PRESERVED A COVENANT SEED
Philippians 3:1a	CHRISTIANS REJOICE IN THE LORD BECAUSE THEIR FOCUS IS FIXED ON HIM ALONE.
Philippians 4:5a	GOD’S PEOPLE MUST EXUDE A DISPOSITION OF GENTLENESS.
Genesis 9:25	THROUGH HIS CURSE ON CANAAN, GOD SOVEREIGNLY PURSUES HIS WORK OF ACHIEVING SALVATION ON EARTH.
Psalm 13:5a	DAVID COMPLAINS TO GOD ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN GOD
Revelations 4:1a	BETWEEN EARTH AND HEAVEN IS AN OPEN DOOR!
Revelations 5:5	THE ASCENSION OF THE LAMB DRIES THE TEARS OF MEN

Text	Theme of the Sermon
Matthew 2:23b	IN HIS INFANCY ALREADY THE KING OF THE JEWS WAS REJECTED AND DESPISED – A NAZARENE.
Ezekiel 1:28b	GOD CONFRONTS A DESTITUTE EXILE WITH HIS GLORIOUS MAJESTY.
Ezekiel 3:26-27	THE GOD OF GLORY BINDS EZEKIEL’S TONGUE FOR THE GOOD OF HIS PEOPLE
Matthew 9:38	JESUS INSTRUCTS HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY FOR LABORERS
Ezekiel 5:13b	GOD IMPRESSES ON THE EXILES THAT HE IS A JEALOUS GOD.
Matthew 26:31-32	THE SCATTERING OF THE FLOCK INCREASES THE SUFFERING OF THE SHEPHERD.
Matthew 28:2b	FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SALVATION THE HOLY SPIRIT INSISTS THAT JESUS PHYSICALLY AROSE.
Acts 6:7a	TO A CHURCH THREATENED BY DISSENSION, CHRIST GIVES DEACONS SO THAT THE WORD MIGHT INCREASE.
Ezekiel 6:13a	ISRAEL SHALL BE MADE TO CONFESS THAT GOD IS THE LORD.
Ezekiel 8;18b	GOD TELLS THE EXILES THAT THEY’RE UNDERSTANDING OF WHO GOD IS DETERMINES HOW THEY SERVE HIM.
Ezekiel 9:4	GOD SPARES FROM JUDGMENT THOSE MARKED BY HATRED FOR SIN.
Psalm 3:5	DAVID IN HIS TROUBLES PROFESSES QUIET TRUST IN HIS COVENANT GOD
Ezekiel 10:18	THE GOD OF GLORY LEAVES HIS TEMPLE.
Ezekiel 11:13b	EZEKIEL CRIES OUT HIS HEART-WRENCHING DISMAY AT GOD’S CONTINUED ACTS OF JUDGMENT
Colossians 3:2	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
Matthew 24:28	GOD’S COVENANT WRATH INVARIABLY COMES ON COVENANT BREAKERS
Matthew 24:42	WATCH ALWAYS BECAUSE THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN UNEXPECTED HOUR.
1 Corinthians 4:9b	GOD MAKES HIS PEOPLE A SPECTACLE TO THE WORLD.
Ezekiel 12:25	GOD DECLARES TO REBELLIOUS EXILES THAT HIS EVERY WORD COMES TO PASS
Ezekiel 13:23b	THE FAITHFUL GOD OF THE COVENANT SNATCHES HIS OWN FROM THE FALSE PROPHETS.
Ezekiel 14:3b	THE LORD REFUSES TO HEAR HYPOCRITICAL PRAYERS
James 4:4	FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD
Ezekiel 16:49-50	FOR PEOPLE’S INSTRUCTION GOD EXPOSES THE ROOTS OF SODOM’S SINS
Ezekiel 16:60-61a	IN THE FACE OF HIS BRIDE’S BLATANT HARLOTRY, THE GOD OF GRACE REMEMBERS THE COVENANT.
Philippians 1:6	GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACE DRIVES THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO ABUNDANT PRAYER
Philippians 1:21	PAUL’S VISION FOR LIFE: TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN
John 3:16a	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
Philippians 1:27a	BIBLICAL CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IMITATES CHRIST: HE EMPTIED HIMSELF (Christmas Sermon)

Text	Theme of the Sermon
Luke 16:9	THE LORD WANTS US USE OUR MONEY TODAY TO MAKE FRIENDS FOR ETERNITY
Luke 9:57-62	THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST IS HIGH
Luke 13:3b	JESUS TELLS ISRAEL THAT EVERY SINNER EITHER REPENTS OR PERISHES
Luke 20:17	CHRIST CHALLENGES GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE TO ACCEPT HIM AS THE GOD-GIVEN CORNERSTONE.
Luke 23:28	ON THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE JESUS ADMONISHES UNBELIEVING JERUSALEM TO GRIEVE FOR THEMSELVES. (Good Friday Sermon)
Luke 24:5b-6a,	ON EASTER SUNDAY, THE RISEN LORD WORKED FAITH IN HIS RESURRECTION WITHIN THE DISBELIEVING WOMEN. (Easter Sunday)
Deuteronomy 6:4-5	God’s identity as Israel’s covenant God obliges His people to whole-hearted love for God.
Deuteronomy 7:2a	IN HIS CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE, GOD COMMANDS ISRAEL TO DESTROY UTTERLY THE UNGODLY OF CANAAN
Deuteronomy 8:2	IN PROSPERITY THE LORD INSTRUCTS HIS PEOPLE TO REMEMBER HOW THEY GOT THERE.
Deuteronomy 9:3a	BEFORE GOD THE CONSUMING FIRE, PEOPLE HAVE NO CLAIM TO ANYTHING BUT JUDGMENT
Isaiah 32:15	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
Mark 4:40	THROUGH THE STORM AT SEA, CHRIST TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES TO WORK IN THEIR DAILY LIVES WITH THE PREACHING THEY JUST HEARD.
Joshua 24:14	Serving God requires total commitment
Numbers 22:35b	GOD ASSURES ISRAEL THAT NOT EVEN BALAAM’S PAGANISM CAN FORCE THE LORD TO DO ANYTHING; IT’S RATHER THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
Numbers 22:38b	THROUGH THE PAGAN SORCERER GOD ENCOURAGES ISRAEL ABOUT HIS SOVEREIGNTY.
Numbers 31:16	GOD MAINTAINS THE ANTITHESIS BY MAKING THE COUNSEL OF BALAAM COME TO NOTHING.
Matthew 3:2	JOHN STRESSES THAT THE COMING JESUS IS GOD.
Matthew 3:15	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
Matthew 1:17	GOD GIVES THE WORLD A SAVIOUR-KING IN JESUS CHRIST
Matthew 2:11b	GOD CAUSED MEN OF THE EAST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ISRAEL’S NEW KING. ( Christmas Sermon)

Text	Theme of the Sermon
Ecclesiastes 1:3	HUMAN LABOUR HAS NO PROFIT IN ITSELF
Romans 8:28	THE CHILD OF GOD CONFESSES THAT FATHER CAUSES ALL THINGS TO BENEFIT HIS CHILDREN
Isaiah 59:15b,	Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper
Matthew 8:3	IN CLEANSING THE LEPER, JESUS DEMONSTRATED THAT HE FREES FROM THE EFFECTS OF SIN
Matthew 20:26a	SUCCESS FOR SAINTS IS MEASURED BY SERVICE
Matthew 27:19	THROUGH THE MESSAGE CLAUDIA SENDS TO PILATE, GOD MAKES JESUS SUFFER MORE.
Matthew 28:13	ON EASTER MORNING, GOD GAVE TO ISRAEL’S CHURCH LEADERS THE SIGN TO PROVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST
II Samuel 6:2	CHRIST’S KINGSHIP MEANS THAT GOD’S PEOPLE HUMBLY SUBMIT TO HIM. (Ascension Day Sermon)
Acts 4:31	GOD REASSURES THE THREATENED CHURCH OF JERUSALEM THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REMAINS MIGHTILY PRESENT (Pentecost Sermon)
John 15:5a	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
II Chronicles 31:21b,	HEZEKIAH PROSPERED BECAUSE HE SOUGHT THE WILL OF HIS GOD
Exodus 2:10a	IN CAUSING MOSES TO GROW, GOD MAKES SPORT OF PHARAOH
1 Corinthians 10:14	THE HOLY SPIRIT COMMANDS THE SAINTS OF GOD TO FLEE FROM IDOLATRY
1 Corinthians 11:23-26	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)
Exodus 3:10a,	IN MOSES THE LORD PICKED UP A BROKEN TOOL TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE
Exodus 4:24b,	IN SEEKING TO KILL MOSES, THE LORD TEACHES MOSES HIS NEED FOR GOD’S REDEMPTION.
Exodus 6:1a	MOSES’ LABORS FAIL SO THAT GOD MAY RECEIVE THE GLORY.
Psalm 142:5	IN THE DARKNESS OF HIS CAVE, DAVID SOUGHT HIS COVENANT GOD IN PRAYER. (Public Profession of Faith)
1 Kings 3:12a	SOLOMON’S KINGDOM OF PEACE RECEIVES A LISTENING HEART. (Ordination of Office Bearers)
Luke 2:10b,	(Sermon held prior to celebration of the Lord's Supper)

Text	Theme of the Sermon
Luke 2:38	God used a lonely widow to encourage his burdened people.
Luke 5:30-31	Jesus freely joins the sinner’s party in order to help celebrate God’s gift of salvation.
Luke 4:21	Jesus comforts the people of Nazareth with news that the year of jubilee has dawned.
Luke 19:1	In snatching Zaccheus of Jericho from Satan's grasp, Jesus Christ claimed the world for himself.
Luke 22:19
Luke 22:31-32	In the hour before his betrayal, Jesus assures his disciples that he is master over Satan.
Luke 22:44a	Through deep struggles of prayer Jesus received strength to do the will of God.
Luke 24:8	Through words of Jesus’ triumph over death, God grants relief to his despairing children.
Revelation 3:1a	In his care for his church in Sardis, Christ tells this church that it is dead.
Romans 8:1a	There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Luke 24:51a	Calvary's Highpriest lays an unending blessing on his church.
Luke 24:48	The outpoured Spirit made Jesus’ disciples reliable witnesses.
Acts 2:3	In the sign of the distributed fire, God teaches that he dwells in the hearts of all his own.
Revelations 3:7	Jesus tells his church at Philadelphia that he determines who has access to God.
Romans 8:18	The sufferings of this life lead us to glory.
Mark 5:13b	By having the pigs run into the sea, Jesus sends the demons back to hell.
Revelations 3:14	Christ presses his lukewarm people in Laodicea to be zealous, lest they be spewed out.
Romans 9:20a	Since God is God, he freely does whatever he wishes.
Romans 8:30b
Matthew 5:3	Jesus teaches that one needs an attitude of humility in order to be happy.
Hebrews 13:17	The Lord tells his redeemed to obey their rulers and submit to them.
Romans 10:4a	Christ is the heart of the Old Testament law
Genesis 18:14a	Nothing is too hard for the Lord
Romans 11:26a	Faithful God declares that all Israel will be saved
Romans 12:1	Paul exhorts every Christian to sacrifice the self to God
II Corinthians 8:9	God the Son’s self-emptying at Christmas prompts God’s people to enjoy giving.
Matthew 1:21
Matthew 1:5a	Rahab's place in Matthew's genealogy points up God’s faithfulness to his faithless bride.
Matthew 1:25a	The Holy Spirit tells us of Joseph's abstinence so that we might be assured of God’s blessing on the marriage bed.
Matthew 2:17-18	Matthew quotes Jeremiah to make clear that Bethlehem refused the comfort of the gospel because of self-pity.

Text	Theme of the Sermon
Romans 1:16	God granted Paul enthusiasm for the gospel.
Isaiah 8:20a	God’s unbelieving people are summoned to return to the law and the testimony.
II Corinthians 12:7-10	Through a thorn in the flesh, Paul learns that God’s strength is revealed through man’s weaknesses
Mark 14:25
John 19:25-27	"Christ's lonely sacrificial path." (Rev W VanderJagt)
Mark 14:45c	Jesus received the cold kiss of betrayal so that we might never be alone.
Mark 16:14b	Jesus scolded his disciples because they closed their eyes to the facts.
Galatians 6:10	Paul tells the Christians of Galatia to do good to all men
Mark16:19b	Christ's ascension is a source of great comfort for the Church.
John 16:13a	The departing Christ promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all God’s truth.
Revelations 2:12	Jesus Christ warns his Church in Pergamos against subtle covenant breaking
Mark 16:20b	For our salvation, the ascended Lord assisted his disciples with the promised signs.
Romans 4:5	God is happy with those who entrust themselves to Him.
Romans 5:2b	In good times and bad we exalt in the confidence we have in God’s glory.
Romans 6:12a	Do not let sin be boss in your life.
Romans 7:25ba	Paul the believer testifies of the battle that characterises every Christian.
Psalm 56:4c	What can flesh do to me?
Revelation 2:18	In the name Christ mentions, he reminds Thyatira that the world is hostile to the Lord God.
Psalm 58:6	God’s people call God’s promised curses down upon God’s enemies.
Ephesians 5:18b	All who have the Holy Spirit are instructed to see to it daily that they are filled with the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 2:2	To encourage growth, Peter instructs the saints to be as babies in desiring the milk of God’s Word.
Luke 1:13a	By announcing John’s birth, the Lord shows a hopeless people that he hears prayers.
Luke 2:1	God Almighty uses the gods of this world as tools in His hand to bring about His plan of salvation.
Isaiah 41:4b	This past year been a good year because all things have come from God and are to God.

Text	Theme of the Sermon

John 19 : 23a	On the cross of Calvary, God stripped his Son naked so that we might be royally clothed.
Acts 2:4b	On Pentecost day, the outpoured Spirit caused the disciples to speak foreign languages
Matthew 18:14	The Father does not wish a single little one to perish
1 Corinthians 5:5a	The Church of Jesus Christ must deliver to Satan any member who persists in sin
Ephesians 6:14a	Paul tells the Christian soldier to stand firm on the place which God assigns.
Psalm 49:20	The most honoured of men, if he has not Christ, shall perish.
Psalm 32:5	God's heavy hand drives David to confession of his sin
Psalm 103:4b	The Lord's lovingkindness and tender mercy are revealed in the fact that David has life and health.
Revelation 2:8	The Sovereign over life and death encourages his oppressed people in Smyrna to be faithful until death.
Isaiah 2:22	God tells his people Israel to have nothing to do with man.
Isaiah 7:9b	The Lord challenges king Ahaz to believe His Word
Ecclesiastes 11:9	"The Lord counsels his youthful children to make the most of the life He gives.
Ecclesiastes 10:16-17	Not maturity in years but maturity in faith is critical for leadership
Isaiah 9:6a	Through the birth of a Child God gives to people in darkness a cause to rejoice.
Ecclesiastes 12:13a	The conclusion of the year is: fear God and keep his commandments.

Free Reformed Church of Kelmscott