NBRC Service 07/27/2008 – Sabbatical Learnings: Roots

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

[In the audio podcast of this service, the Scripture reading begins at 14 minutes 12 seconds and the Sermon begins at 17 minutes 20 seconds.]

Scripture: Luke 11:1-6, 17-26

Sermon: “Sabbatical Learnings: Roots”
Genesis 11:27-12:9

THE MEANING OF LIFE. What is it? Studying theology I’ve read many thick books on the THE MEANING OF LIFE for meaning is what theology is all about. Being a pastor I’ve sat with people who looked like lost Basset Hounds searching for their purpose in life. Being a preacher I’ve made sermon references to the first Q and A of the Westminster Catechism that asks in 17th century language What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever. I’ve taught a class here on the Purpose-Driven Life. All well and good, but some of this search for meaning leaves me cool.

What warmed me up was the only quote that I can remember of any Preface to any book that I’ve ever read, and I read a lot! It was from Hebrew Testament scholar, Walter Bruggemann’s book The Land, where I paraphrase his words to be:
Westerners are preoccupied with questions of meaning, but the Hebrews who received God’s promise of land knew that it was roots that mattered.

Yes! I’ve thought. So how does God call us to tend our roots for greater fruit today? Read more

NBRC Service 07/20/2008 – Jacob’s Dream

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sermon “Jacob’s Dream”
By Pastor Mark Swart

[In the audio podcast of this service, the sermon begins at 17 min 50 secs.]

---

What’s a podcast? Basically, a podcast is a series of audio or video files which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers.

Learn more about how you can listen to the files streamed over the Internet, download files to your computer or download files to your portable media player. Visit our Podcast page for complete details.

NBRC Service 07/13/2008 – On Surviving

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sermon “On Surviving”
By NBRC Elder Ed Staats

[In the audio podcast of this service, the sermon begins at 7 min 0 secs.]

---

What’s a podcast? Basically, a podcast is a series of audio or video files which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers.

Learn more about how you can listen to the files streamed over the Internet, download files to your computer or download files to your portable media player. Visit our Podcast page for complete details.

NBRC Service 07/06/2008 – Stand Firm in Christ’s Freedom

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sermon “Stand Firm in Christ’s Freedom”
By Church Planter, David Mojica, Ignite! Church.

[In the audio podcast of this service, the sermon begins at 17 min 20 secs.]

---

What’s a podcast? Basically, a podcast is a series of audio or video files which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers.

Learn more about how you can listen to the files streamed over the Internet, download files to your computer or download files to your portable media player. Visit our Podcast page for complete details.

From the Paster – July

Happy Sabbatical to you all!

As most of you know I’ll be away for the first part of a sabbatical stretched over the next two summers. For the next month my family and I will spend some time in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands visiting around the area from where Grandpa Buurstra immigrated 100 years ago. The picture here is from the train station that he may have boarded in Sint Anna Parochie (outside of Leeuwarden) to travel to America in 1907. He left at 18 because the Dutch military required him to join the cavalry and he was deathly afraid of horses. Oh well. When in the Leeuwarden area we will be staying with the Rev. Sita Hofstra whom many of you met when she came and stayed with us in the latter half of May. After being blessed by our hospitality (the “our” is meant to include the hospitality that you extended her), Sita promised to call all of the Buurstras in the Leeuwarden phone book to ask if they think they have long, lost relatives in the States. Oh well???

When we return I’ll spend a few weeks sharing what I’ve learned on sabbatical in sermons. Though we plan on visiting exciting places like Amsterdam, the windmills, Madurodam, the Frisian islands, Ann Frank’s house and concentration camp, etc., I think that my best learnings will be in the area of family roots around the farm country of Leeuwarden. Who knows what God has in store?
Read more

The Messenger July/August 2008

Click to read North Branch Reformed Church’s monthly newsletter:
The Messenger July/August 2008

Note: You need an Adobe PDF reader installed to read a PDF document. If you don’t have one installed, you can download a free PDF reader at www.adobe.com.

Event Calendar July/August 2008

Click here to see our scheduled events for July 2008 and August 2008.

The Shepherd’s Kids and Young Adult News July/August 2008

Click to read the latest issue of North Branch Reformed Church’s monthly newsletter for children, teens and college students:
The Shepherd’s Kids and Young Adult News July/August 2008

Note: You need an Adobe PDF reader installed to read a PDF document. If you don’t have one installed, you can download a free PDF reader at www.adobe.com.