icfdelft

The Shadow Pandemic

by

On 25 November the UN started a campaign to ask attention for worldwide violence against women and girls. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, reports show that violence and abuse have increased since. And the numbers were already shockingly high. What can our role as a church be in this? Anyway, it is important that we will not be silent.

In the church service on Sunday 29 November we will pay attention to the theme, looking at the story about David and Bathsheba. The story of David’s abuse is told uncensored. Bathsheba’s #Me Too story uncovers how a man with power abuses a young, married woman for his own pleasure. We see how he made many efforts to cover what he had done. How others cooperate with him. How he uses violence. He thought he could come away with it. When that finally seemed to work and when it seemed that no one would evermore talk about it, God urged the prophet Nathan to break the silence. Regardless your background, religious or not, we invite everyone to join the special church service in the Nieuwe Kerk dealing with the important theme `Abuse exposed’.

Campus Bible study

by

Upcoming Sunday we’ll have our next campus Bible study for students. If you are a student: please join and invite others. If you aren’t a student: please pray for a blessing and if you students, invite them.

To get the zoom-links, please send an e-mail to ds.josslager@gmail.com. We will read and discuss from the Bible the letter to the Ephesians 6:10-24.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

How to continue bible-reading

by

Someone – relatively new to Christianity – started to read the whole Bible. After some time I received the question how to keep inspired in reading the Bible. Below I share my answer, since it may be helpful for others as well.

I am really glad and thankful to read that you have started this year to read the whole Bible. In this you are an example for many Christians. And yes, I understand that then you will be confused frequently, not understanding  what the passage wants to communicate, how we must understand the Word of God, not feeling excited as you were when you first discovered the Gospel in all it’s beauty and strength. However, I strongly recommend you to persevere and to continue. A few things that may be helpful in this:

  • Let your Bible reading be embedded in your prayer life, in your walk with God. Let me explain what I mean. Imagine a couple that has fallen in love and wants to spend time with each other to get to know each other better. How will you spend this time? It might be an idea to grab the old photo albums and look at them together. By looking at all these pictures, you learn more about the one you have fallen in love with, the things he went through, his character, choices, deeds, journeys etc. However, the photo-album is not the one whom you have fallen in love with. It is a means to learn to know your loved one better. This means to me: I will start my day in prayer. I will give thanks to God, I will tell Him that I love Him and thank Him for Who He is, what He has done for me and those kind of things. Then, so to say, I will tell Him I want to spend some time in reading His word to get to know Him better, and asking the Holy Spirit, to show me, to learn me, to tell me something about Him, that I didn’t yet know, or that I should know/learn/see better/more. And then I start reading my Bible; thinking it over for a while, trying to pick up something from it that I will try to remember that day. It is indeed good to try to formulate a lesson, a message, something you picked up from this Bible passage, even when it is not covering the whole passage. The Holy Spirit uses our reading and meditating upon the Scripture to teach us. I use to have a notebook at hand and try to write down something that I saw or learnt from the passage.

  • Continue Bible reading also through the duller, less exciting, more offending times and passages. Why? You could compare it to food. Or to a life of partners who love each other. Imagine you have not had any food for days. And then a feast is prepared for you, wonderful, delicious food, cake, pastry and so on. You would really enjoy it and love it. However, we know that we couldn’t have such meals daily. However – though our daily bread might not be as exciting, we continue to eat, because we know our body needs this food and flourishes when we use proper, good food. We do not continually wonder: since I am not very excited by my food this morning, is the food good? No, we trust and know it is good for us. The same with partners who love each other. When their relationship continues for a longer time, not every day will be as exciting as the early days. But this does not mean that their love for each other necessarily has diminished. In the same way it is a good habit, a good practice to read from your Bible after praying and to think over what you have read.

  • Cohering with this: in my life I have seen and learnt that there is a great reward in continuing to do this, even when there are many times that there is a lot in a passage that we don’t see, don’t understand, don’t feel. God’s purposes with us and His plan’s for the future are huge. They are too great to grasp at once. No one can build a huge cathedral in one day. It takes years, decades to build a wonderful cathedral; and it is built stone after stone. Looking back, I am grateful to God that I learnt from my parents the practice of continual Bible reading. For now I know and understand something for instance about Moses, David, people of God, law, sin. And when I come to the Gospel again, I see and understand depths, riches, treasures, I couldn’t see, grasp or enjoy before. Compare it to a great, wonderful movie. A movie, lasting three or four hours. When the climax comes in the end of the movie, you are incredibly exited. When others would see this climactic part of the movie, they would also be excited, but not as much as you – since they missed the preceding story. Watching the whole movie indeed takes time, patience, perseverance. But there is a great reward in doing so

  • Part of the frustration in reading the Scripture and not feeling excited, feeling we don’t really see the beauty, the treasure, the glory that is in it, is also that we are humbled during our reading. To give an illustration: recently I did a computer game with my son; he was very good at it and I wasn’t. I felt frustrated. Everyone wants to do things that you are good at, that you can feel that you are a winner in. But reading the Bible, especially reading the Old Testament can often make you feel stupid or blind. It can seem others are better at it and then there is the temptation to give up. Others use this experience to denounce the Old Testament and to judge it as if it is a book filled with wrongness. However, the proper attitude to read the Bible is humbly asking God for His help, Spirit and insight. We don’t like this perhaps. However, the Lord will surely reward us when we continue to search for lessons, for glory, for insight, with this attitude

  • You told me you do the project together. Wow! That’s really wonderful. Perhaps you can have a what-app group to share at times something about what you were learning or seeing. I have often felt excited when I could have a conversation with someone who was reading and studying the same Bible book as I was reading at that moment. The Spirit of God is given to us as body of Christ. Often you will see that others saw and learnt things you didn’t see or learn. But also that you have seen and learnt things that are helpful to others.

  • Besides of this it can at times be inspiring to read or hear what others saw, wrote or taught on the Bible book you are reading. There are good resources available to help us understand the Bible.

  • Last but not least: the great promise for those who receive and keep God’s word in their hearts, is that they will bear fruit (Psalm 1, Mark 4). By reading and meditating upon the Bible we show that we treasure God’s Word. And God will use this, to let it transform your life to bear fruit for Christ. So: be blessed in persevering to read your Bible!

Pastor Jos Slager

How to survive these times

by

No groups. No gatherings. Almost everything online. Two persons the maximum for walking together. This week I was wondering how we can survive these times. Especially when you are here alone. Without your family, without your former friends. I cried out: Lord, how can we survive these times? It came to my mind that in the letter to the Hebrews we read that Jesus, our High Priest is not unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, because he has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin. [Hebr.4:15] Then I wondered: but when did Jesus face a pandemic? It seems that we always see Him among disciples, crowds… Yes, we know about His sufferings, but at least there were always people around Him, at least He was not restricted from meeting people. But then, at once, it came to my mind how the Spirit led Jesus to the desert, immediately after His baptism. And thinking about this, helped me a lot. Perhaps this is a way, we can look at our times: we have been led into the desert. What does this mean? Thinking and meditating upon this, I came to three things:

FIRST: A desert time is a time of testing and of temptation. In the desert you can feel desolate and deserted. We were not designed to be alone. Even before the fall – you suppose that all creation was very good then – God said that there was something that was not good: `it is not good that the man should be alone.’ [Gen.2:18] So indeed: these times are not normal. When we are alone, we are vulnerable. It is hard for us to put things into perspective when we are alone. A wonderful Psalm for these times to sing or read is Psalm 91. Probably Jesus did so, although Satan even tried to abuse the words of this Psalm. Jesus was tempted in the desert by the evil one, to provide for himself the things he felt he so urgently needed. However, He resisted by treasuring the Word of God, the promises of God. He was not alone. God, the Spirit, the angels were with Him. This Jesus is our reliable Saviour and He has said: I am with you all the days. If we feel we are tempted and tested, the best thing we can do is to call upon His Name. He is sinless. We aren’t. But He came in order to save us from our sins. This also implies: to save us from the power of sin, from the power of the evil one. So: Jesus is able to save us and get us through these times of testing and temptation.

SECOND: A desert time is a time to treasure God’s Word. Remarkably enough the Hebrew Word for desert and for speaking are basically the same [mdbr], only the vowels differ. When God led Israel into the desert, the purpose was that they would learn to listen to Him and to live in His presence. In the desert they were missing former privileges as they had enjoyed in Egypt. But now they might enjoy God’s speaking to them, His nearness, help and provision. Indeed, the tempter may seem to be more powerful in these times. But when we aim to listen to God’s Word, we may find that God’s Word speaks more powerful to us as well in these times. In the book of Hosea the desert is depicted as the place where the bridegroom prefers to be with his bride. Therefore God led Israel into the desert, to make a covenant with His people. `I will lead her into the desert [mdbr] and speak [mdbr] tenderly to her there.’ (Hosea 2:14). Thus God spoke, after His people had left Him for a long time and had loved others (idols). So may these times be times for us, to come back to God and to dig deeper in God’s Word. Develop a rhythm for yourself to read and meditate upon God’s Word. Don’t miss the Sunday services and join a Life Group. Discover and treasure the power of God’s Word in these times!

THIRD: A desert time is temporal. In the fact that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness is great comfort. It means that the Spirit, that God is in control. He always is. Now also. In 1918 – 1918 the world faced a pandemic, the Spanish flu. It was a time of deep crisis and a period into which many people got ill and died. But there also was a moment that that crisis ended. This Covid-crisis will also come to an end. When you are into it, it seems endless. It looks as the new normal. But it isn’t. Although we don’t know when it will come to an end, it will end. God is in control. So we must persist. Yes, during our lifetime we will see many crises. This life is not yet `the promised land’. However, God grants us time after time that crises are overcome. This life is not all desert either. Other times will come again. But even now it is not all desert. What we have received and what we can give, is probably more than we think. Once Jesus was in a desolate place with the disciples and with a great crowd. There was a boy who only had five loaves and two fish. It didn’t seem to be much, but he gave it. And under the blessing hands of the Lord it turned out to be and to become much more than anyone could ever have imagined. Let us pray that the Lord will use us in similar ways during this `desert time’!

pastor Jos   

p.s. feel free to send me your thoughts or questions! (ds.josslager@gmail.com)

key to life

by

Keys are little objects but extremely important in our life. Most probably you have a couple of them in your pocket at least. A key gives you access to your apartment or house, and only you. Without it you cannot unlock your bike or start your car. To hold a key is a sign of ownership and authority. But locks and keys are necessary to prevent others entering our house or stealing our bike.

What is the key to life itself? What opens the door of happiness or the way to success? Maybe you dream about a key role in research. Maybe you look for a key position in society or in your family.

In ICF-Delft service this month we meet somebody who takes a central role in saving a nation. The way toward this position was extremely hard however. It’s about Joseph the son of Jacob. His life story is very instructive. Maybe it tells us that we should mistrust every easy and simple way to success.

Joseph reminds us of a Key-holder who has opened the door to real life and true happiness. It’s Jesus who holds the key of life. See, hear, taste more of Him in the service of this Sunday, 1st of October, Génestet Church, 12 hrs 15!

Taste and see that God is good

In the service of 1 October we read a part of the Bible (Genesis 41), and we also celebrate the Holy Communion. The Holy Communion is a special celebration of what Jesus did for us. In HC we receive a piece of bred and a tiny cup of wine as signs of his broken body and shed blood. All who confess Him as their Saviour and Lord are very welcome to partake. If you are still unsure or searches to know God, you may let it pass, but we warmly invite you to ask for a personal prayer after the service.

Coping with temptation

by

Nobody is free of temptation. It can hit us suddenly when we face set backs and disappointments. But it can hit us even more when life goes smoothly and successfully. How do we deal with undesirable desires?

Temptation is there when something happens that you didn’t expect and that you don’t want. A rejection from your mentor, a sudden unemployment, sickness in your family… How can you cope with the temptation to feel low or depressed? What helps you to keep hope?

Temptation by looking for happiness

It can hit us even more when your life goes smoothly and successfully. We are in a world full of invitations. From all sides advertisements cry to us: ‘love me, taste, buy me, own me…and you will be lucky’. Plenty promises of happiness and freedom around. How do we deal with that? How can we avoid the danger of giving way to all kinds of ‘small ambitions’ while losing our big dream?

The promise of sex

Sexuality is one of these promises. It can be a nice present in an intimate covenant relationship, but it can also be a killing tiger outside such a relationship. How do you cope with it in a new environment, when you feel lonely and you search for intimacy?

Dealing with undesirable desires

In ICF-Delft we started a series of sermons about the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob. He had to live in a foreign country against his will. Still he made a remarkable career. Joseph was invited to exploit his full freedom in giving himself into a sexual relationship with the wife of his boss. What made him to withstand? How was he able to use his freedom in a right way? Somehow, while being a servant, he knew about a greater freedom that he couldn’t give up.

Joseph’s story brings interesting lessons to deal with undesirable desires and discern between what we may welcome as a gift from God and what might kill us in the end if we yield to it.

Hear more in the service of coming Sunday, 10 September in ICF-Delft, Génestet Church, Oude Delft 102. See you there!  Pastor Niek Tramper

 

Family issues in God’s plan

by

In the ICF-Delft church service coming Sunday we meet a family with a lot of issues: gossiping, favoritism, jealousy, hate, revenge and even murder. What happens in this family could easily be the script of an exciting soap series on TV. It concerns the family of patriarch Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, as it is written in the first book of the Bible, Genesis.

Facing reality

You may ask yourself: why is this in the Bible? At least it helps us realize that relational problems are widespread in families and communities. When we face that reality we shouldn’t run away from it. We cannot escape difficulties in dealing with family-members, friends and colleagues. Joseph’s story might cure us from unhealthy idealism. We are part of a broken world and partake in the complexity of relationships. Idealism never has saved a world.

No quick solutions.

Maybe you recognize this kind of relational and family problems. Do you still search a way out? Probably you still struggle with these issues. Coming Sunday we don’t deal with quick solutions or easy answers. We need God’s wisdom and help to find the way. Bad relationships completely contradict the goodness and holiness of God. But, if He is able to use challenging relational issues in his plan of salvation, there is real hope for restored relationships!

Healing what is broken.

This Sunday we start a series of sermons about the life of Joseph (Genesis 37 and on). In the story of Joseph, Jacob’s favourite son, we face all kinds of family issues. But we also discover the hidden hand of a living God. He prepares a boy of 17 to become a leading minister and saviour of the nation. His extraordinary and often humiliating life story becomes part of God’s story of salvation in a wonderful way. It is already a picture of Jesus’ humiliating way. Through Him God brought redemption to a broken and lost world. And through Him God is able to heal broken relationships. Hear more in the service in ICF-Delft on Sunday 3 September in the Génestet Church, Oude Delft 102.

See you Sunday!

pastor Niek Tramper

What do you hope to achieve in Delft?

by

What do you hope to achieve with your studies or work in Delft? During these weeks, many returned from holidays to resume work, including those at the Technical University. Some arrive here for the first time. What do you want to achieve? You definitely have an answer to this question. Does that have to do with your faith in God? This question is addressed in the church service of Sunday, August 27, in the Immanuel Church. What do Christians believe about the value of your work or study and what do they believe God has to do with it? Welcome at 12h00 in the Immanuel church, Schoemakerstraat 1, near the campus.

Guidance

by

Guidance is essential in finding direction in life. But we need to discern who is a reliable director and counselor, who is trustworthy enough to show us the way. And how to take the right decisions in periods of doubts. Discover more about an honest and really trustworthy Guide in the ICF-Delft service coming Sunday, 20 August

How do you know?

How do you know that you take the right decisions in periods of doubts? Who shows you the way when facing challenges in study, work, family relations or friendships? In a time of crisis you may ask yourself if this happens because of accidental circumstances or because of your own mistakes, or both. And how do you know if this is from God or from God’s enemy, Satan? Often this is not clear.

Trustworthy guide

We all need reliable guides to find the way in life. We are thankful for those who guided us as a child, and helped us as a teenager. But as an adult we ask: ‘How do we discern who is a reliable director and counsellor, trustworthy enough to be a guide for us?’ Coming Sunday, in the service of ICF-Delft we do further exploration in the book of Acts (chapter 16) and learn more about the guidance of God’s Spirit. We discover why he is trustworthy and how He works. He may use a crisis, but also a positive vision. He may use personal conviction but also a fellowship making decisions together.

An eye-opening Guide

God’s Spirit helps us to take decisions that prevent us from quick solutions and easy answers. He guides us to lasting decisions. But there is more. God’s Spirit opens our eyes for what is misleading and corrupt. He uncovers the inclination of us all to pay full attention to ‘goods’ that turn out to be ‘gods’ in the end. He unmasks ‘idols’ that promise us happiness and a good life but betray us finally. Hear, see more about guidance of the Holy Spirit and the freedom He brings, on 20 August in ICF-Delft service in the Génestet Church, Oude Delft 102, 12 hrs 15

Pastor Niek Tramper

Understanding grace

by

It is not easy to be dependent on the grace of somebody else. Everybody longs to be independent and free in making their own choices. Still understanding grace is crucial in life. It is the heart of the Good News of God and the main topic in upcoming service in ICF-Delft. Discover its relevance coming Sunday (Génestet Church, Oude Delft 102, 12 hrs 15).

Understanding grace is not easy, but we are debtors to many who invested in us. Because they gave us room to live and to develop ourselves. They loved, supported, affirmed and if necessary corrected and educated us. What we received through them is a free gift. Still we are debtors to them because we owe them a life of thankfulness.

What about God who showed his love to us in many remarkable ways, while we didn’t deserve it at all? We are debtors to his unconditional love that He revealed in the Lord Jesus. Seeing the fulness of  his grace makes us silent. Because what can we pay back? Nothing except our thankfulness of this forgiveness and love. If we really know from what utter lostness He rescued us, we cannot stop thanking him for what He did.

Understanding grace is at stake in the ICF-Delft service on Sunday 13 August. The Scripture passage that we are going to read is Acts 15. This passage tells about a crucial meeting bringing a double victory. First a victory of truth confirming the Gospel of grace, and second a victory of love, preventing the early church from falling into fragmentation. How is it possible that this report of a meeting nearly 2000 years ago turns out to be a very relevant and actual story. Come and see what it means for our walk with God and with the people around!