Faith – Page 3 – International Christian Fellowship Delft

Death and After

November 22, 2017 by newriseadmin

Death and After

People have always wondered what happens after death. But the honest Christian answer is: we don’t know. Death is a mystery to us. This Sunday, November 26, we will therefore look at the Old Testament. There we find the story about Joseph’s death in Genesis 50, 22-26: a brief, down-to-earth story that tells us what we need to know about life, death and beyond.

Discover more in our service coming Sunday, 26 November at 12:15pm.

Sunday School – Change of location!

Due to a special occasion, the Sunday School this Sunday will take place in the chapel of the Old Church (Heilige Geestkerkhof 25, 2611 HP, Delft).

We kindly ask, that you would bring your children to the Old Church at 12.05pm. Then you will have time to go to the Service and we will begin with the class by 12:15pm. We will have the full length of the Sunday School service in the Old Church, so please be sure to give any updated contact information and a phone number where we can reach you in case needed during Sunday School.

After the Service in the Génestet Church is over, please come right after to pick up your children again from the Old Church.

Evil in God’s plan?

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 by newriseadmin

Evil in God’s plan?

How can you combine the existence of a God who is almighty and merciful with the reality of evil in this world? It’s an old question and not just a theoretical problem. When people who love God come across sin and suffering – and they often do! – how can they continue to trust God and to hope for the new world that He promised?

We face this question when we read the last chapter of the book of Genesis (50). Joseph meets his brothers after the death of their father Jacob. The brothers are afraid. ‘Now Joseph will take revenge on us for all evil we have done to him.’ But Joseph’s answer is the opposite of what they expect: ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good: the saving of many lives.’

Joseph says that God is able to use evil in His plan, although He doesn’t want it. How is that possible? What, if you face evil (problems, set backs, mistakes and suffering)? Can this have a meaning in your life?

Discover more about how God deals with evil and how we should deal with it! You are most welcome to the ICF Delft church service on Sunday, November 19, at 12:15pm.

We are looking forward to seeing you there! Pastor Niek Tramper

God’s truth about our lives

November 8, 2017 by newriseadmin

Life is full of judgements
Most of us have passed assessments and exams in their life. It means that other people judge the results of our efforts and our capacities. It happens when we go for a swim diploma or a driver’s license, when we apply for a scholarship or a job, when we defend our master or doctoral thesis. In day-to-day life numerous little evaluations and judgments occur. Sometimes they bring us an inconvenient truth, criticizing or rejecting us secretly or even openly. Sometimes we question the authority and capability of the ones who judge us.

Paternal blessing of judgment and promise
What to say about a final judgment of our life? And who actually has authority to do this? Important to know what is the solid ground to pass this final life exam!

When Jacob, the old father of Joseph, is going to die, he speaks his last words for everybody of his sons, including Joseph. We find these words in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, chapter 49. It is nothing less than a prophetic voice speaking God’s truth about their lives. A paternal blessing that includes both judgment and promise.

The two cities
Imagine that we had been there. Imagine that we heard the truth of the eternal God about our life. Should it disclose an inconvenient truth? What actually is a solid reason to expect a hopeful future?

Jacob’s last words reveal the truth of two cities, representing two kingdoms. The one obvious, the other difficult to find. The one brilliant and appealing, the other humble and less attractive at first sight, the one disappearing, the other lasting. The two cities direct the main road in all our lives. God’s truth makes us discern which city harbours a real hopeful future.

Join us in the coming church service, November 12, in ICF Delft, 12:15 pm , Génestet Church, Oude Delft 102.

Taste and see that God is good
In the service we read part of the Bible (this Sunday Genesis 49), 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 bread and a little bit 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 come for a blessing, and we warmly invite you

Bible Study – Book of Jonah

November 8, 2017 by newriseadmin

You are warmly invited to join our Bible study series on the Book of Jonah.
When: This week, Thursday 09 November, 20.00 – 22.00

Continuing on:
23 November
07 December

Where: The Old Church, Heilige Geestkerkhof 25, 2611 HP, Delft. We use the side entrance.
(Please note, this is not the church where we meet on Sundays).

What: We are studying the book of Jonah, one of most well-loved books of the Bible. Many people are familiar with the character of Jonah, his extraordinary experience with a big fish, and the surprising results of his prophetic visit to the city of Nineveh. On the surface, the story is simple and can be easily told to children, yet there is a depth to the story that is nothing short of awesome!

Who: Bob Landon is leading. He has introduced us to the art of “inductive Bible study”. This is a simple step by step method which simply involves asking four questions: What do we see in the text? How do we understand it? What is the eternal truth of text? How do we respond to that truth?

He has also been briefly explaining some of the basic elements of Bible narratives (stories). Everyone understands stories, but we are taking a closer look at some parts of Bible stories that will help us see more in the text.

Jonah also includes a short poem. The wonderful thing about Hebrew poetry is that the most important qualities of the poetry can be translated into other languages without hardly losing any of the beauty and meaning. We are learning how to read and appreciate more fully the poetry of the Old Testament in translation.

This is an interactive study, in which everyone has opportunity to discuss what they see in the text and how they understand it. Together we are working toward responding to the truths that are in the Bible.

The study is suitable for a wide variety of people, whether you are new to the faith or are exploring the beliefs of Christianity, or whether you have been a Christian for decades. Indeed, if you have read the story of Jonah countless times and have listened to many sermons from Jonah you might be surprised to find treasures in the text that you had not seen before.

We hope you can join us.

Going Home

April 19, 2017 by icfdelft

Go back to your first exitement about Jesus. What‘s left of it? What do you need to feel alive again, to keep alive the hope of faith in Jesus? Probably the same as two close friends of Jesus, travelling to their hometown Emmaus on the first day of Easter: the reassurance that Jesus really is alive! Two friends of Jesus were on their way home to a town called Emmaus. They were sad and confused because of what happened with Jesus in Jerusalem. Contrary to their expectations, he was killed. And worse: his body disappeared from the tomb. This famous Easter Story is about hope, dreams and expectations. And about disappointments in life. Welcome on Sunday in our church, where we continue to celebrate Easter!