Service

Home away from home … 26 August, New Church Delft at 1 PM

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Home away from home …

On one occasion when Jesus’ family visited him, Jesus made a remarkable statement. He looked around and asked, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Then he looked at those who were seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”

Coming Sunday there is a welcome service in the famous New Church in Delft, at 1 PM. You are very welcome to join us and find out how the church can be a family far away from home.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Rev. Hans-Jan Roosenbrand

New series of sermons on Matthew 5 – 7 in ICF-Delft

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An impressive and radical sermon

On Sunday 7 January a new series of sermons starts in ICF-Delft. This series is about an impressive and very radical sermon that Jesus delivered on a hillside about 2000 years ago. Later on it is called ‘The Sermon on the Mount’. Jesus deals with all kinds of life issues, the relationship with God and the relationship with fellow people. He illustrates the big difference between the disciples and the world around. Followers of Him not only love their friends, but also their enemies. They are not concerned and will not be afraid in difficult times because they trust God as their caring father. They don’t do things in order to be seen or gain something from it…But doesn’t this sound impossible? Where can you find a church with such a profile? Jesus’ words are a call to transforming discipleship that only He is able to realize in our life.

Longing for revival

Many people, including non-Christians, have been impressed by this ‘Sermon on the Mount’. Mahatma Gandhi admired this teaching of Jesus, and considered it as ‘ideal for social renewal’. The English pastor Martyn Lloyd Jones preached a series of 60 sermons about it in London because he saw how compromised and shallow the life of Christians was, halfway the last century. He longed for a revival in the church and in the (Western) society. I recognize his longing. I think that there are plenty reasons to listen to Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount today.

Pastor Niek Tramper

God’s truth about our lives

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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

Being Single

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Coming Sunday will be the second service in our series on relationships.

For many of you, finding a partner is one of the most important life goals. Some are okay with being single, but most people long for romantic love. Some feel the pressure of finishing studies, going back home and having to find a good husband or wife. Others have been married, but that didn’t work out for whatever reason. One of the Bible writers – Paul – addresses these issues in a letter. Should we long for marriage? Or is being single the better option?

Discover more in our service coming Sunday, 29 October in the Génestet church, Oude Delft 102, 12:15pm.

Blessing for Children

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What makes us happy?
The word ‘blessing’ has a very positive connotation in day-to-day language. A surprising success, a happy encounter or a very positive evaluation… we may call it all a blessing. We experience it as a gift, an unexpected fruit that makes us happy and gives us new energy.
How can we be a blessing for others? What is the secret of blessing our study friends, our colleagues, our neighbours, our children or our parents?

Jacob’s blessing of his grandchildren
In the Bible passage that we are going to read coming Sunday (Genesis 48) we come across Joseph’s father Jacob blessing his two grandchildren, Ephraim and Manasseh, just before his death. Their families will grow in number. They will be fruitful in life and take their share in the Promised Land. But then there is a surprise. In laying hands on the heads of the children as a sign of blessing, the old man crosses his arms. The second becomes the first and the first becomes the second.

The paradox of grace
It demonstrates at least that we cannot claim blessings. It shows the ‘paradox of grace’: the blessing is for the little ones in particular, not the ones who think to be entitled for it. Blessing is closely connected with the free, unconditional gift of God. If you may know the blessing of his forgiveness, the undeserved gift of his love, you want to pass it on! Not only to the ones who are dear to you, but also to those who seem to be opponents or even enemies.

Join us for our service and find out more!
Coming Sunday, 22 October in the Génestet church, Oude Delft 102, 12 hrs 15.

Sojourner

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Sojourner

Many of us are sojourners: people who live in a country that is not their home country. Of course it makes a difference if you are here as an international student, an expat or a refugee. But the same question may bother us all: where actually am I at home?

Being at home depends on many factors, like: feeling accepted and affirmed, perspective, relationships and realization of life goals. We feel at home when we have satisfying roles in life for example as a student or researcher, as an employee, friend, family member, son, father or civilian. We feel at home when we experience a solid base for our identity. So the question on what we can base our identity (life security and life vision) is an extremely important one. It may help to allow yourself a form of self-assessment. Why do I do what I do? Why am I in the place where I am?

Where at home?

In ICF-Delft church services we continue the series on the life of Joseph. Coming Sunday (15 October) we see two very different personalities with very different life perspectives that meet one another: Josephs (very) old father Jacob and the Pharaoh (king) of Egypt. Jacob says to the king: ‘I always have been a sojourner. There is no place on earth where I am at home.’ (Genesis 47 verse 9). So, what could affirm his identity, his security and hope, being a stranger in a foreign country?

Where are you at home? A lot of aspects play an important role in feeling at home: study, work, career, achievements, relationships, family, nationality, etc. But what if you loose some of them? Does it undermine your identity? The Gospel (Good News) of God is that He wants to give us an identity, hope and security that transcend everything. The Gospel tells us to loose our old one and receive a new and lasting one, in finding our home in the eternal Kingdom of God. How is that possible? See and hear more about this in the service! (Génestet Church, Oude Delft 102, 12:15pm).

If your family is in trouble…

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Bible text: Genesis 42

If your family is in trouble… it has great impact on your life: disagreement between brothers or sisters, tensions between children and parents. In the Bible we read about the tensions in the family of Jacob. One of his sons is sold by his own brothers as a slave! What went wrong? What does God has to do with it?

Come, listen to the sermon coming Sunday at ICF Delft!

 

God is unstoppable

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So nothing should stop the church from preaching the gospel to the world

In this bible chapter we see how difficulties in Christian life (persecution of the church) can work for the greater good of distributing the gospel. Is Christian faith really that important for your personal life? Can it truly give meaning to your life? Balance your work or study, following the wise lessons of God’s sacred word.

Join us at Sunday July 2 and ask all questions you have to student pastor Solomon Dimitriadis, during the free lunch following our service.

Cornerstone of Christian faith

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Jesus’ alive – impossible to believe?

How is it possible to believe that somebody rises from the dead? Rationally and scientifically it seems impossible. However, there are many reliable witnesses that Jesus, who gave himself into the cruellest death at the cross, was raised from the dead and is alive indeed. You may trust them: He is a real and trustworthy Savior. He is able to change what nobody can change. How can we believe that He is going to establish his reign of peace in this turbulent and violent world? See, hear reasons to be convinced!

Welcome for celebrating Easter, the festival of the risen Lord! Easter Sunday 16 April, Génestetchurch, 12 hrs 15. Welcome also to invite friends and colleagues to join the service.

Pastor Niek Tramper

Is there a higher power that controls your life?

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Does the course of events in your life sometimes surprise you? Does that have to do with some kind of guidance from God? This Sunday (April 2nd) we read a story from the Bible, where people around Jesus face a surprising twist. How do we get to know Jesus here? Does that affect your life if you want to follow him? Welcome on Sunday in the service.