Welcoming Service on December 17

connect – grow – serve

Mercy and Grace

“Have mercy on me!” The villain calls for mercy in front of the avenger. You can picture the scene, I guess, as it is a familiar image from popular films. Grace means that you are completely dependent on the goodwill of another person. You can only beg for it, but the other one decides about your fate. What do Christians mean when they say that they live by grace? And what does it mean ‘to grow in grace’? This is going to be the topic of our Service this Sunday, December 17, 12:00 in our church.

I look forward to seeing you there!
Pastor Simon van der Lugt

Pastor Simon will be preaching on 2 Peter 3: 18 and we are excited to discover what this text holds for us. We are looking forward to have fellowship with YOU and get to know you if you come for the first time. Be warmly welcomed! Also check out our Facebook event! Share it with your friends, colleagues or neighbors to join us and all be together!

Evil in God’s plan?

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

Being Single

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

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

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…

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

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

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?

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.