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Good Friday Worship: Glorifying God for the Gospel of Christ Crucified

Isaiah53 5Today, April 10, is Good Friday, the day the Christian church remembers the death and crucifixion of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Protestant Reformed Churches also mark this day, believing that the cross of Christ is at the heart of the gospel, God's good news for lost and condemned sinners. The death of Jesus on Calvary's hill declares the righteousness of God, as He revealed His total displeasure with sin and poured out His consuming wrath upon His Son. At the same time, that cross of Christ displays the amazing mercy and grace of God, as He gave His own Son to die in the place of and for the everlasting benefit of His people who are totally incapable of saving themselves from their lost state and wholly unworthy of being rescued by divine action.

The New Testament book of Romans summarizes this gospel wonderfully where it says,

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:6-11).

The Protestant Reformed Churches usually commemorate Good Friday with a full, public, evening worship service. But in these times when we are not able to do that, we may still join with God's people through livestreamed services and by means of Internet resources to worship and glorify this God of boundless righteousness, mercy, and grace. In this post we wish to make you aware of these services and resources.

First, the following PR churches are presently live-streaming special worship services on Sunday, and you are welcome to join them for their Good Friday and Easter services too:

Crete PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM CDT; Faith PRC at 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM (EST); First PRC-GR at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM (EST); First PRC-Holland at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM; Grace PRCat 9:30 AM and 5 PM EST; Hope PRC-GR at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM (EST); Hudsonville PRCat 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM EST; Hull PRC at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM; Loveland PRCat 9:30 AM and 6 PM MST; Lynden PRCat 10:00 AM PST; Pittsburgh PRCat 9:30 and 5 PM EST; Southeast PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM EST; Southwest PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:30 (EST); Zion PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM (EST).

The times given here are Sunday morning and evening worship times. For the time of the Good Friday services, please visit the website of the church you wish to join in worship. For example, Georgetown PRC is broadcasting hers at 7 pm (EST) tonight.

Second, there are also many audio sermons that you can access on this website for your further use, including many Lenten and Good Friday sermons. Just use the search (filter by text, speaker, series) feature on the audio sermon page, for example under series for Lenten sermons or Good Friday messages.

Third, you are also encouraged to read the many meditations and articles relating to the suffering and death of Jesus posted on the PRC website. The link provided here is just one example. Search under the subjects for others.

Last, if you are new to the gospel and would like to know more about who Jesus is and what He has done to save sinners, you are encouraged to read or listen to this series of special gospel messages by missionary-pastor A. Spriensma.

 It is our prayer that you take time today to meditate on the gospel of Christ crucified and join us in magnifying the triune God for the great salvation worked through His Son Jesus Christ.

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Trusting and Not Fearing (A Special Message)

duck on waterFrom the Reformed Witness Hour Committee:

This is part of a special message of hope and peace as we live in these unsettling days and weeks, when fear is real and faith grows weak. Below is an excerpt from a radio message of Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC, which he delivered on January 23, 2005 for the Reformed Witness Hour radio program.

Below the excerpt is a link to the entire message - print and audio.

You are encouraged to read and meditate on this Word of God and on these words of exposition and application.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trusting and Not Fearing

Psalm 56:3-4

The Scriptures say, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” There is something very touching and profoundly comforting in the simplicity of this statement. God speaks in simple, powerful words. Very plainly, this is the theme of the whole psalm. Repeatedly it comes back: Not fear, but trust! Trust in God. With a true and living faith, depend only upon Him. Cry out to Him. Bring your fears to Him.

That solves it all. Whatever that fear may be for you, whether that is surgery, or your child’s health, or your daughter’s soul, or your son’s married life, or your personal fear—here is the simple, the conquering, the never-failing answer: trust in God.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word; in God have I put my trust.” There is the answer. Put your trust in God. God here is commanding us to an activity. He works faith in our hearts and He commands that which He works into action. He says, “I have given to you a heavenly grace of trust. Not something that proceeded from your will but something that proceeded from Me. Something that is now implanted in a new heart and in a new will within you. And I call you, by My grace, to be active in that trust.”

 
Read or listen to Rev. Haak’s full message here: https://bit.ly/3ahJmol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Here is also part of a pastoral letter Rev. C. Haak wrote to his congregation on Tuesday, March 24, 2020:

As measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus increase, so also our anxieties for the future increase.

Today all of us are feeling the direct impact of the governor’s order [in Michigan] to quarantine ourselves for the next few weeks. Our jobs and income are directly threatened and we wonder about the future economy. Just how far will this go? Will our livelihood be lost? Is our hard made personal business going under? Where exactly is all of this heading? How many of our plans for the next months will be lost? The second week of schooling our children at home is proving harder than we thought, will our schools open again? When do we get our old life back?

Our minds become a factory of worries and mass produce questions we can’t answer.

Instead we need to ask ourselves these questions: Are we listening to God? Did we come apart to the secret chamber of prayer today? As we observe how the world is acting are we, who have eyes of faith to see Him on the throne, acting differently? Do we feel the peace of God ruling in our hearts in this very day, even as God promised us? (Phil. 4:6, 7, Col. 3:15, Isaiah 26: 3, 4) Do you believe and experience that His grace is sufficient for you today?  (II Corinthians 12: 7-10)

As in every spiritual battle for the heart, faith must not lie inactive within us. We are called to a spiritual warfare in these days (Ephesians 6:10-18). We wrestle against fear, boredom, anxiety, hopelessness, fatalism, anger, depression, loneliness, and others. If you can’t get up to fight today, call the elders, kneel right now in prayer, read the promises of God. Better yet, “Be still! and know that I am God”, the God who has never failed you in the past and is not going to do so today. Read Psalm 46.

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Reformed Witness Hour Messages for June 2021

RWH Logo 2019

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for June 2021 on the RWH radio/Internet program.

This month Rev. R. Kleyn, pastor of Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA, continues his series on the Gospel according to Mark and the life and work of the Savior Jesus Christ. He will also have a special message for Father's Day on June 20. Be sure to tune in for these important messages. The schedule for this month is laid out below and also attached in pdf form.

RKleyn 2020

June 6, 2021 - Two Kingdoms in Conflict, Mark 3:20-27

June 13, 2021 - The Only Unforgiveable Sin, Mark 3:28-30

June 20, 2021 - Nurturing Fathers, Ephesians 6:4 (Father's Day message)

June 27, 2021 - Jesus' True Family, Mark 3:31-35

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 80th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

DID YOU KNOW? Our weekly broadcast is available as a podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and most other podcast apps. Subscribe today by searching for “Reformed Witness Hour”.

Visit our website for the latest podcast and for other news and information!

And don't forget our Spanish programs on YouTube!

The Reformed Witness Hour Committee wishes to remind everyone that you can receive their bi-monthly newsletter via email by simply signing up at http://eepurl.com/gikNsL .  Each newsletter contains information about places around our globe where the RWH is downloaded; news about the RWH’s witness on the radio and via the internet, printed booklet, and CD and links to many popular and relevant RWH messages.

RWH Facebook image

Use the attached flyer (pdf) to spread the news of these important gospel messages!

PO Box 1230, Grand Rapids MI, 49501 | reformedwitnesshour.org | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you wish to be added to the mailing list to receive the printed booklet of the messages each month, send an email to Judi Doezema at doezema at prca.org.

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Reformed Witness Hour Messages for May 2021

RWH Logo 2019

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for May 2021 on the RWH radio/Internet program.

This month Rev. R. Kleyn, pastor of Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA, continues his series on the Gospel according to Mark and the life and work of the Savior Jesus Christ. Be sure to tune in for these important messages. The schedule for this month is laid out below and also attached in pdf form.

RKleyn 2020

May 2, 2021 - Joy in the Groom's Presence, Mark 2:18-22

May 9, 2021 - Legalism and the Sabbath, Mark 2:23-28

May 16, 2021 - The Healing of a Withered Hand, Mark 3:1-6

May 23, 2021 - The Pressures of Jesus' Ministry, Mark 3:7-12

May 30, 2021 - The Appointment of the Twelve, Mark 3:13-19

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 80th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

DID YOU KNOW? Our weekly broadcast is available as a podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and most other podcast apps. Subscribe today by searching for “Reformed Witness Hour”.

Visit our website for the latest podcast and for other news and information!

And don't forget our Spanish programs on YouTube!

The Reformed Witness Hour Committee wishes to remind everyone that you can receive their bi-monthly newsletter via email by simply signing up at http://eepurl.com/gikNsL .  Each newsletter contains information about places around our globe where the RWH is downloaded; news about the RWH’s witness on the radio and via the internet, printed booklet, and CD and links to many popular and relevant RWH messages.

RWH Facebook image

Use the attached flyer (pdf) to spread the news of these important gospel messages!

PO Box 1230, Grand Rapids MI, 49501 | reformedwitnesshour.org | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you wish to be added to the mailing list to receive the printed booklet of the messages each month, send an email to Judi Doezema at doezema at prca.org.

Read more...

Reformed Witness Hour Messages for April 2021

RWH Logo 2019

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for April 2021 on the RWH radio/Internet program.

This month Rev. R. Kleyn, pastor of Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA, delivers a special Easter message and then continues his series on the Gospel according to Mark and the life and work of the Savior Jesus Christ. Be sure to tune in for these important messages. The schedule for this month is laid out below and also attached in pdf form.

RKleyn 2020

April 4, 2021 - "Fear Not, for He Is Risen," Matthew 28:5,6

April 11, 2021 - The Cleansing of the Leper, Mark 1:40-45

April 18, 2021 - Jesus' Authority to Forgive Sins, Mark 2:1-12

April 25, 2021 - "I Came to Call Sinners," Mark 2:13-17

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 80th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

DID YOU KNOW? Our weekly broadcast is available as a podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and most other podcast apps. Subscribe today by searching for “Reformed Witness Hour”.

Visit our website for the latest podcast and for other news and information!

And don't forget our Spanish programs on YouTube!

The Reformed Witness Hour Committee wishes to remind everyone that you can receive their bi-monthly newsletter via email by simply signing up at http://eepurl.com/gikNsL .  Each newsletter contains information about places around our globe where the RWH is downloaded; news about the RWH’s witness on the radio and via the internet, printed booklet, and CD and links to many popular and relevant RWH messages.

RWH Facebook image

Use the attached flyer (pdf) to spread the news of these important gospel messages!

PO Box 1230, Grand Rapids MI, 49501 | reformedwitnesshour.org | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you wish to be added to the mailing list to receive the printed booklet of the messages each month, send an email to Judi Doezema at doezema at prca.org.

Read more...

Reformed Witness Hour Messages for March 2021

RWH Logo 2019

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for March 2021 on the RWH radio/Internet program.

This month Rev. R. Kleyn, pastor of Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA, continues his series on the Gospel according to Mark and the Life and Work of the Savior Jesus Christ. Be sure to tune in for these important messages. The schedule for this month is laid out below and also attached in pdf form.

RKleyn 2020

March 7, 2021 - The First Disciples Are Called, Mark 1:16-20

March 14, 2021 - Jesus Demonstrates His Authority, Mark 1:21-28

March 21, 2021 - Miracles for a Mother and a Multitude, Mark 1:29-34

March 28, 2021 - Therefore Came I Forth, Mark 1:35-39

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 80th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

DID YOU KNOW? Our weekly broadcast is available as a podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and most other podcast apps. Subscribe today by searching for “Reformed Witness Hour”.

Visit our website for the latest podcast and for other news and information!

And don't forget our Spanish programs on YouTube!

The Reformed Witness Hour Committee wishes to remind everyone that you can receive their bi-monthly newsletter via email by simply signing up at http://eepurl.com/gikNsL .  Each newsletter contains information about places around our globe where the RWH is downloaded; news about the RWH’s witness on the radio and via the internet, printed booklet, and CD and links to many popular and relevant RWH messages.

RWH Facebook image

Use the attached flyer (pdf) to spread the news of these important gospel messages!

PO Box 1230, Grand Rapids MI, 49501 | reformedwitnesshour.org | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you wish to be added to the mailing list to receive the printed booklet of the messages each month, send an email to Judi Doezema at doezema at prca.org.

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