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My RSS Feedhttp://www.emmanuelarc.org/index.htmlHot News!endirkmaurits@minister.comCopyright 2007 Dirk M. Boersma2008-01-25T12:20:14-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:38:44 -0700Tabernacledirkmaurits@minister.comSermon Notes2008-01-25T12:20:14-07:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/25913ed348b20693e7f6b3c518d45caf-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/25913ed348b20693e7f6b3c518d45caf-11.html#unique-entry-id-11The tabernacle - I have never thought there was so much symbolism hidden in it. You read the chapters in Exodus and think 'that's just a bunch of blueprints that told Moses how to build the tabernacle'.
When you take a look at the pictures others have drawn and the minitiature models that have been made, things begin to make sense.
First, things I didn't notice begin to draw my attention. The colors, for example: scarlet - that bright red color is everywhere in the tabernacle: in the entrance curtain, in the high priest's robes, in the curtains that hide the Holy Place and the Holiest Place from view, and in the roof.

Holy

Then there is white linen: this definitely tells you about God's holiness. Israelites who approached the tabernacle were immediately confronted with it: the tabernacle was fenced off by a white linen curtain. It told everyone: God is perfect and holy; you can't approach him just like that. You have to admit you are a sinner. Do you do this when you pray to God? Or do you just come to him without humbling yourself and do you submit your list of desires?
The white fence does not isolate God's place from the real world but makes it clear that approaching God is special - a privilege. Just the fact that God wanted to live among his people and that he made himself accessible to sinners is a sign of his grace! Just read the history of Israel described in the books of Exodus and Numbers and you know how patient God was. The same is true for us.

Come in!

You probably notice the white curtain-fence in the picture below. Do you also see the colorful curtain at the front? That's the entrance. It is made of the same fine linen, but they are embroidered with bright colors: scarlet, blue, and purple . These colors symbolize what Christ has done for us. He is the payment for our sins (scarlet), he is our king (purple) whom we are called to obey, and he gives us a place in heaven (blue). You can enter with Christ as cover!
Read more about this in the second sermon in the series...

Click the tabernacle image to go to the sermons page that contains all the tabernacle sermons.]]>Books on the Ten Commandmentsdirkmaurits@minister.comSermon Notes2007-09-28T00:56:30-06:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/07b37537c776c26b380c7d1d6d0dc14a-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/07b37537c776c26b380c7d1d6d0dc14a-9.html#unique-entry-id-9I am preaching through the Ten Commandments in September and October.
Many books have been written on the Ten Commandments. Let me suggest some books that I have read and may help you understand them.
I mention some details about the writers behind each title. (each link will open in a new window or tab in your browser).

Edmund Clowney, How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments. Phillipsburg, NJ (P&R Publishing), 2007. (Professor Clowney was one of the founders of Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA) has published on the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New.)
Philip Ryken, Written in Stone. The Ten Commandments and Today's Moral Crisis. Wheaton, IL, 2003. (Ryken is James Boice's successor as senior minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, where the PCRT (Presbyterian Conference on Reformed Theology) is held every year. He is a prolific writer)
Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom. Relating to God and others through the Ten Commandments. Chicago 1993. (Horton is professor at Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, CA. He wrote many books on Reformed theology.)
Glen Martin, God's Top Ten List. The Ten Commandments. Chicago 1999.
J.I. Packer, Growing in Christ. Wheaton, IL, 1994. (Short explanations of the commandments in 2-3 pages each. This book also explains the Apostles' Creed, Baptism and Repentance, and prayer.) Packer has written many good books., the most famous being Knowing God. An overview of the books he wrote can be found here.
J. Douma, The Ten Commandments. Manual for the Christian Life. Phillipsburg, NJ (P&R Publishing), 1996. (this book by my former Ethics professor in Kampen (the Netherlands) was translated from Dutch by prof. Nelson Kloosterman (Mid America Reformed Seminary) who did his Ph.D. with him.)
John Holbert, The Ten Commandments. A Preaching Commentary.(Series: The Great Texts). Nashville, 2002.
Chris Hedges, Losing Moses on the Freeway. The 10 Commandments in America. New York, 2005. (this book is of a different kind. Chris Hedges is a veteran war correspondent who publishes about religion and ethics. One of his books is entitled War is a force that gives us meaning. Losing Moses on the freeway is a personal narrative that shows the cost of ignoring God's commandments for American society.)

]]>Family campdirkmaurits@minister.comEvangelism/Outreach2007-09-18T12:44:45-06:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/51e3c4b12409a8dff2a814c88e285814-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/51e3c4b12409a8dff2a814c88e285814-7.html#unique-entry-id-7Usually you go to the mountains to hike. This time we were in the mountains for the Providence OPC family camp at Covenant Heights near Estes Park.

Although Rinette and I were ‘outsiders’ we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed the fellowship. The two-day camp (Friday night (August 31) and Saturday (September 1)) featured two speeches by Darren Thole, the pastor of the OPC in Hamill, SD. Both focused on the Great Commandment (Jesus’ command to go out and make disciples because he has all the power in heaven and on earth (Mt 28,18-20). I’d like to pass on some valuable things we heard there.

For whom is the Great Commandment? This is important: many people think that Jesus sent out the apostles only. This task has since been inherited by ordained preachers. Some (Reformed) people mistakenly think that unbelievers are only saved by the preaching of an ordained minister. The ‘laypersons’ cannot do anything. Instead, Jesus addressed the church as a whole, represented in the 11 disciples who were present.

Splitting up the church in laypeople and clergy is a Roman Catholic error. They say that the church only exists when the clergy (who are holy) is present, while the laypeople are secular. The New Testament speaks about believers differently: they are saints and they have the offices of prophet, priest, and king. This is why we call elders, deacons, and ministers the ‘special offices’: every church member has an office (which is called the office of all believers)! Every Christian has been anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion: we should all think more highly about our gifts and responsibility in contributing towards fulfilling the Great Commandment. Do not delegate this to the men with a special office. Realize that you know Christ and can tell others about him, and that you are a witness in how you behave. When you live a different lifestyle (not greedy, not defensive, not sloppy, but honest, hardworking, and friendly) people may begin to ask why you are different.
Another interesting and important element in the Great Commission is this: Jesus’ command to the church is: GO! This sheds light on the task of the church in the world. Why do you go to church? Is it only to be fed and encouraged for the coming week? There is more to the church. It is not only about teaching and fellowship. Jesus' command 'Go!' means that we cannotbe satisfied if the members receive what they need. God calls us to make disciples by preaching the gospel, baptizing those who believe, and teaching them to obey Jesus. We should not teach only those who are in church but continue to spread the gospel so that others may come to the Lord Jesus.
So we must bring the gospel to the unbelieving world. God is most praised when sinners repent and submit their lives to him.
We would like to invite you to come to this camp next year. We will pass on the invitation when we receive it.
]]>Starting a traildirkmaurits@minister.comGeneral2007-08-23T17:00:00-06:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/21471c8f10d04f9d4d9d0ed7503ce2de-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/21471c8f10d04f9d4d9d0ed7503ce2de-0.html#unique-entry-id-0 Witsand duin met voetstappen Dirk Boon 200x400

Witsand duin met voetstappen Dirk Boon 200x400

This is the first message I post on our renewed website.
I'd love to write down my ideas about the gospel of Jesus with you. New discoveries are worth passing on so that others can profit from it.

When I prepare sermons I there may be thoughts that I can't put in there. I will share them with you here.
]]>Sermon Notes on: Meditation as a preparation for prayerdirkmaurits@minister.comChristian Living2007-08-23T14:20:27-06:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/4d6a66443f39338475f662c7c35d7212-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/4d6a66443f39338475f662c7c35d7212-5.html#unique-entry-id-5A new thought? Prayer as a response to what God says(this entry is related to the sermon on Joshua 1:8)
I often notice that I pray about the same things in the same words. How about you? I also notice it in other people's prayers. We tend to use certain phrases.
I am not happy with this. Of course God will hear our prayer every time we pray for forgiveness in the name of Jesus. The condition is that we repent from the heart and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus. It does not depend on the words you choose, provided you don't turn it into vain repetitions (Matthew 6).
However, I am wondering: can we change the way we say it so that we don't fall into a rut because we have our fixed formulas? And wouldn't God be pleased if we respond to new insights we gain from the Bible?
I would put it like this: when I grow my prayers should grow in depth and creativity. The way your own children talk to you when they are 22 will hopefully differ from the way they talked when they were 2. They won't be asking things only. They will talk more intelligently. They will have developed certain gifts and desires. They have changed and the way they talk to their parents will change. Wouldn't the same thing happen in the lives of God's children?
]]>Sermon Notes on John15 - Jesus is your frienddirkmaurits@minister.comSermon Notes2007-08-23T11:12:52-06:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/a2e61a5d1ad7477f752a3864e285f02e-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/a2e61a5d1ad7477f752a3864e285f02e-2.html#unique-entry-id-2Prayer

Jesus said unique things to his disciples in John 15: "You are my friends".
I think this has a great impact for how you can pray to him.

First, please read the whole passage in your Bible: John15,10-17.

Pray to Jesus as to your friend?

Doesn't that ignore the difference between Jesus and us? He is God, right? People who have been raised in the Christian faith often find this too familiar.

If you are afraid of this, consider this:
- Jesus spoke these words. We can and should regard him as our friend if he says so.
- the general way in which Jesus spoke tells us that he is not speaking about the 12 disciples only. V. 13 is true for every Christian: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Jesus laid down his life for you. He is the best friend you'll ever find.
- calling Jesus your friend implies a lifestyle that is characterized by discipleship: vs. 14 and 15 show that the disciples Jesus is talking about are the ones who follow his commands and who know the things that Jesus taught. Calling Jesus your friend can never lead to a familiarity that ignores his authority and identity as God's Son and the savior.
- if you understand friendship you will know that good friends never misuse their friendship. Claiming Jesus as your friend while praying for your own desires and trying to use him for your own agenda shows that do not know Jesus at all. Jesus said: "a servant does not know his master's business"; a friend however, is not only in the know but he defends and supports his friend's business. Jesus' disciples can call themselves his friends if they make his kingdom their first priority.

Go ahead, pray to Jesus, your friend!]]>Church Growthdirkmaurits@minister.comEvangelism/Outreach2007-08-23T11:00:00-06:00http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/6fd06298a087d2e17dcee5d869915a92-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.emmanuelarc.org/Blog/files/6fd06298a087d2e17dcee5d869915a92-4.html#unique-entry-id-4This is an entry about the past. Now that I’m living in United States I reminisce about the church planting work I was involved in in South Africa.

It is a strange feeling: the first two years there I thought nothing was happening. People were coming to the Bible studies and worship services, but I was measuring the progress by the number of people who became members, and that didn’t happen until 1999, 2 years after I started. So I thought it was going slow, but when I left in 2003, the church had grown to 75 members.
Compared to Colorado, though, that is the speed of light. I’ve been here three years, and the church has only shrunk! It is slowly growing again.
You can imagine that I am asking myself why I left the mission field in the first place.

The comparison teaches me a couple of things:
- as a servant of God, you must watch out not to be in it for success. A preoccupation with numbers may reveal just such a motivation. If I see many people join the church after I begin working there, I tend to think it’s because of me. The temptation is to see this as a personal victory: they like my sermons! They connect to me!
Don't think like that. Preach Jesus Christ and lead people to him, do not try to get a following.
- But how about justifiying a lack of effectiveness by saying ‘numbers don’t count’? That's another trap. When results are lacking you might say: 'that's because they reject the gospel.' How do you know you are not simply being ineffective, spending your time on the wrong activities or people?
I would look at the responses of people: have they understood the gospel and been brought to a decision? Then you have done your job. However, if you don't press for a decision for or against Christ, or if you did not preach the gospel clearly so that they could understand it, something is wrong. The gospel must be preached understandably and with love so that those who hear it know who Jesus is to them, see the need to repent and believe in him, and are drawn to his love.
- Numbers do count. God wants everyone to repent and believe in Jesus. Every person who follows him is one less in Satan's hellish kingdom and one more receiving joy in Gods' kingdom. That matters and makes a difference in eternity!
It would not be good if we did not care about the results of our efforts of sharing the gospel. It would constitute a lack of love for the sinners you talk to (like 'I don't care whether you believe in Jesus and live, or not') and it would take away from the glory of Christ (he sent you to tell the whole world that he is king, didn't he?).
In the end, it is not about statistics, but about hearts of real people transformed by the gospel. That counts.

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