The Semper Reformata Podcast

Human Brokenness - Lesson 12Does God Permit Same-Sex Marriage?Read Romans 1:18-27One of the more recent developments in the human sexuality debate, is the issue of ‘same sex marriage.’ As someone said on another podcast stream, even the mobile phone predates same sex marriage, - you really can’t get much more contemporary than that. So what stance should Christian believers take on that matter? Well, our first guiding principal in every debate and in every ethical issue, is the Bible, the Word of God which is our only rule of faith and conduct. So that's where we start - with Romans 1:18-27Read the NOTES HERE

Lessons from Paul's Prayer1st Thessalonians 3: 11-13Our prayer lives continually need to be encouraged, and we CAN encourage one another by HOW we pray, as well as by what we pray for. In this passage, Paul demonstrates a distinctive ‘teaching element’ in prayer very clearly when he prays for the Thessalonian Christians. This address was given and recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is used here with their kind permission.Read the NOTES HERE.

Divorce.Welcome back to our series of lessons on Human Brokenness, and in this lesson, we shall ask whether divorce is ever an option for Christians. Before we begin, pause the recording and look up Matthew 19:1-9 and Deuteronomy 24:1-4 in your Bible. Then when you’ve read those two passages, start the recording again. Matthew 19:1-9 and Deuteronomy 24:1-4Read the NOTES HERE.

Trials and Temptations, Trust and Triumph.1st Thessalonians 3:1-5The real instigator of hostility against the people of God is Satan, the enemy of the soul. In this study we’ll return to the subject of the trials and temptations which Christians will often face. 1. The Inescapable Presence of Trials. 1 Thes. 3:3-52. The Indispensable Power of Trust. 1 Thes 3:2-5.3. The Indisputable Promise of Triumph. 1 Thess 1-10The Thessalonians were to EXPECT hostility from the world. The very fact that there is a being called Satan, should always remind us that we are being opposed. But Satan’s power is limited, and in God’s Word we have been given the encouragement and the help that we need to be ‘overcomers.’ Let us therefore stand fast in the gospel. Hebrews 11:24-26Read the NOTES HERE.

The Tale of Two Cities (Tower of Babel, Part 2)Genesis 11:1-9We have learned about the rebellion at Babel, in the plain of Shinar. The descendants of Noah’s children had gathered there, determined to stay together for their own protection. That was contrary to God’s plan, for he had commanded that they were to populate the whole earth. But the rebellion was worse than that. Not only were they disobeying God’s command, but they were turning their backs on God, and rejecting his way of salvation. They wanted to approach God their way, not his. They wanted to get to the heavens, by way of their own works, and they did it so that they would get all the glory for themselves. That’s where we left them last time, in rebellion against God, like every man or woman born since has been ever since. And that’s exactly where we begin our study today.

Human Brokenness Lesson 10Why get married when we can just live together?We have looked at marriage, the lifelong union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others, - which we saw was God’s intended plan for all of humanity, for the mutual help and comfort of husband and wife, and for the preservation of the human race, and then in our last lesson, we discovered what it means to say that marriage is a covenant, a relationship reflects, albeit imperfectly, the relationship between Christ and his church - a relationship that is unbreakable, based upon his love for and forgiveness of his bride. But why get married at all? - Surely a loving, faithful union between a man and a woman, doesn’t need all those vows and promises? And do we really need a piece of paper to certify our love? Why can’t we just simply move in together, and live as what used to be called ‘common law husband and wife?’ So, that’s our topic for today. Why get married, why have a formal wedding?Read the NOTES HERE

Noah Lesson 6 – God’s Covenant with CreationGenesis 8:20-9:17.What is a covenant? It is a binding, legal agreement between two parties, sometimes as the result of a negotiation, but frequently imposed by a stronger power on a weaker state or entity.Historians like to compare the Biblical covenants with the Hittite Treaties, – but there is a vast difference, in that God created us, he owns us, we are his, and he can do with us as he determines – but in GRACE – out of love and pity for fallen rebellious humanity, he enters into a relationship with us, brings us into his kingdom, and provides us with blessings and benefits. Like the other covenants, he promises blessings and rewards for obedience and punishment for those who disobey. Read the Notes HERE.

Noah Lesson 5 – Re-CreationText: Genesis 8:1-20Now we come to chapter 8, and there is actually no break in the narrative between chapters 7 and 8. And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark.Ho=ad God forgotten Noah? NO!Read the NOTES HERE.