Maranatha Canadian Reformed Podcast

Is It Okay to Question God? Luke 7-18-35

In this sermon, we explore one of the most profound questions a believer can ask: Is it okay to question God? Through the account of John the Baptist sending his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" — we see that even the greatest of the Old Testament prophets wrestled with doubt and uncertainty. Key Points: * Jesus answers our questions about who He is by pointing to His wondrous works and word (Luke 7:18–24) * Jesus reveals that John the Baptist is the promised messenger preparing the way — and that this tells us who Jesus truly is (Luke 7:24–28) * The required response to Jesus: do not be offended by Him, but trust in Him (Luke 7:29–35) Scripture Readings: * Malachi 3:1–7, 16–18 * Luke 7:18–35 "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me." — Luke 7:23

Mar 8, 2026 — "A Tale of Two Crowds" | Luke 7:11–17

In this sermon, we encounter Jesus on the road to Nain, where two crowds collide — one following the Lord of life, the other following death. At the center stands a grieving widow about to bury her only son. From this powerful passage in Luke 7, we see two reasons why we can trust Jesus Christ: 1. Jesus is full of compassion — He sees our grief, and His heart is moved toward us just as He moved toward the widow in her sorrow. 2. Jesus has life-giving power — With a single command, He raises the dead. No ritual, no prayer to another — just the authority of the Son of God. This account points us forward to the cross and resurrection, where Jesus enters death itself and defeats it once and for all — turning funeral processions into family reunions, and mourning into joy. Scripture reading: Luke 7:11–17 | 10 Commandments: Exodus 20

Feb 15, 2026 Morning Service — Luke 7:1–10: Faith That Marvels Jesus

In this sermon, we explore one of the most remarkable moments in Jesus' ministry — an encounter with a Roman centurion whose faith astonished even the Son of God. Drawing from Luke 7:1–10 and the parallel account of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 32, we uncover three marks of a faith that Jesus marvels at: 1. Knowing what is needed — A true faith begins with an honest diagnosis: we are sinners in need of deliverance from sin and death, not merely a little encouragement. 2. Knowing who is worthy — The centurion, despite his wealth and reputation, declared himself utterly unworthy. It is Christ alone who is worthy, and it is His grace — not our merit — that saves. 3. Knowing where authority is — The centurion understood that Jesus had divine authority to command even death itself. Just say the word, Lord. Like the centurion — and like us — who never saw Jesus face to face, we are called to a faith built not on sight, but on hearing. And in that faith, Jesus delights. Scripture readings: Luke 7:1–10 | Genesis 32:1–12

Love Your Enemies: A Sermon on Luke 6:27-36 (Pastor Taylor Bredenhof)

ove Your Enemies: A Sermon on Luke 6:27-36 Join us for this powerful message on Jesus' radical call to love our enemies and show divine mercy, even to those who persecute us. Scripture Text: Luke 6:27-36 Key Points: • Jesus calls us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us • True Christian love goes beyond natural human affection - it's supernatural and divine • The story of Corrie ten Boom forgiving her Nazi prison guard illustrates the transformative power of Christ's love • We can only love like this by resting in the unchanging love Christ showed us on the cross Sermon Outline: * Introduction: The Challenge of Loving Enemies (0:00) * Jesus' Command: Love, Bless, Pray (24:35) * Superlative Examples of Divine Love (28:32) * The Golden Rule Applied to Enemies (34:43) * Christ's Example: Perfect Love for His Enemies (38:19) * Corrie ten Boom's Story of Forgiveness (42:40) * Conclusion: Finding Strength in Christ's Love (44:28) Service Elements: * Call to Worship from Psalm 50 * Reading of God's Law (Exodus 20) * Prayer * Sermon * Benediction

Luke 6:37-42 (Pastor Taylor Bredenhof)

"Have You Seen Your Optometrist?" | Luke 6:37-42 Join us for this powerful sermon exploring Jesus' teaching on judgment, hypocrisy, and spiritual blindness from Luke 6:37-42. 🎯 Key Topics: • Understanding "Judge not, and you will not be judged" • The danger of hypocrisy and spiritual blindness • Jesus as our true Judge and Optometrist • The log and the speck: proportionality in judgment • Walking humbly with Christ at the center 📚 Scripture Readings: • Psalm 111 - Call to Worship • Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments • Matthew 23 - Jesus Confronts the Pharisees • Luke 6:37-42 - Judge Not ⏱️ Sermon Outline: 0:00 - Opening & Announcements 3:00 - Call to Worship & Scripture Readings 15:00 - Prayer 20:00 - Matthew 23 Reading 28:00 - Luke 6:37-42 Reading 30:00 - Sermon: "Have You Seen Your Optometrist?" 48:00 - Closing Prayer & Benediction 💡 Main Message: Without Christ, we are spiritually blind and cannot judge properly. Jesus, our divine Optometrist, heals our blindness and teaches us to see with wisdom, mercy, and righteousness—not with the harsh judgmentalism of the world.