Sermons on the Heidelberg Catechism

The Heidelberg Catechism takes its name from the City of Heidelberg, Germany, where it was written in the 16th century. During that time, the German province, or palatinate, was ruled by Elector Palatine, Frederick III. A pious leader, Frederick sought to promote unity in Protestant doctrine and strengthen the Reformed faith within his realm. To that end, he commissioned Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus to draft a catechism designed both to instruct the youth and to guide pastors and teachers. The Catechism was officially published in 1563, after receiving the approval of the Heidelberg Synod. One of the Catechism’s most distinguishing features is its warm and heartfelt expression of Reformed theology. It contains a personal and spiritual depth. Because of its comforting and devotional tongue, it has often been affectionately called “The book of comfort for God’s people.” The sermons that follow, preached by Rev. Bartel Elshout, to his final congregation in Kalamazoo, Michigan, reflect the same spirit of comfort and instruction. It is our hope that these sermons will be a blessing to you.

Lessons

Lesson Number Title Summary
1 Sermon #1 “The Christian’s Only Comfort in Life and Death” Lord’s Day 1 — Question and Answer #1 In this first sermon in the series, the Rev. Bartel Elshout introduces us not only to the first Question and Answer in the Heidelberg Catechism, but he helps...
2 Sermon #2 “The Pattern of Christian Experience” Lord’s Day 1 — Question and Answer #2 This sermon delves into the historical background of the Heidelberg Catechism, that we might personally connect with basic Christian doctrine in all ages. Come...
3 Sermon #3 “The Law of God and Our Misery” Lord’s Day 2 — Questions #3, #4, and #5 Thanks be to God there is a remedy for the terminal disease of sin. In this sermon we see how the next Questions of the Heidelberg Catechism echo the Word of...
4 Sermon #4 “The Total (Radical) Depravity of Man” Lord’s Day 3 — Questions #6, #7, and #8 The Bible’s assessment of our true spiritual condition says that we are full of sin, a disease from which we will all die, and our case is hopeless. By...
5 Sermon #5 “Man’s Sinnership in Light of God’s Justice” Lord’s Day 4 — Questions #9, #10, and #11 In the previous sermons, we heard much about our sin and misery in this fallen world, and now, in this sermon we are confronted with how God sees our...
6 Sermon #6 “The Doctrine of Hell” Lord’s Day 4 — Question #11 The first sermon on Lord’s Day 4 revealed much to us about God’s just wrath in response to our rebellion and sin against Him. And now, Rev. Elshout shows us how the...
7 Sermon #7 “Perfect Satisfaction: a Requirement for Deliverance” Lord’s Day 5 — Questions #12, #13, #14, and #15 As the Catechism echoes God’s Word, we’ve learned many sad truths about our condition as fallen sinners, and in the last sermon, we turned our...
8 Sermon #8 “One Mediator Between God and Man” Lord’s Day 6 — Questions #16, #17, #18, and #19 The last Lord’s Day informed us that there is one who can deliver sinners from sin and death, and the wrath of God for eternity, and now this sermon...
9 Sermon #9 “True Saving Faith” Lord’s Day 7 — Questions #20, #21, #22, and #23 What a joy it is to know that there is deliverance and salvation available to us by faith in Jesus Christ! In this sermon on Lord’s Day 7, Rev....
10 Sermon #10 “The God of Salvation—A Triune God” Lord’s Day 8 — Question #24 and #25 In past sermons we have learned about our sin, our great need for a Mediator to save us, and how God has provided such a Savior in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then in...
11 Sermon #11 ”Faith in God the Father” Lord’s Day 9 — Question #26 In the previous sermon gave us a broad view of the Triune God, made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But now the Catechism exposits the opening article of...
12 Sermon #12 “The Providence of God” Lord’s Day 10 — Questions #27 and #28 We marvel at how God has created this entire universe, and sustains all things, but do we ever think about the Providence of God in bringing all things to pass...
13 Sermon #13 “The Rich Benefits Derived from Believing in God’s Providence” Lord’s Day 10 — Questions #27 and #28 Now looking at the second part of Lord’s Day #10, this sermon opens the door to the rich benefits available for those who believe in God’s Providence. The...
14 Sermon #14 “Jesus, the Savior of Sinners” Lord’s Day 11 — Questions #29 and #30 The Heidelberg Catechism now begins to address what the Apostles’ Creed confesses about God the Son. Rev. Elshout exposits the Catechism from the Word of God,...
15 Sermon #15 “Faith in Christ” Lord’s Day 12 — Questions #31 and #32 As the Catechism continues looking at the names of the Son of God, this sermon delves into his name as “Christ,” the meaning and the ways it is used, revealing...
16 Sermon #16 “The Identity of the True Christian” Lord’s Day 12 — Questions #31 and #32 This sermon addresses more aspects of what it means to believe in Christ, what it means to be a Christian, and reveals how our beliefs should affect our daily...
17 Sermon #17 “The Unique Identity of Jesus Christ” Lord’s Day 13 — Questions #33 and #34 There is only one Savior of sinners, only one Son of God, only one Lord Jesus Christ, and this sermon is all about Him—His righteousness, His goodness His...
18 Sermon #18 “The Lordship of Jesus Christ” Lord’s Day 13 — Questions #33 and #34 The previous sermons focused on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Catechism is expounds the Apostles’ Creed. And in this sermon, Rev. Elshout...
19 Sermon #19 “The Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ” Lord’s Day 14 — Questions #35 and #36 This sermon delves into the nature, purpose and profit derived from the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to dwell among us, to be one of us, but...
20 Sermon #20 “Faith in the Suffering Son of God” Lord’s Day 15 — Questions #37, #38, and #39 Following the pattern set in the Heidelberg Catechism, we have focused on the identity of Christ, the identity of the Savior, considering him as Lord,...
21 Sermon #21 “Christ—A Savior Who Has Paid the Wages of Sin in Full” Lord’s Day 16 — Questions #40, #41, #42, #43, and #44 The last step of Christ’s humiliation includes his death, his burial, and his descent into hell. Why was his suffering of these horrors so...
22 Sermon #22 “The Threefold Benefits of the Resurrection of Christ” Lord’s Day 17 — Question #45 The Heidelberg Catechism begins to focus now on the steps of Christ’s exaltation, and this sermon lifts us up to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It shines light on...
23 Sermon #23 “The Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ” Lord’s Day 18 — Questions #46, #47, #48, and #49 As the Catechism continues to echo the Word of God about the steps of Christ’s exaltation, this sermon brings us to the heights of Christ’s...
24 Sermon #24 “Faith in the Exalted Christ” Lord’s Day 19 — Questions #50, #51, and #52 Every step Christ took, in his humiliation and in his exaltation, he took on behalf of his children. When he arose from the grave, we rose; when he...
25 Sermon #25 “The Second Coming of Christ” Lord’s Day 19 — Question #52 The very last part of the last step of Christ’s exaltation is unfolded before us in this sermon, expositing the Heidelberg Catechism as it echoes the Word of God, with...