All Articles For Houck Steven R

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. *Speech given on 11/17/95 at the dedication service of the new

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”  1 Peter 2:20 Before the apostle Peter lays down the positive principle of this passage, he speaks of a contrasting principle. He says, “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?” Here the apostle speaks of the believer’s faults. Even though...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. “…and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in….”  Malachi 3:1b In this prophecy Malachi speaks of the coming of the Messenger of the covenant. That Messenger is Christ. The first part of this verse is an obvious reference to another messenger, John the Baptist. We read, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me….” John the Baptist was the messenger of God who was sent by God to...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Galatians 6:1 In this verse the apostle Paul admonishes us to restore a sinful brother. The occasion for this admonition is found in the words, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault….” Even though the apostle says “if a man,” he does not refer to man in general. The principle which he sets down is not a...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lynwood, Illinois. There are many who do not recognize the power of the preaching. They see the preaching as merely an offer of salvation by God to the lost sinner, an offer which the lost sinner can accept or reject. They say that God loves everyone, and that He therefore sincerely desires the salvation of everyone. He expresses His love and desire by making His generous offer in the preaching. Thus the preaching is merely the presentation of certain information. It is information about man and his need of salvation,...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lynwood, Illinois. (In the previous article we pointed out that in the preaching, God Himself speaks, and that the Word which He speaks is a twofold power – a power that brings salvation to the elect, and a power by which the reprobate wicked are hardened. Further, we began to note that that power is not dependent on the eloquence of the preacher; for the natural man is in himself spiritually incapable of receiving the preaching, no matter how persuasive. We concluded that article by affirming that “if a person...

Rev. Houck is a home-missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches. The New Age Movement is not a structured organization like the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses, but is a loosely connected movement. It is made up of all kinds of different people—some who adhere very closely to its beliefs and practices and others who embrace only some of them. This is one of the fastest growing movements in the country. That is why we must be concerned about it. This movement is extremely anti-Christian, anti-God, and anti-Christ. Its beliefs and practices are directly contrary to all that we believe as Christians....

Rev. Houck is a home-missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches. In our last article we noted the basic beliefs of the New Age Movement. In this article we will consider their practices and also begin an evaluation both of their beliefs and of their practices. All the practices of the New Age Movement are based upon their fundamental beliefs. Since man is really God and therefore has infinite potential, he has only to look within himself for the answers to all of his problems. Therefore many of the practices of the New Age Movement emphasize mystical experiences, particularly various forms...

Rev. Houck is a home-missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches. In our last article we began to evaluate the New Age Movement by considering the movement’s view of God. In this article we will finish our evaluation of their beliefs and practices and also consider ways in which we can avoid the errors of this wicked movement. The New Age Movement is not only dead wrong about God but also about man. Man is not God. In no sense is man God. Moreover, man will never be God. The very thought is blasphemous. Nor is the natural man good. He...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Galatians 2:10 The Jerusalem council did not lord it over the apostle Paul and give him all kinds of orders. They did, however, ask him for one thing: that he would remember the poor of the churches of Jerusalem and Judea. There had been a great famine which devastated the people. Paul and Barnabas had already brought money from the church of Antioch to help relieve that great need. But...