All Articles For Kleyn, Rodney

Rev. Rodney Kleyn, pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan Lord’s Day 49 Question 124. Which is the third petition? Answer. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey Thy will, which is only good; that so every one may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven. Imagine that you are an employer and that you have a workforce of angels. They never...

Rev. Rodney Kleyn, pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is the text of the pre-synodical sermon he gave on June 13, 2022 in Zion PRC. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,...

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 48 Question 123. Which is the second petition? Answer. Thy kingdom come; that is, rule us so by Thy Word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to Thee; preserve and increase Thy church; destroy the works of the devil and all violence which would exalt itself against Thee; and also, all wicked counsels devised against Thy holy Word; till the full perfection of Thy kingdom take place, wherein Thou shalt be all in all. In this second petition, which has to do with God’s kingdom, our request concerns both God and ourselves....

Lord’s Day 47 Question 122. Which is the first petition? Answer. “Hallowed be thy name”; that is, grant us, first, rightly to know Thee, and to sanctify, glorify, and praise Thee in all Thy works, in which Thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy, and truth, are clearly displayed; and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words, and actions, that Thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather honored and praised on our account. The “Lord’s Prayer” is Jesus’ answer to the request of His disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray.” It can...

Lord’s Day 46 Question 120. Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus: “Our Father”? Answer. That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, He might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer, namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of Him in true faith than our parents will refuse us earthly things. Question 121. Why is it here added, “Which art in heaven”? Answer. Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God’s heavenly majesty,...

Lord’s Day 45 Question 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians? Answer. Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us; and also, because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit to those only who with sincere desires continually ask them of Him, and are thankful for them. Question 117. What are the requisites of that prayer which is acceptable to God and which He will hear? Answer. First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested Himself in His Word, for all things He hath commanded us...

Lord’s Day 44 Question 113. What doth the tenth commandment require of us? Answer. That even the smallest inclination or thought contrary to any of God’s commandments never arise in our hearts; but that at all times we hate all sin with our whole heart, and delight in all righteousness. Question 114. But can those who are converted to God perfectly keep these commandments? Answer. No; but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience; yet so, that with a sincere resolution they begin to live not only according to some, but...

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 43 Q. What is required in the ninth commandment? A. That I bear false witness against no man, nor falsify any man’s words; that I be no backbiter, nor slanderer; that I do not judge, nor join in condemning any man rashly or unheard; but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit as the proper works of the devil, unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God; likewise, that in judgment and all other dealings I love the truth, speak it uprightly and confess it; also that I defend and...

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24 Do you meditate on what Jesus is doing for us in heaven today? At the beginning of this lengthy discourse (John chapters 14-17), He tells His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2, 3). At the end of the discourse He utters His high-priestly prayer, and concludes with...

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 42 Question 110. What doth God forbid in the eighth commandment? Answer. God forbids not only those thefts and robberies which are punishable by the magistrate; but He comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices whereby we design to appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbor, whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right, as by unjust weights, ells, measures, fraudulent merchandise, false coins, usury, or by any other way forbidden by God; as also all covetousness, all abuse and waste of His gifts. Question 111....