All Articles For Schipper, Gordon

Mr. Schipper is a deacon in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church. The office of deacon is a vital office in the church. The church calls men to be officebearers. These men are ordained to be the official representatives of Christ. When these men, equipped by the Holy Spirit, bring the Word (and only when they bring the Word!), Christ is with His church. In light of this vital truth, it is not surprising that there is a wealth of material that deals with the offices in the church. In preparing to discuss the office of deacon, I made use of several...

Mr. Schipper is a member and former deacon of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, MI. The diaconate functions as an integral part of congregational life. The deacons have a visible part in every worship service. The congregation interacts with the diaconate at every worship service. The deacons regularly visit appropriate members of the congregation. All in the congregation know that they can seek the assistance of Christ for their physical needs. Each member should reflect on his calling to support the diaconate in its work, and on his calling to seek financial assistance when he has true physical needs....

Mr. Schipper is a deacon in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”  Psalm 41:1 Our first article concerning the office of deacon noted that deacons stand in the office of Christ in the church. In particular, deacons represent Christ as He is our merciful High Priest. It is instructive to ask why the office of mercy is connected to the high priestly aspect of Christ’s office. The first thought we usually have in connection with the high priest concerns the sacrifices. We think especially of his...

Mr. Schipper is a member of and former deacon in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”  Acts 6:3 Once each year the men currently holding office in our churches meet together as council and consider who among the men in the congregation best meet the qualifications for deacons as mentioned in Acts 6 and in I Timothy 3. The office bearers consider these qualifications in light of the unique duties Christ calls deacons to perform. The...

Mr. Schipper is a deacon in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church. I am thankful to the brother who has responded to my article with several very good questions.* The issues that he raises are all the more interesting because of his perspective of living in a country that has more social programs than does the US. I preface my response by noting that I do not think there is a simple “yes or no” answer to most of the brother’s questions. The Christian must prayerfully consider the biblical principles that apply as he faces each situation. We believe that the state...