All Articles For Smit Richard J

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa. “… and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger….” Luke 2:7 Jesus was born this way because God governed the circumstances of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. By doing so, God declares clearly that He alone saves us from our sin. Even in Jesus’ birth, this message of the gospel is declared unambiguously. God meticulously, in sovereign might and wisdom, governed all the details surrounding the birth of His only begotten Son, so that no glory might be to man, but rather, as the angels...

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa. He is also secretary of the Foreign Mission Committee. The Foreign Mission Committee (FMC) of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America once again presents to the readers of the Standard Bearer an overview of the foreign mission work of our churches since our last report. The committee is composed of eight members from the Doon, Edgerton, and Hull Protestant Reformed Churches. The members from Edgerton are Mr. Allen Brummel and Rev. Daniel Kleyn. The members from Doon are Mr. Jim Hoogendoorn, Rev. Richard Smit, and Mr. Peter VanDenTop....

On Wednesday, March 1, 2006, Classis West met in Loveland, Colorado. An officebearers’ conference was held the day before. The theme of the conference was “The Minister and His Money.” The morning session was devoted to a presentation concerning US tax code law as it affects ministers’ salaries of our US churches and concerning ways to structure a pastor’s support in order to use the tax savings provided by the law. The afternoon sessions were devoted to presentations and profitable discussions on the subject of the pastor’s use of his money and possessions and on the subject of counseling God’s...

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Not only must the believing child of God possess a spiritually healthy reverence and fear towards God and His Word as Psalm 119:161 shows; but, according to the next verse in Psalm 119, he ought also to approach the Word of God with delight. This healthy joy is summarized by the psalmist’s confession in Psalm 119:161: “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” This beautiful attitude towards God’s Word is quite the opposite of the terrible attitude of King Jehoiakim king of Judah towards the Word,...

On Wednesday, November 16, 2005, Classis West met in Randolph, Wisconsin for the purpose of examining Candidate John Marcus, who had received and accepted the call to serve as pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A special worship service was called by the consistory of the Randolph PRC for the evening of November 15. Pastor-elect Marcus led the special worship service and expounded II Peter 1:10 under the theme, “Making Sure Your Calling and Election.” In attendance were not only the members of the congregation, but the 24 delegates of Classis West, as well as the three...

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. When explaining how Psalm 119:161 teaches us to read and study Scripture, the Reformer Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) wrote: I would advise you all, that come to the reading or hearing of this book, which is the Word of God, the most precious jewel…, that ye bring with you the fear of God, and that ye do it with all due reverence, and use your knowledge thereof, not to vain glory or frivolous disputation, but to the honour of God, increase of virtue, and edification both of yourselves and...

Classis West met in regular session on Wednesday, September 7, in the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, IL. An officebearers conference was held the day prior to Classis on the subject, “Our Denominational Seminary.” The conference introduced the Seminary to our western officebearers and highlighted the officebearers’ duty to impress upon able men, young and older, to consider preparing for and laboring in the office of the ministry of the Word. The meeting of Classis was chaired by the Rev. Ronald Hanko. Classis completed its work by noon on Wednesday. Pulpit supply was arranged for three vacant churches in...

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. As we part from our friends for the day, we often say, “I will see you tomorrow.” As we part from our wife, husband, or children, we often say, “I will see you later.” Most often we simply assume that as we have spoken, so our future and our tomorrow will be. We do not give much thought to the possibility that we may not see each other later or tomorrow. Our heavenly Father warns us against a sinful presumption regarding tomorrow and our future when...

Rev. Smit is pastor of Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Previous article in this series: April 1, 2008, p. 300. Following love and joy, the next aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22, is peace. Like love and joy, peace is also a significant part of the believer’s life. In fact, I believe that it would be fair to conclude that peace is very precious to you, dear reader. We would be most miserable, wouldn’t we, without the peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7) and without the blessed enjoyment of that peace with...

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Does a daily concern for the churches press upon your soul? In II Corinthians 11 the apostle Paul mentions many things that illustrated his faithfulness as an apostle. Outstanding among them is the mark mentioned in II Corinthians 11:28. In addition to those things that he mentioned in the preceding verses about his persecutions, perils, and painfulness (a long list to which he could have added much more), there was one mark of importance that proved his faithfulness as an apostle and a believer. That mark, which weighed heavily...