Vol 71 Issue 06

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities The congregation of the First PRC in Edmonton, AB, Canada extended a call to Rev. Michael DeVries, currently serving as pastor of the Edgerton, MN PRC, to serve as their next pastor. With Rev. DeVries on that trio were the Revs. W. Bekkering of Pella, IA and A. denHartog of Hope PRC in Redlands, CA. The Lynden, WA PRC also formed another trio from which to call a pastor. This trio was made up of the Revs. W. Bruinsma, of First in Holland, MI, S....

The church and the World walked far apart On the changing shore of time; The World was singing a giddy song, And the Church a hymn sublime. “Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World, “And then walk with me this way.” But the good Church hid her snowy hand And solemnly answered— “Nay, I will not give you my hand at all And I will not walk with you: Your way is the way of eternal death And your words are all untrue.” “Nay, walk with me a little space,” Said the World with a kindly air, “The...

Rev. Koole is pastor of Faith Protestant Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan. The Reformation was many things. It was a return to the supreme authority of the Scriptures. It was a restoration of preaching to its place of primacy. It was a revival of true, heartfelt worship. It was a “re-formation” of the church institute, a re-emphasis of the doctrines of sovereign grace, and more besides. But one of its greatest contributions was its restoration and revival of the blessedness of family life. Here we come to the full harvest of what the Spirit worked in the Reformation. God’s chief...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Bauer, Michigan. My parents have invested a lot of time and effort in me. Also much prayer. They sought to fulfill the vows they took before God and before His church when I was presented for baptism. Those vows consisted of their promise to instruct me in the doctrine which is contained in God’s holy Word and which was and is taught in the church of which they were members (Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church). These vows they willingly took upon themselves, even though it demanded so much of them, and...

Herman Hoeksema was the first editor of the Standard Bearer. Because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 Evening was falling. The shadows were growing longer. Twilight’s hush was spreading a still expectancy over the country surrounding Bethlehem. The landscape’s rich and manifold colors had not as yet been utterly defaced, but the deep blue of Palestine’s heaven, the shining green of the olive and the pale tint of the almond were fast being swallowed up by the dusk and blending in the gray of evening. Even at this late season, for it was winter in...

Rev. Haak is pastor of Bethel Protestant Reformed Church in Elk Grove, Illinois. The central truth of these verses is very plainly that of Jesus gathering His first disciples and the way in which He brought them to Himself. We read here of the very first contact which five of the disciples had with Jesus. Other accounts (Mark 1:15-20; Luke 5:1-11; Matt. 4:18-22) inform us that at a later date Jesus called these same men to His service. This account in John is of a more personal nature. Here we see how they were personally and powerfully brought to the saving knowledge...

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...

(At the occasion of the farewell program for Rev. Carl Haak by Lynden Protestant Reformed congregation, Lynden, WA, on October 21, 1994.) When Christ Himself was yet upon this earthly scene, Pray ye, said He, the Lord of Harvest, when you see fields unto that harvest white. That He the Lord send laborers there to reap His Wheat and from the midst of chaff to separate and claim His own with might. So do the saints in congregations in this age beseech, and so did we, Almost a decade now, ago … though we are startled by time’s swift and...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Is “Word-Faith” Cultic? That is what the critics of one of the cult-watching organizations recently said. When cult-watching organizations first appeared twenty or thirty years ago they concentrated mainly on exposing the non-Christian beliefs and alleged brainwashing techniques of such groups as the Unification Church, the Children of God, and the Way International. In addition they sought to expose the teachings of religious groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, whose teachings are incompatible with the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. While these longstanding emphases have continued...

Observance of Christmas I wish to thank you for your October 15, 1994 issue on “The Reformation and Worship.” I found it a blessing and a challenge and have already made one change in our approach to worship because of it. Thanks! But, I am also writing to ask two questions. I recently received a mailing from the Presbyterian Heritage Publications of Dallas, Texas. In it they list a booklet, “Christmas: A Biblical Critique,” by Michael Schneider and Kevin Reed. This booklet begins with Pastor Schneider’s sermon, “Is Christmas Christian?” in which he challenges hearers to consider the unbiblical nature...