Vol 81 Issue 04

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.   Evangelism Activities   In a follow-up to the Mouw/Engelsma debate over common grace, the Evangelism Committee of the Grandville, MI PRC sponsored a lecture given by Prof. D. Engelsma at Grace Community Church in Hudsonville, MI on Friday evening, October 8. Prof. Engelsma spoke on “The Reformed World View on Behalf of a Godly Culture.” Grandville not only promised to make one consider what their world view was, but they also promised to answer the question, “Does the Reformed gospel of sovereign grace have a world...

September 8, 2004 First PRC, Holland, MI   Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 8, 2004. All the churches were represented by two delegates. Rev. J. Laning was the chairman for the session. Classis was busy with two issues: 1) the report of the study committee appointed by the May Classis to bring advice concerning the overture to Synod 2005 on newer, vernacular Bible translations; and 2) the appeal from a brother concerning statements made in a sermon by his pastor. With regard to the overture to synod requesting that synod appoint a study committee regarding newer,...

Rev. Kortering is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. In the previous article of this series (see September 1, 2004, p. 472), we set forth that the work of evangelism in the local church must involve every member of the congregation. No matter what project is undertaken, be it door-to-door evangelism, radio ministry, sponsoring local lectures, or whatever, it requires the active involvement of every member to accomplish its stated goal. In this article we want to develop a bit more why this is not only necessary, but also proper, and why it is to be expected by...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. Doctrine and life are closely related to each other. They are not, as some claim, opposites. They are inseparable. Because of this close relationship, doctrine affects life. What one believes determines how he lives. If he errs in doctrine, he will also err in life. If he believes the lie, his life will not be in conformity with God’s commands. This can also happen in the church. If a congregation departs from the truth and false doctrine is believed and preached, the result will be departure in the...

Prof. Hanko is professor emeritus of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction It would be a mistake to call Johannes Cocceius a heretic and to include him in a series of portraits of those who introduced heresy into the church. Cocceius was wrong in some aspects of his theology, but he was also very right in other ideas, particularly in his doctrine of the covenant. His wrong ideas sparked a bitter controversy in the church, which lasted beyond his own lifetime. And his wrong ideas introduced into the thinking of the church a way of...

Mr. Kalsbeek is a teacher in Covenant Christian High School and a member of Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Walker, Michigan. Previous article in this series can be found in the September 1, 2004 issue, p. 467. “And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”

Mrs. Miersma is the wife of Rev. Thomas Miersma, missionary in Spokane, WA. hat joy we experience as God’s people when we welcome a new child into our home! Whether it be the first or the ninth, when the long time of waiting is over and the baby arrives safely, our hearts, filled with gratitude to God, rejoice. Very soon, as the calling to care for and to train the child confronts us, we are struck by our absolute dependence on our faithful covenant God. When a new season of instruction of covenant children in home, church, and school begins,...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa. Having considered the nature of the church and its essential character, we begin to give more attention now to the formation of that church as we see her and live within her. We consider her institutional and earthly form. And we begin, therefore, with the gathering of the church. The church of Jesus Christ, chosen by God from eternity (Eph. 1:4), is gathered by the Son of God into an institutional form in the midst of the world. As the Heidelberg Catechism summarizes the teaching of Scripture concerning...

Rev. VanderWal is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. 11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. Psalm 65:11-13 Have you heard the pastures and valleys shouting for joy? Have you heard them also singing? What do they shout, what do they sing, but of the goodness of God! The ever-blessed God has visited the pastures...

Rev. Hanko is pastor in the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Previous article in this series can be found in the May 1, 2004 issue, p. 354. The Second Prophecy (cont.) 6.For thus saith the Lord of hosts; yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7.And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The shaking to which this passage refers takes place in “once,...