Vol 83 Issue 07

Rev. Hanko is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Previous article in this series: December 1, 2006, p. 103. The Fourth Disputation: Chapter 2:17-3:6 (continued) 3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Here Malachi speaks in further detail of Christ’s work as Savior under the figure of a refiner of gold and silver, but adds something about the ultimate purpose of His work as refiner and...

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities Rev. M. VanderWal, pastor of Hope PRC in Redlands, CA, declined the call extended to him from the Doon, Iowa PRC to serve as our denomination’s next missionary to the Philippines. Mission Activities As we reported in our last “News,” during the first worship service on Sunday morning, November 19, in the Berean mission in Manila, the sacrament of baptism was administered to five adults and five children, and the public confession of faith of fifteen members was heard, including the missionary’s daughter, Jessica Spriensma....

The Confessions and the Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches. Published by the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, 431 pp. (hardcover). $9.00. [Reviewed by Prof. Russell Dykstra.] (The book may be ordered from the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, 4949 Ivanrest Ave., Grandville, MI 49418 U.S.A. E-mail: catechism@prca.org.) The long anticipated study edition of the confessions and church order is off the press and now available. This is a significant and valuable book for those who love and honor the Reformed confessions, the Reformed liturgical forms, and the church order of Dordt. The preface of the book recounts the...

Mrs. Miersma is the wife of Rev. Thomas Miersma, missionary in Spokane, Washington. Previous article in this series: October 1, 2006, p. 10. Continuing to consider the subject of stewardship of the gifts and talents that God has given to us, let us look at ways in which these abilities are developed as our children move into their school years. The purpose of much of their formal education is to bring out and develop their God-given abilities, not only those that are natural gifts, but the abilities they will need in order to labor as citizens of the kingdom of...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. Previous article in this series: November 1, 2006, p. 66. Prayer properly belongs in the worship services of the church. Just as prayer is vital for the spiritual life of the individual believer, so is it vital for the life of the church. When she worships, the church must spend time in congregational prayer to God. The Scriptures teach us that the early New Testament church was a praying church. “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts...

Rev. Langerak is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When Jesus said, “I am the door,” He invoked a rich covenantal metaphor. In general it refers to any opening that can be closed or shut. Thus, Job spoke of the doors of a womb, seas, leviathan, and death. There are doors of hope, lips, and mouth (Hos. 2:15; Ps. 141:3; Mic. 7:5). But, most importantly, doors open to habitations. Every home has its door. City walls have doors. And God’s house has its doors. The one on the tabernacle was colorful embroidered cloth, those in Solomon’s temple were...

Rev. Haak is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan and radio pastor of the Reformed Witness Hour. This article was aired on February 6, 2000. What does God promise to a church that is filled with sincere repentance? The answer is this: ministers, elders, and deacons—after His own heart. In Jeremiah 3:15 we read this promise of God: “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah is referring to men like David, for the Scriptures refer to David as a “man after God’s own heart.” The people of...

Prof. Hanko is professor emeritus of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary.   Introduction  The controversy over common grace is of particular interest to the Protestant Reformed Churches, for it was the immediate occasion for the existence of these churches as a separate denomination. The founders of these churches, under God, were expelled from the Christian Reformed Church for refusing to agree with common grace as a doctrine taught in Scripture and the confessions. These leaders, Revs. Herman Hoeksema, George Ophoff, and Henry Danhof, refused to preach and teach it in their congregations as was required...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan.   Does God want you to be rich?  Perhaps you’ve heard of the Prosperity theology, or heard your pastor speak of the Health and Wealth gospel, or run across a televangelist with a two-story hairdo, a thousand-dollar suit, and the message that “if you just accept Jesus tonight and give us your money, God will make you rich.” And maybe you’ve wondered to yourself, “Is this for real? Can it really be true that someone who calls himself Christian, and reads the Bible, thinks such a thing about...

Jehovah God of Israel, in heaven above or on earth beneath there is no God like Thee. Great God and Father of Jesus Christ, Thy believing people beseech blessing for the year coming, year of our Lord, 2007, this many years into the age of the new covenant. We, the congregation of Israel, the “city” Thou hast chosen, are from different lands and federations of churches who seek to be faithful to Thee and walk before Thee with all our heart. Redeemed by strong hand and stretched out arm from the furnace of iron, we are Thine inheritance. Thou hast...