All Articles For Vol 83 Issue 17 6/1/2007

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Evangelism Activities The Evangelism Committee of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI recently printed a brochure containing information about their church and what they believe. It was hoped that greeters and others in their congregation would give these brochures to visitors and any others who may be interested. Members of the Evangelism Committee of the Randolph, WI PRC encouraged members of their congregation to invite family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to their church on Friday evening, April 27, to hear their pastor, Rev. D. Kuiper, present a...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Previous article in this series: April 1, 2007, p. 297. In our last article, supposing that we were allowed to observe a meeting of the deacons, we saw them open with prayer, count the offerings from the last month’s collections, and read the minutes of the previous meeting. Then we took a break with them, as they enjoyed coffee and dessert, and visited the restroom. Now the men enter the room again, roll up their sleeves and shuffle papers, giving the impression that the actual work is about...

Rev. Miersma is western home missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches. Previous article in this series: April 15, 2007, p. 329. When our Lord went preaching and teaching in Galilee and performing wonders, He was fulfilling His Father’s will and His own calling. Jesus labored in the consciousness, not only that He was sent, as we saw last time, but also that He was directed in the work by the will of the Father. We read, for example, in Luke 4:43, 44, “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am...

Reprinted from When Thou Sittest In Thine House, by Abraham Kuyper, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1929. Used by permission of Eerdmans Publishing Co. Home Happiness o thy way,” so says the Preacher (Eccl. 9:7), “eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.” And this he says not once, but every time comes back to it again. “For a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labor...

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Previous article in this series: May 15, 2007. p. 370. Covenant and Election in Romans 9 (cont.)  The conditionality of the covenant promise, and therefore the inherent weakness of the covenant promise, is not the solution to the covenant problem that the apostle gives in Romans 9. This is the solution offered today by the majority of Reformed and Presbyterian churches and theologians. This is the solution offered with a vengeance by the proponents of the covenant doctrine known as the federal vision. In their covenant doctrine, they...

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: March 15, 2007, p. 273. “And of 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.” I Chronicles 12:32 We used to say power comes from the barrel of a gun. Now it comes from the lens of the video camera.”¹ We also used to say, “A picture is...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa. Having considered the sacrament of baptism, we now give our attention to the second of the two sacraments instituted by Christ in the New Testament. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper follows from and is closely related to the sacrament of baptism. Baptism signifies our incorporation into the covenant of God. In baptism God gives us a sign and seal that He has taken us through Christ’s cleansing blood into His own covenant life and fellowship. And, to quote our Heidelberg Catechism in Lord’s Day 27, “since (infants),...

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. “Christian Gays” Assert Themselves Considerable attention has been given in press accounts to a “Christian gay-rights” group called “Soulforce,” which has been visiting Christian college campuses across the country. Recently they have appeared in the Grand Rapids, MI area and visited the campuses of Cornerstone University and Calvin College. As reported in the Grand Rapids Press, April 28, 2007, Cornerstone University refused them permission to appear on campus. When they nevertheless came on campus, two were arrested by the police. Some also came to the scheduled chapel service, which was...

In the less hectic consistory meetings of summer, elders who do not include a regular discussion of preaching on their agenda ought to consider adding it. For it is rare that a young preacher becomes a good preacher without help and advice from his elders. Rarer that an old preacher becomes a better preacher without their assistance. The church needs good preachers. Every preacher wants to be a better preacher. By “good preacher” is merely meant a preacher whose labors God is pleased to make a rich means of grace. He may serve without fanfare. He may not have outstanding...

Rev. Miersma is pastor of the Loveland Protestant Reformed Church in Loveland, Colorado. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21 Pentecost! The words of this text were spoken by the apostle Peter in the very first sermon that he preached after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The signs of the Spirit, the sound as of a rushing mighty wind, the cloven tongues like as of fire, and the speaking in tongues, had manifested themselves. As a result, a multitude had...