Vol 83 Issue 18

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregation Activities Members of the Immanuel Ladies Guild of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada invited all the ladies of their congregation, as well as the ladies of neighboring First PRC in Edmonton, to a Spring Lecture on May 10 at the Immanuel PRC. Coffee was served at 10:00 A.M., followed by the lecture, based on Joshua 24:15 and Philippians 2:2, presented by Immanuel’s pastor, Rev. R. Smit, at 10:30. The morning came to a close with lunch and a time of fellowship for the ladies. On Thursday evening,...

May 9, 2007 Classis East met in a very brief session on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at the Grace PRC. Reports were heard from the Stated Clerk and the Classical Committee. One matter of discipline was discussed in closed session. Expenses of this classis amounted to $532.79. Classis will meet next at the First PRC, Grand Rapids, on Wednesday, September 12, 2007. Respectfully submitted, Jon J. Huisken Stated Clerk

Rev. Hanko is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Previous article in this series: May 15, 2005, p. 374. The Sixth Disputation, Chapters 3:13-4:3 (continued) 16. Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. As God had shown Elijah that there is always a remnant, when Elijah thought he was the only one left who feared God, so He speaks of that remnant here also through...

Prof. Cammenga is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. “Whenever anyone who has been excommunicated desires to become reconciled to the church in the way of repentance, it shall be announced to the congregation, either before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, or at some other opportune time, in order that (in as far as no one can mention anything against him to the contrary) he may with profession of his conversion be publicly reinstated, according to the form for that purpose.” Church Order, Article 78. Introduction Article 78 deals with the restoration of those...

A Word to Our Churches¹  The conflict in our churches is gradually focusing on the subject of grace, and especially on what bears the name “common grace” among us. This has been expected for a long time already. The controversy in our midst has actually focused on this point already for a long time, and we do not hesitate now to add that, in principle, the struggle of the last few years has always concerned this matter. On the one hand, there was a group which more and more emphasized the importance of the doctrine of common grace. They were...

With this issue, the Standard Bearer begins running the translation of a seventy-two page pamphlet written in the Dutch by the Reverends Henry Danhof and Herman Hoeksema. The title in Dutch isNiet Doopersch Maar Gereformeerd. It bears no date, but it was almost certainly printed in 1923. The Reverends Danhof and Hoeksema were at that time respected ministers in the Christian Reformed Church. The title indicates the authors’ conviction that the rejection of common grace is Reformed. Ministers within their denomination had charged them with being Anabaptist. In particular, the well-known Rev. Jan Karl Van Baalen had written a pamphlet in 1922...

Prof. Hanko is professor emeritus of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction The church of the new dispensation, in its struggles to defend the truth of God’s Word, has had to defend one doctrine above all others, for it is the one doctrine that, more than any other, is subject to the unrelenting attacks of wicked men under the direction of Satan. This one truth is the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God, particularly in the work of salvation. The truth of sovereign and particular grace was attacked by Pelagius and defended by Augustine....

I am enjoying your bimonthly magazine, the Standard Bearer, and look forward to more thought-provoking articles. I would like to zero in on the article “The Scripture Reading” (April 15, 2007), by Rev. Daniel Kleyn, not to be critical, but to add a dimension not expressed in the article. I refer to the “way” the Bible is read by many preachers, at least those of my acquaintance (and none are PRCs because there is no PR church close at hand). I find that, of the many preachers whom I hear, many of them read very badly, rushing over commas, and...

With thankful and humble hearts, the Protestant Reformed Churches and her friends may reflect on God’s goodness to her through the meeting of her annual synod. Under the able leadership of veteran president Rev. J. Slopsema (pastor of First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI), and witnessed by many visitors, Synod 2007 finished her work in five full days. The family of Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI) served as gracious hosts. Synods make decisions. And because all decisions are “by majority vote” according to the Church Order (Art. 31), Synod is a deliberative assembly. That is, all decisions are made after deliberation— careful discussion...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan. This Meditation is the text of the pre-synodical sermon preached by Rev. VanOverloop on June 11, 2007. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love: endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3 The Ephesian Christians experienced tremendous changes in their lives. They had been without God, without Christ, and without hope. They had been...