Vol 83 Issue 21

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Denomination Activities A delegation from our denomination’s Contact Committee, consisting of Prof. R. Dykstra and Mr. Peter Vander Schaaf, accompanied by their wives, left July 6 for a two-week visit to Europe. These men had a full schedule of visits arranged with contacts our churches have in Germany, Russia, and Uzbekistan. Initial reports since their return on July 23 indicate that these visits were profitable for seeking the true unity of Christ’s church in churches worldwide and bode well for future contacts with fellow Reformed believers. Congregation...

Prof. Cammenga is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. “When ministers of the divine Word, elders, or deacons have committed any public, gross sin which is a disgrace to the church or worthy of punishment by the authorities, the elders and deacons shall immediately, by preceding sentence of the consistory thereof and of the nearest Church, be suspended or expelled from their office, but the ministers shall only be suspended. Whether these shall be entirely deposed from office shall be subject to the judgment of the classis, with the advice of the delegates of the...

Mrs. Miersma is the wife of Rev. Thomas Miersma, missionary in Spokane, Washington. Previous article in this series: August 2007, p. 446. As we draw these articles on royal children to a close, we will look briefly at one additional means to develop our ability to deal with the written and spoken word, especially with a view to understanding the Word of God. Having considered in previous articles the importance of regular and meaningful conversation with our children and the important part that reading aloud with our children can play in developing their God-given abilities, we turn to the importance...

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. “The Science of Addiction” The cover story in Timemagazine of July 16, 2007 had the above title. The article pointed out the serious problems of addiction in society. It was not written from any sort of spiritual perspective. The article did, however, point out various scientific discoveries about addictions that shed light on difficulties children of God also face in their pilgrimages. Not only that, but these scientific discoveries raise various questions for the Christian. There is the possibility of cures discovered—pills or surgeries that may help to overcome such...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. Previous article in this series: March 1, 2007, p. 255. In our last three articles we have been considering some of the great statements the inspired apostle Paul makes in I Corinthians 9:15-21. Paul is speaking as the greatest missionary of all times. He is speaking of his own example in order to instruct the church of the New Testament even today in the great and wonderful work of preaching the gospel to all men. We have seen in past articles the great zeal of the apostle Paul for...

* This article is the text of the commencement address delivered by Prof. Dykstra at the graduation of Seminarian Nathan Langerak on June 14, 2007 in Trinity PRC. Introduction Tonight a milestone is reached. A man who becomes convicted that God calls him to be a minister of the Word and sacraments sets off on a rather long and difficult path. It includes college, four years of seminary, an internship, and the thorough, grueling examination at synod. Graduation from seminary marks a rather important landmark on the journey. Although it is not nearly as significant as the external call from...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan. “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior.” Titus 1:1-3  Paul’s salutation to Titus is a beautiful description of how Paul viewed his calling. He saw himself as...