Evangelism Activities In an effort to stir up interest in an upcoming lecture, the members of the Evangelism Committee of the Randolph, WI PRC asked their congregation the question, “What profit are we getting from our Bible study?” That question was answered on Friday evening, April 16, when the Evangelism Committee presented its annual spring lecture, “The Profitableness of Scripture,” given by Rev. Arie denHartog, pastor of the Southwest PRC in Grandville, MI. The lecture was presented in Randolph’s sanctuary, with fellowship and refreshments following. The Evangelism Committee of the Hudsonville, MI PRC recently encouraged their congregation to take a...

Previous article in this series: May 1, 2010, p. 353. In an effort to prove that the church will not be on earth during the tribulation, Dispensationalists cite passages that speak of judgments that are to come upon Israel. They come up with passages that they say have not yet been fulfilled. Some of these passages refer to the nations coming against Jerusalem. Before this can happen, say the Dispensationalists, the church must be removed from this earth, so that God can once again deal with His first people—the nation of Israel. One of the main passages to which they...

Previous article in this series: April 1, 2010, p. 296. We noted in our last article that the term “diaconal conference” can be used in two senses. In the narrower sense, it refers to occasional meetings of deacons and other interested individuals to give instruction and encouragement regarding the work of the deacons. In the broader sense, it refers to an organization of diaconates residing in the same classis or denomination, to promote cooperation between them. In this broader sense Gerard Berghoef and Lester DeKoster use the term: “The term ‘Conference’ here does not refer to scheduled meetings. It refers...

The Weight of Your Words: Measuring the Impact of What You Say, by Joseph M. Stowell. Moody Press, 1998. Reviewed by Justin Koole. Many books are written with a small percentage of the population in mind, whether it is parents, ministers, or those who struggle with alcoholism or depression, as a few examples. Very few books speak to every individual on the planet. This is one of them that does. Everyone has a tongue, and everyone uses it daily (well, almost everyone). And everyone has used his tongue in sin; this is a certainty. The Weight of Your Words was originally...

Many who have not the privilege of living near them, will likely at some point travel to see the mountains. Rightly so. Immense, beautiful, towering, majestic, rugged, wild, and permanent, they are awesome visual spectacles the Lord created for us to enjoy, and also as enduring earthly pictures of spiritual realities. In general, mountains represent kingdoms and people that inhabit them, but more specifically they are a type of the everlasting, universal, kingdom of God. From the beginning, our Creator gave mountains a prominent place in old covenant history. Some are known mainly for their descriptive names: Halak (smooth), Seir...

Previous article in this series: July 2009, p. 423. “Furthermore, to the poor, removing for sufficient reasons, so much money for traveling shall be given by the deacons as they deem adequate. The consistory and the deacons shall, however, see to it that they be not too much inclined to relieve their churches of the poor, with whom they would without necessity burden other churches.” Church Order, Article 83. Article 83 of the Church Order is closely related to Article 82. Article 82 concerns transfer of membership from one congregation to another congregation within the denomination. Those who transfer from one...

On April 23, 2010 the Heritage Protestant Reformed Fellowship of Sioux Falls became the Heritage Protestant Reformed Church of Sioux Falls. The Protestant Reformed Churches once again have a congregation of Jesus Christ in South Dakota. While previously the congregations in South Dakota were located in the sparsely populated cities of Isabel and Forbes, the new church is located in the largest city of South Dakota, with a population of over 155,000 and a metropolitan population of over 233,000 residents. There is much potential for growth in the congregation both from within, since the newly formed congregation is comprised of...

Previous article in this series: May 1, 2010, p. 350. A Mortal Blow to Postmillennialism  There is no excuse for this desperate twisting of Scripture. But there is an explanation of it. Revelation 20:7-9is a mortal blow to the whole postmillennial scheme. As Selbrede rightly contends, “There is a fundamental inconsistency in postmillennialists holding to a final apostasy.”¹ The passage must, therefore, be explained away. Postmillennialism dreams of anearthly victory of the kingdom of Christ within history. This victory ought to bring history to its end, for, according to postmillennialism, the Messianic kingdom lasts only until the coming of Christ. With the coming...

I wish to express my viewpoint concerning your recent editorial “Sanctified Sarcasm” (April 1, 2010, p. 293). First, though, please know I treasure the Standard Bearer. Also please know I highly commend Rev. Koole for his many fine articles, in which he displays his sanctified desire, dedication, and courage to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). My dictionary describes sarcasm as “a taunting, sneering, cutting, or caustic remark.” Being sarcastic is described as “using, or fond of using, sarcasm.” The dictionary says, “‘sarcastic’ implies intent to hurt by taunting with mocking ridicule, veiled...

The annual synod drawing near for the Protestant Reformed Churches has an unusual feature—its calling church and its meeting place are not the same. The calling church is Southeast PRC, but the place where synod is scheduled to meet is First PRC (Grand Rapids). In spite of the limitations of their church building, Southeast desired to host the synod of 2010. A main reason was that one of the two seminary students to be examined at synod (Mr. Dan Holstege) is from the Southeast congregation.