Trivia question In the November 1, 2017 issue of the Standard Bearer the trivia question was asked: How many surviving original members of the PRCA are there? Then we had to admit we did not know. Well, now we do. Answer later in this column. School activities We call your attention here to an exciting, upcoming event planned for April 12, 2018, D.V. For the first time ever six Protestant Reformed high school choirs will join together for a mass concert! Students from Covenant Christian High School (Grand Rapids, MI), Faith Protestant Reformed Christian School (Randolph, WI), Heritage Christian High...
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Classis West held a special meeting on Wednesday, November 29, in Lynden PRC. The purpose of this meeting was to examine Pastors-elect Brian Feenstra and Stephan Regnerus, who had accepted the calls extended to them by Immanuel PRC (Lacombe) and Lynden PRC, respectively. The night before Classis, Lynden held a special worship service at which Pastor-elect Regnerus preached a specimen sermon on Romans 12:1-2. On Wednesday morning, after Classis was constituted, Pastor-elect Feenstra preached a specimen sermon on Revelation 5:1-17. Classis approved both sermons, and then proceeded to examine the men in ten different subject areas for 20 minutes each....
Jesus said in Revelation 22:7–10, Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of...
Some missionaries today are foolish, and some are not. Some are considered foolish, who in reality are not. Others are considered not foolish even though they are. Many believe that a missionary is foolish who insists that his work is chiefly the work of preaching the gospel. They say it is foolish for a man to devote his life to preaching the Word of God. How foolish to spend forty or more hours each week making and preparing sermons—there are much better and much more important things to be done. How foolish for the missionary to make preaching central in...
The Supreme Court recently decided a significant case addressing the separation of church and state. This case did not receive a lot of media attention, but is important for a couple of reasons. First, the case gives some indication of the current direction of Supreme Court jurisprudence related to church and state issues. Secondly, the case involved issues of separation of church and state in the context of a private school, and therefore has ramifications for our covenant schools as well as for our churches. The case is Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc., v. Comer,1 and began when the...
This article is not about a church denomination. It is not about a false institution called the Roman Catholic Church, which preaches popish heresy, administers idolatrous sacraments, and punishes those who live according to truth. Neither is this article about false churches today who mean by the term “universal” that God loves and ultimately saves every single person, no matter their religion. By catholic or universal church, I do not refer to these unfaithful organizations, nor do I refer to any denomination at all. Rather, the catholic or universal church is God’s elect believers, regardless of place, race, or face;...
This is a common question in our homes. Usually, an answer is not far away with many wristwatches, smartphones, and various clocks in our houses. However, more important than what the time is in our particular time zone is the current time in history. For the covenant family, this question and God’s answer is fundamental for a pure confession, godly life, and realistic hope in the increasing spiritual darkness of this world. Since the beginning, God is the timekeeper of history. He does not need a physical, atomic clock to measure and govern time. He made time. He fully knows...
Previous article in this series: May 15, 2017, p. 376. Before man disobeyed God, there was no corruption and death among the creatures of the earth. It was when man sinned that something happened not only to him but also to the earthly creation. The earth was cursed. The whole creation began to corrupt. Living creatures began to die. The creation as we see it today is not the way that it once was. No death before the fall From the book of Genesis and the rest of Scripture we know both of these facts: 1) God created all things...
Previous article in this series: December 15, 2017, p. 125. With the New Year upon us, it is customary to think of improving ourselves personally. Christians may want to read more, eat less, adopt an exercise regimen, develop different entertainment practices, or change spending habits. True, one person may be inclined to self-examination more than another, but we all do well to consider ourselves regarding correcting personal flaws and promoting spiritual growth. The apostle Peter warns that, if there is not growth in a man, he may well be led away with the error of the wicked and fall from...
“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:1, 14 This text is a beautiful confession of faith. It is a beautiful confession to make as we begin a new year. We do not know what will happen to us in 2018. Who will be born and who will die? What afflictions will enter into our lives? What will happen in our family? What will take place in...
