Volu 101 Issue 07

emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches, and member of Loveland PRC in Loveland, Colorado   For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands—Nehemiah 6:9   The troubles would not cease for God’s servant Nehemiah. Whenever one problem would be resolved, another would arise. After having confronted a terrible sin within the congregation and having seen the power of God’s grace work repentance, Nehemiah continued leading the people of God in the building of the walls of Jerusalem, only to find...

professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan   INTRODUCTION On December 10, 2024, WOOD TV 8 in Grand Rapids aired a three-part special report on sexual abuse in the PRCA under the title, “Private Sins.” For anyone who has not seen the report, you can find it here: https:// www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/private-sin-how-a-church-protected-child-molesters/. The report further publicizes a number of high-profile cases of sexual abuse in the PRCA, also giving public voice to a number of people who experienced that abuse. Who can fault the news station for this report? Although...

We are now only three months away from the centennial celebration of the PRCA to be held on the campus of Calvin University, June 2-6, in commemoration of God’s covenant faithfulness. You have seen advertisements from the PRCA100 committee online and in print. Committee members continue to pour themselves into this anniversary celebration and have labored admirably in preparing to make this week as delightful as possible. It is important to know, as the website details very clearly, you must register to participate. No registration is required to attend any of the three evening speeches or the Night of Music,...

professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Grandville PRC in Grandville, Michigan   This is the second installment of a two-part interview with Prof. Gritters. For the first half and an introduction to the interview, see the February 2025 issue. 8. Since you belonged to the first three-man team of editors, what have you seen as advantages and/or disadvantages in this change from a single editor? I have thought about this quite a bit. I am very thankful for the privilege of serving as one of three editors. As many know, the...

pastor of Doon PRC in Doon, Iowa   THE WRITER The opening verses of this book, considered in connection with the opening verses of Acts, establish the fact that the Spirit used Luke to write this account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The two books of Luke and Acts are closely related. Both were addressed to the same man, Theophilus. Both manifest the same literary style. And the opening verses of Acts refer back directly to the opening verses of Luke. Since there is no question that Luke wrote the book of Acts, so it is beyond...

pastor of Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan   We know Him by two means: first, by the creation, preservation and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God, namely, His eternal power and divinity, as the apostle Paul saith (Rom. 1:20). All which things are sufficient to convince men, and leave them without excuse. Secondly, He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word, that is to...

Previous article in this series: February 2025, p. 183.   Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a...

pastor of the Wingham PRC in Wingham, Ontario, Canada   We pastors must speak “the things which become sound doctrine” to men and women of all ages in the church (Tit. 2:1-10). The things that become sound doctrine are the Christian virtues which ought to bloom in the hearts and lives of us who know the doctrine that Jesus Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (v. 14). The sound doctrine of “the grace of God that bringeth salvation” teaches us that we...

elder in and member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan   Early in my first term as an elder, it was my privilege to visit an elderly widow in the hospital who was very near the end of her earthly pilgrimage. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and I enjoyed the drive to the hospital, although I was a bit unsure what I would find when I arrived. When I walked into her room, the first thought I had was that it seemed small, but I cannot say now whether that was indeed the case or whether it was simply...

pastor of Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota   Have you ever experienced the following? Situation #1: You are sitting elbow to elbow with your peers at another Young People’s Society meeting. The leader has prepared a sheet of questions on a section of verses. A couple of young people diligently prepared for the discussion, but most in the group neglected even to look at the questions prior to the meeting. The leader asks the first question, looking for discussion. Crickets. You look around the table: everyone is either awkwardly looking down at their paper, or nervously shifting their...