As part of the instruction in the Protestant Reformed Seminary, fourth-year students are sent to one of the Protestant Reformed churches for a six-month internship. The minister of the church serves as the student’s mentor, overseeing his work and giving him guidance in the different aspects of the ministry. The…

Previous article in this series can be found in the November 1, 2004 issue, p. 52 The origins of the Standard Bearer shaped the character of the magazine. It was born out of the controversy in the Christian Reformed Church over common grace. The original writers intended their new publication…

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Mission Activities On Wednesday evening, August 2, a new congregation was organized in Northern Ireland, the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Ballymena. Eight families and several individuals were received as charter members. Prof. H. Hanko preached from II…

Rev. Hanko is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Previous article in this series: August 2006, p. 440. The Third Disputation: Chapter 2:10-16 (continued) 12. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and…

Rev. Laning is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Walker, Michigan. Baptism is the sign of God’s covenant. So those who have a wrong view of God’s covenant will have a wrong view of the sign of the covenant. For example, those who baptize infants while viewing the covenant…

Rev. DeVries is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Wingham, Ontario, Canada. We are presently witnessing an appalling display of who or what shall be granted “rights.” On the one hand, the lack of regard for human life today is sickening. It could be considered from many perspectives—from the…

Mr. Rainey is an elder in the CPRC NI. The 9th Biennial BRF Family Conference was held from August 5 to August 12. The venue this year was Cloverley Hall Conference Centre, located between Whitchurch and Market Drayton in the heart of the Shropshire countryside in western England. The Victorian…

Mr. McGeown is a member of the CPRC and currently a student at the Protestant Reformed Seminary. I have a tingle of happiness in my own soul” were the words of Prof. Hanko as he welcomed the congregation on Wednesday, 2nd August, 2006 to Ballymena Leisure Centre, which had been…

Previous article in this series: September 1, 2006, p. 460. In our controversy with those who would promote the free or well-meant offer of the gospel (WMO), we turn now to a few texts that clearly indicate that while God calls believers to express one attitude towards their neighbors (one…

Rev. VanderWal is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”  Psalm 146:5 Disappointed! Ashamed! Deep, bitter disappointment must be the lot of those who put their “trust in…

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregation Activities This summer girls ages 7-15 and members of the Hudsonville, MI PRC were invited to come together and have fellowship with other girls from the church. Hudsonville promoted this twice-monthly “Girls Fellowship and Activities Program”…

Mr. Kalsbeek is a teacher in Covenant Christian High School and a member of Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Walker, Michigan. Previous article in this series: May 15, 2006, p. 378. “And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to…

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Previous article in this series: June 2006, p. 399. Scripture indicates that the church through her deacons must care for her sick, aged, widows, orphaned, and others who endure earthly trials, even if such are not poor. Reformed…

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota, who will be installed as the new pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. Previous article in this series: June 2006, p. 405. When we worship God, we consciously enter the presence of our Father who…

Prof. Cammenga is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction Articles 76 and 77 of the Church Order concern the discipline of those who are communicant members of the church. These articles outline the steps that a consistory is to follow in carrying out Christian…

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Previous article in this series: February 15, 2006, p. 225. In the preceding three installments of this series on eschatology, I have set forth the Reformed doctrine of the intermediate state of the elect believer. At…

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. June is the time of year in which many of the denominations meet in Assembly or Synod. With understandable interest, one reads reports of decisions taken which will affect the denominations involved. It is not only with interest, but…

Previous article in this series: August 2006, p. 436. As indicated in our previous article we intend to look a bit more closely at Matthew 5:43ff., pointing out where the free-offer interpretation goes astray. In our last article we noted and responded to the charge of the promoters of the WMO…

Rev. Miersma is pastor of the Loveland Protestant Reformed Church in Loveland, Colorado. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  John 1:16 What a beautiful confession of faith! Here is a personal confession of those who have experienced and tasted the marvelous grace of Christ.…

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregation Activities Members of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI were invited to take a moment before a recent Sunday morning worship service to look at a copy of the 1793 edition of the Liturgical Form for…

Rev. Eriks is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Contentment is the gift of God’s grace whereby we submit to and delight in God’s will for us. It is to accept joyfully God’s way with us. In His Word, God commands us to be content with what…

Reprinted from When Thou Sittest In Thine House, by Abraham Kuyper, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1929. Used by permission of Eerdmans Publishing Co. Giving of Name The newborn child is by no means alone in getting a name. On the contrary, there is a need to…

Rev. Laning is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Walker, Michigan. Previous article in this series: May 1, 2006, p. 345. There are centrally two errors taught concerning the sacraments: the error of denying that the sacraments are means of grace, and the error of teaching that everyone who…

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. Previous article in this series: February 15, 2006, p. 232. It was a dramatic moment for Paul. He was brought to the Areopagus, a famous Greek arena, a place where the great men of the world would give…

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Previous article in this series: July 2006, p. 420. The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (“liberated”) The most precipitous and dramatic falling away from the faith of “The Three Forms of Unity” is that of the Gereformeerde…

Rev. Hanko is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Previous article in this series: May 1, 2006, p. 343. The Third Disputation: Chapter 2:10-16 10. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,…

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan and a member of the DMC. On June 17, 2006 First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, through a council appointed committee (AIM—Active in Missions), hosted a full-day program that they called “Mission Awareness Day.” The program’s goal…

In earlier issues of this volume year we dealt with the error of the free offer (cf. Nov. 1, Nov. 15, and Dec. 1, 2005 issues). We refuted the charge of the promoters of the free offer that opposing the teaching that God loves everyone (including even those whom He…

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan. “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,…

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregation Activities Our First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI is sponsoring a summer workshop series for the members of their congregation on Personal Witnessing. Ten sessions, begun on June 7, have been planned for the summer. The…

May 10, 2006 Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at the Byron Center PRC. The churches were all represented by Brummel chaired this session of classis. The business of classis was routine and its time in session was short. As…

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. “Yes, Jackie, God Is ‘Sexist'” Frequently e-mails are sent questioning certain doctrinal positions stated in pamphlets that appear on the prca.org web site. Some object to certain statements in the pamphlets. Others ridicule some doctrinal positions that are taught. (Though others…

Rev. Kortering is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Previous article in this series: April, 15, 2006, p. 333. There are many passages of the Bible that shed light on the subject before us: how do I go about sharing the gospel with my neighbor? We will consider…

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. With this article, Prof. Engelsma begins a two-part series on the ecclesiastical scene in the Netherlands. The articles are the fruit of informal presentations given a few months ago to Protestant Reformed ministers in the Grand…

Declaration of Principles I just wanted to drop you a quick note re your series in the Standard Bearer on the Declaration of Principles. I have found them most interesting and edifying and they spurred me on to research the old series you mentioned by H. Hoeksema. I do have one question…

On Monday, June 19 (yesterday, as I write), the 2006 Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, meeting in Faith PRC, Jenison, MI, adjourned. Under the capable leadership of the president, Rev. Ronald VanOverloop (Byron Center, MI), synod concluded its important work in five days. The vice-president was Rev.…

Rev. Bruinsma is Eastern Home Missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches, stationed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This Meditationis the text (abbreviated for publication) of the pre-synodical sermon preached by Rev. Bruinsma on June 12, 2006. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  Revelation…

Mr, Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities Rev. J. Slopsema, pastor of the First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI, declined the call he had been considering to serve as the next pastor of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI. Congregation Activities Catechism…

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. Previous article in this series: May 1, 2006, p. 352. When the church gathers in worship, the saints come together in order to humble themselves before God, to praise and adore Him, and to enjoy fellowship with Him.…

Rev. Spriensma is a missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches, currently serving in the Philippines. “O sing unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the LORD all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the…

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Previous article in this series: April 15, 2006, p. 320. The proper work of the deacons includes the care not only of the poor, but also of those members of the church who are sick, widowed, orphaned, disabled,…

Rev. Langerak is pastor or Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After the ascension, angels told the watching disciples, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go” (Acts 1:11). He was taken up…

Mrs. Miersma is the wife of Rev. Thomas Miersma, missionary in Spokane, Washington. “I don’t have time right now.” “I’ll do that when I have more time.” “I finally have some free time.” “I wish I could just have some time for myself!” How frequently such expressions cross our lips…

Prof. Hanko is professor emeritus of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Previous article in this series: May 1, 2006, p. 354. Introduction Proceeding from a fundamental premise that the Bible is, at least in part, a human document, higher criticism has come up with many…

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. OCRC Responds Officially to Federal Vision In the April 12, 2006 issue of Christian Renewal(p. 8), we read the following: A special synod of the Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches was held on March 2 in Cambridge, Ontario. The meeting…

By now, all the delegates of the upcoming Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches have received and begun to study the agenda for the meetings. Each officebearer of every consistory has also received a copy of this year’s relatively slim agenda. Because the agenda is not private, also the membership…

Rev. Slopsema is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Ephesians 4:30 We can easily grieve others by our behavior. Our conduct can bring grief to a family member, a…

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. School Activities Give high school students five days off from school during the spring and chances are they will head straight for a warm locale with lots of water. While we are sure that some students from…

Reprinted from When Thou Sittest In Thine House, by Abraham Kuyper, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan. 1929. Used by permission of Eerdmans Publishing Co. Brotherly love If ever there was what might be called a “winged word,” to Cain belongs the drab honor of having brought such…

Mr. Kalsbeek is a teacher in Covenant Christian High School and a member of Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Walker, Michigan. Previous article in this series: March 1, 2006, p. 259. “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought…