All Articles For Weak and Strong Faith

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. The real test of whether our faith is weak or strong will often come when we face some serious trouble in our life. Weak faith cannot stand in the trials and difficulties of life in this world. Those who have weak faith go to pieces when great trials come; they do not know what to do or where to turn. Our life is full of trials, some greater than others. Almost every child of God will at one time or other have to face great calamities, deep sorrows,...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. The good works of the strong in faith are first of all the works of humility and meekness. The first fruit of faith is a deep recognition of one’s own unworthiness before God. It is remarkable that one of the greatest commendations that Jesus ever gave of anyone’s faith was the one He gave of the Syro-Phoenician woman. This woman was not deterred in her pleading with Jesus even when He told her that it was not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. Previous article in this series: November 1, 2006, p. 66. Prayer properly belongs in the worship services of the church. Just as prayer is vital for the spiritual life of the individual believer, so is it vital for the life of the church. When she worships, the church must spend time in congregational prayer to God. The Scriptures teach us that the early New Testament church was a praying church. “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. Previous article in this series: September 1, 2006, p. 471. The element of worship that we now consider in this series of articles is congregational singing. The Scriptures make plain that this is a required part of worship. Especially two New Testament texts point this out. The first is Ephesians 5:19, which admonishes the church as follows: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” The other text isColossians 3:16, which says much the same thing. Singing...