All Articles For Feature Article

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *In the previous installment of this sermon (Nov. 15, 2003) we answered the question, “To whom must the truth be committed?” In this installment we answer two questions. The first is, “What must be committed to these men?” The second is, “How is it possible to commit the truth to these men?” Committing what To these faithful men who are able to teach others, the truth must be committed. The text says, “the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses … commit thou to faithful...

*Recently, I discovered this article in my files as an old, yellowed manuscript. How and where I got it, I do not know. The manuscript bears the title under which we publish the article, “The Covenant Concept.” In addition, the manuscript states that the article was “dictated by Herman Hoeksema in 1943.” The date is important. In 1943, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands were debating the doctrine of the covenant. By this article, which undoubtedly circulated among the ministers in the Protestant Reformed Churches, if not also among the people, Hoeksema carefully and clearly laid out the Protestant Reformed...

* The first installment of this article is found in the December 1 issue of the Standard Bearer. We must still answer the question: With whom is the covenant established? Is it established with Christ, or only with us? In close connection with this question, we ought to ask: Is the Christ the Head or only the Mediator and Surety of the covenant? The answers to this latter question vary as the conceptions of the covenant differ. Usually, if the covenant is considered as a way or a means to an end, i.e., to our salvation, the answer is: “God...

Slabbert Le Cornu is married to Dorothea, and they have three daughters: Joanette (6), Hannelie (3), and Doret (1). He is a fourth-year theological student at the Reformed Churches of South Africa’s Theological School, in Potchefstroom. They are members of the Reformed Church, Potchefstroom-South. Slabbert is the founder and director of Die Esra Instituut (‘The Esra Institute’), which is a teaching ministry to advance the biblical-reformed faith and worldview in the world today. He is also the editor of the magazine Die Esra Verslag (‘The Ezra Report’). For further information, he can be contacted at: esra@netlab.co.za 1. The Current Crisis...

Mr. Kikkert is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Wingham, Ontario, Canada. It is with great joy and thankfulness that we introduce ourselves as the “Wingham Protestant Reformed Church,” the newest church in the Protestant Reformed denomination. We have read much in the 75th Anniversary Yearbook about who you are. Here is a little history of who we are. The Wingham Orthodox Christian Reformed Church was first established in Listowel in 1979. It was called Listowel OCRC. The first pastor was Reverend Harry Vandyken. This church was organized by families who left the CRC for doctrinal reasons. This...

Slabbert Le Cornu is married to Dorothea, and they have three daughters: Joanette (6), Hannelie (3) and Doret (1). He is fourth-year theological student at the Reformed Churches of South Africa’s Theological School, in Potchefstroom. They are members of the Reformed Church, Potchefstroom-South. Slabbert is the founder and director of Die Esra Instituut (‘The Esra Institute’), which is a teaching ministry to advance the biblical-reformed faith and worldview in the world today. He is also the editor of the magazine Die Esra Verslag (‘The Ezra Report’). For further information, he can be contacted at: esra@netlab.co.za 3. Was it justified? efore...

Slabbert Le Cornu is married to Dorothea, and they have three daughters: Joanette (6), Hannelie (3) and Doret (1). He is fourth-year theological student at the Reformed Churches of South Africa’s Theological School, in Potchefstroom. They are members of the Reformed Church, Potchefstroom-South. Slabbert is the founder and director of Die Esra Instituut (‘The Esra Institute’), which is a teaching ministry to advance the biblical-reformed faith and worldview in the world today. He is also the editor of the magazine Die Esra Verslag (‘The Ezra Report’). For further information, he can be contacted at: esra@netlab.co.za 5. The deformation in the...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction Both in Presbyterian and Reformed circles in the last three quarters of this century the tendency has been to establish independent seminaries which are governed by boards of directors who are in some instances answerable to societies of one sort or another, and who are, in other instances, answerable only to themselves. Most seminaries organized within the last seven decades or so are such independent seminaries. The seminary of the Protestant Reformed Churches has become something of an oddity in this respect. In the...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. * Transcript of speech delivered at the graduation of Richard Smit and Cheah Fook Meng, on June 17, 1996. “For we preach Christ crucified…. “  I Cor. 1:23 A discussion (one would hardly call it a controversy) is being carried on in at least a part of the Reformed church world concerning the relative merits of what is called redemptive-historical preaching over against exem-plaristic preaching. The reference is to preaching on historical passages in Scripture, whether in the New or in the Old Testament. Those...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. * This is the text of the commencement address given at the seminary graduation of Daniel Kleyn, James Laning, Darren Thole, and Martin VanderWal on June 16, 1997. Delegates to the Synod of 1997, members of the Theological School Committee, esteemed colleagues of the faculty, graduates of the class of 1997, and fellow saints in Christ: Beginning with his first convocation service and throughout his four years in the seminary a student hears certain themes repeated over and over. Tonight I present without apology to you who graduate...