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In a previous article under this title the importance of church membership was established. The church as an organization is the mother of God’s people. This is true from the viewpoint that through her ministry God brings His people to salvation in Jesus Christ and sustains them in that salvation. The ministries that God has given to the church are essentially three: the preaching of the Word, the administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of Christian discipline. These three labors of the church are indispensable for our faith and salvation.

. On Sunday evening, November 2, 1980, our congregation in Hull held a dedication program for our new organ. For those who might be familiar with organs, the congregation has purchased an AOB (Associated Organ Builders) 523 organ. The program consisted of several special numbers on the organ, two numbers by our grade school choir, audience singing, and a demonstration of the organ. In addition, I gave the following address.

Do you think about the day of the Lord? Do you look forward to His coming? Are you aware of the signs of Christ’s coming, which signs are being increasingly fulfilled roundabout us? Are you sober and watchful—mindful that the coming of our Lord will be as a thief in the night? It is the evident instruction of the Lord that we indeed ought to be able to answer yes to all the abovequestions. For this instruction, we are reminded of several texts of God’s Word. 

. “Alms” is a word seldom used in our everyday vocabulary. Perhaps some reading these pages do not know what alms are. This only goes to show that alms do not have much of a place in our life. This ought not to be. Alms are to be the concern of every one of us. 

II. Apologetics Considered as in Practical Use 

There is an essay by a well-known British author of this century entitled “Creed or Chaos?”² In the essay the author defends the use of creeds in the church, and the title of the essay very aptly describes the urgency of maintaining and defending our creeds. The only alternative is ecclesiastical chaos. History has proved that, especially in the last century.

Croeso i Gymreu. This is Welsh for “Welcome to Wales!” Wales—the land of the ancient Britons and the origin of King Henry VIII, Puritan John Owen, war Prime Minister David Lloyd-George, and “the Doctor” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)—is the venue for the 2010 British Reformed Fellowship (BRF) Family Conference (7-14 August). Although perhaps little known by most Standard Bearer readers, and possessing a human population only a third that of its number of sheep, the natives quip that, if it were flat, Wales would be larger than England! “The Word of God for Our Generation” Profs. Engelsma and Hanko are the main...

In discussing some of the different ways in which our creeds can be used we have attempted to show how the creeds can and must be the living confession of the church as she draws her life out of the Word of God. In pointing out these various uses of the creeds we have made no claim to be exhaustive, but have simply tried to distinguish some of the more important ways in which we maintain our Reformed heritage as it is given us in the creeds. Cur purpose in doing this has been to encourage the use of the...

I am a barren woman. A barren woman nearly past the age where I must forever give up the hope of bringing forth God’s covenant seed and the joy of ever holding in my arms my very own baby. Barren—a word full of emptiness. Empty arms, empty home, empty heart. Barren—a lonely word, full of longing for what can never be. For several years now I have been thinking of writing an article on this subject. Why? Certainly not for sympathy. Your sympathy will do me no good. Neither will it dispel my barrenness.

“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.” Psalm 16:5