News

News

RWH 75th Celebration and Mission Awareness Morning, August 13, 2016 (New Pics Added!)

On Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI the 75th anniversary celebration of the Reformed Witness Hour and a Mission Awareness morning were held.

All three of our RWH radio speakers were present and gave presentations - Rev.R. Kleyn the keynote address, Rev.W. Bruinsma on the Pittsburgh mission and Eastern home missions, and Rev.C. Haak on GT PRC's work in India. Plus Rev.D. Holstege gave one on the Philippines.

It was a wonderful morning celebrating God's faithfulness and grace toward our radio program and mission work. Below are some pictures taken at the event.

Flyer Mission Awareness Morning Page 1

Save

Save

RWH 75th 1

RWH 75th 2
Rev.Rodney Kleyn giving key-note address - "Your Labor is Not in Vain in the Lord."

"RWH 75th 3

RWH 75th 4
Rev. Daniel Holstege presenting on the work in the Philippines.

RWH75th 6
Rev. Carl Haak explaining Georgetown PRC's work in Vellore, India.

RWH 75th 7
Rev. Haak taking questions from the audience.

 RWH 75th 5 4presenters
The four presenters for the RWH 75th anniversary program: (l-r) - Revs. D. Holstege, R. Kleyn, W. Bruinsma, C. Haak.

And our RWH displays giving the history and work of this Reformed ministry:

RWH 75th 8
RWH 75th 9

Save

Save

Read more...

Reformed Witness Hour Messages for August 2016

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for August 2016 on the RWH radio program.

haak smallRev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC (Hudsonville, MI) continues his four-month service for the RWH program.

You are encouraged to take in these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, celebrating in 2016 its 75th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular grace!

Below is the schedule of messages, which you will also find below in flyer form and attached in pdf form.

August 7, 2016 – The True Christian Life, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

August 14, 2016 – True Faith, John 3:36

August 21, 2016 – The Creation, Genesis 1:1

August 28, 2016 – Christian Education is Covenant Education, Isaiah 39:19

August 2016 flyer Page 1

Read more...

Reformed News Asia - July 2016 (Issue 31)

Issue 31 - July 2016
Pamphlets
We print pamphlets written by our members and those from other Reformed churches of like-minded faith. They include a wide range of topics from doctrines to church history and practical Christian living. These pamphlets serve to promote knowledge of the true God as expressed in the Reformed faith.
FEATURED Pamphlet!
UPON WHAT DOES YOUR FAITH STAND?
By Rev Angus Stewart

In this 3-part series, we consider Faith!

In 1 Corinthians 2:5, the Holy Scripture warns that "your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men". "Wisdom of men" may include human philosophy, rational proofs or human testimonies.

Rather, true faith stands in "the power of God", resting upon God and His Word alone. The inward working of the Holy Spirit convicts us of the infallibility and authority of Scripture.

This truth about faith also establishes the importance of preaching. It is not debates, philosophies or arguments that create faith. It is the Holy Spirit which works faith in us through the preaching of the gospel - the gospel which testifies powerfully that in Christ, God has reconciled the world unto Himself (II Cor. 5:19) and that believers have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Is your faith standing firm in the power of God?

Read this to find out more!


Click hereto view our catalogue of pamphlets.

Click here to make an order.

All pamphlets are free. CERC reserves some discretion regarding large orders and/or orders from those outside Singapore.

 
Featured Book
For local orders (S'pore), please contact Ms Daisy Lim at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For international orders, you may purchase directly from the Reformed Free Publishing Association (RFPA; rfpa.org)
Christianizing the World by Prof David Engelsma
From the RFPA website:

This book is a critique of Abraham Kuyper’s cultural theory of a common grace of God and of the grandiose mission of this grace, and of those who confess the theory and evidently intend to promote it so that it accomplishes the end Kuyper claimed. The book exposes Kuyper’s biblical basis for his theory and its practical mission.

The first and main part of the book is a much-expanded version of the public lecture given in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2014 under the auspices of the evangelism society of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Wyoming, Michigan. The second part of the book consists of questions raised by the audience at the conclusion of the lecture and of the answers by the speaker at the lecture. 

 
Audio Recordings

While Rev Lanning was on furlough, Prof Dykstra preached a series of sermons on the OT book of Ezra in CERC, under the theme "That My House May Be Built". Access the recordings here

  1. Cyrus, Jehovah’s  Servant
  2. A Remnant  Returned
  3. A Return To The  Worship Of Jehovah
  4. The Foundation Is  Laid
  5. Rejecting False Church Unity
  6. A Lesson In  Priorities
  7. Only By Jehovah's Spirit
  8. The Work Prospered  By The Lord
  9. Ezra’s Heart For The Lord’s House
  10. A Safe Journey To Jerusalem
  11. Facing The Question: Shall We Sin Again?
  12. Putting Away Strange Wives
Click here to access all our audio recordings.
 
Upcoming Events!
 
Fellowship Outing on National Day Holiday (9 Aug)
Join us for a time of warm Christian fellowship along MacRitche's treetop walk this National Day holiday (9 Aug, Tues). Meet at the MacRitchie Visitor Centre at 930am in comfortable hiking attire, with plenty of water. Lunch will be provided.
 
Save these dates!

12 Sep  Sports Day
18 Sep  29th CERC Church Anniversary
Sep  Gospel Meeting (date TBC)

 
Past Events...
 
Lannings on Furlough (USA and UK)
In the past 7 weeks, the Lannings spent their furlough in various parts of USA and UK. Read Mrs Lanning's blog to find out more!
Spending precious time with close friends (Kapteins) in the US.
Rev Lanning preaching in CERC's sister church, Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
 
Prof and Mrs Dykstra in Singapore
While the Lannings were on furlough, we were privileged to have Prof and Mrs Dykstra's in our midst. We were uplifted through Prof's speeches and sermons and thoroughly enjoyed their fellowship with us. Here are some snippets of their time with us:
Our gift of appreciation to the Dykstras at Church Camp 2016
Durian puff! - Mmmm...
The REAL Durian - YUM!
"We told you it's an acquired taste"
On a hike at MacRitchie Nature Reserve
Speaking at our Youth Retreat
Cycling along East Coast Road
Keeping you in our prayers as you return to your callings in USA. 
Ps 121: 7,8 "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
 
British Reformed Fellowship Family Conference 2016
This year, the British Reformed Fellowship (BRF) organised its 15th biannual family conference from 16-23 July in Castlewellan Castle. According to some, this conference had one of the largest group of participants with (possibly) the widest representation of countries.

The theme of the conference was "Behold, I Come Quickly: The Reformed, Biblical Truth Of The End", with speakers Prof Engelsma and Rev Lanning. Click here to access the conference videos.

A strong showing from the Singapore contingent - 13 pax (beefed up, of course, by the Lannings)!
Going for a hike near the castle
Rev Lanning speaking at the conference
Conquering the tallest peak in Northern Ireland - Slieve Donard - which stands at a height of 850m.
Day trip to Hillsborough Castle, the official residence in Northern Ireland of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the British Royal Family when they visit the region.
 
Notes
NEW CLM WEBSITE!!

Visit our new CLM website to read the latest articles and access archives of the Daily Meditations. Click the picture to access.

 
Salt Shakers
Salt Shakers is a bi-monthly magazine published by the youth in CERC. Included in each issue are writings pertaining to both Reformed doctrine and practical theology. Articles are contributed by the Session, youth and members of CERC, as well as pastors and professors from the Protestant Reformed Churches in the USA and Northern Ireland. Salt Shakers also features articles from other Reformed publications, notably the Standard Bearer and Beacon Lights. Click here to access!
 
Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church
We are a Reformed Church that holds to the doctrines of the Reformation as they are expressed in the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dordt.

Lord’s Day services on Sunday at 930 am & 2 pm • 11 Jalan Mesin, #04-00, Standard Industrial Building, Singapore 368813 • Pastor: Rev Andy Lanning  •www.cerc.org.sg 
 

 
Read more...

PRC News Roundup - July 31, 2016

WBruinsma 2The following is a summary of recent PRC and sister-church news items of interest to our members and friends:

  • On Sunday July 31, 2016 Rev.W. Bruinsma (Eastern home missionary) announced his acceptance of the call from the newly organized Pittsburgh PRC. We rejoice with him and this congregation in God's provision of an undershepherd to labor among them.
  • Prof. and Mrs. R. Dykstra have returned home to the U.S. following their seven-week stay in Singapore laboring in the Covenant ERC while Rev. A. Lanning and his family were on furlough in the U.S. The Lannings have also now returned to their home in Singapore where he has resumed his labors in the CERC.
  • While Rev.M. McGeown is on vacation in the U.S. during the month of August (including chaperoning at the PRYP's Convention), Rev. and Mrs. M. DeVries (Kalamazoo PRC) will be in Ireland and N.Ireland covering Rev.McGeown's pulipt in Limerick as well as preaching in Covenant PRC in Ballymena for Rev.A. Stewart.
Read more...

Covenant Reformed News - July 2016

CPRC News Header 

Covenant Reformed News

July 2016  •  Volume XVI, Issue 3


God’s Longsuffering in the Old Testament Historical Books

The very first use of the word “longsuffering” in Holy Scripture is found in the book of Exodus and on Mount Sinai. In this first biblical reference to longsuffering, God speaks of His own (not man’s) longsuffering: “And the Lord passed by before him [i.e., Moses], and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex. 34:6-7).

The divine perfections that are listed along with longsuffering are “positive” (e.g., mercy, grace and goodness) and exercised for the salvation of God’s elect (“keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin”). The Lord then goes on to speak of His “negative” work towards the reprobate: “and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (7).

This profound, divine self-revelation occurred against the dark backdrop of Israel’s terrible sin of worshipping the golden calf, contrary to the second commandment. It also came in answer to the prayer of Moses, the Old Testament mediator: “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory” (33:18). Clearly, God’s “glory” includes His longsuffering!

Jehovah’s immediate response to Moses’ intercession reveals additional and important truths about His longsuffering: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (19). First, God’s longsuffering is a revelation of His “name.” Second, God’s longsuffering is a manifestation of His “goodness.” Third, God is absolutely sovereign in His longsuffering for, since He “will be gracious to whom [He] will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom [He] will shew mercy,” He will be longsuffering to whom He will be longsuffering.

After the Lord’s beautiful self-revelation (34:6-7), Moses’ response is twofold. First, he worships: “Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped” (8). Our adoration too should be prompted by God’s longsuffering with us!

Second, Moses prays: “If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance” (9). Organically and with respect to the elect in Israel, Jehovah, in answer to this petition, forgives His people and journeys with His inheritance towards the promised land.

The second biblical reference to longsuffering is also found in the Pentateuch. This time, it is Moses (not God) who speaks of Jehovah’s longsuffering. He appeals to this divine virtue in a prayer, after Israel’s wicked refusal to enter into the land of Canaan (Num. 13:1-14:10).

This is the part of Moses’ intercession (13-19) that is of special interest for our present subject: “And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation” (17-18).

Notice here two tie-ins with God’s self-revelation at Mount Sinai. First, Moses at Kadesh-barnea mentions similar divine attributes and works, and in the same order as in Exodus 34:6-7: “positive” and then “negative.” Second, Moses explicitly appeals to God’s words uttered at the holy mount: “as thou hast spoken, saying” (Num. 14:17). But notice which of Jehovah’s virtues is mentioned first here: “The Lord is longsuffering” (18).

Next follows the conclusion and central request of Moses’ prayer: “Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now” (19). This is swiftly followed by God’s gracious answer: “I have pardoned according to thy word” (20).

The third and final reference to Jehovah’s longsuffering in the Old Testament historical books is found in Nehemiah 9. This chapter contains the godly Levites’ review of Israel’s history, all the way from Abraham till after the return from the Babylonian captivity, with special reference to both Jehovah’s mercy and Israel’s sinfulness.

Nehemiah 9:17 reads, “And [they] refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger [i.e., longsuffering], and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”

Unlike the two earlier historical references to Jehovah’s longsuffering, this text only speaks of God’s “positive” attributes and operations (“a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not”) and not His “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children.”

Nehemiah 9 mentions the historical events that occasioned both of the earlier references to Jehovah’s longsuffering. God’s longsuffering at the end of Nehemiah 9:17 is sandwiched between Israel’s refusal to enter into the promised land (Num. 13-14) in the middle of verse 17 and the idolatry of the golden calf (Ex. 32-34) in verse 18. Here we see the glorious unity of Scripture, with the last text on God’s longsuffering in the Old Testament historical books alluding to the previous two! Rev. Angus Stewart

Three Questions

I have a number of questions sent in by our readers that, although only requiring a short answer, are important enough to be included in the News. I thought it good to answer three of them in this issue.

Question 1: “In Acts 21:24, it appears that Paul abandons his liberty in Christ and returns to Judaistic practice. I have found nothing so far to explain his behaviour apart from what he says in I Corinthians 9:20.”

The answer is simply that what the believing Jews asked Paul to do was a matter of Christian liberty. Christian liberty means that with certain things if a Christian does or does not do them he is not sinning. It is the motive that God judges. From the context, one learns that Paul did not budge on the question of circumcision but he did agree to take the vows of purification. These were in themselves innocuous; the motive for taking the vows is what counted. Paul’s motive was to avoid unnecessary strife in the Jerusalem church. It does seem from various parts of Scripture that the Jerusalem church was weak on the matter of Christian liberty in connection with Old Testament rituals. Paul chose not to offend the weaker brethren (Rom. 14:1).

Question 2: “Were the Donatists right regarding those who denied their faith under persecution, that they could not return to the Lord?”

The Donatists were a sect in early church history. They were numerous in N. Africa in the days of Augustine (354-430), who wrote against their position. They taught, as the questioner points out, that those who denied their faith to escape persecution could not, even after confession of sin, become members of the church again. They were forever excluded from the church and, presumably, from heaven.

This was a wrong position to take, for the Scriptures make clear that everyone who confesses his sin finds forgiveness (I John 1:9). God’s Word makes no exceptions, except those who have committed the unpardonable sin (Heb. 6:4-8; I John 5:16-17).

The questioner, in appealing to the Greek, points out that Jesus uses the future tense in such passages as II Timothy 2:12. But the future tense simply means that if someone denies Christ in this life, He will deny him in the judgment day when all men stand before the Lord Jesus, the universal Judge. That does not rule out his being restored in the way of confession and sorrow for sin.

The questioner adds in the same connection, “If that’s the case [i.e., that someone who denied Christ cannot be saved and restored to the church], then if someone repents and wants to come to Christ, since they were not actually a believer in the first place, according to Calvinism and predestination, can they have faith in him as Lord and Saviour after they have denied him?”

The questioner, sadly, has a serious misconception of Calvinism and biblical predestination. He should correct that. The fact is that anyone who is eternally predestined to be saved and is, in fact, saved in this life, nevertheless, can and often does fall into terrible sins. We must learn to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13). Abraham and Isaac both left Canaan contrary to God’s will. David committed adultery and murder. Peter denied Christ out of fear of being killed by the same Sanhedrin that was condemning our Lord. All of these four men were true believers when they committed these awful sins. All later repented and were forgiven. Some Christians denied their Lord under the threat of persecution. When they confessed their sin, they were pardoned.

Behind the Donatist position was another error, serious and deadly. It is the idea that only true believers may belong to the church of Christ. And so the Donatists also denied infant baptism, for infants cannot believe. They basically deny the covenant.

Question 3: A Baptist asks, “Are you saying that we should teach all our children to believe they are God’s children, forgiven of their sins, etc., when in fact they may be the devil’s children and destined to eternal hell?”

The answer to this question is a most emphatic NO. Children of believers are born within the dispensation of the covenant. No Baptist can and will deny that this is true. This means that every child of believing parents comes under covenant instruction in the home, in the church and, where possible, in the Christian school. In all of these spheres, he is taught the truth of God’s Word: “Moreover, the promise of the gospel is that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations” (Canons II:5). This is the heart of the instruction children receive.

Furthermore, the Scriptures teach that God, while saving His church from those born outside the church, also saves believers and their seed (Gen. 17:7). Children, as well as adults, are citizens of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:14; 18:1-6).

Therefore, godly parents teach their children, knowing that God saves children of believers and that He has not promised to save all of them. Believers are very conscious of Esau and the faithless Israelites. But they do not look at their children as a “nest of vipers,” as Jonathan Edwards did and as do all who believe in a conditional covenant. They teach the children to lay hold on the promise of God through faith in Christ. They teach these same children to repent and confess their sins to find forgiveness in Christ. God saves His elect and uses the means of covenant instruction. He saves those who believe in Christ. In other words, since faith is a gift of God, He gives elect, covenant children faith to believe in Christ and to confess their sins.

The trouble is that baptistic theology is independentistic—a grave weakness. They teach, so to speak, “Every man for himself.” God deals with every man in isolation from all others and as an individual. This inevitably leads to Arminianism. The Scriptures teach the organic unity of family life: God works out His salvation in families. He deals with people in all their organic relationships in life, and children in families.

Those interested in this question can read an extensive development of it in my book, We and Our Children, available from the CPRC Bookstore (£9.90, including P&P). Prof. Herman Hanko

Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena, BT43 5DR • Lord’s Day services at 11 am & 6 pm
Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live broadcast: www.cprf.co.uk/live
Pastor: Angus Stewart, 7 Lislunnan Road, Kells, N. Ireland, BT42 3NR • (028) 25 891851  
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.www.youtube.com/cprcniwww.facebook.com/CovenantPRC

Be Ye Holy: The Reformed Doctrine of Sanctification

by David J. Engelsma & Herman Hanko
(180 pp, softback)

What is sanctification? How is it related to justification? What is the error of antinomianism? What is the role of the law in sanctification? This book covers all this and much more, and exhorts us all to holiness!

£5.50 (inc. P&P)

Order from the CPRC Bookstore
7 Lislunnan Road, Kells, N. Ireland BT42 3NR
(028) 25891851.
Or order this on-line from the
CPRC Bookstore.

Make cheques payable to “Covenant Protestant Reformed Church.” Thank you!
 
Read more...

Doon PRC Calls Rev. C.Griess for 3rd Misisonary to the Philippines

RevCGriessAt her congregational meeting on Sunday morning, July 24, 2016, Doon PRC voted to extend a call to Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA) to serve as third missionary to the Philippines.

This call follows the decision of the 2016 PRC Synod, to call a third missionary in the Philippines with the view to one of the missionaries devoting time to investigate the possibility of setting up a theological school in the Philippines.

Let us pray for this servant of the Lord as he considers this new call, the call to First PRC of Holland, and the call of his current charge in Calvary.

Read more...

Our Newest PRC Congregation - Pittsburgh PRC - June 24, 2016 (New Updates)

Update (3): The new Pittsburgh PRC is now listed under the PRC congregations, where her news items will appear in the future.

Update (2): From their first trio the newly organized Pittsburgh PRC extended a call to Missionary-pastor W. Bruinsma on Sunday, July 10. We pray for him as he considers this call.

Update (1): The Pittsburgh PRC formed a trio of Revs. W. Bruinsma, C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA), and R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace, Spokane, WA) to call its first minister.  They will extend a call on July 10, D.V.

It may also be noted the new congregation adopted the official name of Pittsburgh Protestant Reformed Church.

Pittsburgh organiz 3
Rev. W. Bruinsma (missionary) and A. den Hartog (SW PRC) leading the organizational service.

On Friday evening, June 24, 2016, the Pittsburgh PR Fellowship was organized as a PR congregation, under the supervision of the SW PRC, which had been the calling church for this mission. Many visitors were in attendance, including members of the Domestic Mission Committee.

Pittsburgh organiz 1

Pittsburgh organiz 2

Below is a note Missionary-pastor W. Bruinsma sent out afterward:

Last night, July 24 the Pittsburgh Protestant Reformed Church was instituted as a congregation in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Keith Bauman and Peter Cnossen were chosen as elders and Anthony Bauman as deacon. We rejoice together with this small body of believers and ask God's continued care as they stand on their own in years to come. The church here greatly appreciates all the prayers and support given in the past years on their behalf. Please continue to pray for them as they begin their labors and witness as a church of Jesus Christ.

Pittsburgh organiz 4
New officebearers signing the Formula of Subscription.

Below is part of the program for the evening (You will also find it attached in pdf form).

Pitts Organization program Page 1

We rejoice with this latest "sister" in our PRC federation, and pray God's richest blessings on her as she shines as Christ's light in that city.

Read more...
Subscribe to this RSS feed

Contact Details

Denomination

  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Reading Sermon Library
  • Taped Sermon Library

Synodical Officers

  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Interim)
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Synodical Committees

  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact/Missions

  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Classical Officers

Classis East
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Classis West
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.