It is the season of Synods and General Assemblies. With this post I call attention to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America and the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. I write about the assemblies of these two denominations in one post because they not only held their assemblies at the same time in the same city (Pella, Iowa) but also because they met together in a joint-session. At the joint-session the representatives adopted this...
Editorial: Hyper-Calvinist! (1) by: Rev. Martyn McGeown (published in the British Reformed Journal) Introduction Recently, brethren have brought to my attention Phillip R. Johnson’s “A Primer on Hyper-Calvinism.”1 They were offended that he called the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC) hyper-Calvinists: “The best known American hyper-Calvinists are the Protestant Reformed Churches.” My initial reaction was to ignore such accusations—I prefer to answer exegetical arguments, and Johnson’s “Primer” does not offer any such arguments. I imagine he does do exegesis, just not in this...
1834: Hendrik De Cock’s Return to the True Church, by Marvin Kamps. 512 pages, Retail price: $43.95 1776 is an important year for citizens of the United States of America. In particular Americans celebrate July 4, 1776 as the birthday of the nation. 1776 is so important to the nation’s existence that it is easy to understand why many Americans are interested in studying the historical events that took place that year in years surrounding the American Revolution. The year 1834...
(Article written by Rev. Clay Spronk from the May 15, 2014 issue of The Standard Bearer) On February 4 “the science guy” Bill Nye, representing the evolutionist perspective, and Ken Ham, representing the creationist perspective, debated the question, “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?” The debate was live-streamed on the Internet and watched by a large audience. I didn’t find any reports about the size of the audience, but I assume it numbered in the thousands....
2 for $20 (As featured in the Spring issue of the RFPA Update) *Book Club discount or any other discount (including wholesale pricing) not valid on this sale item.* When You Pray (by Herman Hanko) - 192 pages, hardcover How many Christians can say that they have "mastered" the art of prayer? Probably no one. Yet over the years of one's life, a person can make progress in praying. Hanko shares meaningful lessons...
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Articles in this Issue:
The Committees behind the Work
Arrival of 1834
Association Meeting
RFPA Board
In Review: 1834: Hendrik de Cock's Return to the True Church
Reader Feedback
Better to Marry, 2nd edition is now available for purchase! Order your copy today! $12.95 Retail $8.42 Book Club This small paperback book provides straightforward, practical instruction for single and married believers alike, taken directly from the classic Bible passages on sex and marriage. Two appendices treat the remarriage and prohibition of the remarriage of the "innocent party". * The 2nd edition ebook version will be available soon in .mobi format (for Kindle users) and .epub (all other devices)....
The RFPA published the 1st issue of the RFPA Update in Sept. 1998. View the very 1st issue here: Its purpose, as stated in the very 1st RFPA Update issue: "...to inform subscribers to its Standard Bearer, buyers of its books, and members of the RFPA about the association and its many endeavors. "Another purpose is to encourage men who live in the area of Grand Rapids, MI to become members of the RFPA at the annual meeting."In the interim between...
Singing the Psalms There are in brief three things that our Lord has commanded us to observe in our spiritual assemblies, namely, the Preaching of his Word, the public and solemn prayers, and the administration of his sacraments. As to the public prayers, these are of two kinds: some are offered by means of words alone, the others with song.... We know by experience that song has great force and vigor to move and inflame the hearts of men to invoke...
Did you know that in 1999 the total # of Book Club members was 780.
The Goal? 1,000!
Now in 2014, we have a total of 1,227 Book Club members!
Become an RFPA Book Club member today and build your library!
Read these articles and more in the upcoming March 15 issue of The Standard Bearer. Not a subscriber? Purchase an eSubscription or a hard copy subscription today! Meditation | Godliness for Officebearers "Officebearers must be able to say: Do as I do. Follow my example." O Come Let Us Worship | The Reading of the Law in Worship "...in the covenantal dialogue, God is speaking to us, declaring His sovereignty over us. He is placing upon us His holy Law...
Are you a subscriber to The Standard Bearer? If not, subscribe today for $10.50 at the new subscriber rate! What other readers are saying: "...we cherish [the] magazine." "I love reading the Standard Bearer. Many articles I read twice. I always look forward to seeing the next one come in the mail box." "The Standard Bearer is a must-read for any individual interested in the truth of the gospel, and is a staple of my reading diet." Also take the time...
This is the last post about Rev. Smit’s book, The Fruit of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Rev. Smit closes the book with 5 concluding thoughts. Here is a summary of these thoughts. 1. God’s eternal decree of election is the ultimate source of the fruit of the Spirit. 2. The Holy Spirit produces and cultivates the fruit of the Spirit by the means of grace found in the church. 3. Those who produce the fruit of the Spirit enjoy “true...
