At 7:00 p.m. this evening, I’ll be speaking at Baker Book House (2768 E. Paris Ave SE, Grand Rapids) on What Can We Learn Today from the Morose, Legalistic Killjoys called Puritans? A QA session and book signing will follow. I’d love to have you join us.
Thousands of Books for Ghana
May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Yesterday the Reformation Heritage Books staff began to load a truck of books—$50,000 worth—for Ghana. Please pray that God would safely deliver this shipment to Africa, and bless these books to many souls.
Heaven and Earth
May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
With the Davis Family
I got back to Grand Rapids Tuesday morning from New Jersey. On Sunday, I preached on “True Life on Earth” and “True Love in Heaven” for the Heritage Reformed Church at Kinnelon, NJ, and baptized Emma Grace Davis, daughter of Luke and Karis Davis, the newest member of the large Davis family that hails from Brazil. On Monday, the memorial service and graveside committal for Joan Elshout were edifying. At Mrs. Elshout’s request, I preached on “This man receiveth sinners” from Luke 15:2, and Rev. Brian Najapfour, her son-in-law, spoke on John 20:24–28 at the committal. Rev. Elshout and his family were upheld throughout, being particularly encouraged by Joan’s dying cry, “Lord Jesus, come quickly.”
The drive in the car going to and back from New Jersey with five family members went well, and we arrived back in Michigan early in the morning. Then, later that day I led the funeral of Mrs. Alice Dole, who, in God’s providence, had many of the same spiritual struggles that Joan Elshout had. Thank God for upholding us and the mourning families through four deaths in ten days. Please read Hebrews 9:27-28.
PRTS Graduation
May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Several PRTS graduates, faculty members, and Dr. Michael Haykin, commencement speaker
Dr. Michael Haykin gave the commencement address to our 14 graduates from 5 continents on Friday evening from 2 Timothy 1, stressing their dependency on the Holy Spirit. I gave the charge from 1 Corinthians 14:1, “Follow after charity,” stressing that the graduates should love their Savior, their sanctity, their sheep, and their specialty of being preachers of the Word.
Southern New England Reformation Conference
May 7, 2013 By 1 Comment
With Rev. Michael and Aubrey Ives and Family
- With Pastors Rob Ventura and Jack Buckley
After feeling helped in speaking seven times in less than 48 hours, I returned home from the Southern New England Reformation Conference in Rhode Island yesterday. About 225 people attended, many of whom are recent converts who have wonderful testimonies to share. I enjoyed immensely my time with Pastor Ventura and his family, and it was great to visit with Rev. Michael Ives and his family, too. (Michael is one of our former students.) A little girl named Bethany greatly cheered my heart with her notes of assuring me that she was praying for me to have “curij” (courage) because I looked “tired and nervis” (nervous)!
Bethany with Her Notes
After arriving home, I led the funeral of one of our dear members, Mr. John Sporte. Then, when we were between the funeral and the cemetery, my dear friend Rev. Elshout called that his dear wife Joan had just passed away, shortly after crying out, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” (I hope to fly to New Jersey on Saturday, serve my “former church” there on Sunday, and lead the funeral service on Monday, D.V.) On the way home after leaving the cemetery, we received a call that yet another member from our church appears to be dying—a dear sister, Alice Dole. Please pray for all these families, and let us ever remember that we lie in the midst of death and need to be prepared to meet our Maker.
Forgotten Puritan Remembered in England
May 2, 2013 By
St. Helen’s Church—Ashby-de-la-Zouch: The parish church of Ashby where Hildersham preached throughout his ministerial career as lecturer and vicar.
Arthur Hildersham (1563–1632) was an influential Puritan preacher in late Elizabethan and early Stuart England. Though little known today (his works have not been reprinted in modern times), his preaching was quite popular. He gave his hearers solid, doctrinal sermons that perhaps did not move the emotions as much as more gifted speakers but fed their souls. His published sermons include 108 messages on John 4. He also suffered for his Reformed convictions, first when his Roman Catholic parents disinherited him, and then later when the Church of England’s bishops had him suspended from ministry and imprisoned. Reformation Heritage Books recently published a biography of Hildersham, and its author, Dr. Lesley Rowe had an opportunity to give an address at Hildersham’s parish in England.
Interior: Since Hildersham’s time, some aisles have been added and the pews replaced. Hildersham is buried in the chancel, toward the top of the photograph.
Dr. Rowe shares, “Over 100 people attended the lecture in St Helen’s Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch (Hildersham’s church), which was a great encouragement. Some had travelled from as far afield as Rochdale, London, and Cambridge to be present, but most of the people came from the Midlands, with a good number from Ashby itself. The current vicar of Ashby, Brian Robertson, introduced the evening by reading Hildersham’s prayer of 1625, which he prayed before his lectures in 1625, and by reading Psalm 51:1–7, on which Hildersham had delivered 152 lectures. I then spoke for about 40 minutes, describing Hildersham’s life and ministry in Ashby and explaining why he was so loved and revered in the town. Afterwards I took questions. At the end, I signed and sold nearly 40 copies of the book. Many people expressed their appreciation, and also said they had not realised what an important figure Hildersham was.”
Radio and Internet Sermons
May 1, 2013 By
God’s Word is sweeter than honey and richer than gold! If you are looking for more ways to feed on the Word, our church offers opportunities through the radio and the internet. Sermons preached by various pastors and guests speakers at Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation can be downloaded from SermonAudio here. This helpful website also hosts messages from the chapels and conferences of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. My sermons on Genesis are being aired on the radio locally in the greater Grand Rapids area on WFUR (102.9 FM) on Sundays from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. So turn on your radio or plug in your iPod, and may God bless you through His Word!
Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology
April 29, 2013 By
PCRT Philadelphia Attendees
Approximately 600 attended the Philadelphia Conference of Reformed Theology on April 19–21. The theme was “In the Beginning: God, Adam, and You.” I arrived late on Friday, due to having to lead a funeral of one of our dear members in Grand Rapids that morning, so I missed the pre-conference by my good friend Jon Payne on “Our Forgotten Heritage: Recovering a Reformed Ministry,” which focused on the lives and ministries of Charles Simeon, John Owen, and Zacharias Ursinus in conjunction with the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism. (By the way, Dr. Jason VanVliet and I can still take on a dozen more travelers for our European tour this summer, July 9–19—we’d love to have you join us.) I also missed Derek Thomas’s opening address, “The Bible’s First Word.”
On Saturday, Liam Goligher (senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church, where the conference was being held) preached on “Lord of the Garden,” Rick Phillips (the conference organizer and MC), spoke on “The Bible and Evolution.” I spoke on “The Case for Adam,” participated in a QA session, did a video interview for PCRT, and then spoke on “Christ the Second Adam.” As soon as my last address was finished, I had to rush to the airport to catch the last flights home, arriving a few hours before midnight. The next day I preached for Seventh Reformed Church in the morning and our own church in the evening.
Reforming Families Conference
April 25, 2013 By
At the request of the conference organizers, I am pleased to bring to your attention an upcoming event in Indianapolis, called the Reforming Families Conference (RFC), which will be held August 13–16. This conference is sponsored by my friends at the Free Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. I will be speaking there along with David Murray, Geoff Banister, David McClelland, and Brad Baugham.
I am encouraged by the RFC’s overarching emphasis of semper reformans, semper reformanda— “always reformed, always reforming.” Speaking topics this year will include: Christ Our Bridegroom, Recognizing Our God-Glorifying Roles, Understanding Headship and Submission, Getting Along in the Family of God, Preventing Authority Abuse & Conflict, Covenantal Foundations for Parenting, Godly Living, Using Technology Effectively in the Family, Bringing Children to Christ, and Living In the Power of Gratitude.
In a day where there are increased attacks and pressures upon the home, this conference provides not only great topics for building up families in Christ, but also provides a unique venue for building friendships and potentially life-long relationships with like-minded people.
I hope you’ll consider attending this conference and bringing your family. You can find out more by going here or by emailing the conference director, Ryan Elliott.
In the meantime, here is a video blog from my colleague, David Murray, regarding this conference.
Builders and Sub-contractors Walk Through PRTS
April 19, 2013 By
Yesterday more than forty builders and sub-contractors walked through Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary with a view to offering their services for the proposed addition. Four builders have been asked to submit their bids by next week Wednesday. Pray that God may bless these efforts and guide us to the builder that would best serve us.
