This month’s issue contains the three speeches given at this year’s Protestant Reformed Young People’s Convention. The convention was held at the Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, Minnesota from August 13–17. The theme of the convention was Guided by God, and the three keynote addresses were delivered by Revs. Brummel, Engelsma, and Griess. According […]

“The truth is, that God wants everyone to come and know him.” Luis Palau “It’s a beautiful offer, and I extend it to you now.” Andrew Palau “Sometimes we forget how radically Jesus loves, well, everyone.” – Luis Palau “the Synod rejects the error of those” who teach that “while some obtain the pardon of […]

“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward received me to glory.” (Psalm 73:23–24) In Psalm 73 the inspired psalmist Asaph reveals a painful struggle of faith that he endured. He speaks of how he was brought to the point […]

Psalm 73:25–26 “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” Desire is not a bad word. Desire is a good word. And the fact that humans desire […]

It is tempting for believers to doubt God’s favor and love and to think it is not worth living as a Christian. The main theme of Psalm 73 is the truth set forth in the first verse: “Truly God is good to Israel.” The final verses of the Psalm involve a renewed commitment to focus […]

November 8–Read Hosea 7 A number of weeks ago we had a sermon about the sin of adultery, which the prophet says Israel is guilty of in Hosea 7:4. The sins of adultery and idolatry are quite related, as idolatry is committing spiritual adultery. Our pastor approached this commandment from the positive viewpoint of the […]

What is the meaning of the unpardonable sin, or the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12, Mark 3, Luke 12)? How does the unpardonable sin relate to the exhortation of Ephesians 4:30 not to grieve the Holy Spirit, and the exhortation of 1 Thessalonians 5:19 not to quench the Spirit?  Thank you! The question of the unpardonable […]

The Synod of Dordt officially began on November 13, 1618 in the city of Dordrecht. It lasted through 154 meetings and ended on May 9, 1619. In a little less than six months, the delegates came to the decision that the Bible taught that all men are totally depraved, God’s election isn’t based on any […]