Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. – Prov. 3:13-14 By now, it is March in a long school year. It has been months since Christmas break, and it […]
“God’s Vine” is a sermon by the late Rev. Marinus Schipper preached in 1978.* He preached it with special thought for “our covenant young people.” The message is timeless, the homiletics masterful, and the doctrine distinctively Protestant Reformed. Every reader would do well to listen to it. The sermon takes as its text John 15:1-2. […]
In 2018, when traveling out of the country was still something people could safely do, I lived abroad in the Netherlands for a few months. While there, I attended a Dutch-speaking church with my host family every Sunday. I was blessed by the experience, a visible reminder that I was a part of “a great […]
In order to fully understand the subject on hand, and in order to give an intelligent consideration and discussion of the problem, it is above all necessary to define drama so that it can be discussed in an acceptable way. We have agreed to accept Webster’s definition which has already been stated. However, I would […]
“You are so young, enjoy it!” Who hasn’t heard this occasional, well-intended encouragement from someone older? Peter Pan in Neverland, delayed adulthood, extended adolescence, the vanishing American adult[1], adultolescence[2]… Call it what you want; it is a thing. Unfortunately, this trend is becoming the new normal. We hear evidence straight from “the seat of the […]
It’s hard to believe. Can a government this divisive, this wicked, and this disdainful be ordained and controlled by the thrice holy God of heaven and earth? Why would God have anything to do with an institution that seems to have been fully given over to detestable corruption? Does the believer have any hope anymore? […]
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 On October 14, 2020, Dave DeVries was taken to his heavenly home. He passed away due to complications of the coronavirus: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia. The virus was the means by which God brought him home, […]
Everyone in the world today is seeking wisdom. People think that being wise will enable them to impress others and make their own life easier. Many try to find this wisdom by searching the internet for advice on their problems or reading the words of supposedly “wise” men such as famous philosophers or the latest […]
Dear Editor, The first line in the January 2021 issue of Beacon Lights is a question in response to the words of Christ in Matthew 17:17 (O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?) You ask, “What does a perverse generation look like?” I would […]
I trust that you young people who love the Protestant Reformed churches love the heritage that God has given to you in the doctrine of the covenant. If we love the Protestant Reformed churches but do not know, love, confess, and defend the biblical doctrine of the covenant that our fathers have taught us, then […]