The Canons of Dordt are often considered heavy stuff. Pretty doctrinal. Not easy to understand. Good for ministers and the more mature members of the church. But some think it to be out of reach for the common pew-sitter—and especially for young people. It is true that the Canons of Dordt are doctrine, that is, […]
There were two earthquakes that took place within the span of three days. The epicenter of both was near Jerusalem. The first earthquake occurred late Friday afternoon (Matt. 27:51) and the second took place early the following Sunday morning (Matt. 28:2). The first marked the death of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God (Matt. […]
Dating can be one of the most enjoyable experiences a young person can have. It can also be the cause for some very traumatic times. Some boys fear rejection. Some girls are afraid that they will never be asked for a date. Often both are jittery because they do not know what is expected of […]
1 Corinthians 12:12–25 Gracious salvation puts the ones being saved into a relationship—a covenant relationship. This relationship is both with the Savior and with all the others saved by the Savior. Scripture often uses the figure of the human body to describe both the relationship that every saved one has with Jesus and the relationship […]
The title of this article raises a question. How can we develop love, when it is a fruit of the Spirit? When love is called a fruit of the Spirit, then the implication is clear that the Holy Spirit is the divine agent who works in us the blessings of salvation as merited by Christ […]
During my high school years, the idea of being called to serve God’s church as a minister grew and developed. The prayers changed from, “Lord, what dost Thou want me to be?” to “Lord, I think I am called to be a minister. I think I want to be one. If that is not Thy […]
God gave Gordon and June Van Overloop a baby boy on February 13, 1949. I was baptized by the Rev. Gerrit Vos as a member of Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church. For the first four and half years of my life I lived on 84th Street in Byron Center, Michigan (just a block away from the […]
People often pray for children. Young couples often talk about how many children they want to have when they get married. That a married couple would include such a petition in their prayers is good. Their act of asking God for a child indicates that they see themselves as dependent on God. They ought not […]
What is dating? Why date? What are some of the reasons for dating? What should we do on a date? How far may we go in our touching and kissing? Where do we draw the line? How do we know where to draw the line? The theme for this Young People’s Convention declares the fact […]
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30. The emphasis of this speech will be on the positive. We will strive to determine what the Bible means when it speaks of a “soul winner.” We have assumptions, namely those of the Reformed faith which […]