Doctrine for Life
In this short video I explain that believers ought to learn how to evangelize from the pastor of the church. In fact, Puritan ministers would visit with the families of the church and teach them how to do family worship and how to evangelize their children.
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:7).
God gave peace and unity throughout our Heritage Reformed Congregations’ annual Synod this week and we pray now for His benediction on the numerous decisions made. The most major decision was this:
We are deeply grateful to report that all three men who were approved by the Board of Trustees of the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary to serve as professors here—one for Systematic Theology, one for New Testament, and one for a variety of courses and assistant to the dean of students—were accepted by the HRC Synod. We are humbled by God’s goodness.
Pray that all three will also have freedom to give themselves for this important task and will serve God’s cause and kingdom ably and faithfully for many years at PRTS, training thousands of men for ministry in their lifetime—men who will then fan out all around the world to bring the unsearchable riches of Christ to churches, church plants, mission fields, and seminaries.
Last night we enjoyed the beautiful wedding and edifying reception of another dear church couple, Samuel Boerkoel and Audrey Zevenbergen. (Audrey’s mother was my administrative assistant for several years many moons ago and her father will be installed a week from now to his second term as a deacon in our church. And Samuel’s grandfather, who passed away only a few months ago, also served as a deacon in our church for a goodly number of years.) Both Samuel and Audrey are the firstborn in their families and the first to get married. God’s covenant faithfulness from generation to generation marches on: “My covenant shall stand fast” (Ps. 89:28)!
In this short video, I stress the importance of perseverance when training children.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).
Our Heritage Reformed Congregations’ annual Synod is presently meeting at the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary over a 2.5-day period. The American delegates are present and the Canadian delegates are on Zoom with us. We are interviewing men for faculty positions and making other major decisions. Please pray that God will continue to be with us and bless each decision made.
In this short video, Dr. Joel Beeke explains that as a pastor he strives to evangelize regularly in his sermons as he brings out application from the text and points people to the gospel. He also talks about evangelizing people on plane trips. You have to be intentional about evangelism.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).
It was a packed but fruitful weekend. I gave three plenary addresses to 1400 people (mostly homeschooling families and singles) at the Theology of the Family Conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolina.
Here were my assigned subjects: on Friday evening, “The Family Psalm: The Blessing of Fearing God (Psalm 128),” on Saturday morning, “Building Family Convictions through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon”; and on Saturday afternoon, “Family in Paul’s Epistles (esp. Ephesians 5:21—6: 4).” We also had great fellowship, shepherding opportunities, and prayers with numerous families at our 9 Reformation Heritage Books tables, selling $17,000 worth of books with David Woollin and Mary at steeply discounted non-profit prices to very grateful and often large homeschooling families (for example, the couple on our right has 15 children)! Seeing scores of families walk away with overflowing boxes and bulging bags of soul-enhancing books fills me with deeper joy than I can put into words. Who can tell how many of these God-exalting and edifying books will be blessed to parents and their children?
Other plenary speakers included Paul Washer, Scott Brown, Sam Waldron, Josh Buice, Jason Dohm, Kevin Swanson, Gavin Beers, Carlton McLeod, Tom Ascol, and John Snyder—all of whom have become friends over the years. (Seven additional speaker provided addresses at breakout sessions.) I thought they all spoke well in unfolding what the Bible has to say theologically and practically about family from Genesis to Revelation. This was a very good conference covering a vast theme, and I trust proved to be very profitable to every family that attended.
After my last address on Saturday afternoon, we took off for the airport right away, arriving at our home in Grand Rapids. On the flights, I finished preparing for my Lord’s Day messages yesterday—in Covenant URC in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the morning and in our own church in the evening—despite a good-sized bat flying all over the sanctuary throughout most of the sermon.
Thanks be to God, I felt helped throughout this intense but soul-uplifting weekend. Pray that all the seed sown and received might bear much fruit.
Having a great day at the Church and Family Life Conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. This morning I spoke on “Biblical Propositions and Practical Advice for Singles” followed by a men’s Q&A with Paul Washer and Scott Brown while Mary was doing a women’s Q&A with Deborah Brown and two other women. After lunch, I spoke, with several others, for “Burnings in the Soul,” choosing Reformed experiential preaching as my topic, after which I was interviewed for an hour on the subject of “Knowing God”—the theme of next year’s conference.
I was moved when a 13-year-old boy came up afterward to tell me movingly and beautifully how that God brought him to know Christ through reading book 4 of “Building on the Rock” five years ago. That was my capstone of the day. In the pictures below, I am with him and with his family (he has 7 sisters!).
I am presently In Ridgecrest, North Carolina, with Mary, speaking with Paul Washer, Scott Brown, and others at a singles conference attended by about 350 singles. This evening the family conference of about 1400 attendees, including children, commences and runs through Saturday afternoon. Pray for God‘s rich blessing on these conferences.
