Is it still possible to be truly enthusiastic about preaching the Word according to the summary of its doctrine as found in the Heidelberg Catechism? In this 400th anniversary year of the publication of this Creed this question must be faced, and Dr. Alexander C. De Jong does so in a second of a series […]
THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM: A STUDY GUIDE by Rev. G. L Williamson, 241 pages includes Scripture Index; P & R Publishing, PO Box 817, Phillipsburg, N.J. 08865. Reviewed by Rev. Paul T Murphy. Rev. G.I. Williamson is perhaps best known for writing the Study Guides for the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Vols. 1 & 2) and the […]
On a Tuesday at 4 PM I came to the home of Larry. Pattie, Lare John and Bailey. They were expecting me. They had been attending our church for some time. Pattie’s oldest brother and his family, her youngest brother and his family and her father had all made profession of faith in our church. Now […]
The city of Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful and charming in the world. Built in the Neckar River valley the city looks across the river to rising hills covered with green. Today the city itself has a very well-preserved Renaissance center dominated by the Holy Ghost Church where Caspar Olevianus preached. The University of […]
In his recent commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven calls the Catechism “the best confessional and teachable summary of the will of God for the life of the church,” That’s quite a compliment for a document over four centuries old. What a beacon the Heidelberg Catechism remains in our anti-theological age, with its […]
Question: What do you believe concerning the “holy catholic church” of Christ? Answer: That the Son of God from the heginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves to Himself hy His Spirit and Word, out of the whole human race, a Church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and […]
When it pleased the Lord in the latter days of Hezekiah, King of Judah, to prepare good news through Isaiah the prophet for the exiles who, a century and a half later, would dwell by the rivers of Babylon, He gave this command (Isaiah 40:1–2): Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak […]
“Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God.” Isaiah 40:1 This year The Outlook is beginning a study of what many people consider to be an outdated document. Some ministers have said it takes us away from the Bible. Still others, even within reformed circles, refuse to preach on it. With this issue we begin […]
“You know that you are ransomed from your futile ways … with the precious blood of Christ” I Peter 1:18, 19 Last month we looked at the theme of the Heidelberg Catechism. We saw that the theme of the catechism is comfort. But what kind of comfort is it that the catechism is referring to? […]
We need to know the law of God if we would claim to know the grace of God. We need to know what God demands of us. The conclusion of knowing what God demands of us is understanding that we are sinners. We need to know that because we are sinners we are under a […]