Steve Voorwinde, Trowel and Sword. August 1994. Preamble: “I believe; help my unbelief!” These were the words of a father who had brought his son to Jesus to be healed of an evil spirit (Mark 9:14-27). Many, perhaps most Christians can identify with this father when faced with the question, “Are you sure you are aContinue reading “Sure? Are You Sure You Are a Christian?”
Author Archives: Bert Moritz & Pieter Stok
How Are Things With Your Sunday School?
Rev. K. Warren, Trowel & Sword, September 1968 Preamble: In this article Rev. Warren took some time to outline what other churches were doing with their Sunday Schools, with a particular focus on what was then the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches before they amalgamated to form the Uniting Church. One can confidently say thatContinue reading “How Are Things With Your Sunday School?”
Australia, A Vast Mission Field
G. van Groningen, Trowel and Sword. November 1962 Preamble: The following article, written over 60 years ago, paints a picture of Australia as a country urgently in need of missionary endeavours to bring the gospel to its increasingly secular populace. How have we fared since that time? Sadly it would appear, not too well. HaveContinue reading “Australia, A Vast Mission Field”
Temporary Office Closure
The Work Of The F.C.Y.A.
John Piening, Trowel and Sword. Jan./Feb. 1963 Preamble: I am constantly in awe of the early pioneers of the Reformed Church in Australia. They achieved so much in such a short space of time that the only conclusion that one can draw is that God was with them and guiding them in each step ofContinue reading “The Work Of The F.C.Y.A.”
A Life For God
Rev. Pieter Stok. Trowel and Sword, October 1994. Preamble: In the movie, “Dead Poet’s Society,” Robin Williams, who plays the part of teacher John Keating, tells his class of boys, “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the humanContinue reading “A Life For God”
Film Review – The Passion of the Christ
David Groenenboom. Trowel and Sword, March 2004. Preamble: Many movies have been made based on the Bible, a large number of them about the life (and death), of Jesus. Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” is one that has stirred up much debate, and often criticism in many quarters so we considered it appropriateContinue reading “Film Review – The Passion of the Christ”
A Contemporary Defence of the Resurrection
Dirk J. van Garderen, Trowel & Sword. April 1995. Preamble: Back in April 1995 (Easter issue) T&S carried an article from the pen of Rev. Dirk van Garderen (N.Z.) showing that, while the idea of a resurrection might be regarded as unscientific, it is not more difficult to believe the Easter story today than itContinue reading “A Contemporary Defence of the Resurrection”
Life Wasn’t Meant To Be Easy.
John Westerdorp, Trowel and Sword, March 1999. Preamble: In his article “Annus Liturgicus” (TSR Jan. 1 ’24) Bill Deenick wrote about the church calendar as not being big in Reformed circles but nevertheless being useful in planning his preaching. Lent is that period before Easter which lends itself to this. As we are now inContinue reading “Life Wasn’t Meant To Be Easy.”
Australian Gleanings
Including “Encouragements and Aspirations” by Pastor Verlan Van Ee of the Reformed Church of North America at the end of an eight month pastoral Exchange with Rev. Martin de Graaf of Tecoma. Rev. Fred Vanderbom, Trowel & Sword, Jan./Feb. 1997 Preamble written by Rev. Fred Vanderbom: December’s (last week’s) Gleanings pages were drawn from theContinue reading “Australian Gleanings”
T&S Revisited 