Dick Vander Pijl. Trowel & Sword. 1965 Preamble: If the title of this article and its contents sound familiar, they should be. This was the opening article of our recently published (December) Trowel & Sword – Special Edition. Why publish it again? Because like the Auckland brethren responsible for getting the ball rolling for theContinue reading “Trowel And Sword -The Early Years”
Category Archives: Church Life
Addiction To Self – The Problem
David Groenenboom. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb. 1999 Preamble: In his opening statement Davis names “Addiction to Self” as the “…biggest threat to the western Church at the end of the 20th century.” He also writes that it has been a problem since Adam. It would therefore be safe to say that it is just asContinue reading “Addiction To Self – The Problem”
Help For Sermon Readers
Rev. Albert Esselbrugge. Trowel & Sword. April 1995 Preamble: Consider the following scenario: “Who’s preaching today?” “Elder (or perhaps Mr.) so-and-so. It’s a reading service.” “Not again – I think I’ll stay home today. I get nothing out of these services, and he is really boring.” Sound familiar? Perhaps that has been you some timeContinue reading “Help For Sermon Readers”
Christianity or Churchianity?
Rev. J.W. Deenick. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1955 Preamble: This is the last of four articles John Westendorp looked at in his walk back through history. In it Rev J.W. Deenick responds to the suggestion by an unnamed but apparently well-known Christian worker that the world needs Christianity but not the plethora of denominations whichContinue reading “Christianity or Churchianity?”
Catechism Classes
Rev. Prof. K. Runia. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb. 1965 Preamble: This is the third instalment of John Westendorp’s look back through time in 1995, “This Month in Trowel And Sword History” and he found that thirty years earlier, in the Jan/Feb. 65 edition, Prof. K. Runia wrote this article about Catechism classed. In it RuniaContinue reading “Catechism Classes”
The Agony Of Our World and Our Lifestyle
Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1975 Preamble: In Jan/Feb 1975, the second decade of John Westendorp’s walk back through history, we encounter this offering by Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen which even today gives us much to think about. Did we get caught up this weekend in the great money splurge euphemistically referredContinue reading “The Agony Of Our World and Our Lifestyle”
New Zealand Elders Conference Labour Weekend 1984
Jack E. de Graaf. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1985 Preamble: In 1995 Rev. John Westendorp looked back through old Trowel & Sword magazines to see what had been written about back then. Ten years earlier T&S reported on a New Zealand Elders conference and the wide variety of topics discussed make for interesting reading. ItContinue reading “New Zealand Elders Conference Labour Weekend 1984”
Christmas – Its Origin And Its History
J.W. Deenick. Trowel & Sword. December 1963 Preamble: Once again the countdown has begun – “ONLY SIX WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS”. “Avoid the last minute rush and get your Christmas shopping done early”. Cost of living crisis? There’s no such thing when it comes to Christmas – that comes later when the credit card has toContinue reading “Christmas – Its Origin And Its History”
Are Our Congregations Really Active?
Rev. Prof. K. Runia. Trowel & Sword, August 1959 Preamble: Take note of the date of this article – 1959! As with so many previous articles re-published in TSR, it is hard to escape the thought that Dr. Runia could just as easily have been writing also for 2025. In doing so he is notContinue reading “Are Our Congregations Really Active?”
Jesus Christ Lord of Life and Cadets
Prof. G. van Groningen. Trowel & Sword. November 1967 Preamble: VAN GRONINGEN – remember that name; especially the younger members (under 50) who may not have heard it before and do not know the significant part that both George and Harriet played in the development and growth of the Reformed Churches in Australia and NewContinue reading “Jesus Christ Lord of Life and Cadets”
T&S Revisited 