Visitation in the Christian Congregation

This article explains that while visitation in the congregation is first of all a task of the office-bearers, it is by no means a task limited to them. The congregation as a whole shares this calling, in the office of all believers. The author outlines key elements that need to characterize a house visit, whether done by office-bearers or members in general.

How Are You a Child of God?

Is it possible to be a child of God and yet be lost? This article considers the various ways in which one can live as a child of God. All those who are baptized are children of God by virtue of the covenant, yet among them are those who do not want to know about the God of the covenant. Yet the Father does not want to lose any of his children, and so he urges all to repent and believe.

Preparation for the Sermon: The Meditation

This article considers an aspect of the sermon preparation process, namely, meditation. This is the reflection on the text with a view to the needs of the congregation on the minister’s mind and heart. The article discusses the need for meditation to be combined with prayer. Meditation is a critical point in preparing a sermon, so the minister needs to devote the time to it.

Preparation for the Sermon: The Choice of a Text The Choice of a Text

This article considers how ministers choose sermon texts for preaching. It highlights the Roman Catholic practice of the pericope system and its development in history. It then discusses the principle behind the typical Reformed approach of the free choice of a text, and the limits that have often been applied to this in order to prevent one-sidedness in the choice of texts: catechism preaching, the ecclesiastical calendar, and sermon series.