Heidelberg Theological Seminary Convocation

The idea of convocation is to mark the beginning of the school year. In our case, it is perhaps more to mark the beginning of a new direction. It is a reminder to faculty and students as well as supporting constituents of what we are about. We seek to train men for the gospel ministry. This responsibility involves a significant and high level of academic activity.

We need to also keep in mind that we are intimately involved in the training of ministers, which is a function of the Church. We are training men to proclaim the Word of God. Our Lord gave the Commission to the Church to call the lost and teach them His word so they might know and serve Him. Thus, our academic activity is based on the word of God.

Report of the 263rd Meeting of the Synod of Reformed Church in the United States

The Synod of the RCUS convened for its annual session at St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church, at Hamburg, Minnesota, on May 11-14, 2009.

On Monday evening the delegates met with the congregation of St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church to open the session with a worship service which was conducted by Rev. Herman Van Stedum with Rev. George Syms preaching God's Word from Rom. 1:16-17, the sermon being entitled, "The Power of God." The delegates again met with the congregation for worship on Wednesday evening with Rev. Paul Treick conducting and Rev. Eric Kayayan preaching a sermon entitled, "Outside of the Kingdom of Christ There Is No Light" (Col. 1:9-23).

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe." (1 Tim. 4:9-10).

There is a phrase which we use when we want to emphasize the certainty of something. The phrase is, "you can take it to the bank." The idea is that when you make a deal and it is certain, then you can count on it.

How certain can you be about salvation and calling the lost to faith? Is it money in the bank? Is it something that you can plan about, work hard to be sure things go right, and keep your fingers crossed that in the end you will have it? Or can you have absolute certainty?

This is a very important question because it goes back to the fundamental issue of whom you rely on for salvation-yourself or God? Because there is so much emphasis on the individual these days, there is in fact a great deal of uncertainty about salvation.