TOGETHER We Serve 2018-02

TOGETHERWE SERVEVolume 35 No 2 September 2018Armadale

League CommitteeIngrid Plug PresidentJanet Byl General DeputyAnn Amoraal Minutes SecretaryJane Siegers Correspondence SecretaryMelissa Bosveld TreasurerBank Acc: BSB 036-032 a/c # 315888 WestpacLeague RepresentativesAlbany G ‘t Hart, M SchoofArmadale A Amoraal, K VisserBaldivis D Louw, J Dekker, M BosveldBunbury J vandenDolderByford T Visser, A Begemann, A VeenendaalDarling Downs C Versluis, A GunninkKelmscott S den Boer, H Postmus, N DorgeloMelville M HamelinkMt Nasura J Scholz, J Byl, E de JagerMundijong M vanderVeen, L de JagerRockingham S BerkelaarSouthern River J Siegers, K Jarian, S HeeremaWest Albany I Plug, R Vermeulen(G), H VermeulenCorrespondence Address:Sr J SiegersPO Box 709, Armadale WA, 6992Email: [email protected] Committee:Armadale 2018Contact Persons: A Amoraal, K VisserEditorial Address:League of the Free Reformed Women’s Bible Study SocietiesPO Box 709, Armadale WA, 6992 2

President’s PenDear Sisters in Christ,Have you ever had the thought that you long for the time when you reach theage of 50 or perhaps 55 and you will be able to sit down, put your feet up andspend the day knitting, reading and enjoying “me” time? When you will havethe time and ability to go to the gym regularly, catch up with friends for a coffeeevery week, and perhaps even go on the overseas holiday that you have alwayswanted? After all, you will have had the busy years of bringing up your children,attending to the mountains of washing every week again, tidying up behindthem all and constantly trying to keep the house somewhat tidy. By the age of50 or 55 the youngest will be well and truly an adult and will not need youanymore and then finally you will be able to focus on what you want to do inlife.It sounds like bliss when you are navigating a life of school timetables, sleeplessbabies and teenage mood swings. It sounds good, and for a young woman in themidst of a busy family it sounds like a light at the end of the tunnel of busyness,work, noise and tiredness.Now I am not against a good balance of work and relaxation, but is a life ofleisure really what God has in His plan for the older women in the church? Foryou and I who have reached the end of our childrearing days? For those of uswho are retired? Is this really what we as younger women should be lookingforward to and dreaming about?It is not for nothing that God has blessed our churches with many women of allages. Younger women who have the privilege of raising the next generation ofGod’s children and supporting men in their tasks as husbands, fathers, leadersand office bearers. And older women who have been moulded and shaped byall that God has led them through in the school of life. Single women andmarried women. Women as varied and diverse as the colour of their skin, theircharacters and disposition, and the length of their life. So many women, allplaced together in congregations and families. This is God’s doing and it is goodfor us to think about this and marvel at His works! 3

Women are to be active in building God’s congregation, not as leaders in thechurch, but as teachers and supporters of their families and of other women.(Titus 2). While we are given time on this earth our task is never over and wecannot say our job is done. There is also never a time when we are not of valueto others anymore. As one minister put it: “Older sisters: the Lord God has notput you out to pasture! On the contrary, you have received the Holy Spirit in fullmeasure. Pentecost is reality: “Even on my servants, both men and women, I willpour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:38).”Older women of the church, may I encourage you to stay connected with theyounger women in your congregation and family. Find ways and opportunitiesto support, teach and train the younger women you come into contact with. Youhave so much wisdom and knowledge given to you, not least the wisdom gainedby your mistakes and the trials you have faced. Don’t keep the wisdom toyourself but share it with those who are still negotiating the paths of family life.Do it with humbleness, for it’s not that long ago that you were there yourselfand that you also shared the uncertainties and fears that your younger sistersface now. Even if you feel you don’t have much to offer the younger ones, yourlistening ear and supportive smile or hug, along with a hot cup of coffee shared,goes a long way to lift up the weary mother. And your knowledge and sharingof Scripture gives true encouragement and hope.Younger women, you have a special and pivotal role in the sharing of the richesof the gospel with those in your care – be they your children, your nieces ornephews, your friend’s children, or those you teach at school. You are in aspecial but busy and demanding time in your life. May I encourage you to availyourself of the friendship and support of the older women in your family and inyour church community. You have much to offer them and they have much toshare with you.Let us all be a hand and a foot to each other, both spiritually and physically. Andlet us praise and thank God for giving us sisters of all ages. In His love He givesus a community!Enjoy this edition of your magazine. I hope you did read the March edition whichwas not printed but was put up on the website this year. We would love to know 4

if you liked receiving it this way or if you prefer to have it in print. Please giveyour feedback to your local league representative. Looking forward to meetingtogether at League Day 2018 in Mundijong. May God bless us all, Mrs Ingrid Plug Using Your Spiritual Gifts“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1Corinthians 12:7. Many women can probably recite from memory the list of thefruits of the Spirit mentioned in Scripture: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But we also seem to shyaway from acknowledging our own personal God-given gifts and talents.The world is quick to show us the woman they believe all women should be, butthe Bible is where we must look to find our identity in Christ. We are made inGod’s image, born from dust and brought forth to life by the breath of the Spirit.The Creator of the universe formed us in our mother’s womb that we might beequipped to fulfil the plan that He set out for us before we were even born. Whoyou are, is not a biological accident, what you are, is not a circumstantialaccident. God planned both for you. It is not by accident that you are married,single, have children, or that you were born or later-entered into the Church.Our lives are in our Omniscient God’s hands and His plan is perfect. We shouldall strive to know what unique gifts God has given to us.In Matthew 25:14-28 we can read “the Parable of the Talents.” It is a simplestory where three servants are given Talents, each a different amount. Two ofthese men were busy with their talents and doubled the money for their efforts.The third, knowing the master to be a harsh man, hid his talent in the ground. 5

When a long time had passed, the Master returned and called the servants tohimself. He called them to give account of their doings and he rewarded the“good and faithful” servants, casting out the “wicked and slothful” servant. Weare like these servants, each given talents and we need to be developing themand using them: in our homes, the church and the wider community.I’d like to focus today on using our spiritual gifts within the church. Most weeksin our churches we confess in our heart or in song with Hymn 1 - that we believein the communion of saints. From question and answer 55 of the HeidelbergCatechism we understand that “believers, all and everyone, as members ofChrist have communion with Him and share in all His treasures and gifts\", and\"that everyone is duty bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for thebenefit and well-being of the other members.” Readily and cheerfully, I don’tknow about you, but that doesn’t seem to be the way most of us react to needswithin the congregation. As I look around at the life many live, including myself,I can see that we are more concerned with enjoying and experiencing life thanwith serving one another in love. Often, we can be unwilling to volunteer, butare content to waste time on TV shows, or scrolling through social media. Timethat could be spent building the kingdom is instead sacrificed to chasingpleasure. Our failure to sacrificially give to one another causes us to take fromeach other because we leaveundone what should be done.Many times, it is the samepeople in Church who do most ofthe service, because they arewilling to humbly serve in anyarea. In the HeidelbergCatechism, it says that “each member is duty-bound to use these gifts … for thebenefit and well-being of the other members.” It becomes clear that we aresinning if we are not putting our gifts to use in the church. It is necessary foreach of us to determine our gifts and then use them to serve others.As women, we need to renew our focus on the Gospel and it will transform us:\"For you have been called to live in freedom, use your freedom to serve oneanother in love.\" (Gal 5:13) Many women feel they don’t fit in with church 6

activities/roles/positions, but it’s not always that there isn’t a place for them.Too often it’s because instead of examining their hearts and realigning theirpriorities through the lens of the Gospel, they are investing their lives in thethings of this world. The service we do has to start, continue, and be fuelled inevery way by the gospel, for the glory of Christ. And as for those who do “fillroles” in the church, when we look for a successor for our work we need to lookout for members who may not be the obvious choice - but whose talents can beutilised in the church.As individuals our goal is to be community minded, serving one another in love,being a hand and foot to each other. But we must be careful not to fall into the“community” of the world. Unless our focus is on loving God and our neighbour,community will become another strategy for us to feel better about ourselves.It will relieve the loneliness, and we will feel more “connected,” but if we pursuecommunity for self-fulfilment rather than for God's glory, the communitymovement will simply be a passing trend. What we need is a desire not so muchto use gifts but to see the church grow, as people come to know Jesus Christ andfollow His Word. If that gospel motivation is not in our hearts, then service isuseless and gifts are vain. Let’s stir each other up to build up our community inGod’s love.To bring us unity, God has given gifts to the body. The gifts are other people.Through people – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers and a hostof others – God builds up the church “until we reach unity in the faith and in theknowledge of the Son of God.” (Eph 4:13). In other words, to glorify God we needpeople. We need to be taught and pastored, and we need to teach and pastor.We need daily counsel from our brothers and sisters, and they need counselfrom us. We need people to ask the tough questions, even when we wish theywould leave us alone. We need to pull off our masks and break down our walls.We need genuine relationships and we need to love, even the most difficult ofGod’s children.This is where it can get frightening. People, after all, make our lives messy.Everything is much neater when we can maintain our safe little worlds and becontent with being nice and giving money. But knowing God and His love for Hiscovenant children, such indifference or self-centredness is impossible. On the 7

one hand true biblical community is a blessing, but it means we must movetowards one another in unity and love.Unity and love mean:• We confess our sins to each other (James 5:16)• We share with brothers and sisters who are in need (Rom.12:13; 1 John 3:17)• We are vulnerable with others (Hosea)• We associate with people of low position (Rom.12:16)• We creatively consider ways to honour others (Rom. 12:10)• We discern when to confront sin and when to overlook it (Matt 18:15; Prov. 17:9; 19:11)• We are patient with everyone (1 Cor. 13:4)• We practice church discipline (Matt. 18:15 – 19; 1 Cor.5:1 – 5)• Biblical love is never satisfied unless is it growing (1 Peter 1:22).We have a mutual interest to see members in the Body of Christ fruitfully servingwith the gifts they have been given. Being members of one another means thatwe have a vested interest in our fellow members’ using their gifts productively.Fruitful ministry among members is what happens when their varied gifts arerecognised and their efforts of edification validated.As women today regularly look for ways to contribute significant good works forthe betterment of the world, we all need to hear, again and again, that goodworks are significant – not just to make a difference in the world, and not ascontributing in any way to our justification and salvation, but as loving andeternally valuable service to our Master, who has made a place for us in Hishouse that reaches to eternity. And just think what it will mean to serve Him inthat day when the futility and frustration of our work, at which we now labourin a world under a curse, will be gone for good.A story of a woman using what she had been given, comes from Mark 14:8. Maryhad anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, and when she was rebuked, Jesusdefended her and said “She has done what she could”. This can be a very 8

practical example for us today. Mary did not stand idly by thinking that the hostwasn’t giving Jesus a proper welcome, or gossip about him after the fact. Shedid something. She didn’t do everything. She used what she had been given.And she did what she could. Sometimes as women we can feel the weight of theworld on our shoulders. There is so much to do and so little time, and we canonly do what we can. Even our best efforts are imperfect and not in our ownstrength. But may Jesus say of us “She did what she could.” Sisters, may you beblessed in your efforts to use and develop your gifts and abilities, confident thatthey are given to you by your Heavenly Father. Leigh AmoraalIn July 2017, women from FRC Armadale gathered together for an overnightwomen’s retreat in Kalamunda. The theme for the retreat was ‘Loving andServing the Church’ and discussion was based around the book “Word-FilledWomen’s Ministry” by Gloria Furman and Kathleen Nielson. One of the majordiscussion points for the weekend was how we can better promote Titus 2relationships within our congregation. The following letter was written by oneof the younger women in our church and read out during the retreat as a startingpoint for the discussion that followed, and we share it here in the hope it mayalso provoke discussions among the women of our wider churches. Erin Versluis Bridging the GapIn Titus 2:3-5 Paul admonishes the women of the church: Likewise, teach theolder women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addictedto much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger womento love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at 9

home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malignthe word of God.So how often do we take on this bible verse and live it out? As a newlywed dowe seek out the guidance of an older woman? Or do we pretend that we haveit all together? Is it only when we look back at where we were, that we realisewe did need help and guidance from those around us? But while we are youngdo we carry the view that the older women won’t understand because timeshave changed? Do the older women wonder if it’s worth reaching out to theyounger as they probably 'don’t want my help anyway'? Do older women thinkthey are too old-fashioned or not educated enough to offer any advice? Psalm71:18: Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, my God, till I declareyour power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.Plus we often find emotions are never convenient. Or so we think. We blameour womanhood for letting us cry in public, becoming mad, or being completelyoverwhelmed in a situation, making it out to be a bad thing. We don’t want tolet others into our pain. But the reality of it is, we are all the same! We all gothrough hardships in our life and we NEED one another, yet we all seem to carrythis on our own. Stop assuming and thinking you are the only one going throughthese hardships and struggles. It’s very clear, Ecclesiastes 1:9: What has beenwill be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new underthe sun.Older generation, we as younger generation may look at you and wonder whathappened that made you never wish to speak of or show emotion? Is it theDutch heritage or just the generation in which you were raised? Why can’t wetalk of personal thoughts and feelings? Are they bad? Why is it so hard to speakof physical or emotional matters? Or do the older wonder when the youngerbecame so brazen and why do they wish to talk of so many personal topics?So I also ask you older women, are you seeking out and encouraging youngwomen in their first years of marriage? The younger women of today seem tothink we have to have it all together. When we are first married we should knowhow to keep house, make a budget, live with someone that we thought we knew(but actually discovered many hidden traits we knew nothing about before we 10

married them), and for some, deal with the raging hormones that come withpregnancy. All while appearing completely in control on the outside. We don’tknow what we are doing, but we pretend.To younger women with small children and a growing family we’re convincingourselves to always wear a smile, show upon time and never get frustrated orangry!! Yet we may be trulyoverwhelmed. We know all the rights andwrongs, but Satan is strong and can oftendraw us more towards frustration, yellingand discontentment. We know the fruitsof the Spirit, but to complain is mucheasier! On top of that, we live with thenagging thought ‘why am I not goodenough’, because everyone else seems tobe coping, 'why can’t I'?!Are we too busy? What are we busy with?If someone asks you how you are, do youreply 'busy'? Whether older or younger,we all seem to be getting busier and busier. If we want to have time for oneanother and truly see to the needs of a sister in Christ and be able to have thefree time to offer each other assistance, perhaps we need to slow down.So we ask you women with life experience please reach out and tell the youngerones that it’s ok, that you didn’t get it all right the first time either, and that itmay have taken you several attempts at creating peace and routine in yourhome. Please share with us the first 9 routines that didn’t work out, so that wecan feel embedded with back up plans for when our own methods fail. And alsothe knowledge that we aren’t failing, but we’re doing the best we can just likeeveryone else.For those who weren’t born in the last few decades, please don’t feel old-fashioned and out-dated. The bible never out-dates! What you have learntthrough precious bible study in all your years, please share with us. You have 11

the insight we seek when we want to stop and learn about bible passages.You’ve had more hours due to more years to learn, so never be afraid to shareyour experiences. In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of allmankind. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdomfound among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:10-12And please do forgive us younger women if we come across as uninterested oroffended. That’s just our sinful self-pride and our self-assuredness trying to ruleour lives. Satan doesn’t like to lose out. He will forever be trying to take overour thoughts. And the more we try over rule him the harder he will attack. Solet us connect with one another as sisters in Christ, no matter our age. Let usreach out to those in our congregation who are of another generation and beopen to learning from one another. We never know what God has in store forus! Let us all stand united as one body in Christ. Roslin van der Wal (A younger mother)1) If you are an older woman and could share one thing with a younger woman, what would it be?2) If you are a younger woman, how would you feel to be approached with advice?3) Older women: Do you feel irrelevant toward the younger generation? What makes you feel this way?4) What barriers do you think are in place for effective communication between older and younger generation? 12

Mother’s DayOn Mother’s day we do with thanks rememberThat mother is our special fam’ly member!Of course we love our Dad, there is no doubtBut Mum we really can not do without!She is the centre of our universe at home.Without her we would truly feel alone.It’s in her nature to show loving careThough frequently we’re really unawareOf all her worries for us and her sighing.Too often we are carelessly relyingOn Mum to satisfy our various needsAnd that she will forgive our thoughtless deeds!We know that Dad can be our friend and teacher,But Mum’s embrace is her delightful feature.She scolds us in a way that shows she cares,Although sometimes she leaves us to our own affairsTo make mistakes, to trip, and even stumbleSo that we learn to listen and be humble.In Mum we see the wisdom of our God aboveWho filled the mother’s heart full of maternal love.Our fathers may be strong and be our Godly guideYet mothers were created with a softer side!If all is well, together, Dad and MumWill so reflect the love of God’s own Son!So we remember Mum on this her special dayAnd thank her even for the things she doesn’t say.We recognize from our dear mother’s loveThat mothers have been given from above! W.G. 2018 13

Bringing Them Up To Know Their SaviourOn our wedding day, when we gave our vows to be faithful to each other, weprayed: if it pleases God to give us children, to confirm His covenant to us andour seed; and to grant that we may nurture these children in the fear of theLord, to the glory of His Name and the edification of the church. What a far-reaching prayer! In our joy, happiness and excitement of the day did we realisethe seriousness of this prayer? Probably not.We were again reminded of this prayer when we had our children baptised. Wepromised as mothers and fathers that we would instruct our child in thedoctrine of the church as soon as he is able to understand and to have himinstructed therein to the utmost of our power. Wow, what a huge responsibility!The question may arise: did we realise theseriousness of our promises? Were we not tooyoung, too inexperienced to answer suchquestions?It's beautiful work, helping children to know theirSaviour. It is not in the first place to develop theirgifts so that later they will have a good job andreach high on the academic ladder. No, it is aboutpreparing them in the first place for the three-foldoffice as prophet, priest and king. That is againstthe trend of today, to see children as partakers of the future economy and tothe view of self-interest and individualism. We should want our children to beable to fulfil their roles in church and society in the future.How do we do that? We teach them (and show in our lives) who Christ is andwhat He did and does for us. We teach them both in our words and in ouractions.We must start when they are young. It is first of all for us as mothers to teachthem. We are with them the first years of their lives. How do we nurture andguide them in these early, very important years? Do we think everything is cuteabout them? Give in to their screams and tantrums? It seems the easy way out 14

and keeps the peace, but it is not right. Do we expect obedience straight awaywhen asked to do something, or stop something? A free and easy upbringingsounds good. But it results in spoilt, unruly children. Dare to discipline! He whospares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him, disciplines him promptly.Modern pedagogy turns Proverbs 13:24 around – he who uses the rod hates hisson, but he who loves him will never hit him. Using the rod as a method ofdiscipline has been almost universally banished. However, true parental lovedoes not shy away from physical punishment when that is needed for thenurturing of the child – it knows it’s saving power. We must start early. A tinytot and a pre-schooler are still susceptible to correction, much more than whenthey become teenagers.Being a mother can be hard and frustrating. But God has given us mothers greatpromises of being there for us. Christian mothers are children of a Great Fatherwho will provide for them. And when we lack wisdom, we may pray to God forit. Wisdom is a gift we may expect from our heavenly Father. We should thenbe able to oversee certain situations and know how to deal with them. We mustask in faith, not doubting – James 1:5-6.It is a deep biblical thought to bring children, heirs of the Kingdom, to a greaterknowledge and understanding of Christ. And thus we will do our best to have agodly, Christian home. Do fathers and mothers show their love for God in thelove for each other? Do we still sing in the family? It's such a beautiful way topraise God! What music do we allow in the house?Which magazines? Which TV programmes? Whatother screen time? Do we show them that we livefor the Lord, and not ourselves? Do they see usdiligently make prep study and busy in church life?Do we expect obedience from them straight away– not grumblingly after 10 minutes? It is soimportant to teach them love and obedience. Ifthey don’t obey someone who they can see, howwill they obey God who they don’t see? 15

When our children grow up, we want to see them fulfil their office in the church,school and society. Then we send them to a school where the Christianprinciples of home and church are the same. It is not only that children neededucation for their own future. The church needs future leaders, office bearers,teachers, faithful mothers. Where will faithful office bearers, and ministerscome from for the future, till Christ comes again? Not by itself!We know it is the will of God to give Christian upbringing, Christian education.Be there for them always, also when they grow up. Mothers, do not be overdiligent in volunteering for all sorts of things while children are still living athome. They need you to be there - even when they say they don’t. Listen tothem saying up their catechism, psalms, and texts. Be there for them in theirprep-study. They need encouragement, this is so important - and we promisedbefore the Lord and His congregation.It will be hard work, but don’t slacken. If we let go, the children will grow upbeing selfish; they only think about having fun, earning money. In that way theultimate purpose of raising children is not achieved.The future lies with the young. The devil knows this as well. Many young peoplefall prey to the devil. They live it up in their empty lives with their short-livedpleasures. They think they are free. Therefore, the compelling appeal: train upa child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it(Proverbs 22:6). Teach them to pray. Teach them how great our God is and howloving - that His Son died for him, for her.A mother who thus cares for her children, will teach them the ways of the Lordand will not ask for a holier and more blessed career. Hennie vanderSchaaf 16

Parenthood As parents, what a task we face When God, our Father, in His grace Gives children whom we are to raiseSo in their lives they'll give Him praise!Without God’s Word to guide the way, We’d struggle on from day to day Not knowing what to do or say. We're not the Potter with the clay! As parents we may do alright In teaching children not to fight, And to have manners that are right So it's all proper and polite! But more important we're to bring Our children to our Lord and King That they may to the Saviour cling And seek in Him their everything!May God so bless what we have done, That there’ll be joy for everyone Knowing the Spirit was the oneWho brought our children to the Son! W.G. 2014 17

\"Be Holy, as I am holy\" (1 Peter 1:15)I picked up a book entitled \"Holiness\" from Pro Ecclesia bookshop some timeago. I was surprised to see that it was published in 1879 and that the author,John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) was a bishop in the Church of England. Yet theearnest and sincere warnings which Ryle directed at both believers andunbelievers are more than relevant for us today. Ryle, in a very direct anduncompromising manner, confronts us with the text to \"Be holy as I am holy\" (1Peter 1:15) for without holiness \"no one will see the Lord\". (Hebrews 12:14) Webelieve that Christ died so that we might be cleansed, sanctified and perfected,growing to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).However Ryle points out that this process of sanctification, this striving forperfection, this growing in holiness, must be a process in which we are activelyinvolved. Therefore our lives here on earth must be a striving for holiness inpreparation for living holy lives in heaven with the Lord.Ryle's timeIn his time, Ryle was very concerned when he saw many people dressing up togo to church, attending church Sunday after Sunday, speaking about the goodmessage, and speaking holy and pious words but not developing andprogressing in producing fruits of thankfulness. He saw how Christian peoplewere attracted to the worldly things, distracted by worldly entertainment,swayed by human arguments, were scared to stand up for the truth in the faceof enmity, and compromised the truth of God's word in order to be moreaccepted and at home in the world. Ryle argued that this kind of Christianity isuseless and inclined to do more harm than good, negatively affecting the churchof Christ and the glory of God's Name. God's people should not merely have aChristian name and Christian knowledge; they must have a Christian characteralso. John 3:7 says that \"we must be born again\" as only those who aresanctified, those who are changed, those who have new hearts and new natureswill be saved.'... difficult is the way which leads to life...'We must remember that the life of a Christian is a difficult road according toMatthew 7:14: \"because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads 18

to life and there are few who find it.\" The Christian is called to fight the goodfight of faith. (1 Tim 6:12) He cannot sleep on the road to heaven. He must fightthe world, his sinful flesh and the devil (LD 52). We are called to adorn thedoctrine of God our Saviour in all things. As God's children we are called to makethe Christian doctrine lovely and beautiful by our daily habits and tempers,conforming to the image of God's Son. This should be visible to others, in ourprivate lives and habits, in our character and behaviour.Ryle spends a chapter in his book on Hebrews 12:24-26 where we read:24By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son ofPharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of Godthan to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christgreater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.Moses showed by his actions that he had faith in God and His promises. Hedeliberately gave up the status he held as son of the princess, gave up riches,gave up comfort and a life of ease with worldly pleasures and instead he tookthe side of a suffering, afflicted and despised people. He chose reproach andscorn. And why? He looked with eyes of faith and saw with telescopic vision theland which God had promised. By faith Moses made choices, and it was evidentfor all to see. He chose the difficult path, he picked up his cross and carried it,and in the eyes of the world he was a fool. He chose God before the world.In Luke 14:26, 27 we read:26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife andchildren, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.Ryle is very confronting when he writes: (p142)\" We must be very aware that multitudes of professing Christians would neverthink for a moment of doing what Moses did .... thousands around us are dailypreferring the world to God, placing the things of time before the things ofeternity, and the things of the body before the things of the soul.\"\"...work out your own salvation...\" (Phil 2:12)Many years ago, Rev. K Bruning preached a sermon on this text from Philippians2:12. He especially emphasised the little word 'out'. I still have it underlined in 19

my Bible. What does it mean to \"work 'out' your own salvation with fear andtrembling\"?When we were baptised, we received God's covenant promises and God theHoly Spirit promised to work in us 'the cleansing of our sins and the dailyrenewal of our lives' (BoP Form of Infant Baptism). This work of sanctification isa work of God in us but also with us, as Heb 12:13 says, \"for it is God who worksin you both to will and to do for His good pleasure\". Therefore, with God's help,by the power of His Holy Spirit, we vigorously and painstakingly work to avoidsin with awe and reverence, fully aware of God's nearness. Thus we work outour own salvation, standing firm in suffering and struggles till the end andincreasing in holiness before the Lord. This is then also evident in our whole livesin all the choices we make. In the eyes of the world we may then look foolishbut if our choices are made in faith we are choosing the way of holiness thatleads to eternal life.Of course we are aware that we are not saved by good works, and not evenholiness can save us. Even the most saintly person will not be saved without truefaith in Jesus Christ. Holiness is only possible when we go first to Christ, and byabiding in him (John 15:4,5) \"Abide in me and I in you ... He who abides in meand I in him, bears much fruit...\" In Christ we have all that we need as believers,He is the Rock and the Manna for our lives. Then when we are firmly rooted inChrist we may also produce fruits of holiness as He grants the Holy Spirit to workthrough the gospel to sanctify our lives.Let me examine myselfSo; let me then stop and examine myself.Let me see how I may be useful in God's kingdom today while I do my houseworkfaithfully, while I do my study, when I go to the shop to choose and buy someclothes, when I reach for my phone, when I chastise my naughty child, when Ireact to my husband and when I speak to my neighbour over the fence.If I love the Lord and want to live with Him in eternity, let me start to know Himhere on earth and let me read His Word and study it diligently, faithfullyattending Bible study society. Let me listen with open ears and heart to the 20

preaching of the gospel on Sunday and let me not light-heartedly miss a churchservice.If I intend to sing God's praises in heaven for eternity, let me start withwholeheartedly singing His praises here on earth and let me encourage myfamily to do the same.If I want to live with my brothers and sisters in eternity in heaven, let me startwith humbly striving to live in harmony with my husband and my children andwith my brothers and sisters in the church here on earth. Let me speak the truthof God's Word in love, warning and exhorting to gain my neighbours for Christ.Let me dare to stand out and be uncompromising about Biblical principles ratherthan trying to fit in with the world around me and seek the praise of man.And let me pray for God's Spirit to work mightily in me because without helpfrom my Father in heaven I cannot do anything. Let me pray without ceasingand go on my knees to confess my sins and ask for God's help.May we then all 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JesusChrist' (2 Peter 3:18) for Jesus said (John 15:8) 'By this My Father is glorified,that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.' May we then love the Lordwith our whole heart and seek to grow in holiness. Let us also know that goodworks are evidence that true faith is alive in us, a demonstration that we lovethe Lord our God with sincerity of heart. By living holy and sanctified lives wemay also be a blessing to others, and when we do live holy lives we are preparingfor life with the Lord and our brothers and sisters in heaven. Ann Amoraal 21

The value of making Prep. StudyIn early 2017 the representatives of the Women's League met together anddiscussed the value of making prep study for Bible study club. What follows isa summary as well as some elaboration of what we said in our discussion inanswer to the questions.Is it necessary for us to make prep study?In Hosea 4:6, God warns the priests who were supposed to be the source ofknowledge in Israel, that, 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...'Today our ministers do the work of the OT priests, imparting the knowledge ofGod to us by the preaching, but we have the added blessing of being able toread our own Bibles. We may now access this key of knowledge at our leisure.We are released from our sins as we learn about 'the only true God and JesusChrist whom He has sent'. And this knowledge is eternal life says John 17:3.Therefore only an unbeliever would not want to read the Bible. Indeed, we areadmonished to study the Bible with eagerness (Acts 17:11) and to be thirsty forGod's Word (1 Peter 2:2).And so we answer the above question with a yes; to make prep study before aBible study meeting is indeed necessary and right. This study will not only giveus the confidence to contribute to the meeting but also allow our contributionto encourage others.Our Bible study clubs and the associated habit of prep study is part of our richReformed heritage. We believe that we must first seek the kingdom of God; weagree that this is more beneficial to us than seeking our own pleasures. Throughthe generations the people of the church have been like the noble Bereans whowere commended in Acts (17:3) because they examined the scriptures everyday to see if the things they'd heard were true. We all, like Timothy (4:16) needto watch our life and doctrine closely. How can we do this better than by testingit on God's Word?Yet there are some of us who don't get around to doing prep study. Unforeseencircumstances can overcome us all. To these sisters we still say: please come toclub...it's OK to sit and listen...it's OK to just come and learn. 22

How should we make prep study?• Set aside the same time slot every week for prep study e.g. every Sunday evening;• include prayer;• re-read and read more on the following days;• think of questions to ask;• write some notes;• use good outlines and/or sermons;• use maps regularly so you become thoroughly acquainted with locations, their relationships to each other and their geography• use the online resource guide from the women's league web page. These resources have been tested using our confessions, so they are safe (see further 'what dangers to be aware of').• have an open heart to God, which means that we study with an attitude of submission, leaning not on our own understanding, and not building structures of wisdom according to our own desires.What can hinder us from doing prep study and what are some helpful hints toovercome these?• Unforeseen events can cause us to abandon prep study, therefore plan to do it early; make it a priority in your schedule;• Enlist the support of husband and children;• Be consistent in setting aside this time so that the family expects it (and you can be an example to them);• Mornings, when the family is not around and when we're not so tired may be a better time than evenings;• Also fit in some Bible study during everyday activities e.g. listen to a sermon while doing the ironing;• Download a sermon onto your phone and listen while going for a walk;• Make an agreement with a friend and hold each other accountable 23

What are some of the dangers we should be aware of?To make good prep study, our hearts should be open to God's Word. The naturalman hardens his heart, just like king Pharaoh did. He is hostile to God; he isjealous of God's glory and aims to exalt himself instead. Our natural mind is seton the flesh (me... my interests) (John 4:24), and so it does not want to submitto God. Without submission we will always be trying to validate ourselves andour own theories.Indeed, before we open the Bible we have already formed ideas of how religionought to work. Yes, we want to seek God but we only recognize Him in the placesand situations where He matches with our personal ideas of Him. This is thebiggest danger when doing Bible study.But we are commanded to know God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). What arewe to do then when by nature we aren't spiritual and we don't want the truth?Here are some pointers:• Pray for the Holy Spirit;• Set aside your own wisdom;• Be conscious of the struggle to submit to Him;• Don't focus on parts of the Bible at the expense of others;• Take care with isolated verses - check out their context;• Use commentaries and sermons from trusted sources because:There are many false teachers out there whose gospel seems good andattractive and the deviation seems only subtle. But if the Truth is available to us,then any deviation from it is a refusal to submit. Because, to use the words ofJohn Calvin, \". no angel, or man, dead or living, may add to or take away fromGod's Word. This is where we ought to stop and put a limit to our understanding,mixing nothing of our own with it and refusing any doctrine whatever whichmight be added to it.\" Instead we ought to '...bring into captivity every thoughtto the obedience of Christ' (2 Cor 10:5).Similarly we should be careful with 'feel good' (often evangelical) resourceswhich focus more on the promises than the demands of the Bible. The promisesare then used for self-improvement, self-actualization and self-expression. 24

Human feelings and experiences take centre stage, rather than the great deedsof the Lord. We learn to approach the Bible with the attitude of 'what is in it forme?'. The questions we discuss are like: How do you feel about the text? Whatdo you get out of the text? What does the verse mean to you?But that approach distorts the gospel and ruins the discussion. It's true that weare saved by the gospel but the reason why we are saved is, 'to the praise of Hisglory' (Eph. 1:14). Instead of thinking 'what's in it for me?' we need to thinkabout who God is and how He wants us to serve Him.So is it difficult to make good prep. study? On the one hand, yes because weneed to be critical thinkers...critical of ourselves and of our resources; but onthe other hand, no, not at all. We are so blessed with our written confessionswhich summarize God's Word. We are also blessed with many reliableresources. The Women's League 2017 has put together a list of online resources.We encourage you to use these resources and give us some feedback onwhether you find them faithful and helpful. 25

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OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENTGod comes to His People I The Forerunner - John the Baptist W Huizinga B van ZuijlekomOutlines on the book of Exodus - Part 1( 1- 15:21) Living ParablesGod comes to His People II PJ Trimp B van Zuijlekom Bible studies on the parables of JesusOutlines on the book of Exodus - Part 2(15:22-40:38)Shadows of the Light A ransom for many BC Buitendijk J de WolfOutlines on the book of Leviticus Outlines on the Gospel of MarkEnumerations in the Wilderness Vol 1 In the Word is Life I HM Ohmann AI KrijtenburgOutlines on the book of Numbers 1-19Enumerations in the Wilderness Vol 2 Outlines on the Gospel of John - Part 1 (1 - 10:21) HM Ohmann In the Word is Life IIOutlines on the book of Numbers 20-36 AI KrijtenburgOutlines on Joshua & Judges Outlines on the Gospel of John Part 2 (10:22 – 21) J de WolfElisha the Prophet A Mirror of the Manifold Wisdom of God J Smelik G van RongenOutlines on 1 and 2 Kings Outlines on the letter to the EphesiansThe Book of Ezra To live is Christ C Bouwman C BouwmanNine SermonsBy the Good Hand of our God upon us Sermons on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians G van Rongen ColossiansOutlines on Ezra and Nehemiah Joh deWolfEsther Five Outlines on the letter to the Colossians P PoortingaGod’s Song Book for His People Free access to heaven G van Rongen G Kwakkel and B VuijkOutlines on the book of Psalms Outlines on the letter to the HebrewsBe Wise The Epistles to the church in Thessalonica G van Rongen J van BruggenAn introduction to the book of ProverbsYou’re only young once Outlines on 1 and 2 Thessalonians MJC Blok Apostolic Church OrderThe Ten Commandments in the Light of Proverbs G van RongenSong of Songs Outlines on the letters to Timothy and Titus JH vanderHoevenOutlines on the Song of Songs That our Joy may be fullThe glory of the Lord with his people G van Rongen P van Gurp Outlines on the letters of JohnOutlines on the book of Ezekiel - Part 1(1-39)The Third Temple: Insight and Outlook The Letters of John and Jude D Nieuwenhuis and HD van Herksen J Wiskerke-van DoorenOutlines on the book of Ezekiel- Part 2(40-48) For the strengthening of our faithA Strange Love LE Leeftink HJ Messelink Preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s SupperOutlines on HoseaTears for Jerusalem Other Publications D Grutter His Word before yours –Scripture Studies on Lamentations E Brink Outlines of the Reformed faith Come join with me... in the worship service I de Visser-Oostdijk Come join with me... in prayer I de Visser-Oostdijk Come join with me... in thankfulness I de Visser-Oostdijk Come join with me... and confess God’s Name I de Visser-Oostdijk 27

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