Ruling Elder Joe Jager talks to the Ruling Elder Podcast about Foreign Missions. He gives excellent suggestions on how to encourage missions and missionaries. Matthew 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Post Production Joe recommends the following books as impactful on his walk as a Ruling Elder:

• The Elder: Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture by Conelis Van Dam (a friend from the Canadian Reformed Churches) P&R Publishing 2009
  • Provides a biblical foundation for the office of elder.
• The Elder and His Work by David Dickson, P&R Publishing, 2004
  • Good practical guide. Of course all such manuals must be carefully adapted and used in specific local situations.
• The Elders Handbook: A practical Guide for Church Leaders by Gerard Berghoeg and Lester De Koster Christian’s Library Press: Grand Rapids Michigan 1979
  • This was my first introduction when I was ordained as an elder in a Canadian Reformed Church. It provides some very practical guidance for new elders. There is also a companion volume entitled The Deacons' Handbook: A Manual of Stewardship by the same authors.

Rev. Andy Wilson and Rev. Russell Hamilton talk about Assurance and how The Marrow of Modern Divinity is helpful in untangling this perennial pastoral issue. They clarify of what, exactly, are we assured, what is the relationship between faith and assurance, and how are ruling elders to help people in the search for assurance?

As Donald MacLeod says, "A believer can doubt his faith without doubting the Saviour.” (From the Marrow Men to the Moderates, Scottish Theology 1700-1800, p.99)

For more on the Marrow of Modern Divinity listen to the earlier podcast, Christ Freely Offered, (Season 2, Episode 12), Available here.

Recommended Reading

• Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (Crossway 2020)
• Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, (Banner of Truth Trust; 2nd ed. edition, 2021)
• Harrison Perkins, Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction (Lexham Academic, 2024)
• Jonathan Landry Cruse, The Christian's True Identity: What It Means to Be in Christ (Reformation Heritage Books, 2022)
• Sinclair Ferguson, The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (Banner of Truth Trust, 2013)

In this episode the Rev. Adrian Crum speaks about mental health and faith with the Rev. John Fikkert, a mental health counselor and Director of the OPC Committee on Ministerial Care, and his wife, Dr. Lindsay Fikkert, a psychologist at Pella Counseling.

This episode is the second part of a republication of the recent Reformed Deacon podcast, (with their kind permission). We have divided the original podcast into two parts.

Mental health is a tender thing. An episode or a chronic mental health illness can be distressing for the person, their family, and congregations.

The soul cries, as the Psalmist did, Psalm 88:1–2
[1] O LORD, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
[2] Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry! (ESV)