The Protestant Reformed Young People’s Society of South Holland, IL is planning discussion groups around three, main topics, each of which is related to one of the three speeches. Our intention is that the groups be divided by age – high school students in one set of groups, and high school graduates and older in the other set of groups. All will be discussing the same topics.
The first topic for discussion (relating to the first speech) will be “The Calling of Protestant Reformed Youth to Learn the Heritage of Reformed Truth. ”
-Dangers we ought to guard against: apathy; anti-intellectualism; laziness; earthly-mindedness; not listening to the sermons or catechism instruction; not attending Young People’s Society; not studying -for Young People’s Society; not reading; wasting time watching television.
-What is necessary: solid doctrinal preaching; good catechism-teaching; active participation in Bible study at Society; good reading habits (not only the magazines – Beacon Lights, The Standard Bearer, and others [how many read our magazines regularly?], but also religious books – theology, church history, devotional, etc.).
-Bible passages to consider: Psalm 119; Acts 17:ll; Eph. 4:14, 15; I Tim. 4; I1 Tim. 3, 4; Rev. 2:l-7.
The second topic (relating to the second speech) will be “As to a Reformed Use and Enjoyment of Music. ”
-By the Congregation: exclusive Psalm-singing; the exclusion of choirs and soloists from the worship services; the place of choral societies in the organic life of our churches; organ accompaniment. of the singing in worship; enthusiastic singing; is our Psalter the best version of the Psalms available to us?
-By the covenant young person, individually: the real, prevalent evil of worldly, antichristian music (popular, country, and rock); the enjoyment of good music-what about classical?; singing at home, in the school choir, in the church choral society: the effects of bad music on the listener; the effects of good music.
-Bible passages to consider: Psalms 92, 95, 96. 98; Eph. 5:18-20: Col. 3:16: James 5:13; Rev. 5:8-14: Rev. 14:1-5; Rev. 15:1-4.
The third topic (relating to the third speech) will be “The Comfort of Friendship among Young People in the Church. ”
-Problems: the misery of loneliness and isolation: temptations that threaten friendship, e.g., cliques (also at the Convention).
-Positively: the importance of friendship; basis of friendship in unity of doctrine and agreement in a holy walk; aspects of friendship, e.g., caring, help, support, conversation, etc.; need to show oneself friendly; how to express friendship towards one walking in sin.
-Bible passages to consider: I Sam. 18:1-4 and I Sam. 20; Prov. 18:24; Amos 3:3; I Cor. 12.
We ask that all the young people prepare themselves to discuss these topics. Look up the passages; be ready to defend your view on these matters; do some reading in articles and books that deal with these things. By lively, informed discussion, we can get to know each other, and the Truth, better. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend’ ‘ (Prov. 27: 17).