John F. Schuurmann Collection, 1928-1971 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: John F. Schuurmann Collection, 1928-1971

ID: COLL/230

Primary Creator: Schuurmann, John F. (1903-1977)

Extent: 17.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. Sermon files, with contextual notes and articles; addresses; minutes and reports of the Public Relations Committee of Classis Muskegon, 1967-1968; and an interview with Rev. H.J. Brink concerning Grundy Center and the Frederick H. Wezeman controversy.

Biographical Note

From his birth to his retirement, John F. Schuurmann's life was lived in parsonages. He was born in Campen, Germany, where his father was a minister in the Altgereformierte Kirche. Nine years later, in 1912, the family moved to Emden, Minnesota, where his father became the pastor of the Emden Christian Reformed Church.

John's education included studies in Grundy College, Grundy Center, Iowa; Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan; and a year of post-graduate work at Princeton Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

From parsonages of churches served by his father, John F. Schuurmann moved into parsonages where he served as pastor: Lincoln Center, Iowa (1931-1940); Wyoming Park, Michigan (1940-1944); Second Lynden, Washington (1944-1951); Fourteenth Street, Holland, Michigan (1951-1956); Moline, Michigan (1956-1964); and Ferrysburg, Michigan (1964-1969). When he retired, he served as Assistant Librarian in the Theological section of the Calvin College and Seminary Library. His interest in and knowledge of theological books served him well. After an illness of several months, he passed away on August 13, 1977. He was survived by his wife, Marguerite née Broersma, and 3 children.

John Schuurmann served the denomination in his writing for the meditation booklets of the Back to God Hour, in his activities at Synods, and in serving on denominational committees.

Our collection includes sermons which are in outline form. It will be observed that John read widely and well, for his sermon collection includes material from magazines and books used as background material and studies for preaching the Word of God. There are also notes on a variety of subjects with added pertinent material.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Heidelberg Catechism Sermons: Introduction-Lord's Day 52],
[Series 2: Old Testament Sermons and Notes],
[Series 3: New Testament Sermons and Notes],
[Series 4: Old Testament Sermons Texts with Contextual Material],
[Series 5: New Testament Sermons Texts with Contextual Material],
[Series 6: Series of Sermons],
[Series 7: Special Day Sermons],
[Series 8: Education Material],
[Series 9: Church Activities],
[Series 10: Addresses],
[Series 11: Notes on Specific Subjects],
[Series 12: Papers, Articles, and Book Reviews],
[Series 13: Wedding Addresses],
[Series 14: Correspondence and Call Letters],
[Series 15: Meditations],
[Series 16: Radio Talks],
[Series 17: Illustrations],
[Series 18: Recordings],
[Series 19: Biographical Materials],
[All]

Series 12: Papers, Articles, and Book Reviews

Box 32

Folder 9: Paper, "Chiliastic Speculations of the Petersens"
Folder 10: Paper, "Conception of Revelation"
Folder 11: Paper, "Covenant Idea in Hosea" --- 1928

Box 33

Folder 1: Paper, "The Function of the Church in Society"
Folder 2: Paper, "History of the Baptismal Form"
Folder 3: Paper, "History of the Reformed Church in the Netherlands" --- 1935
Folder 4: Paper, "John 17
Folder 5: Article, "The Obedience of John Calvin," Federation Messenger --- 1954
Folder 6: Papers at Psychology Conference with notes and program
Folder 7: Paper, "Putting the Whole Child Through School"
Folder 8: Paper, "Russellism and We" --- 1935
Folder 9: Paper, "Theology of Crisis and Reformed Faith"
Folder 12: Papers re the Protestant Reformed Church

Box 35

Folder 1: Book Reviews
Folder 12: Article, "Are We Educating for Democracy?," The Banner --- March 22, 1946
Folder 13: Article, "Our Responsibility in This Day of Delusion," The Banner --- May 31, 1946
Folder 14: Article, "Worshiping Jehovah the Idol," The Banner --- October 11, 1946
Folder 15: Article, "True to Thee Till Death," The Banner --- January 17, 1947
Folder 16: Article, "The Jews," The Banner --- May 16, 1947
Folder 17: Article, "Our Evangelism," The Banner --- November 14, 1947
Folder 18: Paper, "The Unity of Jehovah's Covenant with His People"
Folder 19: Paper, "Problems of Religion"
Folder 20: Paper, "The Nature of the Covenant"
Folder 21: Paper, "The Prerequisites for Entrance upon Marriage and Family Life"
Folder 22: Paper, "The History of Our Baptismal Form"

Box 36

Folder 6: Printed Sermon, "Surface Religion Exposed," The Living Word Series --- 1965