Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 1 August, 2004
"Honour and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are his sanctuary"
(Psalm 96:6)
Morning
Service - 11:00 AM
Pressing Toward the Mark (2)
The Marks of the Circumcised
Philippians 3:3
I. Spiritual Worship
II. Christian Boasting
III. No Fleshly Confidence
Psalms: 146:1-7; 108:8-13; 119:113-120; 51:14-18
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Christ, the Quickening Spirit
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 17; I Corinthians 15:45
I. The Meaning
II. The Significance
Psalms: 118:19-26; 109:1-7; 104:30-35; 143:6-11
For audio cassettes of the worship services, contact the bookstore.
CPRF website: www.cprf.co.uk
Quote to Consider:
Richard Sibbes on Philippians 3:3: "... naturally men have
confidence in outward things; for having not hearts filled with grace,
they relish not Christ, but fly to ceremonious outward actions as
their refuge. Nay, in the church, till we be converted, we naturally
fly to outward fleshly confidence. We have the word taught to us; we
come to hear it twice on the Lord’s day. Alas! what is this, if thou
be not transformed, and inwardly and outwardly conformed in obedience!
Hast thou the sacraments? dost thou uncover thy head, or bow the knee?
These are good, and they seem fair; but where is the heart? how is
that prepared? hast thou an earnest desire to leave off thy course of
sinning, and dost thou resolve hereafter to amend thy life? Oh here is
the hard spiritual work! ... Most men are like Ephraim, Hosea 10:11,
as heifers, who serve to tread out corn and to plough. Ephraim loved
to tread corn, where he might eat his bellyful; for by the law of
Moses, the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn was not to be
muzzled. Men they are delighted in the performance of slight duties;
but to put their neck under the yoke, to plough, it is a hard work;
who can bear it?" (Works, vol. 5, p. 77).
Announcements:
The Beacon Lights are available today for those who subscribe.
William Armstrong distributed over 250 pamphlets, tapes and
Covenant Reformed News, etc., at the Clogher agricultural show
on Wednesday. Our thanks to William.
CPRF Website: The CPRF website ‘Home’ page has been enlarged and
many other pages modified. New ‘Quotes’ include "John Wesley on John
Wesley" and "A Puritan Preface to the Scottish Metrical Psalter." A
new ‘Article’ "Research Shows ‘Passion’ Film’s ‘Spiritual’ Impact
Falls Short" is on the back of the bulletin. About 120 sermons were
downloaded last Sunday.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 8 August,
(8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is "The Better Life to Come" (Ecc.
7:1).
Rev. & Mary Stewart travel to S. Wales this Friday, 6 August
(DV). Rev. Stewart will be giving a lecture on "Does God Desire to
Save the Reprobate?"
Last week’s offerings: £631.67.
PRC News: Rev. Laning (Hope, MI) is expected to answer the call
from Edmonton today. Rev. Haak (Bethel, IL) is considering the call to
Georgetown PRC. Doon has formed a trio of Revs. Bruinsma (Kalamazoo,
MI), Haak, and J. Slopsema (First, MI). Faith PRC plans to call today
from a trio of Revs. Bruinsma, Eriks (Loveland, CO), and D. Kleyn
(Edgerton, MN).