Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 10 December, 2006
"That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:6)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
Administration of the Lord’s Supper
Christ, the Treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge
Colossians 2:2-3
I. The Meaning of It
II. The Assurance of It
III. The Comfort of It
Psalms: 85:1-8; 71:10-17; 25:4-10; 133:1-3
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Applicatory
A Full Chorus of Graces
II Peter 1:5-11
I. The Calling
II. The Benefits
Psalms: 95:1-7; 71:18-24; 34:1-10; 37:29-37
For audio cassettes of the worship services, contact Sean Courtney (cprcaudiostore@yahoo.co.uk)
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
After a week of self-examination, confessing members in good standing are called to partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper this morning. Your participation in the Lord’s Supper is in part a witness that you repent of your sins, believe that Jesus Christ is your righteousness, and desire to live a new and godly life. As this heavenly food can be taken to one’s judgment (I Cor. 11:28-30) and as the common reception of this food is a confession of doctrinal oneness (Acts 2:42), the elders supervise the partaking of the sacrament. Visitors from other denominations must appear to make their request at the council meeting prior to communion.
The Standard Bearers and Beacon Lights are available on the back table. There are also some free pamphlets entitled "The Problem with Fullerism" by Paul Fahy (a contributor to the BRJ).
The baptisms of Stephen & Eunice Murray are scheduled for next Lord’s Day, 17 December, if there are no lawful objections.
Catechism:
Monday, 5 PM at the Murrays
7 PM with the Campbells at the manse
Thursday, 7 PM at the Hamills
On Tuesday, Rev. Stewart will give a lecture in Limerick on "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Are the Pentecostals Right?" Please remember this in your prayers.
Our Mid-Week Bible Study is Wednesday at 7:45 PM at the manse. We will deal with (IIC) "faith" in the "Declaration of Principles."
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 17 Dec. (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is entitled "The Majesty and the Glory of the Incarnation" (John 1:1-4, 14, 19).
Upcoming Lecture: Friday, 12 Jan., in S. Wales, on "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Are the Pentecostals Right?"
Rev. VanOverloop and Rev. Eriks plan to be here from Friday, 27 January, to Monday, 5 February. The congregational dinner will be Friday, 2 February.
A new hardback book, Confessions and Church Order of the PRC, is currently in the post and will be here in about a month. Also, two new RFPA books are soon to be published. Trinity and Covenant by Prof. Engelsma is due out within about one month. Soon after that The Sixteenth-Century Reformation of the Church (part of the Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth series) should follow. This book will be free to RFPA Book Club members.
Last Week’s Offerings: General Fund - £736.55. Building Fund - £962.40. Donations: £160 (tapes), £20 (building fund).
PRC News: The saints in Pittsburgh are holding services in their own church building for the first time today. The Domestic Mission Committee has asked Candidate Clay Spronk to work with a group in Sioux Fall, South Dakota.
Encouraging Quotes:
"I would like to order the following books ... Thank you for the Covenant Reformed News issues which you continue top send to me. They are always much appreciated. I enclose in addition to the above order a donation ... for your new building fund in appreciation." - Manchester, England
"I write to say thank you for the books ... From next January, I will happily translate the three ones you told me, and some chapters from Engelsma on the so-called free-offer, and something else on common grace. This is what Reformed Italy needs the most, a consistent understanding and preaching of the Reformed Gospel. May God bless you in your work." - Italy
"I have found the [Covenant Reformed News] most informative and helpful. I would appreciate receiving your monthly newsletters and a few back copies if you have them to spare." - Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
"I found the series on Reformed Courtship a very challenging series. The last one ‘The Calling of the Fathers’ especially so. Though I do not have daughters, those who do, have a truly demanding calling and need our prayers ... I thank our God you are willing to take such a stand." - Yorkshire, England
"I enjoy your News very much." - Co. Down, N. Ireland
"Thank you for all the materials I received from you today. They all look so important and precious that I haven’t yet decided which one would be my first translation! No doubt they are a blessing and I look forward to beginning my work." - Lincolnshire, England
"I’ve been receiving the CR News for several months now and I thoroughly enjoy it! I pray that God will bless you and your labours in Northern Ireland to the glory of His name." - Alabama, USA
"Reading your ‘Desertion’ 1, 2, and 3 [in the CR News] I decided to translate it into Portuguese. One important issue in our days." - Brazil
"I found your web page tonight and have spent a lot of time on it and have some questions for you regarding some Bible passages. Your commentary on Scripture twisting really blew me away and gave me a lot of helpful insight."
"Your article has been the topic of some conversation recently at the Puritan Board. Some folks have been very interested to read it, while others have glossed over its historical significance (this is in the context of a recent discussion on exclusive psalmody in the Westminster Standards. I also had occasion to refer folks to your article on what the Westminster Standards has to say about exclusive psalmody). It is a great resource, in my opinion, and I’m grateful for it." - South Carolina, USA
"The Covenant Reformed News you send us is terrific. We’re enjoying the Standard Bearer too." - Lancashire, England
"Some months ago you arranged for one of your men to send me a CD with several scores of MP3 sermon files. I write to express profound gratitude and thanks for this most valuable resource. In this area, pure doctrine and gospel preaching are almost impossible to find in the churches. Now I am able to hear one or more sermons a day, with great benefit and blessing. Earlier this month I was able to ... download some more sermons ... What a joy and privilege! My soul is being fed as never before. I am praying with you for the CPRC ..." - Cumbria, England
"Thank you for the great message on ‘Calvin versus Pighius’ ... I regard the free offer as not only an accommodation to Arminianism, but Arminianism itself ... It was very uplifting to hear another voice in our small chorus. It made me feel less isolated. I’ll be listening to more of your MP3s. Thanks." - California, USA
"I have listened to some of your tapes which I consider to be excellent addresses and deep in theological content." - New Zealand
"If you have a spare copy of each of the three CR News on ‘Desertion’ (excellent), I would be glad to receive them." - Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland
"Enclosed, please find a cheque for the book ordered on-line today, A History of the Free Offer, by Herman Hanko. We passed our copy on but do not want to be without one, so have placed this order. It is always interesting to hear how things are with your church in the Standard Bearer, by far our favourite magazine." - Lincolnshire, England
"It is a good idea to try myself as a Calvinist translator and to start with the translation of key doctrine pamphlets. I have visited your web with the Russian translations and even downloaded some interesting ones ... What pamphlet would you recommend for me to translate? Maybe something on predestination? ... I just love [Rev. Herman Hoeksema] after reading his book Behold He Cometh sent by you. He is so powerful!" - Kazakhstan