Covenant Protestant Reformed Fellowship
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 1 May, 2005
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of
the saints and to be had in reverence of all
that that are about him (Psalm 89:7)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
Abraham, Father of the Faithful (14)
The Burial of Sarah
Genesis 23
I. Abraham’s Mourning at the Death of Sarah
II. Abraham’s Obtaining a Burial Ground for Sarah
III. Abraham’s Motivation in Burying Sarah
Psalms: 62:5-8, 11-12; 140:7-13; 77:5-6, 11-14; 39:4-12
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
The Seventh Commandment
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 41, I Corinthians 6
I. The Bases for the Seventh Commandment
II. The Seriousness of the Seventh Commandment
III. The Calling of the Seventh Commandment
Psalms: 97:1-8; 141:1-5; 50:16-22; 128:1-6
For audio cassettes of the worship services, contact the bookstore.
CPRF website: www.cprf.co.uk
Quotes to Consider:
John Calvin: "Abraham, however, seeing he had the hope of a
resurrection deeply fixed in his heart, sedulously cherished, as was
meet, its visible symbol. The importance he attached to it appears
hence, that he thought he should be guilty of pollution, if he mingled
the body of his wife with strangers after death. For he bought a cave,
in order that he might possess for himself and his family, a holy and
pure sepulchre. He did not desire to have a foot of earth whereon to fix
his tent; he only took care about his grave: and he especially wished to
have his own domestic tomb in that land, which had been promised him for
an inheritance, for the purpose of bearing testimony to posterity, that
the promise of God was not extinguished, either by his own death, or by
that of his family; but that it then rather began to flourish; and that
they who were deprived of the light of the sun, and of the vital air,
yet always remained joint-partakers of the promised inheritance. For
while they themselves were silent and speechless, the sepulchre cried
aloud, that death formed no obstacle to their entering on the possession
of it. A thought like this could have had no place, unless Abraham by
faith had looked up to heaven. And when he calls the corpse of his wife,
his dead; he intimates that death is a divorce of that kind, which still
leaves some remaining conjunction. Moreover, nothing but a future
restoration cherishes and preserves the law of mutual connection between
the living and the dead."
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
Willie Russell, of Ayr, a former BRF member and friend of the
fellowship, passed away yesterday. The funeral is on Wednesday. Bible
study is cancelled for the week so that Rev. & Mary Stewart can attend
the funeral.
Membership Class, Monday, 7:30 PM at the manse Catechism, Thursday, 7 PM
at the Hamills.
Prof. & Mrs. Hanko arrives on Friday afternoon. Everyone is invited to a
barbecue at the manse this Friday, 6 May, at 6:30 PM or as soon as you
can make it. Please let Rev. or Mary Stewart know if you plan to come.
Prof. Hanko will be leading our midweek Bible study on Tuesday, 10 May,
and Wednesday, 18 May. He will lead a discussion on the qualifications
of office bearers, a vital and timely topic as we look toward
reorganization.
The speech this past Friday in Omagh went well with 30-35 in attendance.
We pray that the Lord will use this witness to increase the knowledge of
the Reformed faith in that area.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 8 May (8:30-9:00 AM, on
Gospel 846MW) is "Only One Way of Salvation, part 2" (Acts 4:12).
Last Week’s Offerings: £644.57.
Lectures: Wed., 11 May, Limerick, What About Tradition? by Prof. Hanko
Friday, 20 May, Ballymena, The Excellency of the AV by Prof. Hanko
PRC News: Rev. Mahtani accepted the call to Bethel PRC. Rev. Houck
declined the call from Edmonton. The PRC Synod in June is to call a
professor to replace Prof. Engelsma from a trio of Revs. Cammenga, Key,
and Koole.