Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 1 May, 2011
"Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God" (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
The Prayer of the Church in Babylon (7)
Rend the Heavens and Come Down! [download] [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Exodus 19
Text: Isaiah 64:1-3
I. The Meaning of This Prayer
II. The Fulfilment of This Prayer
Psalms: 68:3-8; 97:1-7; 18:6-11; 144:3-10
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
God the Father and Our Creation [download] [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 9
I. Father’s Creating Us
II. Father’s Comforting Us
Psalms: 136:1-12; 97:8-12; 33:6-11; 104:1-2, 28-31
Contact Stephen Murray for CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services.
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ballymena-United-Kingdom/Covenant-Protestant-Reformed-Church-N-Ireland/337347932331
Quote to Consider:
John Calvin on Isaiah 64:1: "God is said to 'rend the heavens,' when he unexpectedly gives some uncommon and striking proof of his power; and the reason of this mode of expression is, not only that men, when they are hard pressed, commonly look up to heaven, from which they expect assistance, but that miracles, by interrupting the order of nature, open up for themselves an unusual path. Now, when God renders no assistance, he appears to be shut up in heaven, and to disregard what is taking place on earth. For this reason he is said to open and 'rend the heavens,' when he holds out to us some testimony of his presence; because otherwise we think that he is at a great distance from us."
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Copies of Rev. McGeown’s bimonthly letter are on the back table today.
The Council will hold its monthly meeting this Monday, 2 May, at 7 PM.
Tuesday Bible study: 11 AM, on II Thessalonians 3:6f. on withdrawing from disorderly brethren.
Wednesday Belgic Confession class: 7:45 PM. We’ll continue our study of Article 10 on the eternal generation of the Son, including Psalm 2:7.
Thursday membership class: 7:30 PM on eschatology, the last times.
The CPRC/LRF Overnighter at the Newcastle Youth Hostel in Co. Down is this Friday, 6 May. Directions can be found on the hostel website (www.hini.org.uk/hostels/Newcastle-Hostel). Arrive as soon as you can on Friday evening. Rev. Stewart will lead a discussion on Friday evening on the communion of the saints. (A handout of quotes on this subject is on the back table. There are also copies for those unable to come to Newcastle.) Rev. McGeown will lead a discussion on the catholicity of the church on Saturday morning.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is entitled "God’s Will for Mothers" (Titus 2:4-5) by Rev. R. Kleyn.
Offerings: General Fund - £464.97. Donation: £150 (CR News).
Rev. McGeown will be preaching for the CPRC next week while Rev. Stewart preaches for the LRF.
Mens Fellowship: The next meeting will be on Saturday, 14 May, at 8 PM at the Kennedys. We will study Daniel 2. A handout is on the back table.
Upcoming Lectures:
"For Whom Did Christ Die?" Thursday, 2 June, at 7:15 PM in S. Wales.
"For Whom Did Christ Die?" Friday, 24 June, at 7:30 PM in Lurgan Town Hall.
Rev. Stewart will preach in 6 Protestant Reformed churches in Canada and the US on 4 Lord’s Days this summer (and give a Powerpoint presentation on the CPRC in 5 of them): 24 July, Edmonton (AM) & Lacombe (PM); 31 July, Lynden (AM & PM); 7 August, Spokane (AM & PM); 14 August, Hudsonville (AM) & Providence (PM) in the Grand Rapids area.
PRC News: Rev. Kuiper declined the call to Edgerton PRC. Trinity PRC called Rev. Haak (Georgetown, MI). Cornerstone will call from a trio of Revs. Bruinsma (Pittsburgh, PA), Eriks (Hudsonville, MI) and W. Langerak (Southeast, MI).
Encouraging Quotes:
"I appreciated the article entitled ‘Harold Camping Refuted: The Necessity of Membership in the Church (Institute)’ by Martyn McGeown. A good part of my adult life was spent working on Family Radio projects until Harold Camping pulled the rug out from under us, and started this date setting nonsense, and the very serious error of his profaning the Bride of Christ, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ ..." - New York, USA
"Thank you for [the books] ... The publishing work of the CPRC is of quality and is necessary. May the Lord enable today’s theologians to give serious attention to all areas of theology ..." - England
"I have just finished listening to your sermons on Romans 9:1-24. Thank you for your sound and faithful preaching on the Word of God. We know they are God’s blessing to us. We love to hear God’s Word expounded faithfully, correctly and truthfully. We thank God greatly that He is in our lives and is ever leading and teaching us Himself. Yet we cannot hide our sadness that for the past 20+ years since the Lord has come into our lives, we can almost say that we have not met one single person who is sincerely and seriously desirous to know the truth according to God’s Word ... As far as churches and Christians are concerned, they are both very limited here." - Australia
"Having listened to your lectures on the Belgic Confession, I was richly blessed ... Thank you very much for all your teaching as I have learned much from these studies." - Co. Antrim
"I recently watched the Arminianism vs. Calvinism debate that you did on Revelation TV. I was certainly more inclined to agree with your views on Scripture. I immediately wanted to find out more about your ministry, especially to read the articles about Pentecostalism that you mentioned to some of the viewers. Having had some experience of the Charismatic movement and the ‘fruit’ it bears, I wanted to find out what your literature said. I was glad to see some expert analysis of the movement, which I would agree with. The article on ‘Freemasonry: May a Christian be a Member?’ caught my eye ..." - Turkey
"I have enjoyed listening the preaching CDs of Ezekiel and the BRF conference CDs. I wonder whether you have also preached on Zechariah before."
- S. Wales"Thank you for sending the monthly CR News to me. I have found it to be informative and I have been encouraged in my beliefs by the articles. I have passed on a number of copies to other Christian friends (Presbyterian and Baptist) and their feedback has been positive. Also, I have received all the books and CDs as ordered from the CPRC Bookstore ..." - Co. Antrim
"[Behold He Cometh] is certainly a very good book and we have found it to be of great benefit. We gave a lady at church your DVD debate on the gifts this evening. She is looking forward to watching it and then watching your debate on Calvinism vs. Arminianism. Presently, I am reading Unfolding Covenant History ..."
- England"Last night I watched your YouTube debate and I am excited to learn more about the Calvinist position. I am just beginning my studies on the subject and found that you (and your church) must be ‘subject matter experts.’ I appreciate your service to the Lord’s work and I am very thankful for the free resources you are giving to me." - Washington, USA
"How gladly I received your message. My desire is to increase my knowledge in the Word and Reformed heritage. Please send me [the CR News] accordingly."
- Uganda"I still haven’t listened to all the tapes you sent me recently. The one on ‘God’s Magnifying His Word’ really convicted me about taking all of God’s Word more seriously ... the Lord is so mightily blessing me through [the sermons]. I continue to be amazed at how our Almighty Lord brings just the message I need to me at just the right time!" - Yorkshire, England
"I read some literature about baptism in Dutch. But [Michael Kimmitt’s Baptism: Meaning, Mode and Subject] was the most clear, in line with the Bible and presented in a nice way. I thought it would be good to give your message more place. I thought of translating it into Dutch." - Netherlands
"If I ever get any free time, I’d like to translate a few of your articles into Spanish ... By the way, I’ve been downloading and listening to and getting ideas for our family worship from you, Rev. McGeown and other PRC ministers’ Lord’s Day sermons ... I’m hoping to see your new church sometime along with the brethren there." - Spain