Covenant Protestant Reformed Church

Ballymena

Rev. Angus Stewart

Lord’s Day, 5 October, 2008

whose hope is in the Lord his God" (Ps. 146:5)

Divisions in the Church   [download]

I. The Meaning

II. The Report

III. The Admonition

Psalms: 122:1-9; 144:1-8; 25:8-14; 133:1-3

Evening Service - 6:00 PM

Abraham Justified By Works (I)   [download]

I. The Heretical Interpretation

II. The True Interpretation

Psalms: 25:1-7; 144:9-15; 105:5-10; 119:1-8

Contact Sean Courtney (covenantreformedaudiostore@yahoo.co.uk) for CDs of the sermons.

CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk

John Calvin: "... our opponents are chiefly deceived in thinking that James is defining the manner of justification when he is attempting only to shatter the evil confidence of those who vainly pretended faith as an excuse for their contempt of good works" (Institutes 3.17.12).

New Beacon Lights and Standard Bearers (including a BRF Conference Report and pictures) are on the back table.

DVDs of the debate on Calvinism vs. Arminianism are also on the back table. As a follow-up to the debate, we have a new Calvinism Resources page on the website. These materials can be helpful in your personal witnessing.

The second offering this morning is for our building fund.

The baptism of Leia Halliday has been moved back to next Lord’s Day evening.

The Council meets tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM at the manse.

Catechism: Tuesday, 4:30 PM - Jacob Buchanan

Tuesday, 5:30 PM - Jamie & Debbie Murray

Tuesday: 7 PM - Campbells at the manse

Thursday, 11 AM - Lydia Napier at the manse

Midweek Bible Study meets this Wednesday, 7:45 PM at the manse. We will study I Peter 1:3-5 on the object of our living hope.

On Friday, Rev. & Mary Stewart travel to S. Wales where Rev. Stewart will lecture on "Marriage, the Mystery of Christ and the Church."

The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW), is "A Promise to the Single Members of God’s Covenant" (Isaiah 56:3-7).

Ladies’ Bible Study meets next Tuesday, 14 October, at 10:15 AM at the Murrays.

Offerings: General Fund - £687.80.

Upcoming Lectures: Limerick, Fri. 17 Oct., on "Marriage, the Mystery of Christ and the Church"

Ballymena, Fri. 31 Oct., 8 PM, on "The Reformation’s Teaching on the Church"

The church visitors, Prof. Gritters and Elder Pete VanderSchaaf, are planning to come on Friday, 2 January, to Monday, 12 January, 2009. The church dinner is to be on Friday, 9 January.

Website Additions: 1 Portuguese, 4 Spanish, and 6 Italian translations were added.

PRC News: Rev. Hanko declined the call to Calvary PRC. Classis East will examine Providence PRC’s Pastor-elect Heath Bleyenberg on Tuesday, 21 Oct. Lynden PRC will be hosting a young adults retreat next summer, 23-29 July.

"Many thanks for the latest Covenant Reformed News which I have had the pleasure of sending out to friends and family again. May we please request [sermon tapes]. The man we know who is in prison is very desirous of listening to PR preaching, and specially would like Lord’s Day sermons and I would love to be able to supply him with some good sound listening." - New Zealand

"Thank you for The Five Points of Calvinism book received on Monday. I look forward to having my memory refreshed with such wonderful truth." - London, England

"I was on the website of your church and read about your ministering to the Lord. I completely agree with you ... My heart was filled with praise to the Most High God for you and for your true ministering to the Master ... We in Siberia share your precious belief in the Sovereign God ... Because of our belief in the doctrines of grace, we do not love the Arminian doctrine. As a result our name is discredited and the Orthodox Church and Protestant Arminians strongly counteract us. We give thanks to God that He gives us faithfulness to the Lord even with these problems." - Irkutsk, Russia

"Just to say we enjoyed last night’s debate. It is so seldom Calvinists get space on this type of programme and we put our ‘Amen’ to everything you said." - Scotland

"I would just like to thank you for the availability of your website especially listening through the audio sermons. Indeed, I am blessed because I am enlightened by the Reformed doctrines." - Philippines

"I saw the debate tonight ... I will be ordering the DVD as well as a couple of copies of the book on The Five Points of Calvinism you mentioned to share with my fellow brother in Christ. Thank you for taking a stand for the sovereignty of God in an age where man is God, and God has become a man in their eyes." - London, England

"Will you please send me the C. R. News? Yours is the best teaching program around. It has served to confirm what I already believe, and has made me to bear much fruit." - South Wales

"God bless you for your work, and may He give you the ability to continue it ... I have a question: Can I paste your translations on my blog? I would also like my son to read them and also that he be included in the C. R. News list." - Italy

"Just a note to say how much your ministry means to me." - Virginia, USA

"I was listening to some material from your site on the office of elder over the summer months ... There has been some discussion as to the meaning of ‘apt to teach.’ I found your sermon on that particular passage very helpful." - Co. Antrim

"I wanted to write and both encourage and thank you for the material that you have on your website. I found the material on the Charismatic movement particularly helpful. It is also so important that we remind folks of our glorious Reformed heritage." - Scotland

"What a joy it was to listen to the debate ... It was so good to hear the great doctrines of grace defended in this day of compromise and all things for all men ... It came to an end all too soon." - Lancashire, England

"Just to advise you that the box of books and pamphlets was delivered to our home here safely and in good order yesterday. My wife and I have been using some of your audio material downloaded from your website. We have just finished ‘Abraham the Father of the Faithful’ and have commenced ‘The History of the Covenant.’ We have also been getting good help from a CD obtained from Hudsonville PRC on the Heidelberg Catechism." - Australia

"Thank you again for your regular mailings out of which I seldom fail to get a blessing. Your feature on ‘Christ Will Build His Church’ in the current C. R. News was excellent and is now posted on my blog." - Co. Armagh

"I would like to thank you for doing the slot on Revelation TV. I knew nothing at all about Calvinism, and my soul was lifted after watching the programme. Do you have any pamphlets that you could send me ...? I would like to learn more about Calvinism. I feel I am more in tune with your beliefs." - Liverpool, England

"Thanks very much for your contribution [on Revelation TV]. I thought you handled it really well. You were polite, self-controlled, and everything you said you backed up with Scripture. I found you very illuminating ... There is no question in my mind that your arguments were much more convincing, clear and scriptural." - Scotland