Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 15 April, 2007
“God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of
the earth” (Psalm 74:12)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Paul’s Damascus Road Experience (2)
Acts 26
I. His Call
II. His Message
III. His Future
Psalms: 121:1-8; 81:10-16; 36:5-11; 22:26-31
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 51; Psalm 32
I. The Meaning of It
II. The Necessity of It
III. The Blessedness of It
Psalms: 118:1-9; 82:1-8; 130:1-8; 32:1-5
For audio cassettes or CDs of the worship services, contact Sean Courtney ([email protected])
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider:
Herman Hoeksema on the fifth petition: “We desire to have the forgiveness of sins. We desire to possess it, to be assured of it in our deepest heart … That is the amazing wonder and boldness of this petition. We do not say: ‘Father, last week we sinned,’ or, ‘Yesterday we sinned,’ or, ‘This morning we sinned; please forgive.’ But we say: ‘Father, we are sinning all the time. We are sinning at this very moment, while we are praying. Please dismiss our debts from Thy book, and clothe us with righteousness in Thy judgment. And Father, we must have an answer. Please give us the unspeakably blessed assurance and peace of forgiveness in our hearts’” (Triple Knowledge, vol. 1, p. 594).
John Owen: “Our forgiving of others will not procure forgiveness for ourselves; but our not forgiving others proves that we ourselves are not forgiven.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
A new Beacon Lights is on the back table.
Membership Class: Tuesday, 7:30 PM at the Hallidays.
Our Mid-Week Bible Study will be held Wednesday, at 7:45 PM at the manse. We will study I Thessalonians 3:11ff. on God’s will regarding our sanctification.
Catechism: Thursday, 7:00 PM at the Hamills.
On Friday, Rev. & Mary Stewart travel to South Wales, where Rev. Stewart will give a lecture entitled “A Plea for Creeds.” Please remember the lecture and the saints in S. Wales in your prayers.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 22 April (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is entitled “The Return of the King” (Revelation 22:20-21).
Last Week’s Offerings: General Fund – £404.80. Donations: £100 (building fund), £75 (building fund).
Reserve May Day for a congregational outing. Details to be finalised.
CPRC Website: 8 new Portuguese translations and 5 new Italian translations were added this week. Creeds in languages of Alaska, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Tonga, etc., were added. On our “Languages” page, we have almost 500 items in 87 languages (including at least 1 language beginning with every letter of the alphabet, except “o”).
Advanced Notices: (1) Lecture on “Homosexuality: What Does the Bible Teach?” Friday, 11 May, 8 PM, Ballymena Protestant Hall (2) The CPRC plans to have a stall at the agricultural shows in Ballymena on Sat. 26 May, and in Antrim on Sat. 28 July
PRC News: Rev. R. Kleyn (Trinity, MI) declined the call to the Philippines.
Encouraging Quotes:
“I’m glad to translate [Rev. Miersma’s articles on ‘What Jesus Said’]. They are very useful for new Christians, because they deal with central Bible doctrines in an easy way … number 5 (‘What Jesus Said About God’s Love’) is great! I sent it to an Arminian friend of mine …” – Porto Alegre, Brazil
“I would like to keep up to date with what is happening in Covenant [PRC], so could you please send me the bulletin? Thank you. I enjoyed reading about the two translators, their accounts made me think of how blessed I am to have so much good reformed literature in my language. I found your informative description of the real Patrick very interesting …” – New Zealand
“Many thanks indeed for keeping me posted with your ‘circular’ data etc. I am particularly grateful for the C. R. News issues and for your book publications info. Please continue.” – South Wales
“I do read the newsletters as well as listen to your audio materials. The two sermons on ‘Carnal Christians’ were very helpful.” – Slovakia
“Enclosed is a small gift in gratitude for MP3 sermons—valuable teaching. Many thanks.” – Cumbria, England
“I would be most grateful if you would send a tape of the [Reformed Witness Hour] broadcast of this morning on Romans 13, which was much appreciated particularly as it was based on the A.V. of the Bible.” – Belfast, N. Ireland
“Please accept this … as a token of deep appreciation to you for all your kindnesses and for your ministry of the Word to one, of not a few, isolated spiritually in the wilderness of this present evil world. The Lord continue to be with you.” – Gloucester, England
“Unfortunately, the idea prevalent in Brazil about marriage and remarriage in almost all churches is antibiblical. But I am fighting against it.” – Brasilia, Brazil
“I went searching for Welsh and Malay versions of the creeds, found your site in Ulster, and recognized Protestant Reformed names from years and continents ago. Delightful surprise and providence.” – Pennsylvania, USA
“Thank you for the books … We are hoping to attend the conference in Northern Ireland next year … it will be good to meet with you all whose names are familiar to us.” – Lincoln, England
“I am interested in receiving your C. R. News … I was very enlightened by your article on the Psalms and Hymns and had no idea about the authors and their beliefs. Thank you very much for your studious research. I have been thinking about the Psalms for a long time and have a book given to me by an exclusive psalmodist family. Your clear article has further convinced me. Thanking you once again.” – Australia
“Yesterday after I came back from work, there was a huge package with some great books and pamphlets that you have sent to me. I was so happy to get these great resources and especially all the extra booklets and pamphlets that you included.”– Netherlands
“Thank you for sending me the C. R. News.” – Cambs., England
“… the articles on divorce and remarriage have been very helpful in re-orienting the thinking of many people I have sent them to and counteract a lot of bad teaching that seems to permeate the church here in the States. Do you keep your Covenant Reformed News articles archived anywhere for easy retrieval?” – Ohio, USA
“We have heard two more of your taped services on the series on Elijah today and have thoroughly enjoyed them. We enjoy your sermons very much indeed, but of course we always enjoy and appreciate any and all of the Protestant Reformed ministers we have heard over the past 29 years … Much love in Christ and may you be richly blessed through this Sabbath day as you gather together in the communion of the saints and hear what the Lord saith to His people, through you.” – New Zealand
“Thank you for a copy of the Covenant Reformed News. I shall be pleased to receive a copy on a regular basis … for many years I attended a local assembly. I noticed that nothing was preached about grace and when I searched the Scriptures, I found that we play no part in our salvation whatsoever …” – South Wales
“I just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoy and appreciate the sermons on the website. I have purchased an mp3 player … I was born and raised in the Pentecostal church … I can attest to the errors of the teachings and practices of the Pentecostals which you so accurately point out and so beautifully refute with the correct teaching of the Scripture … I was led to the PRC on the web doing searches about Calvin’s teachings on certain subjects and churches who taught them. I found the PRC to be the most consistent and unpolluted, the purest witness to the truth of the old path. I listen to at least 3 to 4 sermons a day while I work around the house. I just can’t seem to get enough of the true preaching. I sometimes feel like I am playing catch-up.” – California, USA
