Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 19 April, 2015
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind …” (Rom. 12:2)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
God’s Fatherly Rule [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Acts 17:10-34
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10
I. In the Creation
II. In Our Lives
Psalms: 86:8-13; 103:16-22; 33:10-17; 139:1-10
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Listen and Wake Up! (3)
Fear Not the Reproach of Men! [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 51:1-20
Text: Isaiah 51:7-8
I. The Beautiful Address
II. The Crucial Command
III. The Two Reasons
Psalms: 87:1-7; 104:1-7; 37:29-37; 40:8-12a
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
E. J. Young on Isaiah 51:7: “The profundity of this teaching is not to be overlooked. Men are afraid of many things, mostly of what man can do to them. There is but one way in which such fear can be overcome, and that is to know righteousness and to possess the law in one’s heart. This way, despised by men, is nevertheless the only way to true security; and those who possess it need not fear the rebukes and reproaches that an unbelieving world and church may heap upon them.”
John Calvin on Isaiah 51:8: “Because salvation is founded on the goodness of God, Isaiah reminds us of it, that men may be reduced to nothing, and that confidence may be placed in God alone. The meaning may be thus summed up, ‘Salvation is in God, that by it he may preserve, not himself, but us; righteousness is in God, that he may display it for our defence and preservation.’ Accordingly, from the eternity of God’s ‘salvation and righteousness’ we ought to infer that the servants of God cannot possibly perish … Thus we see how he applies this eternity to the children of God, who do not subsist in themselves, but in God, and have the foundation of their salvation in him.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Charlotte and Emma Higgs from Brisbane EPC in Australia to our worship services today.
The April Covenant Reformed News is available on the back table.
Everyone is welcome to stay for tea after the evening service today.
John McAuley had stents put in on Thursday and returned home from the hospital on Friday. We are thankful for his good recovery so far and pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen him in the days ahead.
The Tuesday Bible study will meet at 11 AM to study harlotry in Hosea.
The Belgic Confession Class on Wednesday at 7:45 PM will continue Article 25 dealing with the ceremonial law in the life of Christ.
S. Wales Lecture: This Thursday, Rev. McGeown will give a lecture on “Christian Comfort” at the Round Chapel in Port Talbot. Please remember this witness in your prayers.
Mens’ Bible Study meets this Saturday at 8:00 PM at the Kennedys to study chapter 15, “Holiness and Faith” in The Pursuit of Holiness.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “Encouraged to Persevere” (Hebrews 10:23).
Offerings: General Fund – £1,299.01. Building Fund – £50. Donations: $3,000.
Website Addition: 1 Indonesian translation.
PRC News: Peace PRC has formed a trio of Revs. Decker, Eriks and Key. Rev. Smit is to be installed today as pastor in First PRC in Grand Rapids.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Brian D. Dykstra
A few weeks ago in fifth grade history, we watched a video about the flight of Apollo 17. The video’s title, “On the Shoulders of Giants,” was taken from a statement made by Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, during a post-flight news conference. When asked to compare the amount of time Apollo 17 astronauts spent on the moon as compared to the time Apollo 11 astronauts spent on the moon, Cernan answered by quoting Sir Isaac Newton. Newton, a pioneer in the science of astronomy, when once asked about his achievements responded, “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.”
Here is the data which prompted the reporter’s question.
Flight Moon Walks Total Time of Moon Walks Samples Collected Apollo 11 1 2 hrs. 48 min. 46 lbs. Apollo 17 3 22 hrs. 4 min. 243 lbs.
The numbers certainly demonstrate man’s increased ability to spend more time in a hostile environment and to do more research. Each crew of astronauts built on the work of those who had gone before so the time spent on the moon and the pounds of samples collected increased. Mr. Cernan has since expressed his disappointment that mankind has not yet walked on Mars. After all, he and others have shown the way. Evidently, however, it has not been worth the effort or expense to stand upon the shoulders of the giants of technology who last landed on the moon in December of 1972.
We, too, stand on the shoulders of giants. We can still recall some of these men of faith. Ya, doze men mit de Dutch brogue. They were men who appeared crusty and uncultured to the world. Men, many of whom, no matter their level of education or their occupation, had theology as their avocation; men who probably would not consider themselves giants of faith, but covenant fathers making sacrifices to provide for the spiritual well-being of their children and the generations to come. We have built on the sound foundation begun by them so that a school which had 72 students in 1950, now has more than 200.
Soon Hope Protestant Reformed Christian school will graduate its 53rd class. Parents will again have the privilege of witnessing twenty children of God’s covenant receive their diplomas from our own Protestant Reformed school, a school started by men who recognized the covenantal need for such a school. The world will not note the ceremony which will take place at Faith Protestant Reformed Church. Our goal is not to graduate young people who will dazzle the world as captains of industry or lead the way to new areas of knowledge. We seek to graduate covenant young people who confess their class text: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation” (Isa. 12:2).
As this class graduates, remember what we as parents have been given by our grandparents. Though not noted by the world, would any of us deny the importance of the work being accomplished in our school through God’s blessing? We stand on shoulders worth standing on. May God so grant us the dedication to the cause of His Truth that our children may say the same of us.
