Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 26 April, 2020
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering …” (Col. 3:12)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Knowing Our Misery [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 7
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 2
I. What It Is to Know Our Misery
II. How We Know Our Misery
III. Why We Must Know Our Misery
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Kingdom of God Versus the Kingdoms of Man (14)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Boanthropy [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Daniel 4:10-33
Text: Daniel 4:13-19; 23-33
I. Pictured by Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
II. Predicted by Daniel’s Interpretation
III. Occasioned by Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride
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: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
John Calvin: “Daniel, by the exhortation with which he persuaded Nebuchadnezzar to make recompense for his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by pity for the poor [Dan. 4:27], did not mean to imply that righteousness and mercy were the propitiation of God and the recompense of punishment. Banish the thought that there should be any other ransom than the blood of Christ! But in the phrase ‘to make recompense,’ he referred to men rather than to God. It was as if he said: ‘O King, you have exercised unjust and violent mastery, you have oppressed the humble, you have despoiled the poor, you have treated your people harshly and unjustly; now replace with mercy and righteousness your unjust exactions, your violence and oppression’” (Institutes 3.4.36).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The arrangement for the CPRC Sunday services today involves livestreaming a streamlined meeting with only prayer and exposition of the Word on video at 11AM and 6PM (https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/). During this difficult time when we are unable to meet together, may we pray with the Psalmist, “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God” (Ps. 43:3-4).
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled, “Encouraged to Persevere” (Heb. 10:23).
Rev. Stewart (via phone link) will discuss regeneration on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio on Thursday, 14 May, from 4-6 PM (Eastern Time in the US) or 9-11 PM (GMT) (www.ironsharpensironradio.com).
Sadly, given the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus (in God’s sovereign decree), the British Reformed Fellowship (BRF) Conference has been rescheduled to (basically) the same week next year. Thus the BRF Conference will not be taking place in 2020. Instead, it is rescheduled to 10-17 July, 2021, at Castlewellan Castle, Co Down, on the theme, “Union With Christ.” Prof. Engelsma and Rev. Laning will be our main speakers and John Perkins will give the special lecture.
Due to our printer not being able to print the magazine right now because of COVID-19, we have decided to put the May issue of Beacon Lights on our website, free of charge, for anyone who wishes to read the month’s issue. Visit us at www. beaconlights.org to read the issue, which will be published on 1 May.
Offerings: General Fund: £145. Donation: £220 (England).
Translation Addition: 1 Hiligaynon.
PRC News: Rev J. Laning declined the call to Edmonton PRC. Edmonton has formed a new trio of Revs. Guichelaar, Spronk and VanderWal. Cornerstone PRC has formed a trio of Revs. DeBoer, R. Kleyn and VanOverloop.
Encouraging Quotes
“Thank you. I keep sharing these [pamphlets] out and never get them back. Praise God that His Word goes out in these dark days (Heb. 6:10).” – Co. Antrim
“I’m reading through the booklet on ‘The Gift of Assurance.’ It’s fantastic. Thank you for bringing those along [to the South Wales lecture]. It is so good. It puts all doubt to death—marvellous.” – S. Wales
“Always a pleasure to talk with you on the phone. I’m enjoying the materials you kindly sent me. The Standard Bearers are always welcome. I pass them on to friends when I’ve read them. Praying for the CPRC in Ballymena that the Lord’s blessing would be upon you.” – Lincolnshire, England
“I was very blessed by Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom by Prof. Engelsma. I devoured it within the first week upon its arrival. I am looking forward to diving into The Coming of Zion’s Redeemer by Ronald Hanko some time soon.” – Norway
“Thank you for streaming your service today!” – Minnesota, USA
“I noted the renewal of your website. Good job! Your translation work is very important dear brothers! As the modern W. Tyndale of Protestant Reformed theology in the twenty-first century, you are doing a very precious work!” – Italy
“We continue to be blessed by the on-line services from Ballymena. I still am too disabled to attend our local church and so depend on your live services on the Lord’s day. We also listen to many other Protestant Reformed messages from which we have learned a lot. Please accept the donation to your ministry.” – Scotland
“Thank you for the Jude sermons which arrived yesterday. I have already listened to the first three sermons on ‘The Pilgrim Psalms.’ They are really lovely. I will want to go straight onto the remainder of ‘The Pilgrim Psalms,’ so please would you send me ‘The Pilgrim Psalms (II)’ on CD. How wonderful that so many are listening to sermons on your website but how thankful I am that you are still sending box sets out. The Lord bless you in your ministry to us.” – Yorkshire, England
“Thank you very much for this beautiful gift! I’m very touched. This way I’ll have plenty of reading material for the quarantine days. I’m going to read all this with a lot of joy. I am very happy to be able to translate the articles that are on your website. It’s important material. The French public needs solid resources. In our language, there is very little material.” – France
“I visited the CPRC website and I studied Reformed theology, recently and especially subjects such as common grace, the regulative principle of worship and exclusive psalmody. The articles regarding these subjects on the site helped me in my understanding about several doctrines. I’m thankful to God for these Reformed and biblical material … I’m reading the articles and books available (‘Common Grace Considered’ by Herman Hanko, for example) and I have been deeply blessed through these texts. I ask my CPRC brothers to pray for me and my church. Pray that God will open their spiritual eyes and the Holy Spirit may shine and confirm the Word’s truth. If possible, send me more material or websites where I might read or buy books.” – Brazil
“I’m currently enjoying reading Andrew Lanning’s ‘The Unlikely Mothers of Christ’—a very fine publication. I think he has a great gift for exegesis and pastoral application.” – Co. Down
“I bless the Lord that through people like you I have been accessing very sound materials to help me learn and teach these doctrines [of the covenant and infant baptism]. I also wanted you to note the books you gave me are a tremendous blessing to the many who are using them. Yesterday I received a call from someone about 200 kilometres, whom I sent a copy of Behold, I Come Quickly and the testimony is that the book is edifying material.” – Kenya
“Thank you for the article on Amyraldianism. It was very helpful. Just currently re-watching Prof. Engelsma at the CPRC’s Canons of Dordt Conference last year. I am up to the Rejection of Errors speech. The more I read and learn of the Canons, the more I love and appreciate it. It saddens me that I’ve gone so many years without being taught these truths.” – England
“Yes, I have checked out the ‘Resources on the Image of God.’ I heard the interview on Iron Sharpens Iron and started studying the subject. I have been called a heretic a couple of times since!” – Texas, USA
“I wanted to thank you for sending all the extra booklets and leaflets with the copies of A. W. Pink’s The Sovereignty of God that I purchased from your bookshop. I wanted to read the sections missing from the Banner of Truth edition of Pink’s excellent book. This book really confirmed me in accepting Reformed theology for the first time when I was a young man … I have copies of Hoeksema’s Reformed Dogmatics and his exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism at home. I intend to read them soon.” – England
