Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 23 August, 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
Christ’s Resurrection—Profit for Us! [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Mark 16
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 17
I. Our Imputed Righteousness
II. Our New Life
III. Our Blessed Resurrection
Psalms: 34:11-15; 17:14-15
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Pour Out Your Heart to God [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 62
Text: Psalm 62:8
I. What It Means
II. What It Evinces
III. How It Profits
Psalms: 63:1-4; 62:6-8
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
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 17: “We become partakers of the life of Christ first. When faith is bestowed on us, our soul is united with the living Lord. Faith is only the expression of our union with him. How could we be united with him without partaking of his resurrection life? Yet, paradoxical though it may seem, when thus we live and faith becomes active in us, we find ourselves in the midst of death. It is when we begin to live in Christ that before the consciousness of our faith we die. And when we thus begin to live by faith in Christ, we see and acknowledge that we have no right to life and that we are worthy of eternal condemnation and death. By faith we come to the spiritual discovery that we have no righteousness and therefore no right to live. Thus by that same faith we are drawn to Christ as our only hope; we cast ourselves upon him in our sin and death, and we receive and lay hold upon his righteousness. In the consciousness of that righteousness of Christ by faith, we have the unspeakably joyous assurance that we have the adoption unto children of God and the right to eternal life” (The Lord of Glory, pp. 37-38).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The August Covenant Reformed News is available today.
We will be having an extra offering today to help the saints in the PRC in the Philippines. Just drop the envelope marked “Philippines” in the offering basket (preferably at the end of the morning service), as you do with the regular offering.
Ivan Reid (elder) and Julian Kennedy (deacon) have been nominated for 3-year terms in their respective offices. A vote by male confessing members to approve/disapprove of this will be held after this evening’s service.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet at church to consider further justification and assurance.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Spriensma is entitled, “A New Covenant With Israel” (Jer. 31:31).
Next Lord’s Day, Rev. McGeown will preach for us, while Rev. Stewart preaches for the Limerick Reformed Fellowship.
Monday catechism classes begin 7 September, DV. Books are available today.
5:45 PM Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja & Somaya (Beginners OT) – Bible study room
6:30 PM Angelica, Bradley, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Seniors OT) – upstairs open area
7:15 PM Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials) – catechism room
The Council meets Monday, 7 September, at 8 PM.
Offerings: General Fund: £918.10. Donations: £50 (Malaysia), £50 (England).
Translation Additions: 10 Burmese, 2 Urdu (Nicene and Chalcedonian Creeds) and 1 Spanish (chapter 1 of Saved by Grace).
PRC News: Rev. VanderWal (Wingham, ON) accepted the call to Edmonton PRC.
Encouraging Quotes
“My wife and I have been following your services on-line, and especially since the quarantine started a few weeks ago … This is an obvious time for people to catch up on their reading of good books, although our experience is that many ministers do not encourage their congregations in this respect. Where this is so, and the preaching lacks good teaching, then people tend to remain ignorant of many biblical truths, and hence unable to discern good teaching from bad, and become subject to ‘every wind of doctrine’ … We look forward to attending a Sunday at the CPRC later in the year, assuming these restrictions will be removed by then, and life can get back to normal. Remembering you and the CPRC in our prayers.” – Kent, England
“Yesterday I received the books you sent. Thank you so very much for these important books. I will study them. I want to request that you pray for our ministry as well as our country.” – Nepal
“Thank you so much for the literature you faithfully send to me. I enjoy reading the Covenant Reformed News. It is most helpful. May the Lord continue to bless the work you do.” – Co. Antrim
“We, as a family, have been listening to the sermons in Daniel on the Lord’s day over the last month and we have all really been edified by them. Also as and when I have had time, I’ve personally been going through the Belgic Confession class audio recordings.” – Oregon, USA
“Thank you for translating your website information into Afrikaans! I have been studying and scrutinizing your website and can truthfully say I do believe and confess everything that the CPRC confesses and stands for.” – South Africa
“Thank you so much for the Standard Bearers which I received a couple of days ago. These will bring me much comfort as always and balm for the mind in these uncertain days.” – England
“For me it is a delight to know more about the Reformation. It is ‘sweeter than honey to my mouth’ to bring the Word of our sovereign God under the Three Forms of Unity for Latin America and especially for Peru. The teaching of the Protestant Reformed movement is totally unknown here in Peru and countries around us … Sure that our God will manage it according to His providence and willing.” – Peru
“On Thursday we will have a class on justification. If you agree, I would like to distribute some hard copies of the Hungarian translation of the articles on Romans 4 in the most recent issues of the Covenant Reformed News.” – Hungary
“I hope you are fine in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blessed be the Lord, my family and I are safe. We are in quarantine, and I scrupulously respect the governmental orders, for our faith must of course be rooted in the Word of God which tells us you may not tempt the Lord your God and commands us to submit to the authorities. I really liked the last Covenant Reformed News on COVID-19 and its theological significations. The Lord reigns and events must consolidate us in faith and repentance before the final great Judgment Day.” – France
“Thank you so much for sending me the booklets two weeks ago. They have been put to good use. May it soon be possible for us to meet up face to face [at the S. Wales lectures] and share sweet fellowship together once again.” – South Wales
“Thank you for sending me the magazines, catalogues and newsletters. It was very kind of you. I would certainly welcome the monthly Covenant Reformed News by e-mail. I wholeheartedly agree with your stance against Amyraldianism and the so-called ‘free offer of the gospel.’” – England
“I am very grateful for your involving me in interacting with the Reformed doctrines. Translating these doctrines helps me incredibly in understanding them. Like I had shared last year, it is my joy to do the translations and I will commit myself to working on short articles.” – Kenya
“I watched your debate with an Arminian and appreciated your clear and bold defense of the doctrines of grace.” – California, USA
“Just a few lines to say how thankful we are for your ministry. To hear the gospel being preached is a privilege. Our local church seems to be on the slippery slope with New Calvinism promotions and social justice gospel sympathies.” – Scotland
“It is so encouraging to read in the book, Portraits of Faithful Saints, how the Lord has strengthened and upheld our brothers and sisters of the past in their stand for His Word. How we need to do that now in our evil nation! … the Redeemed With Judgment commentary is really lovely … All the sermons on Jacob were so very helpful. I think all, or if not all nearly all, the practical teaching on what he shouldn’t have done and what he should have done was in a wonderful way relevant to my life in the here and now.” – Yorkshire, England
“I’ve been with a pentecostal church for 10 years now and I’m led by the Lord to Reformed teachers and teachings. Because of that, I have had many disagreements with Arminian doctrines that my church pastors are preaching … I heard about your website because of your debate with Timothy Ramsay on World in Focus.” – Philippines
“I’m reading Calvin’s Calvinism. It is a beautiful book, a real classic on predestination, reprobation and providence.” – Lincolnshire, England
