Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 25 December, 2005
“And above all these things put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 12; Deut. 18:15-19
I. The Comparison
II. The Work
III. The Calling
Psalms: 90:1-7; 29:5-11; 77:14-20; 103:6-13
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Christian Love (7)
Love is Not Self-Seeking
1 Corinthians 13:5b
I. The Meaning
II. The Situations
II. The Reasons
Psalms: 136:1-12; 30:1-5; 41:1-6; 119:97-104
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
Quotes to Consider:
Jonathan Edwards: “As you have not made yourself, so you were not made for yourself. You are neither the author nor the end of your own being. Nor is it you that uphold yourself in being, or that provide for yourself, or that are dependent on yourself. There is another that hath made you, and preserves you, and provides for you, and on whom you are dependent: and He hath made you for himself, and for the good of your fellow-creatures, and not only for yourself. He has placed before you higher and nobler ends than self, even the welfare of your fellowmen, and of society, and the interests of his kingdom; and for these you ought to labour and live, not only in time, but for eternity” (Charity and its Fruits, pp. 180-181).
John Calvin: “The observance of the commandments consists not in the love of ourselves, but in the love of God and our neighbour; that his is the best and most holy life, who lives as little as possible to himself; and that no man leads a worse or more iniquitous life, than he who lives exclusively to himself, and makes his own interest the sole subject of his thoughts and pursuits … Self-love keeps all our senses bound in such a manner that brotherly love is altogether banished.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
The most recent Standard Bearer is available on the back table for subscribers.
Bible Study will not be held this week.
Catechism: Thursday at 5:30 PM at the Murrays and 7 PM at the Hamills.
Website: “‘Our Own Hymn Book’ Versus God’s Own Hymn Book: a Critique of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster Hymnal” has been updated (www.cprc.co.uk/articles/freepresbyterianhymnal.htm).
Tune in to the Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 1 Jan (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW).
Rev. Stewart will give a lecture on “The Synod of Dordt” in Mountjoy Orange Hall near Omagh on Thursday, 12 January, 2006.
Last Week’s Offerings: General Fund – £7,519.50. Donations – £40 (tapes), $284 (Building Fund—from Hudsonville PRC Choral Society).
PRC News: Rev. Dick (Grace, Standale) is considering the call from Covenant (NJ). Edgerton has also extended a call to Rev. Dick. Rev. A. Brummel (S. Holland, IL) received the call to Kalamazoo PRC.
Encouraging Quotes
“Thank you so much for loyally sending the C. R. News … I do so enjoy reading the articles contained in it and am always amazed at the clear and concise way in which many weighty topics are balanced with essential Biblical doctrines in such a short amount of space. I find they have been helpful for the building up of my faith. I find it more and more essential to be grounded in the faith and clear about doctrine, especially in our ‘religious’ age that makes more noise than displays content.” – England
“We really enjoy ‘The Reformed Witness Hour’ programme each Sunday morning. It is a pleasure to hear the Gospel spoken in all its glory. This programme … [is] required listening in our house!” – Co. Londonderry
“… I was brought to your site some time ago by someone in South Africa and also someone in the US recommended it for me at another occasion. On the internet the world is very small!” – Sweden
“I am a retired missionary to the Muslims in India. In my work, I saw the damage done by Christian Zionism [Jewish premillenialism] to Muslim missionary work. Please send me The Momentous Event.” – Cambridge, England
“Excellent articles on marriage. I have retained 2 & 4 and am missing 1 & 3. Could you please forward as I would like to share with my pastor who has run a course on marriage …” – South Wales
“This is a good time to express my appreciation for the excellent material on the Audio site and to congratulate the CPRF on their God-given wisdom in setting it up. In these days for easily-portable MP3 players you must surely be succeeding in spreading the truth of the Word of God. And Rev. Stewart certainly presents the truth clearly and logically, no ‘uncertain sound’ there.” – New Zealand
“I have been enjoying the series on the Ark of the Covenant” – Co. Tyrone
“I was on the internet searching for articles on psalm singing when I found your website for the fellowship in Ballymena. There are some excellent articles there which I was able to download. Thanks for having that resource available.” – Ontario, Canada
“Thanks for the excellent series on the ark of the covenant. Passed all the tapes on to [a friend].” – West Yorkshire
“Thank you for sending me the Covenant Reformed News, it is a blessing to me as a fairly new Christian …” – Shropshire, England
“I have come through some nasty charismatic experiences so I am very sceptic about the movement now. Nevertheless I still believe in the sovereignty of God and his word as a final authority above every other authority. I am very happy that through your website I could learn what it means to be truly reformed and found there enormous amount of free material to learn from so that I can stay ‘Sola Scriptura’ forever!” – Slovakia
“Thank you very much for your e-mail this morning. It is very very good of you to send [the Psalm CDs], and I really look forward to listening to them. There is something really awe inspiring about the metrical psalms.” – Co. Armagh
“Could you please send me 1 copy of Mystery of Bethlehem by Herman Hoeksema and 1 copy of Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom by Prof. Engelsma … I am already benefiting from Prof. Engelsma’s exposition of Judges and was very much blessed by reading Prof. Hanko’s Mysteries of the Kingdom, my earlier order. Thank you so much, therefore, for your important ministry to us. Good books like these, together with good sermon tapes, are a wonderful provision to those of us who are without a church.” – West Yorkshire
“I’m enjoying the books received recently, Calvin’s Sermons on Election and Reprobation and Prof. Hanko’s History of the Free Offer. Also, I read Prof. Engelsma’s tract on Pentecostalism, Try the Spirits, and this was excellent stuff.” – Limerick, ROI
“Just a note to thank you for The Momentous Event. This was a very kind and blessed gift which will be very useful. May the Lord bless you.” – England
“… I especially enjoyed the sermon on John 3:16, showing the particularity of God’s love. Also enjoyed the one on Romanism, ‘I Will Build My Church.’ Thanks to the person responsible for doing this work and thanks to the one preaching. I played the sermons into a chat program we use and my friends who heard it enjoyed them as well. Thanks again.” – New York, USA
“I have been on your website, and it is very good. So good in fact that I have ordered some material. Please can you send me the weekly bulletin via e-mail.” – Humberside,England
