Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 5 January, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM – Prof. Kuiper
Moses’ Prayer for Jehovah’s Guidance and Protection [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Numbers 9:15-23; 10:11-36
Text: Numbers 10:35-36
I. The Prayer’s Content
II. The Prayer’s Confidence
III. The Prayer’s Answer
Psalms: 99:1-9; 121:1-8; 105:1-3, 11-15; 68:1-4, 11-12, 19-20
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Prof. Kuiper
The Mystery of Godliness [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Timothy 3
Text: I Timothy 3:16
I. The Mystery Revealed
II. The Truth Confessed
III. The Godliness Effected
Psalms: 101:1-4, 7-8; 2:1-3, 7-12; 45:3-8; 66:8-17
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
Quotes to Consider
John Calvin: “Nothing can be safer than to make God the guardian and protector of our life.”
Philip Henry: “Conversion turns us to the Word of God, as our touchstone, to examine ourselves … as our glass, to dress by (James 1); as our rule to walk and work by (Galatians 6:16); as our water, to wash us (Psalm 119:9); as our fire to warm us (Luke 24); as our food to nourish us (Job 23:12); as our sword to fight with (Ephesians 6); as our counsellor, in all our doubts (Psalm 119:24); as our cordial, to comfort us; as our heritage, to enrich us.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Prof. Kuiper and Dave Kregel today. Prof. Kuiper will be preaching for us this week and next week.
On the back table is Rev. Stewart’s new letter to the PRC.
Thank-you William & Alison for all your work organizing the congregational dinner and quiz again. It was an enjoyable evening of fellowship and was greatly appreciated!
Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Hannah, Penelope & Xander (Seniors OT)
5:45 PM: Grace, Jonas, Liam & Sammy (Beginners OT – Book 2)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Felicity, Jorja & Sophie (Juniors OT)
7:15 PM: Jason, Kyan, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 1)
The church visitors will meet with the Council tomorrow night at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM. Prof. Kuiper will lead a study on the beginning of the Omride dynasty (I Kings 16:21-34).
Prof. Kuiper will be giving a lecture on “The Proper Method of Bible Interpretation: Grammatical-Historical-Spiritual” this Wednesday, 8 January, at 7:30 PM. Extra flyers are on the back table for you to pass on to friends and family.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “By Faith Looking for a City” (Heb. 11:9-10).
There will be tea after the evening service next Lord’s day.
Offerings: £1,399.80. Donation: £15 (Wales).
Translation Additions: 1 Dutch (Prof. Engelsma’s book, Better to Marry), 4 French, 1 Polish, 1 Russian and 5 Spanish (including Prof. Gritter’s pamphlet, “Public Worship and the Reformed Faith”).
PRC News: Rev. Maatman declined the call to Hope PRC (Redlands, CA). Rev. J. Engelsma is considering calls from Grace PRC, Lynden PRC and Southwest PRC. Rev. Barnhill is considering the call from Hudsonville PRC.
Published in the Ballymena Guardian – 31 December, 2024
How Are We to Interpret the Bible?
What are the basic principles we should use to interpret the Scriptures? This is the subject that American theological professor, Douglas J. Kuiper, will address in his lecture in Ballymena on “The Proper Method of Bible Interpretation: Grammatical-Historical-Spiritual” on Wednesday, 8 January.
But what is the grammatical-historical-spiritual method? Why is it the “proper” method, in distinction from other methods of interpretation that many use?
Professor and rector of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, Doug Kuiper has a wealth of experience in this area as a Christian pastor and a teacher of courses on biblical hermeneutics (the principles and methods of biblical interpretation), New Testament Greek and New Testament exegesis (interpretation). He is also the editor of the Protestant Reformed Theological Journal, and the author of “Judging: The Christian’s Duty” and “The Sin of Gambling.”
Prof. Kuiper’s speech on “The Proper Method of Bible Interpretation” is set for 7:30 PM on Wednesday, 8 January in the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (CPRC) at 83 Clarence Street, Ballymena, BT43 5DR.
Prof. Kuiper will also preach at both CPRC Lord’s day services on 5 and 12 January (11 AM & 6 PM). Wednesday’s lecture and the Sunday services will be streamed live at (www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming). All are welcome to attend these meetings.
