Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 14 July, 2013
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious,
longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Caleb Wholly Followed the Lord [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Joshua 14
Text: Joshua 14:8
I. The Meaning
II. The Contrast
III. The Courage
Psalms: 63:1-8; 40:1-5; 106:14-20; 119:9-16
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Virgin Birth Prophecy [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:1-16; 9:6-7; 11:1-10
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 14
I. The Amazing Meaning
II. The Theological Significance
Psalms: 96:8-13; 40:6-10; 89:1-6; 22:6-12
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Herman Hoeksema: “… certain it is that God purposely creates the sign of the virgin birth to make known unto us that Jesus Christ’s coming into the flesh is His act exclusively, and that Christ is born, not by the will of man, but by the conception of the Holy Spirit. God reveals Himself where all human possibilities have come to an end. The incarnation does not take place until the generations from which He was to be born according to the promise have ended in a virgin, that is, until an impossible situation has been created, in order that He may be revealed as the Lord, Who not only calls the things that are not as if they were, but Who also quickens the dead. Only when we are forced to ask the question: ‘how shall this be?’ does God give us the answer: What is impossible with men, is possible with God” (Triple Knowledge, vol. 1, p. 609).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome all our visitors to our worship services today. May we be richly blessed together under the preaching of God’s Word.
A new CPRC address and telephone list is available on the back table. As usual it is run on coloured card stock, so that it is easier for you to retain it and find it.
Rev. Stewart’s bi-monthly letter to the PRC is on the back table. British Reformed Journals are also available for subscribers.
Immediately after this morning’s worship service, a group photo of CPRC members and visitors will be taken in front of the pulpit. This will be used in a presentation Rev. Stewart will be giving while in the US. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.
Children’s Bible Club will meet at 10:30 AM this Tuesday to learn about the first days of Creation week. Ask Susan for more details.
Rev. & Mary Stewart leave this Tuesday morning for the US. They will be returning on Wednesday, 14 August. May “the Lord watch between [us], when we are absent one from another” (Gen. 31:49).
Rev. & Alva Spriensma arrive this week Friday, 19 July. Rev. Spriensma will be preaching for us the next three Lord’s Days.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) is entitled “To Protect and Provide” (Ephesians 5:23).
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. McGeown will give the next lecture in The Rest, Porthcawl on Thursday, 12 September, on “God’s Sovereignty in Our Afflictions.”
Offerings: General Fund – £897.97. Building Fund – £191.10. Donation: £50 (pamphlets).
Website Additions: 2 Italian and 2 Hungarian translations were added.
PRC News: Rev. R. Kleyn declined the call to Randolph PRC.
Encouraging Quotes
“It was good to get your church news letter and CR News. Glad to know that things are going well in Ballymena. I was pleased to see that Prof. Hanko has produced a commentary on I Peter and would ask you to send me a copy. I have read a number of his books, including the History of the Free Offer and Portraits of Faithful Saints. I pray that God will uphold you in all that you do in His name. We are living in exceptional times.”– Scotland
“It was so good to read Prof. Hanko’s answer to my question on Matthew 11:28 which arrived today. It is a real blessing to me and has sorted me out … Having just listened again to Rev. Laning’s sermon on Acts 2:38-39 and your sermon on I Corinthians 1:14-17, which also had important teaching on baptism, I’ve had to admit to myself that there is a big divide between my position and that of the Baptist church here … As time goes by, I become even closer to the PRC and CPRC. Prof. Engelsma’s sermon on ‘The Out-Flowing Spirit of Jesus’ in the Standard Bearer is so very wonderful. I am very, very thankful to your ministry to me in tapes and literature.” – Yorkshire, England
“I shall look forward to receiving my order from you. Thank you. I already have a good number of your books and they are very good. It is so good to read material that you don’t have to worry about lies and heresy as with most so-called Christian books these days.” – S. Wales
“I have been listening to your Reformed Witness Hour programme every Sunday morning on Radio North for over a year and am always blessed by the solid and uncompromising Bible teaching of your American pastors. This is sadly missing from so many of our churches and other places of worship.” – Co. Antrim
“I love translating. It is a wonderful way for me to study. I do it slowly sometimes, because I am busy with family … I am just so thankful for this opportunity that the Lord has set before me and I want to do it for my own soul’s benefit and for the advance of the gospel. I am so excited after learning something and, as I have mentioned before, often I am translating and my heart is exposed, therefore I have to stop and fix things with my Lord. I know Spanish and this is a way to be used in a small way by the Lord …” – Canada
“Thank you and love your YouTube videos. They are blessed!”– Netherlands
“By the way, I’ve started studying through your Belgic Confession classes. Fantastic! I had no clue about the Anabaptists! They believe just like Mormons. That must be the root of all that crazy 1880s American nonsense!” – Arizona, USA
“Thank you for a very thoughtful and helpful meditation on the afflictions and renewed faith of Asaph. Thank you too for continuing to send the e-mail version of the Covenant Reformed News.” – Lebanon
“Please accept the enclosed cheque as a gift in appreciation of the material received throughout the past year. Use it as you see fit in the work of the Lord. I pray that the work in the coming year will be truly blessed and there be progress in the service to the Lord.” – Scotland
“Thank you so much for the book [The Fruit of the Spirit] and for the prompt response. My son has been ploughing through the book first and he’s trawling through it slowly. He’s finding the book very rewarding and challenging … the book is very encouraging so thanks again.” – Cornwall, England
“I really enjoyed your sermon, ‘Christ Jesus, Our Mediator (II).’ Does I Timothy 2:4 teach that God earnestly desires to save all men head for head? The opening section of this video explains why not! This was a blessing to my soul. God bless you indeed.” – Co. Antrim
“My dad really enjoyed the DVD on “The Four Horsemen.” Do you have any more DVDs on eschatology?” – S. Wales
“I love your CPRC website and follow it closely. It is a great blessing.” – New Zealand
“I would like to extend my thanks for sending to me the Covenant Reformed News articles and words of encouragement.” – Uganda
“Would you kindly send to me one copy of The Voice of Our Fathers. This is an extremely valuable book … Trusting things are going well for you all in Ballymena. I do not write to you very often but I do hope you realize how much the DVDs of the weekly services sent by Stephen Murray mean to us here. Also we have taken to downloading each week the Belgic Confession class. My wife and I are finding them very good and so complete and thorough in their coverage of the subjects. It is good to feel that we are keeping in touch with the class as it moves forward week by week. Actually, after we have printed off any attached notes and plug the audio flash drive into the player and sit down with the notes, it almost seems as if we are part of the class.” – Australia
“I just write to confirm that the first issue [of the Standard Bearer] arrived today. So my sincere thanks to you for your prompt attention to this matter. I shall look forward to receiving future copies. It is good to renew acquaintance after some years in the wilderness devoid of the SB!” – Cambridge, England
“Thank you for your e-mail and the Covenant Reformed News. It is a great opportunity to receive it every month. I am pastor of a small church in Cuba. When I converse with others I am as a ‘strange bug’ for my position on supralapsarianism and my position regarding common grace. I have read all the material on your website in Spanish and it has been very good.” – Cuba
