Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 21 June, 2015
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind …” (Rom. 12:2)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Our Lord’s Burial [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:25-47
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 16
I. The History
II. The Apologetic
III. The Comfort
Psalms: 65:1-5; 106:43-48; 22:9-15; 16:6-11
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Preparatory
A Heart Established With Grace [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13
Text: Hebrews 13:9-10
I. The Goal
II. The Warning
III. The Altar
Psalms: 84:1-6; 107:1-9; 118:20-29; 26:1-8
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: https://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 16: “The death of believers is no satisfaction for their sins. Satisfaction it could never be, of course. Only the death of the Son of God could blot out the guilt of sin. If the just wrath of God must fall upon us, we can only perish everlastingly. For ever we must suffer death. But the Catechism means that the death of believers is no longer to be considered a manifestation of the wrath of God, an execution of justice, a punishment for sin. It is changed into something else for them that are in Christ. And this must be understood in its full sense. It must be applied, not only to the final moment of dying, to our descent into the grave, but equally to all that is implied in death, to all the suffering of this present time. For we lie in the midst of death in this world. Dying we die. All the suffering and agony, all the sorrow and grief of this present time are very really the operation of death. When, therefore, we confess by faith that our death is not meant as a satisfaction for sin, it also implies that all our present sufferings of soul and body are no longer to be considered as punishment for sin and expressions of the righteous judgment of God. For believers, the sufferings of this present time have lost their real sting” (The Triple Knowledge, vol. 1, p. 676).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
On the back table are copies of the new RFPA book, In the Beginning God, available now in the bookstore for £5.
This evening we will have be a preparatory service with the view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Sunday morning.
The Tuesday Bible study will meet at 11 AM to study Hosea on agriculture (2).
This Friday, 26 June, is Rev. Stewart’s lecture on “What Is a Protestant?” in Portadown Town Hall at 7:30 PM. Come if you can, invite others and/or remember this witness in your prayers.
Men’s Bible Study meets for the last study of the season this Saturday, 27 June, at 8 PM at the Kennedys to review Pursuit of Holiness.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “A Dress Code for Marriage” (Colossians 3:12-13).
Upcoming Lecture: Thursday, 2 July, “The Holy Spirit” by Rev. McGeown in S. Wales.
Offerings: General Fund – £579.81.
Website Addition: 2 Indonesian translations (now all of the BRF book, The Five Points of Calvinism, is in Indonesian).
PRC News: Peace PRC called Rev. Huizinga (Redlands, CA).
Book Review
Ye Are My Witnesses
David J. Engelsma & Herman Hanko
British Reformed Fellowship, 2014
How can churches grow in these days? This question was raised by members of the British Reformed Fellowship, and answered from Scripture by the speakers at the 2012 British Reformed Fellowship Ulster Conference. the addresses given have now been collected and edited into this important little book, and made available to a wider audience.
Professors Engelsma and Hanko show that in all ages the church has grown by three means: a) from within as covenant children are born and raised by believing parents within the church, b) by the witnessing of believers, and c) by evangelism. this is the balanced pattern of the Bible, and thus church members play a vital role as witnesses: a point enforced from Scripture in the nine chapters of this book.
These chapters cover “The Divine Mandate to Witness,” “The Content of our Witness,” “The Official Witness of the Church,” “The Personal Witness of a Godly Life,” “The Manner of Christian Witnessing,” “By the Spirit of the Lord,” “The Martyr-Church’s Witness to her Ascended Lord,” and “Mission Work; Message and Methods.”
We are shown that witnessing is a divine mandate for all believers, but when and where is not our choice: God brings about the opportunities. What we witness is also not our choice for Scripture has many warnings about false witnessing. God’s Word provides the message. Believers must never be tempted to “leave evangelism to the professionals.” All are required to study the Word, and be ready to explain and defend their faith at any time. The core message is always to be the proclamation “Jesus is Lord” and there must be an emphasis on the Law (10 Commandments) as God’s rule for life on earth. The visible church must have a stated, confessional, doctrinal stance, should ensure that this is as Scriptural and God-honouring as possible, and must faithfully hold to it. This is the on-going witness of the organised church. Words can soon be forgotten: a consistently Christian life, distinct from that of the world, is a powerful witness. Witnessing must be in love, meek when called for, but bold and uncompromising when the truth must be defended. Witnessing will inevitably also raise opposition. Faithful witnesses are never alone: they are supported by the Holy Spirit. “Witness” and “martyr” are interchangeable terms. It is very possible that in the near future there will be an ever heavier price to pay for witnessing for Christ in word and life. These issues are also in the sovereign hands of God, but we must be prepared to stand faithfully until Christ returns.
The final chapter, “Mission Work: Method and Message” by Martyn McGeown, is a challenging and encouraging narrative of missionary church planting in Limerick, Ireland.
… [It] presents material from a Scriptural basis that all concerned Christians would do well to ponder and pray over. A wide circulation of this book would do much good.
British Church Newspaper, 12 June 2015
