Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 10 March, 2013
“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Enriched in All Utterance and Knowledge [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1
Text: I Corinthians 1:4-5
I. The Meaning
II. The Thanksgiving
Psalms: 25:4-10; 28:1-5; 103:1-7; 119:97-104
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
John the Baptist’s Public Ministry (14)
Christ’s Commendation of John [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11
Text: Matthew 11:7-15
I. The Character of John
II. The Office of John
Psalms: 66:1-7; 28:6-9; 71:1-8; 12:1-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
John Calvin on Matthew 11:11:“These words not only maintain the authority of John, but elevate his doctrine above the ancient prophets, that the people may keep in view the right end of his ministry; for they mistook the design of his mission, and, in consequence of this, derived almost no advantage from his discourses.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Michelle Lou-Hing, and Thiago, Sarah, Lidi, David and Nara to our worship services today. This is the last weekend before the Brazilians return to their homeland. May the Lord be with them!
On the back table today are the March Covenant Reformed News and the new British Reformed Journal for subscribers.
John McAuley returned home from Antrim Hospital this past week, but remains quite weak. John’s brother, Willie (age 81), passed away on Thursday. The funeral was held yesterday. We extend to John and the Murrays our sympathy. Please remember them in your prayers.
Monday Catechism:
6 PM – O.T. Beginners (Bradley & Alex)
6:45 PM – N.T. Juniors (Nathan, Jacob & Joseph)
7:30 PM – Heidelberg (Timothy)
The Tuesday morning Bible study will be held this week at 11 AM. We will look at the idea and role of the signs of Christ’s return.
The Belgic Confession Class will meet this Wednesday, at 7:45 PM, to continue article 19 on the communion of Christ’s two natures.
Ladies Bible Study meets this week Friday.
The church visitors arrive this Friday! Saturday’s mini-conference starts at 11 AM with the second lecture at 1 PM and lunch in between. Thanks to all who have signed up to bring food for Saturday and Sunday. If you would still like to help, the sign-up sheet is on the back table. Don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbours to the meetings. Extra flyers are available for distribution.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) is entitled “Joseph the Prime Minister” (Gen. 41:41-57) by Rev. R. Kleyn.
Philip and Susan Hall have requested baptism for their son, Lucas Joshua. The council has gladly granted this request and baptism is scheduled for the morning of 14 April (when Susan’s sister, Stephanie, is to be with us).
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “The Spirit of the Age and the Church” in Porthcawl at 7:15 PM on Thursday, 18 April.
Offerings: General Fund – £856.37. Building Fund – £202.52.
Website Addition: 1 Danish translation was added.
PRC News: Faith PRC called Rev. R. Kleyn.
John the Baptist’s Witness to Christ
Rev. Carl Haak
(excerpt from an article in the Standard Bearer, vol. 71, issue 1)
John the Baptist is one of the most remarkable personalities in the Bible. His coming was foretold in the Old Testament prophecies (Isa. 40:3-5; Mal. 3:1; Mal. 4:4-6). His privileged work was to be the forerunner of the Lord (Luke 1:7). He served thus by preaching repentance, with baptism as a sign of the remission of sins (Luke 3:3-9). Jesus called him the greatest of the prophets (Matt. 11:7-9). He lived as a Nazarite in the desert and was filled with the Spirit from his birth (Luke 1:80). Multitudes flocked to the Jordan River to hear him, resulting in the conversion of many people, among whom were publicans and soldiers (Mark 1:5; Luke 3:10-14). His ministry was marked by scathing rebukes of the religious formalism of his day (Luke 3:7-9). John the Baptist, then, was the divinely appointed harbinger of the Lord whose calling it was to make ready a people for the appearing of Christ and personally to point out the Christ when He appeared (Luke 1:41). Is not this the purpose of the preaching of the gospel by the church today?
[John 1] verse 19 informs us that the popularity of John caused the Jews to send a delegation to John the Baptist to inquire concerning his identity. John faithfully and humbly answers their questions and unmistakably identifies himself as the forerunner of the Christ. He also makes plain the reason for his baptizing. John administers the sign of what the Christ will indeed do, namely, baptize with the Holy Ghost. John also shows humble faithfulness to his task by emphasizing the pre-eminence of Christ over the forerunner.
What a moment in the history of the unfolding of God’s covenant salvation is recorded in [John 1] verses 29-34! Here at long last the promised Saviour stands before His people in all the grace of God as the only sacrifice for sin. It was for this moment that John had been sent, and it was for this moment that all the people of God had waited for 4,000 years. All the Old Testament promises pointed toward this moment of the coming of the Christ to begin and accomplish the work of God. Really, having completed this task of pointing out the Christ and witnessing of His deity, the work of John the Baptist is completed. Never was there a fuller testimony given to Christ upon earth than that which was given by John the Baptist. We know nothing of the Christ unless the Spirit gives us to see Him with John the Baptist’s eyes and we rejoice in Him as “the Lamb that was slain” (Rev. 13:8).
