Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 7 May, 2017
“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 – Rev. M. McGeown
Jonathan: David’s Covenant Friend (1)
Jonathan’s Preemptive Strike At Geba [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Samuel 13:1-23
Text: I Samuel 13:3
I. The Occasion
II. The Strike
III. The Outcome
Psalms: 24:1-6; 37:1-7; 144:9-15; 18:30-37
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Rev. M. McGeown
Jonathan: David’s Covenant Friend (2)
Jonathan’s Daring Attack at Michmash [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Samuel 14:1-23
Text: I Samuel 14:1-23
I. The Daring Plan
II. The Active Faith
III. The Miraculous Deliverance
Psalms: 121:1-8; 37:8-14; 91:3-8; 68:7-12
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart 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
Alfred Edersheim: “Whatever fitness he might have shown for the kingdom, had he been called to it, a more unselfish, warm-hearted, genuine or noble character is not presented to us in Scripture than that of Jonathan.”
Keil and Delitzsch: “Wherever … there is a definite command given by the Lord, a man has no right to allow himself to be induced to transgress it by fixing his attention upon the earthly circumstances in which he is placed” (Commentary on I Samuel, p. 130).
Mary J. Evans: “Jonathan’s intention was to fight, therefore there was no point in hiding from the Philistines and he and his brave armour-bearer deliberately drew attention to their presence. They decided to take the Philistines’ reaction as a sign; not as to whether they should fight or not, but whether the fight should be at the bottom or the top of the cliff!” (The Message of Samuel, p. 91).
Dale Ralph Davis: “And how refreshing to hear Jonathan’s ‘perhaps.’ ‘Perhaps Yahweh will act for us.’ Many in our day think otherwise. They think that to say ‘perhaps’ cuts the nerve of faith, that if faith is faith it must be always certain, dogmatic and absolutely positive. Faith, however, must not be confused with arrogance” (First Samuel: Looking On the Heart, p. 144).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Rev. McGeown, who will be preaching for us today, and Larisa De Jong (First Holland PRC). There will be tea after the evening service (Group C on the tea rota).
Since it is the first Sunday of the month, there are offerings for both the general fund and the building fund this morning.
The Council meets tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM at church.
The Tuesday Bible Study meets at 11 AM to consider the promised land in Deuteronomy and Joshua.
The lecture by Rev. Stewart on “Are All Men in the Image of God?” is this Friday, 12 May, at 7:30 PM at church. Extra flyers are available on the back table to pass out to family and friends.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is “A Joyful Mother of Children” (Ps. 113:9).
Family visitation will begin in mid-May.
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “N. T. Wright, Justification and the Reformation” in Margam Community Centre on Thursday, 8 June, at 7:15 PM.
Earth Day
Brian D. Dykstra
Recently, the annual Earth Day took place. I did a little research and found some disagreement about the basic facts of Earth Day. A National Geographic article in its April 1995 issue states, “The original event, 1970, had been the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, a longtime battler for clean water and a man regarded by many conservationists as one of the few voices of conscience on Capitol Hill.” An internet search results in information stating that the founder of Earth Day is John McConnell and that Earth Day is the day of the Spring Equinox, 20 or 21 March.
Although 22 April has become the accepted date for observing Earth Day, I will provide some quotations from John McConnell. The quotations come from McConnell’s Earth Magna Charta. The entire document can be found on-line (www.earthsite.org). At that website you can also find his 77 Theses On the Care of the Earth: A Guide for Earth Trustees. Those of you who have an interest in what might be the future of public school science instruction and subsequent government policies would find these documents interesting.
If nothing else, the following quotations have the sound of the coming world government of the anti-Christ. It appears there is more to Earth Day organizations than picking up litter along the roadside or spreading the word about not using too much fertilizer on your lawn. Here are a few samples:
Prelude
The people of planet Earth have the raw materials, natural resources, and the technology for all to enjoy a life of quality. But they are still restricted by the evil that has dominated history. They lack the vision of the great future now possible and how to attain it. As a result, the world is filled with confusion and conflict.
Harmony with Neighbor and Nature
The people of Earth can have a great future by working together for a global goal all can approve. Here is a basic goal that most enlightened people of every religion, clime and culture will support. Here is a principled purpose that will quickly reduce the terrible chaos and conflict that troubles civilization. Here is an idea that will bring ever increasing harmony with neighbor and nature and bring peaceful progress in the human adventure.
Rights and Responsibilities
We are all members of one human family that has inherited a planet rich in resources. We each have an equal claim to its land, minerals and raw materials. None of us produced them. We all need them or what they provide. We all have need for their sustainable development and use. To assure equitable benefits every individual and institution should seek to balance rights and responsibilities.
Ethics and Moral Values
The great periods of progress in history have resulted from religious fervor for universal ideals of honesty, freedom, justice and creative altruism or divine love. A recent example was the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King Jr. Its essence is described in his book, Strength to Love. The Campaign for Earth needs to tap the deepest and the best in our religious faith or inner feelings.
Isn’t it interesting in the last quotation how McConnell writes about “creative altruism or divine love” and “religious faith or inner feelings” as being interchangeable terms? As long as religion is a veneer, it is acceptable and people can find plenty of common ground. However, as soon as religious belief is deeply rooted in the truth of the Bible, it is not acceptable and the world will not care to stand with you.
In our science classes, we teach that God placed Adam over His creation as a steward. We are answerable to God for how we use His creation. We are to use, not abuse, the work of His hands. Much of this will sound good to the world because they see a shared view of the responsible use of resources. Eventually, however, we would come to discuss Psalm 73. Instruction would have to be given that even an earthly life of prosperity and ease is not a blessing for those who are not God’s children. There is a day of judgment coming for those who do not thank God for His gifts.
What can we say about Earth Day? We will remember our place here as God’s stewards but, as we do, we will also be mindful that this earth is not our lasting home. Earth cannot be saved by the combined efforts of the brotherhood of all mankind but the earth will be cleansed by the fire of God’s just judgment and recreated as the beautiful, lasting home of the body of Christ (II Pet. 3).
