Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 22 May, 2011
“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
The Prayer of the Church in Babylon (9)
The Church’s Moving Confession
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64
Text: Isaiah 64:5-6
I. Concerning God’s Loving Fellowship
II. Concerning Our Terrible Sinfulness
III. Concerning God’s Eternal Ways
Psalms: 1:1-6; 101:1-4; 90:1-8; 103:13-19
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Family Visitation
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13
Text: Hebrews 13:17
I. The Calling
II. The Reason
III. The Result
Psalms: 122:1-9; 101:5-8; 82:1-8; 27:4-7
Contact Stephen Murray for CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services.
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ballymena-United-Kingdom/Covenant-Protestant-Reformed-Church-N-Ireland/337347932331
Quote to Consider:
John Calvin on Isaiah 64:5: “He proceeds with the same subject; for the people deplore their hard lot, that they feel no alleviation in their adversity, although formerly God was wont to stretch out the hand to the fathers. Believers, therefore, speak in this manner: ‘Thou wast wont to meet our fathers; now thy face is turned away from us; and thou appearest to be irreconcilable, because we gain nothing by calling on thee. Whence comes this diversity, as if thy nature had been changed, and thou wert now different from what thou has been?’ They next add, and make an acknowledgment, that they are punished justly, because ‘they have sinned.’ I have formerly stated that nothing is better in adversity than to remember God’s benefits, and not only those which we have ourselves experienced, but likewise those which are related in Scripture; for we cannot be armed by a stronger shield against temptations of every kind.”
E. J. Young on Isaiah 64:5: “The final clause serves as a contrast; ‘in them’ refers to the ways of God. The word ‘olam may be taken as a noun (perpetuity) and construed with ‘in them’; the thought then is that in the dealings of God with men there is perpetuity or eternity, and for that reason we shall be saved.”
Homer C. Hoeksema on Isaiah 64:6: “The point of verse 6 is that in us there is no salvation and no possibility of salvation. But in and behind this apparent impossibility lies eternally unchangeable mercy. Therefore, we are saved. It must always become evident that our salvation is only God’s wonderwork from beginning to end, and that our salvation lies only in eternity” (Redeemed With Judgment, vol. 2, p. 545).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
This year’s family visitation schedule is on the back of this bulletin. Please do all you can to make the scheduled time work for you (and your family) since changes affect the other families lined up that night and the elders. If you are not a member but would like to be on the rota, please see Rev. Stewart or one of the elders. This evening we will have a sermon in connection with family visitation.
Rev. Stewart’s bimonthly letter to the PRC is on the back table today.
Thursday membership class: 7:30 PM on marriage, divorce and remarriage, etc.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “Our Ever-Living Intercessor” (Hebrews 7:25) by Rev. R. Kleyn.
Offerings: General Fund – £409.65. Donation: £10.20.
Upcoming Lectures:
“For Whom Did Christ Die?” Thursday, 2 June, at 7:15 PM in S. Wales.
“For Whom Did Christ Die?” Friday, 24 June, at 7:30 PM in Lurgan Town Hall.
PRC News: Rev. Haak declined the call from Trinity, and received the call from Edgerton. Cornerstone called Rev. Eriks. Redlands formed a trio of Prof. Engelsma, Rev. Eriks and Rev. W. Langerak.
