Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 24 May, 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
Abraham Commanding His Household [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Genesis 18:16-33
Text: Genesis 18:19
I. The Meaning
II. The Cause
III. The Purpose
Psalms: 138:1-6; 105:26-37; 127:1-5; 105:4-9
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Listen and Wake Up! (8)
Desecrated Jerusalem, Awake! [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52
Text: Isaiah 52:1-6
I. Its Imagery
II. Its Basis
III. Its Fulfilment
Psalms: 122:1-9; 105:38-45; 44:10-16; 66:1-7
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
John Calvin on Isaiah 52:1: “Freed from their tyranny, the Church already has cause to rejoice; and security for the future holds out solid ground for joy and gladness. Yet Isaiah exhorts us to mutual congratulation when God is reconciled to his Church; and indeed if we have any piety in us, we ought to be deeply affected by her condition, that we may rejoice in her prosperity, and be grieved in her adversity. In short, it ought to be the height of our gladness, as also the Psalmist says, ‘Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I remember not thee, and if thou be not the crown of my gladness’ (Ps. 137:6).”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Rev. Stewart’s bi-monthly letter to the PRC is on the back table today.
Family visitation continues this week. The schedule is as follows:
Today after AM service Janet Napier (Reid/Rev. Stewart)
Monday, 25 May 7 PM Tommy Duncan (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
8 PM Grahams (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
9 PM George Wilkinson (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
Tuesday, 26 May 7 PM John McAuley (Reid/Rev. Stewart)
8 PM P. Halls (Reid/Rev. Stewart)
Thursday, 28 May 7 PM Callenders (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
8 PM Jennifer Hanko (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
Wed., 3 June 7 PM Douglas Stewart (Reid/Rev. Stewart)
8 PM Stewarts (Crossett/Reid)
The Tuesday Bible study will meet at 11 AM to study spiritual harlotry in Ezekiel and its cure.
The CPRC will be running a stall at the Ballymena Agricultural Show this Friday and Saturday, 29-30 May. We need volunteers willing to spend time at the stall talking with people and distributing literature. Speak to Julian Kennedy if you can help.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “The Necessity of Church Membership” (Heb. 10:25).
Keep Friday, 5 June, available for a barbecue at the manse. More details and confirmation will be in next week’s bulletin.
Upcoming Lectures:
Thursday, 11 June, “What Is a Protestant?” The Round Chapel, S. Wales, at 7:15 PM
Friday, 26 June, “What Is a Protestant?” Portadown Town Hall at 7:30 PM.
Offerings: General Fund – £540.84. Donations: £100 (website), £200 (DVDs).
Website Additions: 4 Afrikaans translations.
PRC News: Rev. Decker declined the call to Peace PRC. Rev. R. Kleyn received the call to be second missionary to the Philippines.
Lasting Effects
Brian D. Dykstra
One perk of teaching is the conversations I sometimes have with students as I pass them in the hallways. Junior high students are interesting because many of them are able to perform some humorous twists with words and phrases. When talking with the little ones, however, I never know what to expect. I am often caught completely flat-footed by people whose height just passes my waist.
Quite some time ago I found a little girl in the hallway during recess. I wondered whether she was supposed to be outside playing or in her classroom doing some work, so I asked her, “Do you need help with something?”
“No, I just came back from the dentist,” she answered.
“I hope he treated you well,” I continued, happy she had a reason to be in the hall.
“No, he told me I had some cavities,” she said with a hint of disbelief.
“Yes, that can happen,” I said, thinking I had better cut this conversation short so she could either go outside or go to her classroom to work.
“But, Mr. Dykstra,” she said with eyes wide and showing both unpleasant surprise and sincerity, “I haven’t had any pop for the last three days!”
Ah, what is a child to do? Great sacrifices are made with no apparent benefit. I was reminded that children often have little concept of long-term effects.
This can be true of our sins, too. There can be long-term effects of sin that we do not anticipate. Let us take David and Paul as examples. David fell into the sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Although David’s conscience must have troubled him at the time, he wanted to satisfy his sinful desires badly enough to disregard whatever the consequences must surely be. He had his evening of pleasure, seemed to have gotten away with it and could go on with his life. However, Nathan the prophet told him of the chastisement for his sin. The consequence was that the sword “shall never depart from thine house” (II Sam. 12:10). Subsequent Bible history shows us that God meant what He said.
Paul sinned in his persecution of the early New Testament church. He agreed to the stoning of Stephen. Apparently there were other instances when he took a more active role in persecution than merely standing by while tending the coats of those who participated more directly. Yet, after his conversion, he remembered his participation in this persecution. Several times in his epistles, Paul mentions his part in the attack upon God’s church. For example, I Corinthians 15:9 says, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” There is a long-term effect of sin which endures even with the passing of time.
This is true with how our children treat one another. Our children are not always as kind to each other as they should be. The effects of sinful treatment can last for some time. Such treatment is a source of frustration for all supporters of our Christian school. Part of the reason we have our schools is so that our children may make Christian friends and experience treatment in accord with the life of those who share covenant blessings with us. Yet, because of our sinful natures, instances of unchristian treatment continue.
Unkind words are spoken. Revenge is sought while playing on various fields of competition. One higher on the social totem pole makes sure those who are lower remember their status. It can be as subtle as a nasty glance, a disapproving look, the tone of voice used when one of lower standing is chosen to be on the same team or a nudge given when passing through a “crowded” doorway. Those who constantly receive such treatment will not soon forget it. Those who give such treatment will some day, with the efficacious working of a godly spirit of repentance, come to detest what they have done to brothers and sisters in Christ. Future results could be that friendships do not develop and trust is lacking between members of God’s church.
Let us be encouraged to continue to work and to pray with our children so that we live our beautiful confession made in Lord’s Day 21, Question and Answer 55: “… that every one must know it to be his duty, readily and cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members.” When our children are confident of experiencing the Christian “charity” of I Corinthians 13 at school, there will be no morning tears before heading out the door or a distressing tale to be told at the end of the school day. Our school will be a place where all covenant children can learn and experience the true meaning of “the communion of saints.”
