Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 13 November, 2016
“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
The Life of Jacob (16)
Jacob’s Wrestling Match [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:9-32
Text: Genesis 32:22-26
I. With Whom?
II. What?
III. For What?
Psalms: 66:1-7; 18:20-27; 4:3-8; 3:1-8
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Life of Jacob (17)
The Names Involved in Jacob’s Wrestling Match [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Hosea 12
Text: Genesis 32:27-32
I. The Name of the Patriarch
II. The Name of His Opponent
III. The Name of the Place
Psalms: 146:1-8; 18:28-35; 84:4-12; 27:8-13
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
J. Douglas MacMillan: “… when you are wrestling with someone and he takes a hold of you and he is seventeen or eighteen stone, you soon know that you are in the grasp of a mighty man! You know you are in for a struggle … A half-hearted approach will not do … What do you require in order to be a good wrestler? You need courage, and you need concentration, and you need strength, but above all you need enthusiasm and energy. You have to get in there and get on the attack with all your heart and soul” (Wrestling With God: Lessons From the Life of Jacob, p. 62).
John Calvin on Genesis 32:24: “Who is able to stand against an Antagonist, at whose breath alone all flesh perishes and vanishes away, at whose look the mountains melt, at whose word or beck the whole world is shaken to pieces, and therefore to attempt the least contest with him would be insane temerity? But it is easy to untie the knot. For we do not fight against him, except by his own power, and with his own weapons; for he, having challenged us to this contest, at the same time furnishes us with means of resistance, so that he both fights against us and for us. In short, such is his apportioning of this conflict, that, while he assails us with one hand, he defends us with the other; yea, inasmuch as he supplies us with more strength to resist than he employs in opposing us, we may truly and properly say, that he fights against us with his left hand, and for us with his right hand. For while he lightly opposes us, he supplies invincible strength whereby we overcome … in granting the victory to our faith, he becomes in us stronger than the power by which he opposes us.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
A hearing loop is now operational in the church building.
Monday evening’s Catechism classes:
5:45 PM – Taylor, Josh, Corey & Katelyn (Beginners NT)
6:30 PM – Bradley & Samuel (Juniors OT)
7:15 PM – Jacob, Alex & Nathan (Heidelberg Catechism, book 2)
The Council meets on Monday, 14 November, at 8 PM.
The Tuesday Bible study meets at 11 AM to study the holy war in OT law.
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue our discussion of Article 29 on the third mark of a true church.
Ladies’ Bible Study meets this Friday at 10:30 AM at church to discuss Proverbs on “The Christian’s Speech.”
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is “In What Does Life Consist?” (Luke 12:13-21).
The next S. Wales Lecture in The Round Chapel, Margam, is on Thursday, 8 December, at 7:15 PM, by Rev. Stewart on “John Owen and the Death of Christ.”
Offerings: General Fund: £867.60. Building Fund: £209.70.
Encouraging Quotes
“Many thanks for the CDs [of the Belgic Confession classes] with handouts and the book … I have found that predestination (election and reprobation) is a subject that appears either incomprehensible or draws hostility, if I try to explain why I hold to it, as are the issues around infra/supralapsarianism, which Hoeksema very helpfully deals with in his Reformed Dogmatics (though I am still trying to get my head round some of the issues—not an easy topic). However, the beauty is that truth is all of a piece and ultimately will hold together to present an undeniable, faultless harmony throughout. Praise God!” – Wolverhampton, England
“Could you please send me a copy of Redeemed With Judgment (sermons on Isaiah) vol. 1 … Your website and pamphlets have been a real blessing.”- Co. Antrim
“Thank you very much for sending the books so quickly. We continue to be well taught by CPRC books and look forward to reading these.” – Scotland
“We’ve enjoyed a couple of your live services which we watch here at noon. The a cappella psalm singing is particularly beautiful in worship. The sermons on Colossians 2 are well received and we are learning much from them. The learning curve for Reformed theology is so large that I think sometimes my brain will melt …” – Minnesota, USA
“Last week I decided to study the Belgic Confession (using the green book, which I’m so glad I got) from the beginning again. I did the first 11 articles last year. I am looking forward to having the class CDs for articles 17 and 18. Thank you so much for them. I do find it good, joining in by answering the questions. Thanks also for the catalogue, Covenant Reformed News and Beacon Lights.” – Yorkshire, England
“I write to acknowledge formally the receipt of your letter and to again say how much I appreciate your sending me regularly the Covenant Reformed News. Your writings are very helpful to me.” – South Wales
“I send to you two Czech translations. I spent a great time with these articles. When I read and re-read your thoughts, I grow in Reformed (biblical!) understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you! By the way, I became a book club member of the rfpa.org! I’m looking forward to the book The Reformed Baptism Form by B. Wielenga.” – Czech Republic
“Thank you so much for posting the sermon [of Rev. Lanning] on Methuselah! I am still listening and am loving it. I have always loved that part of Genesis and felt him to be special and important concerning God’s judgment. God bless you and thank you for your work!” – Illinois, USA
“Many thanks for all your assistance and encouragement. I found the material you posted to be very helpful and useful! I have sent books around to unreformed believers who doctrinally are still wavering.” – Devon, England
“I read your on-line backlog of material very regularly.” – Scotland
“As an Augustinian Calvinist, but a ‘poor lonesome Calvinist’ in a country dominated by apostasy in the major so-called Protestant churches and, of course, in the ‘Satan synagogue’ (the Roman Church) and atheism in the governing bodies, I am very interested by the CPRC website. I should be glad if I could receive your Covenant Reformed News.” – France
“Could you kindly send me a copy of Herman Hanko’s God’s Everlasting Covenant of Grace? You may be interested to know that I need a replacement because I have just given my copy away to a Christian who had only vaguely heard of covenant theology, and was really thrilled and excited when he saw the contents of the book!” – Somerset, England
“… after coming out of a theology class one Saturday morn, we were on the topic of the image of God and Berkhof pointed out that Luther had a view of the imago dei that most Reformers disagreed with him (Luther) on. I had some reservations on Berkhof and went to work on different opinions of different theologians. I came across your ‘The Image of God in Man: A Reformed Reassessment’ … I commend you for your comments on the imago dei. I take your position wholeheartedly on this topic even though we are the minority by far!” – B. C., Canada
“Thank you for the clear, biblically sound explanation of Revelation 20. Your interpretation is so sane and biblical. I’m reading William Hendriksen’s commentary on Revelation which holds the same interpretation.” – USA
“A big thank you for the items you kindly sent me. I’ll be passing on the catalogues to my friends shortly. I’ve begun to read Sermons on Election and Reprobation by Calvin. His sermons are very clear and are a blessing to me as I learn more about predestination, election and reprobation. Calvin was a great Reformer, pastor, preacher, lecturer and writer.” – Lancashire, England
