Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 20 November, 2005
“And above all these things put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM Confession of Faith
Psalm 116:14
I. Making our Vows
II. Paying our Vows
Psalms: 132:1-9; 24:1-5; 76:1-4, 7-11; 116:9-19
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Christian Love (2)
Love is Longsuffering
1 Corinthians 13:4a
I. The Situations
II. The Rationale
Psalms: 63:1-8; 24:6-10; 106:21-25, 32-33; 86:11-16
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:
A. A. Hodge: “Reception of either of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper involves very sacred and binding vows to God; and the same is repeated whenever in prayer, orally or in writing, we formally or informally renew our covenant promises to God. Thus a vow, as any other promise, may bind generally to loyal obedience or specially to some particular action” (The Confession of Faith, p. 291).
G. I. Williamson: “Membership vows are made in the presence of men, but they are made unto the Lord. In most Reformed churches these vows are in substance as follows: (1) the vow to believe, to accept permanently, and to obey the Bible as the one infallible rule of faith and practice; (2) the vow or promise to regard oneself as sinful and corrupt, and to renounce oneself in order to receive salvation in Christ alone; (3) the vow or promise to acknowledge Jesus Christ as one’s ruler and in reliance upon him to walk in newness of life; and (4) the vow or promise to heed the lawful discipline of Christ administered by his Church according to the Word of God. It is true that a man who makes such vows and then does not keep them is worse off than if he had never made such vows. But it is also true that no man is well off who does not both make and keep these vows” (The Westminster Confession of Faith, p. 178).
George Lubbers: “He must then endure much provocation from the flesh of the brother in Christ, in which ‘flesh’ there dwells no good thing, he will crucify his own flesh, and, in this love for the brother’s eternal well-being, he will be ‘long’ of ‘explosive wrath!’ He will bear with the weakness of the brother, with the imperfection of the fellow-saint, and uphold him in love, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (The Standard Bearer, vol. 33, p. 422).
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
This morning we witness the public confession of faith of Alison Bann. We wish her the Lord’s blessing as she takes up her place in our midst.
Catechism: Today after the evening service with the older Hamills Monday at 7 PM with the Campbells at the manse Thursday at 5:30 at the Murrays and 7 PM at the Hamills
Bible Study will be held this week Wednesday at 7:45 PM at the manse. We will look at the work of (ruling) elders and their leading the church.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 27 Nov. (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW), is entitled “Enduring From One Generation to the Next” (Ps. 145:4).
Last Week’s Offerings: General Fund – £961.52. Donation – £50 (Building Fund).
PRC News: Classis West met this past week to examine Pastor-elect John Marcus. He sustained his oral examination and Edmonton PRC will proceed with his ordination on Monday, 12 December, in Edmonton. New Jersey’s trio is Rev. A. Brummel (S. Holland, IL), Rev. Dick (Grace, MI), and Cand. Lee.
