Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 28 November, 2004
“Honour and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are his sanctuary”
(Psalm 96:6)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
God’s Covenant with Christ’s Seed’s Seed
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 27; Isaiah 59:21
I. Who is the Author of the Covenant?
II. With Whom Does He Establish His Covenant?
III. What Are the Blessings of His Covenant?
Psalms: 111:3-9; 119:57-64; 103:13-19; 105:5-10
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Jehoshaphat, the Ecumenical King (8)
Jehoshaphat’s Military Alliance with Jehoram
II Kings 3
I. The Sinful Alliances
II. The Water Supply
III. The Resulting Devastation
Psalms: 33:1-5, 15-17; 119:65-72; 105:38-45; 39:7-13
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:
Alec Motyer on Isaiah 59:21: “‘As for me,’ underlines divine commitment. The covenant does not rest on human wish or need but on divine determination.”
Richard Bacon: “Raising covenant children is arguably the most important thing that Christians do in the Kingdom. God has chosen in His sovereign wisdom and mercy to make the church herself the ‘seedbed of election.’
John Calvin: “How sweet is it to godly minds to be assured, not only by word, but by sight, that they obtain so much favour with the Heavenly Father that their offspring are within His care?”
Matthew Henry on II Kings 3:15: Elisha “called for a musician, a devout musician, one accustomed to play upon his harp and sing psalms to it. To hear God’s praises sweetly sung, as David had appointed, would cheer his spirits, and settle his mind, and help to put him into a right frame both to speak to him and to hear from him.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
This morning we witness the baptism of Alexander Malcolm, infant son of Colin & Beth Buchanan. May the Lord bless this young child and his parents as they seek to raise him in the fear of the Lord.
The Special Reformation issue of the Standard Bearer is available today. Another e-mail from Prof. Engelsma about church membership is also available. RFPA book club members may pick up their new book, Doctrine According to Godliness.
Catechism: Monday at 7 PM at the manse with the Campbells, and Thursday at 7 PM at the Hamills.
Bible Study will be held Wednesday at 8 PM at the manse on Acts 19.
Rev. & Mary Stewart plan to fly to S. Wales on Friday and return Saturday morning. Rev. Stewart will speak on Irresistible Grace in Porthcawl on Friday evening.
Upcoming Meetings: Limerick, Wednesday, 15 Dec., Irresistible Grace Ballymena, Friday, 14 Jan., debate on Psalm Singing Ballymena, Friday, 28 Jan., Problems with Revivals.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 5 December (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is “Knowing Whom We Believe: Christ” (Matt. 16:16).
Last Week’s Offerings: £697.52. Donations: £210 (tapes), £132.55 (website).
PRC News: Rev. J. Slopsema declined the call from Edmonton (Alberta, CAN); their new trio is Revs. Eriks (Loveland, CO), J. Mahtani (Pittsburgh, PA), and Overway (New Jersey). Rev. A. Brummel (S. Holland, IL) is considering the call from the Doon PRC. Rev. Bruinsma (Kalamazoo) is considering the call from Bethel PRC. Hudsonville PRC extended a call to Rev. Bruinsma.
Encouraging Correspondence
“We remember you all in our thoughts and pray for the success of your ministry as a catalyst for something bigger in the UK.” – England
“We are currently enjoying the speeches from the BRF Conference, which arrived here a couple of weeks back courtesy of the Ballymena CPRF. We have much to be thankful for in our contact with you saints there.” – New Zealand
“Great for you to come down last week, great night and really looking forward to you coming down again. As I said I am getting the CDs and they are only a blessing to me and I absolutely loved the series on Chronicles and the ecumenical king. It opened my eyes on some things and for that I am glad. I am still reading away and studying the word … For the last few months now I am blessed when I am driving around the country as not only do I have the New Testament to listen to also have the CD and tapes. May the LORD continue to bless you and yours …” – Limerick
“Hoeksema volumes [Triple Knowledge] and Upon This Rock both proving a great blessing, so many thanks.” – Wales
“Thank you for your church’s kind offer of providing these psalm singing CDs for free. I got interested in the Regulative Principle a couple of years ago and have been singing psalms in my devotional times each day and am keen to try to encourage others to discover the joys of singing God’s songs. I hope I will be able to lend these to other believers to encourage others to discover this joy for themselves.” – England
“I would be interested in receiving a written version of your sermon on predestination … I hope to get some night to your fellowship and hear you preach. I usually work on most Friday nights but can make it to your fellowship one night soon. I continually pray for you as you prepare to speak to others. – N. Ireland
“I have a friend … who wants to send a donation from the US to the Church in Ballymena … He has been listening to your series and reading from the website … The first reformed church we found was the PRC. The first reformed sermons we heard were the PRC. We are so embedded into the PRC, the confessions, lectures, interviews, debates, that we cannot adjust to just any other church. We feel convicted of even being there and not at the PRC. Please pray for us. We need much grace and mercy to go through this every day.” – Texas, USA
“Again, thanks for the News, etc. – Wales
“Greetings be to you, and to all your members in the worthy name of the glorious Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your letter and three cassettes from you. The cassettes that you sent to me were taken by the government for examining. I was upset … but now it is good. They have been sent to me because they found nothing in it but what was written in the Bible … I want to continue to have contact with you …” – Eritrea
“I enclose the order form for Ron Hanko’s book which I look forward to very much, and hope it will be available soon … Holding as I do, very much to P. R. teaching, I find very little of interest in current ‘Christian’ literature and so am extremely glad that these books are now available. I already have the old edition of Reformed Dogmatics but look forward to re-reading it in a more accessible format. I own quite a number of P. R. Books and would not part with them …” – Scotland
“I received the parcel today. I’m truly thankful to the Lord for all the pamphlets and I really want to make good use of them. I’ve read many of the old tracts before in my younger days. The tract ‘The Covenant of God and the Children of Believers’ by DJE is very concise and clear. I am trying to introduce this to the church members. In my church, the majority of them doesn’t believe in infant baptism due to lack of knowledge of the covenant. It is sad that a Presbyterian church subscribing to the Westminster Standards in her constitution is infested with members and worshippers with baptist, pre-millennial, and Arminian persuasion. Currently, we have 2-3 couples listening to messages every week from the PRC and your website. I’ve transferred them into audio CD for portability. I am planning to do a complete series with them from the Heidelberg Catechism. The Three Forms of Unity you gave me, I could let them use for reference during the message. Do remember us in your prayers.” – Western Australia
“I want to tell you that I have learned so much from Rev. Stewart and his teaching. I want to learn more and I wish I could go to his church.” – England
“Thank you very much for sending a flyer for Upon This Rock. I enclose a cheque … We continue to be blessed greatly through listening to the tapes of the worship services.” – N. Ireland
“Thank you very much for the materials you mailed me on the Alpha course. They are helpful. May God guide and bless you in your work.” – Canada
“I want to express my appreciation for being sent the News over the past few years. Thank you for sending it to me. I find its articles very helpful.” – England
