Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 8 October, 2023
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Nehemiah, a Man Who Sought the Welfare of Israel (21)
Sabbath Profanation in Nehemiah’s Judah [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 13:1-22
Text: Nehemiah 13:15-22
I. The Nature of It
II. The Stopping of It
III. The Prayer Regarding It
Psalms: 84:1-6; 78:1-6; 92:1-2, 12-15; 101:3-8
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Preaching—The Chief Means of Grace [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Timothy 4
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 25
I. It Is an Official Work
II. It Includes Specific Elements
III. It Implies a Certain Calling
Psalms: 19:7-11; 78:7-13; 68:7-12; 119:41-48
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: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 13:15-22: “Here is another instance of that blessed reformation in which Nehemiah was so active. He revived sabbath-sanctification, and maintained the authority of the fourth commandment; and a very good deed this was for the house of God and the offices thereof, for, where holy time is over-looked and made nothing of, it is not strange if all holy duties be neglected … The law of the sabbath was very strict and much insisted one, and with good reason, for religion is never in the throne while sabbaths are trodden under foot … Those that are jealous for the honour of God cannot bear to see his sabbath profaned.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
A new issue of the Covenant Reformed News is available on the back table.
Catechism classes tomorrow:
5:00 PM: Corey, Jason, Katelyn, Maisie & Sebastian (Seniors NT)
5:45 PM: Felicity, Grace, Jonas, Keagan, Liam, Lucas, Sammy, Somaya, Sophie & Yossef (Beginners OT – Book 1)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Juniors NT)
7:15 PM: Angelica, Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
8:00 PM: Alex & Nathan (Pre-confession)
Tuesday Bible study will meet at 11 AM to consider the relationship between the local and the universal church.
Belgic Confession class on Wednesday at 7:30 PM will cover the sign of global preaching in connection with modern missions, etc.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “The Final Sign of Christ’s Return” (Luke 21:25-28).
The next Council meeting is on Monday, 16 October, at 8 PM.
The next Saturday night Bible study is scheduled for Saturday, 21 October, at 7:30 PMs on-line looking at lesson 4 of the study guide on II Thessalonians.
Offerings: £2,087.45. Donations: £50 (Rep. of Ireland), £200 (England).
Translation Additions: 1 Chichewa, 2 Faroese, 1 French, 1 Russian and 2 Spanish.
PRC News: Georgetown PRC—trio of Revs. Brummel, Eriks and Noorman. Hudsonville— Rev. Decker (Grandville, MI) is considering their call. Loveland PRC—Rev. Noorman is considering their call. Lynden PRC—called Rev. Noorman (Southwest, MI). Randolph PRC—Rev. Smit is considering their call. Zion PRC—Rev. Kortus (Redlands, CA) is considering their call.
Encouraging Quotes
“The CPRC videos on YouTube really helped me in thinking more deeply on God’s Word and reforming my theology. Thank you so much for doing them!” – W. Midlands, England
“I am looking for [ecumenical creeds in Fijian] presently. Should I find them, I will surely send them to you. God bless the UK for the missionaries who brought the gospel to Fiji in the 1800s so we can be saved today.” – Fiji
“I really enjoyed Rev. James Laning’s sermons which highlighted a few topics I have been thinking of lately.” – Dublin
“Thanks for the Covenant Reformed News that arrived on Friday … ‘The Bramble King’ sermons were so very good, as challenging as well as comforting. On Thursday, I started listening to the series ‘Zephaniah and the Day of the Lord’ preached in 2016 and a little while ago listened to number 5, ‘The Day of the Lord’s Anger: It’s Imperatives.’” – Yorkshire, England
“I am reviewing two more articles on this passage about ‘married to an unbeliever.’ How useful indeed that the CR News has an index of the books and verses of the Bible.” – Peru
“First of all, thank you for the very detailed content [on the Portuguese section of your website]! Secondly, I went through some problems in my marriage and, through reading the Holy Bible, I ended up discovering this truth! By God’s mercy, I had my marriage restored by God, and I feel it to be my duty to spread the biblical truth to all mankind that marriage is one and that a second marriage is only possible in the case of widowhood! Unfortunately, in our society, we grew up with people living in 2, 3 and up to 4 marriages within the churches!” – Brazil
“Thank you for sending me monthly the Covenant Reformed News. I particularly enjoyed the series ‘Clothed With Christ.’” – Co. Antrim
“I see the Spanish section of the CPRC website is amazing. So much materials, very interesting.” – Cuba
“Looking forward to watching the live stream again on the coming Lord’s day.” – Russia
“I cannot find any words to express the gratitude in my heart for the [Covenant Reformed News] you have graciously sent to me …. I have got Herman Hoeksema’s book, When I Survey. It is pure wonder to me and is in keeping with both the messages in the News.” – Lancashire, England
“I have just finished listening to the Belgic Confession series on the end times, an audio entitled ‘False Christs.’ I must say, it felt like drinking water from a firehose—so much material for me to digest! Can’t wait for next week’s class. Excited.” – Malaysia
“‘Abraham and the Principle of Faith Alone’ (Galatians 3:6-9) was enlightening and encouraging. Thank you.” – S. Wales
“I just finished watching the sermon on Ephraim from earlier today. You captured the Christian’s experience really well. The significance of the cry of Ephraim, ‘turn me and I shall be turned’ became clearer.” – Co. Down
“I have just read the message ‘The 1,000 Years of Revelation 20’ on your website. Preaching through every verse of the book of Revelation, I identify with this view about the 1,000 years. Thank you so much. I thought I was alone!” – London
“It is with great joy that I continually read the website of your church. After all, the complete absolute sovereignty of only God Himself is so important that I am not able to fully express how dear it is to me. Tonight I am reading an interpretation of Ezekiel 33:11 by Rev. Herman Hoeksema on your church’s website. Wonderful! I hope in the future the Lord will lead you to post more excellent refutations of the damnable heresy that God loves everyone. The entire Bible makes it clear God did not, does not and will never love everyone. This doesn’t release us of the responsibility of preaching the gospel as the hyper-calvinist heretics teach.” – New Mexico, USA
“Today my books arrived. Thank you also for the extra reading material you put in for packing! All gratefully received.” – New Zealand
“The Reformed Lord’s Supper Form: A Commentary looks like a wonderful volume. Can’t wait to read it. I’ve enjoyed reading Gottschalk: Servant of God. He was a great Christian who stood alone for sound doctrine. Common Grace Revisited by David Engelsma is very useful in exposing the heresy of common grace. Common grace is very dangerous because it infects people with the Arminian poison. I love what the CPRC stands for and stands against. Praying for you daily.” – Lincolnshire, England
