Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 16 October, 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 Power of Riches [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 49
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 5
I. An Earthly Power
II. A Blinding Power
III. An Impotent Power
Psalms: 37:16-22; 15:1-5; 73:1-9; 49:5-11
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Life of Jacob (10)
How Jacob Came to Have Eleven Sons [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:24
Text: Genesis 29:31-30:24
I. Leah’s Slighting and the First Four
II. Rachel’s Envy and the Second Four
III. Reuben’s Mandrakes and the Next Three
Psalms: 113:1-9; 16:1-6; 127:1-5; 128:1-6
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
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 5: “Considering our condition and measuring the gap made by our fall into sin and our rebellion against the living God, we find that we must have a mediator, one who mediates in our behalf, who takes our place in judgment and makes satisfaction in our stead, for we ourselves cannot bring that satisfaction. He must be a representative person, for otherwise he has not the right to substitute himself for us. He must also be a man, for only in the human nature will God punish the sin man committed. He must be very man, flesh of our flesh, blood of our blood, living our human life and entering into our human experience. He must be able to bring the sacrifice of his life and willingly enter into all the suffering of death, making of death an act of love. He must not be a sinner, but a perfectly righteous man … a mere creature is insufficient, for he must be able to deliver many, and his sacrifice must have infinite value. Besides, he must be able to die and live, to lay down his life and take it again, and to deliver us from the power of death and to impart eternal life to us” (God’s Way Out, p. 28).
Robert Harbach: “Now the semblance of a duel arises between these sisters in which they contend by substitution and counter-substitution of their handmaids in their places as wives. On their part, this reveals pride, craftiness, impatience, strife, jealousy, distrust of God and violation of the bond of marriage. The duel was as though they were hitting each other over the head with the new born babies” (Studies in Genesis, p. 596).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
On the back table are flyers to distribute for the John Owen lecture in Ballymena, Rev. Stewart’s bimonthly letter to the PRC and the October Covenant Reformed News.
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, Joseph, Alex & Nathan (Heidelberg Catechism, book 2)
The Tuesday Bible study meets at 11 AM to continue our study of the OT law by looking more at the ashes of the red heifer (Num. 19).
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue our discussion of Article 29, the marks of a true church.
Men’s Bible study meets this week Saturday at 8 PM at the Kennedys to consider James 4:1-6.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is “Finding a God-Fearing Wife” (Prov. 18:22).
S. Wales Lectures in The Round Chapel, Margam, at 7:15 PM
Thursday, 27 October, Rev. McGeown on “Christian Contentment.”
Thursday, 8 December, Rev. Stewart on “John Owen and the Death of Christ.”
CPRC Reformation Day Lectures on “John Owen and the Death of Christ”
Friday, 28 October, 7:30 PM on at the CPRC (flyers available on the back table).
Friday, 11 November, 7:30 PM at Portadown Town Hall.
Offerings: General Fund: £813.40. Donations: £1,000 (Australia).
PRC news: Southwest PRC called Rev. Huizinga. First Holland PRC called Rev. Decker. Byron Center PRC called Rev. Griess to be home/domestic missionary.
Reformation Lecture on John Owen and the Death of Christ
(published in October 2016 Chatterbox)
This year, 2016, marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of John Owen (1616-1683), perhaps the greatest theologian ever produced in the British Isles. For several years, Dr. Owen served as a College Dean and then Vice-Chancellor at Oxford University.
Possessing a Welsh father but spending most of his life in England, John Owen also preached in Scotland and Ireland. He ministered in the Church of England (Anglican), before adopting the Presbyterian and then the Congregationalist systems of church government. He sought toleration for the Baptists.
This spiritual giant, with links to the various parts and denominations of our islands, produced some 86 works published in 24 volumes. Of them all, it is Dr Owen’s treatise The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (1650) which is the most justly celebrated. In this unrefuted and irrefutable work, he proves from Scripture that the Lord laid down His life not for everybody but for the iniquities of His elect people alone.
Follow John Owen’s biblical reasoning: “The Father imposed His just wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either (1) all the sins of all men or (2) all the sins of some men or (3) some of the sins of all men. In which case it may be said that if (3) be the case, all men have some sins to answer for and so none are saved; that if (2) be true, then Christ, in their stead, suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth; but if (1) be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer, Because of unbelief. I ask, Is this unbelief a sin or is it not? If it is, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!”
This year’s Reformation Day lecture on 28 October in the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (CPRC) in Ballymena is entitled “John Owen and the Death of Christ.” The speech will introduce John Owen and analyze his most famous book, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, explaining the glory of the Lord’s particular and powerful atonement. This truth is crucial for understanding the cross, for preaching the Christian gospel and for establishing the church in the absolute sovereignty of the grace of the Triune God! Come along and learn more!
After his lecture, Rev. Angus Stewart, the minister of the CPRC, will field questions from the floor. Books, CDs, DVDs and free pamphlets will be available, and coffee and tea will be provided after the speech.
All are welcome at the Reformation Day lecture on Friday, 28 October, at 7:30 PM at Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (83 Clarence Street, Ballymena, BT43 5DR).
Those who are unable to be present at the speech in Ballymena CPRC can watch it live on-line for free (https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/).
