Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 16 September, 2018
“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
Zechariah’s Burden Upon Israel (6)
Zechariah’s Day of the Lord [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 14:1-15
Text: Zechariah 14:1-15
I. The Plundered City
II. The Coming God
III. The Holy War
Psalms: 98:2-9; 84:1-6; 79:1-6; 50:1-6
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Zechariah’s Burden Upon Israel (7)
Jehovah’s Gracious Kingship Universally Affirmed [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 14:1-15
Text: Zechariah 14:1-15
I. The Movements of Judah’s Mountains
II. The Flowing of Living Waters
III. The Changes to Cosmic Light
Psalms: 36:5-11; 84:7-12; 97:1-8; 46:1-7
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
Quote to Consider
C. F. Keil on Zechariah 14:6-7: “… the costly or splendid things are the stars, according to Job xxxi. 26, where the moon is spoken of as … walking in splendour. These words therefore describe the passing away or vanishing of the brightness of the shining stars, answering to the prophetic announcement, that on the day of judgment, sun, moon, and stars will lose their brightness or be turned into darkness (Joel iv. 15; Isa. xiii. 10; Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8; Matt. xxiv. 29; Rev. vi. 12). In ver. 7 this day is still more clearly described: first, as solitary in its kind; and secondly, as a marvellous day, on which the light dawns at evening time. The four clauses of this verse contain only two thoughts; each so expressed in two clauses that the second explains the first. …, unus dies, is not equivalent to tempus non longum (Cocceius, Hengst.), nor to ‘only one day, not two or more’ (Koehler), but solitary in its kind, unparalleled by any other, because no second of the kind ever occurs (for the use of ’echâd in this sense, compare ver. 9, Ezek. vii. 5, Song of Sol. vi. 9). It is necessary to take the words in this manner on account of the following clause, ‘it will be known to the Lord;’ i.e. not ‘it will be singled out by Jehovah in the series of days as the appropriate one’ (Hitzig and Koehler), nor ‘it stands under the supervision and guidance of the Lord, so that it does not come unexpectedly, or interfere with His plans’ (Hengstenberg), for neither of these is expressed … but simply it is known to the Lord according to its true nature, and therefore is distinguished above all other days. The following definition, ‘not day and not night,’ does not mean that ‘it will form a turbid mixture of day and night, in which there will prevail a mongrel condition of mysterious, horrifying twilight and gloom’ (Koehler); but it will resemble neither day nor night, because the lights of heaven, which regulate day and night, lose their brightness, and at evening time there comes not darkness, but light. The order of nature is reversed: the day resembles the night, and the evening brings light. At the time when, according to the natural course of events, the dark night should set in, a bright light will dawn. The words do not actually affirm that the alternation of day and night will cease (Jerome, Neumann, Kliefoth); but this may be inferred from a comparison of Rev. xxi. 23 and 25.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Take your new copy of the CPRC phone/address list and keep it handy. The September issue of the Covenant Reformed News is also on the back table.
Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM – Josh & Taylor (Juniors OT)
5:45 PM – Corey & Katelyn (Beginners OT, Book 2)
6:30 PM – Bradley & Samuel (Seniors OT)
7:15 PM – Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM is our concluding class on the peace offering, looking at it in I Samuel 1-2 and the Psalms, and at Pentecost. The next class will be on Tuesday, 16 October.
Belgic Confession Class meets Wednesday at 7:45 PM to study Article 34 on baptism and circumcision.
Ladies’ Bible Study begins its new season this Friday at church at 10:30 AM. We will be discussing the book Saved By Grace this year, starting with questions 1-8 and Scripture references 1-3 this week. See Beth with any questions.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “God’s Rebuke of a Pouting Prophet” (Jonah 4:6-11).
Brian Crossett has been nominated for a 3-year term as elder. A vote by male confessing members to approve/disapprove of this will be held after the evening service on 23 September.
Rev. & Mary Stewart will be in the U.S. from Monday, 24 September to Monday, 8 October. Rev. Stewart will lecture for the RFPA (27 September) and in Pittsburgh (3 October), and will preach in Wingham PRC (30 September) and Southeast PRC and Zion PRC (7 October). There will be no catechism on Monday, 24 September.
Rev. Koole is arriving on Friday, 28 September. He will be preaching for the CPRC on 30 September & 7 October, and taking catechism classes on 1 & 8 October. A sheet is on the back table on which you can sign up to have him over for dinner.
There will be tea after the evening service on 7 October (Tea Rota: Group A).
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. McGeown will speak on “The Development of God’s Covenant (3)” in Margam Community Centre on Thursday, 27 September, at 7:15 PM.
CPRC Reformation Day Lecture: Rev. Stewart plans to speak on “Two Men From Trier: Karl Marx (and Communism) and Caspar Olevianus (and the Heidelberg Catechism)” on Friday, 26 October, at 7:30 PM. Extra flyers are on the table to pass on to others.
Offerings: General Fund: £712.50. Donations: $814.33 (Hudsonville PRC).
Translations: 1 Hungarian, 1 Russian and 3 Spanish.
PRC News: Rev. R. Kleyn declined the call to be minister-on-loan to the CERC in Singapore. Grandville PRC called Rev. Nathan Decker.
Encouraging Quotes
“I have been reading through ‘A Defense of Calvinism as the Gospel’ booklet by David J. Engelsma. I am well familiar with Reformed doctrine, but to be reminded of these things is a real joy and blessing and I love them. I also watched your lecture (on the total depravity of man) which was a real blessing … Churches around the world need to hear these truths.” – London, England
“The sermon by Rev. Nathan Decker on II Corinthians 8:15, ‘The Unspeakable Gift,’ was a real blessing.” – Wales
“Please find enclosed a cheque as payment for In the Beginning God, and the remainder towards defraying the costs of mailing the Covenant Reformed News.”- Scotland
“I thought I would send you a quick note to say thank you for the resources you are providing on your web page. I will be introducing the Heidelberg Catechism to a group of theology students in Nepal. Some speak and read English, but many do not. The Nepali resources you have on your website will be very helpful to them.” – Florida, USA
“I receive [the Covenant Reformed News] each month and find the articles most informative. Especially in these days, we need quality articles on the Reformed faith.” – Co. Down
“I’m enjoying the sermons on Jude. When complete I hope to order the DVDs … I continue to be blessed and benefit because of the ministry the Lord has given you. It is good that you name heretics and contend for the precious faith, when so many ministers desert the battlefield.” – Lincolnshire, England
“Today at work I was able to listen to the debate you had with Timothy Ramsay on Calvinism vs. Arminianism which was recorded October 2008. I just wanted to say that even though you were bombarded with comments, questions and so on, praise the Lord, you answered with truth every time. It’s my first time hearing of you and I will be listening to more of your sermons tomorrow.” – British Columbia, Canada
“Once again it is time to renew my subscription to the Standard Bearer … The magazine continues to be a source of sound Christian content as each contributor presents the truth as it is in Jesus who is the only Saviour of needy sinners.” – Cambridge, England
“The CPRC sermon yesterday morning on ‘Comparing Ourselves with Others’ was thought provoking and quite convicting. Thank you for the reminder.” – S. Wales
“I have been watching your sermons since 2011 on your YouTube channel and I got the impression that your church is a thoroughly Reformed and conservative one.” – Romania
“What a gold mine is The Gospel Truth of Justification! I’ve gone through it twice! Every blessing.” – London, England
“You just connected some of the dots of what I already knew. Thank you … I hunger for fellowship with and edification from true believers. There are not many around here, you know. So I very much appreciate our correspondence here. Thank you for the MP3 files and YouTube videos and also the articles on your home page. They are of great help and encouragement to me. It is really hard to find true Reformed theology elsewhere than the PRC these days. Thank you, and all glory be to our beloved sovereign Saviour, who truly and fully saves His elect people and has decreed it from eternity.” – Denmark
“Thank you for keeping in touch and for your most welcome News and Reformed teaching.” – Lincolnshire, England
“I’m writing to thank you for the Covenant Reformed News and I enclose a donation toward the work.” – Co. Antrim
“Thank you so much for the CD sermons on Isaiah 63-64. They are just what I need. I will probably listen to them all a second time but it will be good to have the Ezekiel sermons ready to listen to next. Although I’m in the tough situation of having no local church, I wholeheartedly agree with the teaching on the church in the News … And because of His good providence in the invention of CDs, He nourishes me wonderfully through the CPRC ministry of His precious Word. How wonderful too that He has provided the internet for His Word to go out to all the world.” – Yorkshire, England
“I sent one of your last bulletins, including two recent sermons to my elder. He absolutely loved them and has been exploring your comprehensive website and forwarding articles to our pastor with great enthusiasm … I wouldn’t be surprised if he asks to be put on your mailing list. I will be forwarding this week’s bulletin to him as well.” – New Jersey, USA
