Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 23 September, 2012
“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Pilgrim Psalms (12)
The Saint as a Weaned Child (I) [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Samuel 7
Text: Psalm 131:1
I. The Characteristics
II. The Imagery
III. The Exhortation
Psalms: 122:1-9; 7:7-13; 138:3-8; 131:1-3
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Preparatory
The Pilgrim Psalms (13)
The Saint as a Weaned Child (II) [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 31
Text: Psalm 131:2-3
I. The Characteristics
II. The Imagery
III. The Exhortation
Psalms: 108:1-8; 7:14-17; 27:9-14; 131:1-3
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray.
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
C. H. Spurgeon on Psalm 131:1:“What a haughty heart must he have who will not serve God at all unless he may be trusted with five talents at the least! His looks are indeed lofty who disdains to be a light among his poor friends and neighbours here below, but demands to be created a star of the first magnitude to shine among the upper ranks, and to be admired by gazing crowds. It is just on God’s part that those who wish to be everything should end in being nothing. It is a righteous retribution from God when every matter turns out to be too great for the man who would only handle great matters, and every thing proves to be too high for the man who exercised himself in things too high for him.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The September issue of the C. R. News as well as Rev. Stewart’s bi-monthly letter to the PRC are on the back table.
This evening we will have preparatory with the view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Sunday morning.
Monday Catechism: 6 PM – O.T. Beginners (Bradley & Alex)
6:45 PM – O.T. Juniors (Nathan, Jacob & Joseph)
7:30 PM – Heidelberg (Timothy)
The Tuesday morning Bible study will be held this week at 11 AM. We will look at the binding of Satan.
The Belgic Confession Class will meet this Wednesday, at 7:45 PM, to continue our study of article 16 on “Eternal Election.”
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “Christ: Head of the Church” (Eph. 1:22-23) by Rev. Bruinsma.
Tommy Duncan made confession of his faith before the Council. The Council approved his confession and, unless there are any lawful objections, his baptism will take place during the evening service of 7 October.
Upcoming Lectures on “Martin & Katie Luther: The Reformation of Marriage”
Friday, 19 October, at 7:30 PM here at the CPRC
Thursday, 25 October, at 7:15 PM in Porthcawl, S. Wales
Offerings: General – £483.05. Donation: £70.
Website Additions: One German, one Danish and three Hungarian translations were put on-line.
PRC News: Rev. Eriks declined the call to Randolph, and their new trio is Revs. Bruinsma (Pittsburgh, PA), Hanko (Lynden, WA) and Marcus (Edmonton, Canada). Hope PRC will call from a trio of Revs. Bruinsma, N. Langerak (Crete, IL) and Overway (Doon, IA). Rev. A. Lanning (Faith, MI) and his family plan to leave for Singapore on Monday, 5 November, after a farewell service on 30 September and an installation service in Grandville PRC on 4 October.
Encouraging Quotes
“I’m currently using Communion With God for my morning devotions. How good that book is! I’m reading it again for the second time. I’m actually finding myself praying it. It is so saturated with Scripture.” – W. Midlands, England
“I have listened to your debates on YouTube and thoroughly enjoyed your patience and love of truth. I would be most interested in your recommendations concerning Pentecostalism … Keep up the good work and thank you.” – Mississippi, USA
“Just a note to express my thanks for your continuing to forward me copies of your CR News and leaflets. I find them very helpful indeed. As a book club member, I am looking forward to receiving Mr. Engelsma’s latest book—his response to the critics of Bound to Join. I have just completed a reading of Communion with God—very provoking! Enclosed is a token gift for postage, etc. Please keep in touch.” – S. Wales
“Many thanks for faithfully sending us the CR News and CPRC bulletin. It is a joy to our heart to read some of the writing in the CR News by yourself and Prof. Hanko. We are very grateful to God that in this day and age we still can see and read the Word of God simply, soundly and faithfully expounded. May the Lord continue to lead you in the path of righteousness for His name sake and by the light of His Word that shines more and more unto the perfect day. We would like to order one set of ‘Zechariah’s Night Visions’ and a copy of the book Covenant and Election in the Reformed Tradition by Prof. Engelsma …”– Australia
“I have listened in on your informative and instructive series on Angels, and Satan and the Demons … Thanks for all the resources available on the website. It is a great treasure trove of biblical Reformed material.” – England
“As promised I am reading the precious pamphlets you kindly sent me with much attention and a prayerful heart. They are incisively, fundamentally uncompromising. It is my whole outlook on life that is beneficially affected by the truth of God’s sovereignty as developed in these writings. We live in an orderly universe, a place where God is in charge. I believe it is a great component of the peace that passeth all understanding. I believe the ‘well-meant offer’/common grace heresies affected me in many ways previous to my reading of the pamphlets and I thank you therefore that I could see more clearly what the Bible teaches so plainly. I would love to order The Confessions and Church Order of the PRC …” – Belgium
“The blessing and comfort I experienced from reading and translating ‘God’s Good Spirit (2)’ today, after my distress in hospital, is difficult to put into words and I will therefore not try to do so, other than to say thank you! God bless you and yours in your ministry. May He who has begun this good work in you perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”- S. Africa
“Thank you for your answer. I think now it’s clear to me. I’m really blessed by your articles and sermons.” – Serbia
“I just got Defense of the Church Institute yesterday morning and am more than half way through already. Prof. Engelsma’s defence is excellent; it demolishes the opposition … I didn’t know Kevin Reed was a house-church man. Life is full of surprises.” – England
“I just wanted to thank you and PRC for all of your hard work … I used one of your books for my study and preparation—Saved by Grace. This book helped my understanding of Calvinism tremendously and also gave a new light to those in Haiti who never heard of such doctrines! So glory be to God that we can live in such an era that I can have a book that would do so much! … In regards to common grace, can you send me some info that helps me understand the passages of Scripture that speak of Jesus’ compassion to the multitudes of people He served and witnessed to? … I just want to say that I really enjoy your style of preaching. You repeat yourself a lot and you always give Scripture references to the points and statements you make.” – Haiti
“I enjoyed your robust defence of the exclusive singing of the Psalms which I watched on YouTube. I have found that the more the Psalms are sung, the greater my affection for them and the more I see Christ in them. They contain the full breadth of scriptural doctrines … Indeed, after singing them I have no interest in hymns which are a labour to me.”– Co. Tyrone
“I’m currently reading Prosperous Wicked and Plagues Saints by Prof. Engelsma. It’s very good so far. Prof. Engelsma is a very good writer. His language is clear and easy to understand which makes it a joy to read.” – Denmark
“I visit the CPRC website regularly as it contains many helpful articles about biblical and theological issues.” – Scotland
“I’ve watched your debates regarding the gifts of the Spirit and Calvinism vs. Arminianism on YouTube and I admire your use of Scripture in almost every comment you make. I love how you proclaim the authority of the Word above all things. You were thoroughly convincing and helped me think through so many things. I’ve grown up in the Presbyterian Church my entire life and one might say that the theology preached was somewhat 3-point Calvinist, the two less-emphasized ones being limited atonement and irresistible grace. I have so many questions …” – USA
“Just a brief note to thank you for the latest CR News. Rev. McGeown’s article was particularly timely, as I’m currently in e-mail conversation with a Scottish gentleman who has been attending a JW assembly. He had become increasingly aware of the falsity of their views and is now convinced of it. I’ve just had an e-mail thanking me for the copy of the CR News that I forwarded to him, which provided another opportunity to point him to the truth in Scripture.” – England
