Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 10 April, 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
Our Wise, True, Holy and Righteous God! (1)
God’s Wisdom
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8
Text: Romans 11:33-36
I. In Himself
II. Outside Himself
III. In Us
Psalms: 111:1-3, 7-10; 137:1-9; 104:17-24; 90:10-14
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
The Christian’s Prayers
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 62
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 45
I. To God Alone
II. Out of Need
III. In Confidence
Psalms: 34:14-20; 138:1-6; 50:12-18; 62:5-10
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.cprf.co.uk/live.html
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
Robert B. Girdlestone: “[Wisdom] is the adaptation of what we know to what we have to do” (Synonyms of the Old Testament, p. 74).
Herman Bavinck: “… wisdom is practical and goal-oriented … It is ethical in nature; it is ‘the art of living well’; it characterises the conduct of those who make the right use of their greater store of knowledge and match the best means to the best ends” (Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 2, p. 203).
Stephen Charnock: “... in particular, wisdom consists [in] acting for a right end. The chiefest part of prudence is in fixing a right end, and in choosing fit means, and directing them to that scope; to shoot at random is a mark of folly. As he is the wisest man that hath the noblest end and fittest means, so God is infinitely wise; as he is the most excellent being, so he hath the most excellent end. As there is none more excellent than himself, nothing can be his end but himself; as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all; and he puts a true bias into all the means he uses to hit the mark he aims at: ‘Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things’ (Rom. xi. 36)” (The Existence and Attributes of God, I:507).
Louis Berkhof: “God’s wisdom is His intelligence as manifested in the adaptation of means to ends. It points to the fact that He always strives for the best possible ends, and chooses the best means for the realization of His purposes. H. B. Smith defines the divine wisdom as ‘that attribute of God whereby He produces the best possible results with the best possible means.’ We may be a little more specific and call it that perfection of God whereby He applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him most. It implies a final end to which all secondary ends are subordinate; and according to Scripture this final end is the glory of God, Rom. 11:33; 14:7, 8; Eph. 1:11, 12; Col. 1:16” (Systematic Theology, p. 69).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The Standard Bearers are on the back table for subscribers.
The Tuesday Bible study meets at 11 AM to look further at the OT food laws.
The Belgic Confession Class will meet this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to study the preservation of Christ’s church (in connection with Article 27). The last class of the season will be Wednesday, 4 May.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “Antichrist: The Man of Sin” (II Thess. 2:3-4).
S. Wales Lecture: Thursday, 12 May, 7:15 PM, Rev. McGeown on “Christian Wisdom.”
Offerings: General Fund: £1,308.40. Building Fund: £302.72. Donations: £700 (Australia), £100 (Bookstore).
There will be tea after the evening service on Sunday, 1 May. Tea rota: Group B.
The Council’s next meeting will be Thursday, 5 May, at 7 PM.
Family visitation is to start the week beginning Monday, 9 May. The annual general meeting will be held on a Wednesday night after family visitation is completed.
Encouraging Quotes
“I have really enjoyed reading the pamphlet ‘Unlikely Mothers of Christ.’ The [chapters] really brought me to a clearer understanding of the significance of the five women who had special blessings and privileges to be included in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus. Especially, the author explained well how the lessons are related so closely and directly to the gospel of Christ ... Can you bring more copies when you come? We appreciate your ministry of the Word, and enjoy and benefit from your lectures and those from Rev. McGeown.” - S. Wales
“Many thanks for sending me the great tapes. I appreciate this very much. I look forward to listening to them all as I am spiritually starved here. There are no true Reformed churches here. I hope the cheque enclosed will help some way. You have been so kind to me over the years and I appreciate this.” - Hants., England
“Please find enclosed a postal order for the following books ... Your website and pamphlets have been a real blessing to me. I am able to listen and read every day as I am now unable to work due to illness. I find the pamphlets and sermons a comfort.” - Co. Antrim
“I want to thank you for your monthly [C. R. News] which is full of leaflets and pamphlets all containing the wisdom and warmth of the Lord. You are always in my thoughts because of the fact that I can’t be at your services as I’m on the mainland, but a smile uncontrollably appears on my face when I see that little brown envelope. I can’t thank you all enough.” - Scotland
“Attached is a Spanish translation on ‘The Church’ from Doctrine According to Godliness. Recently I’ve been studying this issue here at home. It’s been a blessing.” - Texas, USA
“I must thank you ... as you have been willing to mail the dozen copies [of the C. R. News] out to me on a monthly basis for so long. I am encouraging any who will to watch your regular weekly sermons on-line, too. These are an added blessing to us all, as your preaching of the whole counsel of God is so faithfully presented.” - New Zealand
“I was wondering about obtaining some more back copies of the Standard Bearer from you. Having read, or should I say nearly devoured them, I passed them on so now need feeding once more.” - Devon, England
“I am listening to the section on Christ’s humanity in the Belgic Confession class. Thanks for shedding more light on this and the confession generally ... I recently was asked whether I attended theological school while in Ireland. This usually leads to my thinking of my Christian life [while studying at the University of Limerick] in Ireland and my interactions with you and the LRF. It really was a theological school. It’s always a joy to reminisce on that time and see how the Lord worked through your lectures and sermons ...” - Uganda
“If it is alright, we would really like to be sent articles from you.” - Indonesia
“Thank you very much for sending me that CD of the Hus lecture. I have enjoyed listening to it and thought it was very good. I shall probably listen again before long!” - England
“I received the book, Righteous by Faith Alone. Thank you very much! I have already read the chapter you mentioned. This is the most bold sermon I’ve ever read on reprobation. I liked it very much. Despite the fact that not every aspect of God’s long-suffering and forbearance is clear to me, it is good to see these in the big picture of God’s plan. Naturally, I would like to translate from the book, but first I wish to finish the translation of Hoeksema’s explanation on Ezekiel 33:11.” - Hungary
“I very much enjoy reading the pamphlets and articles that you and others have written on the will of man, sovereign grace and the things against the errors of Finney and Arminianism.” - S. Carolina, USA
“Many thanks for the CDs and also the list which has whetted my appetite. Be assured of prayers and interest.” - S. Wales
“We have fellowshipped with you in your church on several occasions. We missed the last Reformation Day lecture but spoke with someone who has attended. We were inspired by your Belfast News Letter in defence of the Reformation. We are interested to know if you may be organizing any Reformation lectures this year.” - Co. Antrim
“Thank you for Rev. McGeown’s CDs on Psalm 139 and the good book, Just Dad. Reading that led me to read again For Thy Truth’s Sake, which led me to break off to read some of Calvin's Calvinism! Having just read the end of chapter 11 of For Thy Truth’s Sake, it has whet my appetite for reading Hoeksema’s Reformed Dogmatics. It is lovely being taken on this voyage of discovery!” - Yorkshire, England