Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 15 April, 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
Earnestly Contending for the Faith (8)
The Old Testament Forefathers of Heretics
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:1-12; Numbers 22:1-19
Text: Jude 11
I. Cain (and His Way)
II. Balaam (and His Covetousness)
III. Korah (and His Rebellion)
Psalms: 1:1-6; 72:1-8; 106:26-33; 106:14-20
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
The Forgiveness of Spiritual Debts
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: I John 1:1-2:2
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 51
I. The Legal Reality
II. The Solid Basis
III. The Accompanying Resolution
Psalms: 96:1-7; 72:9-14; 103:1-7; 130:1-8
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
Quote to Consider
William Jenkyn on Jude 11: “Great is the difference between the sinning of the godly and wicked. The sin of the wicked is his way; he delights, proceeds, is skilful in it; sin is a sport to him; he is a curious artificer and cunning worker of iniquity; he goes on, and proceeds from one degree of wickedness to another ... The godly may fall into sin, but he lives not, rests not in sin; he may, like the sheep, be thrown into the mire, but he does not, like the swine, tumble, and wallow, and delightfully snort therein. He sins not with full consent; there are some contrary votes in his soul against every sinful suggestion. He sleeps, but his heart wakes. Holiness is his way, and whenever he is drawn out of it by some deceitful lust, or by some seducing temptation, he cries out with David, ‘I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant,’ Psal. cxix. 176. He never leaves calling and inquiring till he has got into the right way again; and when he is so, he walks more humbly, watchfully, evenly, and mends his pace; he gains ground by his stumbling; he does not, as wicked men, wickedly depart from God, 2 Sam. xxii. 22.”
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 51: “... this prayer for forgiveness precedes the petition for grace against temptation and for deliverance from evil. This harmonizes with the important truth that justification must precede sanctification. We must be justified before we can be sanctified. We must have the forgiveness of sins before we can have the right to be delivered from the bondage of sin and the dominion of the evil one. While we pray for forgiveness, we already have in mind the petition for deliverance from sin that immediately follows. We cannot pray sincerely for remission of our transgressions unless there is in our hearts the sincere longing for complete deliverance from all evil and for spiritual perfection” (The Perfect Prayer, pp. 150-151).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Two new RFPA books are available on the back table. The Hebrews Study Guide by Mark Hoeksema is £4 and the children’s book, T Is for Tree, is £10.
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM will discuss the relationship between all three of the pilgrimage feasts.
Belgic Confession Class meets on Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue our consideration of article 34 by studying the subjects of baptism.
Ladies’ Bible Study meets this Friday at 10:30 AM at church to discuss chapter 8 on “Faithfulness” in The Fruit of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is “A Blessed End to a Beautiful Book” (Ruth 4:13-22).
Offerings: General Fund: £679.00.
Translation Additions: 2 Hungarian and 1 Russian.
Ballymena Resident Publishes Book on Martin Luther
Exactly 500 years ago this very month, German Reformer Martin Luther presented his famous Heidelberg Disputation (25-26 April, 1518).
Luther’s 95 Theses (1517) are more historically significant, because they mark the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, but the Heidelberg Disputation of the following year is more theologically profound. In its 28 provocative theses, complete with proofs, Luther summarizes and defends salvation by God’s sovereign grace alone in Jesus Christ. He demonstrates that his teaching is biblical and in accordance with Augustine, the greatest of the church fathers.
Such is the subject of the powerful new book by Harryville resident, Marco Barone: Luther's Augustinian Theology of the Cross: The Augustinianism of Martin Luther's Heidelberg Disputation and the Origins of Modern Philosophy of Religion, published by Wipf and Stock (Oregon, USA).
The author earned his BA from the University of Naples, Italy and his MA from the University of Limerick. He is to complete his PhD this summer from Queen’s University, Belfast.
A native of Italy, Marco Barone has been living in Ballymena for about three years. He is a lively internet blogger (www.philosophyofthecross.blogspot.co.uk).
Marco will be interviewed regarding his book Luther's Augustinian Theology of the Cross on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio of Pennsylvania on 26 April. It can be listened to live on-line (www.ironsharpensironradio.com).
Marco Barone’s Luther's Augustinian Theology of the Cross can be purchased in paperback or as an e-book through the internet from Wipf and Stock (https://wipfandstock.com/luther-s-augustinian-theology-of-the-cross.html), Amazon (www.amazon.com/Luthers-Augustinian-Theology-Cross-Augustinianism/dp/1556355998), etc.