Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 23 December, 2018
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering ...”
(Col. 3:12)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM - Rev. M. McGeown
Christ Calls Matthew
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:5-22; 9:1-9
Text: Matthew 9:9
I. The Occasion
II. The Call
III. The Response
Psalms: 29:1-6; 92:1-6; 63:1-8; 23:1-6
Evening Service - 6:00 PM - Rev. M. McGeown
Preparatory
Jesus the Pattern for Our Humility
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1-18
Text: Philippians 2:5-8
I. Who He Is
II. What He Became
III. What He Teaches Us
Psalms: 115:1-7; 92:7-11; 69:30-36; 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
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
John Calvin on Philippians 2: “Christ’s humility consisted in his abasing himself from the highest pinnacle of glory to the lowest ignominy: our humility consists in refraining from exalting ourselves by a false estimation. He gave up his right: all that is required of us is, that we do not assume to ourselves more than we ought … Since, then, the Son of God descended from so great a height, how unreasonable that we, who are nothing, should be lifted up with pride!”
Richard Trench: “[Humility is] the esteeming of ourselves small, inasmuch as we are so; the thinking truly, and because truly, therefore lowlily, of ourselves” (Synonyms of the New Testament, p. 150).
Jonathan Edwards: “Humility may be defined to be a sense of our own comparative meanness with a disposition to a behaviour answerable thereto … Seek for a deep and abiding sense of your comparative meanness before God and men. Know God. Confess your nothingness and ill desert before Him. Distrust yourself. Rely only on God. Renounce all glory except from Him. Yield yourself heartily to His will and service. Avoid an aspiring, ambitious, ostentatious, assuming, arrogant, scornful, wilful, levelling, self-justifying behaviour; and strive for more and more of the humble spirit that Christ manifested while he was on the earth” (Charity and Its Fruits, pp. 140, 159).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Rev. & Larisa McGeown. Rev. McGeown will be preaching at both services today, while our pastor and Elder Reid are in the LRF.
This evening we will have a preparatory service with a view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Sunday morning, 30 December.
Bible reading programmes for 2019 are available on the back table. There are three versions available: white paper, yellow card and large print. Take as many as you need. “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:9-11).
There will be no catechism classes on 24 & 31 December. They will resume on Monday, 7 January, when we will have our mid-year tests.
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM will next meet on 8 January
Belgic Confession Class will not meet this Wednesday, 26 January but will resume on 2 January.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled “God’s Faithfulness” (I Thess. 5:24).
All are invited to the manse on New Year’s Eve for games and fellowship at 7:30 PM or any time thereafter. Please let the Stewarts know, if you plan to come.
The Council meets on Monday, 7 January, at 8 PM.
The congregational dinner is on Friday, 11 January, at Ross Park Hotel, with arrival from 7 PM on and dinner at 7:30 PM. A sign-up sheet is on the back table. The hotel wants bookings in good time so please sign up today.
There will be tea after the evening service on 13 January (Tea Rota: Group B).
CPRC Lecture: Rev. Koole will be speaking on “The Reformation and Family Worship” on Wednesday, 16 January, at 7:30 PM.
The CPRC is planning a mini-conference on Saturday, 13 April, 2019, on the theme “The Original Five Points of Calvinism: The 400th Anniversary of the Canons of Dordt” with Prof. Engelsma as our speaker. Prof. will also give two other lectures relating to the Synod of Dordt in the weeks following the conference.
Offerings: General Fund: £790.70.
Translations: 2 Hungarian and 2 Polish.
PRC News: Rev. Key (Loveland CO) declined the call to be minister-on-loan to the CERC (Singapore).