Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 6 July, 2008
"Happy is he
that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the Lord his God" (Ps. 146:5)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM - Sem. McGeown
Drawn by the Father
John 6:44
I. The Meaning
II. The Necessity
III. The Result
Psalms: 146:1-8; 133:1-3; 110:1-6; 65:1-5
Evening Service - 6:00 PM - Rev. Stewart
God’s Uncursable Church (5)
God Has Not Seen Iniquity in Israel
Numbers 23:13-26
I. The Meaning
II. The Basis
III. The Consequences
Psalms: 66:1-7; 134:1-3; 89:13-18; 130:1-8
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
Quotes to Consider:
Church Order, Article 20: "Students who have received permission according to the rule in this matter, and persons who have according to Article 8 been judged competent to be prepared for the ministry of the Word, shall, for their own training, and for the sake of becoming known to the congregations, be allowed to speak a word of edification in the meetings for public worship."
Martin Luther: "When, under the conditions of time, we were weak, we were nevertheless righteous before God in predestination, because in divine predestination all things have already been accomplished that in actual fact are still going to happen" (quoted in Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 4, pp. 190-191).
Herman Hoeksema on Numbers 23:21: "Balaam beholds but a very small part of that people, and that imperfect; God eternally beholds the whole of His people and that in perfection. Balaam beholds them only as they are of themselves, the Most High always beholds them as they are through His sovereign grace. Balaam perceives them from the aspect of this present time; Jehovah sees them from the true viewpoint of eternal perfection. Balaam may hear the shout of a King among them, but the King he does not behold, neither does he understand the relation of this people to their King; God chose them in Christ, and as He always beholds His people in Him ..." (Standard Bearer, vol. 8, p. 123).
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
We welcome all visitors who are worshipping with us today. Seminarian McGeown will lead this morning’s worship service. Rev. Stewart will preach this evening.
Please leave the back two rows of chairs for families with young children.
The second offering this morning will be for the building fund.
The Council will meet tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM at the manse.
Martyn, Douglas and Francesco will run a CPRC stall at Ballymena 12th of July. Remember this witness in your prayers, and, if you are there, stop by the stall.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW), is "Job’s Confession" (Job 1:20-22) by Rev. Bruinsma.
Next Sunday, 13 July, Rev. Stewart will be preaching at two Lord’s Day services in Limerick. Martyn McGeown will lead both the services here.
Offering: General Fund - £901.52. Donations: £10 (C. R. News).
Website Additions: 6 Italian (4 forms, the pamphlet "What About the Alpha Course?" and a chapter from The More Glorious Covenant by G. Vos), 2 Afrikaans (including a C. R. News article), 1 Russian ("Historical Introduction to the Liturgical Forms"), 1 German (baptism form), and 1 Slovenian (the very first on-line Slovenian translation of the Canons of Dordt). The lecture given in Limerick and S. Wales on "Prayer and the Sovereignty of God" was also added.
PRC News: Calvary PRC (Hull, IA) called Rev. Koole (Grandville, MI). The new trio for the Philippines is Revs. R. Kleyn (Trinity, MI), VanderWal (Redlands, CA), and VanOverloop (Byron Center, MI). Providence PRC (new daughter congregation of Faith PRC) will call from their first trio of Candidate Bleyenberg, Rev. R. Kleyn, and Rev. Slopsema (First, MI).