Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 3 March, 2019
“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
Preaching, the Chief Means of Grace
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 25
I. The Content of Preaching
II. The Effect of Preaching
III. The Author of Preaching
Psalms: 29:1-6; 101:5-8; 2:6-11; 147:1-8
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Gospel Living (16)
No Retaliation!
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[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 12
Text: Romans 12:17
I. What?
II. How?
Psalms: 116:1-8; 102:1-8; 34:11-18; 19:9-14
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
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Deane & Donna Wassink and Mark & Kristin Bleyenberg to our worship services today.
There will be tea after the evening service tonight. After tea, Deane Wassink from Georgetown PRC in Michigan will give a presentation upstairs on the work in India. Tea rota: group C.
We are re-doing the tea rota so now is your time to join in, switch groups or take a break. A sign-up sheet is on the back table. All your help is appreciated!
The January and February issues of the Covenant Reformed News are on the back table. Flyers for the Synod of Dordt mini-conference and speeches are also available. Take plenty to pass on to family and friends.
Beacon Lights yearly subscriptions (£10) are due. Please contact Susan, if you would like to renew or add a subscription, etc.
Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM - Josh & Taylor (Juniors OT)
5:45 PM - Corey & Katelyn (Beginners OT, Book 2)
6:30 PM - Bradley & Samuel (Seniors OT)
7:15 PM - Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials)
The Council meets on tomorrow evening at 8 PM at the church.
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM will discuss the blood sprinkled book at the consecration of Israel (Ex. 24).
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue our discussion on Rome’s sacrifice of the mass in connection with Article 35 on the Lord’s Supper.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “Love Does Not Act Inappropriately” (I Cor. 13:5).
Next Lord’s Day evening will be a preparatory service with the view to celebrating the Lord’s Supper on 17 March.
The Kennedys invite everyone to their house for fellowship and food after the Sunday evening service on 10 March. This includes a farewell for Marco who will be moving to the US on 14 March.
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “The Canons of Dordt: The Original Five Points of Calvinism” in Margam Community Centre on Thursday, 21 March.
Offerings: General Fund: £1,104.10
Translation Addition: 1 Spanish.
Albert Barnes on Romans 12:17-18:
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:17-18).
17. Recompense - Render, give, or return; see the note at Matthew 5:39. This is probably one of the most difficult precepts of Christianity; but the law of Christ on the subject is unyielding. It is a solemn demand made on all his followers, and it must be obeyed.
Provide - The word rendered provide means properly to think or meditate beforehand. Make it a matter of previous thought, of settled plan, of design. This direction would make it a matter of principle and fixed purpose to do what is right; and not to leave it to the fluctuations of feeling, or to the influence of excitement. The same direction is given in II Corinthians 8:21.
Things honest - Literally, things beautiful, or comely. The expression here does not refer to property, or to provision made for a family, etc. The connection requires us to understand it respecting conduct, and especially our conduct toward those who injure us. It requires us to evince a spirit, and to manifest a deportment in such cases, that shall be lovely and comely in the view of others; such as all people will approve and admire. And the apostle wisely cautions us to provide for this, that is, to think of it beforehand, to make it a matter of fixed principle and purpose, so that we shall not be overtaken and excited by passion. If left to the time when the offence shall be given, we may be excited and off our guard, and may therefore evince an improper temper. All persons who have ever been provoked by injury (and who has not been?) will see the profound wisdom of this caution to discipline and guard the temper by previous purpose, that we may not evince an improper spirit.
In the sight of all men - Such as all must approve; such that no man can blame; and, therefore, such as shall do no discredit to religion. This expression is taken from Proverbs 3:4. The passage shows that people may be expected to approve a mild, kind, and patient temper in the reception of injuries; and facts show that this is the case. The Christian spirit is one that the world must approve, however little it is disposed to act on it.
18. If it be possible - If it can be done. This expression implies that it could not always be done. Still it should be an object of desire; and we should endeavor to obtain it.
As much as lieth in you - This implies two things:
(1) We are to do our utmost endeavors to preserve peace, and to appease the anger and malice of others.
(2) We are not to begin or to originate a quarrel.
So far as we are concerned, we are to seek peace. But then it does not always depend on us. Others may oppose and persecute us; they will hate religion, and may slander, revile, and otherwise injure us; or they may commence an assault on our persons or property. For their assaults we are not answerable; but we are answerable for our conduct toward them; and on no occasion are we to commence a warfare with them. It may not be possible to prevent their injuring and opposing us; but it is possible not to begin a contention with them; and when they have commenced a strife, to seek peace, and to evince a Christian spirit. This command doubtless extends to everything connected with strife; and means that we are not to provoke them to controversy, or to prolong it when it is commenced; see Psalm 34:14; Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:39-41; Hebrews 12:14. If all Christians would follow this command, if they would never provoke to controversy, if they would injure no man by slander or by unfair dealing, if they would compel none to prosecute them in law by lack of punctuality in payment of debts or honesty in business, if they would do nothing to irritate, or to prolong a controversy when it is commenced, it would put an end to no small part of the strife that exists in the world.