Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 9 November, 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
John 11:47-52
I. The Occasion of His Prophecy
II. The Content of His Prophecy
III. The Extension of His Prophecy
Psalms: 67:1-6; 149:1-5; 69:23-28; 2:1-8
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Prayer and the Sovereignty of God [download]
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 45; Matthew 6:1-18
I. Our Attitude in Prayer
II. Our Petitionary Prayers
III. Our Unanswered Prayers
Psalms: 65:1-5; 149:5-9; 20:1-7; 115:1-11
Contact Sean Courtney (covenantreformedaudiostore@yahoo.co.uk) for CDs of the sermons.
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
Quote to Consider:
Prof. Herman Hanko: "Prayer is to the Christian what breathing is to a healthy person. Without breathing a person cannot live. Without prayer a Christian dies. Breathing is spontaneous; in many ways, so is prayer. Prayer is like a river that returns to its source, for prayer has its power in the Spirit of Christ working life in the heart of God’s child; that life returns again in prayer to God who gave it. It is the expression of the thirst for God that makes a stag panting after water brooks an apt simile (Ps. 42:1). Prayer is lovers’ talk, for it is a holy conversation between the living and eternal God and the redeemed child of God in which both speak to each other in the most intimate relationship of love. Prayer is a child coming to his Father, knowing that his Father loves him and will provide for him in every need" (When You Pray, p. 1).
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
We welcome Mr. & Mrs. Henry DeVries from Randolph PRC in Wisconsin to our worship services today.
The Standard Bearers and Beacon Lights are available today. CDs on "The Reformation’s Teaching on the Church" are also on the back table.
Catechism: Tuesday, 10:15 AM - Beginners OT Class
Tuesday, 4:30 PM - Jacob Buchanan
Tuesday, 5:30 PM - Jamie & Debbie Murray
Tuesday, 7 PM - Campbells at the manse
Ladies’ Bible Study meets this Tuesday at 10:15 AM at the Murrays.
Midweek Bible Study meets this Wednesday, 7:45 PM at the manse. We will study I Peter 1:10f. on the OT prophets searching their own prophecies.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW), is "Facing Death - With Jesus in His Glory" (John 17:24).
Offerings: General Fund - £652.30. Building Fund - £400.50.
Upcoming Lectures: "The Reformation’s Teaching on the Church"
Limerick School Project, Friday, 5 Dec., 7:30 PM
Porthcawl, South Wales, Friday, 12 Dec., 7:15 PM
Rev. Stewart plans to take services in Limerick on Sunday, 4 January, the first Lord’s Day when the church visitors are here.
Website Additions: 7 Italian translations were added this week.
PRC News: Prof. Hanko leaves this Tuesday for Singapore where he will be labouring until 22 December. Rev. Bruinsma (Pittsburgh, PA) has the call to the Philippines. Calvary PRC called Rev. R. Kleyn (Trinity, MI).
Encouraging Quotes:
"I have been on the CPRC website ... I have found some good answers to questions I had. I really appreciated ‘Does God Desire to Save the Reprobate.’ I played it in our Bible Study on Sunday and one guy’s comment was ‘you’ll never hear this in church.’ On Sunday I want to go through ‘Problems with Revivals.’ Over the last year we have had huge Pentecostal/ Charismatic revivals happening and this sermon is really hitting it on the head." - South Africa
"Please keep sending me the CR News, it is a great blessing." - Herts., England
"I have read your article on exclusive psalmody and the refutation of man-made songs. It is such a good article that warns me about the sin of worshipping God in vain and the sin of worshipping in unacceptable ways that is only worthy of His wrath ..." - USA
"Thank you for clearly explaining the role and purpose of evangelism from a biblical perspective [in the CR News] ... the comments you have made about evangelical churches are spot on! ... Thank you so much." - Australia
"... If you could let me have a few of the little pamphlets, I am sure I can find very good homes for them ... I deal with lots of hungry folk in their late teens and early twenties who could do with a richer experience of the gospel than that lost in the awful translation called the NIV! If you could arrange a current list of your book stock it would be helpful too as again I used to buy many for us and other folk. I gave away my last Baker version of Pink’s Sovereignty of God a while ago, which I must replace. God bless you ... a small oasis in a big desert." - Sussex, England
"Many thanks indeed for continuing to forward me your literature, particularly the CR News. I also attach an order form for The Five Points of Calvinism book." - S. Wales
"I thank God for His providence and care to his elect, by continuing to raise up faithful servants of God like you and others, to teach instruct and sanctify us by God’s Word into all truth, and also to defend this truth especially in these last days when many Christian leaders and members do not hold fast any longer to the sound teaching of His Word and are giving way to many sensational teaching, healing, experiences and worldly principles which are not found at all in the Bible ... Recently, I came to your site through the Cessationism Debate video. I find this is good material to share with others." - Singapore
"I would like to thank you for the books and pamphlets you sent ... These last days I have been downloading your messages and listening and studying them. As a young Christian, I am learning many things about the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, such as the clear teaching of Christ being the ‘high priest after the order of Melchizedek’ ... I’ve also listened to the series of messages on ‘Christ’s High Priestly Prayer’ in John 17, ‘The Pre-eminence of Christ,’ ‘The City of God,’ and more. I often time woke at dawn to open my computer and listen to your preaching and teaching for my heart is being enlightened and strengthened ..." - Philippines
"I recently listened to your excellent sermon ‘Marriage Honourable in All’ (Hebrews 13:4) ..." - Idaho, USA
"Thank you for the faithful witness you were to the truth of the gospel during the TV debate. We praise God that He moved in you to a bold and loving obedience to the gospel of grace; we were very encouraged by the debate and hope and pray the Lord would be pleased to use this witness to draw His children back to the true statement of the gospel of His glory and into the true church." - Limerick
"I was watching the debate on Revelation TV, and while I disagreed with some of your points and interpretations (I’m somewhere in the middle, closer to Calvinism but also charismatic); I really appreciate your humility, good humour and that you were just yourself. This is really refreshing to see, especially in such a potentially divisive debate. As a church planting pastor of a Vineyard church ..." - England
"My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the [Calvinism] debate. It gave us a big lift. It gave the lie to the idea of ‘dour Calvinists.’" - Scotland
"I did manage to watch the debate with the Arminians through YouTube. You did well, by the grace of God, in spite of the encompassing opposition and fury." - Russia
"I have watched the Calvinism debate twice and recorded it and will watch it again tonight with a friend. You answered all the objections well with Scripture." - London, England
"I give thanks to Almighty God that the CPRC have made available the Charismatic Debate on DVD. I did manage to see it on TV but I know that not all Christians have access to digital channels. I hope I can get some Pentecostal friends to watch it on DVD ... Can you please send me 3 copies of the Calvinism vs. Arminianism DVD besides the 5 I’ve already received." - Liverpool, England