Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 1 September, 2013
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious,
longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Psalm 86:15)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
The Man of Sin (3)
The Falling Away and the Man of Sin
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Revelation 13
Text: II Thessalonians 2:3
I. The Falling Away
II. The Man of Sin
III. Their Relationship
Psalms: 100:1-5; 42:6-11; 78:5-11; 10:13-18
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Christ’s Cry of Dereliction
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:27-49
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 16
I. The Misinterpretations
II. The Meaning
III. The Comfort
Psalms: 22:1-7; 43:1-5; 88:1-9; 30:3-8
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
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook:
www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The August Covenant Reformed News is available on the back table.
The second offering this morning is for our building fund.
Philip Hall’s term as deacon expires this month. The Council has decided to nominate Philip for an additional 3-year term. A vote by male confessing members to approve/disapprove will be held after today’s evening service.
Monday Catechism: Bradley, Samuel (Beginners NT) - 5:30PM
Alec, Nathan (Juniors OT) - 6:15PM
Jacob, Joseph (Seniors OT) - 7:00PM
Timothy (Essentials of Reformed Doctrine) - 7:45PM
Tuesday Bible study begins this week at 11 AM. This year we will be studying "Christ’s Controversies."
Belgic Confession Class starts this Wednesday at 7:45 PM with article 21b on Christ’s satisfaction.
Ladies Bible Study resumes this Friday at 10 AM at church, with a discussion of Women of the Old Testament, lesson 1, using the book by Abraham Kuyper. Study guides are available on the back table. Any questions, see Beth.
Men’s Bible Study will meet this Saturday at 8 PM at the Kennedys. We will be looking at the first chapter of the study guide on Ezra.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) is entitled "Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy" (Heb. 10:24-25).
Next Lord’s Day, there will be tea after the evening service and then Rev. Paulraj will be giving a presentation on his work in India. Rev. Paulraj was trained by Rev. Kortering in Singapore and has had contact with the PRC, especially Rev. Haak and Georgetown PRC, for a number of years.
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. McGeown will give the next lecture in The Rest, Porthcawl on Thursday, 12 September, on "God’s Sovereignty in Our Afflictions."
Offerings: General Fund - £957.80.
Website Additions: 3 Hungarian translations were added.
PRC News: Reverend Titus was recently diagnosed with diabetes after having difficulty with his eyes and numbness and stiffness in his limbs, which affected his work to a large degree. The current prescription of oral drugs seems to have brought this condition under control. Continue to remember Reverend Titus and the saints in Myanmar in your prayers. Candidate Guichelaar accepted the call from Randolph PRC to be their pastor. Faith PRC called Rev. Griess.
Reformed Catechism Classes: A Calling
Rev. Angus Stewart
(abbreviation of an article at
www.cprf.co.uk/articles/catechism.htm)
1. The Key Thing in Life
The key thing in life is to understand that our chief end and that of our children is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. & A. 1). "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33) ... "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise" (Isa 43:21). "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1-2). (Cf. Matt. 10:37; 13:44-46; 16:24-26; Prov. 4:7; 8:34-36.)
2. The Calling of Covenant Children
The calling of covenant children, baptized into the name of the Triune God, is to follow Jesus Christ, to whom they belong in both body and soul (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. & A. 1), by believing and obeying His Word according to their capacity. Some of the most pertinent Scriptures are the following:
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding (Prov. 23:23; cf. 2:1-5).
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth (Ecc. 12:1).
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth (Eph. 6:1-3; cf. Col. 3:20).
This biblical calling of covenant children is expressed in our "Form for the Administration of Baptism:"
Whereas in all covenants, there are contained two parts: therefore are we by God through baptism, admonished of, and obliged unto new obedience, namely, that we cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that we trust in him, and love him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our mind, and with all our strength; that we forsake the world, crucify our old nature, and walk in a new and holy life …
3. The Calling of Christian Parents
As well as supporting the church in its calling with regard to their children, the calling of Christian parents concerning their children is, in brief, to teach them their calling from God’s Word (as above) and to train them in it in love, as the following texts from Holy Scripture indicate:
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons (Deut. 4:9).
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates (Deut. 11:19-20; cf. 6:4-7; 32:46-47).
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord ... That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments ... (Ps. 78:4-8).
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6).
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4; cf. II Tim. 1:5; 3:15).
This is summarised in the third question addressed to parents in the "Form for the Administration of Baptism:"
Whether you promise and intend to see these children, when come to the years of discretion (whereof you are either parent or witness), instructed and brought up in the aforesaid doctrine, or help or cause them to be instructed therein, to the utmost of your power?
This is the delight of all believing parents: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (III John 4).
4. The Calling of Christ’s Church
Besides teaching Christian parents and their children their respective callings before God (and praying for and supporting them in this), the church also has a special calling from Jesus Christ toward the seed of the covenant: "Feed my lambs" (John 21:15) ... The church office-bearers are called to be watchmen and are held accountable by God (Eze. 3:17-18; James 3:1)—for their care of the covenant children too.
5. The Benefits of Catechism for Covenant Children
Catechism gives the covenant children a strategic grasp of Old Testament and New Testament history and a solid doctrinal foundation (the latter comes especially through the classes on the Heidelberg Catechism and the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine) to help them learn "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). It does all this at their level, using tried and tested materials and methods of instruction, including personal instruction, discussion and questions and answers. This enables them to understand the church sermons better. This strengthens them to testify that Jesus Christ is Lord (Mark 8:38; Rom. 10:9-10; II Tim. 1:12). All this trains them to become confessing members of the church who can partake of the Lord’s Supper as mature Christians. By God’s grace, the children grow to become complete Christians and soldiers in the kingdom of heaven, and not be devoured by the world or the departing churches. In this way and with God’s blessing, covenant children will become pillars and leaders of the church in the next generation.
6. Other Benefits of Catechism
Catechism through the week demonstrates that Christianity is far from only a Sunday religion. Catechism fits with and serves a godly family: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). Catechism is a noble tradition in the history of Christian and Reformed churches for many centuries and manifests our unity with the historic Christian church.