Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Loyal Address to the Queen The Worldly Church Towards 2027 ... Will the Future have a Church? Another Voice from the Past
Loyal Address
to Her Majesty the Queen
Madam We, the Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church meeting in Belfast, send our warmest and heartiest congratulations to Your Majesty on the occasion of your Diamond Jubilee. During your reign, Your Majesty has been an inspiration to the nation and the Commonwealth, and you are greatly loved and admired by us all. There have, of course, been many changes throughout society in the 60 years of Your Majestys reign. We welcome many of these which have clearly been for the common good, but we are saddened by what appears to be our nations steady departure from its Biblical foundations. Such departure cannot be good. The Word of God reminds us that
Policy
The views expressed are those of the Editor and Contributors which are understood to reflect the theological position of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Editor
Harold Gibson Stockbridge 2 Barronstown Court DROMORE BT25 1FB hgibson@barronstown.force9.net
Copy Deadline
1st of month prior to publication
Subscriptions 2012
Collected 9.00 By post within UK 11.50 By post outside UK 16.00 Enquiries to: Evangelical Book Shop (See back page for contact details)
Finance
Anyone wishing to help the Churchs work may send their gift to the Finance Committee, C/o: Rev J S Roger 16 Huntingdale BALLYCLARE BT39 9XB The church can benefit from the Gift Aid scheme from taxpayers donations. Please ask for details.
Cover Photograph
A recent photograph of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Therefore
I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority .. ( 1 Tim 2.1-2)
Your Majesty, as you celebrate your Diamond Jubilee, we assure you of our best wishes in what will be a demanding year, and we will continue to pray that God will richly bless you and all the Royal Family, and our nation through you, not only in this anniversary year, but in the years to come. God Save The Queen! We remain, Madam, Your Majestys humble and obedient servants
21 April 2012
While we need to focus on the ideal, we must also be aware of the reality. We are a denomination in decline, while some of our congregations may be in reasonable health numerically, most of our congregations are below 50 members and some struggling to keep in the 20s. We are not unique in experiencing decline; it is a feature of the church in the UK as the following statistics show. The General Scene: Overall Decline 1 In 2010, in the UK, out of a total population of 62 million, for all of those claiming the name Christian, there were:
48,000 churches 36,000 ministers. 5.5 million are church members (i.e. people who say they are definitely attached to a Christian church, equivalent to 9% of the population) 3.6 million attend church on an average Sunday (6% of the population).
But when we compare this with population trends, we discover that in the last ten years, along with a population increase of 2 million people (+3%), there are now:
1
The Briefing, Does the Future have a Church? Tim Thornborough, 28 August 2011.
400 fewer churches (-1%) 950 more ministers (+2%) 400,000 fewer church members (-6%) 800,000 fewer attendees (-18%).
The Way Ahead: Growth or Decline? Every church and congregation longs to see growth, not just numerically but spiritually as well. But what hinders such growth?
The danger for any church or denomination is to remain in maintenance mode rather than in mission mode. A W Pink said, If a church does not evangelize it will fossilize. We have a glorious message to proclaim and God expects us to be faithful and diligent in the work of the Kingdom.
Use of Resources
Very often the reason given for failure to evangelize is lack of resources, both in terms of manpower and finance. While we agree whole-heartedly with the Biblical principle of the strong helping the weak, when do we decide that the weak is beyond recovery? Are we hindering progress in some areas at the expense of maintaining a witness where the work, due to a number of factors, has largely ceased?
Whats in a Name?
How are we known? A name defines who we are but not always what we are! Some may see us as a church thats full of old people, or perhaps a bickering lot that can agree with nobody, (sometimes not even with ourselves). For others we may be considered to be stuck in the distant past and perhaps by a few (very few) as trendy! Others know that we stand for the truth of the Gospel and for the great doctrines of the Reformed faith. But what does our name convey, do we need a fresh image? In 1964 our church changed its name from The Irish Evangelical Church to The Evangelical Presbyterian Church to give identity to its theology and ecclesiology. An article in Evangelicals Now, (Jan 2012) on rebranding a church made the following comment:
We want to make ourselves known to the world for the sake of the gospel; so if a name that has become precious to us does not communicate anything positive to the community in which God has placed us, it probably needs a rethink. Church names are an issue of gospel effectiveness, not a box-ticking aid for Christians trying to find the church they like most.
The Promise of Jesus Above and beyond all our aspirations we must never forget that Jesus said, I will build my church. We take heart from such a statement and we rejoice when we hear of the expansion of the church throughout the world but we must not be complacent. God calls us as a people to be workers together for the advancement of his Kingdom. As Sinclair Ferguson once said: Men look for methods but God looks for men, because men are Gods methods.
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the powers of darkness during their journey to heaven. Its hidden in the sense that it is something known to and received by Gods people but hidden from those who are strangers to grace and to God. God is promising help to his people to stand firm. Daily strength. A white stone: Jurors in the courtrooms of Pergamum would vote at the end of a trial by drawing out black or white stones from a bag. The black stone signified the condemnation of the person on trial whilst the white stone signified their acquittal. Jesus is saying to these struggling, persecuted saints that although the people of Pergamum have rejected them and their faith he approves of them. He is looking and smiling with favour upon their witness and thats what matters. Let the pagans of Pergamum wave the black stone of rejection in the face of the Christians what does it matter? The great King and Head of the church waves the white stone of approval and acceptance before them. His is the praise and approval they need. A new name: the new name which is engraved upon the white stone is only known to the one who receives it (verse 17). It seems that if they remain faithful to the Lord and persevere to the end then when they enter glory Jesus will give a new distinctive name to each victorious saint. As Philip Hughes helpfully states: The name known only to the recipient indicates the uniqueness of each individual before God and the distinctness of the interpersonal relationship of each with him. 1 So, says the Saviour, stand firm. Stand firm and I will daily sustain you, constantly affirm you and ultimately bring you home to glory. However, despite their apparent faithfulness and despite these rich promises for both the present and the future all is not well. The Negatives The negatives are essentially found in verses 14 and 15. Here reference is made to the teaching of Balaam and the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Whatever this error is it is a single error being described by two different terms. The allusion is undoubtedly to Balaam whom we meet in Numbers 22-24. Having utterly failed to pronounce words of cursing upon the Israelites Balaam advises Balak, king of Moab, that the best way to destroy God people would be for Moabite girls to seduce the Israelite men by inviting them to take part in idolatrous feasts. Derek Thomas suggests that the teaching of Balaam is a reference to the ease with which sexual sins can destroy the church.2 The Pergamum believers were attending events which not only were compromising their distinctiveness as the people of God but meant that they were placing themselves in the way of serious sexual temptations. The modern application of this is not difficult to find. Whilst the clubbing scene in the UK today might not have any connection to pagan idolatry the principle remains the same. Dont, as a child of God, place yourself in the way of temptation. Dont compromise the distinctiveness of the Christian faith. Dont seek the approval and praise of the world. Better to know the well done of Jesus than all the praise of the world. Better to keep away from those places where we can easily fall into sexual sins. From such sins there is spirit -ual recovery but often they mark us deeply and haunt us for the rest of our lives.
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people; the Philistines were their local enemies; Tyre was the commercial capital of the Ancient Near East, a symbol of worldly excess; and Ethiopia represents the very ends of the earth, as far away as far can be from the City of God. Yet these heathen will one day know God intimately (vv 4-6). On earth they were born far away, but when they are born again from above, they become (super)natural-born citizens of heaven (Ps 87.6; Eph 2.12ff). God evidently takes great delight in this. Like a doting Father he remembers, This one was born there. And that one was born over there. None is forgotten; each birth is cherished. This adoption is freely bestowed, but it cost the Father dearly. In Golgothas darkness God kept his most expensive promise: through the broken body of his Son, the Father cut a door for sinners to enter the Church. He meets us there at the cost of the Only-begotten One. In response to this divine joy, the Psalm ends with the almost unrestrained exuberance of the gathered assembly. They are literally Singing like dancing (Hebrew)! V 7. Listen to their song, All my springs are in you. All of my best seasons of refreshment flow from the Church and my experience of God amidst his people. Neglect the church, do you see, and you rob yourself of this joy. And yet this is precisely what many in our day and age are doing. Are you one of them? Do you prefer a privatized Christianity? Would you rather have a Quiet Time than attend Public Worship? Dont you see that such individualism is ungodly because it is ungod -like, selfish, lonely, even hellish. Once in his earthly life, the Son experienced life as an isolated individual. It felt like hell to him because it was. Do we really want to recreate this loneliness for ourselves? Can we expect to find God by avoiding the place he has promised to be (Matt 28.18-20)? Dare we marginalize what God has made central (Eph 1.20-23)? Can we grow without the Churchs preaching and fellowship (Eph 4.1-16)? Can we be safe without her shepherding leaders (1 Peter 5.1ff)? Can we be faithful to Christ who commands us to submit to such leadership with joy (Heb 13.17)? Can we be wise without the Churchs doctrine that leads to godliness (Titus 2)? Have we the temerity to cast ourselves out of the church into Satans hands (1Cor 5.5)? If we leave the Church, we effectively excommunicate ourselves from the body of Christ, the family of God. As I write these words, I hear a chorus of unspoken Amens rise up from the souls of the faithful. You have learned these lessons. There is nothing new in what I have said. But let me ask you, What about the next generation? What about your children? Do they share your love of the Church or have they been infected with the Spirit of the Age that says you can be spiritual but not religious? Let me exhort you, my dear brothers and sisters. Teach your children the importance of the Church. Root your instruction in the character of God. Show them the relevance of our theology. The character of God defines the character of man. Never let them the think of the Church as merely a place they go to say a few prayers, sing a few hymns, and hear a long sermon. It is where we go together to meet God in the Word. And while we dont get a better God there than we do at home, we do get God better there than anywhere else on earth. When this penny drops in the hearts of our children, nothing will keep them away from the Church on the Lords Day! And with their Fathers, Lords Day by Lords Day, they will sing, We are marching upward to Zion, the beautiful City of God!
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Orar
A week of special outreach in Almucar Saturday 21st Monday 30th July, 2012
Pray for the team
Colin & Hazel Moore (Team leaders) David Burke Jenni Campbell Ian Heaney Stephen Kelly Benjamin McFall John Roger
Ephesians 3:16 (pray) that according to the The Evangelical Reformed Church in Almuecar, riches of his glory he may Spain, have invited a team of young Christians from the grant you to be strengthEPC to assist them in the running of their summer out- ened with power through his Spirit in your inner being reach programme.
The church in Almucar was established in 2002, when Manuel Franco was sent as a pioneer worker to Spiritual readiness the town, one year later he was ordained as their pastor. Rev Franco has witnessed the blessing of summer Practical preparations teams before, with groups from Holland and USA, but Learning some Spanish 2012 is our time to shine! We humbly pray that God will use this team to glorify Working in the sun/ heat Jesus Christ, and that, by Gods grace, we will help shed the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ in the Driving in Spain (Colin) darkness of Europe.
The programme is planned to run quite similar to our Dependence on the Lord own recent Summer Youth Outreach programmes. Each morning will begin with team devotions, and then time for final preparations and for going out with invitations. The team have already begun to learn a little 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Spanish, solo un poco! Finally, brothers, pray for Then from 11am to 2pm we trust the primary school us, that the word of the aged children will come along to the football club and Lord may speed ahead and be honored craft club, and then the Holiday Bible Club meeting.
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Pray
Pray for the outreach
After lunch, the team will no doubt enjoy the wellearned siesta before the evening programme begins for the teenagers. This runs until 9pm and then the day concludes with a time of fellowship and prayer. There will be an Olympic theme running through the whole programme, be it the football or the crafts or even the talks from the Bible. The team themselves will don their sporting kit, while giving out invitations to the various clubs and meetings. Please do pray that the chicos y chicas and young people would respond well to the invitation to come, both to the activities and to hear the Gospel. We also recognise that it is vital to have what Paul in Philippians 1.5 calls partnership in the Gospel with the church family in Almucar. Please pray that we will quickly gel together with them in the Lord. Rev Franco has already booked us in for paella with the congregation, and we look forward to sharing with our Spanish brothers and sisters! As you can imagine there is lot of work to be done before we leave for Espaa soleada. Pray for us as we work on the details of the programme. The crafts, the football, the Holiday Bible Club and the Teen Club all require lots of preparation, and this will be slightly more complicated with the language barrier. Please cut out the prayer bookmark, and use it over the next few months. Pray for us as a team, and pray for the outreach itself. Pray that the name of Jesucristo el Salvador would be uplifted and glorified.
Colossians 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ
Good partnership with the church family in Almuecar Rev Manuel Franco and his wife Krisztina Those who will translate visual aids, and talks For the young children hearing the Gospel in the morning For the teenagers hearing the Gospel in the evening Pray that Gods Holy Spirit would come and save
Ephesians 6:19 (pray) also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel
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in DANGER
short distance away, cut across the corner of the field and disappeared again into the woodland. Hurry up, Connie. Lets go back, he said, rather sharply. He was feeling guilty now as well as scared. They shouldnt even be in this field. If anything bad happened, it was his fault. Connie heard the worry in his voice and held his arm more tightly as the shooting started again. Philip, Im scared, she whispered. If we walk down the hill, we might get shot.At nine and a half, Philip was two years older than his sister and he knew this was a situation where he needed to take charge. Youre right, he told her. I think we should pray. He was a little surprised to hear himself saying this. Of course, he prayed at home with Mum and Dad, but this was the first time he had suggested it himself. To his relief, Connie agreed immediately. Together the children closed their eyes and Philip asked God to look after them and help them get home safely. A rustle of leaves startled them as a fifth man appeared from the woods. His spaniel cocked its ears and waved its tail furiously as it trotted towards the children. Well, hello! called a friendly voice. You must be Toms kids. You look just like your father, young lad. Are you visiting Granny? Walk across the field with me and Ill give you a lift down the lane in the Land Rover. My knees had enough walking today. He caught an anxious look pass between Thank you for Connie and Philip at the mention of crossing the field. listening Oh, dont worry, he reassured them. Were well out to my prayer of range here. Later that night and for the second time that day, Philip prayed without anyone telling him to. Dear God, he breathed, thank you so much for keeping us safe today. Thank you for listening to my prayer. Amen.
Church News
Knock Building Fund: Gift Day, Saturday 26 May, 2012
Knock congregation was the first Irish Evangelical Church to be formed back in 1927. In 1928 they were the first to erect a new building, and in 1928 it cost the grand sum of 1131. It was built as a temporary structure, and after almost 85 years of standing in a fallen world, its decay has passed the point of repair. Some of the friends in Knock fondly remember the day several years ago when Rev Gareth Burke was giving a childrens address, and while making the point about something being sound and firm, his illustration was like this wall and proceeded to give it a shove. However the wall gave out a terrible creak and shuddered greatly, its temporary nature was revealed at just the wrong moment! The roof now has joined the list of ailments and Knock session have therefore been making plans for a new permanent structure. We have started to build up our own building fund but recognise that we will need substantial help from the EPC family. It is therefore our intent to hold a Gift Day on Saturday 26th May, 2012. On that date, the church will simply be open for all who desire to give towards the project. Doors open from 10am to 4pm and youll be made welcome with some coffee and cake. We humbly ask for your support, just as the Israelites brought gifts to Moses for the building of the Tabernacle, we believe that Gods people will once again be stirred up to give, all the while recognising that we build not for ourselves or for our own glory, but for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our Lord.
Exodus 35.21 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.
PREACH THE WORD The last two in the series of preaching workshops will take place on Saturday 12 May and 9 June, 9-30-12noon Lisburn Road Hall Designed to help men who already engage in preaching and for those who desire to receive some training in this important work. Attendance NOT restricted to EPC members For details and booking form text Rev Gareth Burke 07803282489
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T10 door-to-door work by our congregations F11 the Preach the Word workshop tomorrow S12 Finaghy and Stranmillis congregations S13 the Christian Church throughout our nation M14 a desire among us for reading Christian books T15 the EMF centres of work in European countries W16 the spread of the Gospel to the unreached T17 our distinctiveness as the people of God F18 those coming through various trials S19 wisdom in appointing the new Manager for The Evangelical Book Shopsee page 18 S20 the power of the Word given in Care Homes M21 the outreach to Spain in Julysee pages 9-10 T22 the Crumlin congregation in its vacancy W23 our youth work since September as it begins to draw to a close around this time
...he who is left in Zion and remains T24 the North Belfast and Knock congregations in Jerusalem will be called holy ...
S26 diligence in using Mission Prayer Dairies
F25 the Knock Gift Day tomorrowsee page 14 S27 Our hearing the Word will keep reforming us M28 the grace to live to please God (1 Thess 4.1) T29 skilled staff for ACTS database-website W30 God to equip and call men to the Ministry T31 Lima Seminary, moving to University status
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S10 diligence in church attendance by us all M11 families coping with busy daily schedules T12 financial viability of the schools in India W13 All our children that they will form godly, devotional habits from their youth
T14 utilisation of the Magazine in evangelism F15 the health and motivation of our office-bearers S16 Presbytery and Church Development Committee as they consider our future. Page 14. S17 all who preach or teach the Word each Lords Day and for the Spirits influence M18 each of us that as individuals we may progress continuously on the path of holiness
T19 the Fulani believers in Nigeria facing hostility W20 the work and witness of EPCEW T21 the final preparations for our summer camps. The Junior Camp starts 30 June
F22 the Groomsport and Richhill congregations S23 increasing diligence in studying the Word S24 desire to spend the whole day in worship M25 Christian work in many of our nations prisons T26 renewed missions awareness among us W27 the outreach to Spain in Julysee pages 9-10 T28 the effectiveness of the Christian Institute F29 the wide witness of Every Home Crusade S30 our Book Shop at a time of staff change.
Jacob at Peniel
The terms used to describe the prayer indicate a struggle of the entire man, body and soul, as they do in the case of the Lord Jesus in Gethsemane. The struggle was not imaginary; it was not a vision, nor was it purely spiritual. Hoseas use of it [12.2-4] puts it into the realm of practical experience. Wrestling with God, J D MacMillan, p19
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EP Word Search
Words associated with the NT Church
D T R E E O U T T D E U F E E T N A F G M P A U L A U W L G A E L D W K S R R T I H E W N L S S E C O N D E O E I U A H O O G L W
B L O
S X S H A O I L
W O R K S E J T I T U S G
I H H D O X P A A L P H A W
T A D Z S D R I N K C J H O R E I F N W
E E M E H E R P T L D B W R
A G E D S Y R I A O L C D
D A O
Part 2 List as many Bible nouns as you can from the unused letters of Part 1. Each word must be of at least four letters All the unused letters are available for each new word. Marking 1 point for each correct Part 1 word
O D J O Z S
Y O R O C K
G Y T D Y F
1 point for each correct Part 2 word of 4 letters, 2 for each word of 5 letters, 3 for 6, and so on. Please post your Part 1 and Part 2 lists to the Editor to arrive week commencing 3 June (not before). Please mark your envelope Word Search
Saturday evening, 24 March, saw Ballyclare church hall full to capacity with the families of children and young people who attend the weekly Mums & Tots, Sunday School and week-night activities. This annual Open House is a great opportunity to befriend parents and grandparents over a meal and to present a Gospel message; Rev Andrew Lucas spoke about salvation, using the story of the Titanic disaster. We pray that this effort will be used by God to bring people into his Kingdom.
info@evangelicalbookshop.co.uk
The Evangelical Book Shop is a Charitable Trust. It is held in trust by a Board of Trustees for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We are retail Booksellers of Bibles and new and second-hand Christian books, operating today in a highly competitive market.
The Trustees wish to appoint a new
Manager
to succeed Mr John Grier who has announced his retirement as Manager to take effect during the summer of 2012.
In keeping with the terms of our Trust we require a Manager whose commitment is that The Evangelical Book Shop, through its literature and witness, will promote the Reformed Faith in agreement with the Trust and in harmony with the doctrinal standards of The Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Ideally we are looking for a person with experience in the Christian book trade who has developed by qualification, training and experience key management competencies in the fields of Business Administration, Finance, IT, Negotiation, Marketing, HR and Employment Practice. Applications should be by Application Form (not CV). Please request at ecbrown3gmp@btinternet.com
The final date for receipt of completed Application Forms is Tuesday 15 May 2012. Interviews will be 17-22 May by arrangement with Applicants.
The Doctor Himself and the Human Condition , D Martyn Lloyd-Jones, CMF,1982, 77-78
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The main thrust of this Psalm is that, even in the face of mounting adversity, David rejoices in the Lord, recounting the blessings of following him and the glory that awaits him in Heaven. The puritan Thomas Brooks aptly said of this Psalm, Hope can see Heaven through the thickest clouds. Davids Prayer (1-2) Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. David shows us all how to come before the Lord and seek him regardless of our circumstances. Life can often throw us off track without even a moments notice and before we know we are in a spin and grasping for help. Where do we turn in times of crisis and trouble? David knows that his help comes from his Lordhis very soul knows it and he exclaims: You are my Lord, my good -ness is nothing apart from You. For David the Lord was the source of all that made life good and enjoyable. To David God was everything, his all and all, his security and satisfaction, his one and only good thing. What about us? To whom are we looking to for leading and direction for help and encouragement in our lives? Davids Perplexity (3-4) David takes great comfort and delight from other believers whom he refers to as the saints who are on the earth. In stark contrast to this, however, he refers to others who worship other gods. David wants nothing to do with these people and their evil practices. Davids Pledge (5-6) The worship of other gods was no temptation to David because he had found total security and satisfaction in God alone. Truly David could exclaim: O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. David relied on God to look after him. Davids boundary lines were expansive, allowing for a full provision of divine blessing. His inheritance was the Lord himself and all his overflowing goodness and provision. Davids Praise (7-11) David gives praise unto God specifically for the guidance and counsel which God had given him. Even at night Gods advice remained lodged in his heart and enabled him to have peace and not to be moved. How did David achieve this comfort of soul? v 8 gives us the clue: I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Even in the face of life-threatening ordeals, David remained glad, and rejoiced. He knew his body would also rest secure, even in death he knew God would forever be his portion. Finally, in verse 11, David reminds himself of his ultimate destinyHeaven and eternity spent in the joyful presence of Almighty God.
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Spiritual DisciplinesWorship
Michael Trimble, Stranmillis
What is worship? The root words for worship in Greek and Hebrew convey the dual ideas of prostration before the object of worship, and service to the one worshipped. In Isaiah 6.1-8, Ezekiel 1.28b and Revelation 1.12-17 a man is given a vision of God. In each he acknowledges his smallness and moral deficiency prostrating himself before a holy God and then offering him his service. So worship is the proper response of a man to his God. We do not have to be brazen to sin in worshipping: The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. (A W Tozer) Right worship requires a right knowledge of God and a right acknowledgement of our place in relation to him as creature to Creator, as sinner to Saviour. In Reflections on the Psalms, C S Lewis notes that praise is the appropriate response to beauty and especially so in the case of our God: Admiration is the correct, adequate or appropriate response ...we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment. What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever. (Shorter Catechism) The end goal of worship is summarized in Philippians 2.10-11at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. How should we worship? Jesus told the woman at the well: true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4.23 -24). The word spirit has a small s, and commentators, such as J C Ryle take it to mean the intellectual part of man. That is, worship is from within, from the heart. The Psalms show thoughtful adoration (8), joyful thanks (100), exuberant praise (150). How do we worship? Whilst worship is not essentially a matter of form it must take some shape. Kent Hughes, in Disciplines of a Godly Man, notes the elements of personal devotion: meditation, confession, adoration and submission. Whatever the church liturgy or practice we will find the same elements in our corporate worship: a call to worship, confession, creed or statement of belief, hymns, prayers, the reading and preaching of the Word, thanksgiving, offering and benediction. But again, that is not all that is our worship. Worship must continue beyond the chapel walls. Our whole lives are to be lived to the glory of God. (Rom 12.1-2; Col 3.16-17, 23) In conclusion Worship requires us to have the right knowledge of God and an awareness of our relationship to him. In response we undertake acts of worship prayer, praise and devotion. We can worship as individuals but corporate worship allows us to come together to focus on God and share our joy as we praise him. But this awareness of God should be carried over so that our whole life is lived to his glory.
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Congregations: Finaghy
Mervyn Langtry
Past The Finaghy congregation was founded in 1946 through the vision of the Lisburn Road congregation who recognised the need to reach out to the new housing estates in the Finaghy area. Erection of a building was no small matter post-war restrictions were still very much in force and crucial items such as roof trusses and internal doors had to be secured second hand from the RAF base at Aldergrove. The work prospered, a key element being the Sunday School, which attracted many from the new families locating from the Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas of Belfast. A vibrant Womens Meeting also emerged. Prime figures in the congregation from the early days included Rev C E Hunter and elders Samuel Shanks and Samuel McGurk who gave yeoman service for many years. Mrs Millar led the Womens Meeting and Miss Lottie McWilliam served diligently as Missions Secretary. The Campaigner movement figured prominently with Mr William Bacon, Mr George Carlisle and Miss Ann Tolerton to the fore. Youth work was greatly aided by the extension and refurbishment of the premises from the 1960s. Rev Norman Reid succeeded Mr Hunter in 1970 and, following Mr Reids call to Dublin in 1977, Rev Sidney Garland became pastor until his departure to missionary service in Nigeria in 1987. Rev Samuel Watson, took up post in 1987. Present The housing estates which led to the establishment of the congregation remain. Sadly, the godly ethos of those who lived there does not, and to-day, as in many suburban areas, there is little interest in the Gospel. The Sunday School and Womens Meeting continue, smaller than in years gone by, but still supported by a faithful few and upheld by committed workers. The same is true of a small Youth Club. The congregation now includes those who remain from the Lisburn Road church which closed a number of years ago a fitting arrangement given the relationship traced back to Finaghys beginning. Sunday morning attendances are around 55, but those at night have fallen to 25 giving cause for concern. Future The immediate future is bound up with Rev Watsons retirement in June 2012. After 25 years faithful and diligent service he will be much missed, and this is a fitting moment for the congregation to mark its gratitude to both Rev Watson and to the Lord for all that he has been enabled to do. We wish him well as he enters this new phase of service. Please Pray For: 1 The congregation as it enters a period of vacancy in June 2012 2 Rev Samuel Watson and his ministry during retirement 3 Greater response from the district and for the growth of the evening service 4 The development of all the Finaghy organisations.
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MayMay-Jun 2012
Book Reviews
My God is True! Lessons Learned Along Cancers Dark Road 6.25 5.00 Paul D Wolfe, Banner of Truth, Paperback, 150 pages. Wolfe was married on 23 May 1998 and eleven months later was diagnosed with cancer. This book reflects the experience of his almost year-long battle. There is a twin track approach. First, Wolfe does not blame or reproach God for his experience. Instead he introduces and concludes the book with reference to the words of an old hymn where each verse begins with the words: Whateer my God ordains is right (the hymn itself is worth reading!). Secondly, he poignantly details all his experiences from diagnosis through to his last treatment. Wolfe does not in any way minimise the suffering his surgery and treatment incurred, he catalogues the pain, the debility, his treatments, the loss of taste and his hair and the ongoing tests but along side all of these difficulties he points to the glory, faithfulness and grace of God. His faith in God is never diminished and his account of his experiences is underpinned by relevant Scripture references. The book has helpful lessons for us all. It provides helpful insights into how we may best support those who are suffering from cancer and other situations. In summary this is a most helpful book. There is no diminution of the painful facts surrounding the disease and coupled with this there is his overwhelming commitment to his God and Saviour and his Word. Patricia Gibson The Intolerance of Tolerance 12:99 8.99 D A Carson, IVP, Paperback,186 pages. We are all too familiar with media reports about actions against Christians because of their beliefs. Indeed society sometimes seems to tolerate almost any viewpoint except conservative Christian morality. How has this come to pass? This book considers how the common meaning of tolerance has changed from accepting the existence of different views to acceptance of different views. Carson notes that the effect of this change is substantial. To accept that an opposing view-point exists and deserves that right is one thing; to be obliged to accept that position as valid and true excludes the possibility of any meaningful difference of opinion. So whilst Christians may support freedom to practise other faiths (old style tolerance), since they will not accept those beliefs as of equal validity with Christianity (new style tolerance) they are perceived to be intolerant. The crux of Carsons thesis is that new style tolerance has become a defeater beliefa belief that trumps all opposing beliefs. So, whilst a Christian may put forward a valid argument for the uniqueness of Jesus, his inability to accept other faiths as equally valid shows him to be intolerant, and therefore defeated already. As all beliefs are held to be equally valid, intolerance becomes the only sin. This is not an academic analysis and Carson directs readers to his previous works Christ and Culture Revisited, and The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism for deeper study. Reminding us that Christians should not be surprised that the Gospel causes offense, the author concludes with ten suggestions for living wisely in an increasingly (in)tolerant culture. Michael Trimble
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Moody Adams
9.99 7.99
The inspirational story of John Harper, who set his only child in a lifeboat before setting his sights on the salvation of the lost souls around him. A true story of God at work in that dark disaster.
Silent Voices
6.00 4.50
Learning from the Titanic.A powerful and easily readable account of this momentous tragedy, giving us the facts we need to know alongside challenging spiritual application. Pastor Ian Cooper, Surrey
Ed Catherine MacKenzie
7.99 5.99
Testimonies of How God's Word impacts Lives. 44 very different people summarise what the Bible means to them in their everyday lives - the bus driver and the theologian, the missionary and the midwife, the army chaplain and the artist, and many more.
The Cross
2.99 1.50
Little book, big subject: the authors briefly and readably explore the many facets of the meaning of the Cross. They earlier did Pierced for our Transgressionsmaster-work.
2.99 1.50
The Path to True Christian Joy. Another short read with the potential to transform your life: "A truly gospelhumble person is not a selfhating person or a selfloving person, but a selfforgetful person. This freedom can be yours."
7.99 5.99
"I can't put this down! Every church member should read it! It's in the form of a collection of emails, mainly between a new young pastor and his older and wiser uncle yes, doubtless Screwtape-inspired. So readable, and helps you see your minister and your church through a different lens." Julia Grier
Matthew Henry
Allan Harman
8.99 6.75
His Life And Influence This new biography gives a wealth of information about this godly man. "To anyone who can read this brilliant biography without being humbled, challenged, inspired and motivated to 'press on toward the goal', I have only one thing to sayread it again. I am struggling to think of any biography that has spoken so clearly to me and it would be impossible for me to commend it too highly." John Blanchard
13.99 9.99
Renewing Our Faith and Reforming Our Ministry Practices Essays by influential leaders, eg Don Carson, Tim Keller, Kevin DeYoung and Bryan Chapell who defend the Gospel and strengthen the church, reclaiming our beliefs from the dangers of relativism. Originally Gospel Coalition booklets; this is a more affordable way to own the whole series .
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