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r rr r

1h
ltunQIItuI
PrshylrIun
The Danger o[ Going to Church
Correspondence with Prisons
The1859 Reviva| -3
Listening & Living
1.00
2009
Mag-Jun
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Editor
Harold CIbson
'StockbrIdge'
2 8arronstown Court
0FD|DFE 8T25 1F8
hgIbson@barronstown.force9.net
5ubscriptions 2009
Collected f 6.00
8y post wIthIn UK f 7.65
8y post outsIde UK f11.00
EnquIrIes to:
EvangelIcal 8ook Shop
(See back page for contact detaIls)
Take Note
When Sorry Is not Enough
The recent exposure of some
parlIamentarIans and theIr expense claIms
leave the majorIty of us bewIldered and
perhaps even a lIttle bemused. Those
whose claIms have been called Into questIon
seemIngly have done nothIng wrong. t's
the system that Is wrong! Even our own
polItIcIans In Northern reland are not
exempt wIth some managIng to claIm over
f500,000 wIthout havIng to take theIr
seats at WestmInster. |ost of us have to
turn up at work If we hope to get paId!

There was a tIme when leaders were
looked up to as an example In what was
good and wholesome rather than the greedy
and covetous desIres that are evIdenced
today. John 0Ickson wrote "Somehow, for
all the wondrous glImpses of 'goodness' see
In socIety, there remaIns the unmIstakable
staIn of selfIshness, vIolence and greed."

When It comes to apologIes and sayIng sorry
our leaders seem to fInd that dIffIcult.
Creed and selfIshness are, as C S LewIs put
It, the result of prIde. The prIde of man Is
the cause of all other sIns. WhIle mankInd
makes the outsIde of the cup and dIsh
clean, the Inward part Is full of greed and
wIckedness. (Luke 11:J9)

Even when men say sorry the 8Ible teaches
us that sorry Is not enough. The sorrow of
the world leads to death but Codly sorrow
produces repentance leadIng to salvatIon.
(2 Cor 7.10.)

Tcke Note! Cod commands all men
everywhere to repent.
Cover Photograph
Front vIew of St Peter's Cathedral,
Ceneva, where John CalvIn preached
15J615J8 and 15411564. The
archItecture of the faade was
altered In 1870.
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WorshIp, accordIng to the 8Ible, Is to be a joyful and happy experIence. The
PsalmIst speaks of goIng up to the house of Cod wIth joy. n many churches
today joy Is often the mIssIng jewel. Dften worshIp Is lIfeless and depressIng
and we wonder why attendances are declInIng and evangelIstIc efforts prove so
IneffectIve. |ore often than not the problem lIes wIthIn our ourselves. 0avId
Fobertson wrote these thought provokIng lInes some tIme ago, "When people
are offered the water of lIfe and only see death In those who claIm to have It,
Is It any surprIse they refuse to partake:"
1
Lets be honest, we could apply thIs
sentIment to many of the churches In our land today. So often we meet
ChrIstIans wIth long sad faces Instead of happy people who claIm to know the
joy of salvatIon, peace wIth Cod and the hope of heaven In theIr lIves.

0ead worshIp wIll ultImately lead to the burIal of a congregatIon; lIvIng worshIp
wIll lead the people of Cod Into a thrIvIng and growIng fellowshIp who desIre to
know Cod better, who have a concern for the lost and who seek nothIng but the
glory of Cod and the extensIon of hIs kIngdom. How do we defIne joyful worshIp:

The PraIse we SIng
When we sIng we offer praIse unto Cod. "Worthy Is the Lamb" descrIbes the
worshIp of the redeemed In heaven as they exalt Cod and Jesus ChrIst. 0own
through the centurIes however, praIse unto Cod has led to serIous dIsharmony
and conflIct among the people of Cod. Faymond 8rown has wrItten, "t Is tragIc
when the joyous adoratIon of Cod becomes a source of paInful schIsm."
2
We
must not become preoccupIed wIth psalms and hymns old or new, rather In our
praIse we are to rejoIce and be glad at the worthIness of the Lord Cod and
adore the matchless beauty of ChrIst. There Is nothIng sacrosanct about tunes
and poetry of prevIous generatIons. Dur praIse Is to be an expressIon of our
debt to Cod and our love to the Son of Cod who loved us and gave hImself for
us. Whether we sIng old or modern songs of praIse the real Issue Is, do we offer
praIse unto Cod: SIngIng songs full of rIch doctrIne wIll enable us to respond
wIth thankful and joyful hearts.

The Prayers we Dffer
Fead through the great prayers of the 8Ible-of |oses, 0avId or NehemIah, for
example, and learn how they come Into the presence of Cod wIth worshIp and
adoratIon. As the PurItans often saId, "pray untIl you pray". Let us capture the
glory and magnIfIcence of Cod as we pray. Too often we hurry out to worshIp
wIthout any preparatIon or thought that we are comIng Into the presence of the
KIng of KIngs and Lord of Lords. 0on Carson asks the questIon, "What Is the
most urgent need In the church of the western world today:"
J
0evotIon to the
mInIstry of prayer Is hIs answer. EvangelIsm, church plantIng and spIrItual
development wIll all prove powerless wIthout the dIscIplIne of a regulated
prayer lIfe. CommunIon wIth Cod wIll lead to real and lastIng joy.
harold 0ibsoo
Jog[u| Worship
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The PreachIng we Hear
Paul remInds us In Fomans that preachIng Is the prImary means by whIch people
come to faIth In ChrIst. "FaIth comes by hearIng and hearIng by the Word of
Cod." J Packer poInts out, "not every dIscourse that fIlls the appoInted 20J0
mInute slot In publIc worshIp Is actual preachIng, however much It Is called by
that name."
4


PreachIng Is revelatIon, It reveals Cod to mankInd and brIngs a true message
from Cod. When the preacher says "Let us hear the Word of Cod" we should
pay dIlIgent attentIon to the readIng of the ScrIptures. Cod Is speakIng to hIs
people and makIng hImself known through the 8Ible. Cod has gIven hIs Word to
us for InstructIon, correctIon, and rebuke that the people of Cod may be
thoroughly equIpped for every good work. (2 TIm J.1617)

We should come to church wIth a sense of antIcIpatIon that Cod speaks
through hIs Word as we worshIp. The preacher must be mIndful of hIs awesome
responsIbIlIty to brIng the Word of Cod and to feed the flock wIth the fInest of
the wheat. "Feheated sermons" are often lukewarm and unpalatable! The flock
wIll stIll be hungry. J Packer has commented that "sermons are often composed
and delIvered on wrong prIncIples."
5
The preacher's opInIons rather than the
message from Cod fall short of 8IblIcal preachIng. PreachIng that teaches and
applIes the Word as It reveals the authorIty of Cod and hIs grace to us In ChrIst
Jesus should thrIll our souls and cause us to sIng "Joyful, joyful we adore thee,
Cod of glory, Cod of grace."

The PeopIe we Produce
When worshIp has become routIne and goIng to church Is somethIng to do on
Sunday then the joy of true worshIp has gone. What do vIsItors to our
congregatIons thInk of our worshIp: s It vIbrant, joyful and glorIfyIng unto Cod:
Dr does It look lIke somethIng that Is on a lIfe support machIne: Too much of
our thInkIng can be caught up wIth the mechanIcs of worshIp that we mIss the
true object of our worshIp.

True worshIp should exalt Cod to hIs rIghtful place In our lIves so that we
mIght be excIted at the prospect of our next tIme of worshIp. John |acArthur
has saId, "f worshIp does not change us It has not been worshIp." WorshIp that
Is centred on Cod's Word and drIven by Cod's Word wIll result In a thankful,
joyful and obedIent people.


1
The Monthly Record, January 2008

The Messcye o] 0euteronomy, Faymond 8rown, 7P, p151

J
A Ccll to Sprtucl Re]ormcton, 0 A Carson, 7P, p11

4
Precchny, edIted by Samuel T Logan, EvangelIcal Press, 1986, p J

5
bId
True worshIp shouId exaIt Cod to hIs rIghtfuI pIace In our IIves so
that we mIght be excIted at the prospect of our next tIme of
worshIp ... "If worshIp does not change us It has not been worshIp."
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Rav 0araib Borka
*What the Papers 5aid"
The thIrd of a serIes of sIx artIcles on the 1859 FevIval durIng Its 150
th
annIversary year.
Every mornIng on 'Cood |ornIng Ulster' a revIew takes place of the newspapers
both local and natIonal. How startled would you be If the revIewer suddenly
began to comment on newspaper artIcles detaIlIng the work of Cod's SpIrIt In
our provInce: Yet thIs Is exactly what happened In 1859-the mIghty movement
of Cod's SpIrIt that was sweepIng across the land was reported In the local and
natIonal press. t Is true to say that not all newspapers were sympathetIc, and
also the press dId have a tendency to emphasIse the physIcal prostratIons and
other phenomenon that occurred at some of the meetIngs. However, there was
much favourable reportIng. Take, for example, the events In ColeraIne on Tues
day 7 June 1859. A wooden platform was erected at FaIr HIll to serve as a pul
pIt for an open aIr meetIng. However, so many people turned up that It was
necessary to erect a whole serIes of platforms around the area.

The Clasyow Cuardan
A reporter from the Clasgow CuardIan gave the followIng account of the
preachIng of a young man from 8allymoney on that memorable day:

A young convert mounted a platform and began preachIng In the followIng way.
0ear frIends, was a great sInner, but ChrIst has been a great SavIour to me.
Thanks be to Cod, he has brought me from darkness to lIght and from the power
of Satan unto Cod. f there be any unconverted souls before me, would just ask
you to seek ChrIst thIs nIght. Let It not pass wIthout fIndIng hIm. Dh, let It not
pass wIthout fIndIng ChrIst to be precIous to your souls. For oh he Is lovely, alto
gether lovely to them that fInd hIm . Surely do not look upon one who would
say refuse ChrIst; ChrIst Is all to them that belIeve. would ask you to come
whIle It Is day, for the nIght comes when no one can work. Work now, come now.
0o not waIt untIl tomorrow; perhaps tomorrow wIll be too late. The devIl's tIme
Is tomorrow, he told me tomorrow and he Is tellIng many here that you are too
young to come to ChrIst, that you are tIme enough yet, but ah frIends heed not
the devIl. Seek ChrIst. Seek ChrIst thIs nIght . There are but two roads. WhIch of
the two wIll you choose: WIll you take the broad one that leads to destructIon or
wIll you choose the narrow one that leads to everlastIng lIfe. WIll you choose to
go to destructIon or to heaven: WhIch: WhIch: You have your choIce thIs nIght;
now whIch wIll you choose: Dh seek ChrIst now for now Is the accepted tIme and
now Is the day of salvatIon.

There was no enthusIasm. No shrIekIng or vocIferatIng, but meltIng appeals
addressed wIth the tenderest affectIon to fellow sInners. The speaker appeared
as If he could not bear to part wIth hIs hearers untIl he had prevaIled upon them
to come to the SavIour who had done such great thIngs for hIm.

ndeed, not only were there many such favourable newspaper accounts of the
revIval but the staff of some of these papers were themselves dIrectly affected by
the revIval. The memorable day reported above led to the conversIon of around
150 people IncludIng several apprentIces from the Colercne Chroncle, the local
. -.... ...
. .. .
weekly paper. When these men went Into theIr work they began wItnessIng for
the SavIour to the other employees. Such deep convIctIon of sIn fell upon the
Chroncle staff that many were unfIt for work for some tIme and the paper was
not publIshed on tIme that week. 0elayed by the workIng of the Holy SpIrIt!

The Colerane Chroncle
t was thIs very paper, the Colercne Chroncle, that reported the remarkable
scenes In the newly erected ColeraIne Town Hall on Thursday, 9 June 1859.

nstead of the joyous dance and the stIrrIng musIc of the ballroom (a ball had
been arranged to mark the openIng of the new Town Hall but had been cancelled
when the revIval came) the walls of the hall gave back the almost despaIrIng
groans of the strIcken sInner, the heartfelt prayer of a belIevIng penItent or re
sounded wIth the adorIng thanks of a redeemed saInt. So, hour after hour of that
remarkable nIght passed away. Dne after another mInIsters and good men who
had prayed wIth and comforted the mourners retIred worn out. We (The EdItor)
saw one whom no tIme or toIl could weary. n the nIche of a wIndow sat a
mother for sIx long hours holdIng In her lap the head of a son, a wIcked son, who
now lay prostrated under the awful power of convIctIon. Would not Cod, who
had borne wIth her boy In hIs years of waywardness, vouchsafe to hIm a sIght of
the Cross: Her patIence was rewarded. 8efore hIs dark soul a clear lIght dawned
upon the great atonement, and he was then rejoIcIng even that such a sInner as
he could be receIved by the Lamb of Cod.

Londonderry
The SpIrIt of Cod was now sweepIng across the provInce In hIs convIctIng and
convertIng power. The |aIden CIty of Londonderry was to be greatly affected
by thIs genuIne work of Cod. Sunday, 12 June was a sIgnIfIcant day. At 10.J0 am
a servIce was held In East Wall |ethodIst Church followed In the afternoon by a
large open aIr gatherIng at the 7IctorIa |arket. Fev Fobert Wallace (|ethodIst)
presIded and Fev FIchard Smyth (PresbyterIan) preached. 0urIng the course of
hIs sermon he stated the followIng:

am often asked If am not ashamed to go and speak at such foolIsh meetIngs as
these. n reply say that have a soul and care for souls . ' am not ashamed to
own my Lord or to defend hIs cause.' would gIve the members of thIs great au
dIence a few words to thInk over, namely the soul, ImmortalIty, ChrIst, sIn,
heaven and hell.

n the evenIng a servIce was held In FIrst 0erry PresbyterIan Church where
the Fev Jackson Smyth from Armagh reported on the work of revIval In other
parts of the country and then he Introduced "sIx converts from the spade, the
plough and the shop" to tell what Cod had done for theIr souls and to pray for
the outpourIng of HIs Holy SpIrIt. Among the converts who took part was a boy
of twelve years of age who prayed most earnestly for the Holy SpIrIt to come
upon them. He asked that each person gathered mIght be a wrestlIng Jacob.'
The work of revIval had truly begun In Londonderry and throughout the next
week many meetIngs were held wIth many seekIng the Lord for salvatIon.
Dne of the notable features of thIs work of Cod's SpIrIt In Londonderry was how
the revIval affected every class of the communIty. Fev FIchard Smyth stated:
-,.. .

From the hIghest to the lowest, not only were serIous ImpressIons predomInant
but the evIdences of savIng conversIon were afforded. |en of educatIon, men of
busIness talents, and women of refIned mental culture were brought to weep
and lament over theIr unbelIevIng hearts and had eventually theIr sorrow turned
to joy. Dn the other hand the SpIrIt of Cod reached the most IllIterate, and In
many Instances where not a letter of the alphabet was known the name of Jesus
and hIs redemptIon were famIlIar to the heart and lIp.'

A more challengIng aspect of the 1859 revIval for ourselves In the EPC Is the
fact that there was consIderable cooperatIon between the dIfferent churches-
PresbyterIan, |ethodIst, CongregatIonal and some EpIscopal clergy workIng closely
together In prayer and counsellIng. f Cod was pleased to send revIval In 2009
to what degree would we be wIllIng to work wIth the Lord's people In other de
nomInatIons In the spread of the Cospel: Perhaps a questIon for another day.
PEFDPhE0 THEDLDCICAL CDLLECE, KNDCKPACKEN

CaIvIn 2-0ay Conference-18-1 hay 200

CALVlN F0R THE 21
ST
CENTURY
ThIs Conference, to commemorate the 500
th
annIversary of CalvIn's bIrth, wIll focus on
the spIrItual legacy of John CalvIn and Its relevance for the Church today.

Cuest Lecturer: 0r PIchard C CambIe
0r Camble, Professor of SystematIc Theology at the Feformed PresbyterIan TheologIcal
SemInary, PIttsburgh and SenIor Pastor of College HIll FP Church, 8eaver Falls, Is an
InternatIonally renowned CalvIn scholar who has contrIbuted to more than 75 publIcatIons
as author and edItor. 0r Camble Is a past presIdent of the CalvIn StudIes SocIety.

0ay 1 10.00 Coffee
10.30 Calvn as a Preacher oj the 0ld Testament 0r NorrIs WIIson
11.30 8reak
11.45 lrresstble Crace 0r PIchard C CambIe
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Calvn on Worsh Prof Edward 0onneIIy
14.45 8reak
15.00 Calvn's Srtualty 0r PIchard C CambIe
16.00 Close

0ay 2 10.00 Coffee
10.30 Calvn as a New Testament Exeyete 0r PIchard C CambIe
11.30 8reak
11.45 Calvn's Pastoral Care Prof Pobert hcCoIIum
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Calvn's Mssonary Theoloyy 0r 0avId hcKay
14.45 8reak
15.00 Perseverance oj the Sants 0r PIchard C CambIe
16.00 Close

Cost f25.00 (coffee and lunch Included) Students/SenIor CItIzens f15.00
PegIster WIth Fev Andrew Kerr be]ore 12
th
Mcy 200
andrew@andrewkerr5.wanadoo.co.uk 028 070 1721
. -.... ...
, ,, ,
CouId you gIve us a brIef overvIew of the Correspondence Courses!
Correspondence Courses are a very Important part of what we do. For many of
our students currently studyIng wIth us, thIs was where they started. |any who
use our courses are unable to come to College because of where they lIve-out
In rural areas where transport Is a problem as well as fInances. About a hundred
of our Correspondence students are In prIson and so thIs serves a very vItal role
In theIr growth as belIevers. ThIs area of study
Is headed up by Norman FeId. We have a serIes
of four courses-Know your 8Ible, Know about
Cod and HIs SalvatIon, Know how to lIve the
ChrIstIan LIfe, Know Paul's Letter to the
Fomans. Each contaIns 10 lessons.

These were fIrst launched almost thIrty years
ago when prIntIng was done manually on a
duplIcatIng machIne. n EnglIsh, these courses
have recently been completely revIsed and
publIshed In a new format as an attractIve A5
booklet produced on our new dIgItal copIer.
Each 20page booklet contaIns one lesson and
acts as a workbook. The student studIes the
materIal, fIlls In the answers and then maIls the
booklet to us. We correct It, record the mark and return It to the student
together wIth the next lesson. These books are corrected by ElIzabeth Foss.

However, as far as Correspondence Courses In the Xhosa language are
concerned, we are stIll usIng the old edItIon produced a long tIme ago. We just
keep photocopyIng the old books resultIng In a poor qualIty product. We have
been hard at work computerIsIng and upgradIng the Xhosa edItIon. ThIs work
was almost completed by Fonald ChrIstIe before he returned home. He had
been workIng wIth a number of good Xhosa translators but there Is stIll some
work to complete before we wIll be able to produce a completely new set of
courses In Xhosa. Thank you for your generous support. Pray that we may be
able to complete thIs project soon.

Are you abIe to share wIth us any responses from correspondents!
Here are some excerpts from letters receIved from prIsoners:

" am very much blessed as a prIsoner because If It was not because of my
IncarceratIon would not have known you . thanks agaIn on behalf of all the
Inmates who are posItIvely benefItIng from thIs mInIstry ..."
A|| Lands to GodI
Dumisani Correspondence Courses
0ballg lombard. dmioisiraior. 0omisaoi
LeIithu & Hombukuzi
Normun
-,.. .

". these lessons . keep me In the presence of the AlmIghty, medItatIng on
HIs Word."

". the certIfIcate of completIon . Is not more Important than the knowledge
receIved from the begInnIng of my studIes of thIs course wIth you."

" want to thank you for all your constant encouragement and support,
understandIng and guIdance that you have shown to me. Today am strong
In the Lord because of you."

". enjoy every sIngle part of my lessons. wIsh could do somethIng
posItIve for 0umIsanI as thIs Is a true spIrItual empowerment."

" thank you all for changIng my lIfe to a ChrIstIan lIfe. Now enjoy and
delIght In your encouragements . you make me happy not to go through
thInkIng am In jaIl . It Is that am In ChrIst Jesus and know through your
preachIng that Jesus ChrIst Is my SavIour. love ChrIst wIth my heart and my
mInd, my understandIng, my bones and my soul. What you have done Is
beyond thanksgIvIng."

What bIessIngs and encouragements-perhaps dIscouragements-has
0umIsanI receIved from thIs area of mInIstry!
The blessIng wIll always be the growth In prIsoners' lIves as they study Cod's
Word. The letters we receIve, as you can see, are such a blessIng. Further
encouragement Is the fInancIal support
receIved from supporters around the
world as they catch the vIsIon and work
of 0umIsanI. The maIn frustratIon Is not
havIng the manpower to complete the
Xhosa booklets speedIly.

How has the money from the Women
For hIssIon project been used!
t has been used to prInt the booklets we
send to prIsoners and other correspondence
students. The prIsoners are not charged
anythIng for the course and because most
of our students are prIsoners we are not receIvIng any money for the booklets.
ThIs money allows more students to do the course. Dther students are charged
F10.00 (about 7580p) per course. We buy the paper and pay for the prIntIng as
well as the postage for each booklet that goes out.

CouId you gIve us some Items for prayer!

1 Pray that we can get the Xhosa booklets completed and computerIsed.
2 Pray for the students, that theIr lIves would be changed and enrIched by
theIr studIes.
3 Pray for ElIzabeth, HombakazI and LelItha as they mark and read letters
receIved from students, especIally the prIsoners as they are lonely and
often need someone to talk to.
. -.... ...
r r r r
We are not our own masters but beIong to Cod
Even though the law of the Lord provIdes the fInest and
best dIsposed method of orderIng a man's lIfe, It seemed
good to the Heavenly Teacher to shape hIs people by an
even more explIcIt plan to that rule whIch he had set
forth In the law. Here, then, Is the begInnIng of thIs plan:
the duty of belIevers Is "to present theIr bodIes to Cod as
a lIvIng sacrIfIce, holy and acceptable to hIm," and In thIs
consIsts the lawful worshIp of hIm. (Fom 12.1)
From thIs Is derIved the basIs of the exhortatIon that
"they be not conformed to the fashIon of thIs world, but be transformed by the
renewal of theIr mInds, so that they may prove what Is the wIll of Cod." (Fom
12.2) Now the great thIng Is thIs: we are consecrated and dedIcated to Cod In
order that we may thereafter thInk, speak, medItate, and do, nothIng except to
hIs glory. For a sacred thIng may not be applIed to profane uses wIthout marked
Injury to hIm.
f we, then, are not our own (cf 1 Cor 6.19) but the Lord's, It Is clear what
error we must flee, and whIther we must dIrect all the acts of our lIfe. We are
not our own: let not our reason nor our wIll, therefore, sway our plans and
deeds. We are not our own: let us not therefore set It as our goal to seek what
Is expedIent for us accordIng to the flesh. We are not our own: In so far as we
can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that Is ours.
Conversely, we are Cod's: let us therefore lIve for hIm and dIe for hIm. We
are Cod's: let hIs wIsdom and wIll therefore rule all our actIons. We are Cod's:
let all the parts of our lIfe accordIngly strIve toward hIm as our only lawful goal
(Fom 14.8; cf 1 Cor 6.19) D how much has that man profIted who, havIng been
taught that he Is not hIs own, has taken away domInIon and rule from hIs own
reason that he may yIeld It to Cod! For, as consultIng our selfInterest Is the
pestIlence that most effectIvely leads to our destructIon, so the sole haven of
salvatIon Is to be wIse In nothIng and to wIll nothIng through ourselves but to
follow the leadIng of the Lord alone.
Let thIs therefore be the fIrst step, that a man depart from hImself In
order that he may apply the whole force of hIs abIlIty In the servIce of the
Lord. call 'servIce' not only what lIes In obedIence to Cod's Word but
what turns the mInd of man, empty of Its own carnal sense, wholly to the
bIddIng of Cod's SpIrIt.
WhIle It Is the fIrst entrance to lIfe, all phIlosophers were Ignorant of thIs
transformatIon, whIch Paul calls "the renewal of the mInd". (Eph 4.2J) For they
set up reason alone as the rulIng prIncIple In man, and thInk that It alone
should be lIstened to; to It alone, In short, they entrust the conduct of lIfe. 8ut
the ChrIstIan phIlosophy bIds reason gIve way to, submIt and subject Itself to,
the Holy SpIrIt so that the man may no longer lIve but hear ChrIst lIvIng and
reIgnIng wIthIn hIm. (Cal 2.20)
The 5um o[ The Christian Li[e. The Denia| o[ Ourse|ves
Jobo 0alvio [losiiioias 3.7.1)
-,.. .
rr rr rr rr
0avid Waisoo. Ballgelara
Been thinking about ... Listening 6 Living
For me Early Church HIstory Is fascInatIng, so have been readIng a bIt about
The 0dcche. t Is a short work, whIch most agree was wrItten towards the end
of the fIrst century by an unknown author who probably lIved In SyrIa near AntIoch.
The 0dcche meanIng The Tecchny, Is In all probabIlIty, the oldest survIvIng
pIece of noncanonIcal lIterature. t Is often subtItled The Tecchny o] the
Twelve Apostles, but It Is unlIkely that any of the Apostles were Involved.

t has been descrIbed as a handbook for new ChrIstIan converts, comprIsIng
InstructIons derIved from the teachIngs of Jesus. The book can be dIvIded Into
three sectIons. The fIrst sIx chapters consIst of ChrIstIan lessons; the next four
gIve descrIptIons of the ChrIstIan ceremonIes, IncludIng baptIsm, fastIng and
communIon; and the last sIx outlIne church organIzatIon. As an early dIscIpleshIp
manual It appears remarkably orthodox. The thIng that struck me about the
work Is that It does not deal prImarIly wIth what we are to belIeve, but how we
are to lIve. The orIgInal readers were challenged to lIve holy lIves that befItted
ChrIstIanIty In the lIght of the truths they professed.

LIstenIng and lIvIng are Inseparably lInked In the ChrIstIan lIfe and yet here, we
often we fInd a gulf. Precchers must work hard to be not only doctrInal, but also
relevant and practIcal-belIevers struggle wIth daIly temptatIons, famIly lIfe or
theIr ChrIstIan walk. Lsteners must conscIously medItate and act on such preachIng
If there Is to be progress In prayer, zeal for evangelIsm and a desIre to please Cod
In every part of lIfe. Df course contInuous teachIng has an unconscIous cleansIng
effect, but thIngs could be Improved If trIed harder to "work out (my) own
salvatIon In fear and tremblIng." (PhIl 2.12) How often before sleep on Sunday
evenIng have we thought through how to lIve better for Cod durIng another week:
Femember the story In tImes of revIval: The people saId that the mInIsters
were preachIng better-and the mInIsters saId the people were lIstenIng better!
Sadly, often chIde myself for soon forgettIng the messages from the prevIous
Lord's 0ay sermons. How that must drIve mInIsters to despaIr, but worse, It heaps
condemnatIon on our heads. The dynamIc Holy SpIrIt who moved hearts In days of
revIval Is needed as much today, so that we would lIsten better and lIve better.

have heard that In tImes past, after the servIce, HIghland congregatIons
often dIspersed quIckly to avoId dIssIpatIng the message. t Is a pleasant thIng In
our churches that people remaIn and chat-but the practIce of further medItatIon
and subsequent obedIence must never be lost. So the sImple challenge Is-does
my lIstenIng affect my lIvIng:
" ... If anyone Is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he Is lIke a man observIng hIs natural face
In a mIrror; for he observes hImself, goes away, and ImmedIately forgets what kInd of man he
was. 8ut he who looks Into the perfect law of lIberty and contInues In It, and Is not a forgetful
hearer but a doer of the work, thIs one wIll be blessed In what he does." (James 1.2J25)
. -.... ...
r. r. r. r.

l \C[\ 'o `C(` lCil

Hi|
Hos onyone in your fomiIy ever
gone on o Iong frip fo fhe ofher
side of fhe worId7 Perhops you
feIf sod becouse of fhe
SEPARATION.
Of course, mobiIe phones ond
e-moiIs heIp fo bridge fhe gop.
Imogine hoving Ieprosy in 8ibIe fimes. You wouId nof be
oIIowed fo Iive wifh your fomiIy or even enfer fhe fown ond
you wouId hove fo cry, "UMCLEAMl" fo worn ofhers owoy.
Your diseose wouId couse SEPARATION.
SIM is fhe diseose which couses our
SEPARATION from 0OD
0od is HOLYfoo hoIy fo Iook of sin
foo HOLY fo Ief sin come neor Him
We oII hove sin.
Our sin sfonds befween us ond 0od
ond keeps us oporf
SEPARATION
Thof meons being
FAP AWAY
FPOM 0OD
-,.. .
r r r r
SOOD NEWS on SOOD FRIDAY


A veiI hongs in fhe TempIe
If divides fhe MOST HOLY pIoce from fhe resf
If is o symboI of our sepurution from 0od
Jesus is crucified
As he dies, fhe veiI is torn in two from top to bottom
Jesus' deofh ends our sepurution from 0od.

Trust Him und come buck to Sod

Use the code to work out whut the ibIe suys in Isuiuh 9,Z

8 L F I P M P J F P 0 P V H S Z E V
H V I Z I Z 0 V W 8 L F U I L M
8 L F I T L W






a b c d e f g h I j k I m
Z Y X W V U T S P P D N
n o p q r s t u v w x y z
h L K J I H C F E 0 C A
. -.... ...
r- r- r- r-
StranmIIIIs EvangeIIcaI PresbyterIan Church, eIfast

We seek to appoInt a

STU0ENT WDPKEP

Dur church Is located In the UnIversIty area of 8elfast, makIng contact wIth
hundreds of students each week from home and overseas. The opportunItIes for
outreach and evangelIsm are enormous and present a great challenge.

The person we are seekIng must be a commItted ChrIstIan wIth sound 8IblIcal
knowledge. ExperIence of student lIfe would be an advantage.

Further detaIls: Pev Careth urke gnburke@yahoo.co.uk 028 045 000
Churches News
5ummer Youth Outreach 2009

n CrumlIn, durIng August 2008, the Summer Youth Dutreach Team spent a week
spreadIng the Cospel among the young people from the town. t presented
challenge after challenge, but Cod's answer after answer remInded the team that
the Lord Is "able to do exceedIngly abundantly above all that we ask or thInk."

The format last year was a football and craft club for the chIldren In the
afternoons and a teen club In the evenIngs, all of whIch were amazIngly well
attended. We had many opportunItIes to share the Cospel wIth chIldren, young
people and parents, many of whom were much more open to Cod's word than
we had antIcIpated. WhIle these opportunItIes were excItIng, It was equally
excItIng to wItness the spIrItual growth of the younger team members. Young
ChrIstIans who, on the fIrst nIght goIng Into CrumlIn town had looked scared,
turned to the Lord In earnest prayer and saw theIr prayers answered. n a very
practIcal way we learned the message of 2 CorInthIans 12.9, "|y grace Is
suffIcIent for you, for |y strength Is made perfect In weakness."

n dIscussIons about last year, much emphasIs has been put on the Importance
of prayer from the team and from each EPC congregatIon. Therefore, as we plan
weeks In CrumlIn (J-7 August) and In
Somerton Foad, 24-28 August, we ask
you to pray. Pray for the plannIng and
for the team members that theIr faIth
would be strong, that there wIll be
unIty, that Cod wIll help those
preparIng talks and team devotIons
and gIve wIsdom to the team leaders.
|ost Importantly please pray for the
young people of the CrumlIn and
Somerton Foad areas, that Cod would prepare theIr hearts to receIve hIs Word
and "It shall not return to HIm voId."
The Z00 CrumIin Teum
-,.. .
r- r- r- r-
Mag 2009 Prager Diarg
FrI 1 |oderator Pray for 0r Fobert 8eckett In hIs role as |oderator of Presbytery.
Sat 2 ndIa Pray for effIcIent and productIve Presbytery busIness
Sun 3 South AfrIca CIve thanks for the recent vIsIt of John 8lanchard to 0umIsanI
|on 4 DffIce 8earers Pray for our offIcebearers, gIve thanks for our Elders and 0eacons
Tues 5 Peru Pray for a steadIly IncreasIng student populatIon at ColegIo san Andres
Wed 6 CaIyas Pray for |usa and Pamela as they settle back Into the work In NIgerIa
Thur 7 FInaghy Pray for our women's meetIng each Tuesday evenIng
FrI 8 Croomsport Pray for our specIal servIces thIs weekend, 810 |ay (See p 18)
Sat 9 Presbytery Pray for joInt meetIng wIth EPCEW In CambrIdge today
Sun 10 EPCEW Pray for the growth of the church In England E Wales
|on 11 Attendance Pray that IncreasIng numbers would come to our church servIces
Tues 12 DpportunItIes Pray for opportunItIes to share the Cospel wIth someone today
Wed 1J E|F Pray for the advance of the Cospel In Cermany
Thur 14 NIgerIa Femember the safety of the staff In theIr daIly work
FrI 15 Students Pray for those preparIng for exams, that they would know Cod's help
Sat 16 Crosscollyer CIve thanks for the relatIve peace In the area
Sun 17 Knock Pray for our ongoIng youth actIvItIes week by week
|on 18 8allyclare Pray for the leaflet dIstrIbutIon at the annual town faIr tomorrow
Tues 19 Somerton Fd Pray for our wItness to those wIth drug addIctIon
Wed 20 ColombIa Pray that terrorIsm wIll not succeed In reassertIng Itself In any way
Thur 21 FevIval Pray that Cod would be pleased to vIsIt our land In revIvIng power
FrI 22 StranmIllIs Pray that Cod would send us a student worker
Sat 2J Carlands Pray for SId and Jean, preparIng for SabbatIcal, for theIr refreshment
Sun 24 8ook Shop Pray for the contInuIng wItness and sale of good ChrIstIan books
|on 25 NursIng Home Pray for the many opportunItIes to conduct servIces In nursIng homes
Tues 26 Sunday School Pray for the boys and gIrls who come each week
Wed 27 Young People Pray for our young people who are seekIng guIdance for the future
Thur 28 CW Pray for the outreach, 'A Kosher Encounter' In London durIng July
FrI 29 Dmagh Pray for our chIldren's work, Sunday School E FrIday Club
Sat J0 FIchhIll Pray for annual |others E Toddlers fork supper tonIght
Sun 31 CrumlIn Pray for our planned outreach In the town durIng August (See p 14)
. -.... ...
r. r. r. r.
June 2009 Prager Diarg
|on 1 Presbytery Pray for Cod's blessIng on the meetIng tonIght
Tues 2 ElectIons Pray for the forthcomIng European electIons In our land
Wed J StranmIllIs Pray for the ongoIng plans to reach out to the Annandale area
Thur 4 Elderly Pray for our sIck and elderly, that they would know Cod's grace
FrI 5 Knock Pray for the SessIon as we plan outreach In the area
Sat 6 ConversIons Pray for conversIons, that Cod would move In our Churches
Sun 7 FInaghy Pray for our Young People's ServIces today
|on 8 ndIa Pray that the daIly 8Ible teachIng wIll Influence the two schools
Tues 9 Dmagh CIve thanks for our Young Adults 8Ible class
Wed 10 EPCEW Pray for Norman Creen and the church In 8lackburn
Thur 11 |oodys Pray for Andrew, EunIce and Joy as they serve the Lord In Uganda
FrI 12 |InIsters Pray for our mInIsters, as they prepare for the comIng Lord's 0ay
Sat 1J Camps Pray for fInal plannIng and preparatIon of our church camps
Sun 14 CrumlIn Pray for the advance of the Cospel In our town and dIstrIct
|on 15 South AfrIca Pray for Norman E Angela FeId, at present home on short furlough
Tues 16 8allyclare ContInue to pray for our chIldren's open aIr meetIngs
Wed 17 Young People Pray that our young people may be faIthful wItnesses for ChrIst
Thur 18 ACTS Pray for the ongoIng work of ChrIstIan lIterature In NIgerIa
FrI 19 Somerton Fd Pray that Sunday School attendance wIll keep up In the summer
Sat 20 Croomsport Pray for holIdaymakers who worshIp wIth us over the summer
Sun 21 Peru Pray for the small Churches scattered In mountaIn and jungle areas
|on 22 FIchhIll Pray that we may have IncreasIng contact wIth unbelIevers
Tues 2J Young People Pray for our young people as they seek employment In dIffIcult days
Wed 24 PersecutIon Femember the persecuted church In PakIstan, pray for blessIng
Thur 25 Dutreach Pray for all the summer outreaches durIng July and August
FrI 26 Crosscollyer Pray that our wItness would be effectIve In the area
Sat 27 Camps Pray for those who wIll lead our church camps, for blessIng and help
Sun 28 PreachIng Pray for blessIng on the preachIng of the Cospel today
|on 29 Camps Pray for the conversIon of young people at our camps
Tues J0 ColombIa Pray that the SemInary In |edellIn wIll have natIonal Influence
-,.. .
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Churches News
The EP Crossword - The Gospe| o[ Mark
The EdItor wIII award a ook Token for the fIrst correct entry
h
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Across
1 |osaIc separatIon (7)
4 Least of all seeds (5)
5 7Ineyard edIfIce (5)
7 Crowds followed Jesus (6)
Under the table (4)
11 Peter warmed hImself (6)
13 SmItten, scattered (5)
14 0onkey found (4)
16 Plotters to destroy Jesus (9)
1 Peter's accent (8)
20 FIg leaves portent (6)
21 Father (4)
22 WInd made dIffIcult (6)
25 Covernment levy (J)
26 Food for John (7)
27 Coastal town (5)
28 8etter to enter wIth one (J)
2 TradItIons followed (6)
30 Called for Emperor (8)
31 ContaIner of fragments (6)


0own
1 SpIrItual bIrd (4)
2 n two pIeces (4)
3 AnImal garment (10)
4 Commanded to sIt (5)
6 Not for fresh (J)
8 7Inegar dIspenser (4)
10 Angry turmoIl (6)
11 |akIng ready (11)
12 Church foundatIon (11)
14 NIl hearIng (4)
15 Untrue verbals (12)
17 Cash (8)
18 Peter (5)
21 Where chIldren blest (4)
23 No new In old (7)
24 Holy offIce (6)
28 Servant lost one (J)
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CIues by JIm Leckey
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O T E J
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H C B H E
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T E O U S N E S S
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T A R S E N S B
H E H D
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L L
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A R
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O F S A L T R
H A E E N E
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S C A P
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L A E S E
T N K
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A M R E T
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1 Please post your entry to the EdItor to arrIve
In week commencIng 24 |ay. (Not before!)
2 |ark your envelope 'Crossword'.
J The EdItor wIll select the fIrst correct entry
from the bag as the wInner.
The Cospel of |ark Is short enough to
be read at one sIttIng. The |ayJune
Crossword provIdes an opportunIty to
go through thIs Cospel agaIn. You wIll
fInd It a rewardIng lIttle exercIse!
. -.... ...
r, r, r, r,
Churches News
Obituarg. Mrs Marg McMu||an, Ba||gc|are
|rs |ary |c|ullan passed Into eternal glory on |onday 19 |ay 2008. Her death was
sudden but she had known consIderable health dIffIcultIes throughout the precedIng
WInter. |ary had been wIdowed In early January 2000 when her husband, John, had
suffered a major heart attack. She had faIthfully nursed hIm through consIderable
Illhealth over many years and just before John's death had herself suffered a
stroke whIch had left her wIth some speech dIffIcultIes. Wonderfully she had made
great progress followIng her bereavement and was regular at the mornIng servIce.
|ary had marrIed John |c|ullan In 0ecember 1961 wIth John havIng been
bereaved a few years earlIer and left wIth two daughters, |arbeth E |Ildred. n
fact In marryIng John she also took on aunt Jeany, John's fIrst wIfe's aged aunt.
an would be born to |ary E John just about a year after theIr marrIage. John E
|ary were a very devoted couple who commItted much of theIr earlIer ChrIstIan
lIfe to the work at Crosscollyer Street before comIng to 8allyclare. |ary always
took a keen Interest In those who were sIck In the church and IncreasIngly In her
latter days demonstrated a concern for prayer. Dur sympathIes are to all the
famIly members, but especIally to an, |arbeth E |Ildred and theIr respectIve
famIlIes. Dur thoughts also go to a number of |ary's frIends who meant a great
deal to her. The joy Is that she Is wIth Jesus whIch Is far better. JSP
Obituarg. Mrs E|izabeth McMurrag, 5omerton Road
ElIzabeth (LIly) |c|urray dIed 11 0ecember 2008 after a short Illness. LIly was
born and grew up In 87 FortwIllIam Parade and lIved there almost all of her 90
years. She passed away under the attentIve care of staff at Lansdowne NursIng
Home where she and WIllIe had lIved for years. Converted as a young gIrl she
became a member of Somerton Foad Church In 19J4 and In her early days served
the Lord as a Sunday School teacher. |arrIed to WIllIe In 1950 they were together
and devoted to each other for nearly 59 years, In theIr own house and the Home.
FollowIng the serIous mental ImpaIrment of theIr only daughter of 4 through
encephalItIs, LIly became reclusIve and rarely ventured out. Though not attendIng
church for many years she was a faIthful supporter of WIllIe In hIs dutIes as a loyal
0eacon and church caretaker and took a keen Interest In church news. Latterly
she attended the regular servIces In the Home. Though crIppled for many years LIly
maIntaIned a very alert and retentIve mInd untIl her death. Dur prayerful sympathy
Is extended to WIllIe and theIr daughter Ann at thIs sad tIme of human partIng. PC
Groomsport Evange|ica| Presbgterian Church

We InvIte you to our hay 200 hIssIon
Pev 0r Andrew A WooIsey
PsaIm 13: Knowny the Cod who Knows

FrI 8 |ay 8.00 pm Hs lnjnte Knowledye Sat 9 |ay 8.00 pm Hs Unversal Presence
Sun 10 |ay 11.J0 am Hs Creatve Power Sun 10 |ay 7.00 pm Hs Perject Ryhteousness
-,.. .
r r r r
n EcclesIastes 5.17, Solomon provIdes some wIse counsel on the matter of
worshIp. HIs concern Is not so much the outward form, but wIth the Inner
dIsposItIon of the worshIpper's heart and soul. Solomon provIdes three warnIngs.

1 Church Is no PIace for CareIess hInds
Solomon begIns by consIderIng how the worshIpper ought to approach "the
house of Cod". (v 1). A ChrIstIan church Is 'a house of Cod'. t Is a place where
people come to meet wIth Cod In a specIal way, and they must not approach
carelessly: "Cuard your steps when you go." (v 1) The "house of Cod" Is to be
approached thoughtfully, just as someone makIng theIr way up a steep
mountaIn path needs to be careful lest they fall and Injure themselves.

WorshIp In church brIngs us Into the presence of the InfInIte, holy Cod-not
of our equal, or someone lIke us, but of someone InfInItely greater. We come as
sInful people Into the presence of the holy Cod, and we can no more be careless
about approachIng Cod than we can when approachIng a ragIng Inferno. We
must never be careless of that fact, especIally when we come to worshIp HIm:
"... let us be thankful, and so worshIp Cod acceptably wIth reverence and awe,
for our Cod Is a consumIng fIre." (Heb 12.2829) We must never forget that we
have no automatIc rIght to worshIp Cod. We can do so only by the mercy of
Cod: "8ut , by your great mercy, wIll come Into your house; In reverence wIll
bow down towards your holy temple' (Ps 5.7). And, of course, as the NT
reveals, It Is only through faIth In ChrIst that Cod In hIs mercy wIll receIve us.

n Solomon's day there was the magnIfIcent Temple In Jerusalem. Perhaps
as Solomon watched the worshIppers, he knew that many were doIng so
carelessly and thoughtlessly wIthout a sense of awe and reverence. Consequently,
theIr worshIp was dead, lIfeless, mere formalIty; people mechanIcally goIng
through the motIons wIth no thought of who It was they were endeavourIng to
worshIp. That Is a serIous matter: "Cod Is greatly to be feared In the assembly
of the saInts, And to be held In reverence by all those around HIm." (Ps 89.7)

Solomon warns us that It Is a dangerous thIng to go to church-because Cod
assumes that we have come to meet hIm, and not to trIfle wIth hIm. We have
come, not to Insult Cod by mere lIpservIce, but to worshIp hIm In a way that
honours and recognIses that he Is a Cod to be feared and held In reverence.

2 Church Is no PIace for Unrepentant Hearts
n Solomon's day sacrIfIces were supposed to be brought by people who were
humble and thankful, but It seems that many were merely goIng through the
motIons of worshIp. They foolIshly ImagIned that Cod would be pleased wIth
theIr offerIngs whether or not they were offered wIth the rIght attItude. 8ut
what Cod wanted was not an offerIng from the hands, but one from the heart.
The Dangers o[ Going to Church
0am lraoeag. 0roomspori
. -.... ...
. . . .
The only thIng Cod would accept was genuIne repentance of heart: they were
not "to offer the sacrIfIce of fools, who do not know that they do wrong." (v 1)
The "sacrIfIce of fools" was what Cod thought of sacrIfIces offered mechanIcally,
wIth no sorrow In the heart over sIn. All such empty, dead worshIp Is repugnant
to Cod and He wIll not accept It, because It comes from unrepentant hearts.

Solomon warns us that takIng part In worshIp Is not enough to satIsfy Cod. t
Is all the "sacrIfIce of fools", If It comes from hearts that have not fIrst been
broken over sIn: "...a broken and contrIte heart, D Cod, you wIll not despIse." (Ps
51.1617). There Is nothIng the unrepentant heart can offer to Cod In worshIp
that He wIll accept. The questIon we must ask ourselves Is: "What am doIng In
church: Could be offerIng to Cod the sacrIfIce of fools:"

3 Church Is no PIace for Pash PromIses
f It Is dangerous to come to church to worshIp Cod, It Is no less dangerous to
open our mouths when we get there. Solomon was all too aware that many vows
could be spoken that the heart had no IntentIon of keepIng: "When you make a
vow to Cod, do not delay In fulfIllIng It. He has no pleasure In fools; fulfIl your
vow. t Is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfIl It." (vv 45).

A vow In the DT was a voluntary promIse made to Cod to do some partIcular
thIng. And Cod expected It to be kept: "f you make a vow to the LDF0 your
Cod, do not be slow to pay It, for the LDF0 your Cod wIll certaInly demand It of
you and you wIll be guIlty of sIn. . Whatever your lIps utter you must be sure
to do, because you made your vow freely to the LDF0 your Cod wIth your own
mouth." (0eut 2J.21,2J). To make a promIse to Cod, and then faIl to keep It, Is
a matter of the greatest serIousness. That Is the actIon, Solomon says, of a
"fool", and Cod "has no pleasure In fools." (v 4)

Cod has no tIme for pIous words or careless promIses. t Is foolIsh to pray
that Cod wIll make us grow In holIness If we do not want to grow In holIness or
to sIng that Cod wIll have control over our lIves If we have no IntentIon of
yIeldIng control to hIm. t Is foolIsh to pray that Cod wIll call someone to be a
mIssIonary If none of us Is wIllIng: "0o not let your mouth lead you Into sIn. And
do not protest to the temple messenger, "|y vow was a mIstake." (v 6) Cod
delIghts In the person "who keeps hIs oath even when It hurts." (Ps 15.4)

H ow many people open theIr mouths In a church servIce wIth no thought
that they are speakIng In the presence of Cod who expects them to put theIr
words Into practIce: Perhaps we need to say less and thInk more about the Dne
Into whose presence we come to worshIp: "|uch dreamIng and many words are
meanIngless. Therefore stand In awe of Cod." (v 7)

So then, church Is no place for careless mInds, unrepentant hearts, or rash
promIses. 8ut we must remember that these warnIngs are not gIven to stop us
comIng to church. They are gIven to challenge and encourage us to come to
church ready to offer worshIp pleasIng and acceptable to Cod.
-,.. .
.r .r .r .r
A seres o] one pcye summcres o] the JJ Chcpters o] the Westmnster Con]esson,
wth comment where spcce permts. Plecse recd the Con]esson Chcpter tsel]!
SectIon 1 The Purpose of the Sacraments
Sacraments are holy sIgns and seals of the Covenant of Crace whIch Cod has
dIrectly InstItuted to represent, seal and apply the benefIts of ChrIst to belIevers.
They also dIstInguIsh belIevers from unbelIevers and engage belIevers to serve
Cod, In ChrIst, In keepIng wIth hIs Word.

SectIon 2 The SIgn-Crace PeIatIonshIp of the Sacraments
n every sacrament the sIgn Is so closely related to the grace It sIgnIfIes that what Is
true of one Is attrIbuted to the other.

SectIon 3 The EffIcacy of the Sacraments
The sacraments are not made effectIve by anythIng Inherent In them, nor by
the personal holIness or applIcatIon of the man who admInIsters them. TheIr
effIcacy, as a means of grace to worthy receIvers, depends on the work of the
Holy SpIrIt, the authorIty of theIr InstItutIon, and the rIghtful use of the sIgn.

SectIon 4 The Number and AdmInIstratIon of the Sacraments
ChrIst has ordaIned In the Cospel two sacraments only-8aptIsm and the Lord's
Supper. Dnly a properly ordaIned |InIster of the Word may dIspense them.

SectIon 5 The Inter-TestamentaI PeIatIonshIp of the Sacraments
The Sacraments of the Dld Testament, CIrcumcIsIon and the Passover, are
spIrItually one In substance wIth the 8aptIsm and Lord's Supper of the New.

The ConfessIon's sectIon on the Church spans chapters 25J1. Chapter 25 dealt
wIth the nature and work of Church gIvIng promInence to ChrIst Its Head, and
26, the fellowshIp belIevers have wIth ChrIst and one another. Chapter 27 moves
to the Church's responsIbIlIty to admInIster the sacraments to represent, seal
and apply the benefIts of ChrIst to belIevers.

Sccrcment Is a theologIcal term but not a 8IblIcal one. t comes from the
LatIn sccrcmentum ('sacred thIng') and was the word the \ulycte used to
translate the Creek mystron. '|ystery' Is never used of 8aptIsm or the Lord's
Supper In the NT, but because It speaks of somethIng once hIdden that has now
been revealed, It has a measure of suItabIlIty for our subject.

The sacraments are syns In that they dIsplay vIsIbly to our senses the deeper
meanIng of the related grace. So It Is Important that, for example, we watch the
water, the bread and the wIne as we observe the sacraments or partIcIpate In
them. They are secls, In that by them Cod confIrms and guarantees hIs promIses.
He has not just gIven unbreakable salvatIon promIses but expresses hIs permanent
commItment to them tangIbly, as he dId to the human race by the raInbow.
WCF 27
Faith and Li[e-The 5acraments
. -.... ...
.. .. .. ..
John CaIvIn and HIs PassIon for the |ajesty of Cod
John PIper, nter7arsIty Press, 2009, 59 pages, Paperback, f4.99 f3.
WIth the 500
th
AnnIversary of CalvIn's bIrth approachIng In July,
thIs book offers a brIef but compact overvIew of the reformer's
lIfe. John PIper aIms to show how CalvIn's lIfe from begInnIng to
end was drIven by hIs passIon for the |ajesty of Cod. The author
gIves us a taste of the demandIng schedule that CalvIn dIscIplIned
hImself to In study, wrItIng and preachIng. ThIs added to hIs
many Illnesses, famIly losses and persecutIons-yet CalvIn
contInued In faIthful servIce because of hIs trust and faIth In the
Supremacy of Cod.

PIper's purpose throughout the book Is to ask the questIon: "As evangelIcal
ChrIstIans have we become centered In me and my need of salvatIon and not
the glory of Cod" (p 14). t's an Important questIon for ChrIstIans today.
FeadIng thIs brIef account of CalvIn's lIfe wIll certaInly help us In askIng
ourselves thIs questIon. A hIghly recommended read. CH|stopHo 0oHot, CH|stopHo 0oHot, CH|stopHo 0oHot, CH|stopHo 0oHot,

attIIng UnbeIIef, Adapted from Future 6rcce
John PIper, 7P, paperback, 176 pages, f8.99 f6.
love John PIper's passIon and hIs way of tacklIng dIffIcult Issues
head on. So when was gIven thIs book to revIew could not waIt
to fInd a quIet moment to commence readIng It. was not
dIsappoInted and In my fIrst readIng managed the fIrst three
chapters no problem. What we have In thIs book are the applIcatIon
chapters taken from PIper's larger volume Future 6rcce.

PIper covers the dIffIcult and often neglected areas of battlIng
agaInst anxIety, prIde, shame, ImpatIence, covetousness,
bItterness, despondency and lust. We all battle agaInst these thIngs daIly In our
ChrIstIan lIves and PIper attempts to bolster our faIth by very practIcally helpIng
us to realIse our own weaknesses and poInts us towards faIth In ChrIst to overcome.
As PIper hImself puts It "When faIth flIckers stoke the fIre." f you have struggled
wIth any of these areas then thIs book Is most defInItely for you. Co||o |ooo Co||o |ooo Co||o |ooo Co||o |ooo

The PreachIng of Jonathan Edwards
John CarrIck, 8anner of Truth, 465 pages, Hardback, f17.00 f13.60
Throughout the book the author keeps hIs subject In Its hIstorIcal
context, whIch helps take the reader back In tIme to New England
In the 18
th
century. ThIs keeps the book from beIng dry or
abstract, and earths Edwards' preachIng to real sItuatIons and
real people. He begIns wIth some grand themes that recur
throughout hIs mInIstry such as Codcentred preachIng,
judgement, sovereIgnty and responsIbIlIty. The reader Is drawn
Book Reviews
PrIce
0Iscounts
avaIIabIe from
Evanyelcal
ook Sho
eIfast
-,.. .
. . . .

Into the depth and wIsdom of Edwards' preachIng on matters that keep on
beIng raIsed In the church even today.

The second half of the book looks more closely at some of the elements of
preachIng: ntroductIons, statements of doctrIne, IllustratIons, applIcatIons and
conclusIons. These chapters are fIlled wIth paragraphs quotIng from Edwards'
sermons and gIves a true flavour of hIs preachIng, whIch contaIn a few surprIses.

n the end the book becomes an appetIser that doesn't satIsfy, for the
reader Is left wIth a desIre to go and read Edwards for hImself. n thIs reckon
CarrIck does an excellent work, for he not only leaves the reader wIth a better
knowledge and understandIng of Edwards' preachIng, he leaves you wIth a
hunger for It. Pobot !oHostoo Pobot !oHostoo Pobot !oHostoo Pobot !oHostoo

ConcernIng the True Care of SouIs
hartIn ucer, 8anner of Truth, Hardback, 218 pages, f14.00 f11.20
|artIn 8ucer was a man who greatly Influenced young John CalvIn
durIng hIs years of exIle from 15J8 to 1541 In Strasbourg. 8ucer's
church order and practIce was to play a major role In CalvIn's
reformatIon of the church on hIs return to Ceneva. ThIs volume
of reformed pastoral theology shows 8ucer's concern for ChrIst's
sheep. FIrst publIshed In 15J8 and now avaIlable In EnglIsh
almost 500 years later we should be grateful to the translator,
Peter 8eale, hIs encourager the late Prof 0avId F WrIght and The
8cnner o] Truth for makIng thIs gem avaIlable today.

0ealIng wIth subjects lIke the nature of the church, how Elders are to be chosen
and Installed, lost sheep are to be sought, stray sheep restored, hurt and wounded
sheep healed, weak sheep strengthened and healthy sheep guarded and fed, thIs
wIll prove a useful book for all |InIsters and Elders In theIr care of the souls
commItted to them. 8ucer wrItes, "The Cood Shepherd who does not want hIs
sheep to be left uncared for, and most especIally those whom he has ordaIned to
be physIcIans of souls, should be concerned and exert the greatest dIlIgence and
earnestness In order that thIs medIcIne for souls mIght be once agaIn properly
recognIsed, prescrIbed and accepted." (p 149) HIghly recommended. THo Ed|to THo Ed|to THo Ed|to THo Ed|to

The DrIgIn and WItness of the IrIsh EvangeIIcaI Church
W J CrIer, EvangelIcal 8ook Shop, Paperback, 48 pages, f2.50
As we stIll receIve requests for the Dryn cnd Wtness, publIshed
In 1945, the EvangelIcal 8ook Shop Is doIng a paperback reprInt.

ThIs short account of the foundIng of our Church In 1927, has
all the marks of beIng wrItten by an eyewItness and partIcIpant
In the events leadIng up to It, Its formatIon and Its early years.
The author's comment In the Preface Is as up to date as when he wrote It: "To
many thIs book may seem largely a record of 'old unhappy faroff thIngs and
battles long ago.' have no apology to offer. The Issue Is a lIvIng and vItal one."

PrInted by Edenderry PrInt Ltd UnIt 6 Agnes Street ndustrIal Estate 8ELFAST 8T1J 1C8
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ESV Study IbIe H/8 FFP fJ9.99 f25.00
ncludes free access to onlIne versIon wIth addItIonal resources.
"The scope and faIthfulness of the ES7 Study 8Ible Is breathtakIng" - John PIper

When Crace Comes Home Terry L Johnson f7.95 f4.5
A good IntroductIon to how the doctrInes of grace change your lIfe.
"FIgorously practIcal theology. cannot recommend It too hIghly" - 0erek Thomas

The Cood ook CuIde Podger Crooks f1.00
An IntroductIon to the ChrIstIan FaIth

SaIvatIon's SIgn and SeaI Podger Crooks 75p
Why belIevers' chIldren should be baptIsed

IbIe Characters (New Testament) AIexander Whyte H/8 f3.50

The CIory of Heaven John hacArthur f1.5

The Truth and NothIng ut the Truth John hacArthur f3.00

If I ShouId 0Ie efore I Wake SIncIaIr Ferguson P DIIphant f1.00
A bIblIcal vIew of Heaven

Dxford and the EvangeIIcaI SuccessIon SIr harcus Loane H/8 f3.00

CambrIdge and the EvangeIIcaI SuccessIon SIr harcus Loane H/8 f3.00
8IographIes of Important leaders

WorIdIIness C J hahaney (Ed) H/8 f6.75
"Expertly addresses the Issues that prompt that subtle, InsIdIous, sIlent slIde away
from Cod that each of us Is prone to take" - James |ac0onald

SpectacuIar SIns John PIper H/8 f6.75
The place of evIl In Cod's sovereIgn purpose to glorIfy ChrIst

Cod's Undertaker John C Lennox f8.99 f7.50
Has ScIence 8urIed Cod: (New updated edItIon)

Stars In Cod's Sky FaIth Cook f8.95 f6.75
Short bIographIes of 'extraordInary ordInary ChrIstIans'
"0on't mIss out on thIs new treasure" - Foger Carswell
5uper Bargains