The Semper Reformata Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bob McEvoy
Christian Ethics, Church History, Reformed Doctrine, Regulative Principle of Worship, Congregationalism, and of course, the Heidelberg Catechism are all topics that are discussed on The Semper Reformata Podcast, hosted by Bob McEvoy, the pastor of The Old Reformed Church at Ballymacashon, Killinchy, Co.Down, Northern Ireland.
Find out more at https://saltyscrivener.uk/podcast/
Telegram: https://t.me/SRPodcast
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The Minor Prophets - Habakkuk #2Habakuk's Burden.
Habakkuk was praying his way through very perilous days indeed. All of this turmoil was taking place in a nation that comprised the chosen people of God, and who find their ultimate fulfilment in the the New Israel, the church. That’s why this is SUCH an important book. It’s like history continually repeats itself, and the prayer and the answer to prayer of Habakkuk is our prayer too. In this study we look at Habakkuk’s approach to God in prayer, as recorded in God’s Word.
Read the NOTES HERE
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The Promise of Blessing!Text: Zechariah 12:10-13:2
The Holy Spirit has begun his work, and the sinner is mourning over his sin, - Christ is revealed as the Saviour!
Read the NOTES HERE
This message was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is used here with their kind permission.
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Introduction to HabakkukRead: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21
Habakkuk is an easy read. It’s an interesting, fascinating book, just three chapters, the story of a man who looks at his times and wonders where God is I the middle of all the chaos, sickness sin and death, who takes his troubles to the Lord. And finds an answer to his prayers; an answer that builds his faith, and gives him reason to rejoice in adversity. So, let’s try to summarise the book before we examine it in greater detail…
read the NOTES HERE.
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True and False ShepherdsText: Zechariah 10:1-6
But before Zechariah can continue on the theme of the coming king, he must firstly develop a number of important points. He must call the people to prayer, and he must draw a distinction between true and false pastors!
APOLOGIES - this recording is not best quality - sorry about the extreme echo.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Nahum SurveyNahum Chapters 1-3
The name Nahum means Consolation. God was comforting his people, by reminding them that the enemies who would chasten them would one day themselves be chastened, and that their fate was doom laden indeed. His home was Elkosh, but some think that Capernaum (lit., “village of Nahum”) may have been his birthplace. Time-wise Nahum was contemporary with Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Around 640BC. The northern kingdom of Israel was already in Assyrian captivity. Assyria itself was still a world power, though in a state of decline Nahum prophecies the coming fall of Nineveh. A fall it would suffer at the hands of the Babylonians. The book of Nahum can easily be divided into three sections – each found in one of the chapters.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Purpose of Worship is to please God, not to appeal to us!Text. Zechariah 7 (Please also read 2 Kings 25)
Zecahariah has written about his eight visions – and now his book moves to a second section, a more directly didactic section, in which he teaches the people through a series of incident and sermons. The first issue that Zechariah confronts is that of worship! Although we think of ‘worship wars’ as being a modern church phenomenon, Zechariah was tackling issues about worship in his day too. In chapter 7, Zechariah establishes some sound biblical principles about how we worship God.
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC, and is duplicated here with their kind permission.
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Why Does the Government Hate Prayer?
Luke 11:1-4
In this talk, I want to establish two opposing propositions, and explore the dichotomy that exists between them.
- The most basic purpose of Christian intercessory prayer, is that God’s will should be done in this world. James puts this succinctly in James 4:14-16 Regardless of what we pray for, our prayer should always be tempered with ‘if it be Thy will.’ That is such a basic principle of prayer. We want what God wants, - we want his sovereign purposes to prevail and we surrender to his will.
- The opposite proposition is that the governments of this world, give no consideration to what God’s will is in any national situation, and this is inevitably reflected in the laws that they pass and the regulations that they expect us to abide by.
We proceed from those two basic working assumptions.
This message was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and is used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Zephaniah SurveyRead Zephaniah chapter 1-3
Zephaniah was a member of the extended royal family of Judah, the great great grandson of King Hezekiah. (That made him a distant relative of King Josiah, the reigning king. The book of Zephaniah is easily divided, – there’s just two sections over the three chapters, and they are easily distinguished: Law and Gospel.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Minor Prophets - Micah"What does the Lord require?"
Text. Micah 6:1-8
The prophet is introduced in Micah 1:1 He’s also mentioned in Jeremiah 26:18 living in the same times as Isaiah and Jeremiah, and drawing much from the same sources, – there are parallel passages in both Isaiah and Micah. Isaiah 2:2-5, and Micah 4:1-5. But what was it that Micah was saying to the people of his day?
Read the NOTES HERE
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Zechariah 3The Priesthood of All Believers!
Zechariah’s Fourth Vision
Text: Zechariah 3:1-5
Again notice that Zechariah is full of Gospel Truth! Here we see:-
1 The Conflict with Satan.
2 The Cleansing of the Soul.
3 The Consecration of the Saints
Read the NOTES HERE
This message was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and is used here with their kind permission.
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Hosea Survey 2 – The Covenant Law-Suit.Text Hosea chapter 4 to chapter 14
Hosea 4-14 are difficult chapters for the modern reader. One commentator has conjectured that the passage were in fact ‘snippets’ of Hosea’s messages collated later in life and written down, rather than a systematic ‘sermon’ type body of work. Thankfully there is a summary of these chapters to help us, and it is found in Hosea 4:1!
Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land...
Read the NOTES HERE
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Zechariah #2The Horns and the Tradesmen
Zechariah 1:18-21
This vision builds on the previous vision, where God exposed his anger over what other nations had been doing to His people, Israel. Zech. 1:15 Now, we see these oppressors described...
Read the NOTES HERE.
This message was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is distributed here with their kind permission.
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The Minor Prophets - Hosea #1Redeemed from slavery.
Text. Hosea chapters 1-3.
We will look at Hosea in two surveys – even though it is 14 chapters long. That’s because it neatly falls into two separate sections. Chapter One-Three is a COVENANT LOVE STORY. Chapter Four-Fourteen is a COVENANT LAWSUIT. (Or maybe three separate court cases!) The word Hosea Hosea 1:1.simply means ‘salvation’ – In a limited way, Hosea is a sign – to point us to Jesus. Hosea worked in the Northern Kingdom, Israel, around the same time as Amos, – (during the reign of Jeroboam II.) but Hosea was from Israel.
Hosea had a rather strange and unusual private and family life, so let’s do some research into his personal circumstances…
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Man Amidst The Myrtle Trees – Zechariah 1:7-17n this study, we begin to look at the eight visions of Zechariah. In this passage we see:-
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Christ in the Midst of His Church! 1:8
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Complacency in the Unconverted World!
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Comfort for the People of God!
Read the NOTES HERE.
This message was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
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The Minor Prophets, - Survey of Amos #3
Read AMOS chapters 7-9
In this last survey of Amos, we will learn about the visions that he received from God, how his outspoken words landed him in BIG trouble, and ask the questions
Can we get visions and revelations from God, like Amos did?
What’s the worst kind of famine?
What's this about 'David's fallen tent?'
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Be Ye Holy...In Ephesians 5:3-5, Paul illustrates, in very stark terms, the opposite of a godly life. He speaks of fornication, uncleanness and idolatry, and covetousness, all of which were typical of the pagan lifestyle of his day. But Christians are described here as SAINTS. Why would a 'saint' need to be warned against sin? That begs the question, "What exactly is a saint?"
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
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The Minor Prophets - Amos Survey #2'The Cows of Bashan.'
What was it like to live in the days of Amos, in Israel. Using Amos chapter 4-6, let’s conduct a survey of the state of that society:-
Click this link to read the NOTES.
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Be GodlyEphesians 5:1-2
This follows on from chapter 4:32, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Christians will be LIKE CHRIST, – in that they practice kindness, out of compassionate hearts, and that will be worked out in the way they readily forgive others, – as we have been forgiven. Therefore, he goes on, – Be GODLY PEOPLE! Be followers of God!
Read the NOTES HERE.
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AMOS – Survey #1. Text. Amos 1-3.
Amos' Background, his Preaching and his Call.
Now we come to a larger book, and one of the better known prophets, AMOS. We’ll look at the book over three separate studies, but remember these are just SURVEYS. Let’s start at our usual point, and begin with finding out the basic facts.
So we being with the usual questions, WHO, WHEN and WHERE.
Read the NOTES HERE
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ObadiahObadiah is only 1 chapter, and 21 verses, and most people avoid it! Let’s explore it, and see if we can find out its purpose, and what lessons we can learn from it?
Read the NOTES HERE
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Why Jesus Rose from the Dead
A sermon preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC and is reproduced here with their kind permission,
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Minor Prophets - JonahJonah has four chapters, and unlike many of the other prophets, it is mostly narrative. Jonah is ‘the son of Amittai’ who also was a prophet.
of course, when we speak of Jonah, the part of his story that comes to mind is that he was swallowed by a fish. "Jonah and the Whale" is a popular children's bedtime story...
Some people will ask, ‘How can a man be swallowed by a fish, survive inside it for three days, and then be spewed up unharmed onto dry land? This simply can’t be true, so the story must be a myth." In this podcast we look at Jonah, seek to understand why the book is an accurate account of God's dealings with the prophet, fish and all, and see the real message of the book, - that the opportunity to repent of sin and be forgiven extends to every nation, not just to the Hebrews.
But Jonah’s not altogether on board with the message...
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Joel and the Church
There are two major sections of Joel that are fulfilled in the Church. God only ever had one church, one people, redeemed by grace through faith alone. The OT church, led by the patriarchs and to whom the prophets ministered, and the NT church, of which we are part, is in fact just ONE CHURCH. Galatians 3:29 Hebrews 11:39 Let’s see Joel’s two specific prophecies about the people of God, fulfilled in the NT.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Life in the Lord’s ChurchEphesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Christians who live like the world, grieve the Holy Spirit, who indwells us. Now, Paul brings this all together in a conclusion. Returning to the issue of speech, what comes out of our mouths, reflecting what is going on in the inner man, he examines the motives of our hearts that underlie our words and deeds, and shows us how we can change our attitudes, how we can put off the old, and put on the new…
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church, and recorded at TRC, - used here with their kind permission.
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Imprecatory Psalms - Praying For and Against Our Enemies.Read: Psalm 139:17-24
The psalmist sees no contradiction between intensely hating the enemies of God, and living a humble repentant life, in the presence of God. Such is the nature of the imprecatory psalms. - The word imprecation simply means a ‘curse.’
In this lecture, delivered and recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, on Friday 15th March 2014, we consider,
- How to READ the imprecatory psalms,
- An exegesis of Psalm 137:7-9,
- A New Testament perspective,
- and we ask, in the contemporary world, "Who are our enemies - the enemies of God?"
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Joel – THE DAY OF THE LORDText Joel 1-2:27
The book of Joel is just three chapters long. ”Joel” means “Jehovah is God”, all we know about him is that he is “the son of Pethuel” (1:1), The first chapter of Joel brings us face to face with a great natural disaster in the land. But is it symbolic of a much worse disaster, a terrible judgment for sin and rebellion?
Incidental Music for this series is: 'Triste' by Ori Vidislavski, Published by Lynne Music licensed from www.Neosounds,com
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Christian's Edifying SpeechEphesians 4:29
Paul is still giving us specific examples of how the Christian life will look different from the lives of the pagan world all around, in the city of Ephesus. And there’s another. Christians SPEAK differently.You should be able to recognise a Christian believer by the way that he or she speaks.
Let’s explore that idea in this sermon, preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church, and recorded at TRC, - used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Profiting from the Prophets!Text. Hebrews 1:1f and 2 Tim 3:14-17
An Introduction to a Series of Overviews of the Minor Prophets.
The Minor Prophets are a collection of twelve books, the last section of the OT. They begin with Hosea and end with Malachi. In our ‘Tabletalk Sessions’ we will be doing a survey of these books for they will help us to understand God’s redemptive plan, how he intervened in history to redeem us from the curse of sin. In this lesson we will simply try to get an overview and introduction to the section. Of course, God spoke to his OT people through different avenues. He spoke to them through the Law, and through the priests who administered the law, and ordered the worship of God in the tent of worship and the temple. Wise men and women gave godly counsel, 2 Samuel 20:16
Incidental Music for this series is: 'Triste' by Ori Vidislavski, Published by Lynne Music licensed from www.Neosounds,com
Read the NOTES HERE
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Be Honest!Text: Ephesians 4:28
Paul brings us to the sin of theft, or to be more accurate, he tells us that Christians are to think about finance. Let’s learn these practical lessons about how we should live an honest and ethical life, to the glory of God…
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon, and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Be Angry!Ephesians 4:26-27
Let’s remember what’s happening here in Ephesians 4. Paul has stated a general principle. It is this, “That a Christian should be different from the ungodly world.” Ephesians 4:17, 4:24, 24 Having stated that principle clearly, the Apostle now gives us another specific example of that and he deals with the subject of anger.
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Paul has been teaching the Ephesian Christians that they must respond positively to their conversion. He sums this up in verse 24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Having established this general principle, Paul gives us some very practical help, and he begins with the most basic problem of all our lives.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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THE DIFFERENCE.Christian people should live ‘good’ lives. They should be ‘good’ people, – not in order to curry favour with God, or to get into heaven, – but out of a grateful response to what Christ has done for us, – out of gratitude for his saving goodness, for us on the cross. Our salvation, and our repentance and our new life in Christ will result in changed attitudes and changed lives and a completely different lifestyle from the unconverted world all around us. Paul, in these verses returns to a theme he has introduced in Ephesians 4:1. AMP: – …that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behaviour—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation… We must be DIFFERENT.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
This podcast contains extracts from a sermon preached at Ballymacashon and recorded in studio.
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Maturity, Integrity and UnityEphesians 4:13-16
Paul has been reminding the Ephesians of the wonderful gifts that the risen and exalted Christ has given to the church, Grace and Growth and the precious Holy Spirit of God Himself. Being a believer, a member of the Body of Christ, is to KNOW Jesus, to have met him, and trusted him, and at the same time to BELIEVE in him, which will require a basic understanding of Christian teaching. So Paul insists that Jesus has given gifts to his church, through the Holy Spirit, for this reason: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, Paul is referring to our spiritual growth, as a result of Christ’s gracious gifts to his church. Let’s look at this principle.
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and TRC. It was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Growing Old Like AnnaLuke 2:36-38 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
The events of Bethlehem had passed, all happening in God’s appointed time. Galatians 4:4Mary had given birth to her son, the promised baby, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of a virgin. Jesus was eight days old when his parents brought him up to Jerusalem, as was customary among the Jews, for his ritual circumcision. Luke 2:21-23 It’s at this point that Anna appears in the Temple courts, and there before her an old man is holding a baby, speaking to the baby’s mother. Anna instantly recognised that this baby was different! He was the promised Messiah!
Read the NOTES
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
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The Use of the Media to Manipulate Minds and Change Society2 Timothy 1:3-8, & 1 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
What we watch affects our spiritual wellbeing. And what we are being served up by the entertainment industry is little more than the merciless destruction of the soul, dressed up in the attractive garb of amusement, and pimped to the public by agenda driven media companies. It is the stirring of the basest instincts of the sinful fallen nature of mankind, for profit. Media prostitution
READ THE NOTES HERE
This address was given at Templepatrick Reformed Church on 19th January 2024 as part of their Winter Outreach series, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 52B The Last Word!Our very last look at the Heidelberg Catechism in this series.
The last two questions in the catechism concern the ending to the Lord’s Prayer. It’s in the biblical text in Matthew, but not in Luke. It’s likely that these are two separate occasions, for in Matthew Jesus is teaching his disciples, in the Sermon on the Mount, while in Luke he has been praying, which prompts his disciples to ask him to teach them to pray also. Matthew Henry concludes that the differences in the two gospels is a key indication that we should be careful not to use the prayer rigidly as a ‘set prayer.’ But rather to make it the pattern of our daily prayers. So, what does our instructor in the Heidelberg Catechism teach us about the ending to the Lord’s Prayer?
Read the NOTES HERE
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Christian UnityEphesians 4:4-6
In this passage Paul specifically teaches us more about that organic unity – the ‘bond of peace’ that already exists among those who are truly his – those are are part of his kingdom through personal faith in Christ, having repented of their sins and trusted the Saviour. It seems to me that in this passage he uses the unity that exists within the Trinity – the Triune Godhead, to illustrate, and to epitomise the unity that should characterise Christ’s body, the church.
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick and is used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES.
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Table-Talk - OVERWHELMED?A Meditation on Psalm 62:2
What do you do, where do you go, when life's circumstances overwhelm you? In Psalm 62, David has the answer...
Music: "Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus I come."
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Catechism Class: Lords Day 52 TemptationWould God ever lead us into temptation? Let’s not gloss over this. God is not capricious, he never changes, he never wants us to stumble and fall, but wants to bring us all to heavenly glory. Yet there are two parts to this petition, firstly that God in his mercy and grace does deliver us from all evil, but at the same time we are conscious of his sovereignty, for there is nothing that is outside his power and command. Everything that happens to us, whether good or bad, is in some sense ordained by God.
READ THE NOTES
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Christian CharacterEphesians 4:1-3
Paul, as a prisoner of the Lord, for the gentiles, (Ephesians 3:13) urges the readers of his letter to live in a manner which reflects what God has done for them. THIS IS PERSONAL. It is our personal response to God’s saving work within us. So Paul begins with a description of our Christian motives, our temperament as believers.
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick and is used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES.
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Catechism Class: Forgiveness
Lord’s Day 51
Text: Psalm 51:1-7
In this catechism class lesson we shall examine the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer.
The Catechist asks us…
Q126. What is the fifth petition? A. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. That is: For the sake of Christ’s blood, do not impute to us, wretched sinners, any of our transgressions, nor the evil which still clings to us, as we also find this evidence of your grace in us, that we are fully determined wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbour.
Read the NOTES HERE
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The DoxologyEphesians 2:20-21
When we think upon the love of God for sinners, when we marvel at its magnitude, does it make our hearts overflow with praise, or does that love still leave us cold and unresponsive? Let’s see how Paul concludes his prayer in praise, and in doing so learn some more about the nature of God.
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. it was recorded at TRC, and is used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES.
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Unlike anything in this world, Christ's kingdom will last forever - Bob's Christmas Day antidote to the King's Speech!
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The Lord's HandmaidenLuke 1:46-56
One of the most beautiful songs of praise to Almighty God, - sometimes called the 'Magnificat' the song of Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus, What does it teach us?
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick reformed Church and was recorded at TRC. It is used here with their kind permission.
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Catechism Class: LD 50 Our Daily BreadLord’s Day 50 Q125Text: Proverbs 30:7-9
What’s the best way to learn to trust God for everything in life, from the smallest problems, to the most basic human necessities? Could the answer be found right here in the Lord’s Prayer? Right here in this petition, where we are taught to ask God for the most basic essential of all, bread! The staff of life. If we can see that God provides so simple a need as a slice of bread, then our dependence on him will be improved, and our thankfulness be expanded.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Filled with God’s Fulness.Text Ephesians 3:18-19 …that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Read Col 1:9-19 – 2:1-10
In this study, we will explore what Paul means when he writes …that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God, To properly understand what Paul means, we will need especially to look at two or three very common, but very important words, especially the words THAT and WITH!
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick reformed Church. This recording was made at TRC, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD 49 Q124 Obeying the Will of GodText: Matthew 16:24-26
The catechist is still teaching us how to pray, using the Lord’s Prayer as a model for our prayers, and reminding us that when we pray these petitions there is far more underlying truth than we sometimes think. We should mine that truth! So we come to the third petition in the prayer: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Compare that with Proverbs 14:1 The psalmist has the correct attitude in Psalm 40:8 That’s what we pray for in this petition of the Lord’s Prayer, – Lord, teach us, not only to DO your will, but to take DELIGHT in doing it.
READ THE NOTES
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Catechism Class: LD48 Praying About the Kingdom of GodThe catechist is teaching us about the Lord’s Prayer. We MUST consider carefully every line of the Lord’s prayer, so that we can use it as a tool, a model prayer, to shape the petitions of our daily prayers, to teach us how we should pray. Luke 11:1
The Heidelberg Catechism asks, "What is the second petition?" The answer is, "Your kingdom come. That is: So rule us by your Word and Spirit that more and more we submit to you. Preserve and increase your church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against you, and every conspiracy against your holy Word. Do all this until the fullness of your kingdom comes, wherein you shall be all in all.”
To read the NOTES CLICK HERE
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God's Boundless LoveHow wonderful is Christ’s love for us, vile sinners, that he would bring us from death to life? Let’s try to grasp its magnitude…
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church It was recorded at TRC and and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 47, Really Knowing God.Jeremiah 9:23-24
We continue our examination of the Lord’s Prayer looking at the first petition – and it IS a petition – not a declaration. It is us asking ‘May your name be hallowed.’
Read the NOTES HERE
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Ready for War?Sometimes war is thrust upon us. War is horrific. More horrific than we civilians can know, and today we seem to be standing on a precipice, looking into a great chasm of conflict, perhaps even World War 3. Faced with the prospect of an escalation of violence, what are we do do? Let’s see, how God prepared David for war.
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick and is used here with their kind permission.
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Catechism Class: LD46, Q120-121 Our Father, who art in heaven.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He told them exactly how they are to approach him, what they are to say and how they are to address him. The Heidelberg catechist instructs us on what we should say when come to God in prayer…
https://saltyscrivener.uk/2021/01/19/catechism-class-lords-day-46-q120-121/
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Catechism Class: LD45 Q119 The Purpose and Structure of the Lord’s Prayer.
Lord’s Day 45 - Q119
The catechist has introduced us to the Lord’s Prayer, which is the model prayer for all our prayers. So we move on now to look at the model prayer itself, and before we begin to examine the petitions in the prayer, let’s make a few important general observations about it.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Four HorsemenText: Revelation 6:1-8
You must not think of Revelation as linear history, – history written in advance for us. It is unlikely that’s the case. Revelation is not a history book, it is apocalyptic literature, and it is a series of scenes, overlapping in time, moving in parallel through the church age, and out into eternity to come, each scene revealing to us something more of God’s eternal plan and purpose, and each one ending further ahead in history, until at very end of the book we have the final state, a new heaven and earth. In this lesson we shall watch as the first four of the seals are opened, a passage often referred to as ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”…
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Lord's Day 45C – What should We Ask God For When We Pray?
Q118. What has God commanded us to ask of him? “All the things we need for body and soul, as included in the prayer which Christ our Lord himself taught us. James 1:17.”
So there is a very simple answer to the catechist’s question. We are pray for and about EVERYTHING. How difficult then is our task! How impossible to bring ALL our needs before the Lord in prayer! That’s why we have confidence that the father knows us better than we know ourselves, and he already knows what we need, even before we ask him. Matthew 6:8
Read the NOTES HERE
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Israel’s FutureRomans 11
Throughout chapters 9-11 Paul says repeatedly that the Gospel is for both the Jew and the gentile, and that there is no difference in Christ, for all have sinned, and there is only one way of salvation. This is a theme which predominates in chapter II, and again Paul approaches the subject by a series of questions and answers…
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission.
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Israel’s PresentRomans 10
In Romans 9, we found that Israel had rejected the prophets, rejected the true religion of the Lord, and had finally rejected the Messiah himself. Paul gives two reasons for this, the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of mankind. What about Israel’s present state? The thesis of chapter 10 is that despite Israel’s rejection, salvation is possible for them, in Christ, as is the case for us all. Chapter 10 is about the spread of the Gospel.
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission.
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Israel’s PastRomans 9
In Romans chapter 9, Paul admits that Jewish unbelief, resulting in the crucifixion of their Messiah, has caused him great grief and even bewilderment. Of all men, the Jews should have known and recognised their Messiah, so Paul explains their lack of faith in the light of two great parallel concepts; the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. He also makes two very important assertions about the Jews…
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission.
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Lords Day 45 Q117 – The Marrow of our Prayers.
Psalm 145:18-20
In the last catechism class, we looked at WHY God wants us to pray. So, having answered that most basic question of all, the Catechist teaches us about what God wants to hear from us when we pray, what pleases him, and what he pays regard to. Q.117, What belongs to a prayer which pleases God and is heard by him? There are three answers to this question which the catechist wants us to learn...
READ THE NOTES
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Love WithinText Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, READ 1 Corinthians 13.
We come to Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 17, And I think the key words in understanding what Paul is saying in verse 17 are the words HEART and LOVE. The heart is the seat of our emotions, where the deep emotion of love is seated.…
Read the NOTES HERE.
This sermon was recorded at Ballymacashon, apologies for the poorer sound quality and echo!
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Catechism Class: Lord’s Day 45A
Why Do We Need to Pray?
Read Matthew 6:5-15.
In Lord’s Day 45 the catechist is still dealing with our grateful response to our salvation. When we enter a relationship with someone it is natural that we communicate with them. Of course, everyone is different, some people are more ‘chatty’ than others andI suspect that the same applies to prayer. As Christians, though, we will want to communicate with the One who created us and who saved us, regardless of how verbose or how verbal we are for prayer is a natural reaction to our salvation. If we appreciate what the Lord has done for us, we will want to tell him so, and want to express that in words. The catechist is going to challenge us with three questions. ‘Why should we pray?’ Q116, ‘How does God want us to pray?’ Q117 and ‘What should we pray about?’ Q118. In this lesson, we’ll deal with the first of those issues. Why does God want us to pray?
READ THE NOTES
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The Inner ManPaul’s prayer for the Ephesians has begun. Notice what he prays about, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." He prays that God would give them inner strength!
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.
READ THE NOTES HERE
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 44 Q114 and 115. "Can We Keep the Law?"
Can we perfectly keep the commandments, and if not, why are we required by God to Preach the Law? The Catechist has walked us through the Ten Commandments explaining and expounding upon their meaning, comparing them with other Biblical passages and applying them in a very practical manner to our own lives. But before we can leave the subject of the Law of God, there is a serious problem, that we ought to address. How many of us can say, as Christians, that we have perfectly kept the law?
Read the NOTES HERE
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Catechism Class: Lord’s Day 44A Q113 Covetousness.Text. Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbours’ house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.”
Catechism Q.113. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any of God’s commandments should ever arise in our heart. Rather, with all our heart we should always hate all sin and delight in all righteousness.
Read the notes HERE
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Paul Bows His KneesPaul bowed his knees in humble submission before God. Here's why I think You should emulate him...
- Because of the OBJECTIVE work of God. Because of what God has done FOR us, and for you and me as individuals. Because he created us, sustains us, and gave his son to die for us, because of what God has DONE.
- Because of the SUBJECTIVE work of God. Because of what God has done IN us, as individuals. Because of MY personal salvation, – God has applied the saving work of Christ to my sinful life, and brought me from death to life, and given me His Holy Spirit, to indwell me.
- Because of the ESCHATOLOGICAL work of God. Willingly, my knee will bow, and my tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The unconverted, Christ-rejecting world rejects those claims, but there will come a day when the whole of mankind will stand before him in his risen, eternal splendour, and will admit his sovereignty. Sadly, it will be too late. Philippians 2:9
It is ‘for this cause’ that I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.Will you?
This sermon never got finished! You can rad the notes for the full version here. It was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick reformed Church, and was recorded at Templepatrick. It is used here with their kind permission.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 43 Q112 Lying and LiarsTelling lies – is it a sin?Text. Psalm 15.
Catechism Q.112. What is required in the ninth commandment? A: I must not give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor condemn or join in condemning anyone rashly and unheard. Rather, I must avoid all lying and deceit as the devil’s own works, under penalty of God’s heavy wrath. In court and everywhere else, I must love the truth, speak and confess it honestly, and do what I can to defend and promote my neighbour’s honour and reputation.
In Q112 the Catechist discusses a real flaw in our fallen human nature, – our innate impulse to tell lies. He is expanding and explaining the words of the ninth commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” I mean who would do that? The answer is simple! ME! And you. And if you say that you wouldn’t ever bear false witness against your neighbour, you are a liar!
To read the notes click this link.
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Boldness of Access.Text Ephesians 3:11-13
Paul has begun his dictation with the intention of praying for the Christians in the city of Ephesus. For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles… He fears that they have heard about his arrest in Jerusalem and that this news will unsettle them, that they will begin to ask why! So he wants to pray for them, but just as he introduces his intention in verse one, moved by the Holy Spirit, he begins this long digression, in which he talks about how he came to be the bearer of such Good News, So let’s explore these final verses of the chapter…
(This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. it was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission)
Read the NOTES here.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 42 Greed and InjusticeIn LD42, Q110, the Catechist deals with the eight commandment:- “Thou shalt not steal.” And specifically, with what is FORBIDDEN by God. But what do we mean by ‘stealing?’ There is the obvious answer of course; robbing a house, shoplifting, mugging, armed robbery, etc, – all of those activities are easily identified as theft or robbery, what the catechist refers to as ‘outright theft.’ The Law of God takes theft seriously. Exodus 22:1 But the catechist doesn’t stop with armed robbery. He speaks about ‘other wicked schemes and devices.’ We might call them ‘injustices.’
He gives some examples of what they might be...
Read the NOTES HERE
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Preaching and PersuadingIn Ephesians 3 verses 8 and 9, we see that Paul’s ministry has a twofold strategy, (It is a divine strategy!). It involves:
Declaration. In verse 8 that I should PREACH So Paul is a preacher. Preaching is essential in God’s plan of salvation, READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Preaching is the authoritative declaration of God’s Word. It is to open the scriptures, and read them and explain them and to declare that they are the authoritative word of God, as did the prophets of the OT when they declared, “Thus saith the Lord…” But there is this second aspect to Paul’s servanthood…
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD41B, Q109 Singleness and Marriage.Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1-11
Q109. Does God in this commandment forbid nothing more than adultery and similar shameful sins? A Since we, body and soul, are temples of the Holy Spirit, it is God’s will that we keep ourselves pure and holy. Therefore he forbids all unchaste acts, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and whatever may entice us to unchastity.
The catechist is still dealing with the Seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” How will the seventh commandment affect me, and my life? His answer is simple. It is God’s will that we keep ourselves pure and holy.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Worldview UpdateShocking events in politics and ethics that Christians cannot ignore:-
The proposed 'Energy Bill' and the erosion of personal freedoms to appease the 'net-zero' madness.
The case of 'ST' a seriously ill girl who desperately wants to die fighting for life...
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Catechism Class: Adultery – What is it?Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 41AWe live in a deeply sexualised society. We need to remember that God hates adultery, marital unfaithfulness and sexual promiscuity of any kind, and that’s the very point that the catechist drives home in Lord’s Day 41, Q108.
To read the NOTES CLICK HERE
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Made a Minister
Text Ephesians 3:7-8
Paul describes himself as a ‘minister.’ The word simply means a servant, διακονος – a deacon, someone who serves others. Paul serves them be preaching the good news, by expounding to them the ‘mystery of Christ,’ – how and why he has redeemed us, – worthless sinners. It was a form of service to which he had been specially chosen and equipped by God. Galatians 1:15Paul was ‘called by God’s grace.’ And here he speaks of that again. But notice that he was MADE a minister.
Read the NOTES HERE
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC and is used here with their kind permission,
The Mystery of Christ
Text Ephesians 3:4-6
We continue to look at the Apostle’s digression of thought in Ephesians 3 and Paul refers to this amazing revelation that he had received directly from God, as ‘the mystery of Christ.’ What does he mean?
Read the NOTES here.
NOTE: This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon Congregational and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.
The Uniqueness of Paul's Knowledge
God speaks to Paul - but differently than He speaks to us.
Ephesians 3:3-4 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) READ also Galatians 1.
Our question in this study is, ‘what did Paul mean, in these verses, when he spoke of ‘revelation’ - how did Paul train to be an apostle, - how did he receive that special knowledge of God that ranked him with the other great apostles - and why does God not reveal the mysteries of heaven, in a similar fashion, to us?’
This sermon was recorded live at Ballymacashon - there is some echo and background noise.
To READ THE NOTES, CLICK.
The Church as the Dispensary of God’s Grace.Ephesians 3:1-2 (Read Matthew 25:14-30)
Paul begins his enthusiastic digression, his explanation to the Ephesian Christians about how God revealed to him an amazing plan, the eternal design of God for the redemption of fallen mankind, to bring all things together in Christ, to unite all his redeemed people in praise, – people of every race, whether Jews or Gentiles, and all for his glory alone.
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational Church and at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and was recorded at Templepatrick. It is used here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Introduction to Ephesians 3
We have reached chapter three in the book of Ephesians, and Paul is going to describe our grateful response to Christ’s saving work in chapter 4-6, but before he does, he wants to pray for the Ephesians, and that’s the intention of chapter three. But first there is a 'digression...'
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational church, and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick,
Read the NOTES HERE.
Is the ‘Quaker’ Movement (Really) Christian?
In a press release, dated 21 July 2018, the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, the ‘Quakers’ announced that they had agreed to the holding of same-sex marriages in Quaker meeting places. That made them, and the liberal Non-Subscribing Presbyterians, the only two religious denominations on the island of Ireland to approve of homosexual marriages. I’ve been having a quick look at what Quakers believe, and since quakers get a good press in the mainstream media, unlike conservative believers, and and since many of us will probably never actually meet one, let’s ask the question, “Is the Religious Society of Friends a Christian Church?”
Read a transcript here.
A Wee Woman and a Stool!In 1637, a riot broke out in Edinburgh - it was precipitated by an event that took place in St Gile's Cathedral, where a woman decided she didn't like to hear prayers being read out of a book - and worse!
The Song of Jenny Geddes by J.S. Blackie
‘Twas the twenty-third of July, in the sixteen thirty-seven,
On the Sabbath morn from high St. Giles the solemn peal was given;
King Charles had sworn that Scottish men should pray by printed rule;
He sent a book, but never dreamt of danger from a stool.
The Council and the Judges, with ermined pomp elate,
The Provost and the Bailies in gold and crimson state,
Fair silken-vested ladies, grave doctors of the school,
Were there to please the King, and learn the virtues of a stool.
The Bishop and the Dean came in wi’ muckle gravity,
Right smooth and sleek, but lordly pride was lurking in their e’e;
Their full lawn sleeves were blown and big, like seals in briny pool;
They bore a book, but little thought they soon should feel a stool.
The Dean he to the alter went, and, with a solemn look,
He cast his eyes to heaven, and read the curious-printed book:
In Jenny’s heart the blood upwelled with bitter anguish full;
Sudden she started to her legs, and stoutly grasped the stool!
As when a mountain wildcat springs upon a rabbit small,
So Jenny on the Dean springs, with gush of holy gall;
Wilt thou say mass at my lugs, thou popish-puling fool?
No! No! She said, and at his head she flung the three-legged stool.
A bump, a thump! A smash, a crash! Now gentle folks beware!
Stool after stool, like rattling hail, came twirling through the air,
With, well done, Jenny! Bravo, Jenny! That’s the proper tool!
When the Devil will out, and shows his snout, just meet him with a stool!
The Council and the Judges were smitten with strange fear,
The ladies and the Bailies their seats did deftly clear,
The Bishop and the Dean went in sorrow and in dool,
And all the Popish flummery fled when Jenny showed the stool!
And thus a mighty deed was done by Jenny’s valiant hand,
Black Prelacy and Popery she drove from Scottish land;
King Charles he was a shuffling knave, priest Laud a meddling fool,
But Jenny was a woman wise, who beat them with a stool!
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Catechism Class : Lord’s Day 40 THE SOURCE OF MURDERMatthew 5:21-26
In our last lesson, we began to look at the sin of murder, as forbidden in the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” We saw that while not all killing is murder, we must be very reluctant to take away a person’s life. We saw that in the bible, abortion is murder, punishable under the rule of limited retribution, a life for a life. Isn’t it strange then, that in our modern society, the judicial killing of a criminal, a murderer, is forbidden, but the killing of an innocent baby in the womb is not only permitted, but by some people, actually celebrated? How morally dysfunctional is our world! In this study we come to Q106-107, and we see how murder begins in the heart of man, and we are going to look at this subject with the help of Matthew 5:21-26.
READ THE NOTES HERE
Catechism ClassLord's Day 40A, Q105Exodus 20:13, Thou Shalt Not Kill – You Shall Not Murder.
Q105. What does God require in the sixth commandment?
A. I am not to dishonour, hate, injure, or kill my neighbour by thoughts, words, or gestures, and much less by deeds, whether personally or through another; rather, I am to put away all desire of revenge. Moreover, I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself. Therefore, also, the government bears the sword to prevent murder.
We have reached the sixth commandment, found inExodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Read the NOTES here.
The Proclamation of Peace
In Christ Himself, we have been brought near. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, for He has broken down the wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles by abolishing all those minor laws and ordinances that the Jews had hedged about God’s law, and he did that by fulfilling the law in his sinless life and in his own body on the Cross. Now we go a little further, and we learn about the Proclamation of Peace, for Christ Preaches Peace to US!
Ephesians 2:17, Jesus came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
But, when did Jesus preach to the Ephesians?
Read the NOTES HERE
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.
LD39B. What does it Mean to Honour Your Parents?Read Ephesians 5:22 – 6:4 especially Ephesians 6:1-9
Q104. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That I show all honour, love, and faithfulness to myfather and mother and to all those in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline, and also have patience with their weaknesses and shortcomings, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.
In our last lesson, we began our examination of Lord’s Day 39 by establishing the fundamental biblical teaching on human sexuality, – that God created us as men and women, male and female, and that children born as the result of a relationship between a man and a woman require a mummy and a daddy, – so now we can go on to look at the relationships and interactions that should pertain within the family.
Read the NOTES HERE
The End of PartitionRead: Ephesians 2:13-15
God only has one ‘people’ – his elect, the redeemed multitude of every age. We are told about them in Revelation 5:9 This unity of the redeemed people of God is another theme that we will find running through the book of Ephesians, and it is a core belief of Christianity. The people who are in that One Holy Universal Church are those who are saved by grace through faith alone, in Christ alone, as Paul has already explained in Ephesians 2:8. 2 Timothy 2:19.
Now, having said all that, Paul is confronted with a serious problem. Despite this, the Jews actually hate the Greeks, – the Gentile races. Jews were coming to Christ for salvation. Gentiles too were coming to Christ for salvation – how then to persuade them they were just one people in Christ? So in tis podcast Bob looks at
- Prejudice and Peace Walls
- The Peace Process.
Read the NOTES HERE
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
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Wherefore, Remember!
How can God bring two dispirit elements, Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians together? And what is OUR place in God’s great, eternal story of redemption? That’s what Paul is dealing with in these verses in Ephesians 2:11-13, and he teaches us to look back with thanksgiving to how God has guided us over the years, and graciously drawn us into his kingdom, from an awful condition - separated from God, and all alone in the sin-cursed world.
Read the NOTES HERE
This sermon was preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
LD39A. Honour Your Parents. Read Ephesians 5:22 – 6:4
Q104. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That I show all honour, love, and faithfulness to myfather and motherand to all those in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline, and also have patience with their weaknesses and shortcomings, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.
Read the NOTES
God's Workmanship
Text Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God is working in us, rescuing us from our sins. But we must go on in our reading of the passage. God’s work in us is not confined to our rescue, for he continues to work in us, preparing us for heaven, sanctifying us, separating us more and more from the world around us, making us more like Jesus, out of gratitude for the amazing rescue that we have experienced in him. In this study we will look at how God works, and how he works IN US…
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.
Catechism Class LD38 The Sabbath
What is THE PURPOSE OF THE SABBATH?
Q103. What does God require in the fourth commandment?
A. First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained and that, especially on the day of rest, I diligently attend the church of God to hear God’s Word, to use the sacraments, to call publicly upon the LORD, and to give Christian offerings for the poor.
Second, that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, let the LORD work in me through his Holy Spirit, and so begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.
This Catechism Lesson is a repeat of a sermon, based on this lesson, and preached in 2016 at Templepatrick Reformed Church.
https://saltyscrivener.uk/2020/08/20/catechism-class-h-c-ld38-the-sabbath/
The Anatomy of Salvation.
We are SAVED. But what does that mean?
And we are saved BY grave, we are saved THROUGH faith.
we are saved in such a way that excludes pride on our part.
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at TRC and used here with their kind consent.
The Swearing of OathsH/C LD37 Q101-102
In this short lesson we look at legal oaths – the kind of oath you would take in court, or before a lawyer, or at a wedding, before a minister or registrar. Before we think about this subject let’s see what the catechism says, and read some Bible passages.
H/C. Q101 But may we swear an oath by the name of God in a godly manner?
A. Yes, when the government demands it of its subjects, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote fidelity and truth, to God’s glory and for our neighbour’s good. Such oath-taking is based on God’s Word and was therefore rightly used by saints in the Old and the New Testament.
Q.102 May we also swear by saints or other creatures?
A. No. A lawful oath is a calling upon God, who alone knows the heart, to bear witness to the truth, and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honour.
READ: Matthew 5:34-37. Romans 1:9 James 5:12
Read the NOTES HERE
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God's Rescue Applied
We’re still reeling with the unforeseen realisation that despite our abhorrent corruption and pollution by sin, God has stepped in on our behalf, without any merit on our part, to rescue us from our eternal plight. He could have destroyed us for our sin. But he didn’t. Lamentations 3:22-23We already KNOW how God has rescued us, for that is exactly what Paul has been telling us in chapter one. It has been accomplished for us, on our behalf, in Christ alone, without any input from us. It is the objective work of God. But all of that divine work, in its enactment, as it is applied to our lives, has an EFFECT upon us. We might refer to that as the empirical effects of the rescue, our first hand, observable experiences of new birth. How our rescue affects us, sinners, being rescued from our sin.
What did the Lord Jesus do for us when he rescued us from our sin?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class, Lord’s Day 36. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!In this lesson we are going to look at the Catechist’s instructions on the Third Commandment. Let’s read the commandment itself first, and then the Catechism… Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
H/C LD36
Q99. What is required in the third commandment?
We are not to blaspheme or to abuse the name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor to share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. Rather, we must use the holy name of God only with fear and reverence, so that we may rightly confess him, call upon him, and praise him in all our words and works.
Q100. Is the blaspheming of God’s name by swearing and cursing such a grievous sin that God is angry also with those who do not prevent and forbid it as much as they can?
Certainly, for no sin is greater or provokes God’s wrath more than the blaspheming of his name. That is why he commanded it to be punished with death.
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Why Did God Rescue Us?
Text: Ephesians 2:4-7
Paul has given us a shocking assessment of the very nature of all humanity, in every age, in every location, people of all races and creeds, men and women… They are all polluted with sin, and we discovered in Ephesians 2:4, that Paul had inserted two very important and pivotal words: BUT GOD. Someone once remarked that right here we have the biggest BUT – a contrast – in the Bible. Here’s why. Because it is an unexpected twist. There’s many’s a novel has a twist like that. But none of them can compare with this twist, this BUT.
To red the NOTES CLICK THIS LINK
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon, and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.
Victim WarsVictimhood and Intersectionality - A Biblical Response
Psalm 11
Have you noticed that nowadays it seems that victimhood is actually fashionable. Gone are the days of looking adversity in the face, determined to overcome it. We have great sympathy with those who have suffered, who are genuine victims, and there are many. But ‘fabricated victimhood’ is now a prevailing attitude in society. In this study, we will try to find out how this happened.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church
Catechism Class: LD35B Q97-98 Use and Misuse of Imagery and Art
Read Isaiah 40:18-31 and see how the prophet Isaiah compares the greatness of God with the pathetic worthlessness of the idols made by man hands. He says, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” The question is rhetorical. There is nothing that can compare with Almighty God, – no image, no idol, no statue.
Read the NOTES HERE
The Soul's Pollution
Text: Ephesians 2:2-4
To fully appreciate how vast the work that God has done for sinners we must understand the problem, the dreadful polluted corrupt nature into which and with which we are born.
To read the NOTES CLICK
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational church and at Templepatric Reformed Church. It was recorded live at Templepatrick an is used here with their permission.
Passover People: Thomas.Thomas the Doubter? Or more like us all than we care to think?
The disciples of Jesus all had their own individual personalities, and these characteristics all come out in the Biblical record.Universally, the disciple Thomas has become known as a doubter – his name and his story has become legend – he is ‘Doubting Thomas’ – a pejorative description to this day, of anyone who has legitimate concerns about some concerning matter. Yet Thomas was not the only disciple who had periods of doubt. Mark 16:9-11 Luke 24:10-11 Thomas’s experience simply mirrored that of the rest of the disciples. So let’s set aside thinking of ‘Doubting Thomas’ for a few minutes and ask, “What can we learn from Thomas’s examination of the wounds of Christ; his personal encounter with the risen Saviour?”
Read the NOTES HERE.
Message preached at Ballymacashon Congregational and Templepatrick Reformed Church, - recorded at Templepatrick and used here with their permission.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 35 Q96 How NOT to Worship God
The second commandment is a rule to help us to keep the first commandment. There is a danger that if we invent some image of God, using our own imagination, that we will be deflected from worshipping the One True God who reveals himself to us in Scripture. Because this is so serious, after all our very soul’s salvation is at stake, our instructor warns us about the danger of any form of idolatry slipping into our worship.
Read the NOTES HERE.
From Death to Life
Text: Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ezekiel 37:1–14.
We have reached chapter two. Ephesians chapter one is full of superlatives, – an amazing charge through the wonderful works of God on behalf of his people, his elect, his church. Now we come to Paul’s clear declaration of the Gospel of Free Grace in Ephesians 2.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: LD34C - The Value of the Soul"...for the sake of my very salvation"
We remain with Lord’s Day 34B for this short lesson, for I have been greatly concerned by the solemnity with which the Catechist begins his answer to Q94. He implies the importance of the human soul, its value, and the danger that it might be lost forever. It is for the sake of our very salvation that we must flee from idolatry and come to known God through a saving relationship with Jesus.
He is of course echoing the solemnity of the words of our Saviour himself, in Mark 8, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Read the NOTES HERE
The Alternative Coronation Podcast(For those who are NOT watching the media version)
Bob looks at how we fulfil the Biblical command to 'honour the king,' and compares the present monarch's attitudes and values with the values of King Solomon, - values that destroyed his nation.
Find out more - listen to the podcast.
To read THE NOTES, CLICK THIS LINK.
Music by SoundGalleryBy from Pixabay
Catechism Class: H/C LD34B Q94 – 95. Idolatry Text. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me.
Q 94 What does the LORD require in the first commandment?
That for the sake of my very salvation I avoid and flee all idolatry, witchcraft, superstition, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. Further, that I rightly come to know the only true God, trust in him alone, submit to him with all humility and patience, expect all good from him only, and love, fear, and honour him with all my heart. In short, that I forsake all creatures rather than do the least thing against his will.
Note the importance of this 1st Commandment. The catechist is adamant. This is no trivial matter – this is life and death. ‘For the sake of my very salvation.’ So what is the first commandment in the Decalogue?
Read the NOTES HERE
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The Head and the Body
Ephesians 1:22-23 (Supp. Readings 1st Corinthians 12:4ff, Col 1:15-19).
Paul is going to remind us that Christ is ALREADY the head of the church, which is his body. So, Paul is illustrating our relationship with the risen ascended Christ like this: “CHRIST is the HEAD and the church is HIS BODY.” Let’s explore those two important ideas…
This sermon preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church, - recorded at Templepatrick and used with kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
Catechism Class: LD34 Q92-92 The LAW OF GOD
The catechist has been teaching us about how to live in such a way to please God who saved us by his grace (unmerited favour) alone, and has given us a new life in Christ. We are to respond to his unconditional love for us by being grateful, and demonstrating that gratitude in our lives. In the obedient life we are not following our own notions and ideas, and nor are we counting as good works such things as we are made to do, either by earthly authorities, or by peer pressure, or cultural acceptability etc.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 33 Q89-90 Conversion
It is important to remember that becoming a Christian is undergoing a complete change, not of lifestyle, but of life itself. We call it CONVERSION. It is a change that is initiated by God, and accomplished by God in our lives, - HE CHANGES US.
Read the NOTES HERE
The Downpayment
Paul tells us that the Ephesians were ‘sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise’ In this sermon we ask some relevant questions about this strange phrase.
Preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. recorded at TRC and used here with their kind permission.
read the NOTES HERE.
"Passover People" - The People at the Cross
Matthew 27:35. And they crucified him
There were many people on Calvary's Hill that day - soldiers, thieves, religious leaders, by-passers, women - but who was it who crucified Christ that day?
This message was part of a Good Friday Service at Ballymacashon, - please excuse the echo.
Read the NOTES HERE
"Passover People" - Simon the Crossbearer
Simon of Cyrene, - probably just an ordinary man, going about his ordinary business. One minute he was an unconcerned passer-by, a foreigner visiting Jerusalem for a religious pilgrimage, and the next he was suddenly thrust into the greatest drama ever, God’s eternal plan of redemption.
Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE.
"Passover People" - Peter the Failure
Read Mark 14:53-72
In this study we see another man who betrayed the Lord, but who, when he repented had a totally different outcome than Judas – Simon Peter, a man who was a failure as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus, – just as we all are today, no matter how successful in life we may be – Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Yet Peter is the opposite of Judas – for when Peter repented, he returned to Christ and was forgiven...
Preached and recorded at Ballymacashon.
Read the NOTES HERE
"Passover People." Judas the Traitor.
Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16, 45-50. Matthew 27:1-10
In this study we are looking a little at a very solemn and serious subject – we are looking at the man who betrayed the Lord, – Judas Iscariot. It is an important subject, – important for the unrepentant sinner who needs to prepare to meet God, important for the Christian who has grown cold in heart, or fallen by the wayside, and in so doing has heaped more pain upon the Saviour’s head – a serious warning to persevere.
Preached at Ballymacashon and recorded in studio
Read the NOTES HERE
The Holy Spirit of Promise
Text: Ephesians 1:13-15
We need to look at this passage of Paul’s first chapter to the Ephesians very carefully, and in these few verses, quite a few important questions confront us. Questions like, Who is the Holy Spirit? Why is He the Spirit of ‘promise?’ What does it mean to be ‘sealed?’ When does this ‘sealing’ occur? What does Paul mean by the ‘Earnest of our inheritance? What is this ‘purchased possession, and how was that ‘possession’ purchased? Whose glory is Paul speaking about? In this lesson we will look at that most basic question, “Who is the Holy Spirit of Promise?”
Read the NOTES HERE.
SECULAR HUMANISM
RC Sproule writing in ‘Table Talk’ magazine in October 1993, wrote, “Secular humanism is one of the stupidest beliefs ever concocted.” In this podcast episode, recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob looks at the history and beliefs of humanism.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
What To Do When You Get Bad News….Text . Isaiah 37:1-7
What do you do when you get bad news? We have a ‘case-study’ in Isaiah 37. Hezekiah has been the recipient of some very bad news indeed. The three civil servants had reported back to King Hezekiah, and their message was the worst possible news, news that no one would ever want to hear. 36:22 What will Hezekiah, the godly King of Israel do now?
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church, and was recorded at Templepatrick. It is reproduced here with their kind permission.
The Repentant LifeCatechism Class. LD32 Q87-88
Read: 1st Corinthians 6:9-11
Q.87 Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and impenitent walk of life? A. By no means. Scripture says that no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, greedy person, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like shall inherit the kingdom of God.
The Christian life is a life of repentance. We are forgiven, but we are not yet perfect. That is still to come. The real issue is the difference between how a Christian deals with sin, compared with how an unbeliever deals with it. The Christian will hate his sin, loathe it. It will burn his conscience, it will make him weep, until he comes before the Lord and repents.
Read the NOTES HERE.
The Mystery of God's Will
In this passage we see that God’s will has already been revealed to us, – it is to bring his people, and everything in Creation, together in a new heaven and earth, where Christ is glorified Colossians 1:18
Sermon preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church. Recorded at TRC and used by kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE
REPRISE: Patrick, Roman Catholic or Reformed?
In addressing this particular title, I am aware that I will probably run the gauntlet of divided opinion about the man. Many Roman Catholic people hold Patrick in such esteem that they will accept little or nothing about him which runs counter to their perceived opinion. Many Protestants have, traditionally, been so apathetic about Patrick that they have bee content to ignore him, and leave it to their Roman Catholic friends to celebrate his life in whatever way they have chosen. This paper seeks to challenge both positions and to encourage us, in this modern age, to consider our soul’s welfare, as Patrick did in bygone days.
Read the NOTES HERE
Lord's Day 32 Q86 The Value of Works
Our study of the catechism today takes us into an area of our Christian Faith where there is some confusion among people who claim to be Christians, yet one where we need absolute clarity. The Catechism helps us greatly:
Q86, Since, then, we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we do good works? We answer, Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image, that with our whole life we show ourselves thankful to God for His blessing, and that He be glorified through us, and that He be glorified through us, then also, that we ourselves may be assured by our faith by the fruits thereof;
So why must we do Good Works and what will those works be?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Church Discipline
In Matthew 18:15-17 we see:-
- The Possibility of Christian Discord. Moreover if your brother sins against you,
So the overriding principle here is very simple. When discord happens in the church, we must recognise it and do something about it, and to put things right.
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The Procedure for Christian Discipline.
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The Practice of Christian Discernment. let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Now here’s where this text gets really interesting. When a brother has sinned against you, and all the avenues for reconciliation has failed, what do you do? Jesus tells us right here; we are to regard that person as a heathen and a tax collector. Now what does that mean?
This sermon was recorded in Templepatrick Reformed Church in 2018, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
LORD'S DAY 31 - Church Discipline.
In our last catechism class we looked at The Keys of The Kingdom. Matthew 16:19We saw that our catechism instructor teaches us that the ‘Keys of the Kingdom’ is THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, which opens the door to the kingdom of heaven for those who will come and be saved, and which closes the door of the kingdom of heaven to those who refuse to repent.
There is a second way in which the ‘Keys of the Kingdom’ are employed – through Church Discipline.
Read the NOTES HERE
Grace
How can we even begin to measure the extent of God’s saving love and favour for His people? It would be impossible. Grace in this sense grace is the unmerited favour of God upon sinners, – the idea of our salvation being a completely free gift – that God loves us when we were unlovable, chose us to be his, without any merit on our part, and at great cost to himself,- the death of his only begotten son.
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational Church, and Templepatrick Reformed Church and was recorded at Templepatrick. It is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: LD31 Q83 The Gospel and the KeysWhat are "The Keys of the Kingdom?" Part 1.
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Q 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
A. The preaching of the holy gospel and church discipline. By these two the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and closed to unbelievers.
Q 84 How is the kingdom of heaven opened and closed by the preaching of the gospel?
A. According to the command of Christ, the kingdom of heaven is opened when it is proclaimed and publicly testified to each and every believer that God has really forgiven all their sins for the sake of Christ’s merits, as often as they by true faith accept the promise of the gospel. The kingdom of heaven is closed when it is proclaimed and testified to all unbelievers and hypocrites that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation rest on them as long as they do not repent. According to this testimony of the gospel, God will judge both in this life and in the life to come
Our Instructor in the Catechism helps us to understand what Jesus meant by the ‘Keys of the Kingdom.’
Read the NOTES HERE
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Glory!
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In this study we are going to look at a word frequently spoken by Christians. GLORY! A sermon preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church, and recorded at Templepatrick, and used with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: LD30 Q81-82 Who May Come to the Lord's TableWe’ve been looking at the Lord’s Supper, and learning about the true meaning of the bread and wine that we see spread before us on the communion tables of our churches. There’s one final consideration, and it’s a delicate matter. We must ask “Who may come to the table, and partake in the Lord’s Supper?” Traditionally the answer to this question has been either ‘Open Communion’ - where no-one is barred from attending, or ‘closed communion,’ where only those who meet certain criteria can attend and partake.
So the catechism steers us through these two options on a moderate course, and does so with great warmth and encouragement in two questions and answers, Q81 and Q82.
Q81 “Who are to come to the table of the Lord?” A: “Those who are truly displeased with themselves because of their sins and yet trust that these are forgiven them and that their remaining weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and amend their life. But hypocrites and those who do not repent eat and drink judgment upon themselves.”
Q82 Are those also to be admitted to the Lord's supper who by their confession and life show that they are unbelieving and ungodly? A “No, for then the covenant of God would be profaned and his wrath kindled against the whole congregation. Therefore, according to the command of Christ and his apostles, the Christian church is duty-bound to exclude such persons by the keys of the kingdom of heaven, until they amend their lives.”
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Adoption as Sons
Ephesians 1:5-6
We are NOT all God's children, despite the fact that we have a common Creator and a common human ancestor in Adam. In fact Jesus told some very religious people that they belonged to their father, the Devil! To be in the family of God, and have a Heavenly Father, we must come by Jesus Christ, - be adopted into the family of God, through faith.
Yet, when that happens, our status within that family, is as sons, and joint-heirs with Christ.
We explore this topic in this sermon, recorded live at Ballymacashon, (sorry about the echo - it's an old building).
Read the sermon notes HERE.
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 30 Q80An Accursed Idolatry?There is such a difference between the Mass and the Lord’s Supper that our instructor asks us in
LD30, Q.80 What difference is there between the Lord's supper and the papal mass? The answer is,
“The Lord's supper testifies to us,
first, that we have complete forgiveness of all our sins through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he himself accomplished on the cross once for all; and, second, that through the Holy Spirit we are grafted into Christ, who with his true body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, and this is where he wants to be worshipped.
But the mass teaches, first, that the living and the dead do not have forgiveness of sins through the suffering of Christ unless he is still offered for them daily by the priests; and, second, that Christ is bodily present in the form of bread and wine, and there is to be worshipped. Therefore the mass is basically nothing but a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.”
Now there’s strong language, - coming from the catechism that has the warmest and mildest language of all the doctrinal statements that emanated from the Protestant Reformation. So what is so objectionable about the mass, that it makes our mild-manners teacher, Zacharius Ursinus speak so strongly? Here’s three main reasons - Its NAME, its FICTIONS and its PROCEDURES.
Read the NOTES HERE/
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The Fact, Fulness and Function of Election
God has a chosen people, those who are his. We call them, His ELECT people. In this study we look at Ephesians 1, and begin a series in which we will examine the unfolding of God's eternal plan of redemption.
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon, and Templepatrick Reformed Church, where this recording was made. The audio is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Craig Dennison of Trinitarian Bible Society in Conversation with Bob McEvoy
Craig is the area representative for the Trinitarian Bible Society, covering Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Scotland and the north of England. In this casual conversation he tells Bob about the TBS, Bible Translations and the difference between Dynamic and Formal Equivalence!
Catechism Class: LD29, Q78 & 79, Transubstantiation.The doctrine of the Lord’s Supper, (or Holy Communion) was a major issue at the time of the Reformation, and I suggest that it still is, even today. The Roman Catholic Church, (that church from which many of the reformers had been expelled, because of their objections to Catholic doctrine) - stressed what was to them, the vital importance of their sacramental masses. So for the reformers, and for our instructor in the catechism, the errors of Rome in regard to Holy Communion needed to be thoroughly dealt with, and Ursinus himself deals with the differences between the protestant, reformed teaching on the Lord’s Supper and the Roman Mass, over three separate Lord’s Days, 28-30. In Lord’s Day 29 Q78: We are asked, Are then the bread and wine changed into the real body and blood of Christ? The answer is No! Just as the water of baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ and is not the washing away of sins itself but is simply God's sign and pledge so also the bread in the Lord's supper does not become the body of Christ itself, although it is called Christ's body in keeping with the nature and usage of sacraments. (Sacraments being signs that point us to the reality indicated by the sign).
So in this episode we shall think about the Roman Catholic belief in TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
READ THE NOTES HERE
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Where Does Saving Faith Come From?
Why are unregenerate people so callous toward the things of God? Paul’s conclusion is that the unregenerate man is dead in his sins, and is totally incapable of any saving understanding whatsoever of spiritual matters. So, that begs the question, "Where does Saving Faith come from?"
This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational Church, and Templepatrick Reformed Church, recorded at TRC and used here with their kind permission.
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 28 Q76 - Spiritual or Physical Flesh and Blood??We are looking at the Lord’s Supper and we move on to Lord’s Day 28, Q76, where the catechist asks us, What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his shed blood? Our reply should be…
First, to accept with a believing heart all the suffering and the death of Christ, and so receive forgiveness of sins and life eternal.
Second, to be united more and more to his sacred body through the Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us. Therefore, although Christ is in heaven and we are on earth, yet we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones, and we forever live and are governed by one Spirit, as the members of our body are by one soul.
So, in this lesson, we want to think about the words of our Lord Jesus, when he said, in John 6:54-56 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Let’s ask the question, What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his shed blood?
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Matthew 26v17-30 The Lords Supper
Holy Communion: The Lord's Supper, its nature and observation.
This recording was made at Ballymacashon, and has some echo.
Read the notes here.
Catechism Class: LD28 Q75 TAKE - EAT!We are looking at Lord’s Day 28, Q5, where the catechist asks us, How does the Lord's supper signify and seal to you that you share in Christ's one sacrifice on the cross and in all his gifts? The answer states, In this way: Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup in remembrance of him. With this command he gave these promises:
First, as surely as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup given to me, so surely was his body offered for me and his blood poured out for me on the cross.
Second, as surely as I receive from the hand of the minister and taste with my mouth the bread and the cup of the Lord as sure signs of Christ's body and blood, so surely does he himself nourish and refresh my soul to everlasting life with his crucified body and shed blood.
The disciples were commanded by Jesus, to TAKE the bread and wine and to EAT/DRINK it. We explore the significance of those two aspects of our participation in the Lord's Supper.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The History & Danger of Technocracy, and a Christian ResponseA lecture recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church and used with their kind permission.
Technocracy: Agenda 2030 and the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ looms. Who is behind this agenda and what is their ultimate aim? A basic examination of the history and economic philosophy of ‘The Technocracy,’ and its modern incarnations in globalist organisations and movements; their schemes and plans for the future of mankind, and the evil forces that drive them. Finally, a plea to Christians, to be alert and watchful, to engage in spiritual warfare, (not carnal) and to trust in God. READ: Psalm 2:1-5 John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free..
The subject is Technocracy and Technocrats.
Read the NOTES HERE
OTHER WORLDVIEW LECTURES:
The Gender Agenda
Malthusianism
Covid : Fear Vs Faith
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Behold the Lamb of God'
John 1:29-34 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
In this study we want to look at the passage which contains an absolute gem of a verse. Let’s spend a little time exploring its brightness, and exploring its riches.
A sermon preached at Ballymacashon and Templepatrick, and recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, - audio used with their permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
LD27 Babies and Baptists!
The Catechism teaches us that we are to baptise believers, and the infant children of those believers. Here’s that question - Q74: “Should infants, too, be baptised?” The answer is, “Yes. Infants as well as adults belong to God's covenant and congregation. Through Christ's blood the redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to adults. Therefore, by baptism, as sign of the covenant, they must be incorporated into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers. This was done in the old covenant by circumcision, in place of which baptism was instituted in the new covenant.”
In this episode Bob attempts to explain Covenant Baptism so that Credo Baptists, - and others - who disagree with the catechist, may at least understand why.
Check out the NOTES here.
The Great Commission - Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus, reminds us of his omnipotence, and commissions his disciples to go into the whole world and make disciples. They are to TEACH - Christian ministry is a teaching work, for we make disciples by teaching the doctrines of the faith, so that sinners will come under conviction of sin, repent and trust the Saviour. After that teaching ministry and related to it, comes Baptism (and Holy Communion) - the Christian call to ministry is a call to Word and Sacrament. The sacraments are visual aids of the gospel, illustrations of our Christ focussed cross c centred message.
Jesus also tells us how baptism is to be done, with a Trinitarian formula, we baptise in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
In our current climate of woke hatred for the Bible and Christianity we will not fond it easy to obey the Great Commission, but we have a cast iron promise from Christ, that He IS with us - right until the end of the world.
This address was recorded at Ballymacashon, so it contains extraneous sounds, echo, and a yapping dog at a neighbouring house!
READ THE NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 27 Q72-73 Baptism Saves You?
In this episode we diverge from our normal lessons to look at a perplexing passage from 1st Peter 3:18, where Peter tells us that "Baptism now saves you..." Whatever can he mean? we know that baptism cannot save us! Doesn't Peter know that?
Yes, he does, and if we put the verse in context we will learn HOW baptism saves us, by pointing us away from itself, from the physical act of washing (in whatever format) to Christ, just as the water of the flood saved Noah, by compelling him to enter the ark for safety.
Read the NOTES HERE.
WHY JESUS CAME
A sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, on Lord's Day evening, 25th December 2022, based on Colossians 1:12-14
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
It's New year's Day
But more importantly it is The Lord's Day, 1st January 2023, and many will be looking ahead to what the year will bring and making plans. Here's a passage from James 4:13-17
People sometimes say, “I don’t need God, tomorrow will be rosy, failure is not on my agenda.” They will think that you make your own future. That’s the very attitude that James is dealing with here.
Listen to the podcast - and have a very blessed and peaceful year in 2023.
Today we commemorate and celebrate the Love of God, in sending His Only Begotten Son, Jesus into this world to save sinners.
Do you know Him as your Saviour?
The Baptism of Jesus
Why was Jesus baptised ? John's baptism was baptism of repentance, admission of guilt and sin...
Jesus was sinless.yet he was baptised by John? Find out in this episode of the podcast, and discover why the baptism of Jesus is of significant importance.
Matthew 3:13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptised of him.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Reprise- Talking Honestly About Santa.
A debate from a year ago - but worth listening to again! How do YOU tell your kids about Santa?
John the BaptistText:Matthew 3:1-12
With the visible church’s celebration of the birth of Christ approaching, we are introduced to another great Biblical character, John the Baptist. In John’s gospel, chapter 1, we are told that John was sent from God to bear witness to the Lord Jesus, the One who was the True Light of the World. This passage describes John’s ministry, as he prepares the way for the coming of Christ, and at this time of the year, we would do well to examine John’s faithful ministry, and attempt to be just as faithful in our own lives and in the witness of our church as he was.
Read the NOTES HERE
Should we allow a Christmas Tree to be displayed in a place where the worship of God is taking place?
The answer is that anywhere, (and I include in this a minor hall where there is a Bible Study or Prayer Meeting), - anywhere that the worship of Almighty God, who is thrice Holy, is taking place must reflect that purpose and facilitate that worship, which is to be offered in holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
So, in this podcast, I raise some reasonable debating points, some issues regarding what we permit in our places of worship.
Read the NOTES and LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND OPINIONS HERE.
Where Do Wars Come From?
Where do wars come from? James isn’t asking who starts wars and conflicts, he’s asking WHERE! In a forensic examination of the motives and attitudes and desires of the human heart, James gets right to the very heart of the issue, giving us an insight into the real source of war... He says, (Amp) WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
Let’s see if there are any lessons for us,
Sermon preached at both Ballymacashon and Templepatrick Reformed Church on Remembrance Sunday 2022, recorded at Templepatrick, and used with their permission.
READ THE NOTES HERE
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 26 Q69-70
The Importance of Baptism
Baptism as a constant reminder of your salvation in Christ!
READ THE NOTES HERE
Preparation for Suffering: 3.The Source of Persecution
God is in charge of this world. But Christians are going to suffer in it, and so there are still deep questions to be asked, questions that must be weighing very heavily in the minds of Peter's readers. Questions like ‘who is behind all this persecution?’ ‘How will we cope, and what will be the eventual outcome?’
In verses 8-10, Peter gets right to the very core of the issue. "Who is the REAL enemy?" The government? The WEF? The Technocrats who rule the world through their global industries and businesses? The banksters? Have we gone off topic? No, not really. The battle of the ages has not changed. So who is the REAL enemy?
Part three of a three part series, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and used with their permission.
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 25 Q68 How Many Sacraments?
In this episode we find out why there are only two sacrmants in the Lord's Church, why some Christians refuse to call them sacraments at all, and why the Catholic notion of 'seven sacraments' was rejected by the Reformers.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Preparation for Suffering. 2. The Church
Peter wrote to the church leadership, about how to shepherd the flock in dangerous times of persecution. But he doesn’t stop there. He writes another paragraph, aimed at all of us, and in it he describes the character of the true believer in Christ. He writes to ‘younger people.’ So who are these ‘younger people?’ The amplified Bible helps us with this. It translates, ‘Likewise you younger men, of lessor rank and experience.’ This admonition is for all of us. Peters words are for us all… So, what is his exhortation to saints who are about to undergo fierce persecution and times of suffering? His pastoral advice may surprise us!
Part two of a three part series, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and used with their permission.
Catechism Class: LD25 Q66 & 67 The Promise of the Gospel
God promised an everlasting inheritance to Abraham, and to his children, - and in him all nations would be blessed. But who ARE the true children of Abraham? That's the topic we explore in this episode.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
Psalm content courtesy of www.The PsalmsSung.org
Preparation for Suffering: 1. Church Leaders
The world is getting more and more antagonistic toward Christians, and persecution is already rampant throughout the world. It was also, when Peter wrote to the early believers.. Sooner or later it will come to the door of the easy believing, comfortable western church, Will we be ready? Will we crumble with the first blows? Peter's words to the early church will help us prepare. He speaks firstly to church leaders, to elders, - speaking as a fellow elder. What advice will he give?
Part one of a three part series, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and used with their permission.
Catechism Class - Lord's Day 25 Q65, Saving FaithSaving Faith - Where Does it Come From?
We have learned that we receive the gift of forgiveness and salvation by faith, and faith ALONE. But how does that happen? How do we get this faith? Where does it come from? We know already that it is the gift of God, and that we passively receive it - but now the catechist gives us some more help in understanding how this faith is given to us by God. It is found in Lord’s Day 25, Q65, Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all his benefits, where does this faith come from? The answer is, From the Holy Spirit, who works it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and strengthens it by the use of the sacraments. So in this lesson we shall look at that question, and its answer.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Darius and Daniel
Text: Daniel 6:10-27
Because this story is so well known, we’ll look at it from the perspective of the two major players in this drama, Darius and Daniel, and see what we can learn.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Conversations: A.S.R. Paul Somerville
Paul Somerville talks with Bob about life in the army, his conversion and his work with the Soldier's and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association. A valuable insight into the Lord's work among the young men and women who are part of the British Armed Forces. And we discus whether it is possible to be a Christian and a soldier.
Find out more about SASRA HERE.
Lord's Day 24 Q63-64 Our Reward, the Inevitability of Good Works in The Christian Life, - the Fruit of Gratitude
If our good works are worthless in the sight of God - like 'filthy rags' - why does God reward us for our good works? How is it that 'good works' are the criterion used by God on judgement day? And if good works cannot save, and if all Christian lives, even the best Christian lives, fall short, is it possible for a professing believer to live a careless, even sinful life? So, can there be such a thing as a 'gay Christian?'
We explore the role of 'thankfulness' in the believer's life, producing good fruit in response to what Christ has done for us.
READ THE NOTES HERE
Psalm content courtesy of www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Worldview Briefing - Priest's Listowel LGBT Lecture!
The all-pervasive LGBT, transgender and abortion ideologies are well entrenched in Catholicism, right from the pope to the pew. So when a Catholic priest in Listowel actually calls out sexual sin, his bishop apologises to the sinners, and cancels him! A Catholic priest, censured by his Catholic bishop, for being a Catholic who preaches Catholic doctrine in a Catholic Church. You couldn't make it up!
Read the TRANSCRIPT and get links to newspaper articles HERE.
Politics in the Court of King Darius - Daniel 6v1-9
We all know the story of Daniel being thrust into the Den of Lions, but before we can properly understand the narrative, we should make an attempt to understand the underlying tensions, and political manoeuvring that was going on in the newly established court of King Darius.
Read the NOTES here.
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 24 Q62 Original Sin and the Total Depravity of Mankind
Even the very best things that we do, are just filthy rotten, soiled rags in the eyes of the God who is holy, and whom we have offended with our sinful thoughts and words and actions.
Q62,But why can our good works not be our righteousness before God, or at least a part of it?
A. Because the righteousness which can stand before God's judgment must be absolutely perfect and in complete agreement with the law of God, whereas even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.
There’s nothing to build up our self-esteem in there! So we’d probably better find out why our instructor is being so pessimistic about our true character, - our human nature...
Music on licence from www.NeoSounds.com
READ THE NOTES HERE
Weighed and Wanting
Daniel 5:23-31 (Read also Ezra 1:1-4)
The last hours of Belshazzar the King, and in the midst of great darkness, we see God's sovereign purpose being enacted.
Read the NOTES here.
Lord's Day 23 Q61 Justification 3
Part 3 of a three part catechism series on Justification. In this episode, we find out that our faith has no saving merit, in other words, God does not save us because of our faith in Him. Then we look at the doctrine of Sola Fides, - but we are justified by grace alone, through Faith ALONE.
READ THE NOTES HERE
Psalm content courtesy of www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Daniel as an Example of Christian Integrity.
The writing is on the wall. Belshazzar’s wicked, evil orgy of drunkenness, blasphemy and idolatry has suddenly come to a grinding halt. Now two more people appear in the drama. A queen, with a glowing reference for a godly man, and Daniel, who despite his reputation for kind-heartedness will never speak deceptive words, who is not interested in worldly praise or honours, and is not afraid to speak truth to power.
Read the NOTES HERE.
(This sermon was preached at Ballymacashon, so there is some echo)
Catechism Class: LD23 Q60 Justification 2Simul Justus et Peccator and Alien Righteousness.
In Lord’s Day 23 Q60, the catechist asks us, “How are you righteous before God?”
Our answer is, “Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Although my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's commandments, have never kept any of them, and am still inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of my own, out of mere grace, imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ. He grants these to me as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me, if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.”
We begin with a reading from Romans 3, where Paul teaches the believers in Rome, and us, that everyone who lives in this world is a sinner, - there is no difference in any of us, yet, he claims, we are all freely justified, by God’s grace, only through the redemption that we have in Jesus. One thing is for sure. When a justified sinner, a Christian, looks at himself or herself, they know for sure that they can boast of nothing, that they are the unworthy recipients of God’s grace, that there is nothing within them to merit their salvation, no works, no inherent goodness, - only Jesus is the justifier of them who believe on him through faith.
We then go on to learn about two important aspects of the doctrine of justification by faith, - firstly, “Simul Justus et Peccator,” that while we are on this earth, we will always be sinners, and at the same time justified saints - and secondly we learn about “Alien Righteousness” - that our right standing before God comes from another - from Christ, not from within us. We apply those two aspects of the doctrine, in practical ways to our lives.
This is an important and practical lesson, for The Christian believer to grasp.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
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Daniel 5v5-9 The Party's Over
Belshazzar's wicked orgy of drink, blasphemy and idolatry is brought to a sudden end when what looks like a tombstone appears - and it's inscribed by the fingers of some mystery hand. Belshazzar is so terrified he wet himself... Wouldn't you though? And that's exactly the point...
READ THE NOTES HERE.
Recorded at Ballymacashon - so apologies for the echo!
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 23 Q59Introduction to the Doctrine of Justification
We are faced with a challenge in LD23, Q59, But what does it help you now that you believe all this? Our answer is, In Christ I am righteous before God and heir to life everlasting.
The key here is the phrase, “I am righteous before God.” Over three questions in Lord’s Day 23, the catechist teaches us about the foundation of the Christian faith, how I can be right with God. It’s called Justification, and it is what we shall consider in this lesson, an introduction to Justification, and in the following two lessons, Q60 and 61.
So, here’s Paul’s famous words from Romans: Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Read the NOTES here
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
Daniel 5v1-4 Trying God's patience
In this sermon, preached at Ballymacashon Congregational Church, we begin to look at Daniel 5, where we are introduced to Belshazzar, - a man who partied, while his capital city, Babylon, was under siege, who shook his fist at God and openly worshipped idols - when he should have been calling upon the Lord for help. But God's patience with Belshazzar, a man who had an early gospel influence upon his life, - is nearing its end - as is Belshazzar himself...
A challenge, not to defy the God who offers us pardon and forgiveness in Christ.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: LD22D Q58 The Life Everlasting For three lessons we have been learning about the Last Day, when the Lord Jesus shall return to this earth as judge, but because the catechism is explaining the clauses of the Apostles’ Creed, it follows that having dealt with our bodily resurrection, we should next explain what we mean by ‘everlasting life.’ So, our teacher asks,
What comfort do you receive from the article about the life everlasting? And our answer is, Since I now already feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, I shall after this life possess perfect blessedness, such as no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived a blessedness in which to praise God forever.
Our subject for this lesson is - HEAVEN!
Read the NOTES here.
Music on licence from www.Neosounds.com
Psalm content courtesy of www.ThePsalmsSung.org
How God Saves Sinners!
A Lesson from Daniel Chapter Four.
On the surface, this account is about a dream, a bad dream, that came true. But the real lesson in the story, is about how God saves sinners!
This podcast contains a sermon, preached at Ballymacashon Church, - it is a little echoey, and contains traffic noises etc.
Read the NOTES
Catechism Class.
Lord’s Day 22C Q57 The Resurrection of the Dead
“What comfort does the resurrection of the body offer you?” The answer we are expected to give is, “Not only shall my soul after this life immediately be taken up to Christ, my Head, but also this my flesh, raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul and made like Christ's glorious body.”
it is very important, before we start, that you read, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 and then keep your bible open, for we’ll be referring to it as we learn. In these verses we see the risen Lord, marching forth, coming against evil, the first in the battle, the protagonist of righteousness and truth! And Paul is outlining some of what we might call the ‘secondary consequences’ of the power of God being displayed on the Last Day. Let’s look at some of them in this lesson.
Music licensed from Neosounds.com
Psalm 110 with thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
READ THE NOTES HERE
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The Furnace of Obedience
Daniel 3:19-30
The king is angry. That’s an understatement, – he is out of his mind with rage. No-one defies Nebuchadnezzar. He’s the king, the man who hold life and death in his hands. See how the text describes his fury and rage…
Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and used with their permission.
Catechism Class: LD22 Q57 The Physical Body
We have already had a short look at one of the issues raised in Lord’s Day 22, Q57, where we are asked,
“What comfort does the resurrection of the body offer you?” The answer we are expected to give is, “Not only shall my soul after this life immediately be taken up to Christ, my Head, but also this my flesh, raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul and made like Christ's glorious body.”
Remember that I decided to look at this question and answer in two parts, to see what happens to the soul at death, which we did in our last lesson, and then, to find out a little about the physical resurrection of the dead, when Christ returns, on the Last Day. So this lesson is about my FLESH, my human body, being reunited with my soul, and made to be like the resurrected, glorified body of Jesus, my Saviour.
Before you begin, read 1st Corinthians 15:35-54
READ THE NOTES HERE.
The Death of a Monarch Changes Everything and Nothing
In this podcast, - a sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and reproduced with their permission, we reflect honestly on the life and service of HM Queen Elisabeth II, look at what changes it might bring, and contrast that with the eternal kingly reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 22A Q57 The Resurrection of the DeadWe are now at Lord’s Day 22, Q57, where we are asked, “What comfort does the resurrection of the body offer you?” The answer we are expected to give is, “Not only shall my soul after this life immediately be taken up to Christ, my Head, but also this my flesh, raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul and made like Christ's glorious body.”
There are two important propositions in Q22, the first part, dealing with human soul, and what happens to the soul when the body dies, and the second, the resurrection of the body, which will happen when the Lord returns. The catechist answers his own question with a ‘not only but also’ kind of answer. Not only will we have the comfort of being with the Lord when we die, but also, we shall one day be reunited with our physical body. In this episode we break down how the catechist deals with this:
Proposition One: The Human Soul. We all have a soul, when the body dies it rots away in the ground, but the soul lives on, and where does it live? - With the Lord, and how does that happen? - Because Christ is our head.
Proposition Two: The Human Body. The body that we have is laid to rest, ‘in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the dead.’ How so? The power of the risen Christ will also raise the dead, who have died in the Lord, the body will be reunited with the soul, and the body will never again suffer from decay, or sickness or sin, but will be LIKE CHRIST’s risen body. That restored body, made to be as originally intended, is described as ‘GLORIOUS!’
Problem: What happens in between the two? We call that gap between our death and resurrection, “The intermediate state.” Now, that’s quite a lot of information to sift through, so I’m going to look at it over two or three episodes.
Let’s deal with some issues around the death of the believer and the destiny of the soul at death.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
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We Will Not Bow to Idols
Daniel 3:1-18
Remember that in chapter 2 the kingdom of Babylon – Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom – was described as the head of a great statue, – that head made of gold, the purest and most precious of all the kingdoms in history. It’s no wonder his ego was inflated! So much so that he decided that since he was the ‘Golden King’ he’d make a giant image, of gold.,(V1) most likely of himself, – and have it erected in the Plain of Dura, a large ‘saucer shaped’ natural arena, lying south of the modern city of Baghdad. He summoned all the important people into his royal presence, (V2) and appointed a day for the dedication of his new idol. When the people had gathered, a herald would stand up and would cry aloud (V4). Those were the days before amplification – so what a voice that man must have had! – He gave the king’s command, 3:4b-6 And look at the threat that is implied upon failure to worship. Cast into a burning, fiery furnace, – cremation alive.
Recorded live at Ballymacashon Church - Raw and unedited.
A N Groves – ‘Christian Devotedness’ (Part 3)
In this series of thee short history podcasts, I want to tell you a story - about one of the early Christian Brethren pioneers - a man called Anthony Norris Groves. Groves is important to all of us, because of his missionary calling, and how his missionary work was supported. He has become known as “The Father of Faith Missions” - and his understanding of the call of God, and how a servant of God should trust the Lord for all his needs during his period of service, - his ‘missiology’ was highly influential in later missionary works.
In this lesson we’ll talk about Grove's missionary activities in India, the setbacks and disappointments, the lasting legacy, his home call and a brief assessment of his work.
Check out the notes here.
SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH CLICK HERE!
Progressive Christianity
What's 'progressive' about this insidious and dangerous incursion of apostasy into the Christian Church? In this conversation, Bob McEvoy talks to Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries. Cecil has been researching the Progressive movement for some time now, and has been involved in an apologetics ministry for many years. He shares some insights, names some names and warns believers to mark and avoid this post-modern aberration of the faith.
Catechism Class: LD21C Q56 The Forgiveness of SinsIn this lesson, we move on to a doctrine that is core to the Christian Faith - the forgiveness of sins.
Our works, even our most righteous works, are as polluted as filthy rags in the sight of God, and deserve only eternal condemnation. Everything we do is sinful, because we are sinners, and those sins cannot be overlooked by God. But they can be forgiven, through God’s grace alone.
So, our catechist asks us, “What do you believe concerning the forgiveness of sins?” The answer we must give is: I believe that God, because of Christ's satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, nor my sinful nature, against which I have to struggle all my life, but will graciously grant me the righteousness of Christ, that I may never come into condemnation.
In this episode we look at how God's perfect justice is fully SATISFIED by Christ's atoning work, and we deal with the fact that even though we are forgiven we continue to sin, talk about the MORTIFICATION OF SIN, and we learn about Christ's ACTIVE OBEDIENCE, - His perfect, sinless life, which has been imputed to us at the cross. Finally we note that for those whose sins are forgiven, there is NO CONDEMNATION.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Kingdoms and The KingdomNebuchadnezzar's Dream, Daniel 2 cf 1 Samuel 8Before you listen to this sermon, please read 1st Samuel 8, and Daniel 2
Do you ever wonder why governments and rulers seem to be acting in their own interest, following their own agendas, rather than for the good of the people they govern?
In this sermon, preached at Ballymacashon, and Templepatrick Reformed Church - (the Recording was made at TRC, and is used with their permission) we look at two important texts, - to get an understanding of why governments/kings conscript people to do their bidding, tax them, take their possessions, and generally make life miserable for the ordinary people.n
Nebuchadnezzar, for example, is not a reasonable man. He asked the privy counsel to explain his dream, but he wouldn’t tell them what the dream was! The sages are stunned by this request, especially by the explicit threats that accompanied it. V5. And no matter how they tried to persuade him, the king wouldn’t tell them the dream, and they were unable to tell the despot what the dream was about. It’s stalemate. V10-11 An order went out, V13 Learning that you are about to be executed cannot be the most pleasant experience. Daniel went to see Nebuchadnezzar, and we learn the difference between kingdoms, and The Kingdom.
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A N Groves – ‘Christian Devotedness’ (Part 2)
In this series of thee short history podcasts, I want to tell you a story - about one of the early Christian Brethren pioneers - a man called Anthony Norris Groves. Groves is important to all of us, because of his missionary calling, and how his missionary work was supported. He has become known as “The Father of Faith Missions” - and his understanding of the call of God, and how a servant of God should trust the Lord for all his needs during his period of service, - his ‘missiology’ was highly influential in later missionary works.
In this lesson we’ll cover his work in the city of Baghdad, and next time, his missionary work in India and his homecall to glory.
Check out the notes here.
SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH CLICK HERE!
Catechism Class. LD21 Q55 - The Communion of Saints
In this lesson [the first lesson in our new season] we are looking at Lord’s Day 21, Q.55. What do you understand by the communion of saints? The answer we ought to give is First, that believers, all and everyone, as members of Christ have communion with him and share in all his treasures and gifts. Second, that everyone is duty-bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the benefit and well-being of the other members.
So we are looking at the phrase in the Apostle’s Creed which says, I believe in something called “The Communion of Saints.” So, what is a saint, what is communion, and how does it affect us?
Let’s find out!
Click this link for the STUDY GUIDE
Psalm content from www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
What is Progressive Christianity?
It sounds very positive doesn’t it?, Progressive, moving forward, exciting even…
I invited Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries into the studio to talk about Progressive Christianity, and in a wide ranging, and detailed conversation, he told me why believers who want to remain faithful to God should mark and avoid this apostate movement.
Don’t miss this podcast, “Progressive Christianity” - with Cecil Andrews, going live at 1pm on Thursday, 8th September on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Podcast feed.
Daniel Says NO!
How Daniel dared to stand up for God in a pagan culture. This sermon is relevant for any young people going to university this Autumn...
Nebuchadnezzar would take the brightest and best of the youth of each captured nation, and he would reeducate them, and remove all traces of their upbringing, their religious and cultural education. They would be fully assimilated into the pagan culture and lifestyle of their captors. In that way, Nebuchadnezzar could control all the diverse national identities and ethnic cultures in his kingdom. Four young men were selected from among the Hebrews.
Based on Daniel chapter 1, this is a sermon preached at Ballymacashon Congregational church, Killinchy, Co.Down.
It is live and unedited, so there will be extraneous noise etc.
Read the notes HERE
A N Groves – ‘Christian Devotedness’ (Part 1)
In this series of thee short history podcasts, I want to tell you a story - about one of the early Christian Brethren pioneers - a man called Anthony Norris Groves. Groves is important to all of us, because of his missionary calling, and how his missionary work was supported. He has become known as “The Father of Faith Missions” - and his understanding of the call of God, and how a servant of God should trust the Lord for all his needs during his period of service, - his ‘missiology’ was highly influential in later missionary works.
In our three lessons we’ll cover his early life and conversion, then in our second episode, his work in the city of Baghdad, and finally his missionary work in India and his homecall to glory.
Check out the notes here.
Who Then Can Stand?Text: Revelation 7:1-8:1
Revelation 6 ends with this very important question, in V17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 7 is the answer to that very important question.
Just as the earth is being destroyed, there is a huge development, four angels appear, and they are holding back the four winds. These are very graphic images. Another angel appears and he addresses these first angels, “V3Here’s the answer to question, “Who is able to stand, – only those who are sealed by God!
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is used with their permission. It is raw, and unedited.
Our catechism class is BACK!
Our weekly look at the Heidelberg Catechism begins again on Tuesday 30th August, scheduled to go live every Tuesday at 1pm. Throughout September we’ll be examining the last few phrases of the Apostles’ Creed, I believe in the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting. Then. In October we shall be working our way through three easy lessons on the doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone.
Practical, systematic Christian Doctrine to help you understand what you believe and why you believe it.
Every Tuesday this Autumn, at 1pm on the Semper Reformata Podcast - the anti-dote to ‘easy-believe-ism!’
Global Warning - Revelation 6:12-17
The Final Deconstruction of the Cosmos
This is a terrifying passage. It is meant to be. The people to whom John is conveying this heavenly vision are living in fear for their lives in the Roman Empire. They need to know that the day will surely come when the tables will be reversed, and all the wrongs that have been done on them will be put to rights, in God’s time. This horrific passage was to comfort persecuted believers.
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is reproduced here with their permission.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
The second Saturday in August is ‘Derry Day’ – and in Northern Ireland many Protestants meet at Londonderry to commemorate an historical event – a siege. Actually, a very important event in our cultural and political history. The siege occurred in 1689, around a year after William of Orange had landed at Torbay, and ‘the Glorious Revolution’ was effectively ending almost a century of rule by the Stuart dynasty, a period that had brought a great burden of suffering upon those who by conscience would not conform to Roman ritual or rule of the church by state appointed bishops...
Listen on to find out more!
John Knox and the Scots Confession - Part 4
Part four of this Summer history series looking at the life and teaching of John Knox, Scotland's reformer. We begin to look at Knox's doctrine and teaching.
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
Theme: "Scotland"
Learn more about Knox.
Follow this link to BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS AND PURCHASE OPTIONS
Buying books using the links provided will help support the podcast
The Cry of the MartyrsText: Revelation 6:9
Revelation is full of symbols. And we interpret those symbols in the light of scripture, and because the genre is Jewish, in the light of OT Scripture. Now it is really important when we come to look at this passage.
There are important symbols, and they have an OT background.
This sermon was recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is used here with their permission.
John Knox and the Scots Confession - Part 3
Part three of this Summer history series looking at the life and teaching of John Knox, Scotland's reformer.
Knox, the Church and the Sacraments.
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
Theme: "Scotland"
Learn more about Knox.
Follow this link to BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS AND PURCHASE OPTIONS
Buying books using the links provided will help support the podcast
The Four Horsemen
You must not think of Revelation as linear history, – history written in advance for us. It is unlikely that’s the case. Revelation is not a history book, it is apocalyptic literature, and it is a series of scenes, overlapping in time, moving in parallel through the church age, and out into eternity to come, each scene revealing to us something more of God’s eternal plan and purpose, and each one ending further ahead in history, until at very end of the book we have the final state, a new heaven and earth. In this lesson we shall watch as the first four of the seals are opened, a passage often referred to as ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”…
This sermon was recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church and is reproduced here with their permission.
John Knox and the Scots Confession - Part 2
Part two of this Summer history series looking at the life and teaching of John Knox, Scotland's reformer. We begin to look at Knox's doctrine and teaching.
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
Theme: "Scotland"
Learn more about Knox.
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Monday PrayerCast - 25th July 2022
The last Monday Morning PrayerCast of the season - back at the end of august. In this episode we look at:
- More farming restrictions - this time in Ireland,
- Irish banks and the drive to a cashless society,
- A proposal to make us ALL pay for BBC propaganda,
- Transexuals in the USA and sex education in the depraved Republic of Ireland.
Click this link to READ THE NOTES
Acts-In-Replay: “In These Terms” Acts 23:25-35
Paul is still incarcerated in the Antonia palace, the Roman garrison barracks situated on the corner of the Temple court. But Lysias, the Roman commander of the garrison, now is convinced that Paul can’t stay there. It’s too dangerous. He decides to hand him over to the Roman civic authorities, and so Paul must be sent to Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judaea, to appear before the governor, one Felix. And in case he is ambushed along the way, a convoy of troops, both on horse and on foot with accompany him, and he will not walk, but ride upon a horse, with back up horses available, for when the first one tires! And that brings us to Acts 23:25-35, and it’s neatly divided into two parts, the letter and the physical placing of Paul into formal, civic Roman custody.
Sermon recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and used with their kind permission.
Read the NOTES HERE.
John Knox and the Scots Confession 1560
In this short series of podcasts we are going to attempt a brief introduction to the life, doctrine and impact of John Knox, Scotland’s reformer. It will be by no means comprehensive - but if it whets your appetite and encourages you to explore the history of the period a little bit more, then it will have achieved its purpose. So, John Knox, who was he and what did he believe? In this first episode, we'll look at what little we know of his early life and ministry...
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
Theme: "Scotland"
Learn more about Knox.
Follow this link to BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS AND PURCHASE OPTIONS
Buying books using the links provided will help support the podcast
On this week's episode we think about:
- The demise of the 'Online Safety/Harm Bill'
- Farming and food in New Zealand and Holland
- Revolution in SriLanka
- What is a woman? We ask the Church of England...
Links to all these stories can be found HERE.
Music from www.NeoSounds.com and www.Pixabay.com
USA segment courtesy of UK Column News www.UkColumn.org
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The Great CurseText: Acts 23:12-24
Paul is in Jerusalem, and now, as a Roman citizen, under arrest, but still technically innocent, on remand… Paul is in the castle, under guard, but being fed and sheltered from the Jews, and with some privileges.
But the Jews have bound themselves with a great curse - we learn the nature of that course, and find out how that curse can be lifted from us.
Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, Paul get news of a plot to kill him, conveyed by a supergrass!
Don't miss this episode! Sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church.
Conversations: Evangelical Protestantism!
Bob chats with Studio guest, Wallace Thompson of the Evangelical Protestant Society about
- The origins and mission of the EPS,
- Historical Christianity,
- Credal Statements
- Cultural Protestantism in Northern Ireland
- Protestantism and the Loyal Orders
And Bob asks Wallace the Ten Million Dollar question... "Can a Christian be an Orangeman?" What will he say?
Don't miss this really special episode.
Monday PrayerCast
This week we get a Christian perspective on the political turmoil in the UK,
and review a recent court decision about religious education in Northern Ireland's controlled primary schools.
The Comforting Presence of Christ Acts 23:10-11
A Roman citizen must be protected, and Paul has been snatched out of the Sanhedrin by a squad of soldiers, and is back in the Antonia Palace, the castle occupied by the Romans at the edge of the Temple Court. He’s a Roman citizen, so as we’ll see later, he’s being looked after and can receive a visitor, and can even tell the centurions what to do! But he’s still a prisoner, and he will be alone in a cell, guarded by soldiers. What will that be like?
Reproduced with thanks to Templepatrick Reformed Church
Read the NOTES HERE
Look for this far reaching and hard hitting conversation on Protestantism, its past, present and future
Going LIVE on 12th July at 1pm!
Get it on ACast, Podbean, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts etc etc
"The Reins of Power"A sermon preached at Ballymacashon on Lord's Day 3rd July 2022.
Text: Revelation 5:11-14
The chapter is essentially about how the church worships Jesus. Our praise, heard in heaven’s halls! Let’s look now at the concluding verses of the chapter…
Let’s ask, “Who reallyholds the reins of power in this world?
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 21 Q54 Time to say Goodbye?
Q.54 What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church? A. I believe that the Son of God, out of the whole human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, defends, and preserves for himself, by his Spirit and Word, in the unity of the true faith, a church chosen to everlasting life. And I believe that I am and forever shall remain a living member of it.We need to ask an important question.
"What if I join a local church, and after some time I find I really don’t fit in? That’s a serious issue, and we’ll look at it in this episode!"
Read theNOTES HERE
Episode Links:
https://saltyscrivener.uk/2011/11/25/its-for-the-sake-of-the-children-pastor/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/founders-ministries-blog/when-do-you-leave-a-church.html
Monday PrayerCast July 4 2022
See what I did there? American date format - since it's the 4th July, American Independence Day.
This episode has an American flavour, as we explore some of the issues around the 50 year old Roe V Wade Supreme Court decision to make abortion a legal right in all 50 states, and the more recent decision to overturn that previous decision,
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS EPISODE CONTAINS A HARROWING DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND TRIMESTER ABORTION IS PERFORMED
IT MAT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR THOSE OF A NERVOUS DISPOSITION
And we ask whether there will be any international implications...
Check out the NOTES here.
Dr Levatino's testimony reproduced with thanks to UK Column News,
https://www.ukcolumn.org
A Sheep Among WolvesText: Acts 23:1-10
This passage is of great importance to us. Paul is a Christian, in the midst of a pack of vicious wolves, who would literally tear him apart, given the chance. So in this study we will see what Jesus taught his disciples about situations like that, what it means to be Behold, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, then we’ll see Paul putting that teaching into practice, and finally, we will draw some important lessons for ourselves from what we have learned.
Rev. 5v8-10 Our Praise in heaven's Halls
In this message delivered live at Ballymacashon, we look at the song of the redeemed church in heaven, and we discover:-
- Our praise is heard in heaven.
- Our praise is Christ - exalting
- Our praise declares in status in Christ, both now and in the future.
WARNING: This episode contains content that might trigger Greta and Gaia worshippers. A dark room and some valium may be needed.
read the notes HERE.
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 21C Q54 - The Holy Catholic Church #3
We’ve been looking at the Christian Church, and in our last class, we learned that the church is built by Christ and upon Christ.
Our catechist is always concerned to give us practical answers, as well as theology, so he asks in
Q.54 What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church? The correct reply is, I believe that the Son of God, out of the whole human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, defends, and preserves for himself, by his Spirit and Word, in the unity of the true faith, a church chosen to everlasting life. And I believe that I am and forever shall remain a living member of it.
It is that last sentence that concerns us in this lesson…
Monday PrayerCast 27th June 2022
Our weekly 'News Awareness' episode, where we encourage Christians to wake up to what's happening around them, and so pray intelligently for the world. This week the programme covers,
- The pope, Big karma, and is the Vaccine the Light of the World?
- Trans-Athletes banned from women’s competitions.
- Sex education in Scotland and a serious assault in a primary school.
- Common sense in Dundalk
- Roe V Wade
Check out ALL these stories at their source, by clicking this link to the podcast notes:
www.Semper-Reformata.com/
Why Do Some People Hate Christians so Much? John 15:17-19 Acts 22:22
Paul’s accusers have so far been silent, but as his testimony continues, what he says utterly enrages the Jews and they want him dead. 22:22 Why did they hate Paul so much? And, why has it been that from that time to this, there are people who hate Christians and Christ so much?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Don’t Worry, History is Not Out of Control.Revelation chapter four and five is a glimpse into heaven, right into the very throne-room of God. It’s not sometime away out in the future, it is something that is happening in this age, right now, in glory. We’re going to look at chapter 5, in three lessons, and as we progress, we will learn something about the relationship between our praise, here on earth, and the praise of the heavenly hosts, around the throne of God.
In this sermon, recorded live at Ballymacashon Church on Lord's Day 19th June 2022, we see:-
- A Scroll, in the right hand of God - a scroll which no man can open - it's the plan of God - our history and destiny, - and what awful consequences if it cannot ever be unveiled...
- A Lion, the Lion of Judah, the mighty conqueror, who is the only One able to open the scroll. But HOW will be open it?
- A Lamb, the Lamb of Calvary, slain, who fulfils God's eternal plan of redemption in His death for sinners at the cross. This Lamb who died is STANDING, - He LIVES, and he SEES right into our souls, our hearts - he knows us perfectly.
READ THE NOTES HERE and leave comments.
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Catechism Class: LD21B Q54 Holy Catholic Church 2
Our catechist asks, in Q.54 What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church? The answer we must give is, I believe that the Son of God, out of the whole human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, defends, and preserves for himself, by his Spirit and Word, in the unity of the true faith, a church chosen to everlasting life. And I believe that I am and forever shall remain a living member of it.
The answer to the catechism question is divided into two parts, Christ’s relationship to his church, and then, - my personal involvement and part in that church. In this lesson, let’s begin the first part of that answer, and see how the Lord Jesus is drawing his church to himself, - how he is BUILDING his church.
Read the NOTES HERE.
AMonday PrayerCast: June 20, 2022
Our regular Monday News Review, from a Christian perspective. This weeK:
- Where has all the PPE gone?
- Soaring fuel prices.
- British honours system dragged into the gutter.
- Brandon Lewis MP and abortion over the phone.
- After death - the compost heap?
Read the notes for all these stories HERE and click the links to follow up the sources, before the 'Fact-Checkers' catch on!
AND... You can comment on any of these stories by clicking the link to the podcast website
Acts-In-Replay: Bob Lectures Baptists on Baptism!
The cheek! In this short extract from a sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob risks his life, by quoting the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith to confessional baptists! (And the baptists said "AMEN!"
What is baptism REALLY about?
Listen to the WHOLE SERMON here,
Read the STUDY GUIDE here.
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 21A Q54 - The Holy Catholic Church #1With the help of the Heidelberg Catechism, we are still examining that third section of the Apostle’s Creed, which helps us to understand who the Holy Spirit is, and what his work is. Our catechist has taught us about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and he goes on, with the Creed to expand on the creed’s statement about the Holy Catholic Church. He asks, in Q.54 What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church? The answer we must give is, I believe that the Son of God, out of the whole human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, defends, and preserves for himself, by his Spirit and Word, in the unity of the true faith, a church chosen to everlasting life. And I believe that I am and forever shall remain a living member of it.
There’s a lot in that question and answer, so we start in this episode, by examining the question itself… “The Holy Catholic Church.”
Our FEATURED BOOK FOR LORD'S DAY 21 IS "The Beauty and Glory of Christ's Bride" by Joel Beeke. Order it by clicking this link.
Psalm 45:10-17
10 O daughter, listen and give ear to me;
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 See how your beauty has enthralled the king;
Give honour to your lord and royal spouse.
12 People from Tyre will come with gifts to you,
And wealthy folk your favour will pursue.
13 All glorious is the princess in the court;
Her bridal gown with finest gold is wrought.
14 She comes before the king in broidered robes;
To you the maidens in her train are brought.
15 With joy and gladness they are ushered in;
They come into the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will occupy your fathers’ place,
And you will make them princes in the land.
17 Through all the generations still to come
I will ensure your memory will stand;
And therefore all the nations of the earth
For evermore will celebrate your worth.
(Psalm content thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org)
Read the NOTES HERE
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It's the Royal Jubilee Special! Hurrah!!!
In this episode we look back at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and Bob the Curmudgeon explains why it all passed him by, including
- Malthusian Gaia Worship - the new national religion
- Is the Queen a COVENANT BREAKER?
- Are we being conned with Bread and Circuses, while the government fleece us, and drop us further into wickedness?
That's probably enough for one episode!
Find the NOTES HERE.
The Same, Only Different.Text: Acts 22:1-12
God has intervened and prevented Paul from destroying his witness, by allowing a lynch-mob of Jews to grab him and drag him out of the temple and begin the process of literally beating him to death. He was arrested by the Romans and surprised that Paul was a well spoken educated man, speaking in Greek, the Roman commander gave permission, for Paul to speak.
So now Paul begins his defence of the faith, before the Jews of Jerusalem.
READ THE NOTES HERE
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 20C Q53 - The Sealing of the Spirit, Not Grieving the Spirit, and Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
We are still working our way through the Catechist’s teaching on the blessed third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and we have already thought about the person of the Holy Spirit, and we have seen something of the work of the Holy Spirit. We have learned that the Holy Spirit is GIVEN, as a GIFT to us, and that the Holy Spirit REGENERATES US, - he applies Christ’s saving work to us as individuals. But the catechist goes further, and teaches us that the Holy Spirit abides with us eternally, and that is what we are going to think about in this lesson. We’ll look at how the Holy Spirit is our downpayment of heaven, the ‘Ernest of our inheritance,’ then, before we finish this very short set of segments on the Holy Spirit, we’ll learn how we may obey the command to not grieve the Holy Spirit, and finally explore what the Scripture means by ‘the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.’
Heidelberg Catechism: Q.53, What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit? A. First, he is, together with the Father and the Son, true and eternal God. Second, he is also given to me, to make me by true faith share in Christ and all his benefits, to comfort me, and to remain with me forever.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm content thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Music on licence from www.Neosounds.com
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Monday PrayerCast June 6th 2022
This week we look briefly at
- 'Pregnancy remains' left in a cupboard
- OBE for services to abortion
- Transgender Barbie
- Monkey Pox
- Build Back Better
- Transgender propaganda in children's hospital
- Sick video filmed in Orange hall?
- God's plan for human relationships
Click the link to do more research.
Acts-In-Replay: The "Baptism in the Holy Ghost?"
In this portion of a sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob looks at Acts 19:1-6, ...Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” ... Then Paul said, “John indeed baptised with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
So, when is a believer 'baptised in the Holy Ghost? At conversion, or at a later time?
When A Brother Sins Against You.
Table Talk from Ballymacashon, based on Matthew 18:15-17 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Since we are part of the body of Christ, and since we are imperfect sinners, and since it is God’s will that we associate with one another, how do you deal with a situation when a Christian brother or sister sins against you? I think this subject is extremely important - every Christian ought to consider it very carefully indeed.
Listen to find out what to do, following the specific instructions of Jesus.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 20B, Q53, The Work of the Holy Spirit
Q.53, What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit? A. First, he is, together with the Father and the Son, true and eternal God. Second, he is also given to me, to make me by true faith share in Christ and all his benefits, to comfort me, and to remain with me forever.
So, we have three easy statements about the WORK of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is GIVEN, as a GIFT to us, secondly, the Holy Spirit REGENERATES US, and thirdly, the Holy Spirit, ETERNALLY ABIDES with us. In this lesson, we’ll look at the first two of those, awakening, and regeneration, and then, in our next lesson, we’ll look at how the Holy Spirit is out downpayment of heaven, the ‘Ernest of our inheritance,’ how, we may obey the command to not grieve the Holy Spirit, and lastly we shall explore what the Scripture means by ‘the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.’
Music on licence from www.NeoSounds.com
Monday PrayerCast 30th May 2022
Our weekly 'News Awareness' episode, where we encourage Christians to wake up to what's happening around them, and so pray intelligently for the world. This week the programme covers,
Birdsong! (Yes, BIRDSONG!) - follow the link below if you can help identify some of our avian friends.
Abortion teaching in NI's Schools
Children killing children - the Texas school massacre
WEF, Klaus Schwab and his misanthropic buddies meet in Davos, and guess what? They are finding out about an app being developed by the Chinese that will trace your individual 'carbon footprint, where you go, what you do, what you eat and what you buy!' How exciting is that!
To follow-up on all these stories, visit THIS LINK
Courage after Persecution.
At Jerusalem Paul has been coaxed into a compromise that will bring him into disrepute and ruin his entire life’s work.
There’s not a lot of application in this section, but jet’s just do a little bit of historical work.
Paul is seized, not by the police, but by a lying lynch-mob of frenzied anti-Christian Jewish zealots. Listen to the sermon to find out what happened next...
Click THIS LINK TO READ THE NOTES.
Conversations: Recovering Pentecostals!
In this special episode Bob talks in-studio with another former pentecostal, Janet Clarke. Janet speaks about her personal journey away from experience based Christianity to the solid ground of the Reformation, and they discus what some Pentecostals believe about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the 'gifts of the Spirit' and how some pentecostals regard other believers.
This podcast won't be for everyone - and it will raise some serious questions, for Janet doesn't hold back!
But if you find it resonates with your own circumstances, it may be very helpful indeed!
Music on license from NeoSounds.com
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 20A Q53 - The PERSON of the Holy Spirit
Q.53, What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit? A. First, he is, together with the Father and the Son, true and eternal God. Second, he is also given to me, to make me by true faith share in Christ and all his benefits, to comfort me, and to remain with me forever.
The catechist asks us what we believe about the Holy Spirit, and he divides his answer into two parts, the PERSON of the Holy Spirit, and the WORK of the Holy Spirit. We shall follow that example, and we shall look in this episode of the podcast, at who the Holy Spirit is, and then in our next class, we’ll see what the Holy Spirit does.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Music on license from www.Neosounds.com
Psalm 139, 'Ayrshire' with grateful thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
3 My going out and lying down
are plain before your view.
4 Before I speak a word, O LORD,
it is well known to you.
5 You hem me in—behind, before;
you lay on me your hand.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful,
too high to understand.
7 Where can I from your Spirit flee
or from your presence go?
8 If to the heavens, you are there,
or in the depths below.
9 If I should take the wings of dawn
and dwell beyond the sea,
10 There also you would be my guide,
your right hand holding me.
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Monday PrayerCast 23rd May 2022
In this episode we look at
- Advertising Practices, - Lies depicted as reality.
- The Bank of England and Inflation.
- The W.H.O. Global Pandemic Treaty.
- Abortion Commissioning in NI
Poem, "Unto Us" by Mr S Milligan
Music on license from Neosounds.com
Find the NOTES here.
ACTS-IN-REPLAY: Paul's Puzzling Pragmatism!
Text: Acts 21:17-27, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Pragmatism. “Whatever works…”. It’s the message of the liberal churches, with their compromise to the prevailing culture of the modern age.
In Acts 21:17-18 Luke is with Paul in Jerusalem, Timothy too, and the representatives of the Gentile churches. They were welcomed, and the next day they met with the church leadership, James, and the elders. But look with me at what happened next...
Paul acts PRAGMATICALLY, and in a dramatic way, God stops it before it can destroy everything!
Read the NOTES here.
TableTalk: A Faithful Woman’s MinistryWhere Paul Defines Women’s Ministry in1 Timothy 2:11-15
The Bible has a very high view of womanhood Galatians 3:28,
Despite the attack of feminists and liberals, Paul was no misogynist. But, he insists, there is one single thing that a woman shouldn’t do. In this podcast we discover what that is, and why!
READ THE NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 19D, Q52 - From Whence He Shall Come!
One of the remarkable characteristics of the Heidelberg Catechism, a feature that marks it out from other doctrinal statements, is its emphasis on personal application. The doctrines of the faith are not some form of abstract construction, - not just a formal study of philosophical ideas… Christianity is, of course a religion of the head - our minds are renewed in Christ, but it is also, very much a religion of the heart. We are new creations in Christ - our old stoney hearts have been replaced with a new heart, a heart that longs for more fellowship with God, that cries out for that ultimate face to face encounter with the sinless One who brought us into God’s kingdom through his own personal sacrifice, his shed blood on Calvary’s cross. The Apostle’s Creed recognises this, when it adds, ‘…from whence He shall come, to judge the living and the dead.’ Our instructor seeks to understand this phrase, not in a cold objective way, but to apply it us, as Christian believers. He assumes that Christ’s coming will be a COMFORT to we who long to see Him.
Paul wrote in Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
Psalm 121:1-8, Tune: ‘French.’
1 I to the hills will lift mine eyes,
from whence doth come mine aid.
2 My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heav'n and earth hath made.
3 Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps.
4 Behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.
5 The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay:
6 The moon by night thee shall not smite,
nor yet the sun by day.
7 The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill.
8 Henceforth thy going out and in
God keep for ever will.
Music on licence from www.NeoSounds.com
Psalms with grateful thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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Monday PrayerCast 16th May 2022
It’s Monday morning, 16th May 2022, and this is our weekly News and Prayer Update from Northern Ireland, with a Christian worldview. In this episode we think about
- Local politics, the new Assembly of the Wicked at Stormont and the battles that lie ahead for those who cherish life.
- Finance, - and the difficulties faced by families as a result of hyper-inflation, with more of the same to come.
- Ukraine - The Pope - and ta recent UN debate, at which NO-ONE woke about the plight of the Ukrainian population,
- The Church of Scotland's future policy on same-sex weddings.
Read the notes HERE, - follow all the links for authenticity of these comments and reports, and do your won further research.
Check out www.GraceGems.org
www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Paul is Far from PerfectText: Acts 21:1-16
Paul was a sinner, like us. 1 Tim 1:15. So we don’t put Paul on any pedestal – even a little one – and the Bible never glorifies any man, even the great Apostle Paul. In this study, is Paul DISOBEYING THE WILL OF GOD?
Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 19C, Q.51
Our Defence
Welcome to our catechism class. In Lord’s Day 19, Q51, our catechist teaches us that we, as individual Christian believers, as members of the body of which Jesus is the head, benefit personally from the exaltation of Jesus at the Father’s right hand. We have already looked at the first of these, the benefit of spiritual gifts, and the second of these blessings is the protection we receive by his kingly might and power.
Our instructor teaches us in Lord’s Day 19 Q.51, How does the glory of Christ, our Head, benefit us? A. First, by his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly gifts upon us, his members. Second, by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies.
Read the NOTES HERE
Music on license from www.NeoSounds.com
Psalmody with thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Monday News and Prayer Update.
It’s Monday morning, 9th May 2022, and this week we’ve got a kind of a special edition, it's FOOD!
There’s two major food issues, present day logistics - in other words transportation costs and the availability of transport, that causing price-rises, - and future global and local food policies. So, let’s let’s take some time this morning to think about food, glorious food...
- The Government's Farm Retirement Scheme.
- Planned reduction in livestock herds in NI to meet Climate Targets.
- Worldwide food production and logistics problems.
Is there a coming famine, and if so, who should be planning for it? Is there a biblical precedent?
As this podcast is being recorded, votes are being counted in the local NI elections. More on that next week, DV.
Check out all these stories for yourself, on THIS LINK.
Paul’s Charge to the Ephesian EldersText: Acts 20:13-38 1 Timothy 3:1ff , 1
Paul is leaving Ephesus, never to return, and the elders will be responsible for the local church, and will answer to God for their stewardship of the people. So, who and what were these ‘elders’ and what was Paul saying to them about their role in the church?
Recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church.
Click this link to read the notes
Catechism Class: Lord’s Day 19B, Q.51 Spiritual Gifts
In Lord’s Day 19A, Q50 we looked at the meaning of Jesus being seated at the right hand of God the Father, glorified and exalted. In this heavenly position he represents us, as our Head - an assurance of our own heavenly inheritance, and he intercedes for us. But in Q51, our catechist teaches us that we, as individual Christian believers, as members of the body of which Jesus is the head, benefit personally from the exaltation of Jesus at the Father’s right hand. He specifically mentions two great blessings, the blessing and benefit of spiritual gifts, and secondly the blessing of his power and protection.
Both of these blessings are controversial in the contemporary visible church; spiritual gifts and spiritual warfare. And because of the controversy surrounding these blessings, and because it is so important that we understand what these blessings really are, we will deal with them in two separate lessons.
Here’s the words of our instructor in Lord’s Day Q.51, How does the glory of Christ, our Head, benefit us? A. First, by his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly gifts upon us, his members. Second, by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies.
Find the NOTES HERE.
Music on license from www.NeoSounds.com
Psalm 139 with thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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Monday PrayerCast 2nd May, 2022.
Our regular look at the news, from a Christian standpoint. This week we look at
- Catholic priests in NI speaking out about abortion.
- The Belfast marathon
- The 'Family sex Show' - Update.
This episode features a conversation with Rev Philip Campbell, Secretary of the Caleb Foundation, discussing the Belfast marathon, and Sunday Sports events in general.
Click this link to find out more!
Paul’s Pastoral IntegrityText: Acts 20:13-38
We’re looking at this passage in two parts, Paul’s INTEGRITY in ministry, and his INSTRUCTIONS to the church leaders.
Let’s think about his ministry, and his integrity, his honesty and sincerity.
This podcast sermon recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church.
read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: Lord's Day 19A Q50 The Glorified Christ
We are still, with the help of our instructor, working our way through the historic statement of Christian faith, known as ‘the Apostle’s Creed.’ The catechist includes it in section two of the catechism, - that section that deals with God’s Grace, his mercy directed to sinners, in saving them from their rebellion and sin, through the free gift of His Only Begotten Son, our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is all about Him, all about Christ, and what He has done for us. The Catechist exalts Him, and rightfully so, for we are taught in the scriptures that he is exalted, at the right hand of God the father.
So, we have reached Lord’s Day 19, and Q50 Why is it added, 'and sits at the right hand of God?' The answer we must give is: A. Christ ascended into heaven to manifest himself there as Head of his church, through whom the Father governs all things.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm 110:3-6, with grateful thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
3 When you display your power,
your people flock to you;
At dawn, arrayed in holiness,
your youth will come like dew.
4 Unchangeably the LORD
with solemn purpose swore:
“Just like Melchizedek you are
a priest for evermore.”
5 The Lord’s at your right hand;
there he will ever stay.
He on his day of wrath will crush
the kings who bar his way.
6 The nations he will judge;
the dead in heaps will lie.
The mighty of the earth he’ll crush—
all who his rule defy.
Podcast Music on licence from www.NeoSounds.com
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Monday PrayerCast 25th April 2022
It’s 25th April 2022, and this is the regular Monday PrayerCast here on the Semper Reformata Podcast, it’s our weekly News and Prayer Update from NI with a Christian perspective. We’ve a slightly different style of podcast for you today, - a pre-recorded interview with Callum Webster of the Christian Institute, and Callum is going to update us on some current issues, and give us some guidance on how to question those Assembly Election candidates when (or more likely 'IF') they knock your door.
Contact The Christian institute here
Feedback to Bob - CLICK THIS LINK.
Eutychus.Text: Acts 20:7-12. (1st Corinthians 11:18-34)This little passage is about a young man who fell asleep, and whose sleepiness is recorded for us in the bible, so that we can learn from it, and so that we can be encouraged, as the people at Troas were!
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In April 2022, I was invited to give at talk at Templepatrick Reformed Church, entitled, "The Gender Agenda: Gender Confusion, Transgenderism and the Christian Response." In this special episode of “The Prism” I’ve published the original live recording of the talk, with the permission of the church.
Have a listen, and if you’d like to make a comment, or a criticism, follow the link below, - there’s a reply section on the page.\
READ THE TRANSCRIPT OR COMMENT
Monday PrayerCast 18th April 2022
In this week's look at some of the news from a Christian perspective we consider:
- The on-going sexualisation of small children.
- The threat and danger of further COVID Lockdowns
- The authoritarian treatment of citizens in Shanghai, PRC
- Praying for Boris
- The Universal Basic Income - and our Local Election
Click the link to follow-up and research any of the stories in this week's podcast.
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Acts-In-Replay: A New Era. Acts 20:1-6
This section of text encompasses a period of well over a year, an eventful and fruitful year. It’s here to remind us that the Holy Spirit, who inspired Luke to write this history, has not chosen to reveal every event in the early church’s history. That does not mean that major events are not taking place. This is a whole new chapter in Paul’s ministry, for now he turns from a purely pioneer missionary, to a pastoral theologian, as he visits and cares for the new churches he had previously formed. Luke’s record changes too, for he records less pure history, and more of Paul’s words, his farewell to the Ephesian elders, his defence before the various secular courts, his account of his conversion. He will be arrested and imprisoned. This passage seems insignificant, but it is a transitional period in the history of the first church.
Recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church
To read the NOTES CLICK THIS LINK.
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Monday PrayerCast 11th April 2022
The regular news and prayer update from NI, - with a Christian worldview.
This week we look at
* Abortion - and how Belfast Trust 'Misled' the Stormont Assembly on 'protests.'
Belfast Bible College - announcing a new Principal - but is it a positive move for evangelicalism?*
* Transgenderism and the proposed Conversion TherapyBan - and we discover some post-Christian clerics, weighing in on the debate.
* The Northern Ireland Assembly Elections and the 'Universal Basic Income' experiment. Is it communism by another name?
Find all the links to these stories and more HERE.
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Acts-In-Replay: A Case for SERIOUS Christianity
Acts 19:23-41
This is a case study – a example of the need for serious Christianity. In this pagan age, mere nominal faith, or emotionally driven Christian experiences, simply won’t do. Real, serious Christianity is all that will prevail. I’ve been predicting this. There’s going to be a riot at Ephesus. Here in Ephesus, the riot is not instigated by the Jews as elsewhere, but by prominent members of the local Chamber of Commerce!
Read the NOTES HERE.
Catechism Class: LD18C Q49, Benefits of the Ascension Now we come to the application of the ascension of Christ, - the benefits that accrue to us, because of the ascension, and in Q49, we find that there are three of them.Q49. How does Christ's ascension into heaven benefit us? A. First, he is our Advocate in heaven before his Father. Second, we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, our Head, will also take us, his members, up to himself. Third, he sends us his Spirit as a counter-pledge, by whose power we seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth.To read the NOTES, CLICK HERE.Music licensed from www.NeoSounds.com
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Monday PrayerCast 4th April 2022
This week we talk about:
- The Oscars! And a bit o' hamely gumption frae Willie Drennan.
- Ukraine, where persecution of the evangelical churches has begun with the arrest of a pastor in Mariupol by the Russian Army.
- Abortion, and the move by the Precious Life organisation to seek judicial review of the 'Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill' under human rights provisions.
- LGBT Influence at Westminister, and the constant drip feed of LGBT propaganda on the Disney channels.
- The 'Don't Have Kids' movement, - a Malthusian cult, evangelising in cities across the USA - coming soon to a street near you.
Find links for all the stories HERE.
Don't forget to visit www.GraceGems.org
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Acts-In-Replay: A Tale of Two Visits. Acts 19:21-22
Rome, Jerusalem, and Congregational Churches!
Text: Acts 19:21-22, 2 Corinthians 9.Here’s a little passage of text that I almost missed! It seem that while Paul was ministering to the local church in the city of Ephesus, his mind and heart were brimming with pastoral concern for the Body of Christ throughout the world.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD18, Q47-48, Where is Jesus Now?
The fact that Jesus ascended into heaven may prompt some to ask, “Where is Jesus, right now? Our catechist deals with this important question in Q47. Is Christ, then, not with us until the end of the world, as he has promised us? A. Christ is true man and true God. With respect to his human nature he is no longer on earth, but with respect to his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is never absent from us.
You can understand why our instructor puts this question to us, for Jesus promised his disciples that he would never leave them, never forsake them, that he would actually stay with them, not just for a few short years, but right until this present age ends. Yet he certainly did leave them, that day when he ascended onto heaven. Compare Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. with Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
So, is Jesus not with us to the end of the world? If he is, in what sense?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Music on the podcast licensed from www.Neosounds.com
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Monday PrayerCast 28th March 2022
Take 10 minutes to pray for Northern Ireland and more. This week we look at:-
The passing of the 'Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill in the NI Assembly.
See how YOUR MLA VOTED HERE.
Sec of State, Brandon Lewis wants to extend abortion provision in NI.
Remembering 'Baby Carrie' - murdered 20 years ago.
Punishment Beatings in Ukraine.
Find inspirational quotes from the puritans etc on www.GraceGems/org
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Acts-In-Replay: Darkness Defeated. Acts 19:13-20.Paul is at Ephesus, and his ministry has been greatly blessed. Acts 19:11 But in Ephesus, FALSE RELIGION was big business! To illustrate that, Luke now tells us about the strange incident of the Seven Sons of Sceva.Read the NOTES HERE.
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What’s Beneath the Surface?
Malthusianism, Population Alarmism and Cultural/Moral Changes
Welcome to this special episode of the podcast. It was recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church on Friday 18th March 2022, so there may be a few ‘umms’ and ‘ahhhhs’ throughout it!
For a while I’ve been intrigued and alarmed by the pace of change in our world. I’m sure others too, are finding it hard to keep up with some of the strange things that are happening - things that were never heard of, just a decade or so ago. I’ve been wondering where there might be a dominant philosophy driving the agendas for change, and after some simple research I came across something called Malthusianism - We might call it Population Alarmism. It’s that philosophy that I’m introducing in this address, and looking also at the biblical response. Sit back, make yourself comfortable, grab a coffee, wear comfy slippers - this talk lasts around an hour!
I’ve called it, “What’s Beneath the Surface” and I think YOU might just find it interesting!
Read the NOTES HERE:
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Catechism Class: LD18A Q46 The Ascension
"What do you confess when you say, he ascended into heaven? That Christ, before the eyes of his disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven, and that he is there for our benefit until he comes again to judge the living and the dead."
Our objective in this episode is to introduce the doctrine of the ascension of Christ. Then, in our next two lessons, we will go further, and see the theology of the ascension, and look at its implications for modern believers - the application.
Read the NOTES HERE
Psalm 24 sung to "St George's Edinburgh" - courtesy of www.ThePsalmsSung.org
SRP Theme, "In Another Time" licensed from www.NeoSounds.com
The short Monday News and Prayer Update from Northern Ireland,
This week we're talking about:
Ukraine,
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill in the NI Assembly
The House of Lords, Assisted Suicide Amendment
The USA, where Joe Biden insulted the Irish for St Patrick's Day, and where a man has won a national women's swimming competition.
Check out the NOTES HERE
And find more devotionals on www.GraceGems.org
Acts-In-Replay: Separation and DedicationText: Acts 19:8-12When Luke records Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, he does so in four vignettes of conflict. Those 12 disciples comprised the first of those cameos, – Paul’s conflict with error, and now we have the second of those, his conflict with the synagogue. The third is a conflict with pagan necromancers, and the fourth with those who made a living from false religion. Let’s return now to conflict two, that eventual and inevitable move from the synagogue to the lecture hall.
A sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church
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St Patrick's Day Reprise
It's Wednesday 16th March, and tomorrow is St Patrick's Day, when the world turns green for 'Oirland'. Meanwhile, those of us who actually live on this island look on with bemusement!
Last year, I published two podcast episodes around Sat Patrick's Day, one looking at Patrick himself, and one looking at another famous Irishman, Arthur Guinness. This year, I've combined them into one 'Replay' podcast, for you to listen, as you celebrate all things Irish, wherever you are in the world.
Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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LD17E Q45 The Benefits of Christ's Resurrection
In this podcast, we want to complete out studies on the Resurrection of Christ, in LD17, Q45. Lord's Day 17 How does Christ's resurrection benefit us? A. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he could make us share in the righteousness which he had obtained for us by his death. Second, by his power we too are raised up to a new life. Third, Christ's resurrection is to us a sure pledge of our glorious resurrection.
We have been very careful to stress the historicity of the resurrection event. It happened, on a particular day in a certain place, and was witnessed by many many people. It was an event that changed lives. Those early disciples who witnessed the empty tomb, and who met the risen Saviour, and who touched his hands and his side, were transformed into apostles, ambassadors for Christ who spread the good news that He is Risen, and changed the world. That generation of first believers has long gone, but the message of the gospel is still being preached, and the resurrection of Jesus still matters, for it is still having an effect on our lives today. It is an objective HISTORICAL EVENT, that has subjective, PERSONAL EFFECTS in the lives of believers today.
To read the NOTES CLICK THIS LINK.
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Monday News/Prayer Update 14th March 2022
This week please pray for:
-
The NI Assembly, as they debate the Abortion Services (Safe Spaces) Bill which will criminalise Christians offering help and prayer to pregnant mothers outside abortion clinics.
-
Parliament in Westminister, debating the 'Online Safety Bill' which will have the effect of censoring biblical beliefs and worldview.
-
Ukraine, for those who are fleeing the conflict, for aid to be properly directed, for peace.
Listen to the end for some announcements!
Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE.
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Oneness Pentecostalism.Text: Acts 19:1-7.Preaching at TRC, Bob goes off on a whole tirade about 'Oneness Pentecostalism' and, uncharacteristically, even actually ends up making some reasonably relevant points! He includes a section on why he would NOT rebaptise Catholics who had come to Christ, but yet he WOULD rebaptise people who have been baptised, "In the Beautiful Name of Jesus..." Don't miss this one - listen and make up your own mind!
Recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Co.Antrim.
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Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 17D, Q.45.
The Reasons for the Resurrection
We are still examining the important doctrine, that is the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we have considered the extent of that importance, why we cannot neglect this important belief, we have rehearsed the classic proofs of the resurrection; we have seen how Christ rose, and why he rose on the third day. Now Ursinus himself, in his commentary on the catechism, wants us to think about the PURPOSE of his resurrection, to ask WHY? Why did he rise again?
In the catechism, our instructor simply deals with the blessings that accrue to us from the resurrection of Jesus, when he asks in Q17 How does Christ's resurrection benefit us? A. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he could make us share in the righteousness which he had obtained for us by his death. Second, by his power we too are raised up to a new life. Third, Christ's resurrection is to us a sure pledge of our glorious resurrection. Now, we will get there - in our next lesson, but first let’s look at the underlying reasons, and ask, "WHY did Christ rise from the dead?"
To read the NOTES, CLICK HERE.
Music on license from www.NeoSounds.com
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PLEASE HELP LOCAL CHRISTIANS TO AID UKRAINIAN REFUGEESIn Eastern Europe, right now, hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing from the conflict in Ukraine. Tell Romania, the ministry of Dr and Mrs Hamilton Moore have been co-ordinating funds to directly help those who are waiting at the border crossings to Romania, with the help of local Christians, providing food, medicine, clothes and bedding. Can you help? Any amount, large or small will help. Please go to Facebook and search for TELL ROMANIA, and get in touch - leave a message - or contact me at Bob@BobMcEvoy.co.uk.Thank you for giving and praying for those in need.
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Acts-In-Replay: Leaving – Corinth, Ephesus and AntiochActs 18:18–23 and Numbers 6:1-21Paul has been in Corinth now for around 18 months. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while. But the time has come for him to leave. and then took his leave of the brethren. He leaves behind him a thriving church! With his departure from Corinth, and his journey back to Antioch, Paul’s second missionary journey will come to an end, and a new, third trip will begin.
Read the NOTES HERE.
TableTalk: Lies, Lying and Liars
Lying is a common vice, and sadly most people think little of it. Yet the Ninth Commandment strictly forbids lying. Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. People may think a lie is of no consequence, but God takes lies seriously, for lying is an indication of our human sinfulness. How seriously? God must punish unrepentant sinners. Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
So, it must be important for us to look at the subject of lies, liars and lying!
Read the NOTES HERE
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Catechism Class: LD17C Q45 The Manner of Christ's Resurrection
We are learning about the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, a vitally important Christian doctrine. In this class we shall briefly consider the MANNER of his resurrection, under four headings:-
-
That when he rose, his body and soul were reunited.
-
That he rose as the same person, as he had been before his death.
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That he raised himself from the dead (a point stressed by Zacharius Ursinus in his own commentary on the catechism), thus demonstrating the unity in purpose and work, of the triune Godhead,
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That he rose on the third day for two reasons, firstly, so that prophecy would be perfectly fulfilled, and so that his body would not see corruption. Thus his messiahship is confirmed and endorsed by the Father, in the resurrection.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Podcast music, licensed from www.Neosounds.com
SRP Theme "In Another Time" by Roland Rudzitis
"Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" Instrumental by David Flavin
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God Keeps His Promises
Text: Acts 18:9–23
Paul is in Corinth and what happens next teaches us a very simple but important lesson. That God always keeps his promises, sometimes does so through the most unexpected agencies, and always to bring about His glory, and His will.
Sermon, preached live at Templepatrick Reformed Church.
To read the notes CLICK HERE.
https://saltyscrivener.uk/2021/04/06/god-keeps-his-promises-acts-189ff/
LECTURE - Covid Fear Vs Christian Faith
This talk is about fear - and perhaps, for Christians, about ‘fearlessness.’ We begin with some very wise words - from the One who created mankind, and who holds all our lives in his hands. Our Creator and the only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 12:4-7 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
For two years, whole nations have been paralysed with fear - fear of illness and death. But if our lives are in God's hands, what have we to fear? In this podcast, a live address given at Templepatrick Reformed Church, on 18th February 2022, we take a retrospective look at the Covid Pandemic, and the UK Government's response, the tactics used to control the population, and their effects. We suggest that we should not fear an illness, or a government's threats, - they can only hurt us in this life. We should fear the Lord, the One who can cast both body and soul into Hell, - FOREVER.
Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE.
Podcast episode audio with thanks to Templepatrick Reformed Church.
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Catechism Class: LD17B Q45 Many Infallible Proofs
In this class, we continue to prepare ourselves to consider question 45 in the Heidelberg Catechism. In his commentary on this Lord’s Day, Ursinus chooses to spend time establishing the historical factuality of the Resurrection of Jesus, before taking up the points made in the catechism itself, dealing with how the resurrection affects, impacts and blesses the believer. The catechism assumes we will already be assured of the importance and historicity of the event itself. We are following his example. In our last podcast, we looked at why a firm and confident belief in the Risen Saviour is essential, for our proclamation of the gospel, for our personal religion and for our eternal hope. So we need proof. We need to know that Jesus rose from the dead - for sure. Without any doubt. So let’s spend this episode reminding ourselves of the classic proofs of the resurrection. It’s a longer than usual episode, for I want to bring you as much biblical text as I can in a short podcast, and because of that, I’m splitting it into two parts. The online podcast will have a musical interlude.
So let’s see what Luke means in Acts 1:3, when he wrote, to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs…
What WERE those infallible proofs?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Music: Psalm 13 courtesy of and with thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
SRP Theme: "In Another Time" licensed from www.NeoSounds.com
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Acts-In-Replay: State of Mind Vs Peace of Mind. Acts 18:1-12
In this sermon, recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and used with permission, we will think about Paul's ministry and do an assessment of his Christian work so far. We will look at Paul’s own situation, from a human level, then see how God intervened to help, in times of need, in oder to help us to remember God’s lovingkindness for us too, when our own lives seem fraught with difficulties.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Lecture: "If Christ Died for Me, Why Must I Also Die?"
This podcast is a LECTURE, given at Templepatrick Reformed Church in January 2022, and reproduced here with the permission of the church. Based on Lord's Day 16 of the Heidelberg Catechism, it discusses the Death of Christ on the Cross and contrasts the death of an unbeliever with that of a Christian.
This lecture will compliment the Catechism Classes on Lord's Day 16.
To Read Notes on this Topic CLICK THIS LINK.
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Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 17A, Q45. The Importance of the Resurrection
READ: 1st Corinthians 15:13-20
In this podcast we are asking the question, - “Why is belief in a historical, factual bodily resurrection of Christ such an indispensable part of our Christian faith and life?” In that passage from 1st Corinthians, Paul gets right to the core of the issue. You cannot be a Christian, without a firm and convinced belief that we have a risen Saviour, who lives, eternally, and is seated in heavenly places. Paul begins his corrective teaching for the Corinthians, who misunderstood the nature of resurrection, by establishing the factual reality of the actual and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Corinthians (or some of them) had denied the bodily resurrection of the dead at the last day, and in doing so (perhaps unwittingly) they in effect denied the literal resurrection of Christ, which they professed to believe. To do so, as we see in this passage will lead to terrible error.
So, let's look at some of the results of this foolish acceptance of false belief:-
To Read the NOTES CLICK HERE.
Psalm 16:8-11
8 Before me constantly
I set the LORD alone.
Because he is at my right hand
I’ll not be overthrown.
9 Therefore my heart is glad;
my tongue with joy will sing.
My body too will rest secure
in hope unwavering.
10 For you will not allow
my soul in death to stay,
Nor will you leave your Holy One
to see the tomb’s decay.
11 You have made known to me
the path of life divine.
Bliss shall I know at your right hand;
joy from your face will shine.
(Psalm courtesy of www.ThePsalmsSung.org)
Podcast Music: www.neosounds.com
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Paul’s Address on Mars Hill #3 THE CALL TO REPENT
Text: Acts 17:29-34Paul has been preaching to the learned men of the Areopagus in Athens. Paul’s mission, of course is not to excite their interest with some new philosophy, it is to win them for Christ, and he must make a gospel application.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD16 Q44 'He Descended Into Hell?'
In this episode we will be looking at Lord’s Day 16, Q44, where our instructor is still dealing with the Christological clauses and statements of the Apostle’s Creed. He asks us, in Q.44 Why is there added: He descended into hell? The answer we must give is, “In my greatest sorrows and temptations I may be assured and comforted that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his unspeakable anguish, pain, terror, and agony, which he endured throughout all his sufferings but especially on the cross, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.”
Jesus has suffered my hell for me, both in his life, and especially when upon the cross. At the cross, as God poured out upon Him, my deserved punishment, and the punishment for the sins of the whole world, he descended into the depths of hell, for me! That’s what we are going to consider.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Podcast Music: Psalm 22 courtesy of "www.ThePsalmsSung.org"
SRP Theme - "In Another Time."
Acts-In-Replay: Mars Hill #2 The Doctrine of Man
Having taught the Athenian philosophers the doctrine of God, he teaches about the doctrine of man. We are all the children of one single set of parents, we are all related, we are all equal before God – sinners who need salvation.
Read the NOTES HERE.
This podcast contains a sermon., delivered at Templepatrick reformed Church, and released on this platform with permission.
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Lord’s Day 16, Q.42. To Die is Gain!
Q42. “Since, then, Christ died for us, why must we also die?” The answer we must give is, “Our death is not a satisfaction for our sin, but only a dying to sin and an entering into eternal life.”
Our instructor wants to know why, if Christ has taken our death, Christians themselves must also physically die. It's a logical and completely fair question. After all, Jesus himself told us in: John 11:25-26 … he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Paul gives us another angle on this in Philippians, where he gives the Christian’s death a PURPOSE all of its own. He tells us that TO DIE IS GAIN! How can this be? In this double length episode, we explore the issue.
Contains Psalm 23 and Psalm 17, from ’Sing Psalms’
Psalm 17:8 & 15.
8 In shadow of your wings hide me in times of strife; And as the apple of your eye preserve and guard my life.
15 But I in righteousness your face will surely see; And with your likeness, when I wake, I satisfied will be.
Find the NOTES here.
Podcast Music.
Psalm extracts- Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
Podcast Music on license from www.NeoSounds.com
SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Acts-In-Replay: Paul’s Address on Mars Hill #1 THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
Text: Acts 17:24-25 and Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 9
Paul’s sermon to the Athenians continues, Paul begins to address their condition, and to explain in detail about the God whom the Athenians don’t know…
(Sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church)
READ THE NOTES HERE.
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Lords Day 16C, Q43. For me to live is Christ!
We have been looking at Lord’s Day 16, in the Heidelberg Catechism. Let’s move on now to think about how we, as believers, face the inevitable, the end of this physical life, and the certainty that one day we will die. It’s the situation that Paul was in when he wrote his letter to the Philippians, and declared, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In this podcast we concentrate on the first clause - “For me to live…” What will you be thinking about on YOUR death bed? Will your thoughts be occupied with Christ, or regrets that the life you enjoyed will soon be over? Our catechist asks, Q.43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross? The answer is: That by His power our old man is with Him crucified, slain, and buried; so that the evil lusts of the flesh may no more reign in us, but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
We call that ‘sanctification’ - living for Jesus, as long as this life lasts, prepared at any time to leave this earth, and go to be with him forever.
To READ THE NOTES CLICK THIS LINK.
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Psalm extracts- Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
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SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Acts-In-Replay: The Unknown God. Acts 17:14-21
The Greeks at Athens had heard Paul speaking about Jesus and the Resurrection. We know that everywhere he went Paul preached about the Cross, about Jesus who died and rose again from the dead for all our sins. His message never varied. Read, 1 Corinthians 1:23-25, 1 Corinthians 2:2 So now he is standing in front of the most exclusive court in the ancient world. Let’s look at his opening remarks, his assessment of the religious disposition of the people of Athens. This is an important step in coming to an understanding of the masterful and uncompromising, and yet carefully contextualised gospel message that Paul will preach to these high ranking citizens.
Read the NOTES HERE.
TableTalk: Personhood, Abortion and the Human Right to Life
When does PERSONHOOD begin? When can we say that what is growing in a woman's womb is a human person? At conception? At birth? At 20 weeks gestation? It’s important because a ‘PERSON’ has certain inalienable rights, including the right to life. Being a PERSON is very important indeed. So, when does ‘PERSONHOOD’ begin in the Biblical, Christian worldview? Can a woman who has had an abortion ever be forgiven?
What does the Bible say?
Click this LINK TO READ THE NOTES.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 16B Q40-41 Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
In our last catechism class, we began to look at Lord’s Day 16, Q40 which asks us why it was necessary for Christ to suffer death. Heidelberg Catechism Q.40. Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer "death?" Because the justice and truth of God required that satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.In the believer, the attitude that the world has about death and dying is turned on its head. Jesus has changed everything, in his atoning death for us on the cross.
In this episode we will explore why God's perfect righteousness could not be satisfied in any other way, and then we'll look at the proofs that Jesus actually physically died on the cross.
To read the NOTES CLICK HERE.
Psalm 13 - Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
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Acts In Replay: Paul at Athens.
Text: Acts 17:14-21
Paul is now at Athens, alone. What will he find there? Athens was a haughty city, with a hopeless confusion of Greek paganism and immorality. While waiting for the rest of his party to arrive from Berea, Paul wanders through the city and sees some of the 10,000 or so pagan idols. he goes into the Agora, and begins to talk about Jesus, and soon is invited to address the really clever people - the members of the Areopagus. What will they think, when he tells them about Jesus and the resurrection?
Read the NOTES HERE.
This recording is a sermon, preached live at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and used on this platform, with their permission.
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Govt. Authoritarianism & The Church in Scotland 1662-1679
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
It's a history podcast - with lessons for today. It's about the progress of history in Scotland from 1662 to 1679, but it has faint echoes today, and it may have great relevance in the future. In March 2021 a group of church leaders in Scotland legally challenged the Scottish government in the Court of Session, claiming that the Covid restrictions that had been imposed on churches were a breach of their freedom of religion. Churches had been ordered to close, to space out their seating areas, to restrict their numbers, to stop singing, to meet outdoors, to make their people hide their faces behind masks… But government interference in the affairs of God’s kingdom in the British Isles, ordering churches to deliberately disobey the precepts set out in God’s Word is not entirely unprecedented. In this history podcast we are travelling back in time to the seventeenth century, when the government expelled from the churches, all those ministers who would not conform to their punitive decrees, and began a quarter century of persecution for the Lord's people...
To read the TRANSCRIPT, CLICK HERE.
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Psalm 124, with thanks to Conor Quigley www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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Catechism Class: LD16A Q40, The Burial of Death
We’re back after our short winter break, and our catechism class today begins a section that is the culmination of all that we learned in Lord’s Day 15, when we talked about the suffering of Christ. We learned then about the extent of the suffering of Christ and about the duration, the length of that suffering. We explored the issue of whether Christ died in both natures, - that is, whether God died on the Cross, and we looked a little at the man called Pontius Pilate, the cowardly judge who condemned Christ to die, and finally we saw that on the cross Jesus died to bear the curse of our sin. With all that said, our catechist remains on the subject of the death of Christ in Q40. He asks, Q40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death? Because of the justice and truth of God satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.
So, why DID Jesus have to DIE? Would it not have been enough for the eternal Son of God to just have come into this world and set us a really good example of how God expects us to live? Why must he die? After all, it’s lovely to think about a baby in a manger, but who wants to think about that same child, 33 years later, dying an agonising death on a cross, never mind think that it was my fault it happened. So, let’s begin our look at LD16 by setting the scene, looking at some current attitudes to dying and death. Let’s call it, “Mankind’s Burial of Death.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm extracts- Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
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Acts-In-Replay: Being a Berean!
The Berean Christians are famous for the fact that when Paul preached, they searched the scriptures to find out whether the matters that he was teaching were actually in accordance with what is clearly taught in the Scriptures. Perhaps this is why:- 11 ‘These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica.‘We are often told that we too should be like the Bereans, that we should not take for granted that what a preacher in church is saying, but that we should go over his sermons, look up all the references and check everything out. So how do we do that in a society where Bible knowledge generally is at a very low ebb in society, and, I think, in large sections of the visible church. Do we not need to copy the preaching methods of the early church? Of Paul himself?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm 119 Part 13 (Tune: Contemplation) With thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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The Prism: Should a Christian be a Member of a Church?
Most evangelicals believe that membership of a local church is a proper course of action for eery believer, so that we are part of a local congregation. We should subject ourselves under the leadership of local elders to be watched over and cared for by them, as a part of a local, organic body. Similarly, most evangelicals will argue that the Bible knows nothing of solitary Christians – they are a contradiction, for becoming a Christian brings us into the body of Christ, which is expressed in the union of local bodies of believers. But is this essential?
In this lecture, delivered at Templepatrick Reformed Church in February 2020, we look at the arguments for and against church membership, and ask the really important question, "What if I don't fit in?"
Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE.
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Sermon: "Mary - The Lord's Handmaiden"
A sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church on Lord's Day 26th December 2021.
Read the notes HERE.
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The Gift!
Luke roots the birth of Jesus in history, when he tells us exactly when it happened, ‘And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)’ Luke 2:1-4. So while we don’t have any church Christmas Tree, or candles or any of the worldly trappings of the season - and, as you probably already know, we certainly don’t have a Santa - we do have something really important to celebrate, - the fact with when Jesus came into this world he came to bring us LIFE!
Please give me just 15 minutes of your time on this busy, happy family day - to remember that THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE!
Happy Christmas from The Semper Reformata Podcast!
Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE.
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"O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Jonathan Geer.
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Table Talk: Talking HONESTLY about SANTA.
Santa is an amalgam. A flux of personalities and legends, from church history, from pagan religions and maybe even from clever marketing strategies, and from the fertile mind of an American poet, – ’Twas the night before Christmas” was published in a book by CC Moore in 1844. But, if it’s only a myth, what’s the harm? What harm will it do to give the kids a little bit of magic and sparkle once a year? After all, we tell them fairy stories about Hansel and Gretel, the ‘Cow Jumped Over the Moon’ etc etc.
But Santa is an insidious and evil myth. There’s two reasons why; firstly, that Santa the Myth presents himself as a counterfeit of God, and secondly, that what we teach our kids about Santa is suspiciously like a religion.
Listen to the Podcast, and let's think HONESTLY about what we are telling our children.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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TableTalk: What Does the Bible Say About Eating and Food!Text. Daniel 1:8-13In this episode of Table-Talk we are going to get to the very heart of what a table is for! FOOD! How good would it be if our table today was covered in the finest of cuisine, and we were all invited to tuck in! But why would we be interested in getting some biblical perspective on food, and eating?
Whatever we do, we must do it to the glory of God.
To Read the NOTES, CLICK THIS LINK.
https://saltyscrivener.uk/2021/12/16/the-christian-and-food/
Music:
Psalm 65 with thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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Acts-In-Replay: Thessalonica Upside Down!Acts 17:1-9 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews
Paul and Silas and Timothy are at Thessalonica. They have been to the Synagogue, three Sabbaths in a row, and they have been teaching from the Scriptures at Sabbath worship, and when Paul speaks he aways points to Christ, the Messiah, who died and rose again. So effective was his reasoning, his explaining and demonstrating, so persuasive was his passion for the gospel, that some of the Jews were converted, a lot of the Gentile God-fearers who came to the Jewish services, and quite a few of the aristocratic women. But no matter where Paul preaches, his message is divides people into two different groups. The gospel is always thus, for it divides society down the middle, into the saved and the lost, the only two types of people that there are. Jesus warned about this. Matthew 10:34 In Thessalonica the divide is not only obvious, but it is violent.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD15 Q39 The Curse of Sin
We have been looking at Lord’s Day 15, Q39, and we have been dwelling upon this Lord’s Day for quite a few weeks. But there’s a reason for that. It’s concerned with the suffering of Christ - and all our Christian faith and doctrine and our hope for eternity centres of that suffering and death. Jesus died for sinners, and specifically, he died on a cross. That’s what this lesson is about. Why a cross, and not some other, less brutal means of execution? The Catechism will explain this for us, and it talks about the cross assures us that the great curse of sin has been taken from us by Christ.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm 32, courtesy of www.The PsalmsSung.org
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SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Paul’s Mission at Thessalonica Begins
Paul and Silas and Timothy have left Philippi following the shameful events there, in which Paul and Silas were arrested, humiliated, beaten and imprisoned without trial, and they have travelled down through Macedonia to the town of Thessalonica. He later recalls this in 1st Thessalonians 2:1-2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
He is still BOLD in God to bring the message of the gospel.
Read the NOTES HERE
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LORD'S DAY 15, Q38 Pontius Pilate - the Cowardly Judge
We have been looking at Lord’s Day 15, and now we arrive at Q38, - Q.38 Why did he suffer under Pontius Pilate as judge? Though innocent, Christ was condemned by an earthly judge, and so he freed us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.
Our instructor is leading us to the cross. In our last lesson I tried to impress upon you that the cross of Christ was THE singular most important event in the history of mankind, - for at the Cross, God the creator gave his only begotten Son, to die - to take upon himself all the guilt, sin, punishment and wrath that was due to us - God’s rebellious creatures. He died willingly, and without hesitation. Every sin, ever committed by a sinner was paid for, at the cross. His death is enough. Nothing needs to be added to that perfect sacrifice.
But now we are confronted with a question that might almost seem, at first glance, like a distraction. We are asked, “Why did he suffer UNDER PONTIUS PILATE?” Why indeed! And why is it so important for us to know the reason?
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm extracts- Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
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SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Acts-In-Replay: "The Aftermath" Acts 16:35-38The mission at Philippi is concluded for now. A new day has dawned. When we left the apostles in our last study, they were at the Prison Officer’s home. Acts 16:34 But the following morning finds them back at the prison. The disciples and the prisoners hadn’t run away when the prison doors were opened, for their confidence was in the Lord. Now, what will the new day bring for them?
There’s a very simple sequence of events in Acts 16:35-38
Read the NOTES HERE: https://saltyscrivener.uk/2021/01/12/the-aftermath-acts-1635-38/
LORD'S DAY 15, Q37 The Cross Changes EVERYTHING
What did the Suffering and Death of Christ Achieve?
This is our final look, at least in this season, at Q37. It’s such an important matter, that I’ve spent quite a considerable time on it, for it relates to the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, who bore, in his body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race; in order that by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice, he might… NOW, that’s where we are right now, what is the RESULT of Christ’s suffering? What did it achieve, that death on the cross, that suffering under Pontius Pilate?
Find the NOTES HERE.
PSALM 103 courtesy of Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Acts-In-Replay: "Praise, Panic, Prayer. Acts 16:25-34
What must I do to be saved?” The prison officer’s question has been written in the minds of thousands of people, and I’ve no doubt has been instrumental in awakening people to their need of salvation. So, it is our responsibility to read the passage, in context, and with a correct understanding of the work of God in salvation and the correct response of men and women to that work of God.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Podcast Music.
Psalm extracts- Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
Podcast Music on license from www.NeoSounds.com
SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Lord’s Day 15, Q37, WHO DIED?
When Christ suffered, did he suffer in BOTH natures, - in other words, when Jesus died at the cross, did God die? There is an old hymn, written by Charles Wesley, that is still sung in many churches, "And Can it Be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour’s blood?" contains a line that asks a question: “Amazing Love, how can it be, that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?" Jesus is fully God, but can we then conclude from that, that GOD died on the cross? That’s what we explore in this episode of the Podcast.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Prism: "NI, Covid Passports and the Free Offer of the Gospel.
Joining other countries around the globe, Northern Ireland is to have Covid Passports. On Thursday a high ranking medical official publicly called for this measure to be extended to churches. How will the churches respond? Is there a Biblical issue here? In this podcast, Bob McEvoy will note that
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Covid passes segregate society into two classes, the vaccinated and the unvaccinated - right a time when we need LESS division, not more,
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The government does not have the right to place you in the position that you MUST have medical intervention in order to enjoy a normal life. Your responsibility for bodily integrity is a matter between you, and the God who created you and redeemed your body, and who by his Holy Spirit, indwells the believer. We are to GLORIFY God in our bodies.
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Covid Passes are - statistically, pointless. We have empirical evidence from other countries.
And to refuse entry to a church, on the basis of their 'vaccination status' and thus prevent them from hearing the Gospel of Eternal Life in Christ is something that must bring the churches into direct conflict with the authorities... Right?
CLICK TO READ A TRANSCRIPT
More on this topic: CLICK for: Covid Fear and the Biblical Remedy
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SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Acts-In-Replay: Christ Heals Broken People. Acts 16:16-24
We are all broken people. The next person we encounter in the narrative is certainly broken; a mentally ill slave girl, and the contrast with Lydia couldn’t be more stark. But this incident teaches us a very important truth, that Jesus saves people no matter what their social status, their monetary value or their influence in society. Let’s think clearly about this incident.
Read the NOTES here.
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TableTalk: What Does the Bible Teach About Angels?
READ. Psalm 8:4-5
When ‘good’ people die, do they become angels? In this New Age, there is an unhealthy interest in angels. There are people who think that when a person dies, they become an angel. You’ll hear them expressing sentiments like, “Fly high, now you’ve got your wings…”.
BUT what does the Bible say?
Read the notes here...
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Catechism Class: LD15, Q37 The DURATION of Christ's Suffering
Lord's Day 15, Q37. What do you understand by the word “suffered?” That all the time He lived on earth, but especially at the end of His life, He bore, in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race; in order that by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice, He might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the grace of God, righteousness, and eternal life.
The catechist’s reply to his question raises some important issues for us, about the DURATION of Christ’s suffering. When we think about Christ’s suffering, we rightly focus on and point to the cross, where our Saviour truly suffered and died - for sinners like you and me. The Catechist helps us to put a totally different perspective on this when he tells us that ALL the time that he lived on earth, (including his birth) he was suffering for us.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Psalm extracts- Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
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SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Echoes of Remembrance (Recorded Live) from The Old Reformed Church at Ballymacashon, Killinchy, Co.Down.
In this special, bonus podcast, I've made available some of the moments of remembrance from Ballymacashon Church, on this Remembrance Sunday, 14th November 2021. There's no incidental music, or audio editing - just extracts from a very moving service, where we gave thanks to Almighty God, for delivering us from the hands of tyranny and dictatorship, and for the men and women who protected us, in the Ulster Defence Regiment, the Royal Irish Rifles, the Ulster Special Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
The audio is poorer quality that usual, due to the live recording.
Lydia - the First Convert in Europe
Have you heard the saying, “From small acorns, great oaks grow.” Think of the size and influence of the Christian Church in Europe, over the past 2,000 years. Our whole society here in Europe is built upon Christian influences. Just reflect on the fact that all those centuries of Christian witness, so many millions of souls saved by grace, all began with one woman, who decided to go to a river in Greece, and meet with some friends, to seek the God whom she knew as the Creator of the visible world, the God who had revealed himself to people called Jews. That set of circumstances was the acorn, from which the great oak grew!
Read the NOTES HERE
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TableTalk: What Does the Bible Say About the Paranormal?
There is a huge interest in ‘the afterlife’ and ‘the paranormal’ among the people of this world. Jesus said that ‘…men love darkness, rather than light, because their deeds are evil.’ In this podcast we look at what the Bible has to say about Ghosts, mediums, seances, contacting the dead, spiritualists - the Paranormal in general. Listen to the Podcast, and work through the notes at this link:
ACCESS THE NOTES HERE.
Podcast Music.
Psalm extracts (When used) - Thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.Org
Podcast Music on license from www.NeoSounds.com
SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Catechism Class LORD'S DAY 15 Q37
The Extent of the Atonement.
We are looking at Lord’s Day 15, which is an examination of the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed that reads, “Suffered under Pontius Pilot.” We are going to divide this catechism question into several parts, over several lessons. In this lesson, we will ask one of the most important questions of all, a question that has divided opinion among evangelicals for generations. For whom did Christ die? Or, to put it better, “What is the extent of the atonement?”
Our catechist asks us: What do you understand by the word “suffered?” The answer we must give in reply is, That all the time He lived on earth, but especially at the end of His life, He bore, in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race in order that by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice, He might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the grace of God, righteousness, and eternal life.
Psalm 107:10-16. Tune: Morven:
10 Some sat in darkness and in gloom, in chains of iron held; 11 They scorned the ways of God Most High, against his words rebelled
12 And so he made them labour hard in bitterness and shame. They stumbled, and they could not rise; to help them no one came.
13 Then to the LORD they cried for help; he saved them from their doom. 14 He broke away their cruel chains and brought them out of gloom.
15 So let them thank him for his love, the deeds which he achieves— 16 Because he breaks down gates of bronze and iron bars he cleaves.
This topic is difficult! If you haven’t followed it all, please don’t despair. Read the transcript, and check out all the Bible verses - and more! Find the Transcript HERE.
Psalm 107 with grateful thanks to Conner Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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SRP Theme, “In Another Time” by Roland Rudzitis
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Acts-In-Replay: The Macedonian Call
Paul, Silas and Timothy are travelling through Asia Minor, making their way through the Roman provinces of Galatia and Phrygia. Then a decision needs to be made, Would they turn left, and go into the small Roman province of Asia (capital was Ephesus), or would they turn right, and go to Bithynia? But they are forbidden from entering either of those districts.
What happens when God intervenes in Paul's plans? How did God speak to the missionaries, and why were doors closed to them?
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD14 Q36 The ONLY MediatorThe Virgin Birth - How does it affect me?
The Virgin Birth of Christ was an historical event, it took place in Palestine, over 2000 years ago. But the implications of that birth affect every one of us today, – we BENEFIT from Christ’s birth.
HOW? The practical application of the doctrine of the Virgin Birth is what we will look at in this lesson.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Acts-In-Replay: Timothy's Conversion and Commissioning
The band of missionaries is expanding, and now another name is added to the missionaries, a young man called Timothy, and we first encounter him in Acts 16:1-5. With Timothy’s addition, the missionary duo becomes a trio again. In this podcast, a sermon recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church, we discover Timothy’s conversion, character and commissioning.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Christological Errors in Church History and Today
In Lord’s Day 14, Q35, we learned about the two natures in Christ, how he was, while on this earth, fully God and fully man and we saw something of the importance of maintaining and confessing this doctrine without error. In Q36, we will seek to underline and this, and to see how the two natures of Christ really matters to Christian believers, as individuals. In this bonus episode of the podcast, I just want to briefly outline some historical Christological errors, – how people have tried to explain the person of Christ, and gone astray – so that we can be aware of the dangers, many of which are still around in the modern church, and hopefully we can identify these errors and avoid them.
This podcast won't be for everyone - but if you're interested in Historical Theology, or Church History, give it a go. There's no prize for making it to the end though!
In Romans 16:17, Paul the apostle wrote, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Psalm 102:23-28 (Tune: Bedford)
23 My strength he weakened in the way, My days of life he shortened. 24 My God, O take me not away In mid-time of my days, I said:
Thy years throughout all ages last. 25 Of old thou hast established The earth's foundation firm and fast: Thy mighty hands the heav'ns have made.
26 They perish shall, as garments do, But thou shalt evermore endure; As vestures, thou shalt change them so; And they shall all be changed sure:
27 But from all changes thou art free; Thy endless years do last for aye. 28 Thy servants, and their seed who be, Established shall before thee stay.
Psalm with thanks to Connor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE
Find the Podcast on Gnosticism HERE
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Acts-In-Replay: Warts and All!People and Personalities in Acts 15:36-41Personality clashes in churches are nothing new.
Back in Acts Luke records the history of the early church, warts and all. When a huge personality clash split the first missionaries up, Luke faithfully records it, makes no attempt whatsoever to cover it up, or airbrush it out of history. He records it for our benefit and our learning…
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Table-Talk - The Theology of Fashion.
In this week's TableTalk, we talked aboutAPPEARANCE - the outward appearance of the Christian. Does it matter what I look like, what I wear, what way I do my hair etc? What does my appearance say about me? Here’s a Scripture text, to start the discussion:-
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
That statement of Johns, that we are not to love the world, and the things that the world values, - sexual attraction, material possessions and self-esteem, - should help us to lay a foundation for our understanding of our appearance - what our outward appearance says about us to others. Your clothes speak for you. When people look at us, do they see people who are conforming to the values of the world, or who have turned away from those lusts and passions?
Our outward appearance says a lot about us! So, our topic is APPEARANCE - the Theology of Fashion.
Find the NOTES HERE.
Psalm content courtesy of and with thanks to www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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Catechism Class: L/D14, Q35 “The Word Became Flesh”
In this lesson we are doing to look at a difficult subject - the doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ. It’s important; so much so that John the apostle sets this doctrine out as a test of orthodoxy in 1st John 4 :1-3.
So, our catechist asks, Q. What do you confess when you say: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary? The answer we must give is The eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took upon himself true human nature from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, through the working of the Holy Spirit. Thus he is also the true seed of David, and like his brothers in every respect, yet without sin.
In order to save us, to rescue us from our sin and the consequences of that sin, Jesus became flesh - became man. John 1:1 This lesson deals with HOW he did that. What do we MEAN when we say that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary? We’ll begin to look at that question and answer in this podcast.
To Read the NOTES, CLICK HERE.
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Acts-In-Replay: A Great Burden Lifted
The Jerusalem Council in AD49 has ended, and the decree issued, and conveyed to the church at Antioch, in a kindhearted pastoral letter, personally delivered, which encourages the Christians greatly, knowing that the burden of guilt and condemnation imposed by the broken Law had been removed by Jesus, who alone could perfectly fulfil the Law of God for us. Read Acts 15:22-41
A sermon recorded live at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Co.Antrim.
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TableTalk - FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIPS - What Saith the Scripture?
Welcome to TableTalk, ALMOST live!
In this season we have been looking at the practical issues of the Christian life, seeking for biblical direction in life. We come up against the questions of life every day of the week. In this informal TableTalk, we’re talking about Friends and Friendships, and searching the scriptures for some help. We began with some general observations about friendship, before we got to the important issues. So I opened up the evening with a wee story…
Let’s Talk!
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Catechism Class: LD13C Q34 Jesus is Lord
How is Jesus our Lord? Interestingly, when the catechist answers this question, he makes it intensely personal. Jesus is ‘Our Lord’ because we belong to him! As we saw in a previous lesson, since we are not God’s children by natural birth, we are enslaved by our own, wicked natural father, the devil. He has us under his authority and he is a tyrannical, lying, evil father, who will bring us to everlasting damnation, and we are powerless to escape from his cruel grip. We could not purchase our salvation by any material means, although many have tried.
Jesus, God’s own natural Son, eternally begotten of the Father, came to set us free.
To read the NOTES CLICK HERE
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Acts-In-Replay - The Jerusalem Council AD49 . Acts 15:7-21
It’s AD49, and the first great council of the church is about to begin. It’s the Council of Jerusalem. Who are the participants, what are the arguments and what decisions are made?
God is calling out a People for His Name.
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Catechism Class, LD13B Q33, Adopted!
The Bible says we have not received the Spirit of Fear. Instead, Christians have "The Spirit of Adoption." The indwelling Holy Spirit drives away all fear by replacing the fearful, terrifying sense of our hopeless fatherlessness in this world, our orphanhood and lostness, with the comforting reality of God’s fatherhood!
Read the NOTES HERE.
And - at the end of the class - stat behind for a special surprise for Hannah!
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Acts-In-Replay: Adding to the Gospel?
Read: Acts 15:1-6
Sometimes people are so different, and there are inevitable disagreements, but it’s important to remember that Christ is building his church, not us! Matthew 16:18. This part of chapter 15 is set in Antioch where Paul and Barnabas are based, Here, there are Christians who have come from a Jewish background, and Christians who have come from a Gentile background. Both groups are Christians, followers of Jesus, saved by grace through faith alone.
So, what’s the problem then?
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: Lord’s Day 13A Q33 God’s Only Begotten SonRead: John 3:16
Lord’s Day 13, Q33, Why is He called God’s “only begotten Son,” since we also are the children of God? A: Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God, but we are children of God by adoption, through grace, for His sake.
How can you explain the eternal Sonship of Christ in a way that a child can understand? Actually the catechist does a fairly good job of that for us, and he does it by contrasting our sonship (for we have already seen that God is our Father) with the Sonship of Christ. He asks how we can say that Jesus is God’s only begotten son, when we too are sons of God. And the answer, of course, lies in the meaning of the word ‘begotten’.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Ethics and History and The Murder of Abp. Sharp
I don't know whether this is an ethics podcast or a history podcast - or a bit of both! It's asking whether it is ever right for Christians to retaliate, even when under severe circumstances. It examines the conditions surrounding the heinous murder of Archbishop James Sharp, near Ceres, Fife, in 1679. It was a crime committed by supporters of the Covenanting cause, - but roundly condemned by Presbyterian leaders. But when you consider the cruelty of the times, and the oppressive nature of Sharp and his acolytes, - didn't he deserve all he got?
Confusing ethical questions, and I don't have too many answers - all I ask is that YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Read the NOTES HERE.
Acts-In-Replay: The First Missionary Journey Ends – Acts 14:19-27
We may not agree with John Wesley’s theology, but you have to admire the courage that characterised the early Methodist preachers. When the mob stoned the early Methodists as they preached in the open air, it was nothing new. While Paul was preaching at Lystra a group of Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and they began stirring up the rabble.
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Catechism Class: Why Are You Called a ‘Christian?’
In this lesson we will be looking at Lord’s Day 12, Q32, which asks, Why are you called a Christian? Because I am a member of Christ by faith and thus share in his anointing, so that I may as prophet confess his name, as priest present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him, and as king fight with a free and good conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and hereafter reign with him eternally over all creatures.
Have you noticed that the name ‘Christian’ has almost become a pejorative term – like a bad word of recent days. The actual word ‘Christian’ was originally a slur! So, what does it mean to call yourself a Christian? Listen to the podcast, and we’ll learn together from the Heidelberg Catechism…
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The PRISM: The Quran v The Bible - What's the Difference?
In this episode of THE PRISM we are looking at a seemingly common misconception in modern society, where many people seem to think that all religions are, ultimately the same. A while back, on a popular radio programme on BBC Radio Ulster, a member of the public phoned in to declare that he had read the Qu'ran, and that it is ‘exactly the same as the Bible.’ I wondered was he actually illiterate, or intellectually challenged, or perhaps he was demonstrating by that remark that in fact he hadn’t actually read a Bible at all! So let’s look briefly at the differences between the Bible and the Qu'ran under three headings, firstly, Moslem claims for Qu'ranic Inspiration, then Islamic hermeneutics, and finally, the relationship between Islam and the Bible.
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Acts-In-Replay: “Pagans and the Gospel”
Years ago we used to hear stories about ‘darkest Africa.’ The darkness has spread, and we are living in dark days, in darkest Ulster. (Ephesians 2:12). There is a good illustration of this awful darkness in Acts 14:8-18, where we see Paul and Barnabas…
1 Confronting the Pagans. V8-10
2 Contending With the Pagans. V11-13
3 Convincing the Pagans. V14-18
The people of Lystra not only hear the gospel, but they witness its power, and they can clearly see how God saves sinners. The steps are simply laid out: We are sinners without strength from birth, the word of God is preached, authoritatively declared, centred on the cross, the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of his sin, and imparts faith to receive the word, repent of sin and trust the Saviour. The sinner is converted and given new life.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Lord's Day 12A, Q31 - Why is He Called Christ?
Lord’s Day 12, Q31, which asks, Why is He (Jesus) called “Christ,” that is, Anointed? And the answer we must give is Because He is ordained of God the Father and anointed with the Holy Ghost to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us, and ever lives to make intercession for us with the Father; and our eternal King, who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.
So, - why DO we call Jesus ‘THE CHRIST?’ THat's the topic for this Catechism Class.
Read the NOTES HERE.
Ignatius of Antioch - Christian, Pastor and Martyr.
Welcome to this special history podcast. It not a podcast for everyone! It will be difficult to follow in parts, because it is history - hopefully theological history, yet history with a pastoral perspective. It’s not purely an academic history essay though, for I have included some observations and comments, and even some anecdotes, to make the work easier to listen to in podcast form, and more applicable to those who are reading or listening in a modern Christian setting, and who prefer to have their theology, and their history applied.
After all, what’s the point of learning history, if we don’t use it to avoid the errors and mistakes of the past? So, let's learn about Ignatius of Antioch; a little bit about his life and his doctrines, and his martyrdom.
To help you follow the podcast, I've posted at TRANSCRIPT on line. You can read it here: PODCAST TRANSCRIPT.
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Acts-In-Replay: "The Call to Mission." Acts 13:1-12
Barnabas and Saul had been commissioned by the church at Antioch (Acts 12:25-13:3), for a new work, and the elders there had laid hands upon them and prayed for them. It is Paul’s First Missionary Journey, and it begins with a gospel outreach on the island of Cyprus. Let’s get a missionary report of the Lord’s Work in those areas…
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD11B Q30 "One Way!"In this podcast, we are looking at Lord’s Day 11, question 30. The Catechist is teaching us about what we MUST believe in order to be saved,In question 30, he challenges us with this question, Do those who seek their salvation or well-being in saints, in themselves, or anywhere else, also believe in the only Saviour Jesus? Now, that’s a very important question for the eternal destiny of my soul is at stake, and his answer, and the answer we must willingly and heartily give is, “Though they boast of him in words, they in fact deny the only Saviour Jesus. For one of two things must be true: either Jesus is not a complete Saviour, or those who by true faith accept this Saviour must find in him all that is necessary for their salvation.”To read the notes CLICK THIS LINK
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Acts-In-Replay "Herod's Horrible History." Acts 12:18-25
Sin always has consequences. Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
God does not tolerate sin, and the Lord always vindicates his church and his people, and He does not tolerate Herod’s disgraceful behaviour against his flock. At the beginning of this chapter, we saw Herod running amok among the young Christian church at Jerusalem, arresting and murdering the leaders among the flock of God. James is dead. Peter imprisoned, Herod riding high in the popularity polls both in Jerusalem and Rome. By the end of the chapter the situation is reversed. Peter is free and Herod is dead, and the word of God is triumphant again.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 11A Q29, Jesus the Saviour
In this lesson we are looking at Lord’s Day 11, Q29, where the catechist is teaching us about the second clause in the Apostles’ Creed - “I believe… in Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son … Our Lord.” He asks us, “Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, Saviour?” The answer we must give is, “ Because he saves us from all our sins, and because salvation is not to be sought or found in anyone else.” Mt. 1:21; Heb. 7:25. Acts 4:12; Lk. 2:10-11.
Before we begin, read Matthew 1:20-21
So, why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” that is, Saviour?Listen in as we explore this important topic.
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Acts-In-Replay: "Amazed by Grace!" Acts 12:11-19
After his unjust imprisonment and God's supernatural intervention, Peter is now on the dark street, and he has time to think. He ‘considered the thing.’ Peter thought about this and his conclusion was that he should go to the church. It was his very first instinct. When we are in times of trouble or we need support or help, we ought to seek the company of our brothers and sisters in the Lord, of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was the dead of night, and MANY are there, so there’s a passion for prayer, and a love for Peter, a concern, an all night prayer meeting! What would it be like?
Read the NOTES HERE.
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The Prism - Covid, Fear and the Biblical Remedy
Fear not... but we ARE afraid. We have been deliberately imprisoned in a government induced state of terror. A fear of illness and death, even a fear of our fellow human beings. How did this happen? Is there a biblical precedent for confronting and dealing with fear and uncertainty?
Listen to the PODCAST – share it with others who are living in fear – it doesn’t deny COVID-19, or discuss the vaccines or their efficacy, it simply helps people to see how their fear of illness has been stoked – and then in the second part of the podcast points clearly to Christ, who bore all our fears to the Cross, and who calls us to trust him – not other men – for perfect love, ONLY found in Jesus, casts out ALL our fears.
Acts-In-Replay: Supernatural Interventions.
Peter, in a humanly impossible situation, is about to be delivered, – not by any human intervention, by a powerful sovereign work of God. God, in his mercy, the God who is Almighty, hears the prayers of the church, and sends an angel, and sets Peter free from his imprisonment. It’s an exciting and amazing story, the Lord himself reaching down into the depths of human darkness and bringing deliverance. So, let’s explore this incident, and see if we can get some understanding of the wonderful sovereign deliverances of God.
Read the NOTES Here.
The Great Siege
The second Saturday in August is ‘Derry Day’ - we meet to commemorate an historical event - a siege. Actually, a very important event in our cultural and political history. The siege occurred in 1689, around a year after William of Orange had landed at Torbay, and ‘the glorious revolution’ was effectively ending almost a century of rule by the Stuart dynasty, a period that had brought a great burden of suffering upon those who by conscience would not conform to Roman ritual or rule of the church by state appointed bishops.
The people inside the city were helpless, and their situation hopeless, until a rescue mission was launched, and the ship 'Mountjoy' crashed through the boom placed across the mouth of the River Foyle. Are there any spiritual lessons to be learned? How helpless and hopeless is the plight of the sinner, in deep spiritual hunger? Yet we too have a Rescuer, who has already procured our release...
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Read the NOTES HERE
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Acts-In-Replay "God's Providence in Evangelism"
Paul’s mission to the Gentile world has begun. He has already been blessed, for hearing the word of God, the proconsul of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus believed in the Lord Jesus and was converted! What a great start to a life of missionary service! You might say that Paul was in exactly the right place at the right time! Here’s some scripture texts about how God ordains everything in his time… Psalm 31:14-15A Ecclesiastes 3:1 Ecclesiastes 3:11 James 4:13 – 16 Galatians 4:4-7.
Let's explore this subject further in this Acts-In-Replay episode, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church in 2020.
Read the NOTES here.
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The Name of Shame!
Acts 11:26
Have you noticed that the name ‘Christian’ has almost become a pejorative term – like a bad word of recent days Maybe not just in recent days too. Some people will actually hate you just for being a Christian – for following Jesus! No surprise there of course.
So in our text, Acts 11:26 we have the very first instance of the followers of Jesus being referred to as ‘Christians.’
And it wasn’t a compliment!
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The Prism: "Men and Women and the Olympics - The Myth of Transgenderism"
It's August - and Bob doesn't do any podcasts in August - that went well, until a man competes in a women's competition at the Tokyo Olympics! What a mess. That needs a response! What's 'Transgenderism' and how will it affect YOU? What does the Bible say, and what should be the Christian's response?
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Acts-In-Replay "The Church at Antioch"
In this old sermon, preached in July 2020 at Templepatrick Reformed Church, we look at the Church at Antioch, in many ways a model church, in the midst of a totally pagan environment, yet faithful to God and with fervent missionary zeal. Antioch was the least likely place to find a leading Christian fellowship. Antioch’s citizens had gained a reputation for pleasure-seeking & low morals. Yet, we find that in the midst of the paganism & prostitution of the city the Church of God arose and the church at Antioch seems to hold centre stage throughout the book of Acts. – So what can we learn about this Church?
Read the NOTES HERE.
TableTalk: “The Only Head of the Church”
Savoy: There is no other Head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ;
Who is the head of the church? As non-conformists, can we accept that the pope or anyone else on this earth is the head of the church? When we read the Bible we discover that the head of the church is CHRIST! Anyone else is an imposter. Let’s look at what the Bible says about this matter, and there are two passages to read before you begin:
Colossians 1:13-19 and Ephesians 1:22-23
Read the NOTES HERE
Acts-In-Replay "Barnabas - The Great Encourager."
It was to Antioch that some of the persecuted Christians had fled after the persecution at Jerusalem, and as always the gospel message had travelled with them. Many were converted, a great number turned to the Lord, because the hand of the Lord was upon them. So it is at Antioch that we first encounter Barnabas.
To read the NOTES Click this LINK.
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The Prism: The Issue of Bodily Integrity.
Welcome to The Prism - a monthly look at contemporary ethics and events through a Biblical prism. This month we are looking at the issue of bodily integrity. Who actually owns your body? In this modern society, the government seems to want you to know that in fact THEY own your body. You may think that you have bodily autonomy, that your body belongs to you so YOUR BODY - YOUR CHOICE… — but think again. So let’s look at this issue through the biblical prism, and seek some clarity on the matter.
Before you begin, you should read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
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Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide
God’s gracious provision for us - his, ‘laying in store’ all of the aspects of our life, and the world on which we live is an act of his providence, his tender ongoing care for, and governance over, his created universe and everything in it, right down to the smallest atom.
But how does this affect ME - personally? That’s what we want to ask in this podcast, and we’ll find the answer in Q28 of the Heidelberg Catechism.
To read the notes click HERE
Psalms courtesy of Connor Quigley - www.ThePsalmsSung.org
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Acts-In-Replay - Telling OthersActs 9:20-31, Galatians 1:11-19In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul would write ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ Our passage in Acts helps us to understand how radical that change in Paul’s life was after conversion, and how sudden, in its effect. One of the first effects of conversion on Saul’s life, was that he straight away began telling others. Listen to this episode of Acts-In-Replay to discover how this worked out in Paul’s early Christian life.Read the NOTES HERE
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Catechism Class: LD10A Q27 Nothing Happens by Chance.
LD10 Q.27 What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. God's providence is his almighty and ever present power, 1 whereby, as with his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, 2 and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, 3 indeed, all things, come to us not by chance 4 but by his fatherly hand.
So that’s our topic for this lesson. Nothing in this world, or in your life happens by chance.
Psalm 65, courtesy of Connor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Acts-In-Replay: “Saul Meets Ananias”Saul has met the Saviour on the Damascus Road, has been thrown from his horse and is blind. he has been introduced to a disciple - a man named Ananias of Damascus. But can Ananias trust Saul, the persecutor of the church?Read the Notes HERE:
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Catechism Class - LD9B Trusting Our Heavenly Father.How does a systematic understanding of Christian Doctrine help us in our personal experience of God? The catechist in Q26 relates great facts about the person and work of God to my intimate trust in Him.Read the NOTES HERE.
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Catechism Class: LD9A, "God the Creator of Everything"
Q26. What do you believe when you say: I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and all that is in them, and who still upholds and governs them by his eternal counsel and providence, is, for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father.
Listen and Learn!
Who Was Saul of Tarsus?
In this ancient sermon, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, we look at the man behind the legend - and ask "Who was the real Saul of Tarsus?" We look at his background and life, and we discover something really important about what was going on in his inner life... And what we learn about Saul makes us very thankful!
Read the NOTES HERE
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Acts-In-Replay: "Doing the Damascus Walk?"
In this sermon, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church in January 2020, we look at the Conversion of Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9. Saul's dramatic conversion will not be at all like yours, or mine, yet it will be exactly like yours and mine. Listen to the podcast, and I'll explain why.
To read the NOTES click THIS LINK.
The Value of Our Children - Born and UnbornInfant Abortion - the deliberate killing of a baby in the womb, - usually for little more than avoiding the inconvenience that caring for a child brings - is one of the most pressing ethical issues facing Christians today. The clamour for 'The right to choose,' the chorus of voices crying, 'My body - my choice' the liberal lobby groups demanding unrestricted sexual gratification at the cost of a precious yet defenceless life, with the mainstream media's loud support, have built up a seemingly unstoppable momentum towards a more bloodthirsty and ruthless society. Millions and millions of babies have been killed, ripped mercilessly from their mother's wombs, the place where they should be safe. Media campaigns have focussed on 'hard cases' - rape, serious foetal abnormality, etc., but these 'hard cases' always seem to pave the way for 'abortion on demand' - the killing of unborn babies in the womb as a form of contraception, for abortion to end the lives of babies with disablements, even cleft palettes, and for gender-selective culling. So, what does the Bible teach about the value of our children? We look at the attitude of Jesus to small human lives, make reference to other scriptures, and seek to ground our ethical responses in a Christian worldview. Please listen, and please pray for our modern society.
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Catechism Class - LD 7, Q24-25 The Trinity
Read: Matthew 3:16-17
Lord’s Day 8, Q/A 24 & 25 24. How are these articles divided? Into three parts: the first is of God the Father and our creation; the second, of God the Son and our redemption; the third, of God the Holy Ghost and our sanctification.:25. Since there is but one Divine Being,(1) why do you speak of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Because God. has so revealed Himself in His Word, that these three distinct persons are the one, true, eternal God.
How important is the doctrine of the Trinity? Is it really worth trying to understand such a complicated matter, when really, all a person needs to be Christian is a simple child-like faith in Christ? In this podcast Bob McEvoy underlines the seriousness of failure to believe in the Holy Trinity.
Psalm 99, Courtesy of Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Read the Study Guide Notes HERE.
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Acts-In-Replay Acts 4 - You WILL Be Hated
Jesus had said that His followers would be hated, and following that first miracle in Acts 3, that intense hatred is manifested. Our purpose in this study is to try to demonstrate the hatred the the secular world has for Christ, and for Christians, the breadth of that hatred, and its intensity, and to find an example in the disciples, of the correct Christian attitude in the face of this hatred.
READ THE NOTES HERE
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Catechism Class - LD7D Q22, What we MUST believe.
Is Christian Doctrine important in this day and age? After all, aren't we all on a personal journey, each one seeking to find our own truth? The catechist certainly didn't think so, and neither does the Scriptures.
Listen to the Podcast to learn how vitally important it is to understand, believe and confess biblical doctrine.
Read the notes HERE.
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Sermon Replay - Acts 3 Spiritual Sickness – Its Condition and Cure Demonstrated in the Lame Man
Text: Acts 3:1-19. Esp. V6.
A well known story! As children we sung a song about it in children’s meetings…. Peter and John went to pray; they met a lame man on the way. He asked for alms and held out his palms, and this is what Peter did say: “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” He went walking and jumping and praising God, walking and jumping and praising God. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Well, that just about sums it up for us!
But let’s think about this poor man…
READ THE NOTES
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Catechism Class - LD7 Q22, The Greatest Commission
Heidelberg Q/A 22. What, then, is necessary for a Christian to believe? All that is promised us in the Gospel, which the articles of our catholic, undoubted Christian faith teach us in summary.
SPREADING THE GOSPEL. But what is the Gospel, and how is it to be proclaimed?
Read the NOTES on www.Semper-Reformata.com
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Table-Talk - The Church God Alone Sees
LIVE TableTalk from Ballymacashon Church! Bob is joined by a group of Christian friends to chat about the church, - and to learn the difference between the church that we see, and the church that God sees. There was participation and conversation, and those parts of the lesson. have been edited out, so there's a couple of places with faded sound.
TableTalk happens twice a month at The Old Reformed Church at Ballymacashon!
Read the notes here!
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Live with Callum Webster of The Christian Institute
Welcome to this very special bonus episode of the podcast. On Lord’s Day 6th June 2021 we were excited to welcome Callum Webster of the Christian Institute to our special afternoon meeting at Ballymacashon Congregational Church. This podcast was recorded live at that meeting and addresses three areas of critical concern for Christians:
Identity issues
Abortion
Gay Conversion Therapy legislation.
Callum also spoke about the work of the Christian Institute’s legal department.
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Sermon - Psalm 23
A really stale sermon this week. This one dates from 2013, and was preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and is reproduced here without editing.
Music: Psalm 23 sung to 'Bays of Harris' - thanks to Conor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Catechism Class - H/C LD7B Q21 "What is Faith?"
Q21: What is true faith? True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word. At the same time it is a firm confidence that not only to others, but also to me, God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits. This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel.
For this lesson you'll need your Bible opened at Ephesians 2, and Hebrews 11.
Faith is one of those words we use frequently - yet we find it difficult to define - but faith is the ‘bricks and mortar’ of our Christianity. We need to talk about it and to try to grasp something of its meaning. FAITH is a vital truth, for as our instructor remind us in Q20, “… only such as by true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all his benefits… (are saved). Thankfully we have the Scriptures to lay out the doctrine for us, and the Catechism to bring it all together in a concise way that we can understand it.
READ THE NOTES HERE.
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God's Covenant with Noah - God’s Covenant with Creation
Genesis 8:20-9:17
A sermon preached in 2017, at Templepatrick Reformed Church.
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Catechism Class - LD7,Q20, The Effectual Call of God.
In reformed circles we speak about God’s ‘irresistible grace’ or ‘the effectual call’ of God upon the life of the sinner. Since salvation is all of the Lord, it is God’s prerogative to save whom he will, and since he has chosen his own people from before the foundation of the world, those whom he calls to him will surely come. Jesus said, John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
READ: Romans 8:29-32, 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
But what about those scripture verses that teach us that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world? Even the mention of the doctrine of Irresistible Grace sends some evangelicals into apoplexy! So, in this lesson, we’re going to consider three common misunderstandings, which the catechism will help us to get some clarity on. UNIVERSALISM, the idea that Christ’s death is for all, so all humanity must already be saved. DECISIONAL REGENERATION, where the call of God can be rendered ineffective by human indecision. SEMI-PELAGIANISM, where God has gone most of the way for us to be saved, but there is still something we must do.
Listen to the podcast for some discussion of the issues.
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Sermon - 'God Remembers.'
What does it mean that ‘God remembered Noah?’ Had he forgotten about him? No! When God REMEMBERS, - God ACTS! And that's good news for us, for Noah was a sinner, saved by grace through faith and God remembers US just as much as he remembered Noah! BUT there’s a negative aspect to this as well, for see who God did NOT remember. We are not told that God remembered all the millions of sinners who had perished in the flood. Just that He remembered Noah!
Oh, and who all were in the Ark? Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives... But was there another?
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Catechism Class - LD6, Q18-19 Our Only Mediator.
The catechist wants us to ask, "But who is that Mediator who at the same time is true God and a true and righteous man?" He has been teaching us that in order to for us to be delivered from the dreadful consequences of our own sinful nature, we need a mediator, someone to represent us before God, one who is perfect man, without sin, and yet one who is fully God, able to bear in his human body the burden of God's wrath due to us, for our sins. But who is this God-Man, this mediator? His answer:-
A.Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
How do we know this? Because we are taught it in the Gospel, which is proclaimed to us in every book of the Bible, fully inspired of God, and in the OT and NT pointing us to Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour. So Q.19, From where do you know this?
A.From the holy gospel, which God himself first revealed in Paradise. Later, he had it proclaimed by the patriarchs and prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law. Finally, he had it fulfilled through his only Son.
Check out the episode notes: CLICK THIS LINK
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Noah and the Great Flood.
Genesis 7 is a factual account of the flood. The day of God’s judgment is come, and the probation of mankind upon the earth is at an end. Like a judge sitting on the bench, professionally and precisely weighing up the evidence in his summing up, without emotion he passes sentence and decrees punishment. Judgment must happen and justice will follow and everyone will be able to say they get what they deserve.
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A New Universe.
2 Peter 3:3-14
The world is truly beautiful, and it is God’s wonderful creation. Everything in it should fill our hearts with joy. Yet the Bible tells us that one day, perhaps soon, everything in this world will be destroyed. Peter wrote, 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
What! God is going to destroy this wonderful world! And Peter wants us to be happy about that, in fact to look forward to it with great anticipation. To hasten his coming. 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?. But why? Why would we want to see this world destroyed?
In this TableTalk episode we look at 2 Peter 3:3-14, to help us get some clarity on the future, and to discover some really practical lessons for our lives, right now. You'll need your Bible!
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Catechism Class - LD5 Q15 The MYSTERY of Godliness.
In 1st Timothy 3:16, Paul confesses to the young pastor, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
One of the greatest mysteries of all (to us) is the Person of Christ, who was fully God, and fully man. 'God manifest in the flesh.' The catechist addresses this in Lord's Day 5-6 Q15-18. He reminds us:-
Q.15 What kind of mediator and deliverer must we seek? A. One who is a true and righteous man, and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is at the same time true God!
How can we hope to understand this? Only by rigidly sticking to the Biblical teaching on the matter. To attempt to work it out by human reason will lead us to error, as it has done many times in the past. The good news, is that because of Christ's atoning work at the Cross we have a Brother in Glory, who will lead us to glory also, and when we get there, we will fully understand the Mystery of Godliness.
To read the Study Guide, CLICK THIS LINK
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Who Was Noah?
In this old stale sermon, extracted from a message preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church in 2017, we think about Noah, his Walk, his Work, his Warrant, his Willingness... and his Saintly Perseverance! And we have another look at Genesis 6:3, and whinge about the assault of Semi-Pelagianism upon the modern evangelical churches.
Read the notes HERE and HERE.
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Catechism Class - Lords Day 5, Q12-15 The Greatest Escape.
The Hebrews author asks, "How can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" What must we escape from, and how can we escape, when we are helpless in our lost human condition? We need a Rescuer, to come and save us. The catechist asks:
Q.12 Since, according to God's righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how can we escape this punishment and be again received into favour?
Q.13 Can we by ourselves make this payment? A. Certainly not. On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.
Q.14 Can any mere creature pay for us? A. No. In the first place, God will not punish another creature for the sin which man has committed. Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it.
Q.15 Q. What kind of mediator and deliverer must we seek? A. One who is a true and righteous man, and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is at the same time true God
A Rescuer has been sent, but if we neglect his rescue mission, there is no alternative. Our rescuer is God's sinless Son, Jesus - who perfectly fulfilled all the requirements, - The ONLY true and righteous Man - one who is at the same time true God.
Psalm 130, courtesy of www.ThePsalmsSung.org
Read the notes here: CLICK THIS LINK.
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The Days of Noah, and the Context of Genesis 6:3
What does the Bible mean when it tells us in Genesis 6, “My spirit shall not always strive with man?” Can it be that God will awaken a sinner to his sins, open his sin-blinded eyes, reveal Christ to him, and then right at the very moment that he asks for forgiveness, find that God’s spirit has ceased to strive with him? Aren’t we assured that the call of God is effectual? In Romans 8, Paul teaches us, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. In this sermon from 2017, preached in TRC, we were looking at Genesis 6, and seeking to understand the context of God’s stern warning, that his spirit shall not always strive…. With MANKIND.
Read the Study Guide HERE. CLICK THE LINK!
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Catechism Class - LD4 Q9-11, Excuses!
The catechist deals with man's sin and the reason for it, teaching us that the responsibility for our sin and our condemnation under the law is entirely our own doing, the result of our original sin and continuing disobedience against God. Because He is JUST, he MUST punish crime and wrongdoing, and because He is JUST he will not demand that crime be punished twice, which is good news for those who have rested in Christ's atoning sacrifice for sinners. But for those who are unforgiven sinners, please don't expect God's mercy and long-suffering, his love and mercy to prevail on judgment day. God has already demonstrated his love for us at the cross. If we reject THAT love, that suffering, dying love for sinners, then when we stand before God with all our sinful works openly revealed, our condemnation will pronounced, and we will be forever lost.
The Catechist doesn't pull any punches, and neither should we...
Read the Study Guide by CLICKING THIS LINK.
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Gospel Living
Text . Romans 12:14-21
A self explanatory portion of scripture! May God give us grace, that with the help of the Holy Spirit we might be enabled to practice it in our own lives!
There are many modern ethical issues that face Christians. The issues facing Christians today have changed and become. ore complex, and even in our local context, we are faced with our own particular difficulties, victims of the troubles, dealing with the past, conflicting views of history, competing rights and responsibilities. But the challenge is the same. How will the Christian apply the Gospel in modern society, live out that Gospel and bring the good news to his pagan neighbours and friends?
In this extract from a sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, we learn about applying the Gospel in our modern world.
Read a transcript by clicking this link.
Catechism Class - LD3, Q7-8, The Fall of Man
Q7 “From where, then, did man's depraved nature come?” “From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise, for there our nature became so corrupt that we are all conceived and born in sin.”
In this class we are going to look at the Fall of Man, and the consequences that have resulted from it. Genesis 2:16-17 There was only one rule in paradise - Don’t eat the fruit from that tree! But Adam and Eve couldn’t even keep that one simple rule. They failed the obedience test, they ate the fruit of the tree and they fell from God’s favour:- Genesis 3:6-7
Read the STUDY GUIDE - Click here.
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TableTalk - The Final Judgment. #1
I want to suggest that there is just ONE JUDGMENT DAY! When the Bible talks about this day, it always refers to it in the singular - the DAY of the Lord, the DAY of judgement - it never speaks of the future DAYS of judgment. See 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
To help us explore the Final Judgment Day, we are going to work through Revelation 20:11-15, and learn about THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.
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History Podcast - The Gnostics
Who were the 'Gnostics?' - that mysterious heresy that embedded itself within the very early church?In this podcast we examine the 'cult' in the most basic manner - Not that's there's anything logical or understandable about Gnosticism!
Why would we bother trying to understand this heresy? Because in the modern church, there are activities and beliefs that seem to mirror some of the beliefs of these heretics. it's important that we learn from our history!
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True Christian Love
Christians are to love one another, as a grateful response to the love we have experienced from Christ, our Savour, who loved us when we we were unlovable! But what will Christian love look like in practice? Paul sets at the standard we are to aim for in Romans 12:9-10
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.
In this podcast, extracts from a sermon preached in 2017 at Templepatrick Reformed Church, we will seek to apply that teaching to our Christian lives.
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Catechism Class - LD3 Q6, The Image of God
In this lesson we are looking at Lord’s Day 3, Q6 in the Heidelberg Catechism. In our last class, on Lord’s Day 2, we learned that we are miserable, wretched sinners, condemned under the law of God which we have wilfully broken. That divine law reveals to us just how far short of God’s righteousness we have fallen, when we measure up our own lives against God’s standards. But in Lord’s Day 3 the catechist teaches us that mankind wasn't made sinful. We were created in the image of God. So what does that mean, and what are the implications?
ToREAD THE STUDY GUIDE NOTES CLICK THIS LINK.
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You are NOT the Centre of the Entire Universe!
It's true! As my granny would have said, "Catch yourselves on - who exactly do you think you are?" We are told nowadays that we should have self-esteem, follow our hearts and do what makes us happy. Paul's instructions to Christians in Romans gives us lifestyle instructions that are greatly different. He wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3.
We should be looking at our own lives with a serious dose of self-criticism! yet at the same time, believers have each a unique place in the body of Christ, and there, - every one of us is important; so much so that we MUST play our part. Paul: 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. Romans 12:4-6
Let's get some perspective on our lives! This episode is an extract from a sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Northern Ireland.
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Catechism Class: Lord's Day 2, Q3-5, 'The Broken Law.'
Our instructor in the Heidelberg Catechism begins his teaching on the inherent Sin and Misery of mankind, in questions 3-5. Hw do we know we are sinners? Because the LAW of God sets the standards for our behaviour in life. The purpose of life is to love God and our neighbour. The law will convince us how far short of those ideals we fall. Far from loving God, in our natural state we hate him, and we hate many of our neighbours.
In this short class we explore this important topic, knowing that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.
Read the Transcript here.
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Catechism Class - LD1 Q1, I am not my own!
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20
How many of us think of ourselves as a 'self-made' man or woman? The Christian believer cannot think that way. In this episode of the Catechism Class, Bob looks at the classic wording of Lord's Day 1 in the Heidelberg Catechism, which reminds us that we are not 'our own - but bought with a price!' Christians belong to Jesus, who bought us and preserves us, and we should stop depending on ourselves and keep our eyes on HIM!
Study Guide Notes HERE
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Gratitude for God's Grace, #1 - Romans 12:1
The sinner who has been saved from sin, through faith alone, by God's grace alone, in Christ alone, will be so grateful that the burden of guilt and condemnation has been lifted from them, that they will want to live a life that will be pleasing to God, to keep His law, and walk in His ways. In Romans 12-16, Paul lays out the practical implications of his doctrine of salvation. He begins with 'consecration' in Romans 12:1, and that's where we begin too, as we look at some practical teaching from Paul.
Listen to more sermons from Templepatrick Reformed Church. Click this link.
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The Wigtown (or Solway) Martyrs
At Wigtown, (Dumfries and Galloway) two courageous women, Margaret Wilson and Margaret McLaghlin, were executed by drowning in the Solway Firth, for the crime of worshipping Christ, in accordance with His Word, without interference from the state.
Presbyterian Covenanters, they worshipped God in the fields and hills, singing Psalms and listening to faithful preaching. But that broke the law, which required people to attend the services of the Curates and Priests and Bishops of the Episcopalian Orders. Along with many other faithful Christians the two Margarets paid the supreme price, rather than deny their Lord.
Listen to the podcast, for an inspiring story of faith under persecution.
Psalm content with permission of Connor Quigley, www.ThePsalmsSung.org
TO READ THE TRANSCRIPT - CLICK THIS LINK.
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Catechism Class, Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 1A - My ONLY Comfort?
In this episode, Bob responds to the proposed 'Gay Conversion Therapy' ban, as the Class considers why the Heidelberg catechist begins with the question, "What is my ONLY comfort in life and death?" Can he really mean that there is no satisfaction in ANYTHING that this life offers, except the forgiveness of sin, found in Christ?
To read the notes, CLICK THIS LINK.
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Corinth AD50 - City of Sin!
Paul arrived in Corinth from Athens in AD50, - but what did he find when he arrived in this sin cursed city, the pleasure-seeking Ibiza of the ancient world? In this podcast episode Bob McEvoy takes us through Acts 18:1-4, and explores the background of the city and the context of the passage. It's all about Corinth that you really need to know!
Notes Link: TO FOLLOW
Catechism Class - 'THE LAST WORD'
Have you ever wondered why Christians say 'Amen' at the end of their prayers?
In this 20 minute episode Bob looks at the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 52B, which deals with the coda to the Lord's Prayer.
Q128 How do you end your prayer? A. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. That is: All this we ask of you because, as our King, having power over all things, you are both willing and able to give us all that is good, and because not we but your holy name should so receive all glory forever.
Q129 What does the word Amen mean? A. Amen means: It is true and certain. For God has much more certainly heard my prayer than I feel in my heart that I desire this of him.
He doesn't even mention the 'Amen and Awomen' idiocy (Too ridiculous for words) and, as a real treat, the Catechism class now has new music! So now we're really cookin' on gas!
Get out your Bible and your copy of the Heidelberg Catechism and learn more about the Christian faith.
READ THE NOTES HERE. CLICK THIS LINK
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Arthur Guinness, - Irishman, Evangelical Christian, Philanthropist.
With St.Patrick's Day looming on March 17, people all over the world will be celebrating Ireland's 'patron saint' with a glass of two of Ireland's alleged favourite beverage, - Guinness. Every bottle or can calls the signature of the founder, Arthur Guinness. But who was Arthur Guinness, what did he contribute to Irish society, and what would he think of the drunken crowds at a typical St Patrick parade? In this short episode, Bob McEvoy looks at the life and conversion of Arthur Guinness, and his philanthropic achievements, which improved life for many of his fellow countrymen.
Read the script: CLICK THIS LINK.
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Sabbath Day Controversies #1.
There's controversy surrounding the issue of Sabbath Observance. In this sermon, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob McEvoy looks at an incident found in Matthew 12, where Jesus and his disciples are accused by the religious hypocrites of the Pharisees of 'Sabbath Breaking.' What happened and why, and what can we learn from it?
Read the notes - CLICK THIS LINK.
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In our year of Eschatology in TableTalk (Now extended because of the Covid-19 lockdowns) we have referred to the three systems of eschatology, - what Christians believe will happen in the future; what we sometimes call Bible Prophecy, but looking back over the series, it seems that I have totally ignored the postmillennialist viewpoint, and although I’m not a postmillennialist, I do think we should be fair to this viewpoint and give it some thought. So this lesson is about POSTMILLENNIALISM - THE PURITAN HOPE!
Read the NOTES HERE click this link.
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Only Jesus Can Heal Broken Lives.
We live in a world that has been broken and scarred and ruined by sin, by the fall. That brokenness manifests itself in many different ways, both in society as a whole and in individual lives. The Lockdowns of 2020-2021 must surely result in a major increase in mental illness, broken homes, domestic violence, depression and even suicide. The bible tells us that all of these examples of human misery stem from the fall, and as such have a Satanic origin. As such, the only remedy is to have the effects of the fall reversed in the life of the sinner, and so the only answer to human brokenness is the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Luke 4:18-20 Jesus said of himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
In this sermon, preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob McEvoy looks at a biblical example of human hopelessness, a slave girl with serious mental issues, the result of sin and the fall, - whose chains were broken, who was set free in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Acts 16:16-19
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers.
Read the NOTES HERE.
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Purgatory!
(No, not this podcast - although that might be a fair and accurate description!)
People are made up of Body and Soul/Spirit, and that after we die, our soul/spirit lives on, in heaven with the Lord, until the resurrection day, when the dead shall rise – both the saved and the lost, the saved to be the inhabitants of the new Jerusalem, a new heaven and earth, reunited now with their physical bodies, now like Christ’s risen, glorified body. Between our physical death and the resurrection we are with the Lord, in paradise, we shall know each other, and shall have fellowship with each other. Families of every generation will be reunited.
The Roman Catholic Church has some different ideas. They believe in something called ‘PURGATORY’ – a place where the Christian goes after death, and before they are admitted to heaven. But is it BIBLICAL?
In this podcast, Bob take a look at the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory…
To read the notes CLICK THIS LINK.
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'St' Patrick - Roman Catholic or Reformed? - APOLOGIES - the original upload had faulty audio, so this will hopefully be slightly better.
In this bonus episode for the Lockdown Patrick's Day, Bob looks back over some old, mouldy notes on Patrick, and rehashes them for the podcast - and he calls this a BONUS?
Still, Patrick did not have all the understanding or light which the reformers had, but his understanding of the doctrines of grace and his testimony to the saving power of God in Christ witness to a biblical faith, not unlike the faith of later reformers. Like Martin Luther, Patrick depended completely on God’s free and sovereign grace for his conversion, and on a bleak hillside, without the trappings of Roman sacramental religion, he eagerly grasped God’s offered salvation by faith alone.
Maybe we can learn something about him, and even we reformed Christians can benefit...
Music: Londonderry Air, Bjorn Lynne Neosounds.
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Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 52A, Q127, The Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation'
I am Weak, but He is Strong!
Does God ever ‘lead’ us into temptation? The dichotomy between the sovereign rule of God over every aspect of our lives, and our requirement to stand firm, resisting temptation - and the resources available to us in the war against the evil one. We conclude that We are WEAK, but He is STRONG, so we must pray, "Jesus keep me from all wrong..."
To read the notes, please CLICK THIS LINK.
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Amillennialists like Bob, believe that the Bible teaches that there is a day of General Resurrection, - just one day when the Lord will return with his saints and for his saints, to initiate the Judgement, to bring about the end of this world and the recreation of the new heaven and new earth.
But if the day of Christ’s return is the very last day of life on this earth, what about these bible passages that talk about one person being taken and another left behind? Don’t they suggest that after the second coming of Christ some people will be left on this earth to face a further period of earthly time?
That’s what we’re going to look at in this podcast.
To READ the notes, please click this link.
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We are ALL Backsliders!
A sermon from 2017, based on Genesis 9:18-29.
The podcast is getting worse. Bob accuses us ALL of being BACKSLIDERS! How bad can this get? How can our secular occupation damage our Christian life, and lead us into temptation of sin? The underlying thesis in this rant is that like in the case of Noah, backsliders are believers who have failed to properly deal with the mortification of sin in their lives, and we ALL mess that up.
Listen and think - Do you agree? Read the notes and give your feedback at THIS LINK.
(Sermon preached at Templepatrick Reformed Church)
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 51, Q126 “What is the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer?"
This podcast is a catechism lesson, based on Lord’s Day 51, - not that you’d think so, for in it Bob talks about the Total Depravity of Mankind, slabbers on about woke youth organisations, gives off about so-called ‘alternative lifestyles’ and why doing what ‘makes you happy’ can lead to the most awful, miserable unhappiness, depression and even suicide. Not content with that, he then tells Christians not to use ‘the blood of Christ’ as a ‘good luck charm’ and even bellyaches about people who say they forgive unrepentant terrorists! And he has the cheek to call this a catechism class! See what you think.
Read the STUDY GUIDE HERE.
Music.
The Semper Reformata Podcast theme: “In Another Time”
Background music: Short Lament. Tracks by Neosounds.com
Sound effects.
38MPH gale blowing round the studio-pod.
Neighbour’s dog yapping to get in out of the 38MPH gale,
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Overview of Romans 11: Israel's Future.
What is the relationship between the church and Israel? Or the Church and the secular state of Israel, or the church and the Jews? Specifically, what will the future hold for Christians and Jews? What does Paul mean when he says, And so all Israel will be saved...
In this podcast we attempt an overview of Romans 11, and look at its eschatological significance from a Reformed perspective. Read Romans 11 before you listen, and keep your Bible open as you follow Bob McEvoy through this fascinating chapter of God's precious Word.
To read the NOTES and Study Guide, CLICK THIS LINK
What the problem with good works?
- Paul tells us that we are saved by grace alone, in Ephesians 2:8
- James tells us that ‘Faith without works is dead.’ James 2:14-18.
At first when we read these two verses and place them side by side, there seems to be a contradiction. Paul telling us that our works are of no value in our salvation, James telling us that we cannot be saved without our works. In fact If we read on down the text in James, we discover that what he wrote in verse 14 is highly qualified and explained in verse 18. Where Paul is writing about how we are saved, how redemption is applied to our lives, James is writing about the outworking of that redemption in our daily life, in a changed attitude to others who live with us.
Read the notes by clicking this link.
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What’s the best way to learn to trust God for everything in life, from the smallest problems, to the most basic human necessities? Could the answer be found right here in the Lord’s Prayer? Right here in this petition, where we are taught to ask God for the most basic essential of all, bread! The staff of life. If we can see that God provides so simple a need as a slice of bread, then our dependence on him will be improved, and our thankfulness be expanded.
To read the NOTE CLICK THIS LINK
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Athens! - The Cradle of Democracy
For many of us the cities and regions of the ancient east that we read about in our bibles are simply names - and many of those names are unpronounceable! But some will know a little more than usual about the city of Athens. Some may even have been there on holiday! What was Athens like in the ancient world of the book of Acts, when Paul visited the city in Acts 17, and preached to the Areopagus? Understanding biblical background is a great help to understanding the Biblical text.
In this podcast, ‘Monday Extra’ - we look at Ancient Athens for beginners, and try to get a little flavour of what Paul would have discovered when he entered this famous city.
To read SERMON NOTES based around this podcast, click THIS LINK.
SFX:
Boat: https://freesound.org/s/411087/
Debate: https://freesound.org/s/60147/
TableTalk Extra: Israel Now
Romans Chapter 10 Overview.
In Romans 9, we found that Israel had rejected the prophets, rejected the true religion of the Lord, and had finally rejected the Messiah himself. Paul gives two reasons for this, the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of mankind. What about Israel’s present state? The thesis of chapter 10 is that despite Israel’s rejection, salvation is possible for them, in Christ, as is the case for us all. Chapter 10 is about the spread of the Gospel.
TO READ THE NOTES CLICK THIS LINK
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Heidelberg Catechism.
Lord's Day 49, Q124
The catechist is still teaching us how to pray, using the Lord’s Prayer as a model for our prayers, and reminding us that when we pray these petitions there is far more underlying truth than we sometimes think. We should mine that truth! So we come to the third petition in the prayer: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Compare that with Proverbs 14:1 The psalmist has the correct attitude in Psalm 40:8 That’s what we pray for in this petition of the Lord’s Prayer, - Lord, teach us, not only to DO your will, but to take DELIGHT in doing it.
To read the NOTES - click this link.
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TableTalk at Ballymacashon.
Is there such a thing as ‘The Rapture of the Church?’ What do those Christian believers, who describe themselves as ‘pre-millennialists or dispensationalists’ actually believe, and can we explore the historic Reformation position of the Christian Church, and gain an understanding more in alignment with the biblical text?
What does it mean when Paul distinguishes between Jesus 'Coming for his saints' and Jesus 'Coming with his saints?' Are these two separate events, seven years apart, or two sides of the one eschatological coin?
We look at the 'Dispensationalist Rapture' and the Reformed/A-millennialist view, of the second coming of Christ, in the context of the General Resurrection of the Dead, at the Last Day.
To read the notes, click this link.
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Overview of Romans 9
ISRAEL'S PAST
In chapter 9, Paul admits that Jewish unbelief, resulting in the crucifixion of their Messiah, has caused him great grief and even bewilderment. Of all men, the Jews should have known and recognised their Messiah, so Paul explains their lack of faith in the light of two great parallel concepts; the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.
This is the first in a series of three podcasts and lessons focussing on the relationship between the Church and Israel in Romans 9, 10 and 11.
Read the notes HERE.
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The Battle of Armageddon. What is it? When will it occur?
In a previous Table Talk, we looked at the subject of the ‘General Resurrection of the Dead.’ It’s a simple enough end-times position, but it seems to leave little room for this great battle, the conflict to end all conflicts, the Battle of Armageddon. So, let’s see what the common opinion and belief about Armageddon is, and then attempt to contrast that with a reformed viewpoint, - a non-millennialist standpoint that will be Biblical.
WARNING - THIS PODCAST ADVANCES A NON-MILLENNIAL VIEW OF END TIMES.
To read the notes, CLICK THIS LINK.
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Is there such a thing as 'The Unpardonable Sin? A sin so egregious that it can never be forgiven? If so, what is it? In this sermon, we explore this important issue and draw some serious conclusions.
How does God reveal himself to a blinded, careless sinner? Through the work of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-11 It is the Holy Spirit who, through the preaching of the gospel, convicts us of our sin, who makes us aware of the law we have broken, and the dreadful and just punishment that awaits us in eternity, and draws us to the cross, who gives us faith to trust in Christ and who regenerates our dead spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who REVEALS CHRIST TO US. The Pharisees have rejected the work of the Holy Spirit, and since it is only through the personal work of the Holy Spirit that a person can be saved, – they can NEVER EXPERIENCE FORGIVENESS!
Read the NOTES BY CLICKING THIS LINK
Jesus’ words are a warning to every unrepentant sinner. In the book of Acts chapter 28 Paul testified before King Agrippa. Agrippa was moved by his testimony. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. The unpardonable sin...
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Catechism Class: Lord’s Day 48
Praying about the Kingdom of God. Q123
The catechist is teaching us about the Lord’s Prayer. We MUST consider carefully every line of the Lord’s prayer, so that we can use it as a tool, a model prayer, to shape the petitions of our daily prayers, to teach us how we should pray. Luke 11:1 So now we come to the second petition of the prayer, and our instructor in the Heidelberg Catechism asks, “What is the second petition? Your kingdom come. That is: So rule us by your Word and Spirit that more and more we submit to you. Preserve and increase your church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against you, and every conspiracy against your holy Word. Do all this until the fullness of your kingdom comes, wherein you shall be all in all.”
To read the NOTES CLICK THIS LINK
The catechist identifies four different features of God’s kingdom, and teaches us to pray about each of those features. My life is part of the Kingdom of God, His Church is part of His kingdom, His kingdom is the battle against evil and God’s kingdom has an eschatological, ‘end-time’ dimension. All of these areas are part of God’s Kingdom, but every constituent part is worth our prayers.
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Sandy Peden Episode 4
We come to the last of our short history podcasts on the life of Rev Alexander Peden, the ‘Prophet of the Covenanters.’ Rev Sandy Peden was an enigma. He was a man of stern Presbyterian principles, who had, nevertheless a heart that was aching about the spiritual plight of Scotland and its people. He knew intimately the will of God concerning them, and saw its out-working in everyday occurrences.
Listen to the complete series, to get an inkling into the life of a man who was faithful to God, no matter what the cost, - not in depth, or with academic analysis, - but just enough to introduce ordinary Christians to our forefathers in the faith, and to perhaps inspire you to delve a little deeper yourself.
Explore more, CLICK THIS LINK FOR MORE COVENANTER HISTORY
Music:
‘Scotland’ by Henry Gorman
‘In another time’ by Roland Rudzitis
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Catechism Class: Lord’s Day 47, Q 122Really Knowing God.
"Hallowed be your name."
What does this mean? Does it, for example mean that God’s name is so holy that we should never even speak it? Let’s see what our instructor teaches… Remember the God’s NAME is a revelation of his nature. We want his revealed nature, his attributes, his Name to be rendered holy, in this world and in our lives. So we must know him, who he is and what he is like.
Q122. What is the first petition? A. Hallowed be your name. Grant us first of all that we may rightly know you, and sanctify, glorify, and praise you in all your works, in which shine forth your almighty power, wisdom, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth. Grant us also that we may so direct our whole life – our thoughts, words, and actions – that your name is not blasphemed because of us but always honoured and praised.
To READ THE NOTES CLICK THIS LINK
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The Ascension and Return of Jesus
In this sermon, Bob McEvoy looks at Acts 1:9-11, the account of the Ascension of Jesus, and sees in this important historical event the pattern and sequence of the Lord's Return. He challenges us to be ready...
'TableTalk' is a twice monthly event at Ballymacashon Old Reformed Church (Congregational) in Co.Down, Northern Ireland, and during 2020 the group had been discussing the doctrine of Eschatology from a reformed and evangelical perspective, while appreciating that other Christians have differing perspectives on 'end times' matters. This message, however, although relevant to the TableTalk theme, is from the archives!
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In Part One of ‘The Keys of the Kingdom’ we looked at Matthew 16:19 and saw that our catechism instructor teaches us that the ‘Keys of the Kingdom’ is THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, which opens the door to the kingdom of heaven for those who will come and be saved, and which closes the door of the kingdom of heaven to those who refuse to repent. There is a second way in which the ‘Keys of the Kingdom’ are employed –
CLICK THIS LINK TO READ THE NOTES
The Heidelberg Catechism Q85 “How is the kingdom of heaven closed and opened by church discipline?”
A. According to the command of Christ, people who call themselves Christians but show themselves to be un-christian
in doctrine or life are first repeatedly admonished in a brotherly manner. If they do not give up their errors or wickedness, they are reported to the church, that is, to the elders. If they do not heed also their admonitions, they are forbidden the use of the sacraments, and they are excluded by the elders from the Christian congregation, and by God himself from the kingdom of Christ. They are again received as members of Christ and of the church when they promise and show real amendment.
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Sandy Peden - the 'Prophet of the Covenant'
You may have been wondering why students of the history of Scottish Presbyterianism sometimes refer to Sandy Peden as ‘The Prophet of the Covenant.’ There’s certainly quite a few strange stories about his strange abilities to discern events, and make uncanny predictions.
In this podcast I'll tell you about just some of those strange events…
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Is the Pope the 'keeper of the keys?' What exactly are these keys, that we see crossed on papal insignia? The Heidelberg Catechism teaches us quite clearly what Jesus meant when he said to Peter, in Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”Q 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?A. The preaching of the holy gospel and church discipline. By these two the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and closed to unbelievers.Q 84 How is the kingdom of heaven opened and closed by the preaching of the gospel?A. According to the command of Christ, the kingdom of heaven is opened when it is proclaimed and publicly testified to each and every believer that God has really forgiven all their sins for the sake of Christ’s merits, as often as they by true faith accept the promise of the gospel. The kingdom of heaven is closed when it is proclaimed and testified to all unbelievers and hypocrites that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation rest on them as long as they do not repent. According to this testimony of the gospel, God will judge both in this life and in the life to comeIn this simple lesson we look at 'The Keys of the Kingdom.'Read the notes by CLICKING THIS LINK.
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The Christian is FORGIVEN. The Christian will offer FORGIVENESS.
If you have read the Heidelberg Catechism, you will remember that it falls into three sections, Guilt, Grace and Gratitude. The premise is that if we understand how great our burden of debt and sin, and we come to realise how much it cost our Saviour to bear all of our sins upon the cross, we will respond with gratitude, repenting of our sins, and believing, trusting in Christ. We will bear the fruits of repentance in our lives, and one of those is to willingly offer the same forgiveness to those who have sinned against us.
In this edited sermon preached in 2018 at Templepatrick Reformed Church Bob McEvoy seeks to understand the true nature of the Christian Experience of Forgiveness, as taught in Matthew 18:21-35
Click this link to READ THE NOTES
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When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He told them exactly how they are to approach God, what they are to say and how they are to address him. The Heidelberg catechist instructs us on what Jesus taught us to say when come to God in prayer….
Hint, - it's NOT 'Our Heavenly Mother!'
To read the NOTES CLICK HERE.
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This week’s ‘TableTalk’ is very different. In this study I am going to look at a subject which can be upsetting, if not downright alarming. It is not suitable for children, or those who are nervous, for it will evoke images of the lost dead. We shall ask firstly, is there a difference between the resurrection body of the lost, and the resurrection body of the saved, and secondly, will there be a difference between my present body and my future, resurrection body? When we search the scriptures, we are confronted with two marked contrasts...
Get the STUDY GUIDE / NOTES HERE
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This episode covers Peden's arrest and imprisonment on the Bass Rock, and how his subsequent deportation into slavery in America is thwarted by God's providence
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The Lord’s Prayer – OverviewText. Matthew 6:9
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 45C2 – Q119The catechist has introduced us to the Lord’s Prayer, which is the model prayer for all our prayers. So in this episode, we move on to look at the model prayer itself, and before we examine the petitions in the prayer, make a few important general observations about it.
To Read the NOTES CLICK HERE
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Sermon recorded live at Ballymacashon Church on Sunday 10th January, 2021. Acts 16:25
“What must I do to be saved?” is quoted in thousands of evangelistic sermons.
The prison officer’s question has been written in the minds of thousands of people, and I’ve no doubt has been instrumental in awakening people to their need of salvation. So, it is our responsibility to read the passage, in context, and with a correct understanding of the work of God in salvation and the correct response of men and women to that work of God.
Live recording - so the sound quality is a little 'echoey.
Read the notes HERE
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A recorded Bible Study, similar to those given at 'TableTalk' @ Ballymacashon Church.
How many resurrections will there be, and when? And how will God raise from the dead those whose bodies have been cremated?
To read the notes, CLICK THIS LINK
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It’s the ‘Killing Times.’ That period in Scotland’s history between the Great Ejectment of the Minsters in 1662 and the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of William of Orange, which began in 1688. It was a bloodthirsty time, as the troops and soldiers loyal to the King, King Charles II tried with violence and execution to quell the passion of the Scottish Covenanters, those presbyterians who rejected Anglicanism and prayer-book style worship, and the governance of the church by Bishops and Archbishops. Presbyterians who believed that Christ alone is the head of his church, and that no earthly king has the right to consider himself in any position of authority in Christ’s kingdom on earth.
Many Presbyterian pastors resisted the encroachment of the king's writ over the church, among them Sandy Peden, 'Puir Auld Sandy...'
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An address given in 2017 at Templepatrick Reformed Church, asking what Martin Luther would think of modern evangelicalism, and looking at some of the key differences between Luther's thought and modern church doctrines and practices.
Click HERE to read the Study Guide
Catechism Class
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 45C, Q118-119
Q.118 What has God commanded us to ask of him?
A. All the things we need for body and soul, as included in the prayer which Christ our Lord himself taught us.
Q.119 What is the Lord's prayer?
A. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Find the notes here.
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Martin Luther and the Papal Indulgence.
In 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 theses against Indulgences, and so began the Protestant Reformation. In this lecture, given in 2017 at Templepatrick Reformed Church, Bob McEvoy will outline the eternal dangers that Luther saw in the indulgence. Based on Romans 5:8-9
Read the Notes for this episode here:
It’s Scotland, and it’s 1662, the year of ‘the Great Ejectment.’ King Charles II was tightening his grip on the church by controlling its clergy, using the chain of authority through archbishops and bishops, and loyal land owning patrons who were influential in clergy appointments. But around one third of ministers left or were forced to leave rather than accept the dictates of the so-called Patronage Act. They were excluded from their pulpits, to be replaced in most parishes by Episcopalian curates.
Among those ejected was the minister of New Luce, in Galloway, Rev Alexander Peden, dubbed by history as ‘The Prophet of the Covenant.’
Peden, only three years in his charge, would never return to a regular pulpit, but his ministry was far from over, as we shall learn in this new series of podcast episodes - coming soon on The Semper Reformata Podcast.
Peden took to the fields and the roads, he lived in caves and sheds, he ate berries and whatever he could glean from farmers and supporters. He preached in the open air and administered the sacraments in barns and at conventicles; he was hunted and condemned by the government, exiled, imprisoned, and he still kept on preaching and witnessing for Christ, and preaching the gospel.
This will be the story of Rev Alexander Peden, - Puir Auld Sandy.
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How should we pray? What should our prayers consist of? Learn from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q117
Q.117, What belongs to a prayer which pleases God and is heard by him?
A.
First, we must from the heart call upon the one true God only, who has revealed himself in his Word, for all that he has commanded us to pray.
Second, we must thoroughly know our need and misery,
so that we may humble ourselves before God.
Third, we must rest on this firm foundation that, although we do not deserve it, God will certainly hear our prayer for the sake of Christ our Lord, as he has promised us in his Word.
Read the notes: https://saltyscrivener.uk/2020/12/31/catechism-class-lords-day-45b-q117/
Music: "In Another Time" by Exacttrax
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Peaching.
Who wants to sit and listen to a sermon in this day and age? We have so many modern, excellent methods of communication nowadays. Our minds are bombarded with moving images from the time we can can sit up in our prams. We have electronic communications, visual aids, modern psychologically efficient teaching methods, reaching the learning styles of the individual student … Is it any wonder that some modern Christians find a 35 minute monologue from a pulpit a bit off-putting! Yet preaching is God’s ordained method for reaching sinners, and bringing them to faith in Christ. In this podcast, we will learn a little bit about preaching from Paul the Apostle. The teaching in this Podcast is based on 1 Corinthians ch 2, verse 3.
Thank you for listening. Lease visit the Semper-Reformata website, SaltyScrivener.uk.Just click the link.
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How to Cope With the Darkness of 2020
This edition of the Semper Reformata Podcast by Bob McEvoy features a sermon from Ballymacashon, preached on the last Sunday of 2020, exhorting the congregation to see that despite all the darkness of 2020, we can still trust and hope in the Lord for our comfort and salvation.
Scriptures used: Psalm 42 and John 1:10-13
To read the Study Guide notes, go to https://saltyscrivener.uk/2020/12/26/2020-hindsight/
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Table-Talk from Ballymacashon
With talk of a new 'Covid Passport' being mooted in the UK, and elsewhere, some Christians are thinking it's related to the infamous "Mark of the Beast" - 666, in the Book of Revelation. But is it? In this live podcast, Bob McEvoy, the pastor of Ballymacashon Old Reformed Church (Congregational) in Northern Ireland looks at the possibilities...
Read the notes at https://saltyscrivener.uk/2020/12/10/666-and-the-covid-passport/