MarMar-Apr 2012

The Evangelical Presbyterian

Mar Mar-Apr 2012 1.50

Perhaps Unthinkablebut not Unsinkable Destination UnknownTickets on the Titanic The Model Church The Burmese Challenge
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

The Evangelical Presbyterian

is published bi-monthly by the Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Please visit: www.epcni.org.uk Follow us on

Take Note
Christian Values in a Collapsing Culture Just before Christmas Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of the UK as a Christian country stating: We should not be afraid to say so. Just recently the High Court ruled that Bideford Town Councils prayers contravened the Local Government Act and Prayers should not be on the business agenda. On Christmas Day, the Queen gave her message to the Commonwealth, and in a speech that has been widely acknowledged by many as one of the best, she spoke of God sending a unique person into the world, not a philosopher nor a general, but a Saviour with power to forgive. Recently, the Archbishop of York has spoken out strongly against the Governments plans to redefine marriage and in a newly published book by Lord Carey, (former Archbishop of Canterbury) We Dont Do God he expresses concern about the marginalisation of public faith. The recognition of our collapsing culture by leading figures in our nation is to be welcomed. How we deal with it may be a different matter. The Government and the Christian church are on different paths when it comes to restoring morality in the country. There is nothing new in this. The apostles in the early church were often at odds with the political leadership of their day. Peter and John were brought before the Council (Acts 4) and charged not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. The law in the UK presents some difficult choices for Christians today but if we are to uphold Christian values in our collapsing culture we must obey God rather than men.

Policy
The views expressed are those of the Editor and Contributors which are understood to reflect the theological position of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Editor
Harold Gibson Stockbridge 2 Barronstown Court DROMORE BT25 1FB hgibson@barronstown.force9.net

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1st of month prior to publication

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Finance
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Cover Photograph
The Titanic (dry) Dock in Belfast where the Titanics propellers were fitted and her hull painted in 1912. It is 850 feet long. The ship was 882.75 feet long, so how did it fit in? Childrens question!
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Take Note: Note Whether it is right in the sight of

God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4.19-20)

MarMar-Apr 2012

Perhaps Unthinkable, but not Unsinkable

The Editor
The impending opening of the Titanic Centre in Belfast this month with the hopes of attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city remind us of the fascination that surrounds the Titanic story. It has captured the minds and imaginations of authors, film producers, musicians and playwrights over the last 100 years. The recent sinking of the Concordia off the Italian coast has made headlines in the news and whether it will still be a talking point in 100 years remains to be seen. The Titanic story is no doubt an unforgettable event in the history of the world. This magnificent vessel, the greatest the world had ever seen up to that point in history, tells of more than just a voyage across the Atlantic. It depicts the story of life! The Journey of Life We are all on a voyage, sometimes described as a journey from the cradle to the grave. The Bible depicts life as a journey, days of plenty, days of blessing and often wilderness years. Three classes of passengers set out on the Titanic. There were the rich and the poor and those somewhere in between. Today some speak of upper, middle and lower class. The Bible tells of the call of God to Abram: Go from your country, ... to the land that I will show you, and of the exodus of Gods people from Egypt to the promised land. They are all reminders that we are on a journey. John Cennick, the hymn writer puts it like this, Children of the heavenly King, as you journey sweetly sing and in the next verse he writes We are travelling home to God. The Dangers we Meet Often the waters of life are calm and carefree and we sail along quite happily until suddenly troubles arrive unannounced. Health breaks down, financial crisis comes to us, family issues arise and cause pain and hurt. All these things are part of lifes journey but there is an even greater danger. The apostle Paul tells of some who made shipwreck of the faith. (1 Tim 1.19) Paul is instructing Timothy to hold on to the truth, wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. In all the storms of life that come upon us we need to be grounded firm and deep in the Saviours love. Hymenaeus and Alexander are held up to Timothy as men who made shipwreck of the faith. It is the rejection of the truth and a good conscience that has caused the shipwreck. Calvin wrote that a bad conscience is the mother of all heresies. At the end of The Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells of two men who are building houses. One builds on sand and the other on a rock. Then the rain came down, the winds began to blow and floods came and beat upon the house. The point of the story is all about having a sure foundation. The power of the world around us and the temptations that we face can be so great that we often wonder is the foundation of our faith going to hold. There is nothing that so profoundly tests a man as to his foundations as the mighty fact and moment of death.1
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The Destination Ahead As the Titanic sped on towards its destination, New York City, tragedy struck. On Easter Sunday night the mighty vessel collided with an iceberg ripping a large hole in the ship and causing the icy waters of the Atlantic to flood into her. The oft -quoted words of the White Star Line employee Not even God almighty could sink this ship were now proving to be untrue. The unthinkable had happened. Within a few hours this floating palace would be resting on the ocean bed, some two miles below. For many men and women today, the same mentality reigns. Little thought is given to the future, the world teaches that we are to live for today but the Bible reminds us that we do not know what a day will bring forth. Life leads to a destination, the journey ends one day for all of us and it ends in death. For some the voyage ends sooner than expected. For others it continues much longer than anticipated. What happens after death? According to the Bible after death comes the judgment. As the mighty ship sank many of the passengers tried clinging unto something in an attempt to save themselves from drowning. How many today are clinging to something in the hope that all will be well in the end. People cling on to their church membership, their standing in the community, their good life and works all hoping that this will see them right in the end. Men and women are drowning in

the sea of self-righteousness. There were three classes of people who boarded the Titanic for that voyage but at the end of the journey there were just two, the saved and the lost. Some escaped death because the lifeboat rescued them. So it is in life today, we may have upper, middle and lower class distinctions but in the end there are but two kinds of people, the saved and the lost. Death is the great leveller; it brings kings to the level of the commoner and the commoner to the level of kings. Some were not only rescued that fateful night but were truly saved as they trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. It is to him alone we must look for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19.10) The way of salvation is in Christ alone, Augustus Toplady sums it up so well, Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. Make sure as you journey through life that you are trusting in Jesus Christ by faith alone for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
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Studies in The Sermon on the Mount, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Vol.2. IVP, 1973.

MarMar-Apr 2012

The 7 ChurchesJesus speaks to his church today

Rev 2.8-11The Model Church

Rev Gareth Burke, Stranmillis

Someone recently informed me that despite conducting a serious search they had been unable to find the perfect church in Belfast! I was tempted to respond using the words attributed to C H Spurgeon: If you find the perfect church make sure you dont join it. Its perfection will be no more! We know that no perfection can be found in church life or in any other sphere of life this side of glory. However, the church in Smyrna, whilst undoubtedly not perfect, receives no words of rebuke from Jesus and is set before us as a congregation of impressive spirituality and faithfulness. In that sense Smyrna is a model church. The City Smyrna , now called Izmir, was situated thirty five miles north of Ephesus and rivalled Ephesus for the title and reputation of first city. There were numerous buildings of beautiful architecture in Smyrna appropriate for a place of learning and writing. Its monetary system as well as its schools of medicine and science were widely known and the Smyrna Tourist Guide would undoubtedly have mentioned its distinctive broad street and twenty thousand-seater open-air theatre. Although materially well favoured it was sadly a significant centre for the worship of the Roman Emperor and, of course, is known to us as the place that witnessed the martyrdom of the eighty six year old Polycarp in the second century. The Persecution I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev 2.9) The Christians in Smyrna knew great persecution and trial because of their faithful allegiance to Christ. Several features of this persecution are highlighted in verse 9. The Jews were at the forefront of harassing the church. They were subjecting the Christians to slander and were undoubtedly deeply agitated by the conviction of the Christians that Jesus was the promised Messiah who was to be worshipped. The persecution of the church led to poverty on the part of many of the church members. It seems likely that the Jews and others in Smyrna were boycotting the Christians and refusing to trade with them. It would also seem likely that the Christians would not have participated in the trade guilds because of the necessity for guild members to give recognition and worship to pagan idols. For these reasons and others the believers were suffering economically. Of course the dominant reason why the believers were experiencing persecution was that Satan, our arch enemy, was driving the Jews and others to oppose them. The letter makes reference to a synagogue of Satan and in verse 10 to how the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. We, like these believers in the Smyrnan church, are involved in a warfare with the very powers
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of darkness. The forces of hell are against us and are trying to destroy us. Opposition and persecution manifests itself in various forms but behind each one is our enemy, Satan, the accuser. The Encouragement Though the situation was very difficult for the Smyrnan believers they are set before us as model believersremaining faithful to the Lord and his truth despite trials and afflictions. In that sense they are a challenge to us today to keep going in the face of numerous obstacles. Jesus, who is addressing them in this letter, encourages them to keep going by reminding them of certain great truths. Jesus knows all about them. In verse 9 he reminds them twice that he knows. Hes involved with them, actively engaged with them in their work and witness, standing by them in their trials. More than that he is in control. Whilst the persecution was fierce and hard yet it would only last a finite and limited period of time, referred to symbolically as ten days in verse 10. Jesus will permit Satan to attack his people at times but only for a limited period. Indeed, although the enemy is able to harass the church, it will ultimately be for their good. They will be tested and with the Lords supporting grace and help, will be able to stand firm and will emerge from the trial stronger believers. Ultimately Jesus reminds them that he will welcome them into heaven itself. Using athletic imagery, which would have been very familiar to the believers living in Smyrna where athletic competition was a feature of city life, He assures them that at the end of the race that is the Christian life they would receive the prize the crown of life glory itself. Postscript I am writing this article in the warmth of my east Belfast study on a pleasant Saturday afternoon. Im not expecting anyone to come to the door to harass me or persecute me for being a Christian. Im looking forward to going to church tomorrow to worship with Gods people in Stranmillis. I dont expect the doors of the church to be chained on my arrival or to experience any overt opposition to my preaching of God's Word. So how is this letter from Jesus to the church in Smyrna relevant to me? Sure, Im comforted by the recognition that any trial I experience is limited, that Jesus is always in control, that heaven awaits me as a child of God. But the essential thrust of the letter is to do with persecution, something I havent really experienced, certainly not to the same degree as the saints in Smyrna. However, I would contend that whilst persecution is most certainly a dominant thought in the letter faithfulness is also very much to the fore. The church in Smyrna was busyI know your workscontinuing to serve faithfully despite the opposition. The believers were also prepared to be faithful unto prison and even death. Is Jesus not saying to us that we should be a faithful people, a faithful church, despite all the pressures that weigh in against us? So in this age when we are being pressurised to give in to overly subjective worship, to tone down our emphasis on the importance and centrality of the preaching of the Word and to dumb down our insistence that there is only one way to God, let us remain faithful. Let us not yield to those subtle yet powerful forces within and outwith the church that are encouraging us to adopt a less than Biblical approach to worship, preaching and witness. Let us, like Smyrna, remain faithful in the face of these pressures.
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MarMar-Apr 2012

Destination UnknownTickets on the Titanic

Faith Cook
John Harper glanced at the ticket he had just purchased No 248727. A ticket on the Titanic! It had cost him a handsome 33about 1,500 in todays values. Not even God can sink the Titanic, said some passengers jovially as they jostled for ticketstickets costing up to 800.00, at least 33,000 today. Never had Harper, a thirty-nine-year-old Irish preacher, imagined that he would travel to New York on the majestic four-funnelled Titanic, newly launched from the Harland and Wolff Belfast shipyard and about to embark on her maiden voyage. A thirty-nine year-old preacher, Harper had a single aim in life: not to rescue men and women from perils of land or sea, but from final condemnation at the judgement seat of God. Presently pastor of a London church, he had already known exceptional blessing on his preaching as his first congregation in Glasgow had risen from a mere twenty-five to almost five hundred. And on an earlier visit to Chicago, he had also seen evidences of Gods power to transform lives. Originally he had planned to sail on the Lusitania, en route to Chicago where he was booked to preach at the Moody Church for three months. Delayed by a change in arrangements, he had decided to travel on the Titanic instead. Perhaps the thought that fellow London preacher, J Stuart Holden had also bought a ticket on the Titanic, was an added attraction to Harper, but to his disappointment Holden had to cancel his trip at the last moment owing to his wifes unexpected illness. In the event Harper took with him his six-year-old daughter Nina and his adult niece, Jessie, for Johns wife had died shortly after Ninas birth. The largest and most luxurious liner afloat, the Titanic had been constructed with all the latest technology. Her sixteen watertight compartments made any possibility of disaster seem remote, while among her amenities she boasted a gymnasium, a swimming pool, panelled ballrooms and electric lifts. But for John Harper, his confidence lay not in any mighty ocean liner, however unsinkable she might be, but in the all-powerful God he served. Certainly he had already experienced three occasions when he could easily have lost his life by drowning but had been remarkably rescued. Standing on the deck of that impressive vessel as she slipped gracefully out of Southampton Water on 10 April 1912, Harper could only gasp in wonder at the magnificent dcor and the luxury on every hand. Some of societys richest men and women swept past him on their way to their plush apartments, and with his
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own moderately priced ticket, he could only guess at the opulence of their surroundings as they wined and dined under exotic chandeliers each night and danced through the small hours. Yet he grieved at the emptiness of the lives of many and at their utter complacency regarding any life beyond the grave. He thought too of the immigrants and the less fortunate crowded into steerage. With 2,224 on board here was mission field enough for John Harper, and he determined to take every opportunity during the expected seven-day voyage to speak to all he could about their eternal welfare. As the graceful liner cut her way effortlessly through the choppy Atlantic waters sometimes reaching almost record speeds, Harper tried to challenge passengers and crew alike. Life is uncertain and short, he told them repeatedly. Are you saved? Some listened. Most did not. Then at twenty minutes to midnight on 14 April, four days into the voyage, a strange sound was heard, running the length of the great ship an eerie ripping sound like someone tearing fabric in two. Some passengers, preparing for bed, noticed large chunks of ice floating past their portholes. Up and down the long corridors heads poked out of the doors. What was that? Is everything all right? Stewards quickly reassured any who appeared anxious. The Titanic is the safest ship afloatpractically unsinkable! So most laughed and climbed back into bed. Some continued to sip wine and dance in the elaborate ballroom with music drowning any threatening sounds. But others, taking a late night stroll on the deck, had seen the frightening shape of a gigantic iceberg looming ahead. They had watched in horror as the helmsman made a desperate attempt to turn the ship to starboard to avoid a collision. Then came the ear splitting crash and the slicing sound of ice across metal.. Soon complacency turned to alarm as stewards knocked on every door: Dress warmly, put on life jackets, report to the upper deck. John Harper quickly grasped the situation as he heard snatches of conversation. We are taking water, said some. There is no danger, assured others. Lifting his sleeping child, Nina, and rousing Jessie, Harper struggled up the stairways to the upper deck. He knew well that there were only twenty lifeboats on board. Even if all were filled to capacity, only half the 2,224 passengers and crew could be accommodated. What if the Titanic sank? Horror swept over him. Hundreds of men and women, heedless of his warnings, might soon perish. Women and children first to the lifeboats, yelled the stewards. Surely, thought Harper, those in imminent spiritual peril must also have priority. They were illprepared for death. Women, children and the unsaved to the lifeboats, he cried, as he raced along the deck, still clutching Nina, with Jessie close behind. Giving six-year-old Nina a quick hug, he handed her to a steward who put her in lifeboat number 11 along with Jessie. Then he continued his lonely mission. Distress flares lit the night sky to alert any nearby ships of the Titanics imminent disaster. Wireless signals tapped out the urgent message as the ships stern began to rise slowly into the air with the bow sinking below the icy waters. One by one the lights went out. Panic set in as passengers slid helplessly down the decks as the ships angle grew yet steeper. And still John Harper called his lone message. Women, children and the unsaved to the lifeboats
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Far different were the frenzied efforts of others. Many of the weak and vulnerable were pushed to the back as the affluent and influential were given priority. Some threw money at the stewards in an attempt to buy a place in a lifeboat. Some were trampled underfoot. Others clung to each other in despair preferring to die together rather than be separated. Pandemonium reigned. The lifeboats, some only half filled at first, then others hopelessly overcrowded, swung jerkily towards the black and oily waters. By two in the morning the great ship began to break up as the bow slid relentlessly further under the water. Desperate, crazed passengers leapt into the depths. At 2.20 am on 15 April the pride of the White Star Line sank to a watery grave just two hours and forty minutes after striking the iceberg. A fearful silence followed, broken only by the screams of the drowning, struggling frantically in the dark waters. Man, are you saved? shouted Harper as he swam up to a desperate figure clinging to some debris. No, yelled the young man. As Harper was driven further off, he could be heard asking other drowning passengers the same vital question. Now the brave evangelist himself was floundering. A moment or two later, almost exhausted, he was thrown back towards the first man. Are you saved? he called again, fainter this time. No, shouted the other. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, cried Harper, as he lost the struggle, succumbing to the icy grip of death. The tragic sinking of the Titanic horrified and distressed the public on both sides of the Atlantic. By the time the Carpathia arrived at the scene two hours later, no survivors remained except those in the lifeboats 711 in all: 1513 had perished that night. Destination unknown could well be written across the tickets of many passengers and crew on that fatal voyage. But there was a sequel. The young man to whom John Harper had spoken had in fact been pulled into a lifeboat before it was too late. And as he himself testified some years later, in that last frightening hour, he had indeed found mercy through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For anxious relatives and friends at home the White Star Line put up two lists: Known to be saved and Known to be lost. And who can tell how many were eternally saved as a result of one brave mans witness? Editors Note:
The ticket belonging to the Rev Stuart Holden is the only known surviving first class ticket for the Titanic and until his death in 1934 Mr Holden looked at it every day. It hung on his study wall and he added the following words from Psalm 103 to it: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction. Stuart Holden knew that God had spared him from drowning.

Dramatic events marked the early 20th century in Ulster. There was the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912, and in September, the signing of the Ulster Covenant as a pledge of resistance to Home Rule in Ireland. On 1 July 1916, the 36 th Ulster Division sustained grievous casualties at the Somme. The 1920s opened with serious civil disorder and bloodshed as the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland came into existence. But into this situation, in the mercy and providence of God, came the renowned evangelical missions of W P Nicholson, 1921-23 and 1924-26. Perhaps as many as ten thousand were converted to Jesus Christ during the first mission alone, greatly transforming community life, and restoring a large measure of civil peace. There is no limit to what God can do! We must pray that he will do it again in our day.
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All Lands to God!

The Emmaus Road TrustThe Burmese Challenge
Colin MacPherson visited our Churches at the beginning of February and spoke in Crumlin and Stranmillis. Here he tells of an amazing new Christian Literature Project.

How do you begin to meet the Christian literature needs in one of the worlds most restricted countries? Imagine trying to publish and sell Christian books in a context where telephones are rare, the Internet is restricted, email is too expensive for the average person, and travel from one town to another is only possible with advance permission. It is a publishers nightmare. Everything has been designed to frustrate communication. And where do you start in a country with 134 ethnic groups CMJ in Burma using 116 different languages, and where the church is represented by more than 90 different denominations! It is small wonder that believers in Myanmar tend to get on with their own small corners, in effective isolation, without knowing what anyone else is doing. Publishing, however, rests on everyone knowing your products and having access to them. There is huge need: there are more than 4 million Christians in Burma, many without Bibles, and more than 150 Bible colleges, most with minimal libraries. Over the last few years we have received a growing number of requests for help with literature and Christian publishing. We have helped some, but needed a first-hand understanding and face to face relationships before taking the next step. Also, the time is right. Perception & Reality It was not what we expected. The perception we had was of severe religious persecution and repression. Yet, we discovered an amazingly open, active and committed church, with surprising freedom of religion and worship. Certainly the governments human rights record is appalling, but the trouble has been primarily ethnic rather than religious. The military regime is not ideological in the way that communism is. You can believe what you like and practice your religion openly. Just dont dare do anything that might be seen as critical of the government or constitute opposition. The generals have been paranoid about the continuity of their government, and about preserving national unity. Persecution has been political and ethnic because some of the minorities do not Seminary Library want to be ruled by the regime and have suffered as a result, even to the point of ethnic cleansing. Some of these minorities are largely Christian or Muslim. The People and the Need Myanmar is one of the Worlds poorest countries, yet we found the people to be warm, friendly, gentle and generous. It is still not permitted for foreigners to visit Burmese homes, but they helped us to break that rule. We visited the two existing publishers and several Bible colleges
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and churches, and were humbled by their dedication and zeal. But they have very little and the situation is complex and fragmented. We visited one Bible college where the entire library was held in one small bookcase half full! One pastor said simply how can I preach if I cannot study and how can I study without books? Many pastors have no books at all, and some even no Bibles, so you can understand how preaching is often lacking biblical roots.

Seminary Students

Change But there is an air of optimism amongst Christians in Yangon. Their context is changing rapidly, even in the last few weeks. They say we may be standing at the beginning of a very different future. The new government has made or permitted significant changes, many of which would be very difficult to reverse. World leaders are beginning to believe the changes are genuine, and ceasefire has just been agreed with some of the minorities after decades of conflict. When communism collapsed in East Europe it opened a door of opportunity and a period of tremendous ministry. The same may be about to happen in Myanmar and the opportunities are exciting. How can we Help? The landscape is changing and suddenly the Christian publisher has an enormous task ahead to reach a vital audience. Rapidly they have freedom of travel, internet cafes springing up all over the place, email communication growing exponentially and mobile phones mushrooming. The Emmaus Road Trust plans to respond to the Burmese challenge with a program of support for the Burmese publishers and several writers. They want to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead but need financial support to do this, together with encouragement and mentoring in the skills of publishing. Please join us in prayer that God would do above and beyond what we can imagine. A Weeks Wages? The Burmese publisher in the picture is holding a New Testament commentary which costs around 6. Not bad for a nice hardback book of this size? But it represents a weeks wages for the average minister. I asked him if anyone bought it. He said he was almost sold out. I asked how they could afford it and he said simply they save hard for what is valuable. Think about your weeks income. Even the state pension is around 100 and average income is more than 500. Would you pay that for a book? Or would you pay that to enable dozens of Burmese pastors to have this book?
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Jacob, Burmese Publisher

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CONNIE and PHILIP at

Quick! Honestly, Philip! This room is a disgrace! declared Dad, stepping over Lego pieces and toy soldiers. He looked in vain for a place to leave the pile of clean clothes he was carrying. Here, Son. Put these away please. And I dont mean add them to the heap on your bed. Dad, its not that bad really. I will tidy it tomorrow, promised Philip. But Dad had already moved along to Connies room with his next pile of clean washing. Philip scowled as he heard Dad praising Connie for her neatlymade bed and tidy room. It wasnt fair, he thought to himself. Connie had been playing Lego battles with him all morning and at least half the mess in his room was her fault. Typical Connie. She always managed to keep out of trouble. It was the same at dinnertime. Good girl, smiled Mum, as Connie asked for extra mushrooms. Philip was sure she was doing it to make him look bad. He didnt like mushrooms and was trying to pick them out of his stir-fry and slip them unnoticed unto Dads plate. Mummy, look what Philips doing, announced Connie with a smirk in his direction. In return, Philip tried to kick his sister under the table, but that only made things worse. Even though he missed, Connie squealed of course, which meant Dad intervened and Philip had to say sorry to Connie and eat his mushrooms. Later that evening, brother and sister had forgotten their row and were sitting side by side in the childrens meeting at church. Connie was feeling smug. She knew Mum and Dad were pleased with her. She had heard Mum telling Grandpa that on the phone earlier and Connie liked pleasing people. Sometimes, she felt
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CHILDRENS MEETING
bad about getting Philip into trouble, but, after all, he deserved it. He was the naughty one. Suddenly the words of the leader broke into Connies thoughts. Boys and girls, he was saying, do you know that God is not pleased with you? No matter how good you think you are, you can never be good enough to please God. God is pleased with only one person and that is Jesus. He went on to tell a story from the bible about what happened to Jesus up a mountain one day, but Connie wasnt listening. She was shocked. God not pleased with her? Could it be true? Everyone was pleased with her; she was the good one. But what if it was true? Before she went to bed that night, Connie helped Philip to tidy his room. She even said sorry for getting him into trouble at the dinner table. She felt better after that, but still the leaders words repeated in her head. You can never be good enough to please God.

God is not

Normally, in the few minutes before she fell asleep, Connie enjoyed imagining stories where she was always pleased the heroine with everyone telling her how good she with you. was. But tonight she realised for the first time in her life that the real Connie was a proud show-off who often told lies. Mum had already come in to pray with her and kiss her goodnight, but Connie wanted to pray again. Dear Lord Jesus, she whispered through her tears, please forgive me. And please help me, because Im not good enough for God, and I really, want to be. Thank you, Jesus. Amen Find out more about Connie and Philip next time.
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Church News
ObituaryMrs Mary Millen, Knock
Mrs Mary (May) Millen went to be with the Lord on Wednesday 7 December 2011. She was 99. She had been a member of Knock since 1963 although, with advancing years and Alzheimer's, she had been unable to attend Church for over 15 years. Her husband, Robert, a Deacon for over 20 years from 1963, died in December 1990. They had been married for 55 years. After Robert's death May moved from Grand Parade to Towell House and later to Beechill Care Home. May never sought high profile in Church but was faithful in attendance at the Lord's Day services, the Prayer Meeting and the Women's Fellowship until failing health curtailed her mobility. She helped with the Little Neighbours Club which ran from 1978-1984. With her failing mental powers she was unable to recall her Church life in any detail but visitors were always encouraged by her warm response to Scripture throughout those years of decline. Her new condition in the presence of God is incomparably better. We extend our sympathy to the members of her wider family and record our appreciation of their attentiveness. We also thank the staff of the Care Homes where May spent the latter years of her life.

ObituaryMr Murray Livingstone, Knock

James Murray MacKenzie Livingstone entered the immediate presence of his Saviour on 14 January 2012, in his 91st year. He attended our Lisburn Road Church in his youth and maintained his EPC connection all his life. He married Betty Davison in 1949 in Botanic Avenue where she was a member. They were blessed with three children - Elizabeth, James and John who also attended Botanic Avenue and went to Sunday School there. When the family moved to East Belfast in the early 1950s Mr and Mrs Livingstone began to visit Knock. The frequency of their visits increased and when Murray retired in 1987 they came into membership. The MacKenzies, Murray's maternal grandparents, were also Knock adherents. Murray and Betty completed 62 years of married life in 2011 and could look back on a Diamond Jubilee letter from the Queen in 2009. Murray spent 35 years in Belvoir Park Hospital as a Auxillary Nurse often on night duty. He loved his work and the patients and looked for opportunities to express his natural caring nature at work and outside it. He loved music church, brass and silver bands. And he was a long-term member of the loyal orders. The advance of Alzheimer's and the weight of years cut short his attendance at Church in July 2007. In September 2008 he became a resident in Greerville Manor. His visitors will not easily forget the ready expression of his inner spiritual life. Throughout his failing mental powers he never lost his grip on the things of God. They were his one subject and he quoted Scripture, Psalms and hymns he had known. He retold stories of believers he had known from earlier years. Again and again he asked that Psalm 23 be read to him and he recited it with the reader. He also bore a constant Gospel witness to fellow residents and staff. We wish to thank the Greerville staff for their love and care. We extend our sympathy to Mrs Livingstone, to Elizabeth-Eric, James-Margaret, John-Jacqueline, and to the eight grandchildren and sixteen great grand-children. Jesus was Murray's Shepherd for life and for death, and now, for ever.
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PREACH THE WORD

A series of preaching workshops in

Mar 2012: Pray that

T1 F2 S3 S4 M5 T6 W7 T8 F9 our children will be tender towards the Gospel we all will always be bold to speak the truth Nigerian Churches will be safe from violence throughout our Churches we will all be united in keeping every Lords Day holy Presbytery will always know Gods presence the schools in India will be financially viable those facing economic or employment trials will know special help from the Lord all our congregations will have regular visitors our Development Committee will have wisdom in drawing up a report on our future vision

Lisburn Road Hall

Saturday mornings 10 March, 14 April, 12 May, 9 June 9-30-12noon Designed to help men who already engage in preaching and for those who desire to receive some training in this important work.
Attendance NOT restricted to EPC members For further details and booking form text

Rev Gareth Burke 07803282489.

Presbytery Day 2012

This years event will be held on

S10 God will use Preach the Word - see opposite S11 the church in the Middle East will be protected M12 marriages will be strong and God-honouring T13 Dumisani students will grow spiritually W14 God will answer prayer for the Crumlin vacancy T15 personal study and prayer will be our daily habit F16 all our youth work will be a real means of grace S17 our Ministers, Elders, Deacons. will have health S18 God will bring seeking souls into our services

Saturday 28 April 2012 Belfast Bible College

Glenburn Road South Dunmurry BELFAST BT17 9JP Please pick up a brochure with the details at your own congregation.
10.30 am Saturday 5 May 2012

Belfast Conference

Connsbrook Congregational Church M19 our young people will be kept from all unspiritual relationships, influences, situations Manuel Franco (Spain) T20 all our congregations will see conversions Info: Rev T McKendry
tmcke91591@btinternet.com 028 7082 4931 W21 our Book Shop will have great success T22 we all will read the Magazine will much profit F23 Ballyclare Open House outreach tomorrow will be greatly used to extend Gods kingdom

Banner of Truth Magazines

These back issues are available Years 1977-2000 (Issues 160-447) Issues missing from the set: 301, 376, 387, 390, 445 The following years are in Banner Magazine Binders
1977-1978 1979-1980 1990-1991 1992-1993 160-183 184-207 316-339 340-363

S24 the Gospel will flourish in every tribe & nation S25 peace will prevail throughout South Africa M26 ERT will keep finding new openings (p10-11) T27 our people will love good Christian literature W28 our prayers will be full of desire and faith T29 we will be more and more a praying people F30 our children will love the Childrens Pages S31 the Spirit will help all preachers and teachers

Also some single issues: 1971-1999 Anyone interested please contact Evangelical Book Shop028 9032 0529

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The Evangelical Presbyterian

Apr 2012: Pray that

S1 M2 T3 W4 T5 F6 S7 S8 M9 T10 W11 T12 F13 S14 S15 M16 our understanding of the Lords Table and our benefit from it will go on increasing

Easter. Spring Holiday?

Easter is a moveable feastthe date varies from year to year according to we will be kind to one another, tender- the phases of the moon. Easter Sunhearted, forgiving one another. day always falls between 22 March and 25 April. It is the first Sunday unconverted spouses will be won for God following the first full moon which Camp planning will be with much prayer occurs on or after 21 March, the the South African Church will love the Word Spring Equinox, when day and night our youth work will provide useful contacts are of equal length throughout the world. The Council of Nicea, AD 325, all our missionaries will know usefulness and the Church in Alexandria were the joy and vital significance of the resurrecinvolved in fixing the formula.. tion will fill our hearts over Easter
Norman and Angela Reid will know the Lords leading for their retirement ministry

What is the derivation of the word Easter? (The AV Easter, of Acts weekly Prayer Meeting attendance will grow 12.4 is Passover.) It was possibly Book Shop will have a growing customer base influenced by Eostre an ancient Germanic goddess whose annual festithe Titanic centenary will bear Gospel fruit val took place in Spring. It featured the Gospel will prove to be the power of God the egg since it is symbolic of new in strongholds for long resistant to it life and of Spring. The Anglo-Saxon Preach the Word (p 15) will be effective word for April was Eostre Monath we will so hear the Word that it will change us month of openings. As about twowe will be kept from filthiness, foolish talk- thirds of Easters fall in April the ing and coarse jesting. Spring connection is clear.

T17 God will protect the suffering church in various parts of the world and keep it faithful

The word Easter may have Spring time associations, but that is not the point. The point is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. T19 each congregation will have adequate facilities That is why Easter exists, why it falls F20 all youth leaders will work as to the Lord when it does, why it is invested with Colegio san Andres in Lima will have ongo- the greatest message in the world.
God will call, train and qualify men of his W18 choice to enter the Christian Ministry S21 ing encouragement in growth and conversions S22 God will bless the outreach to villages in India M23 T24 W25 T26 F27 S28 S29 M30

Easter is the vital date in our Christian calendar for ... if Christ has Gospel radio broadcasts will reach millions not been raised, then is our preaching vain, and you faith is in vain and you the lonely and bereaved will be comforted are still in your sins. (1 Cor 15.14our children will love the Word increasingly 17) Righteousness will be counted to the Christian Institute will be well funded us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord who was minibus journeys will be safe and useful delivered up for our trespasses and the Presbytery Day will be a blessing (p15) raised for our justification. (Rom 4.24 God will give our nation a desire for the Gospel -25) And he is the firstfruits of those Expect great things from God, attempt ... who have fallen asleep. (1 Cor 15.20)

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MarMar-Apr 2012

EP Word Search
Persons and Places in Acts. How many of the 81 can you get?
B E R E A M M M A R Y D G A L A T I A P E T A B I T H A G L Y D I A X M Y S I A U P C Y R E N E T A H P R T Z V R A L A T I J B J U S A N T I O C H K A E I S J Y L L O O A J C A A H U P E R G A A A D C A D K H L L R O A B I S N U O R H M S H T E M D N I C I T P E A S X P T F U Y U E J U D E A V P Y V H P S S Z O C E R S K M M G G M S E A R P E O A A G N L I O R E A A Y H E Y T T H T R S L A R T A V H L T L P R B T R P A E I A U L O O U U O M T I T Y A K R A H R G S C L S M M S D T H L J I H M V I C I A I I I A E E E E A E E O K M D E A U U L A U O F D P X S T W E S T N O I J R S S I S M G E P S P A L H E A I R N A I A O E P L A S U L A N I N S I M T M O N M E J D U S Y L I S A P I F D A O A A O A H N U E P C I S M T T S H G O R S P N R N S E S R A E O D I O A U E O E R I S I A S T A T B U V N H O A N L S A S R U A O A E U S U E L A D B C N S E Y J O E L M Y S L N S S E

A farewell service was held at Stranmillis on Sunday evening 15 January for Ricky and Angie Fitzsimmons, returning to Nigeria the next day, with their children, Noah and Ellie. Rev Sid Garland conducted the service and the Rev Gareth Burke preached. Rev Paul Baillie led in prayer. At an informal reception afterwards members of the congregation had opportunity to speak with Ricky and Angie, Matthew Gaston handed over a gift on behalf of the congregation and Christopher Doherty concluded the occasion with prayer.
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

Spiritual DisciplinesThe Means of Grace (2)

Michael Trimble, Stranmillis
Part 1 of The Means of Grace: the SacramentsWhat are they? Who works in the them? Baptism and the Lords Supper are signs that signify and enable grace. The focus in Part 1 was the Lords Supper, and the question, What do we feed on in the Lords Supper?

So what is meant by the means of grace? Christians have used the term to refer to ways by which they receive blessing from God and appreciate the benefits of salvation. These include the sacraments, hearing Gods Word preached and prayer. We have previously considered prayer and the Lords Supper. Now Preaching and Hearing the Word As Christians we acknowledge the power of Gods word; In creation (Genesis 1.3), in providence (Isaiah 55.11), and in salvation (Romans 10.17). We also appreciate the importance of the word in the building up of Christs people; as Paul instructs Timothy Preach the Word; ...correct, rebuke, encouragewith great patience and careful instruction. (2 Tim 4:2) We have previously considered the need for reading and study of the scriptures, but this is not a substitute for attending church to hear the message preached. Much of the content of the Gospels recounts Jesus preaching ministry: Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. (Mark 1.14) This ministry of preaching was then entrusted to his disciples (Luke 9.1-6, 10.1-9) and to the church. (Mark 16.15) Preaching is not lecturing, it is not simply the passing on of information. Eugene Peterson notes: Preaching is language that involves us personally with Gods action in the present The listener is not permitted to suppose that the preached words are for anyone other than himself or herself. ... Preaching reveals God in action here and nowfor me. There is a sense of the immediate, the personal; the right word for those listening at that time. Elsewhere preaching has been described as human speech in and by which God Himself speaks like a king through the mouth of his herald, and which is meant to be heard and accepted as speech in and by which God Himself speaks, and therefore heard and accepted in faith as divine decision. The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it this way The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word an effective means of convincing and converting sinners and building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, to salvation. (Question 89) This requires us to be careful how we listen. We must attend to the Word with diligence, preparation and prayer, receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts and practise it in our lives, so that it may become effective to salvation. (Question 90) So God blesses us through the preaching of his Word and the administration of the sacraments. It is he who acts in through these means. The discipline required of us is that we make use of the opportunities to avail of this blessing by our participation in local church life. We should approach the Lords Day services with excitement and expectation that we go to meet with the living God.
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MarMar-Apr 2012

Psalm 51A Cry for Forgiveness (2)

Colin Moore, Stranmillis
Part 1: 1 A Cry for Forgiveness (1-2), 2 A Confession of Sin (3-6), 3 A Call for Cleansing (7-9)

In the latter part of this Psalm David continues to seek the Lord in brokenness and genuine repentance of heart. This is expressed as follows: 4 A Commitment to Holiness (10(10-12) Having confessed his sin and received Gods forgiveness, David prayed for a pure heart so he would not backslide into sin. Create in me a pure heart, is his cry and only God could perform this. Just like us when we have sinned before the Lord only he can cleanse us and renew us with his steadfast spirit of purity. In verse 11 David asks that God would not cast him from his presence. He could not bear to be separated from the love and mercy of God whom he loved. This was Davids great fear. Do we share this fear too? David not only wanted forgiveness he wanted the joy of his salvation to be restored to him and in verse 12 this is his plea. O to know the joy of the Lords presence everyday in our lives! Surely this is what our hearts should long for, high above everything else in this life! 5 A Consecration of Life (13 -17) (13We now see David making a promise that he would teach sinners about their need to turn to God and seek him for their forgiveness. Is this something we take seriously in our lives to reach out to others and tell them of our beautiful Saviour Jesus Christ and what he has done in our lives and what He can do for them? David realised the enormity of his sin and that God required his heart and spirit to be contrite and broken. This also should be our state of mind and heart when we sin before the Lord and seek his forgiveness. 6 A Concern for Gods Glory (18(18-19) David was the King of Israel and was aware of the close connection between his personal holiness and the national blessings from God that the people would benefit from. Thus he prayed, Make Zion prosper by strengthening and protecting the walls of Jerusalem from foreign attack. Now that David had been forgiven and renewed he prayed the same for the nation. First personal renewal, then corporate renewal. The Psalm ends with David looking forward to the nation offering sacrifices that would be pleasing in the Lords sight because they have been made with clean hands and a pure heart. I wonder as we read and meditate on this Psalm of David does it inspire us to seek the Lords face in humble confession of our own sin? Satan loves unconfessed sin in the lives of believers because it forms a barrier between them and God, creating a distance and coldness. Break this barrier and draw close to God in repentance of heart. This is the sacrifice that God desires from us: a broken and contrite heart the Lord will not despise. May we be clothed with humility as we seek the Lord and may our prayers of repentance be acceptable in his sight.
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

A Voice from the PastEzekiel Hopkins

The Editor writes on this Puritan Bishop of Derry
In the list of names found in the Chapter House Museum of St. Columbs Cathedral in Londonderry is that of Ezekiel Hopkins who was Bishop of this historic See, 1681 1690. These were strategic and turbulent years in Irish history leading up to the closing of the city gates and the siege of Derry the last great siege in British historywhich ended on 28 July 1689 after 105 days. (A History of Ulster, Bardon) Ezekiel Hopkins, son of Rev John Hopkins, was born on 3 December 1634. At 12 he was sent to Taylor Merchants School and at 14 entered Magdalen College, Oxford. The period in which he lived was one of great ecclesiastical significance the meetings of the Westminster Assembly of Divines 1643-1652, the rise of Puritanism and eventually the great ejection of 1662. In 1660 he was appointed assistant to Rev William Spurstow, rector of Hackney and a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. Hopkins had been ordained under the Presbyterian system but conformed after the Act of Uniformity in 1662. His arrival in Ireland was due to his appointment as chaplain to Lord Robartes, the 1st Earl of Radnor, who became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1669. In 1671 Hopkins became Bishop of Raphoe and in 1681 was translated to the Bishopric of Derry. He returned to England and was preacher at St. Marys Aldermanbury, City of London. He died in 1690. His love for the Word of God and his concern for the souls of mankind is evident in his writings, eg, from Luke 12.20 But God said unto him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you. He asks, Should the never dying soul be neglected? Alas! Most busy themselves to heap up temporal riches. But this is giving the soul husks. Our Saviour brands the rich man a fool when he stuffed his barns with corn at the neglect of his soul. What folly it is to purchase a vain world at the loss of our precious souls! What great losers they are to gain the world, and then at last lose the world with their souls! Like so many of his fellow Puritan preachers, many of his sermons were published. The Museum displays an original copy of his book, The Ten Commandments. Hopkins writings, in 3 volumes, are still available: Volume I of Works offers a brief biographical sketch of Hopkins, followed by major treatises on the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and several sermons on the law and on sin. Volume 2 concludes Hopkins s discourses on sin and offers teaching on the covenants, regeneration, sacraments, and Gods attributes. It also includes sermons on assurance of faith, practical Christianity in working out salvation, the sufficiency of Christ, and the excellence of heavenly treasures. Volume 3 contains treatises on the conscience, mortification of sin, and facing death, miscellaneous sermons, and a complete Scripture and subject index.
The diagram compares the footprints of the Titanic and Noahs Ark. Taking a cubit as1.5 feet the Ark was 450x75 feet (Titanic 882.75x92.5). The Ark was still huge and there is little evidence of vessels of its proportions being built before the 19th century. By faith Noah ... prepared an ark for the saving of his household. (Heb 11.7)
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MarMar-Apr 2012

Tescos Support of London Pride

Tescos Response to our Public Morals Committee
Last issue we published a Statement from our Public Morals Committee on this matter. Below, the Committee report on the response from the Chairmans Office of Tesco Plc. We thank the members of the Committee for their work on this and other issues.

At the close of 2011 Tesco responded to the letter from our Public Morals Committee. Whilst accepting our position, they wish to encourage the various social groupings within their company. One such grouping is called Out at Tesco for gay and lesbian staff, who asked for some support of the London Pride event. As they seek to be fair to all such groupings within the company, they agreed to their request, and gave a one-off 30,000 donation. They set this in context of a total charitable and community contribution last year of 64 million. They also gave assurance that such a donation was not in any way at the expense of their partnership with Cancer Research UK. Tesco accept that being the UKs leading retailer carries unique responsibilities, and they seek to listen to and respect diverse views of customers and stakeholders, which is not always easy. They are sorry for the misunderstanding and mistrust caused in their recent action, but insist on continuing their support of Out at Tesco as they do all such groups in the company, but hope to do so without sponsoring such awareness-raising events. They also state, not surprisingly, that their support implies no moral, philosophical or political stance. As Christians, we would certainly prefer it if Tescoand, indeed, all engaged in business and commerceadopted a moral stance in line with Biblical teaching, but we must also accept that we live in a pluralistic and largely secular society and, in that context, the Tesco response was better than we had anticipated. It is possible that their position was slightly exaggerated and misrepresented in certain sections of the media, but we suspect that they were taken aback by the extent and depth of the concerns expressed by a wide range of Christian individuals, churches and organisations, and have therefore decided to respond in a more measured, if not entirely satisfactory, manner. Tesco is, above all, a retailer whose chief aim is to make a substantial profit and to dominate the market. In recent times, they have been struggling to meet both these aims and can ill afford to alienate any section of their consumer base. The response also highlights the benefits of lobbying and, as we are called to be salt and light, we must continue to uphold and defend Biblical standards in our society. We encourage all our members, adherents and friends to be active in this way and to report any issue they come across to the Public Morals Committee.

For further information on this and other issues:

www.christian.org.uk/
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

The Wisdom and Power of God

Used by permission. This extract is from The Cross of Christ published by Inter-Varsity Press, Nottingham, England. For further details go to: http://www.thinkivp.com/9781844741557

When Paul has finished his magisterial exposition of the gospel in the first eleven chapters of Romans, how God presented Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice, justifies sinners through faith in Christ, transforms them by the inward work of the Spirit and is creating his new community into which Gentiles are admitted on the same terms as Jews, he breaks off into a rapturous doxology: O the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How 16.99 11.99 unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out ... For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen (11:33-36). Earlier the apostle has seen the atoning death of Christ as a demonstration of Gods justice and Gods love; now he is overcome by a sense of Gods wisdom the wisdom to devise such a costly plan of salvation which both meets our needs and also satisfies his own character. The cross as the wisdom and power of God is the main theme of 1 Corinthians 1:17 2:5, especially as contrasted with the wisdom and power of the world. It is Pauls mention of the gospel which triggers his meditation, for he knows immediately that he is faced with a decision about its content. The choice is between words of human wisdom and the cross of Christ. If he were to choose human wisdom, the cross would be emptied, denuded, indeed destroyed (1:17). So he chooses the message of the cross, which he knows to be foolishness to those who are perishing, but at the same time is the power of God to those who are being saved (1:18). The one combination which is not an option is the wisdom of the world plus the power of God. So when we look at the cross we see the justice, love, wisdom and power of God. It is not easy to decide which is the most luminously revealed, whether the justice of God in judging sin, or the love of God in bearing the judgment in our place, or the wisdom of God in perfectly combining the two, or the power of God in saving those who believe. For the cross is equally an act, and therefore a demonstration, of Gods justice, love, wisdom and power. The cross assures us that this God is the reality within, behind and beyond the universe.

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Book Reviews

The Power to Save A History of the Gospel in China 9.99 8.50 BobDavey, Evangelical Press 2011, 354 pages, Paperback. This account of the Gospel in China is a thrilling and challenging work demonstrating the sovereign power of God in this vast nation. Tracing the history of missionary development in China we are introduced to the pioneer, Robert Morrison, the story of Hudson Taylor and the formation of CIM and the development of the Christian church right up to the present day. Other familiar names such as C T Studd, Watchman Nee and Gladys Aylward are remembered as faithful servants of Christ in China. Often set against political uprisings and economic conditions, the story points to the sovereign purposes of God. Today China is one of the worlds influential economies and a major world power. As the church grows in that land our prayer should be that it will emerge as a mighty spiritual force throughout the world. We agree with Sinclair Ferguson: This should be prescribed reading for Christians in the Western world Editor Gospel BasicsTrusting, Following, and Winning Christ 6.50 5.20 Andrew Bonar, Banner of Truth, Paperback, 160 pages. Here is a collection of sixteen short chapters that will be much appreciated by all who love the writings of Andrew Bonar. They are full of Christ and Gospel truth that Bonar so much loved to preach. There is a wide range of subjects relating to the Christian life, Growing in Grace, Holiness and Serving the Lord. Chapter 11 deals with The Conversion of Children, reminding us that Christians are often more zealous to see older people converted than to press

home the immediate, present, acceptance of Christ as children.

In the introductory chapter we are told that on the first morning of his Glasgow ministry Bonar prayed, Lord, let there be the print of thy footsteps upon the floor of our church today. A book that will warm your heart and feed your soul. Editor Jesus+Nothing=Everything 11.99 9.99 Tullian Tchividjian, Crossway Books, 2011, 224 pages, Hardcover Tullian writes from the heart as he reflects on his negative experiences as factions of his new congregation rebelled against his pastoringall while his father was on his deathbed. Discouraged and exhausted, Tullian, on holiday with his family, read through Colossians and realised how his life had craved the good opinion of others. He began to appreciate more fully the sufficiency of Christ. Tullian uses a formula to teach what he learnt from this experience and from Colossians: Jesus + Nothing = Everything. First he goes backwards through the formula analysing each word and then in the opposite direction now taking Jesus as the starting point showing how the words previously analysed change because of Christ. Some minor issues exist, eg, a simplistic view of sanctification. But passionate about the finished work of Christ it will do your heart good. Christopher Doherty
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The Evangelical Book Shop

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The Intolerance of Tolerance Don Carson 12.99 8.99
Much anticipated, much needed, now arrived! Carson thoughtfully shows how tolerance, once defined as respecting others' right to hold differing perspectives, has morphed into a pervasive insistence that no one should hold firm convictions.

A Life of Gospel Peace A Biography of Jeremiah Burroughs

Phillip Simpson

22.99 16.99 Hardback

The first book-length biography of a man whose books are some of the most readable and engaging Puritan works available today.

Union With Christ In Scripture, History, and Theology

Robert Letham EPCEW Minister

13.99 9.99

"This outstanding book goes to the heart of the truth of salvation with deep learning, acumen, and pastoral wisdom." - J I Packer.

Reformed Expository Commentary on Acts Derek Thomas 29.99 22.50 "A veritable goldmine" - Carl Trueman. Hardback, 740 pages +indexes The Christ of the Empty Tomb
We recommend this refreshing examination of this non-negotiable fact of history and the real reason for it.

James M Boice

8.99 2.99

A Passion for God The Spiritual Journey of A.W.Tozer

Lyle Dorsett 4.50 Special price while stock lasts

This thoughtful biography traces the life of a complex, intensely private, deeply spiritual man, and a gifted preacher whose impact for the kingdom of God is immeasurable. Paperback with photographs.

Loving The Way Jesus Loves

Phil Ryken

8.99 6.50

New insights into 1 Corinthians 13 from a favourite preacher. Simple and profound John MacArthur

The Miracles of Jesus

Elrose Hunter

5.99 3.50

A story book for junior age children, re-telling simply but clearly all the well-known miracles of Jesus. An attractive hardback.

Understanding Scripture Edited An Overview of the Bible's Origin, Reliability and Meaning

8.99 6.99

A collection of studies edited by Wayne Grudem, C John Collins & Thomas R Schreiner, originally appearing in the ESV Study Bible. Includes contributions by John Piper, J I Packer, David Powlison, Vern Poythress, Peter J Williams and Roger Beckwith

The Good News We Almost Forgot

Kevin DeYoung Special 9.99 5.00

DeYoung explores the Heidelberg Catechism, which is largely a commentary on the Apostle's Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer, and deals with man's guilt, God's grace, and believers' gratitude. A clear-headed, warm-hearted exploration of the faith, simple enough for young believers and deep enough for mature believers.
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