The Semper Reformata Podcast

Halloween. What does 31st October mean to you? Halloween or Reformation? Here's what God says:- Deuteronomy 18:9–12 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an obs...

Pride and Punishment 2 Samuel 24:11-14 2nd Samuel 24:11-14 is another occasion when David is rebuked, – and this time the rebuke is brought by a man called Gad, described in the text as David’s ‘Seer.’ It is a stern personal rebuke from God himself delivered in the words of the prophet. Read the NOTES HERE . Recorded LIVE at Ballymacashon Church. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

TableTalk - Where is God When We Are In Despair? Genesis 42:25-38 In this episode we will think about Joseph's Kindness to His Brothers. Fear of God and Conviction of Sin. Despair and Desperation. Read the notes here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monday Extra - Dr Thomas Barnardo It's been a long time since we had a podcast dedicated to Christian History, so in this short Monday Extra edition we are going to look at the life of a famous Irish Christian, Protestant and Philanthropist - Dr Thomas John Barnardo. And there's an unexpected twist at the end, given recent events in Northern Ireland! Read the TRANSCRIPT HERE . (Cover photo...

Joab's Judgement Text: 2 Samuel 18:19–19:8 Here’s another of David’s rebukes, in this case from his military general, a man called Joab, and this rebuke will highlight for us a very difficult moral dilemma, – tears of sorrow – or responsibility before God. In David’s case to his office as king. Read the NOTES HERE . Recorded live at Ballymacashon Congregational church, 78 Saintfield Road, Kill...

TableTalk: His Ways Are ALWAYS Perfect Genesis 42:1-24 …And he turned himself away from them and wept. When the famine came, the land of Canaan was ill prepared. They were starving… Egypt has grain, and Jacob’s family are starving. Read Genesis Chapter 42:1-24 to find out what happened. Let’s try to apply some of the lessons from this part of the narrative. Read the NOTES HERE Hosted on Acast. See...

Ballymacashon Harvest - Morning Service Jeremiah 8:20-24 A solemn warning by the prophet Jeremiah: "Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved." Recorded live at Ballymacashon Congregational Church, 78 Saintfield Road, Killinchy, Co. Down, Read the NOTES HERE . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harvest Service at Ballymacashon Rev Jackie Brown, the Chairman of the Congregationl Union of Ireland, preaches on Proverbs 30:24-28. Recorded live at Ballymacashon Church, 78 Saintfield Road, Killinchy, Co. Down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abigail's Advice 1 Samuel 25 and 2 Timothy 4:2  The Christian must speak the truth in love even when it costs us, even when it means confronting power, because Scripture alone is the final authority, Christ alone is Lord, and God’s glory alone is our only purpose. There is a marvellous illustration of this in the life of King David, and we find it in 1st Samuel 25. It’s that period in history...

Michal's Rebuke 2 Samuel 6:1–23 Is it ever right to challenge those who are in authority?  If it is, then with what spirit should we issue that rebuke or challenge. We have a case study in King David, who despite his kingly authority was challenged over and over again. In this study we see: The ACT David did, The ACCUSATION Michal made, The AFFLICTION that resulted. And we even, in...

When Believers Doubt.  Psalm 73:23-28  Asaph (who wrote this psalm) was having a crisis – a huge spiritual problem. His feet had almost slipped. I wonder how many Christians have had the same experience, when life seems unfair, and when earthly, temporal desires tempt us? For us, when we find ourselves lacking in faith, and tempted to stumble, these verses in Psalm 73:23-28 are...

TableTalk: Joseph Can't - but GOD can! Genesis 41:1-40 Esp. Verses 16 and 27 The story of Joseph’s encounter with Pharaoh is well known. In this LIVE episode of TableTalk, recorded at Ballymacashon Church, we return to the story of Joseph, and not his humility and his willingness to believe for God to bless Pharaoh, and to to give God alone all the glory. Sorry about the poor sound quality -...

Forgiveness and the Unpardonable Sin Mark 3:28-30 The Scribes, (Law enforcers) from Jerusalem are back, and they are on the attack, and they make a blasphemous accusation, in verse Mark 3:22, “ He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons. ” They are, in effect attributing the work of God, to Satan. Verses 28-30 are Jesus’ response to their accusations. Let’s see what hi...

Trinitarian Bible Society Report Rev Craig Dennison at Ballymacashon - preaching from Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, and outlining the need for Bible translation to meet the worldwide famine of God's Word. Find out more about TBS HERE . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

“What Does the LORD Your God Require of You?” Text: Deuteronomy 10:12–16, Micah 6:8, Jeremiah 31:31-33 There is a very fine line between obligation, legislation and outward hypocrisy?  In this passage, Moses reminds us that there are certain obligations, that God places upon his redeemed people, and he tells God’s people what these obligations are, why we would wholeheartedly want to ful...

Summer Reprise - 5 August Sermons on Acts, from 2021, Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission. Always Ready to Give Account Text: Acts 25:13-27  This study is mostly history and background that we will need to understand what’s happening later, in Acts 26. Festus has a problem! Read the NOTES HERE . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Summer Reprise - 5 August Sermons on Acts, from 2021, Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission. Preaching Politics! Text:  Acts 254:27-25:12 Retaining integrity in a political career, especially when that career climbs into one of the ‘great offices of state’ is extremely challenging, and politicians need our prayers. We will use this passa...

Summer Reprise - 5 August Sermons on Acts, from 2021, Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission. Why did Felix Not Repent? Text: Acts 24:22-27 There are many people who believe that our passage in Acts is an example of a man who was awakened by God, was convicted by the Holy Spirit, and who hesitated, procrastinated, put off salvation, – until it...

Summer Reprise - 5 August Sermons on Acts, from 2021, Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission. The Way Acts 24v10-22  Caesarea, the Governor’s Court. Felix beckons him to speak, and Paul, knowing that now he is under the protection of the court addresses his defence directly to his accusers, the Temple rulers of the Jews. Let’s look a...

Summer Reprise - 5 August Sermons on Acts, from 2021, Recorded at Templepatrick Reformed Church and reproduced here with their kind permission. Moral Confusion Text: Acts 24:1-9 Five days after Paul’s night time flit, we find the fanatical Jews at Caesarea, and they are in the court of Felix, and they’ve even engaged the services of a barrister! let’s see how he presents his case. Hosted on A...

A Song About a Strong City Isaiah 2:1-4 In Isaiah Chapter 25, the OT prophet has been singing God’s praise, for his great deliverance from evil and harm, and looking to a day when that deliverance will be complete. That leads him to write these inspirational and comforting words in the following chapter,  Isaiah 26:1  It is a song for every believer –  Galatians 3:29 &nbsp...

Desperation, Depravity and Denunciation Genesis 38:12-30, 2 Samuel 12: In our last session of TableTalk, we wondered if we could get an idea of what was happening back in Canaan, while Joseph was trusting God, suffering enslavement, false accusations and imprisonment in Egypt, all the while knowing that God’s plan would ultimately be worked out in his life. READ  Romans 8:28  Remember th...

Isaiah’s Vision of the Last Days. Isaiah 2:1-5 The prophet Isaiah describes for us, what God’s (future?) kingdom is like, in Isaiah 40:2-4. He foresees a coming Golden Age, a period of… Exaltation Enlargement Education End of Enmity Let’s live as those who are already members of his kingdom, letting our light shine in the darkness of this world, calling upon our loved ones, our friends a...

Cultural Protestantism in Ulster Joshua 24 Bob McEvoy's sermon on Lord's Day 12th July 2026, from Ballymacashon Congregational Church. In light of the annual '12th July Celebrations' he offers an assessment of the nominal protestantism that prevails in the province at present, calling upon people to reject the gods of secular culture and serve the Lord, and Him alone. Recorded LIVE at Ballymacasho...

Paul's Salutation and Signature 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18  These last few verses of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians are a benediction, – a heartfelt prayer that God would bless the church. It falls into three sections, neatly divided into the three verses. There’s a prayer for peace, a guarantee of the authenticity of the letter, and a final blessing.  Recorded live at Ballymacashon Con...