Ballymacashon Congregational Church

03/11/2026

Guest Episode with ASR Paul Somerville

S.A.S.R.A. Report with ASR Paul Somerville
The Soldiers and Aviators Scripture Readers Association.

Recorded LIVE at Ballymacashon Church

https://shows.acast.com/srp/episodes/guest-episode-with-asr-paul-somerville

02/11/2026

Monday Extra: James Ussher

In this short church history lesson, we are going to look at the life of a 17th century Irish Puritan Anglican! I’m speaking of course, about the former Archbishop of Armagh, Rev James Ussher, a very important figure in the promotion of the Protestant faith and a man most kindly disposed towards those Scottish Presbyterian settlers who began to move across the Irish Sea into Ulster at that time. (As we shall learn in the next Monday Extra)

Monday Extra

19/10/2026

This week there’s a special “Monday Extra” podcast.

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!

https://shows.acast.com/srp/episodes/dr-barnardo

28/09/2026

Back in July our TableTalk meetings at Ballymacashon were centred around Genesis 38, - the story of Judah and Tamar, and we used this narrative to illustrate the sinfulness of the sons of Jacob who were living in Canaan, while Joseph was in Egypt.

Well, Philip and Mara (Remember them?) have returned from their miserable two month break in the Bahamas, where they little to do except lie on a beach in the dreadful global warming, and sip Diet Coke all day - and now they are back at their recording desk, and they have taken it upon themselves to review our Genesis 38 lessons.

Give them a wee listen here, and see if you think they’ve to anywhere near to our much longer live and podcast episodes…

Philip: Welcome to Semper Reformata — where we read Genesis and discover that nobody in the ancient world was having a good time. Mara: Bob McEvoy has been working through Genesis 38, and the terri…

27/09/2026

21/07/2026

Let’s Look At Leviticus!

Have you read the Book of Leviticus? Or have you, like many began to read it and given up, confused about all the various offerings, laws and precepts, along with the prohibitions and punishments that the book lists?

It’s such a difficult book, and hard to read and understand. But it is an important book, and one which must not neglect for it has two important themes that matter for believers, and which present us with essential doctrinal and personal challenges.

Essentially, Leviticus is about Jesus! All of the OT points to Him, and Leviticus no less than the other books. He said, to the teachers of the Law among the Jews of his day, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about ME.” John 5:39 and to two heartbroken disciples on the Emmaus road he had the same message: “Beginning with MOSES and all the Prophets, He interpreted.., the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27. Note that he began with MOSES - who wrote in first five books of the Bible - who wrote Leviticus, and Jesus Sid, MOSES WROTE ABOUT ME!

So Leviticus points us to Jesus, - and it also points us inward, - to examine ourselves, to see if we are walking in humble obedience to Him, if we are SEPARATED unto God. Leviticus 11:45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus is about HOLINESS - which is our correct response to what God in Christ has done for us.

But how can modern believers in Christ get to grips with such a difficult book? It’s not as hard as you might think. There is a principle in hermeneutics - that the Old Testament is always read through the prism of the New Testament, and where better to look for help in reading Leviticus, than the Book of Hebrews.

Derek Tidball (in his book The Message of Leviticus: Free to Be Holy, part of The Bible Speaks Today series) wrote: “The gospel, which presumes a knowledge of sacrifice and atonement, of law and grace, of sin and obedience, of defilement and cleansing, of priesthood and temple curtains, makes little sense without it. Leviticus serves as a preliminary sketch of the masterpiece that was to be unveiled in Christ.” (https://library.ivpbooks.com/id005675654/The-Message-of-Leviticus)

Once we grasp that important hermeneutical principle, Leviticus opes before us, and we see Jesus in every page, and we are forced to respond in holiness of life.

So, that’s our autumn study material at Ballymacashon. On Lord’s Day mornings, from September to the end of the year, God willing, we will LOOK AT LEVITICUS.
EVERY SUNDAY, 11.30AM,
ALL WELCOME.

21/07/2026

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 that principle that we learned last time – that sin NEVER gets better – the nature of man is such that sin is degenerative; it always gets worse, and this family situation is about to go completely down the drain…

Apologies for the 'Echoey' sound quality - this recording was made in a hurry, at a desk in a room! But, as a bonus, it contains some rare (and ahem... 'authentic' psalm singing from Ballymacashon). - ENJOY!

Genesis 38:12-30

14/07/2026

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 Ballymacashon Church.

https://shows.acast.com/srp/episodes/cultural-protestantism-in-ulster-2026

22/06/2026

Paul’s Didactic Prayer Method.
2nd Thessalonians 2:13-17

Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians are a master-class in dealing with issues in the local church, blending solid doctrinal teaching with comfort and encouragement for the saints in their double distress, directing them to the scriptures alone for their help. And that is the correct model for all who would claim to be leaders and pastors in Christ’s church.

2nd Thessalonians 2:13-17

15/06/2026

Stand Firm On God’s Word Alone
2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15

Paul challenges the Christians, in verses 13-15, to stand fast, and as he explains why they should stand fast, he roots this challenge in doctrine and truth. Let’s see:-

1. Inception. How they were made members of God’s kingdom.
2. Intention. Why they were brought into God's kingdom.
3. Impetus. What is their motivation to stand for God in persecution.
Our response to our election and redemption, and in anticipation of our coming glorification in Christ, we should willingly hold fast to what the apostles actually taught – now authoritatively contained and transmitted to us in Holy Scripture.

Recorded LIVE at Ballymacashon Congregational Church, 78 Saintfield Road, Killinchy, Co.Down, Northern Ireland, BT23 6RN.

2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15