Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 27 April, 2025
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Assyrian Crisis (7)
“Wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in Working” [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 28:14-29
Text: Isaiah 28:23-29
I. Agriculture
II. Relevance
III. Application
Psalms: 104:13-15, 20-24; 120:1-7; 94:5-13; 103:8-15
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Kingdom and the Keys [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:1-21
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 31
I. The Kingdom and Boundaries
II. The Kingdom and Preaching
III. The Kingdom and Discipline
Psalms: 145:4-14; 121:1-8; 26:6-12; 101:3-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
John Calvin: “… not only agriculture, but likewise all the arts which contribute to the advantage of mankind, are the gifts of God, and that all that belongs to skilful invention has been imparted by him to the minds of men. Men have no right to be proud on this account, or to arrogate to themselves the praise of invention, as we see that the ancients did, who, out of their ingratitude to God, ranked in the number of the gods those whom they considered to be the authors of any ingenious contrivance. Hence arose deification and that prodigious multitude of gods which the heathens framed in their own fancy. Hence arose the great Ceres, and Triptolemus, and Mercury, and innumerable others, celebrated by human tongues and by human writings. The Prophet shews that such arts ought to be ascribed to God, from whom they have been received, who alone is the inventor and teacher of them. If we ought to form such an opinion about agriculture and mechanical arts, what shall we think of the learned and exalted sciences, such as Medicine, Jurisprudence, Astronomy, Geometry, Logic, and such like? Shall we not much more consider them to have proceeded from God? Shall we not in them also behold and acknowledge his goodness, that his praise and glory may be celebrated both in the smallest and in the greatest affairs?” (Comm. on Isa. 28:29).
Homer C. Hoeksema on Isaiah 28:23-29: “In this care of God is the answer to a question that arises in the hearts of God’s people again and again throughout the history of the church. In the days of Isaiah, judgment after judgment either came upon the church or was foretold by the prophet. This is also true in the new dispensation. It seems that there is one trouble after another for God’s people. In the history of the church there is one schism after another; it seems as though there is retrogression rather than progress. Frequently, just at the time when the church seems to be growing, developing, and getting ahead a little bit, there is trouble. Always and again there is the process of schism and reformation. That has been the history of the Protestant Reformed Churches. Around 1950 the denomination seemed to be prospering a little; it was growing somewhat in numbers, and seemed to be getting its head above water, so to speak. But then came schism and the churches were reduced to less than one-third of their former size. God’s people tend to become discouraged by such events, as is evident from the questions in verse 24: Does the plowman plow all day? Does he open and break the clods of his ground? Is it always only plowing and harrowing? Sometimes it seems as though the farmer never makes any progress” (Redeemed With Judgment, vol. 1, p. 319).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Monday catechism classes—the two remaining classes will conclude with a test.
7:15 PM: Jason, Kyan, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 1)
8:00 PM: Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to continue our study of the Council of Nicea (AD 325) on its 1,700th anniversary.
Ladies Bible study meets this Friday morning at 10 AM at the church to discuss Psalm 138 using the book A 30-Day Walk with God in the Psalms.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” (Matt. 5:3).
Hungarian Conference: Rev. & Mary Stewart and Julian & Marie Kennedy plan to travel to Budapest on Monday, 5 May, for a conference there. Rev. Jim Laning will be giving lectures on the doctrine of the church and Rev. Stewart will give an historical lecture. Please pray for this witness and the saints in Hungary.
Offerings: £1,707.43.
Translation Additions: 4 Chinese, 2 Dutch and 1 Spanish.
PRC News: Cornerstone PRC has a new trio of Revs. Brummel, Maatman and Spronk. Grace PRC called Prof. Gritters to be their next pastor. Grandville PRC called Rev. Maatman. Rev. Barnhill declined the call from Hope PRC (Redlands, CA). Lynden PRC will call from a trio of Revs. DeBoer, Lee and Marcus. Rev. D. Holstege declined the call from Southwest PRC, so they have a new trio of Revs. Barnhill, W. Langerak, and Lee.
Church Discipline
Rev. Josiah Tan
How should we relate to someone under discipline? How should we pray for them? And how can we support—rather than hinder—the work Christ is carrying out through the elders? I hope to reflect with you on these questions. This is not an easy subject. It is uncomfortable to our flesh and often avoided in our age. But it is a matter of profound spiritual importance. Why?
Because church discipline is not merely a series of formal announcements. Church discipline is the risen and reigning Christ—the Great Shepherd—calling His wandering sheep to return. It is Christ, working through His ordained elders, guarding His flock from the leaven of sin that corrupts and spreads. It is Christ leading His people in paths of righteousness—for His name’s sake and for the glory of His thrice-holy name.
When discipline is faithfully administered, Christ Himself opens and shuts the kingdom of heaven. He binds or looses the guilt of sin—not arbitrarily, but in perfect accordance with His Word. Every act of discipline announced to the congregation is carried out in the name and by the authority of Christ. And the spiritual reality is sobering: to reject the church’s discipline is, in truth, to reject Christ Himself.
This truth carries serious implications for all of us. When fellow members offer misplaced comfort to someone under discipline—conveying things like, “It’s not that serious,” or “You’re doing well spiritually”—they may mean well. But such words, however kindly spoken, do not reflect true love. When a fellow member encourages someone under discipline to in any way think lightly of the church’s discipline, they are in fact undermining Christ’s authority. We may not take into human hands what belongs to Him alone: the keys of the kingdom.
The Belgic Confession, Article 29, identifies the faithful exercise of discipline as one of the three marks of the true church: “If church discipline is exercised in the punishing of sin,” it testifies that Christ is truly present, ruling by His Word and Spirit.
Our Church Order (Articles 71-77), consistent with the historic witness of the Reformed churches, sets forth a careful, deliberate, and pastoral process. Discipline is never rash. It is never vengeful. It moves patiently and prayerfully, step by step, with one goal: reconciliation through repentance. But when a sinner persists in hardened impenitence, the final step—excommunication—must be taken. Not by human authority, but in obedience to the Word of God.
Consider just a few of the many passages that make this clear:
- Matthew 18:15-18
- I Corinthians 5:1-13
- II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15
- Titus 3:10-11
- Romans 16:17
- I Timothy 5:20
- Revelation 2:2, 14-16, 20
A church that tolerates impenitence and refuses to carry out discipline is not merely falling short of being “Reformed.” She is lifting herself in pride against Christ. She weakens her witness. She defiles the body of Christ.
So let us be clear:
Biblical church discipline is rooted in the authority of Christ. It is regulated by Scripture and the Reformed confessions. It is never an empty ritual. It is the voice of the risen Lord, speaking through His church, calling the impenitent to repentance. To undermine in any shape or form Christian discipline is gross pride against the King and Head of the church.
__________________________
We continue our discussion on the matter of church discipline.
That term “church discipline” can mean three things.
The first form of church discipline is through the public preaching of the Word—week after week, Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day. Through the faithful ministry of His ordained servants, Christ warns, corrects, teaches, and nourishes His people. This is not just instruction, but a chief means of grace and a key of the kingdom. By the sharp, two-edged sword of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit exposes sin in the heart of the believer and painfully cuts it away. Through admonitions, warnings, and even threatenings, He leads God’s people in the way of righteousness.
The second form of discipline is personal and mutual. When a fellow believer falls into sin, Christ commands that another brother or sister go to them privately—with humility and love—to seek their restoration (Matt. 18:15). This is not optional; it is the calling of every member of Christ’s body. This discipline does not arise from irritation or offense, but from covenant love and sincere concern for the other’s soul. And when there is repentance, the matter is finished—quietly, graciously, and in love.
The third form of discipline is official and ecclesiastical. It begins when a professing member of the church persists in sin and, despite repeated private admonitions, refuses to repent.
At this point, the matter must be brought to the elders. This form of discipline applies not only when private sins are hardened in, but also when public sins arise—sins that, by their nature, endanger the spiritual health of the whole congregation.
This third form of discipline is carried out by the direct command of Christ. He entrusts His ordained elders—His under-shepherds—to act in His name and with His authority.
Exercising the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19), the elders solemnly warn and repeatedly call the sinner to repentance. If the person continues in impenitence, he/she is suspended from the Lord’s Table. This is a most serious step, showing that the member’s walk no longer aligns with his/her confession of faith.
If, after continued pastoral pleading and patient admonition, the sinner remains hardened and refuses to repent, the church—obedient to Christ and with sorrow of heart—must take the final and most serious step: excommunication. This is the official declaration that the individual is no longer part of the fellowship of the church (Matt. 18:17; Titus 3:10; II Thess. 3:14).
It is to this third and final form of Christian discipline that we now turn.
Not every sin calls for formal discipline by the elders. According to Scripture, only one sin does: the sin of impenitence.
If every sin were grounds for formal censure, then no one could remain in the church—not pastors, elders, or members (Ecc. 7:20; I John 1:8).
The church is not a gathering of the flawless, but of the forgiven. Christ does not reject those who stumble in weakness, but those who harden themselves in pride. The church is not called to crush the weak, but to restore the contrite.
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench” (Isa. 42:3).
