Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 6 August, 2023
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM – Prof. D. Kuiper
Three Churchmen in Relation to Truth (2)
Gaius, Fellow-Helper Regarding Truth [youtube]
Scripture Reading: III John
Text: III John 5-8
I. The Meaning
II. The Commendation
III. The Example
Psalms: 96:1-5, 8-9; 72:1-4, 17-19; 87:1-7, 67:1-7
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Prof. D. Kuiper
Three Churchmen in Relation to Truth (3)
Diotrephes, Opponent of Truth [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II John
Text: III John 9-10
I. Diotrephes’ Love for Pre-eminence
II. John’s Promise to Remember
Psalms: 36:5-11; 124:1-8; 140:1-2, 5-8; 56:1-6, 9-12
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
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Offerings: £1,056.72. Gift Aid Refund: £14,565.25
There will be tea after the evening service next Lord’s day, 14 August (Tea Rota: Group A).
Evening Bible Study is scheduled for FRIDAY, 11 August, on II Thessalonians study guide, lesson 1.
Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 0830 AM) by Rev. W. Bruinsma is entitled: “Lawlessness in Society” (Matt. 24:12-13).
Rev. and Mary Stewart are in the US until 14 August. Pastor will preach today at both services in Lynden PRC, Washington and on 13 August in Trinity PRC, Michigan (AM) and Zion PRC, Michigan (PM).
Diotrephes
Herman Hoeksema
The name of Diotrephes, occurs in the third epistle of John. In that epistle the apostle chiefly writes about three men and the name of Diotrephes occurs right in the midst of them. He first gives us some information about Gaius, to whom also this epistle is addressed. He was, probably, an elder in the church. About him the apostle, in the first place, says that he loves him very dearly in the Lord. Already in the address he speaks of him as “the well-beloved Gaius.” He does faithfully whatever he does, both to the brethren and to strangers. Gaius, according to the apostle, knows the truth and is walking in the truth. The truth is in him. He revealed this especially by receiving and helping those that came to the church from without. “Missionaries” who had preached the gospel to the Gentiles and had taken nothing from them. This is, indeed, a beautiful picture of the “well-beloved” Gaius. Then, in vs. 12, the apostle gives testimony to Demetrius. It is much briefer than that of Gaius, but it is also favourable. He tells us of him that he has a good report of all and of the truth itself. But right in the midst of these good reports there occurs the most miserable picture of Diotrephes.
Pre-eminence belongs, first of all and chiefly, the apostles, who have the pre-eminence over the entire New Testament church by reason of their apostolic authority. They were infallibly inspired and to them the entire, church is subject. But there also have been men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin and others to whom God has given special power, insight in the truth, and leadership in the church. Such men do not love to be first and have the pre-eminence, but they simply occupy their God-given place in the church and use their God-given powers and gifts for the benefit of the church. This is not true of men like Diotrephes. Whatever gifts and talents he had he did not employ for the wellbeing of the church but for his own selfish ends. Men like that are a very evil influence in the church. This is evident from all that the apostle writes about him in this brief epistle. First of all, he writes that he, John, had written a letter to the church but that letter never reached the church. Most probably when the bearers of the epistle had wanted to give it to Diotrephes he had refused to receive it. And why? Because he loved to be first and, therefore, was jealous of the authority and influence of the apostle. Envy and jealousy is one of the evils that characterizes men that love the pre-eminence in the church. Another of their evils is that they lie and slander those that are better than they, have more God-given power and authority than they or even, stand in the same position. This, too, is evident from what John writes about Diotrephes. He, according to the apostle, was prating against him with malicious words. Jealousy, envy, lying, slander and hatred of the brethren were the evils that characterized Diotrephes.
Let us beware of men like him!
