Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 6 July, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Not Forsaking the Assembling of the Saints [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:1-31
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 38
I. The Meaning
II. The Motivation
Psalms: 92:1-2, 12-15; 133:1-3; 46:1-7; 84:1-6
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Judges Deborah and Barak (2)
Deborah’s Offices [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Judges 4:1-17
Text: Judges 4:4-9
I. Their Specific Identity
II. Their Biblical Context
III. Their Narrative Significance
Psalms: 66:1-7; 134:1-3; 34:1-10; 119:73-80
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: “But because it is now our intention to discuss the visible church, let us learn even from the simple title ‘mother’ how useful, indeed how necessary, it is that we should know her. For there is no other way to enter into life unless this mother conceive us in her womb, give us birth, nourish us at her breast, and lastly, unless she keep us under her care and guidance until, putting off mortal flesh, we become like the angels [Matt. 22:30]. Our weakness does not allow us to be dismissed from her school until we have been pupils all our lives. Furthermore, away from her bosom one cannot hope for any forgiveness of sins or any salvation, as Isaiah [Isa. 37:32] and Joel [Joel 2:32] testify. Ezekiel agrees with them when he declares that those whom God rejects from heavenly life will not be enrolled among God’s people [Ezek. 13:9]. On the other hand, those who turn to the cultivation of true godliness are said to inscribe their names among the citizens of Jerusalem [cf. Isa. 56:5; Ps. 87:6]. For this reason, it is said in another psalm: ‘Remember me, O Jehovah, with favor toward thy people; visit me with salvation: that I may see the well-doing of thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the joy of thy nation, that I may be glad with thine inheritance’ [Ps. 106:4-5 p.; cf. Ps. 105:4, Vg., etc.]. By these words God’s fatherly favor and the especial witness of spiritual life are limited to his flock, so that it is always disastrous to leave the church” (Institutes 4.1.4).
Prof. David Engelsma: “Deborah’s appointment to office is a testimony to the spiritual weakness and even cowardice of the men in Israel at this time. This weakness of the men is due to Israel’s apostasy from God. Men whose affections are divided between the true God and the idols lack zeal and courage to fight on behalf of the covenant. God judges widespread and open unfaithfulness in his kingdom by withholding zealous and courageous men. Deborah herself gives this analysis of her judgeship. In her song she remarks that before she arose, there was no sign of brave resistance to Jabin and Sisera among forty thousand men in Israel (Judges 5:7, 8). The reason for this prevailing, unmanly submission to humiliating oppression was Israel’s idolatry: ‘They chose new gods’ (v. 9). In contrast to the failure of the men in Israel, it is a ‘mother in Israel’ who rises to Israel’s defense and who rouses the men to battle. Deborah’s judgeship shames Israel’s men” (Unfolding Covenant History, vol. 5, pp. 55-56).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Pray for one another: Remember in prayer those who were admitted to hospital this past week: Willie John and Penelope. Pray for those with long-term illnesses, especially those who struggle to attend worship services such as Eunice, Sinead and Billy Gould. Pray for those who are struggling with the infirmities of old age. Think of those who are newly married and those who are married to unbelievers. Remember the parents in their difficult task of raising their children in the fear of the Lord. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:19).
We bid farewell to Sven & Megan who fly to Australia on Tuesday. May the Lord bless them as they begin their new life together in Brisbane.
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to continue our study of the Council of Nicea (AD 325), particularly considering the events at the Council.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “The Conversion of Pagan Sailors” (Jonah 1:14-16).
Offerings: £1,550.00. Donation: £400 (England).
Translation Additions: 1 Russian and 2 Spanish.
PRC News: Grandville PRC has formed a new trio of Cand. Van Dyke, Rev. Langerak and Rev. Barnhill. Cornerstone PRC has a new trio of Revs. Eriks, Maatman and Cand. Van Dyke. Byron Center PRC called Rev. D. Holstege to serve as minister-on-loan to Provident PRC in the Philippines. Rev. Langerak declined the call from Southwest PRC. Rev. Spronk (Faith, MI) declined the call from Cornerstone PRC. Rev. De Boer (Edgerton, MN) declined the call from Grace PRC.
Remembering the Lord’s Day
an excerpt from a pamphlet by Prof. David J. Engelsma
How We Remember the Lord’s Day
Description of the day of rest as the Lord’s Day indicates how we are to remember the day. We remember it by devoting it to the Lord Jesus. We remember it by worshipping, knowing, fellowshipping with, and enjoying the crucified and risen Christ. We remember it as John did: by being in the Spirit; hearing Jesus’ great Voice (the preaching of the gospel); and seeing Him (by faith) walking amidst the candlesticks (in the Church).
Specifically, we are to observe the Sabbath Day by diligently attending the worship services of Jesus’ Church. This, according to the Heidelberg Catechism, is the first requirement of the Fourth Commandment. Remembering the Lord’s Day is diligently attending church; wilful absence from church, or attendance without diligence, is the grossest violation of the Fourth Commandment. The Catechism is Biblical, here. On the first day of the week, the apostolic church gathered for worship: to hear the Word; to break bread; to pray; and to lay aside their gifts for the poor.
It should be evident that diligent church-attendance very really is obedience to the Fourth Commandment of the Law of God. As part of the first table of the Law, the Fourth Commandment demands love for God by His redeemed people diligent church-attendance is worship, the praise of God in Jesus Christ by a thankful people. The Fourth Commandment calls the saints to rest—at church we rest by enjoying God’s wonderful work in Christ by means of the Word and the Sacraments. The Fourth Commandment ends in Christ Jesus—in attending the church of God we seek fellowship with Christ (Who is present by His Spirit and Word), and we strive to honour Him.
Attending church is a genuine remembering of the Lord’s Day, if it is diligent. First, it must be an act of faith; no unbeliever can possibly remember the Lord’s Day, regardless of whether he comes to church. Secondly, it must be faithful; believers are to gather every Sunday, as often as services are held. Thirdly, it must be whole-hearted; our attendance is to be eager, joyful, lively. Good church-attendance is to be characterized by the attitude expressed in the Psalter, based on Psalm 122:
With joy I heard my friends exclaim,
Come let us in God’s temple meet;
Within thy gates, O Zion blest,
Shall ever stand our willing feet.
This aspect of obedience to the Fourth Commandment is threatened today. There are leaks in the dike. There are those who attend only infrequently, missing entire Sundays or consistently missing one of the services every Sunday (“oncers”). There is the growing practice of missing the worship services, now and then, because they interfere with our pleasures, e.g., our vacation-plans. The Lord’s Day is completely forgotten. It is used for travelling or for sightseeing, just as though it did not belong to the risen Christ, but to ourselves. The strange notion is found in the Church that the Fourth Commandment may be broken occasionally. Men suppose that, if they remember the Lord’s Day 51 weeks of the year, they are warranted in forgetting it one week. What would these same people say if others would adopt this thinking in regard to the commandment against stealing, or the commandment against murder?
“But the Lord’s Day gets in the way of my pleasures,” says the man determined to enjoy his weekend vacation. Yes, the Law of God has a way of doing this. Throughout the Old Testament, the Sabbath Commandment “interfered” with Israel’s pleasures; and for this reason they broke it (cf. Isaiah 58:13 and Amos 8:5). May we bend and twist the Law to suit our pleasures? Or are we to plan our lives according to the law and to find our pleasure in doing what it says?
Our would-be vacationer persists, “But I work hard during the year, and I need some rest.” To be sure, we need rest; and this needed rest is the rest of the Lord’s house and the Lord’s Word …
Devotion of the Entire Day to the Lord
For the sake of this diligent church attendance, we are to put aside the ordinary work of the other six days of the week, as well as our play. This is the Fourth Commandment: “thou shalt not do any work” (Ex. 20:10). Already in the Old Testament the purpose of ceasing from work was clearly pointed out: “that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou” (Deut. 5:14). There is no value in not working in itself; but not working is necessary for resting the rest of the Sabbath. When the Israelite worked on the Sabbath (Num. 15:32ff.), the sin was not that he picked up some sticks, but that he despised the spiritual rest of God, i.e., Christ and His salvation. He revealed himself to be a worldly man. This deserved, and still does deserve, the death penalty.
It is the same today. Working on the Lord’s Day is destructive of diligent church attendance. It is true that there are works of necessity that may be done. Jesus taught that one may pull an ass out of the ditch. But, as someone has said, if I have an ass that falls into the ditch every Sunday, I will either fill up the ditch or sell the ass.
The homework of our children is included in this prohibition. Just as our ordinary work is farming or factory-work or some business or housework, the ordinary work of the schoolchildren is homework; and God requires this work to be set aside in the interest of other, better things.
If obedience to this prohibition of work means financial loss and economic hardship, we should be perfectly willing to suffer such loss and hardship. Jesus Christ is not much of a Lord if His Day, and the worship He claims on His Day, are forgotten on account of bread …
What Am I to Do?
The entire day is to be given over to worship; the whole day is to be devoted to the Lord Christ. This is the answer to the familiar question, “What are we to do on Sunday?”
God intends that we be active; work is required. Doing nothing is not obedience to the Fourth Commandment, e.g., “sacking out” all day. Jesus showed this in John 5. He healed the lame man on the Sabbath and, when the Pharisees objected, said, “My Father worketh hitherto and I work” (v. 17). The notion that one kept the Sabbath by doing nothing was part of the legalism of the Pharisees.
The work to be done, however, is spiritual exercises—private, personal worship of God. There is public worship, but there is also private worship. We should pray. We should read, not the Sunday newspaper, but Holy Scripture, as well as books and magazines that explain Scripture. Just as our day witnesses a sad lack in private prayer—communion with God, so also is there a serious falling off of good, solid, theological reading and study on the part of all Christians … We are so busy; our minds are so full of this world; we are so averse to an hour of quiet and solitude. Sunday is a day for thinking holy thoughts—thoughts of my sin; thoughts of my redemption; thoughts of my privileged position and calling; thoughts of the beauty of the Church; thoughts of Christ; thoughts of the glory of God …
