Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 16 November, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Greatest Song Ever (6)
Black But Comely [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Song 1
Text: Song 1:5-6
I. The Confession
II. The Command
III. The Reasons
Psalms: 120:1-7; 149:1-5; 121:1-8; 45:10-15 (AOS)
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Declarations of Forgiveness [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 130
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 51
I. In Eternity
II. At the Cross
III. In Our Consciousness
Psalms: 51:1-4, 8-12; 149:5-9; 32:1-5; 130:1-8
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
Richard Sibbes on Song of Solomon 1:5: “There is a glory and excellence in the saints of God in the midst of all their deformities and debasements. Though they be encompassed with many miseries, yet are they glorious even in this life. Indeed their glory is like Solomon’s curtains … like Kedar’s tents, or a heap of wheat in the chaff, and outwardly base, but inwardly excellent. Their life is sanctified indeed, and they live the life of grace, hence they are termed glory, Isaiah 4:5; hence, as Psalm 68:13, after their misery, it is promised they should be as the wings of a dove, covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold; hence, Psalm 45:16, they are called princes in all lands, all glorious within, to be of excellent beauty; hence Psalm 110:3, their beauty is termed a holy beauty.”
John Gill on Song of Solomon 1:6: “Carnal professors may be here intended, who are members of the same society, externally children of the same mother, who profess themselves of the holy city, are pretenders to godliness, but enemies to it; such are they, who have ‘a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof,’ in themselves, and hate it in others; which, perhaps may be one reason why these children that were born after the flesh, these false brethren, were angry with the church here; as they frequently are at her zealous defences and vindication of gospel-truths and ordinances, in the power and purity of them, and at her faithful reproofs and admonitions to them and others, throwing all the scandal and reproach upon her that possibly they can: now these are generally her most bitter and implacable enemies, are thorns in her side, and give her the greatest uneasiness; causing more grief and trouble to her, than all her sufferings and persecution from the world; for hereby they blacken and lessen her reputation and character, more than any other whatever; and yet bear it she must, and patiently she ought to endure it; Christ himself was not free from it; for who were more bitter and implacable enemies to him and his Gospel, than the Jews, God’s professing people, and the chief among them, the high-priests and Pharisees?” (The Song of Solomon, p. 26).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Monday night catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Felicity & Sophie (Juniors NT)
5:45 PM: Grace, Jonas, Liam & Sammy (Beginners NT)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Seniors NT)
7:15 PM: Jason, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 2)
8:00 PM: Abbie, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to consider Paul and Barnabas turning to the Gentiles in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:46ff.).
The Belgic Confession class on Wednesday at 7:30 PM will discuss the timing of and responses to our Lord’s return.
Men’s Bible study is this Saturday (22 November) at 7:30 PM on-line, treating Psalm 71, using A 30 Day Walk With God Through the Psalms.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “Thanksgiving Through Contentment” (Phil. 4:11-13).
Rev. J. Engelsma will give a lecture on “Biblical Masculinity” on Wednesday, 14 January, at 7:30 PM in the CPRC.
The congregational dinner is being planned for Friday, 16 January.
Offerings: £1,962.75. Donations: £200 (New Jersey).
Translation Addition: 1 Spanish.
Be at Peace With Church Office-Bearers as Much as Possible! (2)
The fourth article in a series written in 2021 by Rev. Angus Stewart for the Salt Shakers
Church Office-Bearers’ Decisions
Let us suppose that you do not like a decision of the consistory or session (consisting of the pastor and the elders of an instituted congregation) or the council (a larger body, which also includes the deacons). What should you do?
Often our first impulse is, sadly, to grumble about it to friends and family or anyone who will (foolishly) give us an ear. However, this is not behaving according to Scripture or godliness but acting according to the flesh. Obviously, this is not the calling of a Reformed Christian.
The “Form for Ordination of Elders and Deacons” exhorts us, “receive these men as the servants of God: count the elders that rule well worthy of double honor, give yourselves willingly to their inspection and government.” Its concluding prayer includes this significant request:
Grant also especially thy divine grace to this people, over whom they are placed, that they may willingly submit themselves to the good exhortations of the elders, counting them worthy of honor for their work’s sake; give also unto the rich, liberal hearts towards the poor, and to the poor grateful hearts towards those who help and serve them; to the end that every one acquitting himself of his duty, thy holy name may thereby be magnified, and the kingdom of thy Son Jesus Christ, enlarged …
This should give us pause. Are we really concerned about God’s holy name and the welfare of His church? Or is our opposition to a decision by the church’s leaders merely our sinful flesh masquerading as piety? Or is it a godly concern for truth and righteousness, but with sinful motives also involved?
We need to examine ourselves honestly before God and pray for the renewal of our hearts. Then we should ask the office-bearers respectfully about the issue of concern.
What if we still do not like the decision or are not fully satisfied by their response? Perhaps the issue is not a matter of religious principle, for example, details regarding the church car park or the layout of the congregational bulletin. Such like are properly referred to as adiaphora, things “indifferent,” because they are neither commanded nor forbidden in the God’s Word.
Things become more difficult if the issue is (in perception or in reality) scriptural, doctrinal and creedal. After all, no church is infallible and apostasy is a real possibility for every congregation and denomination (II Tim. 4:3-4).
Then the concerned member should bring the matter to the consistory or council officially and follow Reformed church polity. He must pray earnestly, operate according to holy motives (seeking the glory of God according to His Word) and remain patient, by trusting in the Lord with all his heart.
In his concern for the apostolicity and holiness of the church, the believer must also seek to maintain the church’s unity. Paul writes,
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3).
Why? Upon what is this based? The great missionary theologian continues, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6).
If no resolution to the problem is reached, the matter should be taken to the denomination’s broader assemblies (Acts 15), as the Church Order explains, or help should be sought from sister churches. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (I Cor. 14:40)—this is crucial! When this injunction is not obeyed, the problem becomes much bigger and the protestant and/or the church will suffer.
Even in the high-stakes procedure of ecclesiastical protests or appeals, the “as much as possible” principle still obtains:
Moreover, that this holy ordinance of God may not be violated or slighted, we say that every one ought to esteem the ministers of God’s Word and the elders of the church very highly for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife, or contention, as much as possible (Belgic Confession 31).
