Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 28 September, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Administration of the Lord’s Supper
The Word Became Flesh [youtube]
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18
Text: John 1:14
I. The Stupendous Meaning
II. The Amazing Tabernacling
Psalms: 38:1-7; 143:1-3 (AOS); 40:3-7; 85:5-13
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Applicatory
God’s Fatherly Mercy [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 103
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 46
I. The Meaning of It
II. The Benefits of It
III. The Response to It
Psalms: 103:1-8; 143:4-7 (AOS); 89:1-6; 103:9-17
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)
On the back table are copes of a new CPRC address list.
After a week of self-examination, CPRC confessing members in good standing are called to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Your participation in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood is in part a witness that you repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ as your only righteousness, and desire to live a new and godly life. As this heavenly food can be taken to one’s judgment (I Cor. 11:28-30) and as the common reception of the Lord’s Supper is a confession of doctrinal unity (Acts 2:42), the elders supervise the partaking of the sacrament. Visitors who are members of other denominations must already have presented to the Council an attestation from their church that they are confessing members in good standing and have received permission from the Council to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
Bob & Carolyn Prins have requested and received permission to partake of the Lord’s Supper with us today.
Brian Crossett has been approved for another 3-year term as elder. He will be installed during this evening’s service.
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 further Paul’s sermon in Pisidian Antioch in Acts 13:14ff.
The Belgic Confession class will continue this Wednesday at 7:30 PM. We will consider the revelation, appearance and coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “Live as Gospel Light” (Matthew 5:13-16).
Offerings: £1,722.65.
Translation Additions: 1 French, 2 Hungarian and 2 Spanish.
PRC News: Southwest PRC called Rev. Eriks (Unity, MI). Hudsonville PRC called Rev. Maatman (Southeast, MI). Byron Center PRC will call for a minister-on-loan to Provident PRC in the Philippines from a trio of Revs. Barnhill (Heritage, SD), DeBoer (Edgerton, MN) and McGeown (Providence, MI). Grandville PRC will call from a trio of Revs. Brummel (Calvary, IA), Barnhill and Spronk (Faith, MI). Hope PRC (Redlands, CA) formed a new trio consisting of Revs. Engelsma (Crete, IL), D. Holstege (Wingham, ON) and DeBoer.
Right and Wrong Motivations for Seeking the Office of Elder or Deacon (2)
The first article in a series written in 2020 by Rev. Angus Stewart for the Salt Shakers
In Isaiah 14, the King of Babylon is “blended” with proud Satan who was working through him: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (vv. 13-14).
An office-bearer in the congregation gripped by the same sin as Jehovah’s archenemy—how terrible! Given that Scripture call us to “resist the devil” and states that “God resisteth the proud” (James 4:6-7; I Pet. 5:5), the last thing the church needs is a proud elder or deacon who yields to our heavenly Father’s chief opponent and adversary, Satan! The spirit of Diotrephes, “who loveth to have the preeminence” (III John 9), is the spirit of the devil.
How many times has the Lord not taught us in His Word how He abases the proud who want high office in His kingdom! Look what He did to Satan: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! … Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isa. 14:12, 15). King Uzziah was smitten with leprosy, fled out of the temple and lived in isolation for the rest of his life—a long time to consider, and repent of, his arrogance in usurping priestly functions (II Chron. 26:19-21). Moses reminded Israel of God’s destruction of the proud rebels in Numbers 16: “what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel” (Deut. 11:6). Even Simon Magus was made to humble himself by the threat of divine judgment (Acts 8:24).
What are some of the bad things that happen when proud people do not get their way and are not voted into church office? Sometimes they resign and leave the congregation. Sometimes they remain in the church, but become bitter and embitter others by pretending that injustices have been perpetrated against them. Sometimes they mercilessly and unfairly criticise the elders and deacons (those who, unlike them, were chosen by God and His church). Sometimes a sizeable number of people foolishly listen to them so that they create serious divisions in the congregation and then they perversely rejoice, “See, I was right about our church’s office-bearers! They cannot solve the congregation’s problems (that I have created)!”
Thankfully, a man who seeks to become an elder or deacon for the wrong reasons and is not appointed by the church will often be corrected and restored by the Lord. By the Word and Spirit or even through chastisements, the brother will see the error of his ways, put off his self-seeking and grow in Christian maturity. Such a man may well be installed as an office-bearer in the years ahead!
Of course, this is not to suggest that a man who is nominated for church office but not chosen by the congregation is, therefore and automatically, exposed as proud. Far from it!
Right Motivation for Seeking to Be an Elder or Deacon
The right motivation for seeking church office is very simple: to glorify the Triune God in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord who loved us and gave Himself for us, and to serve His body the church, by promoting the truth and serving our fellow saints. So much more could be said to open up and drive home this truth but shortage of space prohibits further elaboration. Let us read the first sentence of this paragraph several times and let it sink into our hearts!
This statement regarding a man’s proper motivation immediately commends itself to all of God’s people. Everyone instinctively knows that it is right, even those who desire church office for the wrong reasons, and seek to hide their real motives from themselves and others.
As I Timothy 3:1 states, “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work”—the work of advancing and extending the kingdom of God’s dear Son among men, women and children. This is the right attitude and holy desire of Jehovah’s thankful covenant friends.
Men, this must be our motivation in seeking church office, in preparing for church office, while being installed into church office and when serving in church office! By His grace, we must maintain this spirit, not allowing proud and selfish motives to creep in. In this way, we can have confidence that our merciful God will bless our feeble efforts and we will have a good conscience before Him through Jesus Christ.
