At Covenant Family Church we seek to apply the word of God to our lives, not just on Sundays but throughout the entire week.
To this end, we worship God, study the Bible, pray for one another, evangelize and disciple our own children, care for the needy, witness to the lost, and seek to advance Christ’s kingdom here on earth.
It is our singular purpose to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We hope that this website encourages you with beneficial resources as you grow in your own walk with the Lord.
Moreover, please know that you and your family are welcome to join us for worship on the Lord’s Day.
Introduction to the sermon series on the Pastoral Epistles. Christ Jesus our Hope. Paul an apostle by royal command of God. The power of the gospel to transcend culture and ethnic differences. From one generation to the next. Team work on the track field. Gnosticism. The aim: a heart purified by the work of Christ; a transformed conscience informed by Christ and his Word; Sincere and consistent faith (word and life match). Then, love abounds.
Text: 1 Timothy 1:1-7
With the first seven verses of Paul’s letter to Timothy we have a very fine introduction to all of the Pastoral Epistles. What exactly are the Pastoral Epistles?
They were three letters written near the end of the Apostle Paul’s lie; about A. D. 62-64. In them he urges his young disciples–Timothy, Titus, and several other key leaders within the early church–to remain faithful to all that he has taught them. In essence, these letters were a loving exhortation to “guard the deposit entrusted to you” (cf. 1 Tim. 6:20).
The depth of Paul’s relationship with Timothy, and the other disciples, is clearly evident in these letters. Keep in mind that Paul was a converted Jew, and that Timothy, Titus, and other men were from Gentile stock. Yet, within Christ’s kingdom such ethnic and cultural differences made no difference (cf. Gal. 3:28).
In this way, Paul could thoroughly invest himself in these young men with the expectation that they would faithfully carry on the gospel that he had passed on to them (cf. 1 Tim. 1:19; 2 Tim. 2:2; and Titus 1:5).
The Great Comission is larger than Foreign Missions. Discipling the nations starts in the home. Covenantal Evangelism. What is the Covenant? God entering into relationship with His people. Timothy’s conversion vs. Paul’s conversion. The means of grace. Sending forth the next generation.
Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
When we think of “missions” we typically think of getting our shots and passport in order, traveling to far away foreign lands, and preaching to natives in steamy jungle huts. This type of missionary effort is certainly encouraged by our Lord (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). But, perhaps our overall paradigm for “missions” needs to be expanded to a much broader and deeper perspective.
There is a mission field that is much closer to us than Japan, Guatemala, or India–it is within our own families and to our own family members. Missionary efforts in this area could truly be considered “home missions” or “covenantal missions”.
How unfortunate it would be if we were so consumed with winning others to Christ in far away places, that we neglected to bring up our own children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 4:6-7; Psalm 78:4; Ephesians 6:4). What also of those aged family members who do not know the Lord?
These are sobering thoughts not designed to produce evangelical guilt, but to cause us to reexamine our priorities in the light of Scriptural truth. Let us purpose in our hearts to thoroughly acquaint our “little ones”, and all others within our family, with the Bible—for it always points to Christ.
November 16 - Full Dinner following the Worship Service
November 20 - Thanksgiving Music Recital including Covenant Children’s Chorus and other selections from the children of our church
Nov. 27th - Thanksgiving Day—enjoy family & friends!
Dec. 5th - Overseeing Session Meeting by Teleconference
Dec. 7th - Full Dinner following the Worship Service
Coming Up in 2009:
February 27-28 - Men’s Advance with Rev. Kevin Swanson. Faith of our Fathers: Believing it, Living it, Passing it on. Find out more at Genevan Foundation!
Reformation Day stories. What is Grace? God’s riches at Christ’s expense. God rejects all carnal efforts. The strength of God’s grace. We are dead in sin, and are now made alive. Our position has been transferred: no longer are we under the penalty or power of sin. Grace is a disposition of God towards his people. Martin Luther stories. Though it is not by good works that we are saved, once we are redeemed, we show His work in our life by manifesting good works. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.
Text: Ephesians 2:4-10
One of the central tenets of the Christian faith is expressed by the phrase, “salvation by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-9). Sadly, this precious doctrine was completely covered-over by erroneous human traditions at an earlier point in Church History.
If one thinks of Christ’s Church as a great ship plowing through the oceans, it would be absolutely necessary from time to time to take that vessel into dry dock and scrape its hull free of barnacles. Once freed from that negative influence, that ship could then sail ahead without hindrance.
In this respect, the Lord raised-up godly men and women during the Reformation to “scrape the hull” of his Church so that it would be freed from an accumulation of false doctrines. Moreover, it is good for all Christians to be reminded of the absolute necessity of God’s sovereign grace in our salvation.
In short, we could not be saved apart from it! Lastly, this passage shows us how God’s grace fits into the remainder of the Christian life—its fruits are manifested in our attitudes, conduct, and speech.
Practice resumes today after the worship service. See Rebecca Serven if you have any questions. The Fall Recital is scheduled for Thursday, November 20th, 7 p.m. at the Steinway Piano Gallery at 12031 Dorsett Road near Highway 270.
For the month of November our hymn is #363 “We Gather Together”. This very moving hymn from the Reformation era was written during the brutal invasion of Holland by Spain. It is a picture of how our sovereign God rules and reigns over His kingdom.
All of those interested in a field trip to see the Dental Theater show at Laclede’s Landing on Friday, November 14th (11:00 a.m.) please contact Angie Hamann to let her know if you plan to come, or for more information.
All men and boys are welcome to join in on November 8th at the Serven home (8-12 noon) to listen to the theological presentations by Neal Bringe, Jeff Hamann, Marc Houghton, and Pastor Serven. Sign up today; breakfast will be served at 8 a.m.
Text: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 Guest Preacher, Pastor Yelton.
Since we sin against God every day, we must repent of our sins. True repentance brings life. However, we must repent in a way that pleases God—not in a worldly way. This is sometimes difficult, because it is easy to confuse true repentance with a false, worldly repentance. So, we must study what the Bible says about repentance. The Holy Scriptures say a great deal about repentance. In the Bible, which is the only rule of faith and practice, we discover what repentance truly is, and we learn how to distinguish it from every counterfeit. We can find a good definition of repentance in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.
Since true repentance brings salvation from death, we must repent in a godly way, not in a false and worldly way.