// Covenant Family Church

Text: Acts 2:37-39

The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples that there were only two Sacraments in the Bible—the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. Consider what the Westminster Confession of Faith (Larger Catechism) says about baptism,

Q. #165 – What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself, of remission of sins by his blood, and regeneration by his Spirit; of adoption, and resurrection unto everlasting life; and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord’s.

Q. #166 – Unto whom is baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience of him, but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized.

These are precious truths that should be measured by Scripture and treasured when we see that they have the ring of truth.

Baptism is not only an external symbol of the forgiveness of sins and our identification with Christ, it is an internal impetus to each and every recipient for spiritual rebirth, life-long repentance, and daily renewal.

Additional verses for study: Genesis 17:7, 9-10, Genesis 18:19, Psalm 78:3-8, Psalm 103:17-18, Psalm 112:1-2, Luke 18:15-16, Acts 16:15, 33, 1 Corinthians 7:14, Colossians 2:11-12, Titus 3:5-7

Download

Text: 1 John 3:4-10
Guest Preacher, Pastor Yelton.

Download

Text: Hebrews 7:1-4
Guest Preacher, Pastor Cheatham.

Download

Koinonia. The Lord ministers to weariness and fear through communion with Him. The worldliness of the culture weighs us down. Flee idolatry. Don’t think you can be strong enough. Pursue righteousness and peace. Explanation why we do not believe in transubstantiation, and at the other extreme, a strict remembrance. We are to look forward to the consummation of Koinonia at the marriage supper of the Lamb. False worship is worshiping the demons. We are called to spiritual communion with the Living Lord.

Text: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

How is the Lord’s Supper a “sacrament”? In Latin the word “sacramentum” refers to an “oath”, or a “solemn obligation”. It is therefore, “a sacred action, instituted by God, that employs a visible sign, or element, to confer on and seal to believers by grace the promise of the gospel for remission of sins and eternal life” (cf. Richard A. Mueller, Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms, 1985). In addition, the Westminster Shorter Catechism defines a “sacrament” with these helpful words,

Q. #92: What is a sacrament?
A.: A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Thus, when we receive the Lord’s Supper the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ is represented by the elements. this element was discussed in the sermon last Sunday. And so, we press on–Secondly, the promises and blessings of God are sealed in our hearts–taking on fresh meaning as we are urged to greater obedience to his commandments. Lastly, the benefits of the new covenant are applied to believers; such benefits as–assurance, courage, faith, love, and perseverance. Rejoice, then, that our Lord has given us sensible signs where we can be encouraged and strengthened. He has not left his people helpless. He loves us and continues to reassure us that we belong to him.

Download

Full dinner on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. Bring a main dish and dessert/or salad for the dinner. Everything else is supplied by the church. On the 2nd and 4th Sundays we highly encourage you to exercise hospitality amongst the brethren in your homes.

Our selection for August is #166, “Wondrous King, All Glorious”. This superlative hymn of the Reformation was written by Joachim Neander, 1680.

Rejoice with the Josh and Katie Ritter family over their daughter’s baptism! Kristin Ann Ritter will be presented before the Lord during the worship service on Sunday, August 31st.

Our Lord has given his people two sacraments–Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. He instituted them both for our benefit. The Westminster Shorter Catehism defines a “sacrament” with these helpful words,

Q. #92: What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers (#1).
(#1) Gen. 17:7, 10; Exod. 12; 1 Cor. 11:23, 26

Thus, when we receive the Lord’s Supper the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ is represented by the elements. Secondly, the promises and blessings of God are sealed in our hearts–taking on fresh meaning as we are urged to greater obedience to his commandments. Lastly, the benefits of the new covenant are applied to believers; such benefits as–assuance, courage, faithfu, love, and perseverance. Rejoice, then, that our Lord has give us sensible signs where we can be encouraged and strengthened. He has not left his people helpless. He loves us and he continues to reassure us that we belong to him.

Download

Today, we begin our study of the Lord’s Supper.

Out of all the doctrines and practices of Christ’s Church since the time of the Reformation this particular one has used up the most ink! Page after page, and book after book, have been written setting forth the Bible’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper–that it is an on-going memorial feast whereby Christ is spiritually present in the hearts of all who trust in Him.

It is always helpful, of course, to understand where these beliefs and practices come from, and so let us look to the Old Testament to find the theological and historical background of the Lord’s Supper (cf. Lev. 23: 4-8; Num. 28:16-25; Deut. 16:1-8).

What we find is that the Lord instituted this sacrament in the midst of extreme difficulty. The Egyptians had steadily increased their oppressive demands upon the nation of Israel. It got to the breaking point so that Israel urgently cried out to the Lord o be delivered. The Lord heard their cry, and sent for an unlikely deliverer–Moses. He was the right man for the job!

Download