// Covenant Family Church

“A Summary of the Ten Commandments”

Mark 12:28-34 November 29, 2009

Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

As chronicled in the Old Testament the Jewish people had lost sight of the fundamental relationship that they had with the Lord. They had been lured away from actually knowing the living God to only knowing about God. Instead of whole-heartedly giving themselves to God in loving submission, they had been deceived by false religious teachers into thinking that animal sacrifices excused them from their sin and made them righteous before God. They delighted in symbols, shadows, and types, rather than in God himself. In the midst of this dark period of history, however, God’s witness amongst the people was not totally extinguished. God had given them the Scriptures (the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms), and he would also send his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ gave new meaning to the greatest commandment, because here was a man who fulfilled the law by living it out perfectly (Mt. 5:17-20, 48).

The Main Point of this Text:

“Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

1. The Crucial Question, (vs. 28)

2. The Precise Answer, (vs. 29-31)

3. The Complimentary Response, (vs. 32-33)

4. The Stunning Declaration, (vs. 34)

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“A Preview of the Ten Commandments” (Part 2)

Deut. 5:1-6; Matt. 5:17-20 November 22, 2009

Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

The Decalogue, or the Ten Commandments, has always been a very controversial document. The Israelites welcomed these moral standards, but then went right out and violated them! In Jesus’ time they were mistakenly seen as a means of salvation and right-standing before our holy God (works-righteousness). In our own day the Ten Commandments are rejected by some as being antiquated (antinomianism) and are emphasized by others with a legalistic zeal (hypernomianism). Just what is the serious Christian to think of the Ten Commandments? Should you ignore them? Should you heed them? Answers to these questions are found in the both the Old Testament (Deut. 5:1-5) and in the New Testament (Matthew 5:17-20). Therefore, let us examine all that God has said so that we might honor, obey, and please Him.

The Main Point of this Text:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

5. Satisfaction, (Matt. 5:17)

6. Endurance, (Matt. 5:18)

7. Warnings, (Matt. 5:19a)

8. Blessings, (Matt. 5:19b)

9. Perfection, (Matt. 5:20)

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“A Preview of the Ten Commandments” (Part 1)

Deut. 5:1-6; Matt. 5:17-20 November 15, 2009

Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

The Decalogue, or the Ten Commandments, has always been a very controversial document. The Israelites welcomed these moral standards, but then went right out and violated them! In Jesus’ time they were mistakenly seen as a means of salvation and right-standing before our holy God (works-righteousness). In our own day the Ten Commandments are rejected by some as being antiquated (antinomianism) and are emphasized by others with a legalistic zeal (hypernomianism). Just what is the serious Christian to think of the Ten Commandments? Should you ignore them? Should you heed them? Answers to these questions are found in the both the Old Testament (Deut. 5:1-5) and in the New Testament (Matthew 5:17-20). Therefore, let us examine all that God has said so that we might honor, obey, and please Him.

The Main Point of this Text:

“Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.” Deut. 5:1

1. Obedience, (Deut. 5:1)

2. Covenant, (Deut. 5:2-3)

3. Mediation, (Deut. 5:4-5)

4. Authority, (Deut. 5:6)

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“The Mystery of Marriage”

Ephesians 5:31-33 November 8, 2009

Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

With the large number of marriages that end in divorce, it seems reasonable to question the entire institution of matrimony. Some might say, “Why even bother with it?” However, as Christians we must remember that God is the One who instituted marriage between a man and a woman. The Bible teaches that God established marriage for three reasons: (1) for lifelong companionship, (2) for the bringing-up of children, and (3) for instructing us in self-sacrifice. Thus, there was and is a divine intent for marriage, and this truth should cause us to reflect upon its benefits and blessings. This particular passage (cf. Ephesians 5:31-33) is one of the most revealing in the Bible, because it shows us the what, the why, and the how of marriage. Therefore, let us resolve as Christians to contemplate upon God’s intent for marriage, and then to apply these truths to our own marriage relationship.

The Main Point of this Text:

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:32

1. The What—An Unbreakable Love, (vs. 31)

2. The Why—An Uncommon Love, (vs. 32)

3. The How—An Unreserved Love, (vs. 33)

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“Handling Truth”

1 Timothy 6:20-21 November 1, 2009

Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

Here at the end of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he gives one final sweeping exhortation to the youthful pastor of Ephesus. Paul strongly urges him to “guard the deposit entrusted unto you” (vs. 20). By this phrase Paul means that Timothy must courageously defend the Gospel from all attackers and despisers. This is a tall order for such a young man, but evidently Paul is confident that Timothy can accomplish this very thing. In his following letter Paul instructs Timothy in how to accomplish this goal (2 Timothy 2:15):

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

In this one sentence Paul reveals an extremely important method for gaining expertise in the Bible—you must constantly read it and thoroughly study it! Only in this way will you understand and appreciate the truths that you must contend for, by serious reading and reflection. With God’s help let us do it!

The Main Point of this Text:

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you.” 1 Timothy 6:20a

1. One Gospel to Defend, (vs. 20a)

2. Two Behaviors to Avoid, (vs. 20b)

3. Three Examples of Apostasy, (vs. 21a)

4. Four Ways of Handling the Truth, (vs. 21b)

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