Loving One Another
Sunday, February 21st, 2010Pastor Charles Kuykendall
Archive for February, 2010
Announcements
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010Hymn of the Month: #421 “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness”. This jubilant German hymn foreshadows the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:6-10). Written in the Reformation, it was rediscovered and popularized by the prolific hymnist Catharine Winkworth. Well done!
Verse of the Month “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. ” Jeremiah 32:38-39
The 6th Commandment and Anger
Sunday, February 14th, 2010“The 6th Commandment and Anger”
Matthew 5:21-26 February 14, 2010
Pastor Marcus J. Serven
Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)
Our Lord takes the 6th Commandment to an entirely new level in this potent passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Whereas the Jewish Rabbis taught that the 6th Commandment was only an external standard, Jesus instructed his disciples that it was an internal standard as well. In other words, if you even contemplated murderous thoughts then you were guilty of breaking the 6th Commandment. This was a shocking development for Jesus’ disciples! So much so, that following the conversation with the Rich Young Ruler they began to ask the question—“Who then can be saved?” In this they rightly perceived that they had utterly failed in keeping the Law of God. As always, Jesus’ answer is revealing, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (cf. Matt. 19:25-26) Thus, we see that the answer to a violation of the 6th Commandment by word, deed, and thought is exactly the same as any one of the other Commandments—by faith looking to Jesus Christ who took away the penalty and power of sin (cf. Isa. 53:4-6; Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:11-15; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 1:7).
The Main Point of this Sermon:
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Eph. 4:26-27
1. Restatement of the OT Law, (vs. 21)
2. Reinterpretation of the OT Law, (vs. 22)
3. Remedies for Anger, (vs. 23-25)
4. Reprimands for Anger, (vs. 26)
The 6th Commandment: You Shall Not Murder
Saturday, February 13th, 2010“You Shall Not Murder”
Deuteronomy 5:17 February 7, 2010
Pastor Marcus J. Serven
Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)
Two weeks ago thousands of American citizens gathered together to recall a notorious decision by the United States Supreme Court regarding abortion on demand (Roe vs. Wade, January 23, 1973). It is hard for me to believe that we have endured this wicked judicial action for over thirty-seven years! For the Christian, then, what does the Bible say about taking another person’s life? It is clearly forbidden in God’s Law (cf. Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-26). Yet, there are a small number of people who actually insist that any type of killing is offensive to God—cutting down a tree, squashing a bug, or slaying an animal. The Bible, however, teaches that there is a profound difference between human beings and all other living creatures. It teaches that only mankind is made in the image of God and possesses a spirit and soul (cf. Genesis 1:26-28, 9:6). Also, on the Judgment Day only mankind will receive eternal life or death (cf. Matthew 10:28, 25:46; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10). Therefore, human life is to be valued and protected. The astute and thorough Larger Catechism summarizes the Bible in this way,
Q. 136: What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A.: The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in the case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, desire of revenge; all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words, oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and whatsoever tends to the destruction of the life of any.
The Main Point of this Sermon:
“There are six things that the LORD hates…hands that shed innocent blood…” Proverbs 6:16-19
1. All Human Life Is Sacred, (Genesis 1:26-28)
2. All Human Life Is to Be Protected, (Genesis 9:6)
3. The Unlawful Taking of a Human Life Should Be Punished, (Exodus 21:12-17)
4. The Unintentional Taking of Human Life Is to Be Carefully Judged, (Deuteronomy 19:1-7)
5. Civil Government Has the Authority to Make War, (Romans 13:4 & Deuteronomy 20)