// Covenant Family Church

Our 2011 Men’s Advance is now just one month away! Some men who attended the 2010 Men’s Advance recently asked me the question—“What are the talks about this year?” The main theme for this year’s conference is “Perseverance—in your life, in your home, and in God’s kingdom work”.

Specifically, we are going to address the importance of perseverance and how it relates to the disciplines and demands of the Christian life, how you can trust in the sufficiency of Scripture to solve broken relationships within your own home, and how you can work hard in God’s ever-expanding kingdom with a grateful heart.

The doctrine of “Perseverance” has some related subjects that will be addressed as well—personal assurance, back-sliding, endurance, fruit-bearing, gratitude, pleasing God, and the security of the Believer. Besides hearing the talks, we will give ample opportunity to discuss and apply these important concepts in small groups throughout the Men’s Advance.

Below you will find the titles for each one of our talks and the key Bible passages.

Friday Evening, February 25th, 2011 “Perseverance—in your life”
Session #1 - Marcus Serven, “Kept by the Power of God”, Key Texts: John 10:28-29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5, 9

Session #2 - Derek Carlsen, “Bearing Fruit and Pleasing God”, Key Texts: Matthew 7:15-20; John 15:5-8; Colossians 1:9-14

Saturday Morning, February 26th, 2011 “Perseverance—in your home”
Session #3 - Derek Carlsen, “Loving Servant Leadership in the Home”, Key Texts: John 13:1-20; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:7

Session #4 - Marcus Serven, “Child-Training and Discipline in the Home”, Key Texts: Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 78:4-7; numerous Proverbs; Ephesians 6:4

Saturday Afternoon, February 26th, 2011 “Perseverance—in God’s kingdom work”
Session #5 - Derek Carlsen, “Seek First the Kingdom of God”, Key Texts: 1 Kings 3:10-14; Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:29-30; Colossians 3:17

Session #6 - Marcus Serven, “Enduring to the End”, Key Texts: Matthew 10:22, 24:13; Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 1:10

Sunday Afternoon, February 27th, 2011 (1:00-3:30 PM)
Worship Service at Covenant Family Church - Derek Carlsen preaching, Key Texts: John 21:1-19 and Isaiah 66:1-2

I certainly hope you can attend this year’s conference! You can register online as well as by mail. Make sure you do so before February 6th to receive the early-bird price of $60/person.

–Pastor Marcus Serven

This is a good question and it deserves a thoughtful answer. The reason we call our men’s conference an advance is because as Christians we are determined to not retreat. Instead, we are committed to advance through time with the Gospel of Jesus Christ knowing full well that Christ will be victorious over all of his enemies. It is good for us to reflect upon these Scriptural statements from King David, our Lord, and the Apostles:

–Psalm 110:1 “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’.”

–Matthew 16:18b “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

–1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

–2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

–1 John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Bible passages like these give strength and resolve to Christians. Each one is significant in its own way in shaping the Christian life. Therefore, the vision for our Men’s Leadership Advance is to educate and encourage Christian men to fulfill their God-given calling as leaders in the home, and to better prepare them to serve as leaders within Christ’s Church.

–Pastor Marcus Serven