April 4, 2010 Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

Modern-day living can certainly be a confusing and confounding experience! However, there is a lesson that you can learn from one who lived long ago, that ancient man of the Bible—Job. Job had everything going for himself—family, friends, and finances. Yet, when all of these were taken away he experienced massive amounts of personal confusion, which lead to self-doubt, self-pity, and extensive soul-searching. In the midst of Job’s personal despair he asks a crucial question about life, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (cf. Job 14:14). The answer to this perplexing question comes later in the text, when he asserts by faith, “For I know that my Redeemer lives…” (cf. Job 19:25-26). How did this significant change in Job’s attitude come about? Where did his new found confidence come from? The answer to these questions leads us to an important lesson about life—true happiness does not consist in possessions, but in your relationship with your Creator.

The Main Point of this Sermon:

By trusting in His Redeemer today, Job was given hope for tomorrow.

1. Job’s Great Confusion, (Job 14:14)

2. Job’s Growing Certainty, (Job 19:25a)

3. Job’s Personal Redeemer, (Job 19:25b)

4. Job’s Hope for Tomorrow, (Job 19:26)

Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

We come now to the 8th Commandment which reads, “And you shall not steal” (Deuteronomy 5:19). At the heart of this commandment is the admonition in both the Old Testament Law (Leviticus 19:18) and the New Testament Gospels (Matthew 22:37-40), that “you shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Indeed, the whole second table of the Law (Commandment’s #5-10) deals with the injunction to “love your neighbor as yourself”. Thus, it is fundamental to the Christian faith that we purpose to never steal from another person that which is not our own. Moreover, it is also true that we should resolve to work hard for what we do have so that we do not become the borrower’s “slave” (Proverbs 22:7), or an unnecessary burden to others.

The Main Point of this Sermon:

“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Ephesians 4:28

1. Stealing

2. Repenting

3. Working

Part 1

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Part 2

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Deuteronomy 10:12-16; John 3:1-7, 14-15; Titus 3:4-7

February 26, 2010 Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Men’s Leadership Advance

Session #1 – (Friday 7:00-9:00 PM)
Key Illustration: the Battle for Iwo Jima & the “Beachhead model” for the Christian Life

Introduction:

We are discussing “The Battles that Men Fight” at the Men’s Advance this year. Specifically, we are looking at these seven battles: Community, Spirituality, Humility, Maturity, Identity, Purity, and Duty. The first of these battles that we will examine is Spirituality. It is a bit of an awkward term, but it refers to awareness of sin, dependence upon Jesus Christ, and a life changed by God’s grace. Now, let me ask you a very important question—“What kind of man will you be?”

§ Will you be a selfish man who lives only to satisfy himself?
§ Will you be an immoral man whose behavior is conformed to the world?
§ Will you be a driven man who pridefully builds his own kingdom?
§ Will you be a spiritual man who loves God and his ways?

This is an important question—“What kind of man will you be?”

1. A Spiritual Man is…One Who is Deeply Aware of his Own Sin

2. A Spiritual Man is…One Who is Utterly Dependent Upon Jesus Christ for Eternal Life

3. A Spiritual Man is…One Whose Life has been Profoundly Changed by the Grace and Mercy of God

The Main Point of this Talk:

Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of good works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

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