// 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

What does the Bible say about itself? To me, this is a fascinating subject because it shows the strong foundation that our faith rests upon. Moreover, it is good for us to recall that these are God’s very own words about his book and they demonstrate the self-authenticating nature of the Bible. For example,

– Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

– Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

– Isaiah 55:10-11 “…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

– John 10:35b “…and Scripture cannot be broken.” (quoting from Ps. 82:6)

– John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

– 2 Timothy 2:9 “But the word of God is not bound!”

– 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

– Hebrew 4:12-13 “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.”

I hope you enjoy these stirring references from the pages of Holy Scripture. More passages could be listed, but suffice it to say these particular ones give the Christian some idea of the strength of our spiritual foundation. We have a firm foundation, indeed!

–Pastor Marcus Serven

At Covenant Family Church we seek to apply the word of God to our lives, not just on Sundays but throughout the entire week.

To this end, we worship God, study the Bible, pray for one another, evangelize and disciple our own children, practice family worship, care for the needy, witness to the lost, and seek to advance Christ’s kingdom here on earth.

It is our singular purpose to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We hope that this website encourages you with beneficial resources as you grow in your own walk with the Lord.

Moreover, please know that you and your family are welcome to join us for worship on the Lord’s Day. Our members come from all over the greater St. Louis area, but we welcome visitors who want to check us out or who are just traveling through.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Job 14:14, 19:25-26

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)

Deuteronomy 5:19 March 21 and 28, 2010

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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“The 7th Commandment:

You Shall Not Commit Adultery” (Parts 1-2)

Deuteronomy 5:18 & 1 Peter 3:1-7

March 7th and 14th, 2010 Pastor Marcus J. Serven

Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)

Both Christians and non-Christians alike would readily admit that the family is under attack in the world in which we currently live. Academics of a more liberal persuasion are urgently trying to redefine the family, primarily so that it can be used as a tool for rapid social change. The problem with this effort to redefine the family is that God is the one who has set the pattern and the boundaries for marriage and the family. When those divinely determined protections are cast aside—like so much garbage—then God brings judgment upon the individuals and cultures that forsake his ways. The consequences of sin within the family are terrible to behold, and many in this fallen world have experienced firsthand the horrors of familial disintegration. But, there is a better way! The Lord not only has established a divine pattern for marriage and the family, but he also gives covenantal boundaries and instruction on how to enjoy a blessed marriage and family. Take hope!

The Main Point of this Sermon:

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands… Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way…” 1 Peter 3:1, 7

1. God’s Pattern for Marriage

A Divine Pattern is established…

§ Genesis 2:18-25

§ Matthew 19:5-6

2. God’s Protection of Marriage

Covenantal Boundaries are set…

§ Exodus 20:14

§ Leviticus 20:10

§ Deuteronomy 5:18

§ Matthew 5:27-28

§ Hebrews 13:4

3. God’s Provision in Marriage

Covenantal Instructions are given…

§ Proverb 5:15-23

§ Proverbs 6:20-35

§ Proverbs 7:1-27

§ Proverbs 12:4

§ Proverbs 18:22

§ Proverbs 19:4

§ Proverbs 31:23

§ Song of Solomon 1:2-4

§ Ecclesiastes 9:9

§ Ephesians 5:22-33

§ Colossians 3:18-19

§ 1 Peter 3:1-7

Bible Texts:

Deuteronomy 5:18 “And you shall not commit adultery.”

1 Peter 3:1-2, 7 “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without at word by the conduct of their wives—when they see your respectful and pure conduct… Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

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Pastor Charles Kuykendall

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