A Summary of the Ten Commandments
“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,...
Read MoreA Preview of the Ten Commandments (Part 2)
“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...
Read MoreA Preview of the Ten Commandments
“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...
Read MoreThe Mystery of Marriage
“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...
Read MoreHandling Truth
“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...
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