The Word Alive

Today Pastor Mark delivers his last sermon as our Senior Pastor. Based in Philippians 1, Pastor Mark reflects upon these few verses within the context of his leading our congregation over the past many years. Mark shares, that like Paul, two main reasons for thanksgiving: the joy of the gospel partnership and the assurance of completion.

Today Pastor Mark delivers the last sermon from our study in Romans. Consider with us the essence of the gospel that make God worthy of glory and moves believers to praise. The gospel: strengthens believers; is about Jesus Christ; is revealed by God through the prophets; and is for all nations.

As we near the end of our study in Romans, today Pastor Mark leads us through his penultimate sermon of this series. Consider with us the idea of contending with evil in this section of chapter 16. Mark offers from this passage a word of warning, a word of advice, and a word of hope.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the rest of chapter 15. Consider with us four characteristics of gospel-driven disciples: responsive to God's gospel mission; God-glorifying in their kingdom work; eager to share the gospel with the unreached; and humbly reliant on the power of prayer.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the remaining portion of chapter 14 and the first half of chapter 15 in the continued theme of unity in the church despite disagreeing on "disputable matters". Consider with us four principles for how to live in unity: 1) not causing fellow believers to stumble; 2) maintaining proper Kingdom priorities; 3) discerning the disputable matters; and 4) following the selflessness of Christ.

In our continuing series in Romans Pastor Mark leads us through the first half of chapter 14. Consider with us in light of divisions and polarizing ideas that those in Christ are to accept (welcome into one's heart) those whose faith is weak (i.e., whose consciences are more restrictive) without quarreling (arguing, passing judgment) over disputable matters (adiaphora, ἀδιάφορα). The reasons for following this command include: 1) God has accepted those who are in Christ; 2) All live under the lordship of Christ; and 3) God alone is the true judge.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the first part of chapter 13. Consider with us three principles regarding how Christians should relate to the government: that governing (civil) authorities are established by God for our good; that we are to submit to the governing authorities; and that our submission is not absolute.

Today in our continuing study of Romans Pastor Mark leads us through the last part of chapter 12. Regarding contending with evil consider with us the tree main ways Paul urges to overcome evil with good: by loving one another; through zeal; and striving for peace.

In our continuing study of Romans, today Pastor Mark leads us through the second verse of chapter 2. Consider with us the two-part command, not to conform to the pattern of this world (age, era, zeitgeist) but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, which will result in being able to test and to approve what God's will is.

Today in our continuing study of Romans Pastor Mark leads us to consider the first verse of chapter 12. Consider with us the four truths about the life of sacrifice for Christians: it involves the body; it is a living sacrifice; it is holy and pleasing to God; and it is offered in response to God's mercy.

In our continuing study of the book of Romans today Pastor Mark brings us to the last part of chapter 11. Consider with us the mystery of God's salvation plan; what God's salvation plan reveals about his character; and the proper response of believers to God's salvation plan in humble worship and praise, bearing in mind that doxology without theology is idolatry and theology without doxology is religiosity.

Many Israelites reject the gospel message because of their disobedience and hardening, but God graciously preserves a remnant, chosen by grace, who are saved.

In our continuing series on Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the last few verses of chapter 9. Consider with us how Christ is a rock that has caused some to stumble but is the firm foundation for others to stand upon. Are you standing or stumbling? Are you growing or regressing?

Today in our study of Romans Pastor Mark leads us through this longer portion of chapter 9. Consider with us Israel's unbelief; the questions raised of if God is unfaithful or unjust; and the three responses of humility, not worrying, and joining the mission.

Today in our continuing study of Romans we arrive at the summit: the last few verses of chapter 8. Pastor Mark would have us consider the question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"; the answer, "Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ;" and the implications for our lives to: 1) live boldly & radically for the Kingdom of Christ; 2) love others; and 3) live with deep comfort and hope.

Continuing our study of Romans today Pastor Mark brings us to the part consider to be the summit (these verses) of the Mt. Everest (chapter 8) of the book of Romans. Consider with us the four questions and answers provided in these verses: who can be against us since God is for us; how God will graciously give us all things proven as though the giving of his Son; who can bring a charge against those in Christ because it is God who justifies; and who can condemn those in Christ because Jesus in interceding for them.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the next couple of verses in Chapter 8. Consider with us the "5 links of the golden chain of salvation": God's foreknowledge or foreknowing, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification.

In our continuing study in Romans today Pastor Mark brings us to the next verse in Chapter 8. This week's focus on the groaning motif is that God is working good through/despite it. Consider with us that Paul does NOT mean that all things naturally tend toward good, that there is no bad thing in life, and that fewer bad things will happen to believers; but he DOES MEAN that God is the one who works for our good, that God is making ALL THINGS work together for the good of believers, that God works for the good of those who love him, and that God works for believers to be conformed to the image of Christ.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the next couple of verses in chapter 8. As with the past 2 weeks, the continuing theme involves groaning. Consider with us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness of not knowing what to pray by interceding with groans according to the will of the Father.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark continues to focus our attention on the aspect of the present groaning and future glory, this week as it applies to believers (last week was creation). Consider with us that believers are groaning in suffering with creation and that there is hope of glory in the midst of groaning.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark brings us to the next few verses of chapter 8. Consider with us how the sin in the Garden of Eden led to creation being subjected to frustration, is currently in a state of groaning (as in the pains of childbirth), and will be liberated in glory.

In our continuing series on Romans today Pastor Mark continues within chapter 8. Consider with us that those in Christ have an obligation to put to death the misdeeds of the body by means of the Holy Spirit the results in life based upon one's identity in Christ.

In our continuing series in Romans today Pastor Mark brings us to these verses in Chapter 8. Consider with us the contrasting features found there between life in the Spirit vs life in the flesh: mindset & desires; eternal destination; and attitude toward God.

In our continuing study of Romans today Pastor Mark brings us to the first four verses of chapter 8. Consider with us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because of the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus' sacrifice in human form for the purpose of fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law for those in Christ.

Today in our continuing study of Romans we look a second time at this (and last) week's text. Continuing our consideration from the paradigm that chapter 7 describes mature (as opposed to new or Judaic or non-) believers, we see characteristics of the sinful nature in believers as having power over them; as preventing the fulfilling of the Law; as living inside them; and as leaving them in a wretched condition.

Returning to our series in Romans today Pastor Mark brings us the first of (at least) two sermons regarding this text and theme in chapter 7. Consider with us the dilemma of understanding and rectifying the apparent contradiction of what Paul wrote in chapters 6 & 8 versus this section of chapter 7. Consider with us three proposed solutions of the dilemma, the solution that Pastor Mark believes to be the most faithful manner to understand this text, and two implications for the Christian life.

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Today, Easter (Resurrection) Sunday, Pastor Mark takes a break from our Romans series to contemplate the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Consider with us today this text from 1 Corinthians 15 and what faith/belief/being a Christian would mean if Jesus had not been literally, physically raised from the dead and the juxtaposed reality of what it means because he is risen!

Today in our continuing series in Romans Pastor Mark brings us to the next verses in chapter 7. Although Paul might seem to be antinomian ("one who denies the fixed meaning or universal applicability of moral law") based upon what we have considered in the foregoing sections of Romans, consider with us that the Law is good; that sin works through the Law to bring death; and the problem of sin-and-Law points us to Christ.

Today Pastor Mark continues our series in Romans, but we are skipping past Romans 6:15-23 because he had preached on it July 17, 2022, (You Are Slaves to Righteousness) https://sermons.covenantcrc.org/index/detail/2022-07-17-you-are-slaves-to-righteousness Consider with us today in this section of chapter 7 that those in Christ have died to the Law through the body (death) of Christ that they might belong to Christ in order bear fruit for God.

This week we break from our Romans series as it is a special day. Today we celebrated the ordination of our Associate Pastor, Ben Hoekman. Consider with us Pastor Mark's message based upon this passage in 2 Timothy, written by Paul to Timothy. Consider with us the exhortations: to continue in the Word; to remember the God-breathed nature of the Word; and to minister in uncompromising devotion to the Word.

In our continuing study of Romans, we come to a transition of focus with this next chapter. Pastor Mark today leads us in the beginning aspects of considering the part of sanctification in believers' lives. Consider with us that believers must not remain in sin because they have died to sin and because they have been raised to new life in Christ. How then should we live?

Today in our series on Romans Pastor Mark continues our study of chapter 5. Consider with us that though sin came before the Law, sin increased through the Law by increasing our knowledge of sin, by intensifying the seriousness of sin, and by provoking us to sin. Despite sin increasing, grace super-abounded to the extreme.

Today in our first Sunday of Lent we continue our study of Romans. Pastor Mark directs our attention to the verses of chapter 5 today to consider sin & death through Adam (and Eve) and life through Christ. Consider with us that the trespass of Adam brought sin to humanity and it made death reign over humanity; but the gift of Christ outweighs the trespass of Adam by reversing & overwhelming the problems of sin and death.

Today in our study of Romans Pastor Mark backtracks to this earlier section in chapter 4. Rather than an expository sermon, today he brings teaching about the nature of baptism and its relationship with circumcision, two signs & seals of God's covenantal grace.

Today in our continuing series on Romans Pastor Mark brings us to the next few verses of chapter 5. We had been considering the hope (certainty) for those in Christ and today see how that hope is rooted in love. Consider with us the facets of God's love in this text: it's extravagant and substantiates our hope; it's gracious (undeserved); it's demonstrated most profoundly at the cross; and it compels those in Christ to love one another.

Today Pastor Mark continues to lead us through the first few verses of Romans 5. Consider with us the Biblical concept of hope and its nature (as contained in these verses) of being a hope of the glory of God; a hope that enables us to rejoice in suffering; and a hope that does not put [those in Christ] to shame.

As we continue our series on Romans today Pastor Mark has us consider the first couple of verses from chapter 5. Having looked at being credited as righteous through faith in Christ, in these verses Paul transitions to the benefits of being justified by faith. Consider with us what Paul meant by "peace with God;" how we attain peace with God; and the difference that peace with God should make in our lives.

Today we return to the series on Romans that we last visited in November. Today Pastor Mark brings us to this section of chapter 4 wherein we consider by example the justification that comes not from total/complete adherence to the Law (impossible for us all) but rather that given through faith in Christ. Consider with us God & his promises as the object of faith; trusting in the promises of God even in the face of the seemingly impossible as the quality of faith; and believing in Christ as the one who died for our sins and was raised for our justification as the center of faith.

Today our Advent series is fulfilled; the waiting is finished; Christ is born, God with us! Pastor Mark continues to focus our attention the Isaiah 35 as we conclude considering the joy that comes from being redeemed. Three more works of redemption are considered today.

In our continuing Advent series today Pastor Mark directs our attention for the first of two sermons to Isaiah 35. Today consider with us the joy that is experienced by and because of being redeemed: God brings from death to life; and God drives out fears.

Today in our Advent series Pastor Mark brings us to Isaiah. Consider with us the darkness of oppression and the light of deliverance fulfilled in Christ.

Today as we continue our Advent series on joy, Pastor Mark brings us to 1 John. Consider with us today that Christ was both human and divine and the joy that comes through being in fellowship with him.

As we continue or study of Romans, today Pastor Mark leads us through the closing verses of chapter 3. Consider with us three implications of justification by faith in Christ: it excludes boasting; it unifies believers; and it upholds the Law.

Today in our continuing study of Romans Pastor Mark leads us to the next verses in chapter 3. We continue considering righteousness through Christ and today focus on three profound truths about his sacrifice: it provides propitiation (the removal or turning away of God's wrath against human sin); it fulfills the functions of the Mercy Seat; and it demonstrates God's righteousness.

In our continuing series on Romans today Pastor Mark leads us through the next few verses of chapter 3. Up until this point Paul has posited that every person is unable to be righteous before God of her/his own endeavors, but now Paul shares that a saving righteousness is: of God, given freely by grace, is secured through redemption in Christ, is received through faith in Christ, and is of which the Law and prophets testified.

Today in our series in the book of Romans Pastor Mark continues in chapter 3. He focuses our consideration on the fact that all, Jew or Gentile, cannot stand on their own under the Law. Consider with us three main features of our sinful condition: it's universal in scope; it's pervasive in corruption; and it's theological in nature.

Though it doesn't always appear to be so, God is faithful in dealing with his people and just in exercising his judgment.

Today in our continuing series on Romans Pastor Mark leads us through this section of chapter 2. Consider with us Paul's words about the Jews of his original audience and how they could have false assurance of the status of their relationship with God based upon knowledge and rituals and the antidote against false assurance.

Continuing the series on Romans in chapter 2, today Pastor Mark focuses our attention on the judgement of God. Consider with us three types of people who will not escape judgement as well as who will escape.

Today in our continued study of Romans Pastor Mark guides us through this next passage. Continuing the focus on God's wrath on sin (wickedness, godlessness), this week the verses examine "how" God is showing his wrath (last week's verses were about "why").

Today in our continuing series in Romans Pastor Mark directs our attention to these verses and what they reveal about God's wrath. Consider with us what is meant by "God's wrath" (especially in the context of Romans), why God's wrath is being revealed against wickedness, and how God's wrath impacts believers.