Getting Here
Visit our contact/directions page for a Google map and instructions on taking Metro.
For Your Kids
Your children will love exploring God's story at Discovery Land.
What To Expect
Sunday is a big day in this busy Christian community. Learn more about what goes on.
What We Believe
Discover our core values and beliefs as a church.
Our Pastors
Learn about the pastors and pastoral teams here at Covenant Life.
Explore Covenant Life
Starting Point is the beginning of involvement at Covenant Life. Join the class any Sunday.
Wayne Grudem: The Greatness of God
0 Comments..
Yesterday Dr. Wayne Grudem taught us about the greatness of God in His power, wisdom, sovereignty and glory.
You can listen to the message online or download an mp3, and use the following questions prepared by pastor Don DeVries to help apply the sermon to your life:
1. In light of God’s immense and glorious power (Jer. 32:17, Rev. 1:8, Is. 40:26), is God able to answer your prayers? What tempts you to doubt that God will hear and respond to your prayers?
2. Since God is so great in His wisdom (Ps. 139:14, Is. 40:14), can you trust God’s wisdom in your life circumstances, even if they are difficult or mysterious? What tempts you to wonder if God really knows what He is doing with your life?
3. Dr. Grudem taught us that our choices matter and have influence. In light of our recent series in Proverbs, what choices are you making that cause you to be slothful in zeal? What wise choices can you make to be fervent in spirit?
4. One day we will live in the radiance of the glory of Jesus Christ. How do thoughts of heaven and of seeing Jesus face-to-face bolster your faith for the joys and trials of life here on earth?
October 9 2009 at 6:22 pm
More About Self-Control
0 Comments..
Here are more responses I received when I e-mailed church members last week asking how they were being affected by our recent messages from Proverbs. People responded to three questions (names have been removed from the responses): 1) Where is God calling you to exercise self-control? What do you feel he’s calling you to say “no” to?
2) Express how God has been speaking to you. 3) What do you think he’s calling you to do instead with your time? Is there an attitude, activity or behavior you’d like to “put on”? (see Ephesians 4: 24)
Thanks to everyone who responded! I hope you’re encouraged (as I was) to see how God is at work.
1) My tongue and my reckless words!
2) Proverbs 12:18 was read and I was convicted of how my reckless words said in anger contributed to a conflict with my daughter.
3) Encourage my daughter with Scripture for where God is at work in her life and hold my tongue.1) Media. E-mail, Facebook, and text messaging I need to put down…
2) I believe that God has been reminding me that I have an eternal purpose. It is eye-opening to think how much I lose when I waste my time with media. I make God so small and not important and NOT the main focus in my heart.
3) I think he is calling me to spend time with people in person and pursue their hearts.1) Playing on the computer, sweets, doing my work, etc.
2) God has spoken to me about being a sluggard. Since my bout with Lyme’s disease, I’ve gotten used to being lazy. Now that I’m better, though, I need to start working.
3) I’d like to serve more.1) No to martha-isms - distractions of the home.
2) Conviction that my heart and mind are not fully engaged in my quiet times.
3) Be still.1) Show kindness in my interactions with my children and husband, and not be so quick to anger.
2) Show love, patience; enjoy time now because children grow up quickly.
3) Spend more time in prayer for my family, also, quality time in God’s Word.1) No to the busy schedules. Slow down and spend more time for the Lord.
2) God gave me a very specific command about a week a go: he said: “Worship me!” I have been, and the Holy Spirit has renewed my heart.
3) To praise him, to be humble before him, adore him for the wonders he does in our life. Soak in the Spirit.1) Food as an idol and web-surfing during my time at home with my kids during the day.
2) I am sensing that God wants to deepen my relationships with my children individually through my prayer time with HImself.
3) Praying for and with my children as their needs are brought to my attention.1) No to: negative thought patterns that lead to dissatisfaction with the life God has chosen for me.
2) Especially thru Ben Wikner’s class on The Book of Ruth (“He is actively plotting for my good”) and Charles Spurgeon’s books: The Suffering Lettersand The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith
(I’ve had severe, long-term health problems for almost 20 years).
3) Spend more time in His presence: the Word, worship, prayer, service to others and biblical fellowship1) With my thoughts, I have a tendency to let my mind run with too much concern, worry, lack of faith.
2) Self-control should apply to even how we use our mind.
3) Philippians 4:81) Less time wasted on the computer, be it editing pictures, checking e-mail, or watching movies.
2) I became aware of how I was wasting my time a few weeks ago, and Joshua Harris’ message helped confirm that I was not spending my time wisely. I have had the desire to spend my time better, but have lacked the motivation, even though I know every moment counts.
3) Open the Bible and read, work on cross-centered friendships, and involve others in all that I do.1) I’m a very aggressive and judgmental person. I need to show the same grace Christ has shown me to others.
2) Mainly God has been working on how I need to depend on him and “look before I leap,” so to say. Show compassion and grace for others before judgment. It may take some time, but I’m just going to keep coming before him in prayer and reading his Word.
3) Less “me” time and more time helping others who may need it more then I need my time to relax.1) Free time; spending more time with God rather than personal pleasure.
2) He’s been telling me to spend less time on the computer.
3) Rather than going on the computer for games, bring up the Bible on the computer to study.1) Self-control for me is connected to faith and humility.
2) It takes faith to let go of those not-obviously-sinful impulses to do things which often seem much less interesting.
3) It takes humility to let go of my own ideas and desires because of my overrated view of myself.1) Not eating unhealthy foods or over eating, and having the self-control to exercise.
2) As I pray the Lord’s prayer every day, the Lord has been speaking to me about having “no other Gods before him” and “do not fear.” When I am afraid, I often get a snack. I do not exercise self-control nor trust in the Lord in my eating.
3) I need to be aware of my eating response and pray and/or exercise when I’m aware of my fear.1) Self-control in how I manage to spend my time. God is calling me to say “no” to laziness.
2) God has been speaking to me to take more initiative in planning.
3) Put on more of a servant’s heart to care for everyone I interact with in my life.
October 8 2009 at 4:17 pm
Growing in Self-Control
0 Comments..
On Sunday we asked several church members to share how God has been speaking to them about self-control. This came as a follow-up to some of our recent sermons from Proverbs, especially “Self Control in a Wired World” and “The Sluggard.”
The video includes testimonies from the second service only. Tomorrow we’ll post a clip with testimonies from the first.
October 6 2009 at 10:34 am
Pastors on Retreat This Week
3 Comments..
Here we are about to head out for our annual fall pastors’ retreat. Once again, a family in our church is allowing us to use a house they own for the retreat. We are very grateful!
As always, we covet your prayers for our time together and for our wives and families over the course of this week. Please pray for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to understand how we can better serve this church that we love. Ask the Lord to bless all our discussions and to help us bear fruit for God’s kingdom.
October 5 2009 at 5:00 am
Do Not Be Slothful in Zeal
2 Comments..
Yesterday I preached from Romans 12:11, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
It seems the Lord has been speaking to many of us in the area of self-control over the last couple weeks. In this sermon (originally “point #4” of last week’s sermon), I wanted to get at the heart of what the Spirit is speaking to us, and what it means for us to respond.
You can listen to the message online, or download an mp3, and use the following questions prepared by pastor Don DeVries to help apply the sermon to your life:
1. When it comes to your relationship with the Lord, are you zealous and set aflame by the Holy Spirit?
2. Where have you been slothful in your zeal and passion for the Lord?
3. What good things or good activities (eg., movies, sports, exercise, hobbies, yard work, music, schooling, housework, etc.) are drawing you away from being passionate for the Lord?
4. What things do you need to say “no” to? What things do you need to say “yes” to (e.g., prayer, Scripture intake, hospitality, serving, evangelism—see Rom. 12:9-13)?
5. Do you live with a peace-time mindset, concerned mostly with your comfort, or a wartime mindset, concerned about sacrifice and living fully for the kingdom of God?
Last but not least, here’s a PDF containing a summary outline of the message combined with the application questions above.