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The Father’s Discipline
0 CommentsJoshua preached on Sunday morning from Hebrews 12:1-11, titling his message “The Father’s Discipline.” Audio and an outline are available in the Resource Library.
As Covenant Life Church is walking through what is surely one of its most difficult challenges, Joshua sought to help us interpret from God’s Word what is taking place. He taught that God disciplines us because he loves us, that his discipline hurts, and that we must be trained by it. He encouraged us all to welcome and invite the good discipline of the Lord in our lives as his sons and daughters.
In his conclusion, Joshua shared a poignant illustration from Charles Spurgeon:
A child had a little garden in which she planted many flowers, but they never grew. She put them in, as she thought tenderly and carefully, but they would not live. She sowed seeds and they sprang up; but very soon they withered away. So she ran to her father’s gardener, and when he came to look at it, he said, “I will make it a nice garden for you, that you may grow whatever you want.” He fetched a pick, and when the little child saw the terrible pick, she was afraid for her little garden. The gardener struck his tool into the ground and began to make the earth heave and shake for his pickaxe had caught the edge of a huge stone which underplayed almost all the little plot of ground. All the little flowers were turned out of their places and the garden spoiled for a season so that the little maid wept much. He told her he would make it a fair garden yet, and so he did, for having removed that stone which had prevented all the plants from striking root he soon filled the ground with flowers which lived and flourished.
Just so, the Lord has come, and has turned up all the soil of your present comfort to get rid of some big stone that was at the bottom of all your spiritual prosperity, and would not let your soul flourish. Do not weep with the child, but be comforted by the blessed results and thank your Father’s tender hand!
December 24 2010 at 3:40 pm
Reviewing “Simeon’s Bucket List”
1 CommentsJoshua’s message from December 19 considers the successive encounters between Joseph and Mary and two elderly believers, Simeon and Anna, described in Luke 2:22-40.
Just 40 days after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary have traveled to Jerusalem to present the baby in the temple; there, Simeon and Anna—two devout worshippers, strangers to Joseph and Mary—recognize the baby as the Son of God and testify boldly to those in the temple that Jesus is the longed for salvation of God. From Simeon and Anna’s response when they behold the baby King, we learn how we should see and receive Jesus, and what it means to watch and wait patiently for God’s purpose to be fulfilled.
The sermon poses three pivotal questions we can all ask ourselves; they’re especially pertinent as we contemplate and prepare for the new year:
• What will you grow old waiting for?
• What do you see when you see Jesus?
• What is on your “bucket list”? (i.e., What do you hope to do before you die?)
Audio (MP3) and an outline (PDF) are available in the Resource Library.
October 11 2010 at 2:34 pm
How To Come To Church: Eager, Expectant, and Early
1 CommentsYesterday, Joshua Harris preached a message from Psalm 63 titled, “Earnestly I Seek You.” This video clip is from the end of Joshua’s message where he speaks about changes in the Sunday morning schedule and some practical things we can all apply.
In his sermon, Joshua posed four questions and explained how the Psalm answers them:
1. Who is the God I am to earnestly seek?
2. Why earnestly seek him if he is already my God?
3. How do I earnestly seek God?
4. What if I am not earnestly seeking him?
Joshua then gave two ways to apply the teaching of the Psalm: 1) by making extra room in our day to remember God, and 2) by coming each Sunday eager to behold God.
On this second point, he highlighted three words for us to remember:
1. Come Eager to sing to him, fellowship with other Christians, hear his word.
2. Come Expectant that he will speak, change us and refresh us.
3. Come Early —not walking in late, but in our seats and ready to go at 9 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.
Finally, Joshua went on to give some specific guidance about Sunday mornings as follows (Covenant Life members: heads up for this part!):
Starting Sunday, October 17, we’ll set aside the auditorium as a place for prayer one half-hour before each service. You can pray with others in small groups (or, if you prefer to pray quietly in your seat, that’s great, too), but the goal is to focus on praying for God to work in and through our church, while keeping casual conversation in the lobby.
The prayer time will last 20 minutes. When we hit the 10-minute mark prior to the meeting time (8:50 for first service and 11:20 a.m. for the second), we will break and allow for the normal hustle and bustle of everyone greeting one another and finding their seats. Then, we’ll all be poised and ready when the band calls us to worship at either 9 or 11:30.
A thorough outline of the sermon is available in the Resource Library.
July 12 2010 at 7:07 am
Living Hope, Part 11
0 CommentsYesterday, Robin Boisvert preached part 11 of our Living Hope series in the first letter of Peter. What happened to part 10, you ask? Well, Joshua had planned to preach from 1 Peter 3:7 in sequence, following on the heels of his “A Word to Wives” message from 1 Peter 3:1-6, but because of his mother’s passing, he asked Robin to step in and preach the next passage, 1 Peter 3:8-22, out of sequence. Then Josh picked up with his message, “A Word to Husbands (And a Few More for Wives)” on July 18. Make sense?!
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. Robin shared that the atmosphere of the church should be one of unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly and sisterly love, tender-heartedness and humility (1 Peter 3:8). In which one of these character qualities do you desire to grow?
2. How are you tempted to respond when you are reviled or slandered or evil is done against you (e.g. fight fire with fire, insist on your rights, demand fairness, plot revenge)? According to Jesus’ example (1 Peter 2:21-23) and Peter’s words in 1 Peter 3:9-10, how should believers respond to evil? How can you grow to emulate Christ’s example?
3. When you suffer for doing good (1 Peter 3:13-15), how can believing that Christ is the reigning, sovereign and exalted Lord strengthen your faith and enable you to persevere?
4. Robin taught us that giving a “defense … for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15b) means being a relationship builder, not an argument winner. In sharing the good news, which do you tend to be? What does it look like to be a witness for the gospel with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:16)?
5. Robin shared that Jesus suffered once for sins, was resurrected from the dead, is exalted and seated at the right hand of God with angels, authorities and powers subjected to him (1 Peter 3:18-19, 21-22). Is all your hope in this good news or do other hopes compete for allegiance?
July 5 2010 at 5:00 am
Living Hope, Part 9
0 CommentsJosh resumed our series on the book of 1 Peter yesterday with a message titled, “A Word to Wives.” He preached from 1 Peter 3:1-7, in which the apostle Peter instructs wives on the issues of authority and submission from God’s perspective, and the “adornment” that catches God’s eye.
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. Josh drew our attention to pure conduct in the midst of unjust suffering (1 Peter 2:11-25). How do you typically respond when you are treated unfairly, when you are misunderstood or wrongly judged?
2. When treated unjustly or inconsiderately, how does entrusting yourself to God enable you to keep a quiet spirit and to glorify God in your conduct?
3. Wives, what did 1 Peter 3:1-6 teach you about the “honorable conduct” and “good deeds” (1 Peter 2:12) God calls you to in your marriage?
4. Wives, what aspects of submission are difficult for you? What is one area of submission in which you can begin to pursue God’s grace for growth and change?
5. Josh stated, “Clothing and style catch the eye of the world, but a quiet heart catches the eye of God.” In what ways do you see a preoccupation with clothing, style and outward adornment in your life? Why is the “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:3) so much better for the believing wife?
June 27 2010 at 8:59 pm
Jeff Purswell: Strength for the Weary
1 CommentsJeff Purswell taught us today from Isaiah 40:27-31. Jeff has served as the Dean of the Pastors College of Sovereign Grace Ministries since 1998. He is also part of the teaching team here at Covenant Life and provides theological support to other pastors on staff.
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. Think of a time in your life when God led you into a season of waiting. As you recount it (or maybe it’s current), describe why was/is waiting so difficult? In what ways were you tempted to think accusing thoughts similar to those uttered in v. 27?
2. How does Isaiah address the despondent heart of the weary by painting a picture of the majestic God? What attributes in v. 28 show God as majestic? How should the contrasts between v. 28 and 30 shape our view of ourselves as well as the way we relate to God in the midst of trials?
3. What things are you currently waiting or hoping for? How does waiting reveal what or who we are trusting in?
4. Jeff said, “Waiting is not God’s way to deprive us, it’s His way to change us.” As you re-read v. 31, describe what weary people receive as they wait on God. In light of this, how can you wait with hope in the midst of your trial?