COV LIFE BLOG
IMPRINT Marriage Conference 2017
There is a different kind of unity enjoyed by the joining of diverse counterparts than is enjoyed by joining two things just alike. When we all sing the same melody line it is called “unison,” which means “one sound.” But when we unite diverse lines of soprano and alto and tenor and bass, we call […]
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1 Peter 5:1-5 – A Humble Church and Faithful Elders
To the Elders It is by no means easy for a young man to become a shepherd, and he ought not to be discouraged if he cannot become one in a day, or a year. An orator he can be without difficulty. A reformer he can become at once. In criticism of politics and society […]
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1 Peter 4:12-19 – Rejoicing in Suffering
Dear Christian, as you experience suffering in this life, remind yourself that it is not a reason for complaint, but rather for rejoicing. That may seem counterintuitive, but we can rejoice because our suffering is of benefit to our own soul. Whatever trial we are enduring is only a “slight momentary affliction preparing for us […]
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1 Peter 4:7-11 – Living and Loving In Light of The End
Too often, people’s main concern in thinking about the end times is how they can protect themselves. They want to be assured that they wont suffer through the tribulation; or (if they believe they will go through the tribulation) that they can somehow stockpile enough food for themselves; or that they’ll have enough material goods […]
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Most cultures—unlike our own—expect suffering as inevitable and see it as a means of strengthening and enriching us. Our secular culture, on the other hand, is perhaps the worst in history at helping its members face suffering. Every other culture says the meaning of life is something beyond this world and life. It may be […]
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The Confusion and Controversy of 1 Peter 3:19-20
This past Sunday was an incredibly sweet day for our faith family. Amid the testimonies, baptisms, and new members signing our church covenant, the Lord’s promise in Isaiah 55 continues to show itself true: His word going-out does not return void! Reaching 1 Peter 3:19-20 this week, we noted one scholar’s calculation of 180 different exegetical […]
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1 Peter 3:18-22 – Christ Suffered Once For All For You
[Our Father] disciplines us not to teach us how far we have to go to earn the right to be his children, but because we are his children. In his discipline, he is not making us pay the penalty for our sins, but delivering us from the sins for which Christ has already paid the […]
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Ending the Year by Loving our Neighbors
How often do we put ourselves in the position to reach out to the lost? If you’re like me, you may not always think tactically about surrounding yourself with the lost. Of course, I don’t simply mean living in close proximity to people. We work with non-believers. We have unbelieving neighbors. We have friends who aren’t believers. Yet we don’t […]
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1 Peter 3:13-17
Love to God disposes us meekly to bear injuries from others because it sets us very much above the injuries of men. And it does so in two respects. In the first place, it sets us above the reach of injuries from others because nothing can ever really hurt those that are the true friends […]
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John 1:14 – Advent – The Glorious Good News That God Is With Us
It is to be noted that God does in the person of Jesus not merely dwell among men; but He hath joined Himself unto men—the Word not only dwelt in flesh, but “was made flesh.” It is impossible to use words which are exactly accurate to describe the wonderful incarnation of the Son of God […]
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