COV LIFE BLOG
Psalm 73 – Nearness to God is Our Good
How can it be otherwise than good to have access to Him who is the highest good? The courtier counts it a high honor, and satisfaction to sun himself in the presence of his monarch. He basks in the royal smile; shall not the courtiers of heaven count it an equal good to stand in […]
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Philemon 17-25 – A Grace Given For the Work of Reconciliation
God is a being that forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. This truth is deeply embedded in the revelation of God’s character to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:7). As Christians, we so much know this truth that we are tempted to take it for granted. Many a sermon speaks about forgiveness. And when someone wrongs […]
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Philemon 8-16 – Motivations for a Reconciled Relationship
As Paul works through his letter to Philemon, he wants to take this time to prepare Philemon’s heart for the request that is coming in the final section of the letter which we will address next week. In this section, Paul appeals to three areas: 1) love, 2) the change that the gospel makes, and […]
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Philemon 1-7 – The Gospel Changes Who We Are and Makes A Difference In How We Love
It seems as though we can’t turn on the TV, check Facebook, or even talk to a distant relative without being told that “they” are what’s wrong with the world. Who are they? I guess it depends on who you’re listening to. It could be the liberals, the immigrants, the millennials, the union workers, the […]
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Colossians 3:12-17 – The Role of Congregational Singing in the Life of the Church
There are only three New Testament passages that instruct us in congregational singing: Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:18–20, and 1 Corinthians 14:15–17. In Colossians 3:16, Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts […]
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Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 – CLC Mission: Gospel Renewal
What a calling! What a mission! God calls you to do what only he can do, and what he has chosen not to do without you — open the eyes of the blind and raise the dead and awaken faith and give eternal life. Getting into the kingdom of God, Jesus said, is like a […]
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Romans 12:9-10: CLC Mission – Living in Gospel-Centered Community
God has invited us personally into the community of the Trinity. But here’s the really mind-blowing thing: God intends us to experience this divine community in the fellowship of a local church (Eph. 3:18-19). He saves us as individuals, yes, but he also saves us into communities. We need other believers to draw us back […]
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Psalm 100 – CLC Mission: Delighting in God
Joy in God matters profoundly because more than any other human response or experience, joy clearly and thoroughly reveals the worth, value, and splendor of whatever it is that evokes it. In other words, enjoyment or delight is the single most effective means for glorifying and magnifying God. Deep, durable delight in God is how […]
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Habakkuk 3:16-19 – Rejoicing in the Lord Through Trial
As we conclude our most recent series in Habakkuk 3:16-19, we have discovered Habakkuk committing himself to obey God by waiting quietly for the Lord’s justice and to walk by faith by trusting entirely in God. There is no question about what was to come: impending violence and destruction were on the way, and it was […]
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Habbakuk 3:1-15 – Remembering God’s Good Works
As we continue our study in Habakkuk, we come to Habakkuk’s prayer of response to God. The prophet’s prayer in Habakkuk 3:1-15 is staggering. In it, Habakkuk pleads with God to again show his power, wrath, and mercy in new ways. By reflecting on God’s unparalleled works for His own people in the past, Habakkuk willfully submits […]
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