Renewing the Covenant

Fifteenth message in a series on Nehemiah by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:36-10:39

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When we come to Nehemiah chapter 10, the people realized they needed to renew the covenant before God. Covenant is a word used throughout the Bible used to describe God’s special relationship with His people. Webster’s Dictionary defines covenant as “a formal, solemn, and binding contract between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action.” Ezra and the people understand that the strength of their covenant pledge does not rest in their ability to perform but is God’s faithful character.

God has always used Covenant as a means of relating to His people. God’s Covenant with Adam and Eve, Abraham, David and Christ are examples of how God enters into redemptive relationship with His people.

Nehemiah and the people renew the Covenant in three important areas:

1. They pledged themselves to be a people of God’s Word (Nehemiah 10:29)

God’s Word is the highest authority.

God’s Word defines both sin and righteousness.

All of God’s Word is to be obeyed.

2. They pledge themselves to be a separated people for God’s glory (Nehemiah 10:30-31)

From the beginning of Israel’s calling they were to be a people separated unto the Lord. To walk in covenant relationship with God meant they were  to be a holy nation, God’s special people, a kingdom of priests to him; and  it also meant they were to live and worship separate from the other nations (Exodus 19:1-6)

Two areas of spiritual distinction:

• No mixed marriages
• Sabbath observance

3. They pledge themselves as a people devoted to the house of God (Nehemiah 10:32-39)

And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD; will not neglect the house of our God. (Nehemiah 10:35-39 NKJV)

 

God’s Covenant with Christ Jesus

Message by Matt Donovan, an Elder at GracePoint

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(The original YouTube video played at the beginning of the message is here starting at the 5:08 mark.)

John 17:1-5 – Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should[a] give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Isaiah 53:10-12 – Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul,^[a]and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

The Lord’s Supper

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:14-17

There are many ways to view human history. Some people say that the best way to study history is by talking about important people, key events or even God’s covenants. However, one of the unique ways of looking at human history is looking at how Scripture speaks of five important meals.

1st Meal – Man eats alone
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

2nd Meal – The Lord’s Passover
And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.
(Exodus 12:7-11)

3rd Meal – The Last Supper
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
(Luke 22:19-20)

4th Meal – Communion
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
(1 Corinthians 10:16)

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage, Part 1

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:10-24, 39-40

In our society, marriages fail under a wide range of circumstances. Many people have gone through a divorce before having a relationship with Christ, and others have experienced divorce through no desire or decision of their own. Still others may have divorced because of their own wrongful choices, but have since experienced the repentance and forgiveness offered through our Lord Jesus.

The myth of divorce
No one is harmed
It’s better for the children
It ends the relationship

1. God made marriage for one man and one woman (Genesis 2:22-25)
2. God designed marriage to be a permanent union of “oneness” that is not to be broken (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6)
3. Marriage is a covenant (Malachi 2:14; Prov. 2:17; Ecclesiastes 5:4)
4. A marriage is one in which the husband commits himself to providing for his wife’s and children’s well-being (Exodus 21:10; Ephesians 5:28-29; 1 Tim. 5:8)
5. A husband is accountable for his family’s well-being and conduct (Genesis 3:9; Ephesians 5:22-23; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
6. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16)

Our commitment at GracePoint of Webster to protect marriage!