Covenant Waterfall Presbyterian Church

Baptism (WSC 94 & 95) - Part 1

Part 1 of catechism class on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q&A 94 and 95:
Q. 94. What is baptism?A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.
Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered?A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.
Teacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

”I will be with you” - Genesis 26

The human race is no stranger to separation. We know that in the beginning, God created us in perfect communion with him and each other. He walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:8). He dwelt with them, he knew them, loved them, provided for them and blessed them. This all changed when Adam and Eve fell into sin. Because God is holy, they were separated from him due to their sin, banished from his presence – expelled from the Garden, from before God’s presence.
Yet God promised that one day this would change – that he would send the seed of the woman, a descendant of Eve, to crush the head of the serpent - to deal with sin and restore God’s people to himself. In the meantime, he did not just abandon his people, but he made a way to be with them through establishing covenants – arrangements where a holy God could be with unholy people. We saw this with Abraham (Gen 12, 15, 17), and now in our text this morning, see this same covenant being renewed with his son, Isaac. One of the key promises in this covenant is God’s promise to Isaac that he will be with him and he will bless him. What we will see today from this text, is that because God is with us in Christ, we are blessed.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

Chosen Cheaters - Genesis 25:19-34

One of the chief objections to Christianity that you often hear is, “How can a good and merciful God send people to hell?” Surely he would do everything in his power to save everyone? What is even more offensive, even to many Christians, is that the Bible teaches predestination: God elects before the creation of the world, some to be saved in Christ; while others, he chooses to pass over – the reprobate – to condemn to an eternity in hell. Doesn’t this seem incredibly unjust?
We are back in Genesis! We paused in Genesis 24 at the end of April. Abraham’s life drew to a close. Now we turn to, his son, Isaac and his wife, Rebecca and their two twin sons, Jacob and Esau. In our passage this morning, we see Jacob, the younger son, cheats his older brother Esau, out of his birthright. God in his sovereignty, chooses Jacob, the undeserving younger brother, over Esau, in order to continue his purposes of election.
What we will see in this sermon is that because God chooses whosoever he pleases, salvation is by grace alone.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

A Solid Rock in Stormy Seas - Psalm 62

Is there a rock we can rest on in tempests of suffering? Or when suffering comes, will we be left with nothing but to drown in despair? In Psalm 62, David affirms the reality and pain of suffering - he is barely able to cope in the face of hatred and opposition. But David points himself to God's eternal promises. God's promises are the only things that will last, and even death cannot sweep them away. In this sermon, hear how God's promises interact with the suffering of this world and give comfort to those who trust in Christ.
Exhorter: Brendan Stamper

Welcome to the Family - Philemon (Part 1)

What is the church? The message of the Gospel erases distinctions that would otherwise keep people apart. Instead, it draws sinners together into a common community, the family of God, the church. Paul's letter to Philemon about his slave Onesimus shows the eternal nature of the church, and the unique power of the Gospel which creates it. 
This first sermon of two going through Philemon will address the nature of the church and the One who forms it. Part two will address the implications of living in an eternal community in more detail.
Exhorter: Brendan Stamper

Restoration through Justice - Nahum 2

The Judean Herald - Nahum 1

Stand Firm in the Grace of God! - 1 Peter 5:12-14

We have finally reached the end of 1 Peter. In this sermon we will be looking at the conclusion of the letter. We know that the context of this letter is that it was written to Christians in the first century in Asia Minor facing immense pressure and persecution for their faith. They were facing great temptations to compromise – blend in with the culture around them, as that would have surely led to an easier life. Here, Peter brings the whole letter to its conclusion, encouraging them to resist this temptation and instead exhorting them to stand firm in the truth of the gospel! We will see that because God has given us this gift of grace in Christ, we are to stand firm in it.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

Humble Yourselves under God’s Mighty Hand - 1 Peter 5:6-11

Perhaps you’ve experienced tragedy or loss, enduring suffering right now. How do you react? This is precisely what our passage deals with. Peter is addressing Christians who are suffering immensely for their faith. How are they to respond? Do they get angry and bitter with God? No – what we will see in this text is that because God will deliver us from suffering and bring us to eternal glory in Christ, we are to humble ourselves under his mighty hand.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

Shepherd the Flock - 1 Peter 5:1-5

In this passage, Peter gives instructions to the elders in the churches in Asia Minor – to responsibly shepherd the flock and look after God’s people. What we will see in this passage is that because Christ is our Good Shepherd, the shepherds of the church must shepherd the flock following in his example.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.