Covenant Waterfall Presbyterian Church

The Promise of the Spirit - John 14:15-24

Ever since Jesus's ascension, Christians live in a world where Jesus is physically present at the right hand of the Father, and physically absent from us. What happened to Emmanuel, God with us? In this passage, Jesus prepares us for his ascension, and explains that although he is not present with us physically, he never actually leaves us. Because of his work on the cross and his ascension, he actually draws us into present fellowship with God by the Holy Spirit. If you trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit is personally present with you and ensures that God will never depart from you.
Exhorter: Brendan Stamper

Enduring through fiery trials - 1 Peter 4:12-19

The Christians to whom Peter was writing in the first century, were also facing great pressure for practicing their faith. They were facing great hostility from the pagan Roman empire and their neighbours, on a daily basis, pressure to conform to the surrounding culture. Peter encourages them to persevere in their faith. Not only that, he tells them that they shouldn’t be surprised that they are suffering. Instead, he tells them – rejoice when you suffer, because in Christ you are blessed.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

Be Self-Controlled and Sober-Minded - 1 Peter 4:1-11

In this text, Peter encourages his audience to persevere in living a self-controlled and sober-minded Christ-like life and endure the price of living this way – scorn from those around them. Why? Because Jesus also endured scorn on the cross. But just as he was victorious through the suffering he faced, so we can be encouraged that though we will endure suffering and ridicule from those around now because of our refusal to partake in sin, ultimately we will share in Christ’s victory in all eternity.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

Victorious over Darkness - 1 Peter 3:18-22

Peter encourages us to endure through suffering. He tells us this because though Christ suffered unjustly, ultimately he was vindicated as he was victorious over darkness. Likewise, those who are suffering for Christ’s sake will also be vindicated. Overall, we will see in this passage that because Jesus suffered for sins and defeated the powers of darkness, we belong to God and do not need to fear the dark world that surrounds us.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola

God is with us - Psalm 46

Preacher: Alex Hewiston.

Live with integriity in the darkness - 1 Peter 3:8-17

The Christians to whom Peter was writing in the first century in Asia Minor were facing immense pressures for practicing their faith. They were ridiculed, ostracised from their community, treated with scorn, falsely accused of evils, and faced great pressure to conform to the pagan culture that surrounded them. How does Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, instruct these believers to live in the light of all this? We will see that because you belong to Christ, live a life of integrity and prepare to suffer for righteousness’ sake.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

Sinner Dinner - Luke 19:1-9

Christian Marriage - 1 Peter 3:1-7

An entire generation has grown up believing that there are no different roles for husbands and wives in marriage. The notion that wives should submit to husbands, and husbands are to lead their wives is anathema - oppressive, outdated and patriarchal. The result is that many churches no longer uphold a biblical view of marriage and refuse to preach on passages like the one we’re looking at today. 
The fruit of this rejection of biblical marriage and confusion over gender is a high rate of divorce. There is a direct correlation between rise of feminism and rise of divorce in our culture. If you don't get your way in the marriage, you just throw in the towel. If you feel you are being unfairly treated, just leave.
In this passage, Peter is continuing to instruct Christians how to live in the light of the gospel. Now he specifically addresses marriage. He exhorts wives and husbands to persevere in their marriages despite hardships and unjust treatment from their spouses. We will see that wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to honour their wives – even when it is not deserved – because that is the example we have in Christ.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola

Our Suffering Servant - 1 Peter 2:18-25

Many of us are accustomed to teaching that tells us that it is not God’s will for us to suffer. It is said that any hardships, pain, tragedy, terminal illness and sickness cannot be God’s will for us. Instead, because God is good, he has a wonderful plan for your life. If you do suffer in this life, it’s not because of God; it’s because you are living outside of his will, you don't have enough faith or you are being attacked by Satan. 
The problem is that we do invariably endure suffering, and if we have believed this prosperity teaching that is so common, we will either blame ourselves: our own lack of faith, some hidden sin, or get increasingly embittered towards God himself. We've been following Jesus, who has promised our best life now. We’ve done our bit, why hasn’t God delivered on his bit?
In our passage Peter's audience is facing a similar dilemma. They’ve been trying their best to live a godly, obedient life. And now they are suffering for their faith. Enduring all sorts of persecution, hardships and rejection that they really don’t deserve. Some are starting to lose hope. Where is God in all this? Has he abandoned them? Is this Christianity really worth it? 
What we will see in this text is that because Jesus suffered unjustly, so are we to endure suffering as a gracious thing.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola

Sojourners and Exiles - 1 Peter 2:11-17

How should Christians react the increasingly hostile culture? Are we to retreat into our little Christian ghettos, regard our culture and government as inherently evil, and so have nothing to do with it? Or are we to blend in with the culture, fly under the radar, and adopt its values so they will like us more?
What we see this our text is that we are not to retreat into ghettos, nor to blend in with the culture, but rather to live as “sojourners and exiles." Because you belong to Christ, live as sojourners and exiles, honourably in this world so that God will be glorified.
Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.
[Note: Daniel was not cast in the furnace, as stated in the sermon!].