Covenant Community Presbyterian Church of Ohio

Elders Derrick Ratliff & Thomas Lawson
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  • Christianity
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Please find our Covenant Community Presbyterian Church sermon audios here. Visit us at www.ccpcohio.com

  1. Oct 25

    The Body of Christ: Many Members One Body, 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 | Elder Thomas Lawson

    For in fact the body is not one member but many.If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:14-31

  2. Sep 13

    1 Corinthians 10:14-22 | Elder Thomas Lawson

    MAIN IDEA: Worship creates or expresses communion. Because we belong to Christ and commune with Christ, we cannot commune with rival powers. Therefore, we must flee idolatry. I. FLEE FALSE WORSHIP - vv. 14-15 Idolatry is disordered worship. Idolatry occurs when worship goes wrong concerning: The object of worship - worshiping the creature rather than the creator (Rom. 1:21-25)The manner or means of worship - attempting to worship the true God in a way He has not appointed.Principle: God cares both whom we worship and how we worship Him. II. THE LORDS TABLE IS COMMUNION WITH CHRIST - vv. 16-17 John 6:53-57; 1 Cor. 11:23-29 III. EVERY ALTER HAS A COMMUNION - v. 18 Three Sacred Meals Israel's alter - participation in Yahweh's sacrificial worship Pagan alter - participation with demons Lord's Table - participation with Christ Principle: A sacred meal establishes or expresses communion with God or spiritual power who's table it is. IV. BEHIND THE IDOL IS A DEMON - vv. 19-20 Ps. 106:36-39 V. YOU CAN HAVE ONLY ONE COMMUNION - v. 21 VI. THE LORD IS JEALOUS FOR HIS PEOPLE - v. 22 Gal 5:19, 1 Sam 18:6-7, 12, 2 Cor 11:2, Deut 32:21, James 1:13 PAUL'S ARGUMENT AS A CHIASM Chiasm: A literary structure in which ideas correspond in an inverted pattern (A-B-C-D-C'-B'-A') A. Flee idolatry - v. 14 B. Cup and bread: participation in Christ - vv. 15-17 C. Israel: participants in the alter - v. 18 D. Idols are nothing, but pagans sacrifice to demons vv. 19-20a C'. Do not become participants with demons v. 20b B'. Lord's cup/table vs. demons' cup/table - v. 21 A'. Do not provoke the Lord to jealousy - v. 22 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 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? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

  3. Sep 6

    1 Corinthians 10:1-13 | Elder Thomas Lawson

    10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

  4. Aug 30

    1 Corinthians 9:24-27 | Eder Derrick Ratliff

    24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

  5. Aug 23

    1 Corinthians 9:19-23 | Elder Thomas Lawson

    19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

  6. Aug 16

    1 Corinthians 9:1-18 | Elder Derrick Ratliff

    1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

  7. Jun 28

    1 Corinthians 7:1-7 | Elder Thomas Lawson

    Sermon Outline 1. Scripture text Paul addresses Christian freedom, the body, sexual purity, and the call to glorify God as those who have been bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 2. Introduction: A Hard-Hitting Section of Scripture The church is invited to meditate on God's Word and allow Scripture to bring light to difficult arias of life. Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8-9 3. Main Point: We Belong to God believers belong entirely to God in body, mind, and spirit, and this in truth is liberating rather than stifling. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 4. Understanding 1 Corinthians 6:12-14 Paul distinguishes temporary, morally neutral acts like eating from sexual conduct, which carries deep and lasting spiritual significance. 1 Cor. 6:15-17; Prov. 4:23; John 15:5; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:5; Isa. 26:3 5. Members of Christ: 1 Corinthians 6:12-17 Believers are physically united to Christ, making sexual immorality a direct offense against that sacred union. 1 Cor 6:15-17; Prov. 4:23; John 15:5; Phil 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:5; Isa. 26:3 6. Application: Thoughts Lead to Actions What we dwell on in the heart and mind will inevitably show itself in our behavior and fruit. Proverbs 4:23; Philippians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 10:5 7. The Command: Flee Sexual Immorality Rather than trying to overpower temptation, believers are commanded simply to run from it entirely. 1 Corinthians 16:18; Proverbs 5 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

  8. Jun 21

    1 Corinthians 6:12-20 | Elder Derrick Ratliff

    12. “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16. Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17. But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20. you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

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Please find our Covenant Community Presbyterian Church sermon audios here. Visit us at www.ccpcohio.com

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