God’s word is alive, energetic, penetrating. That God’s Word and God’s Spirit, working together, contain in them the total creative power of God. The results God’s Word produces in us depends on the way we respond to it.

If a father fails, what happens to his family? Or, suppose that the fathers in a nation fail? What happens to that nation? It will be the decision of the fathers that determines the destiny of the nation. God requires the fathers to turn to the children, then He promises the children will return to their father.

The function of a king is to rule or to govern. This requires that the father rule his household on behalf of God. Paul presents the responsibility of fatherhood in 1 Timothy, where he describes the qualifications of an elder.

The father’s second main responsibility, as prophet for his family, is to represent God to his family. Inevitably a father represents God to his family, whether he intends to or not. He may do it well. He may do it badly. But, almost inevitably, he does it.

Three main ministries of Christ are to be associated with fatherhood: those of priest, prophet and king. As a priest, the father represents his family to God—who is representing his family to God in intercession and prayer.

The fatherhood of God is the great fact behind the universe. There is a Father who is our God, a Father who created the universe as a Father—as such He has left the imprint of His fatherhood on every aspect of the entire universe.

Today’s topic is such a solemn and serious subject, that Derek brings to you a special word of warning regarding conduct that undermines covenant. God’s demands for covenant commitment as the basis for relationship are clearly set forth in Scripture, as Derek will bring to light.

In today’s message Derek speaks about the distinctive New Testament ordinance or sacrament that symbolizes and perpetuates a special lifestyle. God’s people over the centuries have adopted various names for this: the Eucharist, Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Breaking of Bread.

Entering into covenant with others brings us into a distinctive new lifestyle. In New Testament Greek, the the word koinonia is used to describe this lifestyle. In most English Bibles, this word is translated “fellowship” or “sharing in a common life.”

There never was a valid covenant without a sacrifice and a sacrifice represents the death of the one who makes the covenant. A person enters into covenant through his own death. This is not merely established in the Old Testament, but carried on into the New.