Audio Series

The audio series below are recorded from live events held by Covenant Reformed Church of Elk Grove and led by Dr. Derek Carlsen, Pastor.

We recommend starting with this ground laying message, Faithful In Our Days. It is a message of encouragement for the high calling of parenthood.

Series 1 (Self-Consciously Biblical) is on the authority of Scripture and lays the foundation for all that follows. It is vital that we not only acknowledge, but live in terms of the fact that we are utterly dependent upon God’s word for all things. If we fail to self-consciously live by every word from God’s mouth, we will be taken captive by the “wisdom” of this world and thus build our families and everything else on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-25).

Series 2 (The Family in Dusty Reality) is an attempt to help families understand God's purpose for them. Christianity is a dusty religion in the sense that it is very down to earth. This series steps onto this level and tries to give practical instruction about how families might become more Christ-centered in all that they do and are. It explains where the family's focus should be and how to get the whole family moving together towards that goal.

Series 3 (Lies the World Tells) applies the warning of scripture, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Co 2:8). This set exposes some of the commonly held, yet unscriptural, messages of the world that bombard us from many directions.

Series 4 (Christian Apologetics) lays out the Biblical approach to defending the faith. It explains how it is only the Triune God of scripture and His truth that accounts for the whole of life, knowledge and existence. As God's word says, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1Co 1:20).

Series 5 (Understanding the Law ) explains and biblically defends the continued validity and application of God's law today. The law does not show us how to attain salvation; rather, it teaches us how to live as those already saved by grace. It also represents God's standard of righteousness in all situations. We live in a culture that largely denies the value and importance of God's law-- but if God's nature is unchangeable, then surely His standard of righteousness must be as well.

Series 6 (Romanticizing Life) challenges us to look at every aspect of life with a true and real perspective; with God's perspective. Often, believers are taken by the world's distorted and 'romantic' portrayal of things, which only sets them up for disillusionment, disappointment, and ineffectiveness when the inevitible realities of life appear. Our minds need to be renewed about these things that we may glorify God in them.

Series 7 (One and the Many) God has revealed Himself as the One True God known in three Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine of the Trinity is a fundamental Christian truth, necessarily held by all true believers. This series seeks to show how this truth about who God is applies to the many details of life in this world that He has created and sustains.

Series 8 (Wisdom from Proverbs) Growing in Godly wisdom is vital for believers in order to glorify God and be effective for His kingdom. This series examines key teachings of the book of Proverbs that relate to the Christian family and principles of covenant headship.

(C) Copyright 2009, Covenant Reformed Church of Elk Grove