We are so glad that you joined us today at North Main Street Church of God. At North Main, we exist to develop completely committed followers of Christ who...

Know Christ intimately,

Grow in Christ continually, and

Go for Christ daily

BAPTISM
Sunday, September7th will be our next Baptism service.If you are ready to take this important step in your walk with Christ we’d be honored to come alongside you in this journey. There is a mandatory baptism class that will be held at 9am the week prior, which would be August 31st. RSVP online at NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/EVENTS or at the Welcome Center.


GROUP LEADERS
We want you to Join our discipleship series by leading or hosting a group for an 8-week study starting in September. If you love building community and fostering spiritual growth, this is your chance to make an impact. Email or call the Church Office to sign up.


BUSINESS CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
If you consider North Main your home church we invite you to attend our Annual Congregational Business Meeting directly after the Service today. It should only last about an hour. Anyone who has been coming regularly for at least 6 months is eligible to vote on any motions discussed.

Something to think about:


What is a covenant? Simply put, a covenant is a binding agreement between two parties who pledge to fulfill certain actions or commitments that benefit each party involved in the agreement.

The Bible is full of “covenants” and “covenantal” language. Specifically, the covenants that we will be exploring over the next month are covenants that GOD made with individuals and groups from the Old Testament to the New. There are two types of covenants in the Bible: Conditional and Unconditional. A conditional covenant is typically indicated by “if-then” statements. For instance: Exodus 9:5-6a (NLT) “[1] An unconditional covenant is one where one party fulfills the covenant agreement even if the other party does not.

What we learn about GOD through the various covenants of the Old and New Testaments is that His willingness to bind Himself to broken and fallen humanity through covenant agreements is a sign of His love for us and His faithfulness to continue to work to redeem us. As we consider that, we start with the first notable covenant that GOD made with humanity through Noah in Genesis 9. This is an unconditional covenant where GOD doesn’t require human commitment. Let’s take a look:



[1] Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Key Point: “GOD’s promise to Noah and his descendants was unconditional and a sign of GOD’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness.”

According to theologian Aaron Chalmers, “The Noahic covenant, including the various divine promises which accompany it, guarantees God’s commitment to creation, and in particular, the preservation of life on the earth. It thus provides the necessary foundation for the story of redemption—life on earth is guaranteed to continue in spite of human sin.”[1] With this understanding, what can we observe about the nature of this Covenant and its importance for us today? Let’s take a closer look:


[1] Chalmers, Aaron. 2009. “The Importance of the Noahic Covenant to Biblical Theology.” Tyndale Bulletin 60 (2): 207–16. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.53751/​001c.29271.

1. This covenant was ______________ and ______________.

Genesis 9:8-11 (NLT), 8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9 “I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, 10 and with all the animals that were on the boat with you—the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals—every living creature on earth. 11 Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

2. This covenant exemplified GOD’s ______________.

Genesis 9:11 (NLT), Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

3. The ______________ stands as a reminder of this covenant.

Genesis 9:12-17 (NLT), 12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”

Something to take home:

What can we learn from Noah and GOD’s covenant with creation? God has much to teach us. One person observed the following:

1. Don't miss the boat!
2. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
3. Stay ready. It was not until Noah was 600 years old that God asked him to do something big.
4. Don't be stopped by the critics - just do what God called you to do.
5. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by the professionals.
6. Remember, after the storm comes the rainbow.
7. And finally, GOD is faithful even when we’re not.

GOD is a covenant-making GOD because He desires to be with us in fellowship and community. This is proven time and time again in the Scriptures. This is why the very nature of GOD is known as “LOVE.”

Have you trusted in the One who has proven His faithfulness time and time again throughout every generation? Are you working to covenant with Him who is faithful, and true, and just?

Key Point: “GOD’s promise to Noah and his descendants was unconditional and a sign of GOD’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness.”

Read Genesis 9:8-17.

GOD’s promise to Noah and his descendants was unconditional and a sign of GOD’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness.

Why do you think GOD made this covenant universal and unconditional?

How does this covenant exemplify GOD’s grace and mercy?

Explain the faithfulness of GOD in this covenant agreement.

What sign did GOD give that He would never flood the earth again?What has this sign come to signify today?Why is it important for us to remember the original purpose of that sign?

Describe a time in your life when you experienced GOD’s grace and mercy.What was the sign He gave you to remember this experience?

OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm