Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.
- Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog has asked that we pray for her mother’s health. She also asks for prayers for her brother’s attitude and also for Rabbi Karen’s stress levels.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been for far too long. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace. We pray that his new pet helps him, and that he helps this new pet’s understanding of Cal himself.
- We pray for my sister-in-law Fran who has developed a mass that is being checked as to what it is, whether cancer or something else.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers that they need in both of their health issues. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and has set up a site for donations to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately. Her wrist is still bothering her, and it is still healing for the next three weeks or so.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly, our friend Alexis, and also JB’s sister Debbie.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we are so blessed to be celebrating You and our Savior Jesus Christ together this day. We are so thankful for Your great gifts as they have been brought to us. We bring several people up to you in prayer, including those suffering terrible diseases like Debbie, my Aunt Donna, and so many others. We pray for those who are suffering from illness, pain, or serious injury, like EB, Evangelist Cal Jennings, my niece Autumn, and my sister-in-law Fran. We pray for the orphans and homeless who are being cared for by our outreach ministries all over this world. We pray for their ministries that they continue like Paul and others, spreading the Word of Jesus to all who are willing to listen and hear. We are so thankfully blessed by Your unconditional love as shared through our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaSKxSL5orc
Sermon: Today we start a new letter from Paul, this time his first letter to Corinth. Like all of Paul’s letters, he speaks to them like all the ministers and congregation members. Paul greets his fellow Christians as far off distant friends, even family, naming just a few as we begin his letter here.
1
Corinthians 1:1-2 KJV –Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the
will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
NIV
–Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our
brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called
to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Okay, so the first question on everyone’s lips is “Who is Sosthenes?” According to historical documents, Sosthenes was the chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. Per the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles he was seized and beaten by a mob of people in direct view of the Roman governor of the time because that same Roman governor refused to prosecute Paul because the Jews wanted him dead. There is some confusion here because some writings claim this mob was a group of Jews and others say it was comprised of Greeks. Paul includes four segments of the Acts of the Apostles as written by the gospel writer Luke.
Acts 9:15 KJV – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
NIV – But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Acts 13:2 KJV – As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
NIV – While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 18:1-5 KJV – After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
NIV – After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
Acts 22:21 KJV – And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
NIV – “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Paul then added two other reference points from the Hebrew prophets and his fellow Apostle, John the Beloved in his Revelation.
Hebrews 3:1 KJV – Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
NIV – Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
Revelation 17:14 KJV – These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
NIV – They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Paul continues his greeting toward the church there in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:3 KJV –Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember that Jesus gave His grace to all who believed and had faith in Him and His presence here on this earth, as well as His death and resurrection. This is what Paul is pointing towards in this greeting to the church at Corinth. We see his thoughts repeated in three letters written by Paul, his letter to the churches at Rome, and also to his colleagues Titus and Philemon.
Romans 1:7 KJV – To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:4 KJV – To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
NIV – To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Philemon 1:3 KJV – Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul adds to these with references to Peter’s two letters and to Jude, brother of Jesus, in his letter as well.
1 Peter 1:2 KJV –Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
NIV –who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
2 Peter 1:2 KJV –Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
NIV – Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Jude 1:2 KJV – Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
NIV – Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Paul writes about his thankfulness toward God’s grace and His bringing us Jesus Christ and all the great gifts that Jesus left behind on earth. He points out that being thankful is something all of us need to portray as to our existence here on earth, and our ability to be accepted in the church as a whole.
1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV –I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
NIV –I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
Something unique about this letter to the church at Corinth is in the fact that Paul focuses more on the New Testament writings for this church specifically. Paul reflects only on one excerpt of the Acts of the Apostles for this outside his letters.
Acts 18:9-10 KJV – Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
NIV – One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Paul adds references from his letters to Philippi, Ephesus, Colossae, and both letters written to Timothy as well.
Philippians 1:3-5 KJV – I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
NIV – I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Ephesians 1:15-16 KJV – Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
NIV – For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Colossians 1:3-4 KJV – We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, praying always for you,
Since
we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all
the saints,
NIV –We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—
1 Timothy 1:12 KJV –And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
NIV – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.
2 Timothy 1:3 KJV – I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
NIV – I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
Paul continues his greeting and points that he hopes everyone at the church there in Corinth would feel the grace and faithful hope of Jesus through his letter, and through their adherence to the Great Commission as Jesus spoke it after the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1:5 KJV –That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
NIV –For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—
At this point, Paul returns to his favorite locations in Scripture, including the writings of King Solomon, Isaiah, and Daniel as well.
Proverbs 2:6 KJV – For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
NIV – For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:13-14 KJV – Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
NIV – Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
Isaiah 33:6 KJV – And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
NIV – He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
Daniel 1:17 KJV – As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
NIV – To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
Paul adds two final references, these from James the Just, younger human brother of Jesus and also John the Beloved’s letter to Ephesus.
James 1:5 KJV – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
NIV –If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
1 John 2:20 KJV – But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
NIV – But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
Our last verse today from the first letter to Corinth as written by Paul, he points out that the testimony of Christ needs to be confirmed with the Christian Church, and not just in Corinth, but everywhere. Here’s how Paul shares it with the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:6 KJV –Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
NIV –God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.
Paul connects this with three references from his go-to prophet, Isaiah.
Isaiah 43:10-12 KJV – Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
NIV – “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
Isaiah 44:8 KJV – Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
NIV – Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Isaiah 55:4 KJV – Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
NIV – See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Paul reflects on only one reference from the gospel of John in the Word as shared by Jesus Christ. In this one Jesus specifically references the Holy Spirit and that He would be there for the Apostles and other disciples and the rest of the whole of Christian faithful.
John 15:26-27 KJV – But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
NIV – “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Paul then adds only two references from the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 1:8 KJV – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
NIV – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 18:5 KJV – And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
NIV – When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
Whenever you greet others around you, it is good to remember, whether they’ve heard about Jesus or not, we are all God’s children until and unless we choose not to be. Paul emphasized that we all have an opportunity to prove the fact that Jesus professed, that we should love one another, not with whatever version of human love there would be, but by the proof of Love One Another that Jesus portrayed in His parable of the Vine and Branches in John Chapter 15. We are all connected, and those who choose to stay connected will always be accepted and will always be held up, strengthened through His love, which is greater than any other form of love. My hope is that we all can learn exactly what Jesus means with those three words that mean so very much. It is important to remember the reason for our being here. His name is Jesus Christ, who comes from the great Jehovah God our Heavenly Father. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: I Love to Tell the Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5qZ5e8X6ws
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2025 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to
exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is
created through fear
together as the bringers of the
light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.
