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. He was sick enough Thursday and Friday to spend a bit of time in the hospital. He’s been in search of a dog to keep his emotions in check as well. Let’s pray that one is found swiftly.
- My sister-in-law Fran called me yesterday. She has a mass that has appeared on her skin and is set to have it biopsied to see what it is. Pray for her health, as she has had a lot of health issues over the past few years.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various medical issues.
- We continue to pray for JB’s sister’s cancer treatments.
- We continue to pray for my sister Emilie’s health issues since returning to Arizona earlier this year. Right now, her blood pressure is nuts and she’s been having other issues as well.
- We have to add my daughter Deanna back into the prayer list after receiving some sort of scratch on the surface of her eye, which is aggravating her a lot at the moment.
- We congratulate my youngest son Lukas and his wife Rebecca as they have just moved into their first home of their own with their young son Levi. May the Lord protect their home and keep them secure within it.
- 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. She is slowly recovering from her broken wrist, but is still having issues with even the ordinary things that she would normally have no issues with due to her cast and the fact that she cannot maneuver like she would typically during holidays like this one.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including two survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- 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, and include 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.
* Today my Aunt Kristina and my sister Debbie both celebrate their birthdays!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we are celebrating the moment where Jesus rose from death to eternal life. We are bringing the miracle of a truly spiritual connection with You through our Savior Jesus Christ to surround those who hear Your voice through His actions and abilities. May the blessings You have already bestowed upon us be seen, heard, and felt as they should be. We bring our orphans and those in need up to You for blessings and new beginnings if need be. We bring our sick and injured up for Your healing and comforting touch. This includes Deanna, JB, EB, Emilie, and JB’s sister as well. We bring our outreach ministries into our prayers as well, that they have all they require for keeping the children safe, secure, clean, well fed, and healthy. We thank You for all that You provide each of us. We ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Tears Angels Cry ~ Rev. Laura A. Neff © 2010
Sermon: Today we celebrate the Easter Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Now, first, people have asked these questions. Why is the resurrection known as Easter? Why is it held at the end of Passover? Who chose the time period for Easter to be celebrated? Well, here’s a little history to answer these questions.
In A.D. 325, the Emperor Constantine, who favored Christianity, convened a meeting of Christian leaders to resolve important disputes at the Council of Nicaea. The most fateful of its decisions was about the status of Christ, whom the council recognized as both being “fully human and fully divine.” This council also resolved that Easter should be fixed on a Sunday, not on day 14 of Nisan. As a result, Easter is now celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the vernal equinox.
The Catholics have this to say in regard to why we refer to the Resurrection Day as Easter. Historians are never going to figure out exactly where or when the term Easter was first used. It is one of the oldest Old English words and has been in use for over a millennium, making it impossible to detangle the strands of its history. And, in the end, it is unimportant whether Easter comes from the goddess of the dawn or the Latin word for dawn. In whatever language and whatever etymology, Easter is a time of resurrection and rebirth, a time to celebrate the risen Christ and God’s promise of eternal life.
Now, today we are exploring two segments of each of the four gospels to compare and contrast the accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Some of these segments are quite long and if you went through the recommended reading for Lent that I had with the first two sermons, these will be easily recognized. My apologies, but these segments are quite lengthy.
Matthew 22:23-31 KJV – The same day came to
him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no
children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when
he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his
brother:
26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27 And last of all the woman died also.
28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the
seven? for they all had her.
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye
do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they
neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in
heaven.
31 But as touching the resurrection of
the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am
the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the
God of the dead, but of the living.
NIV – That same day the Sadducees, who say there is
no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,”
they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his
brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now
there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since
he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The
same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the
seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now
then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of
them were married to her?”
29 Jesus replied, “You are in error
because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in
marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what
God said to you, 32 ‘I am the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of
the dead but of the living.”
Mark 12:18-27 KJV – Then come unto him
the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and
leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take
his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife,
and dying left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed:
and the third likewise.
22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the
woman died also.
23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose
wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do
ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of
God?
25 For when they shall rise from the
dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels
which are in heaven.
26 And as touching the dead,
that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God
spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but
the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
NIV – Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”
Luke 20:27-38 KJV – Then came to him
certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they
asked him,
28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother
die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take
his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a
wife, and died without children.
30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also:
and they left no children, and died.
32 Last of all the woman died also.
33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for
seven had her to wife.
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The
children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted
worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry,
nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for
they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children
of the resurrection.
37 Now that the dead are raised, even
Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38 For he is not a God of the dead, but
of the living: for all live unto him.
NIV – Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they
said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no
children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now
there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The
second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way
the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died
too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be,
since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this
age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age
to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given
in marriage, 36 and they can no
longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they
are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed
that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are
alive.”
Now we get to the view of the resurrection, and in this case, specifically in the gospel of John the Beloved. This is where John the Beloved becomes very descriptive from the first threads of dawn and on through the entire day that was since then named Easter, at the end of Passover.
John
20:1-31 KJV – The first day of the week cometh Mary
Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone
taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other
disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord
out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came
to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun
Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes
lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the
sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the
linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to
the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise
again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she
wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head,
and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith
unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have
laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw
Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why
weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener,
saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid
him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She
turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not;
for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto
them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she
had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of
the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his
hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace
be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and
saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit,
they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are
retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was
not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen
the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of
the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand
into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and
Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust
it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my
God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not
seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence
of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his
name.
NIV – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him,
“My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you
have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Now, if you want to find more about the events that occurred after the resurrection while Jesus was with the Apostles, it’s recommended that you read further into the scroll of Acts of the Apostles. We will be doing a series of sermons on that specific scroll once we complete the last two of Paul’s letters with First and Second Corinthians. I suggest that you read through Revelation 20 this week as well, since there are many signs and symbols occurring right now, it’s a good idea to understand some of those things that coincide with the writings of John the Beloved in Revelation today. It is very, very 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: Eternal Grace ~ Evangelist Cal Jennings ©12-2024 https://suno.com/song/bbc36f1e-77a7-468f-977b-ac4049d73263
~ 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
Music written and produced by Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ Tears Angels Cry © 2010
Evangelist Cal Jennings ~ Eternal Grace © 2024
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.
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