https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d1fkWYDP_k
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: Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube & Twitch & TruthSocial & Instagram & Facebook
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio & Wedding Chicks
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.
- We pray for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam and Allison, who were in a car wreck two weeks ago. They have several injuries including bruised ribs, bruised sternum, and more. Their vehicle ended up totaled as well. They are better, but not completely healed. Please keep them up in prayer. They thank everyone for their prayers.
- We pray for friends of ours in our bowling league, after they suffered devastating injuries, some of which required surgery and will require a long recovery time as well. They too appreciate the prayers and thank everyone who has lifted them up.
- I have a couple that’s very special to me that need prayer regarding one of them with their career. I promised to keep them anonymous, but please keep them in prayer as they navigate this situation.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is not doing well this week, please keep him in your prayers.
- David Doyle, brother-in-law of Evangelist Cal Jennings, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. David is a preacher of the Word as well, and this is a new challenge for him and Cal’s sister and their family to experience this close to Christmas. Please keep all of them in prayer during this journey.
- We continue to pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is healing after completing his prostate cancer treatment.
- We keep JB’s sister Debbie back into prayer as she has now been diagnosed with Lymphoma after conquering two rounds of breast cancer.
- We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is fighting cancer and has been released from the hospital as of a week ago. Her doctor is going to keep a closer eye on her after each treatment for her cancer.
- 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. JB has been especially sick, losing weight way too fast and no complete solution in sight at the moment. She has gotten a tentative diagnosis for what is going on with her, but her doctor has scheduled her with a specialist to verify, so keep her in prayer for full answers that are very much needed. JB had a serious fall on Thursday and is bruised and sore, please pray that they heal well, and fast on top of that.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and is seeking to sell things she owns to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We bring praises and thanksgiving after learning that my niece Autumn has had her medications changed and the seizures and more are completely controlled at this point in time.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately after the loss of my sister four months ago. These anxiety issues are really devastating for her and for the family, so please keep all of them in prayer.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, JB’s sister Debbie, our friend Alexis, my Aunt Donna, and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including wildfires, storms, flooding, 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.
* Christopher Tyler, son of my mentor Lisa Tyler, celebrates his birthday today.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for those who have begun celebrating their voyage into the next forty days of Lent. We pray for those who have no shelter. We pray for those who have no food or water. We pray that they receive the miracles of Your peace and comfort Lord. We continue to pray for Sam and Allison, Wayne, Chick, and many others for their injuries and the recoveries they are working through this past week or more. We pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings, and his health as he has been quite ill. We pray for JB who has also been quite ill and now is recovering from an ugly injury. We pray for David and all the others suffering or having suffered from cancer. We pray for those who have survived cancer. We pray for a special couple that needs Your comfort in their situation. We pray for all those who have lost loved ones in the past week, or who are remembering those who were lost in the past during this month or had remembered birthdays. We pray for all of our outreach ministries and their memberships. We pray for the orphans and the hungry. We pray for all the world that peace shall one day reign in full thanks to the glory of God through our Savior Jesus Christ in the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Shall We Gather At the River
Sermon: Today we continue with our study of 1 Corinthians. We are completing our study of the ninth chapter. Now, because Lent began this past Wednesday, there will be a reading plan at the end of this sermon. It is important that we spend time understanding the journey that Yeshua Jesus Christ went through and one of the ways to do that is through a reading plan. Another way is to listen and hear as His disciples and Apostles share their stories, including Paul in his first letter here to Corinth. Now this sermon will be quite a lot shorter than most of our sermons because there are only four verses remaining in this chapter and there aren’t nearly as many supporting verses as we are used to. Paul begins this segment with the title “The Need for Self-Discipline”. If you recall, this is one of the “Fruits of the Spirit” as he shared with the church in Galatia. With that, here is where we begin.
1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV –Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
NIV – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
In this, Paul focuses more on the New Testament than he does on the Old Testament. However, he does share a look at the words of King Solomon and his go-to prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament.
Proverbs 4:25-27 KJV – Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
NIV – Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Isaiah 40:31 KJV – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
NIV – but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Paul includes one viewpoint from Yeshua Jesus Christ in the gospel of Matthew along with thoughts from the Hebrew Prophets, James, the younger brother of Jesus, and John the Beloved’s Revelation.
Matthew 24:13 KJV – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
NIV – but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Hebrews 12:1 KJV – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
NIV – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
James 1:12 KJV – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
NIV – Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Revelation 3:11 KJV – Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
NIV –I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Paul wants us to focus on the ultimate prize, one that is not of material points of view. It can be difficult to focus only on Yeshua Jesus Christ and not get distracted by the chaos of this world, be it money, power, technology, or anything in between. For example, the internet can be as much a foe as it is a friendly tool for us to spread the Word of God. There is a right way and a wrong way to do anything and everything. This is what Paul is cautioning the church about. He points out that there’s something way, way more important for us to strive for than material wealth in this world today.
1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV –And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
NIV – Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Paul focuses on our Savior and on his fellow Apostles Peter and John the Beloved in his references here.
Matthew 6:19-20 KJV – Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
NIV – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 19:29 KJV – And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
NIV –And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
1 Peter 1:4 KJV –To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
NIV –and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
1 Peter 5:4 KJV –And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
NIV –And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 Peter 1:10-11 KJV –Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
NIV – Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:10 KJV – Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
NIV –Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Paul now focuses on what’s important. We all have a mission that Jesus Christ gave us as true Christians. That mission is direct, immediate, and explicit per the Great Commission as mentioned in Matthew 28. This is a direct reference to that same moment in time.
1 Corinthians 9:26 KJV –I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
NIV – Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
Paul focuses on the Poetic and Prophetic Scrolls of the Old Testament here.
Psalm 119:32 KJV – I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
NIV – I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.
Proverbs 4:25-27 KJV – Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
NIV
– Let
your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right
or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV – I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
NIV – I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
Isaiah 40:31 KJV – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
NIV – but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 55:2 KJV – Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
NIV – but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Paul includes writings from the Hebrew Prophets and his fellow Apostle, Peter as well.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV – Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
NIV –fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 5:8 KJV –Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
NIV –Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
The final verse in this chapter would be this one.
1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV – But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
NIV – No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Being humble in spirit, physically, mentally, is no simple thing. It takes a lot of discipline to manage it. Because we are human, it makes it even more difficult because our minds can stray without even blinking on occasion. Our hearts can be hardened, even stolen by our thoughts, our desires, even what we perceive as needs. Yeah, it can make life difficult to live as austerely as Paul did along with the other Apostles and Disciples of Yeshua Jesus Christ. I guarantee you, there are a great many who profess that they are followers of Yeshua Jesus Christ who have no clue what it takes to literally leave everything behind and follow Him the way He wants us to do. There are stumbling blocks in every direction, not just physically, but mentally, spiritually, through all possible methods. Here are some examples that Paul provides from the Poetic Scrolls and one from the prophet Jeremiah.
Psalm 50:16 KJV – But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
NIV – But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
Proverbs 16:32 KJV – He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
NIV – Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 25:28 KJV – He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
NIV – Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
Jeremiah 6:30 KJV – Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.
NIV – They are called rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.”
Paul has four references from the New Testament, two of them from the Word as shared by Yeshua Jesus Christ in the gospel of Matthew, as well as one from Luke and also one from the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 5:29-30 KJV – And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
NIV – If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 7:21-23 KJV – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
NIV – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Luke 9:23 KJV – And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
NIV – Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Acts 1:25 KJV – That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
NIV – to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
We have started the season of Lent. It is very, very important to study the life and legacy of our Savior Yeshua Jesus Christ. Nobody knows the day, the hour, the minute, or even the very second of when our Lord and Savior Yeshua Jesus Christ will return to this world to gather His faithful. No one, EXCEPT YHWH THE FATHER. As we prepare to celebrate Easter in the next thirty-six days, there is a lot to think about. That’s why I have a reading plan for you to work on in the next few weeks. Also, we will continue our exploration of 1 Corinthians, ensuring that the celebration of Lent continues, with the exception of Palm Sunday and Easter, where we will celebrate their significance in Christianity. 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: Shalom My Friends
Lent Bible Reading Plan 2026
Daily Scripture readings from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.
Return to God (Repentance and Mercy)
Wednesday 18 February Psalm 51
Thursday 19 February Isaiah 1:10–20
Friday 20 February Joel 2:12–17
Saturday 21 February Luke 15:11–32
Sunday 22 February Luke 4:1–13 (1st Sunday of Lent – Temptation)
Monday 23 February Psalm 32
Tuesday 24 February Micah 6:6–8
Wednesday 25 February Romans 2:1–11
Trusting God in the Wilderness
Thursday 26 February Genesis 3:1–19
Friday 27 February Genesis 12:1–9
Saturday 28 February Exodus 16:1–18
Sunday 01 March Luke 9:28–36 (2nd Sunday – Transfiguration)
Monday 02 March Psalm 63
Tuesday 03 March Isaiah 40:1–11
Wednesday 04 March Matthew 4:1–11
Thursday 05 March Hebrews 4:14–16
Teachings of Jesus
Friday 06 March Matthew 5:1–12
Saturday 07 March Matthew 5:38–48
Sunday 08 March Luke 13:1–9 (3rd Sunday – Call to Repent)
Monday 09 March Matthew 6:1–18
Tuesday 10 March Matthew 6:19–34
Wednesday 11 March Luke 10:25–37
Thursday 12 March Luke 11:1–13
Friday 13 March John 6:35–40
Signs of the Kingdom
Saturday 14 March Mark 2:1–12
Sunday 15 March Luke 15:1–3, 11–32 (4th Sunday – Prodigal Son)
Monday 16 March Mark 4:35–41
Tuesday 17 March Luke 7:36–50
Wednesday 18 March John 4:1–26
Thursday 19 March John 9:1–41
Friday 20 March John 11:1–44
Saturday 21 March Psalm 130
The Way of the Cross
Sunday 22 March John 11:45-57
Monday 23 March Mark 8:27–38
Tuesday 24 March John 12:20–33
Wednesday 25 March Philippians 2:1–11
Thursday 26 March Hebrews 5:7–10
Friday 27 March Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
Saturday 28 March Psalm 22
Holy Week – Passion & Resurrection
Sunday 29 March Luke 19:28–40 (Palm Sunday)
Monday 30 March John 12:1–8
Tuesday 31 March John 13:1–17, 31–35
Wednesday 01 April John 14
Thursday 02 April John 18
Friday 03 April John 19
Saturday 04 April Matthew 27:57–66
Sunday 05 April John 20:1–18 (Easter Sunday)
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & Twitch & USAlife
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 © 2026 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.
