https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLlOFweN_mo
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 and more. 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.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings continues healing from his latest stint in the hospital just a short while ago. He is home, thankfully, but keep on praying for his health and healing.
- 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 two weeks 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.
- 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 five 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.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for all those who are affected by the storms and seas that are raging around the world. 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 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 for the past three weeks with pneumonia and more. 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 Fran who has been in the hospital. 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: His Name Is Wonderful
Sermon: Today we continue with our study of 1 Corinthians. We are continuing our study of the ninth chapter. This will be the second to last of the sermons on this chapter. There’s a lot to get into, so we’ll get started here where Paul described how he used the freedom that God gave him through Jesus. This was specifically his choice to pursue, not something he was told to do or ordered to do. This is the essence of Christianity, a choice made by your own volition. We choose to follow Jesus, knowing that we could never fully be as holy as He. Like Paul, our mission is to portray ourselves as of God, the epitome of godliness, which is Yeshua Jesus Christ. Here’s how this begins today.
1 Corinthians 9:19 KJV –For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
NIV –Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Paul chose one point of view from the Old Testament Poetic Scrolls here.
Proverbs 11:30 KJV – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
NIV – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
Paul continues with his references, with five separate gospel references. Yeshua Jesus is speaking in all of them.
Matthew 20:26-28 KJV – But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great
among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the
Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his
life a ransom for many.
NIV – Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 23:11-12 KJV – But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
NIV – The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Mark 10:45 KJV – For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
NIV – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 8:32-36 KJV – And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be
Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall
be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in
the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed.
NIV – Then you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are
Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say
that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I
tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a
son belongs to it forever. 36 So
if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 13:14-15 KJV – If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have
given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
NIV – Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Now Paul points out a challenge that he had to overcome. It’s not easy to do something that you’ve grown beyond as Paul had done as a follower of Yeshua Jesus Christ. You see, he was no longer under the law as the Jews are and were. He was no longer, even as a son of Benjamin. Regardless of this fact, he was willing to put himself in that position to win more to Christ. The amount of humility required for this was not, and still is not, a small or insignificant amount. Here’s what Paul shares.
1 Corinthians 9:20 KJV –And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
NIV –To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
Paul has several reflections to make, most of which are from the scroll of Acts of the Apostles. These are written by gospel writer Luke. There’s a lot of Paul’s travels with the other Apostles here and it all is pertinent to what Paul was teaching the church there at Corinth.
Acts
15:1-5 KJV – And certain men which
came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised
after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain
other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about
this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed
through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they
caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of
the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that
God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them
to keep the law of Moses.
NIV
– Certain people came
down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are
circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This
brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and
Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem
to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The
church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and
Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the
believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were
welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported
everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the
Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to
keep the law of Moses.”
Acts 16:3 KJV – Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
NIV – Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Acts 18:18 KJV – And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
NIV – Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.
Acts 21:20-26 KJV – And
when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest,
brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all
zealous of the law:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the
Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not
to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come
together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men
which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges
with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things,
whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself
also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and
concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves
from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from
fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself
with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of
purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
NIV – When they heard this, they praised God.
Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have
believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have
been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn
away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live
according to our customs. 22 What shall we do? They will
certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you.
There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these
men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can
have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these
reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As
for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they
should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of
strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”
26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along
with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days
of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
Acts 22:3 KJV – I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
NIV – “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
Acts 23:6 KJV – But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
NIV – Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”
Paul points out that it is important to meet people on their level. That’s something we ministers have to learn how to do in order to gain followers to Yeshua Jesus Christ. It’s not always easy, because we are no longer the same once we accept Jesus as our Savior.
1 Corinthians 9:21 KJV –To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
NIV –To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
Paul refers to Jeremiah with this one in the Old Testament.
Jeremiah 31:33 KJV – But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
NIV – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Paul includes one gospel reference and then adds to this with the Hebrew prophets and James the Just, younger human brother of Jesus.
Matthew 5:17-18 KJV – Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
NIV – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Hebrews 8:10 KJV – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
NIV – This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
James 1:25 KJV – But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
NIV – But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 2:8 KJV – If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
NIV – If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
For ministers of Yeshua Jesus Christ, it is important to be able to relate to anyone and everyone. This is what Paul is portraying here in this next verse. We have to be able to be relatable to those around us and thus, bring more to Yeshua Jesus Christ, even if it is one individual at a time. I personally know this works, because I’ve actually done this myself and I know that Evangelist Cal Jennings and other ministers I’ve experienced in my life have done the very same thing. It’s important to be relatable to our congregation just to bring that new person in, to Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:22 KJV –To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
NIV –To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
Paul starts with three gospel verses all spoken by our Savior Yeshua Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:14 KJV – Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
NIV – In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Luke 19:10 KJV – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
NIV – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
John 12:32 KJV – And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
NIV – And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Paul added two passages from James and Peter.
James 5:19-20 KJV – Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
NIV – My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 3:8 KJV –Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
NIV – Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Our final verse from the first letter Paul wrote to Corinth is this one.
1 Corinthians 9:23 KJV –And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
NIV –I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Paul sees sharing Scripture, specifically the gospel, as a blessing to himself, as well as those who are listening and hearing. This is something that Yeshua Jesus Christ would portray. We see this in the Great Commission as shared here in this from the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
NIV – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Paul adds one reference to the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles here.
Acts 20:24 KJV – But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
NIV – However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
The final references for this sermon today are from the Hebrew prophets.
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.
Hebrews 3:14 KJV – For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
NIV – We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
Paul points out that we have to get to every person’s level and point toward Yeshua Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the light of eternal life. We all have a mission meant for us. We have to remember the importance of keeping the light, life, and legacy of Yeshua Jesus Christ alive even now. 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: The Old Rugged Cross
~ 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.
