https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=danjaIm1ufI
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 Yeshu Ha-Notzri or in English Jesus Christ of Nazareth 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 someone from my daughter’s school, TJ who is three years old and just underwent his latest heart surgery, the third or fourth since he was born. He is my daughter’s employer’s grandson.
- We continue to pray for my friend Paul, a colleague I’ve known for twenty years, who is healing after his heart surgery and is now working to solve an infection in his brain.
- We continue to pray for my employer and his wife, Ed and Joy, who are quite ill at this time. Ed was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and his wife Joy has been in the hospital with fluid in her lungs and other health issues. She was sent to rehabilitation around Wednesday of last week once again. She is on oxygen full time and 24-hour observation. Pray as they are being set up with full-time managed care. Pray also for their son Ed Jr. who has had a lot of back problems and is trying to hold off with surgery until retirement.
- We are still praying today for my dear friend JB who has finally been given limited ability to travel away from home now five days per week for very short distances. Please keep JB in prayer for continued therapy, and continued doctor visits after her broken hip and upper leg. Please pray about the source of her extreme weight loss so that it can be solved. Please start praying again for her husband EB as well with his health and his muscles and movement as he has serious mobility issues. Add her sister-in-law who is suffering from cancer at this time.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is doing better after the third degree burns to his fingertips. His fingers are finally starting to resemble fingers after the amputations. He is still healing very slowly and still has a while to go with the rehabilitation. Please pray for his healing and that his pain is treated like it should be treated, not as an afterthought.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of issues lately in her life since losing my father and my two younger sisters. Please keep her in prayer for her anxieties, fears, and general well-being.
- Pray for a friend of mine K.S. who has a lot going on in life right now and has been asking me tons of questions about those things going on. Pray that I might be able to continue to answer those questions as time goes on.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who continues to 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 continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, Evangelist Cal Jennings’ brother-in-law David Doyle, JB’s sister Debbie, Jerry, our friend Alexis, my Aunt Donna, my friend Kelly, and so many more.
- We pray for those who are in the midst of treacherous weather, and other dangerous conditions around this world.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Jared Otieno, Pastor George Ototo, 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.
* Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law who celebrated yesterday.
* Happy Birthday to my granddaughter Maria and her Nina Suzanne, who both celebrate their birthdays today.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there are so many in our hearts and thoughts and so much going on in life that needs prayer. We pray for little TJ as he heals after surgery for his heart. We pray for my friend Paul with his healing heart and brain infection. We continue to pray for Ed and Joy with their health issues, especially after a bad scare earlier this week with Ed, and their son Ed Jr. for his back issues, EB and JB and their many health issues. We continue to pray for EB and JB’s sister-in-law who has cancer as well. We pray for those who are in the path of the various chaotic weather patterns. We pray for the many who are injured and ill in our ministry, our friends, including Evangelist Cal, our family, and more. We pray for my Mama who has some anxiety going on right now with being alone for half the week, so we pray for her confidence and her patience. We pray for K.S. and what is going on in their life. We pray for the homeless and the helpless around this world. We pray for the many victims of violence, prejudice, and terrorism in this world. We pray for those still under the thumb of slavery and oppression. We pray for the unjustly persecuted and prosecuted. We pray for our friends and family who have been fighting cancer. We pray for those who survived cancer, including Kelly, Alexis, David, and Debbie and many more, that they continue to remain well. We pray for the nations at war. We pray for the ones celebrating birthdays this past week and this week to come. We pray for all this in Your Holy Name through our Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Above All
Sermon: Today we continue the fifteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians. This is our second to last sermon on this chapter. We’re starting the month of November off with a sermon on what transfiguration involves. Now, transfiguration references the gospel verses in Matthew that share the change in the appearance of Christ that took place before three disciples. This is the moment that Paul is describing here, combined with what will happen upon the Second Coming when our Savior Yeshu Ha Notzri judges the living and the dead. That is where transfiguration will mean a whole lot more than words on the page in your Bible right now could manage. Also, with these verses, we are going to repeat some of the supporting verses from previous sermons. With that, let’s start where we left off last Sunday.
1 Corinthians 15:47 KJV – The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
NIV – The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.
Now, Paul has several points of reference for this verse, including one that explains why many preachers, priests, ministers, and so forth would say the words ashes to ashes, dust to dust, at graveside services for the dead.
Genesis 2:7 KJV – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
NIV – Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Ecclesiastes 3:20 KJV – All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
NIV – All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
Paul has three New Testament references from the gospel of John the Beloved and the Hebrew prophets.
John 3:31 KJV – He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
NIV – The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
John 6:38 KJV – For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
NIV – For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
Hebrews 2:14-17 KJV – Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he
took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
NIV – Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
There is a difference between heaven and earth. Just as there is between mankind and the divine. That difference is marked here as shared in what Paul writes next for the church there at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 15:48 KJV – As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
NIV – As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.
Here are two Old Testament references.
Genesis 5:3 KJV – And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
NIV – When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
Job 14:4 KJV – Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
NIV – Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!
Here are three New Testament references from the Gospel of John the Beloved and the letter written by James the Just, younger human brother of our Savior Jesus Christ.
John 8:23 KJV – And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
NIV – But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 16:28 KJV – I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
NIV – I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
James 3:15 KJV – This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
NIV – Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
We have to remember there are a lot of wolves hidden amidst God’s sheep. That’s why we have Jesus in the first place. He can see those wolves and weed them out away from His flock. It’s not easy for us to do it, but we sure can work hard to try. That’s something that takes work in the realm of holy discernment. Now, this is a serious skill when it comes to faith, belief, and hope within Christianity. So, what is discernment? Why is it important when it comes to our faith and belief? Discernment is a keen sense of perception or judgement. Now, I have often said judge not lest ye be judged. However, there are limits even for that. We have to exercise judgement, but it must be used with careful discernment. Our perceptions can be corrupted, and this is what Paul warns against here.
1 Corinthians 15:49 KJV – And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
NIV – And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
Paul utilizes four New Testament references from the gospels of Matthew and John the Beloved as well as from Peter’s second letter.
Matthew 13:43 KJV – Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
NIV – Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
John 3:5-6 KJV – Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.
6 That which is born of the flesh
is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
NIV –Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
2 Peter 1:4 KJV –Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
NIV –Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
1 John 3:2 KJV –Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
NIV –Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Now we are at the halfway point of this discussion Paul is having with the church there at Corinth. Something interesting is being shared here in this verse.
1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
NIV – I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Again, Paul only utilizes New Testament references for this verse. Here they are including one from the gospel of Matthew, two from John the Beloved, and two from the Apostle Peter.
Matthew 16:17 KJV – And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
NIV – Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
John 1:12-13 KJV – But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.
NIV – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 3:3-4 KJV – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
NIV –Jesus replied, “Very truly I
tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born
when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time
into their mother’s womb to be born!”
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 1:23 KJV –Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
NIV – For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Now, Paul gives the people in the church at Corinth an exciting bit of advice here. He promises them something that has never been promised unless it came from Jesus Christ Himself. That is the potential for eternal life, while we are still alive here on earth. Now, that’s an exciting ideal to anticipate in this world. It means we do not suffer the worst thing ever, in most people’s eyes, death. However, some of us will do so, regardless, it just depends on our Savior and our Heavenly Father for the date and time that has yet to be announced in any form or fashion.
1 Corinthians 15:51 KJV – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
NIV – Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
Paul has three Old Testament Prophetic Scroll references for this.
Ezekiel 37:12-14 KJV – Therefore
prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I
will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring
you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am
the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out
of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I
shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have
spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.
NIV – Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Isaiah 26:19 KJV – Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
NIV – But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.
Daniel 12:2 KJV – And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
NIV – Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
You should notice that the last verse was one we had in most of the sermons on this specific chapter. Paul includes three additional New Testament references including two gospel choices from Matthew and John the Beloved as well as John the Beloved’s Revelation.
Matthew 24:31 KJV – And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
NIV – And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
John 11:25-26 KJV – Jesus
said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
NIV – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Revelation 11:15 KJV – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
NIV – The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Paul again speaks of that moment when everything and everyone will be transfigured eternally, upon Judgment Day. Now, we don’t know the date, the time, or even how long it will be before that moment. We don’t know what catalyst would be involved. And we surely don’t know exactly where this will occur first before it reaches us. But it is important to be prepared, regardless. That’s what Paul shares here.
1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
NIV – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Paul uses three Old Testament references from the Torah and the Poetic Scrolls.
Exodus 19:16 KJV – And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
NIV – On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
Psalm 73:19 KJV – How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
NIV – How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
Isaiah 30:13 KJV – Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
NIV – this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
Our final two verses are from the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 24:27 KJV – For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
NIV – For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:31 KJV – And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
NIV – And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Paul wants to reassure us that we will be transformed from what we see in our earthly bodies to what God intended. Paul wants us to know that God loves us, and His Son, Our Savior, Yeshu Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, was born here on earth to prove that we can become exactly what God intended from the very start. HIS CHILDREN, both IN SPIRIT AND IN LIFE. There is so much to learn from Scripture, in the beautiful gift that is our Savior. That is what Paul brings forward through his letter to Corinth here. One of the best ways that we can bring more faith and belief together with others is by showing 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: Jesus Loves the Little Children
~ 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.
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