Covenant Naples

Many women and wives go through life hearing the message that they’re not good enough or somehow always doing it wrong. Is 1 Peter 3:1-6 more of the same or is there incredibly good news in this passage? Join us to find out. Sermon Outline: I. Holy wives practice submission rather than manipulation. II. Holy wives focus on character over appearance. III. Holy wives are marked by courage more than...

Waiting for answers. Waiting for healing. Waiting for hope. In Luke 2, two ordinary yet faithful saints encounter the extraordinary faithfulness of God. This Sunday, we’ll see how Simeon and Anna point us to Christ, the true Consolation and Redeemer, and teach us how to wait with peace, gratitude, and confidence. Outline: I. Look to Christ, Your Consoler i. Wait Expectantly  Ii. Be satisfied in Go...

Christians who wish to live a godly life and maintain a clear witness in this world will be persecuted. While the pursuit of comfort and safety is wholly incompatible with the righteous suffering exemplified for us by Jesus Christ, the perseverance of believers under persecution has an enormous impact on a watching world. Earthly safety and comfort are not Christ’s goals for your life, they are Sa...

Peter teaches us in this passage that Christians have been set free from the tyranny of sin and self so that we may freely submit to human authorities as servants of God. Sermon Outline: I. The Christian’s Call to Submission. II. The Divine Purpose of Government. III. The Witness of True Freedom Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. Why is it important that our submission to authority be “for the Lord’s...

“We’re used to thinking of ourselves in terms of natural citizenship. But what does it mean to be a supernatural citizen of heaven, chosen and set apart by the King of the universe? In this message, we will explore three blessings of our citizenship: special privileges, duties, and (most of all) final vindication.” Outline: The blessings of our citizenship include three things: special privileges,...

The best way to know your true estimation of Jesus is by how you respond to him. In this message we will consider the two possible responses to Jesus: Either we see his true value and come to him as more precious than anything in this world, or we underestimate him and stumble into eternal shame.  Sermon Outline: I. Those who see Christ’s true value come to him and are built into God’s temple. II....

How can we tell if we have experienced the new birth? Many well-meaning people want to reduce it down to some belief or practice that we can do in our own strength. But in this passage, we see that the evidence of being born again is a supernatural love for others and an insatiable longing for God.  Sermon Outline: I. If we have been born again, then we will love one another. II. If we have been b...

No matter the cost, no matter the difficulty, no matter the alienation and ostracization, no matter the suffering it will cause, the holy man does what his Lord says to do. Today’s passage looks at not only the why of holiness, but also the what and the how. Sermon Outline: I) The Why of Holiness II)The What of Holiness III)The How of Holiness Discussion Questions: The message begins by connecting...

1 Peter 1:8-12 Peter encourages believers by reminding us of the wonder of salvation and our hope of future joy, which was foretold by the prophets and secured through Christ’s death and resurrection. This is grace so marvelous that even angels long to gaze upon it! Outline: Be encouraged: your salvation does not depend on sight. Be encouraged: your salvation brings glimpses of future joy, even no...

Our past rebirth into a future inheritance gives us a living hope in the present, even in suffering. There are three things described in this passage that we can praise God for no matter what we may be going through today. Sermon Outline: I. Praise God: we have been born again II. Praise God: we are being guarded III. Praise God: we are being refined Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. Why do you thin...

First Peter is addressed to Christians who are suffering on account of their distinctiveness. Peter wants to encourage Christians that, though suffering is unpleasant, it is not an indication that God is not with us. Rather, it is a sign that he has chosen us for himself. Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. In what ways do you personally feel like an outsider because of your faith? Are there particula...

If we were to sum up the final message of the book and the message of Joshua as a whole, it is this: God is faithful, and we can trust him. Those who do will find themselves caught up in a much bigger story than themselves and will make an impact that will last far beyond their years. We don’t remember Joshua today because Joshua was a great man, though he was. We remember Joshua today because he...

Joshua reminds Israel in this text that they have been the recipients of centuries of God’s faithfulness and rescue. Yet he knows how prone they are to forgetting what God has done for them. If they forget, they will slide into serving the idols of the surrounding culture. And so will we. We must make a decisive determination regarding whom we will live for, whom we will serve. Sermon Outline: I....

One of the great dangers for us as God’s people is to forget God's history of faithfulness. When we forget, we will likely drift into compromise and reap the consequences of disobedience. But God loves us and has shown us how we can avoid the consequences of mission drift. Sermon Outline: I. Remember God’s History of Faithfulness II. Cling to God in Loving Obedience III. Be on Guard Against Gradua...

Theological error, idolatry, and sin are serious matters that cannot be ignored because they are a constant threat to the unity of God’s people. In this passage, we see the necessity of pursuing the peace and purity of the church. Sermon Outline: I. Because the LORD is God, We Must Cling to Him in Wholehearted Devotion II. Because the LORD is God, We Must Pursue the Purity of the Church III. Becau...

Left to ourselves, our communities fracture into injustice, vengeance, and idolatry. That does not make us unique; in fact, it is the common point of unity we share with people across the world and across the ages. We are not capable of creating communities of justice and mercy apart from God’s truth. Sermon Outline: I. Communities of Justice and Mercy II. Communities of Truth Sermon Discussion Qu...

How long will you put off taking possession of what God has promised you? The inheritance for God’s people today is not in the Middle East, but we do have an inheritance. How do we properly respond? Sermon Outline: I. God has secured our inheritance II. Faith gratefully receives the lot God gives Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. What areas of spiritual growth or obedience might you be “putting off”...

In these chapters we see two different kinds of people: one type of person takes God at his word and aims to fully possess all that God has promised. The other type sees all the reasons it won’t work, all the reasons to be afraid, all the reasons to feel sorry for themselves. As we compare these examples, we are to hold a mirror up in front of ourselves and ask which type of person we most resembl...

Many picture the path to God like a mountain to climb through religion, good works, or devotion. But Psalm 24 asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” The reality is, none of us can. Our hands aren’t clean, our hearts aren’t pure. That’s the mess. But the good news? The Messiah came down. Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved, and rose to bring us up into the pres...

When we are guilty of sin, we try not to think about it, we try to distract ourselves, we pretend that nothing else needs to be done; but the guilt remains. Confession is the path to healing, but we run from it like it’s the disease. Psalm 32 reminds us that confession is not something to be avoided or evaded; it is a gift to be embraced. Sermon outline: I. The Blessed Condition II. The Miserable...

Whether it’s the fear of global conflict, political instability, climate change, economic collapse, or personal health issues, we are a culture ruled by fear, and our fears make us very easy to manipulate. But what if there were a people who were not ruled by fear? And what if all we need to become this kind of people is to make Psalm 46 our own song? Sermon Outline: I. We will not fear because Go...

What do you pray when enemies surround you? Psalm 109 is raw, intense, and fiercely honest—a prayer for justice when evil strikes. David sang it. Jesus fulfilled it. The Church still needs it. Sermon Outline: I. Introduction II. A Look at Psalm 109 III. Six Imprecatory Principles IV. The One Big Lesson Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. When you're slandered, mistreated, or falsely accused, do you fi...

Doubt is often treated like a dirty word in Christian circles, but Scripture is filled with faithful expressions of it. In Psalm 73, Asaph wrestles with the tension between what he believes about God’s goodness and what he sees happening in the world around him. His struggle is honest and raw—but it ultimately leads him not away from God, but toward Him. Small Group Questions 1. When have you felt...