Community lies at the heart of Christian faith, providing essential support, encouragement, and accountability needed for spiritual growth and discipleship.

• The church was designed from inception to be a community dedicated to supporting and encouraging one another
• Jesus established the standard for love when He commanded us to love others as He loved us
• People who engage in church community are much more likely to remain committed to their faith journey
• Small groups or covenant groups become your spiritual family
• Coming to Christ puts us on a growth track where we move from being ministered to becoming ministers
• Unhealthy church environments develop when people expect to be served without serving others

Covenant Church Houma

We explore our church's mission statement—love God, love people, and lead others to do the same—breaking down what it means to truly love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

• True worship means loving God with every aspect of our being
• What matters most in worship is not the style but the heart
• People are always our business—changing lives and eternal destinies
• Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
• Your entire life should be offered as worship to God

Covenant Church

Through the story of Jeremiah being thrown into a muddy cistern for speaking God's truth, we discover profound lessons about standing firm in faith despite rejection and suffering.

• Jeremiah was punished merely for speaking God's truth to Israel about their coming captivity
• Standing for truth often leads to rejection, but these moments reveal what we truly believe
• Christians in other parts of the world face severe persecution while many American Christians mistake minor inconveniences for persecution
• Depression following loss can be overcome through God's intervention and deliverance
• We each choose to become either "empowered survivors or embittered victims"
• God's perfect love remains constant whether we're obedient or disobedient, in blessing or discipline

Covenant Church

God's discipline is always aimed at restoration, not punishment, as seen through Jeremiah's prophecy to Israel before their Babylonian captivity. The Lord's promise of a new covenant—one written on hearts rather than stone—points to Jesus and offers hope even in our darkest moments.

• Christians should expect to look "strange" to the world as we are aliens passing through
• Believers find strength through connectedness to the body of Christ during trials
• Praying for enemies is powerful and demonstrates the gospel's transformative work in us
• God answers prayers according to His will and timing, not always according to our schedule

Pastor Steve examines Jeremiah's powerful metaphor about abandoned fountains and broken cisterns, revealing how this warning perfectly mirrors our modern spiritual crisis.

• Ancient Judah's double sin: abandoning God (the living water) while creating their own spiritual solutions (broken cisterns)
• The danger of making the church building or religious activities a substitute for genuine relationship with God
• Modern idols we purchase and prioritize instead of God: cars, boats, possessions, comfort
• How our desire for control leads us to create substitutes for God's lordship in our lives
• The risk of placing political leaders in "messianic" positions while ignoring our need for genuine repentance
• True Christianity evidenced not by religious activities but by the fruit of the Spirit
• The need for humility and confession to restore our relationship with God

Covenant Church

We dig into the book of Jeremiah and discover striking parallels between ancient Judah's cultural decline and our modern world, exploring how God's truth speaks to divisive times.

• Understanding the historical context of Jeremiah as the "weeping prophet"
• Exploring the tension between God's righteousness and His grace in a world that rejects His truth
• Confronting how cultural pressure and comfort numb our hearts to sin and spiritual urgency
• Examining why crisis often brings spiritual awakening while revealing superficial faith
• Learning to balance truth-telling with genuine love when sharing faith in a hostile culture
• Recognizing we are "not in management" - our job is to faithfully share God's message, not control outcomes
• Developing Jeremiah's heart for the lost through intercessory prayer and continued faithfulness
• Finding peace when prayers seem unanswered by trusting in God's ultimate sovereignty

Explore the theme of divine calling and how it intersects with fear and faith. Discover insights rooted in biblical examples, specifically focusing on Jeremiah’s life and how it relates to us. Gain encouragement in learning how to fulfill your purpose in alignment with God’s will.

• Discussing God’s calling and sovereignty
• Analyzing Jeremiah’s biblical testimony
• Fear and insecurity in ministry and purpose
• The relationship between general and specific callings
• Emphasizing the importance of obedience and faith
• Overcoming challenges in understanding one’s purpose

Covenant Church

Pastor Steve shares his transformative journey from a non-Christian upbringing to faith and ministry, filled with challenges and growth. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership and nurturing future generations in their faith.

• Personal testimony of accepting Christ at age 15
• The impact of early mentors and opportunities in ministry
• Challenges faced in various pastoral roles and churches
• The importance of authenticity and trust in leadership
• Legacy and hopes for future generations in faith

Covenant Church