Faith Covenant Ministries: Recent Episodes
Pastor Michael Hammond Sr.
By faith, revealing and expanding the Love, Life, Lordship and Leadership of the Kingdom of Heaven to all nations. faithcovenantstl.com
Ever been in the middle of a trial, prayed to God and he failed to respond quickly? If God instructs his children to seek him concerning their needs why would he respond this way? In this message, we look in Exodus 17:1-7 at the children of Israel's need for water in a dry land, and offer reasons for God's delayed response. We also consider our own responses to similar situations and acknowledge what they convey about our faith in, and our understanding of God and his ways.
How does sin enter our lives and what are the ramifications of allow it to do so? In this message, we look back at Genesis 3:1-21 where it all began. We discover how crafty our enemy is, how deceitful sin can be, how we can combat sin by addressing our affections and the areas where sin negatively impacts Creation.
The Bible states that there is a penalty for sin (Romans 6:23) and that those who sin are under sin’s power (John 8:34). God has provided a remedy for both of these realities. In this message, we talk about the two conditions that must be met if we are to be free from these. We also highlight three reasons people who have this information may not experience its benefits.
Most parents tell their children to say, “thank you,” when someone does something for them. But is that “thank you” a genuine response? What might a conditioned response say about a person? How might that conditioned response be received by the person it is directed to? What does it mean if a person rarely says, “thank you”? In this message, we look at Jesus’ interaction with 10 lepers and discover both how to receive God’s blessings and how to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
In Luke 15, Jesus highlights one of the key purposes of his ministry in the world, in talking about things that are lost (and found). In this message we talk more about this and are challenged to evaluate whether our priorities as children of God line up with his.
To like what Jesus has done, and to be grateful for it does not mean I love Jesus. In this message we look at what Jesus says it means to love him. We also see in John 14:23-31 what those who love Jesus receive.
One would think that seeing Jesus after the resurrection would give his disciples the confidence and initiative to move full speed ahead with his mission. However, John 21:1-19 reveals that his disciples actually returned to life as usual. In this message, we highlight the reason for this and look at what four things were needed for spiritual and missional renewal following their setback.
No one visits a pizza joint expecting to get a fish dinner; visits Antarctica to find warm weather, or attends a party for purpose of being alone. If they did we would call them crazy. However, when it comes to the things we need in this life we are often guilty of doing the same sorts of things. In this message we look at Mary Magdalene and the women’s encounter with the angel at Jesus’ tomb in Luke 24:1-12. We discover the reality, the reason behind and the results of such dilemmas, as well as what our appropriate response to our dilemma should be.
We get offended or disappointed when things are not as we expected. Situations and circumstances in life also have a way of shaping our expectations. In this message, we take a look at the expectations of John the Baptist, and of the religious people of Jesus’ day; to identify what our own expectations about God may be, why we have them and what adjustments might need to be made.
The miracle of unique and supernatural births were experienced by Elizabeth and Mary, the mothers of John the Baptist and Jesus. In this message, we look at a few characteristics of these two women, what the Angel of the Lord said to them, and the implications of these things for those who would be Jesus’ disciples.
The church often fails to appropriately convey the crisis the world is in, especially during the Advent and Christmas seasons. How so? By focusing on Christ’s first Advent and not balancing this message with the reality of His second one. Advent and Christmas are seen as times of “comfort and joy”. In this message we outline four things disciples should do in light of John the Baptist’s words regarding Christ’s coming.
When people think about Jesus’ second Advent, they often focus on what will take place on that day and the days that follow it. However, in this message (from Luke 21:25-36) we learn three ways a dismissive attitude regarding Christ’s return impacts the here and now.
The person standing on the street corner proclaiming that the “end is near” is typically seen as an overzealous wierdo. The fact that Jesus has yet to return continues to cause many to dismiss his claims. In this (pre-Advent) message, we take a brief look at some of the claims surrounding Jesus’ second coming in (Mark 13: 24-37) and why we should take Jesus’ claims seriously.
Ever ran into someone you used to know who presents themselves to you differently? When they did, did you receive and interact with them based on who you believed they were before or according to who they now present themselves to be? This message from Mark 6:1-13 highlights how one can miss out on God's blessings when it comes from a legitimate though unexpected source, and our familiarity short circuits our faith (evidence).
Jesus has already overcome sin and death. If you are in Christ, you too are an overcomer. In this message we look at two individuals in Mark’s Gospel (5:21-43) who overcame their situation; discover reasons we are the overtaken instead of the overcomers and learn how to respond in light of life's difficulties.
Have you ever heard someone say, “God won’t let you go through more than you can handle?” Have you ever searched the Scriptures to see if that statement is true? Ever felt so overwhelmed that you questioned whether this was true? In this message, these ideas are addressed, and we discover that knowing what Scripture says is only part of the issue when it comes to bearing the unbearable.
What does it mean to be favored by God? How and why is one favored and to what end are they favored? When do we discover that we are blessed or favored? In this message we look at Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel, discover why favor is important and what responsibilities we have because we are favored by God.
Do you let what others think about you influence whether you respond, or how you respond when there are opportunities to minister to others? Do you let your own feelings about the one you minister to influence you? Is your life of holiness attractive to others, or is it seen as a religious type of pride? In Part 3 of this series we look at Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well and the dangers of our own self-pride, and are challenged to confront it for the sake and salvation of others.
In Part 2 of this series we look at the lives of Abraham and Nicodemus to see how wrong expectations confuse and discourage us; and can lead us to think/act outside the will of God. We are encouraged to analyze and reset our expectations according to God's words; free of our own desires.
During this series we are outlining 7 things God wants us to "Give up" forever. In this first message of the series we address the issue of control, and how we can effectively and confidently relinquish it.
What is the prayer of faith all about? How is it different from other kinds of prayer? How do we know if we have prayed the prayer of faith, and what can we expect when we pray this kind of prayer? In this message you will get answers to these questions, and learn one reason God might not be answering the prayers we pray.
Scripture teaches us that God sent Jesus to die for our sins. But what do we have to do to obtain the forgiveness Christ’s death provided for us. In Part 11 of our series “What We Believe”, we look at the life of Abraham to discover why he was forgiven; and what some of our responses to God’s forgiveness should be.
The identity and work of the Holy Spirit, as well as our response to Him, is often distorted; both by the world and the church. In part 9 of our series “What We Believe” we go back to the basics; looking at what Jesus told his disciples about the Holy Spirit of God.
Did Jesus actually go to hell after he died, and when he rose from the dead was it bodily, or merely a spiritual resurrection? In Part 6 of our series we address what Scripture teaches us about these things, and the implications of these events for us today.
God’s initiative + God’s favor = Endless possibilities. Find out what Mary’s response to this was and what our response should be in Part 4 of our sermon series on What We Believe.
Who is Jesus? In part 3 of our What We Believe Series we look at who Jesus is; how mankind could know he is the Son of God, and why our response should be to submit to him.
The source of our beliefs, and the manner in which we believe determine where we spend eternity. Find out more in this first lesson of our series.
Words are powerful! In this final message of the series we find out why, what God is saying and what we are saying are two of the most important weapons in our arsenal.
We need the shield of faith and helmet of salvation if we want to think and act like sanctified people who have a blessed and secured hope. Find out more in Part 5 of our sermon series on the Armor of God.
The Apostle Paul says our feet are to be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Why is this important? In this fourth lesson of the series we see that the peace of God is both something we possess and something we profess.
In this third message in the series we identify the first two weapons God gives us for spiritual warfare. We answer questions regarding what truth and righteousness are, and why we must have them in the war we fight.
While we are commanded to address God as Father, Scripture shows us that God is protective and nurturing...qualities we typically associate with mothers. In this message we look at Jesus' prayer for his disciples in John 17 and highlight 7 qualities of God fearing mothers seen in the life of Jesus.
Once we understand our position and role in the battle waged against us, we need to know who our enemy is. This 2nd message in the series outlines the identity, nature, and strategies of our enemy and the implications of ignoring these realities.
If we are to understand spiritual warfare, the Armor of God and its usage we must first identify our position and our role in the battle that has been waged against us. This introductory message addresses these two points.
Jesus selected and empowered his disciples to make disciples. in other words our primary responsibility, pastors, leaders and lay people alike, is to be a disciple making people. Have our attitudes and our actions been in line with this reality?
When Jesus came to Jerusalem, the people cried Hosanna! Why did they do this? What does "Hosanna" mean? Is this your response to the Lord's entrance?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to give thanks in all things. However when God does not answer our prayers it can be hard to give God thanks. In this message we discover 5 reasons we can give thanks even when God does not answer our prayers.