Covenant Grove Church

Today, Scott talked about living life with margin and making space for interruptions, just like Jesus did. Feel free to watch and share! https://youtu.be/HPh-NMjyLfk

Devotion for Friday - Matthew 18:1-14 (NLT) New Living Translation The Greatest in the Kingdom...Continue reading

Devotion for Friday - Matthew 20:17-34 (NLT) New Living Translation Jesus Again Predicts His Death...Continue reading

Devotional for Thursday - Matthew 17:22-27 (NLT) New Living Translation Jesus Again Predicts His Death... 22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead. And the disciples were filled with grief. Payment of the Temple Tax 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax? 25 Yes, he does, Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered? 26 They tax the people they have conquered, Peter replied. Well, then, Jesus said, the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us. Devotional Thoughts Read Matthew 17:22-37 Matthew intentionally put his stories in a certain order to make a point. The disciples have confessed that Jesus is Lord and seen Him transfigured. Christ has predicted His death and does so again in these verses. Then a debate comes up about paying the Temple tax. Jesus did pay the Temple tax, and He used the occasion to teach His disciples important lessons. Jesus is God and King, clearly revealed in His teachings, miracles, authority, and the transfiguration. So, the Temple tax is actually paid TO Him. The Temple tax in Israel was paid by all males between twenty and fifty years old (Exod 30:11-16). The tax helped pay for the sacrificial systemthe very one that Christ would fulfill through His sacrificial death. The Temple would no longer be needed; indeed, it would be destroyed (24:1) because the national leaders ignored God’s Son (21:43). Christ was making the point that He is King and Son of God; His followers (children, sons, or citizens, depending on your translation of verse 26) were exempt from the tax. This is a tax that would soon end; yet the Lord paid it so His followers would know to fulfill the laws of the land they lived in, as long as they did not contradict God’s laws. He taught them to do all they could not to offend others, while being bold in speaking truth. He taught them to live between the times of present reality and future fulfillment. And He taught them that He would provide as we do the work: Peter did the fishing, but the coins were provided by the Lord. What lessons do you need to remember from today’s verses? How can you live out these lessons in practical ways?

Devotion for Thursday - Matthew 20:1-16 (NLT) New Living Translation Parable of the Vineyard Workers... 20 For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. 3 At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. 6 At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 7 They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ 8 That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 13 He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last. Devotional Thoughts Read Matthew 20:1-16 This story has confused a lot of people, and even today students of the Bible debate what it means. At its core, this story is about God’s unexpected grace; He does not have to play by our rules or fulfill our expectations. This story is not teaching that all believers receive the same rewards or blessings in heaven, but it does show that salvation is an equal gift for those willing to accept the invitationwhether they came early or late. The problem came from the comparison; the comparison led to jealousy. The parable closes with a profound question, Should you be jealous because I am kind to others? Humans question the generosity and grace of God, expecting Him to play by our rules. But grace throws away the scales and breaks karma; Jesus gave His life to pay for our sin. Everything we have is from Him. Why do we compare? Why are we jealous? Do we really want God to play by our rules? That would never work out for us! How would you explain salvation by grace to someone? How can you make sure that you are living in the rhythms of grace more than your own rules?

God has an agenda for our lives...and it may not be the same as ours. We look to Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount for insights into how we do time. Check out the first week here. https://youtu.be/08FAKObwoI0

Devotion for Wednesday - Matthew 19:16-30 New Living Translation The Rich Man...Continue reading

https://covenantgrove.org//life-groups-101-what-it-means-/

On a foggy day in late December, over 50 people from our Covenant Grove Church family (and beyond) came to raise a tabernacle (tent) to worship the Lord. This was a powerful moment and memory! Thank you to all who helped, prayed, and supported us through it all. https://youtu.be/XCyUrBsab8M

Devotion for Tuesday - Matthew 19:1-15 (NLT) New Living Translation Discussion about Divorce and Marriage...Continue reading

Devotion for Monday - Matthew 18:15-35 (NLT) New Living Translation Correcting Another Believer...Continue reading

Join us online or in person under the Big Tent as we look at how to Be Interruptible, as we study Jesus words in the Sermon in the Mount. This is helpful learning for life, and we have fun, too! Join us on Sunday at 9:00 & 11:00am.

Devotion for Wednesday - Job 23 (NLT) New Living Translation Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz 23 Then Job spoke again:... 2 My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. 3 If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. 4 I would lay out my case and present my arguments. 5 Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. 6 Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. 7 Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. 8 I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. 9 I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. 10 But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. 11 For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. 13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. 14 So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny. 15 No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me. 16 God has made me sick at heart; the Almighty has terrified me. 17 Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere. Devotional Thoughts Read Job 23 What was truly being debated? The friends tried, in speech after speech, to convince Job that the Lord is just. They saw themselves as the defenders of God’s justicetherefore they attacked Job, saying that his sin caused his suffering. But Job also believed the Lord’s character was just; even in the face of horrible suffering, he did not renounce his faith (as Satan said he would, see 1:11; 2:5). In fact, Job believed in the Holy One’s justice so firmly that he was willing to call for his case to go to trial (vv.3-7). God’s character wasn’t the disagreement, and Job’s character wasn’t the real debate. Here is the real question: Can a good and loving God allow sufferingeven to the innocent? This is the same question people are asking today. In fact, it is one of the main questions asked by Christians and non-Christians alike. The book of Job quietly calls out to God’s people to read, reflect, and understand more. We need to listen better than the friends, we need to wrestle with suffering more like Job, and we need to hear the profound answers of the Creator at the end of the book. It is good to be reading, studying, and living out the lessons of this book! How would you answer the question, How can a good and loving God allow suffering? What difference has the book of Job made in your faith and life?

Just another day at Covenant Grove

https://covenantgrove.org//if-believing-is-seeing-what-do/ Check out this weeks blog by Pastor Jacqui.

Devotion for Tuesday - Job 22 (NLT) New Living Translation Eliphaz’s Third Response to Job 22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:...Continue reading

Devotion for Monday - Job 21 (NLT) New Living Translation Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar 21 Then Job spoke again:...Continue reading

Here is the link for our worship service. It is livestreamed at 9:00am and can be watched anytime afterwards. Every week we worship Jesus, learn from God’s word, and have a good time. Click the link to watch, invite others, and don’t forget to fill out your Connect Card on our website. Thanks! https://youtu.be/faTyzZHjwzk

From October 25 through October 31, 2020, Covenant Grove will be participating in Pray Modesto. This is a great opportunity for us, in community, to be in prayer to the One who created us all. Elected and Appointed Public Leaders Please include prayer for our elected and appointed leaders during your prayer week....Continue reading

Have we made an idol out of our politics? Join us this Sunday as we look at the prophet Amos and a timely message for our time. . Covenant Grove Church meets on Sundays at 9:00 & 11:00aminside, outside, and online. We love people, are focused on Jesus, and love having fun, too. We hope you can join us. This ain’t your mama’s church!!

Devotion for Friday - Job 20 (NLT) New Living Translation Zophar’s Second Response to Job 20 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:...Continue reading

A time of transitions, both in weather and how we meet during a pandemic. Social distances may appear closer due to the use of telephoto lenses.

Devotion for Thursday - Job 19 (NLT) New Living Translation Job’s Sixth Speech: A Response to Bildad 19 Then Job spoke again:...Continue reading