Faith Covenant Christian Church

11:00 a.m. Service

CALL TO WORSHIP

*INVOCATION

*CONGREGATIONAL HYMN

*RESPONSIVE READING

*PRAYER

SONG OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP

WELCOME / ANNOUNCEMENTS / FELLOWSHIP

OFFERTORY PRAYER AND OFFERING

*INTERCESSORY PRAYER

*PRAYER OF FAITH AND COMMITMENT

SPECIAL MUSIC

WORD OF GOD – Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

*INVITATION TO SALVATION AND DISCIPLESHIP

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

[You may join Faith Covenant Christian Church by: Baptism, Christian Experience,

Re-Dedication, Transfer Letter, or Watch Care]

HOLY COMMUNION (1st Sunday Of Every Month)

BENEDICTION

When Life Is In The Pits

Jeremiah had been thrown into a cistern, a deep hole often used for storing water, by those who opposed his message. Ebed-Melech, a Cushite servant in the royal palace, heard of Jeremiah’s plight and stepped in to rescue him. This act emphasizes the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of opposition or danger. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for those who may be marginalized or persecuted.

Ebed-Melek’s identity as an outsider and a servant in the king’s house adds depth to his actions. Despite his lowly status, he takes the initiative to gather men and go to the king’s house to rescue Jeremiah. The image of him lowering ropes into the cistern to lift Jeremiah out symbolizes a lifeline, a means of salvation in a desperate situation. Moreover, his thoughtfulness in padding the ropes with old rags and worn-out clothes reveals a compassionate heart, ensuring Jeremiah’s comfort during the rescue.

Psalm 40:2 speaks of being lifted from the pit of destruction, mirroring Jeremiah’s physical rescue with spiritual deliverance. Isaiah 41:10 reassures us of God’s presence and support in times of distress, echoing the comfort Ebed-Melek provided to Jeremiah. His compassion and thoughtfulness serve as a reminder to approach our efforts to assist others with care and consideration. The unexpected nature of God’s choice to use Ebed-Melek underscores the truth that God can work through anyone, regardless of their background or status.

Consider a modern-day parallel where someone stands up against injustice at work, risking their own position to help a mistreated colleague. This act of courage and compassion mirrors Ebed-Melek’s actions, illustrating how we can embody these biblical principles in our daily lives. The story of Ebed-Melek and Jeremiah challenges us to be proactive in aiding those in need, trusting in God’s presence and guidance as we navigate difficult circumstances.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT WEEK

SUNDAY SCHOOL – NOVEMBER 09, 2025

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Jerusalem’s Fall ~ 2 Kings 24:18–25:9

Lesson Aims: After participating in this lesson,

each student will be able to:

1. Summarize the life and fate of King Zedekiah

2. Explain the circumstances that led to the exile.

3. State one way he/she will reflect on God’s patient

mercy in the coming week.

2 Kings 24:18–25:2 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 19 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 1 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. 2 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

No Escape

Zedekiah became king in place of his nephew, who had ruled only three months. Zedekiah’s mother, Hamutal, was also the mother of the former king of Judah who was taken captive by Pharaoh Necho. Hamutal herself was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah (2 Kings 24:18), not to be confused with Jeremiah the prophet. Zedekiah did evil in the sight of God “just as Jehoiakim had done” (2 Kings 24:19). Jehoiakim went as far as burning a scroll from Jeremiah the prophet (Jer. 36:22–26). He unwisely rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (2 Kings 24:1). Zedekiah—the same king who permitted Jeremiah’s attempted murder in last week’s lesson—paid no attention to the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah (Jer. 37:2). Zedekiah learned nothing from his brother’s failed rebellion, and he rebels against the king of Babylon again (2 Kings 24:20). Instead of seeking God’s protection, he forms an anti-Babylonian alliance with Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon (Jer. 27:3). But God warns Zedekiah against such rebellion: “Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live” (Jer. 27:12). The Lord warns of famine, plague, banishment, and peril for not submitting to this rule; going as far as to refer to Nebuchadnezzar as “my servant” (Jer. 27:6, 13–15). Thus, Zedekiah’s rebellion amounts to additional disobedience to God and disregard for His message. What happens next is a result of God’s anger: God shall look at Jerusalem and Judah and shall “thrust them from his presence” (2 Kings 24:20). As king, Zedekiah has done evil in the sight of God and rejected all hope of restoration. The people of Judah have become habitually unfaithful, following the behaviors of other nations and defiling the temple (see 2 Chron. 36:14). As expected, the king of Babylon does not take kindly to another rebellion from Judah and from a king sworn to him. Nebuchadnezzar marches back to Jerusalem and lays siege to the city in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Kings 25:1). Nebuchadnezzar brings his “whole army” with him this time, showing how desperate the situation has become. The Babylonians surround Jerusalem and build siege works to attack the city. These would include ramps and wall like structures, so that soldiers could eventually climb over the walls and breach the defenses. At this time, some residents apparently go over to the Babylonians, meaning that people are able to leave but not to reenter (Jer. 38:19; 39:9). The siege lasts until the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Kings 25:2), because the Babylonians are patient and intent to finish the job.

2 Kings 25:3–9 3 By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. 4 Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah, 5 but the Babylonian army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, 6 and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. 7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 8 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.

The Fall of Jerusalem

The Babylonian siege of Jerusalem lasted for approximately eighteen months. 2 Kings 25:3 reveals the devastating result: “There was no food for the people to eat.” They were cut off from help. The city wall is broken in approximately 586 BC, prompting Judah’s army to flee (2 Kings 25:4). Probably the northern wall was breached, since Judah’s army flees through a gate by the king’s garden. This indicates a southeastern escape, perhaps by way of the Fountain Gate described in Nehemiah 3:15. Those who flee head toward “the Arabah,” traveling along the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. The Babylonians who surround Jerusalem prepare a pursuit. The dishonored King Zedekiah is overtaken by the Babylonians near the city of Jericho (2 Kings 25:5–6). Zedekiah and his family are captured, Judah’s army scattered. Zedekiah is taken to Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah, some three hundred miles from Jerusalem in modern-day Syria (2 Kings. 25:6). This is the Babylonian military headquarters in the region. Zedekiah receives a brutal sentence for his rebellion. Babylon wants to make an example, in case others might would contemplate treachery. His sons are slain before his eyes. It becomes the last thing he sees, for immediately he is blinded, bound, and taken as a prisoner to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7). This puts an end to Zedekiah’s rule and extinguishes the possibility of any heir. Zedekiah eventually dies alone in prison (Jer. 52:11). In 2 Kings 25:8, dates start being counted by the years of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, instead of Zedekiah’s (compare 2 Kings 25:1, 3). There is no longer a king in Judah. About a month after the siege, Nebuzaradan, a high ranking Babylonian official and commander of Babylon’s army, lays waste to the city. He burns the temple, the palace, the houses, and every important building (2 Kings 25:9). The temple, which symbolizes God’s presence with His people, is gone. With the temple utterly destroyed, what can that mean for the people of God now sent into exile?

About Us

OUR HISTORY

Faith Covenant Christian Church began on February 27, 2014 following a fellowship dinner for displaced former members of Crossroads Christian Church. Following that first meeting, we formed a Planning Committee and began meeting @ Best Western Hotel at Cedar Bluff.

On May 7, 2014, we adopted the name Faith Covenant Christian Church, with our foundational verse being Jeremiah 50:5. On June 22, 2014 an invitation to membership was given by Rev A. David Baxter and 21 people united with Faith Covenant Christian Church. Women’s and Men’s Ministries began having regular meetings. In September 2014, we began having Sunday School and Wednesday Night Bible Study. In November, Youth Ministry began. By the end of 2014, ten more people joined, three as new converts. We moved to 1027 Summer Wood Drive on April 1, 2015. Following a yearlong pastor search, Violet P. McRoy, was called as pastor on April 18, 2016. In March 2018, Pastor McRoy resigned as pastor, due to poor health and other personal issues. God quickly responded to our prayer-laden search and Nokomis Yeldell, Jr. was elected to the pastoral position on April 16, 2018. On Easter Sunday in 2025, we moved into a new sanctuary at 1021 Summer Wood Drive. In May, 2025, we celebrated our 11th church anniversary and are looking onward, upward and forward to serving God faithfully.

OUR PASTOR

Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Pastor Yeldell was born in Mt Pleasant, Texas, the third of five children of Nokomis and Dollie Pearl Yeldell. His father, also a Pastor for over 60 years, was called to Memphis, TN, where Nokomis Jr. grew up. Following graduation Pastor Yeldell attended Southwestern Christian College. He then served four years in the United States Air Force. He then decided to move to Knoxville, TN to further his education. After serving in leadership capacities in various ministries at Foster Chapel Baptist Church, Pastor Yeldell was called into the ministry in 2010.

Faith Covenant Christian Church represents Pastor Yeldell’s third and prayerfully final pastorate.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

FAITH COVENANT Christian Church accepts the Holy Scriptures as the revealed will of God, the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and holds to the following foundational truths:

1. The One True God

GOD IS… He is the eternally existent and immutable Father, Creator of the Universe and everything therein. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, and in Him we move and have our being. He is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is One God in three distinct persons: one in essence and purpose and distinct in personality and function. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is the essence of love, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, mercy, grace, holiness, righteousness, and justice.

2. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternally existent Son of the living God, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the image of the invisible God, and the firstborn of all creation. Through Him was made everything that is made—things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together.

He was born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God through His substitutionary death on the cross. He was resurrected bodily from the dead, and sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

3. The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, who goes out from the Father and testifies about the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regards to sin and righteousness and judgment. He is given to all who believe, for Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit according to the promise of God the Father, who gives the Spirit without limit. The Holy Spirit lives with us and in us, bringing about the endowment of power for life and service, as well as the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. These gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His own will (Hebrews 2:4) include: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, contributing to the needs of others, leadership, mercy (Romans 12:6-8), message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits (discernment), tongues, interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

4. Salvation from the Penalty of Sin

By grace, through faith, we are saved from the penalty of sin. Mankind, though made in the image of God, has inherited through the first man, Adam, a sinful nature. By this nature, all mankind has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and thereby, was alienated from God; dead in transgressions—gratifying the cravings, desires, and thoughts of the sinful nature; following the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air; stirring up wrath against himself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. But God did not appoint mankind to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—and saved us by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

5. Salvation from the Power of Sin

By grace, through faith, we are saved from the power of sin. Having been crucified with Christ, we put to death the deeds of the body so that sin shall have no dominion over our mortal bodies. We have received the Spirit who is from God so that we may live by faith, understanding what God has freely given us to accomplish His purpose:

He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our personal knowledge of Him as Savior and Lord.
He has given us His precious and magnificent promises by which we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
He has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ, His church, may be built up.
He has given to us the manifestation of the Spirit through spiritual gifts for the common good.
He has given us the ministry of reconciliation: that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.

6. Salvation from the Presence of Sin

By grace, through faith, we are saved from the presence of sin, for the Lord Jesus died and rose again, and will Himself come down from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first, and we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth will pass away. And we shall dwell with God in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. We shall be His people, and God Himself will be with us and be our God. He will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away.

7. The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture

God’s Word is TRUTH. The Holy Scriptures (both the Old and New Testament) is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. We are saved from the penalty, power, and presence of sin by grace through faith that comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, which testifies of Jesus Christ. By His Word, God has revealed Himself, His plan, His purpose, and His ways—so that we would come to Him to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

OUR MINISTRIES

Faith Covenant Christian Church operates under a FIVE FOLD Ministry concept

I EXALTATION

Deacons- Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Holy Sacraments And Sacred Days – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Media- Sis. Tiaeshia Kelso, Bro. Anthony Lindsey

Music- Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Program – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Public Relations – Bro. Reggie Lindsey, Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Pulpit – Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Reconciliation – Ministerial Council

Ushers – Sis. Teresa Farmer

II ENABLING

Benevolence – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Food Pantry – Bro. Karl Townes

Hospitality – Sis. Teresa Farmer

Intercessory Prayer – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Missions – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

III EDUCATION

Bible Study – Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Youth Church –

Sunday School – Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Supplemental Education And Training – Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Vacation Bible School –

IV EDIFICATION

Church-Wide Edification – Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Men’s Ministry – Bro. Karl Towns

Women’s Ministry (WICS) – Sis. Teresa Farmer

Youth – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

V EQUIPPING

Administration – Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Finance – Sis. Teresa Farmer, Sis. Tiaeshia Kelso, Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Transportation – Bro. Karl Towns

Trustees – Bro. Karl Towns

Kitchen Ministry / Special Events – Sis. Teresa Farmer

Comfort And Care Ministry - Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.