Reflections · Updates

Journal

Short meditations on Scripture and the gospel, and news from the life of Covenant Church.

July 1, 2026 · 1 min read

Where is Covenant Church Headed? What is Church Planting?

Dear friends, I can't express how excited I am and how grateful I am to be on this church planting journey with you. You know, I'm sure, that there's something very special about being on mission for Christ as we are among the first group of gathered believers in this new church. As we're on this journey together, I want to commend two resources to you. First, last Saturday, I interviewed Rev. Morrie Lawing on The Covenant Church Show regarding church plants and church planting. Rev. Lawing h

March 22, 2026 · 1 min read

Faithfulness, Not Fame

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:7–8, ESV) Dear friends, The lasting legacy of a believer is determined by faithfulness to God. Not popularity, or wealth, or anything else — but faithfulness. To that end, here are a couple of resources that I highly recommend in order that you would be encouraged to walk faithfully. Banner

January 3, 2026 · 4 min read

New, New, New in Christ

Dear friends, There's no better opportunity than this New Year to let God change your life by recommitting yourself to him. This is an opportunity for you, dear believer in Christ. In this, rejoice in the Lord! Regarding God Do you feel distant from God right now? Are you distant from God right now? You must take this opportunity to return to God through renewed faith in Christ in this New Year. Consider carefully these words of God from the prophet Zechariah: “Therefore say to them, Th

November 15, 2025 · 3 min read

The Hopeful Work of Gospel Ministry

Dear friends, In our Sunday Morning worship, our plan is to especially consider the hope of gospel ministry in our looking at the faith of Joseph. This hope is one of glory — the glory of God in the lives of his people. This is an important passage for the people of God. I can't wait to study it with you. And then in the evening, our plan is to begin a new short series on "The Prayers of Paul." I love reading and meditating upon Paul's prayers in his letters. I'm sure these passages will soo

September 26, 2025 · 1 min read

What Does Your Neighbor Believe About Jesus?

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5–8, ESV) Dear friends, Today, I came across this arti

August 9, 2025 · 1 min read

Grow in Love for Christ

Dear friends, Not long ago I received an anonymous phone call from a man who was upset that Covenant Church teaches the fact that Jesus is God. The man wanted to convince me that the worship of Jesus is wrong — but he could never, for the Bible plainly teaches that Jesus is God, the second person of the Trinity and fully deserving of our worship. After that call, I called Dr. Dalcour to talk a little about how he approaches presenting Christ as God to people from the basis of Scripture — and t

January 7, 2025 · 5 min read

The Sacrament of Baptism

Dear friends, As we look forward to Rami's baptism this coming Sunday morning, I thought it would be helpful to provide a short primer on what baptism is and how it’s a wonderful help for the Christian believer. If you’re looking for encouragement from Christ today, then this is an article for you — remember your baptism! Baptism is a Sacrament “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19, ES

February 14, 2024 · 5 min read

Church Membership

“complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2, ESV) Dear friends, It has been a real privilege for me to have had the opportunity to speak on church membership to you in too-short moments over the last several weeks. Now that we are only a week and a half away from the first members joining Covenant Church, I’ve written what’s below as a compilation of that which we’ve discussed and added some additional information t

September 13, 2023 · 2 min read

God + Hope In Infertility

Dear friends, I'm excited to work together together with you to put on Covenant Church's first conference, God + Hope in Infertility. At the page below (www.CovenantBurbank.com/Conference), you'll find information on the conference, speaker, and panelists. God + Hope in InfertilityGod + Hope in Infertility An Evening of Gospel Hope for Singles, Couples, and Families Saturday October 7 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Register Here You’re invited to Covenant Church for Our First Conference, God + Hope in

June 15, 2023 · 2 min read

Opportunities to Glorify God in the Community

Dear friends, This is the second post in a new series, Opportunities to Glorify God as Covenant Church. Today we're examining Opportunities to Glorify God in the Community. Covenant Church is a praying church. Covenant Church is a worshiping church. Covenant Church loves our neighbors. Invite One Another, Encourage One Another “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11, ESV) Covenant Church has a unique opportunity to create together by God'

June 10, 2023 · 5 min read

Opportunities to Glorify God at Home

Dear friends, This is the first section post in a new series, Opportunities to Glorify God as Covenant Church. Today we're examining Opportunities to Glorify God at Home. Covenant Church is a praying church. Covenant Church is a worshiping church. Covenant Church loves our neighbors. How do you worship? What is your heart drawn to daily? We all worship. But the reality is that our hearts are prone to worship something other than God. As the cares of this world press in upon us, we can

May 25, 2023 · 1 min read

Opportunities to Glorify God as Covenant Church

Dear friends, I thought it might be helpful to share with you how I think God is calling each of us to glorify and enjoy him presently in these great cities of Burbank, North Hollywood, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Sun Valley, Los Angeles, and beyond. Covenant Church is a praying church. Covenant Church is a worshiping church. Covenant Church loves our neighbors. Over the next week or so I'm excited to be sending out posts that touch on glorifying God in the following broad categories: * Gl

April 19, 2023 · 3 min read

What to Expect at Covenant Church

Dear friends, You are invited to Covenant Church worship and events. For many of us, being a part of a church is a new or renewed experience so I've put together the short guide below to help make joining in to be stress-free. I'm always available for questions or to help. We look forward to meeting you! -Pastor Brooks What to Expect on Sundays 👕Casual Wardrobe We're casual! Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.🚲Easy Transportation and Plenty of Parking The building where Covenant

April 7, 2023 · 1 min read

The Vision for Covenant Church

Dear friends, This is an exciting time! I'm very encouraged to present to you the "Vision" for Covenant Church. Set five years in the future, this, I pray, gives you a clear view of the direction that I believe God has called us to and is equipping us to pursue. Covenant is a new church with a renewed concept of what a church should be, but with historic roots to the 1600's and the Reformation. Our foundation is solid, built upon Jesus. As we grow, and God gives opportunities to glorify and

February 24, 2023 · 6 min read

Glory at Covenant Church

One of the joys of participating in the life and ministry of a local church, like Covenant will be, is the opportunity to gather for worship on Sundays. In gathered worship the written Word of God is read and preached. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to shape us. Some may become convinced of their need for the Savior, and believers are built up in holiness and comfort. There are also the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper which God uses to encourage his people regarding their standing i

February 15, 2023 · 11 min read

Community at Covenant Church

There's a special moment in the gospel narratives when the Lord Jesus turns to his disciples. He tells them that he loves them. And he calls them his friends (John 15). One of the things we learn from this is that the Lord Jesus considers his people, who follow him in faith, to be something very special — his friends. What an encouragement! Think now for a moment. When was the last time someone in Burbank or Los Angeles told you that they loved you and considered you a dear friend? It has prob

January 27, 2023 · 1 min read

Nine Sermons on the Ministry of the Lord Jesus

Dear friends, Some of our recent discussion Sunday evenings has reminded me of a sermon series I had the privilege of hearing in-person when I was a seminary student. At that time, Amanda and I regularly attended morning and evening worship at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. The church's ministers included both Dr. Sinclair Ferguson and Dr. Derek Thomas. This series focuses particularly on the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus. The series is called "ICHTHUS," the Greek word for fi

November 19, 2022 · 2 min read

The Christian's Peace

I have over the last several days enjoyed reading some of the writing of William Bridge. Rev. Bridge was a minister in the Netherlands and England and was a member of the Westminster Assembly. I hope you'll find the below words, from a sermon that he preached in 1648, on the peace that's available to the Christian - as encouraging as I do. If you'd like to download this sermon and the rest of the volume that I'm reading, it's available at the link below the quote. This quote is from the first

July 27, 2022 · 1 min read

Ladies Book Study: Gospel-Shaped Marriage: Grace for Sinners to Love Like Saints

Hey friends! This is Amanda. I'm excited to start a new study for ladies this August. Join me Thursday mornings in August from 7:45am - 8:45am for coffee and pastries as we discuss the book "Gospel-Shaped Marriage: Grace for Sinners to Love Like Saints." This book is perfect for those preparing for marriage, those who are married, or for those you would like to support married couples — so that means you :) We will be discussing the first two chapters at our first meeting on Thursday, August

May 8, 2022 · 2 min read

I Know None Worthy of You but Christ.

The Reverend Samuel Rutherford was a minister of the gospel in Scotland in the 1600's. Today, he is most well known for his letters, which he sent to a variety of friends and acquaintances. Hundreds of these letters survive, having been compiled into a single volume. In 1637, Mr. Rutherford wrote a letter to the Vicountess of Kenmure. He concludes the first paragraph by writing, "I know none worthy of you but Christ." Over the last several days, I've been thinking a lot about this line and the

May 1, 2022 · 1 min read

The Unchangeable Love of God

Psalm 125:1-2 (ESV) 1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. One of the things I love about living and working in The Valley is that I can almost always find my way home. The mountains that surround Burbank provide easy visual navigation. Going toward the mountain usually means I'm going toward my home. Going away from the mountai

April 30, 2022 · 1 min read

Why Are We Starting a New Church in Burbank?

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) At Covenant Burbank, we're on mission to tell people about the good news of Jesus. How his coming to earth, living for his people, dying on a cro