Class 2: Church Covenant
Covenant Baptist New Members Class
Class 2: Church Covenant
A Note From Our Pastor
Dear friends,
We are thrilled to have you all here for Session 2 of our New Membership Class! During this session, we will be covering our Church Covenant at CBC. As its name states, a Church Covenant is that which we as a church body are committing (or covenanting) to one another to uphold both in our own lives personally and in the life of our church. It is difficult to overstate the importance of our Church Covenant because it is the commitment that we make to one another in Christ that ultimately binds us together as a local body of believers.
It is my prayer that as we learn more about our CBC Church Covenant this evening, our excitement to commit to one another in these ways as a local church body will grow. As we’ve said before, unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). We believe that the Lord has sovereignly brought each and every one of you here, and will continue to bring more into our congregation by power of the Gospel. As our congregation covenants together, our prayer is that we will rejoice in knowing that we are co-laborers in what the Lord is ultimately doing here in Perry and in Middle Georgia.
Blessings in Christ,
Andrew Robinson
Administrative/Worship Pastor
We are thrilled to have you all here for Session 2 of our New Membership Class! During this session, we will be covering our Church Covenant at CBC. As its name states, a Church Covenant is that which we as a church body are committing (or covenanting) to one another to uphold both in our own lives personally and in the life of our church. It is difficult to overstate the importance of our Church Covenant because it is the commitment that we make to one another in Christ that ultimately binds us together as a local body of believers.
It is my prayer that as we learn more about our CBC Church Covenant this evening, our excitement to commit to one another in these ways as a local church body will grow. As we’ve said before, unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). We believe that the Lord has sovereignly brought each and every one of you here, and will continue to bring more into our congregation by power of the Gospel. As our congregation covenants together, our prayer is that we will rejoice in knowing that we are co-laborers in what the Lord is ultimately doing here in Perry and in Middle Georgia.
Blessings in Christ,
Andrew Robinson
Administrative/Worship Pastor
Background
Hebrews 10:23-24
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The Christian life is fundamentally relational in nature.
We were created to be in community. When God created man He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen. 1:27) Signifying that God Himself exists in perfect and holy communion as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons in one being. God then goes on to say “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” And thus He creates woman (Gen. 2:18). We were not created to live life alone. We were created to be in community with one another and ultimately with God. It is at the very core of who were are.
Relationships require commitment to flourish.
If at our wedding, the vows I gave to my wife were, “I’ll love and serve you when I feel like it and when I get too busy with my own stuff, you’re just going to have to make things work until things calm down and then I’ll come back and start participating in our marriage again,” what would that say about the way that I view my relationship with my wife? Would our relationship flourish, or dry out? The answer seems obvious, yet this is the relationship many have with their local church. Similar to marriage, our relationship with the Church requires a certain type of commitment that transcends comfort and circumstance in order to flourish.
Our Church Covenant is the commitment we make to one another within our church.
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The Christian life is fundamentally relational in nature.
We were created to be in community. When God created man He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen. 1:27) Signifying that God Himself exists in perfect and holy communion as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons in one being. God then goes on to say “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” And thus He creates woman (Gen. 2:18). We were not created to live life alone. We were created to be in community with one another and ultimately with God. It is at the very core of who were are.
Relationships require commitment to flourish.
If at our wedding, the vows I gave to my wife were, “I’ll love and serve you when I feel like it and when I get too busy with my own stuff, you’re just going to have to make things work until things calm down and then I’ll come back and start participating in our marriage again,” what would that say about the way that I view my relationship with my wife? Would our relationship flourish, or dry out? The answer seems obvious, yet this is the relationship many have with their local church. Similar to marriage, our relationship with the Church requires a certain type of commitment that transcends comfort and circumstance in order to flourish.
Our Church Covenant is the commitment we make to one another within our church.
CBC Church Covenant (Numbered Edition)
1. Having been led by the Spirit of God to acknowledge Jesus Christ as savior and Lord,
2. and in profession of that faith, we, the members of Covenant Baptist Church, most
3. solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another:
4.
5. As members of Covenant Baptist Church, we affirm this covenant with one another by
6. God’s grace, for our good, and ultimately for God’s glory, i
7.
8. Having been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and 9. to surrender our lives to Him, ii and having been baptized as Christians in the name of
10. the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit iii, we covenant together to glorify God iv
11. by making disciples v of all nations. vi
12.
13. Together, we will draw near to God in worship. vii We will delight in the glory of
14. God, viii depend on the presence of God, ix grow in the knowledge of God, x and
15. submit to the Word of God as the all-sufficient authority in our lives and in His
16. church. xi
17.
18. Together, we will hold fast to the hope we profess. xii We will regularly participate
19. in communion as we solemnly and joyfully remember the past work of Christ on
20. the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and
21. anticipate the future work of Christ in His return for His bride. xiii
22.
23. Together, we will spur one another on to love and good deeds. xiv We will meet
24. with one another consistently, xv pray for one another regularly, xvi and serve one
25. another selflessly. xvii We will share each other’s joys and bear each other’s
26. burdens. xviii We will edify one another with our speech xix and encourage one
27. another with our example. xx We will humbly and gently confront one another and
28. receive correction from one another in accordance with a New Testament
29. understanding of church discipline and restoration. xxi We will give cheerfully and
30. generously to the support of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of
31. the Gospel through all nations. xxii
32.
33. We will submit to the leadership of the pastors/elders who have ben entrusted
34. by God to serve and care for this Body by teaching the Word of Christ to us and
35. modeling the character of Christ before us, and we will affirm deacons as leading
36. servants in the church. xxiii If we move from this local body, we will as soon as
37. possible unite with another local church where we can carry out the spirit of this
38. covenant and the principles of God’s Word. xxiv
39.
40. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship
41. of the Holy Spirit be with us all. xxv
Each one enters into this covenant together with Covenant Baptist Church under the common goal of obedience to, glorification of, and joyful satisfaction in Jesus Christ, because we believe and assert, with the rest of the Body, that we need one another's help to do so. As believers and disciples of Jesus, we have entered into a covenant relationship with God, who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. The blessing and promises of this covenant have been freely extended and given to us; therefore, out of wonder, love, thanksgiving, and reverence, we hereby accept and take up these covenant responsibilities, which accompany said privileges, together, as a covenant family. This is our reasonable service, and we should do nothing less; God help us all! We rely on His grace alone and hold fast to His promise that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May His grace provide for all that He commands.
2. and in profession of that faith, we, the members of Covenant Baptist Church, most
3. solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another:
4.
5. As members of Covenant Baptist Church, we affirm this covenant with one another by
6. God’s grace, for our good, and ultimately for God’s glory, i
7.
8. Having been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and 9. to surrender our lives to Him, ii and having been baptized as Christians in the name of
10. the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit iii, we covenant together to glorify God iv
11. by making disciples v of all nations. vi
12.
13. Together, we will draw near to God in worship. vii We will delight in the glory of
14. God, viii depend on the presence of God, ix grow in the knowledge of God, x and
15. submit to the Word of God as the all-sufficient authority in our lives and in His
16. church. xi
17.
18. Together, we will hold fast to the hope we profess. xii We will regularly participate
19. in communion as we solemnly and joyfully remember the past work of Christ on
20. the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and
21. anticipate the future work of Christ in His return for His bride. xiii
22.
23. Together, we will spur one another on to love and good deeds. xiv We will meet
24. with one another consistently, xv pray for one another regularly, xvi and serve one
25. another selflessly. xvii We will share each other’s joys and bear each other’s
26. burdens. xviii We will edify one another with our speech xix and encourage one
27. another with our example. xx We will humbly and gently confront one another and
28. receive correction from one another in accordance with a New Testament
29. understanding of church discipline and restoration. xxi We will give cheerfully and
30. generously to the support of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of
31. the Gospel through all nations. xxii
32.
33. We will submit to the leadership of the pastors/elders who have ben entrusted
34. by God to serve and care for this Body by teaching the Word of Christ to us and
35. modeling the character of Christ before us, and we will affirm deacons as leading
36. servants in the church. xxiii If we move from this local body, we will as soon as
37. possible unite with another local church where we can carry out the spirit of this
38. covenant and the principles of God’s Word. xxiv
39.
40. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship
41. of the Holy Spirit be with us all. xxv
Each one enters into this covenant together with Covenant Baptist Church under the common goal of obedience to, glorification of, and joyful satisfaction in Jesus Christ, because we believe and assert, with the rest of the Body, that we need one another's help to do so. As believers and disciples of Jesus, we have entered into a covenant relationship with God, who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. The blessing and promises of this covenant have been freely extended and given to us; therefore, out of wonder, love, thanksgiving, and reverence, we hereby accept and take up these covenant responsibilities, which accompany said privileges, together, as a covenant family. This is our reasonable service, and we should do nothing less; God help us all! We rely on His grace alone and hold fast to His promise that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May His grace provide for all that He commands.
Appendix
i. Acts 2:38; 16:31; 20:21; Romans 10:9-10
ii. Luke 14:25-33
iii. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:1-4
iv. Isaiah 43:7; 1Corinthians 10:31
v. Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2
vi. Psalm 67:1-2; Revelation 7:9-10
vii. Hebrews 10:22; Romans 12:1-2
viii. Psalm 16:11; 37:4; 63:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:31
ix. Exodus 33:14-18; Matthew 28:20; John 15:5; James 4:8
x. Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:9-12; 2 Peter 3:17-18
xi. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 19:7-11; 119:105-112; 2 Timothy 4:2-4
xii. Hebrews 10:23
xiii. Luke 22:7-23; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
xiv. Hebrews 10:24
xv. Hebrews 10:25
xvi. Philippians 1:3-6
xvii. Romans 12:9-13
xviii. 1 Corinthians 12:26; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 6:2
xix. Ephesians 4:29-32
xx. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Philippians 4:9
xxi. Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1
xxii. 2 Corinthians 8-9
xxiii. Hebrews 13:17; Acts 6:1-7; 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-20; 1 Peter 5:1-4
xxiv. Hebrews 10:25
xxv. 2 Corinthians 13:14
ii. Luke 14:25-33
iii. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:1-4
iv. Isaiah 43:7; 1Corinthians 10:31
v. Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2
vi. Psalm 67:1-2; Revelation 7:9-10
vii. Hebrews 10:22; Romans 12:1-2
viii. Psalm 16:11; 37:4; 63:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:31
ix. Exodus 33:14-18; Matthew 28:20; John 15:5; James 4:8
x. Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:9-12; 2 Peter 3:17-18
xi. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 19:7-11; 119:105-112; 2 Timothy 4:2-4
xii. Hebrews 10:23
xiii. Luke 22:7-23; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
xiv. Hebrews 10:24
xv. Hebrews 10:25
xvi. Philippians 1:3-6
xvii. Romans 12:9-13
xviii. 1 Corinthians 12:26; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 6:2
xix. Ephesians 4:29-32
xx. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Philippians 4:9
xxi. Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1
xxii. 2 Corinthians 8-9
xxiii. Hebrews 13:17; Acts 6:1-7; 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-20; 1 Peter 5:1-4
xxiv. Hebrews 10:25
xxv. 2 Corinthians 13:14
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