Having been joined to God through the saving work of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and having professed Christ in faith and repentance which was proclaimed in baptism(1), we covenant together as the community of God’s chosen people to journey toward the display of Christ’s preeminence in everything (2).
We commit to one another by first committing our hearts and lives to God as new creations in Christ (3). We will maintain a high regard for the truth of God’s word revealed in Scripture and joyfully submit to it as the final authority in the life of a believer (4). We commit to obey God’s word as we live in faith and complete dependence on him.
We commit to grow as disciples of Jesus as we grow in the knowledge of God through personal and family devotions (5). We will display the character of Christ as we worship and delight in the glory of God (6), pursue a life of holiness and peace (7), seek the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence (8), give sacrificially of our time, energy, and finances (9), as we together fulfill Christ’s command to make disciples of all people to the ends of earth (10).
We commit to one another as a community of Christ’s body on the earth (11). We will love, pray for, and edify those in our church family as we encourage through our speech and actions (12). We will bear the burdens of others as well as rejoice with those who are rejoicing and comfort those who need comforting for the good of the body (13). In love, we will humbly and gently confront others, receive correction from others, and seek reconciliation as we faithfully seek to walk in the New Testament understanding of church discipline and restoration (14). We will promote oneness and peace with one another (15).
We commit ourselves to the assembly of Christ’s redeemed. We will seek the grace and fellowship of regularly meeting together around communion, worship, preaching and teaching (16). We will serve faithfully in the gifts the Spirit spreads out among the saints for the building up of the body of Christ (17). We will submit to, serve, and support the leadership of the church who have been entrusted by God to care for and oversee the body of Christ (18).
As elders of Christ Community Church, we commit to shepherd the flock of God. We will prayerfully seek God’s will for our church community and steward her resources to the best of our ability as we study the Scriptures and follow the Holy Spirit (19). We will meet the character and gifting requirements assigned in the Scriptures (20). We will model having Christ preeminent in everything as we preach, teach, care for, counsel, and equip the membership for the work of ministry (21). We will lovingly be on guard against false teachers and teachings and exercise discipline when necessary for the glory of God, the good of the believer, and the health of the church (22).
Biblical Foundation for Covenant
_____________________________________
- Romans 3:10-12, 21-26; John 3:3-8, 16-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
- Colossians 1:18
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 11:6
- Colossians 1:10; 2 Peter 1:2
- Hebrews 12:28; Psalm 16:11
- Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14
- Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16
- Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Galatians 5:13
- Matthew 28:19-20
- 1 Corinthians 12:27
- Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:12-17
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
- Matthew 18:10-20
- John 17:11; Mark 9:50; 1 Thessalonians 5:13
- Hebrews 10:23-25
- 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:12
- Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:5
- 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Samuel 12:23
- 1 Timothy 3:1-7
- Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 5:1-4
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
