Back to What We Believe - No Compromise
Church Covenant
-
CHURCH COVENANT IN RESPONSIVE SERVICES
MINISTER: What common experience leads us into spiritual leadership and covenant relations with God and one another?
CONGREGATION: Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
MINISTER: By what pledge do we turn from the ways of the world?
CONGREGATION: We promise by the aid of the Holy Spirit to forsake the paths of sin, and to walk in the ways of holiness all the days of our lives.
MINISTER: What are some of our privileges and duties in this, our own church?
CONGREGATION: With this view, we engage to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines.
MINISTER: For the sake of our home and loved ones, what tasks do we humbly assume?
CONGREGATION: We engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
MINISTER: For the sake of the unsaved for whom Christ died, to what manner of life and conversation are we solemnly pledged?
CONGREGATION: To walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings; faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.
MINISTER: Since One is our Master, even Christ and all we are brethren, by what fraternal ministries are we to strengthen each other and adorn the teachings of our Lord and Saviour?
CONGREGATION: We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love and watchfulness; giving and receiving admonition with meekness and affection; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rule of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.
MINISTER: For the good of our own spiritual development, and for the best interest of the Master’s kingdom, what do we promise to do if we move beyond the reach of this church?
CONGREGATION: We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church of this faith, where we can carry out the spirit of this Covenant and the principles of God’s word.
MINISTER AND CONGREGATION: Humbly confessing our past sins, we pray for grace and strength to keep these, our holy vows, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
