FBC

Reaching Out. Remaining With.

2015 Membership Classes

SAINT PETERS

2THE CHURCH COVENANT

Our Summary Statement of Practice

OUR VISION:As followers of Christ, we desire to become a church that makes, matures, and mobilizes disciples of Jesus Christ with the gospel for personal transformation and communal impact.

OUR MISSION:We exist to regroup to ready ourselves for reaching out and remaining with.

Readying ourselves includes a fluent awareness of and a proper use of our church covenant.Our church covenant must be a crucial document for carrying out the discipleship required in our vision and mission.

The biblical basis for A CHURCH COVENANT “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Acts 2:41-42

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35

The biblical basis for A CHURCH COVENANT “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

Philippians 1:27

“I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

1 Timothy 1:14-15

The biblical basis for A CHURCH COVENANT “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”

“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God,…join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord.”

Nehemiah 9:38; 10:28-29

Baptist BACKGROUND BEHIND A CHURCH COVENANT A church covenant is an example of a wonderful contribution that Baptists have made to the Body of Christ. Historically, Baptist have taken church membership very seriously, affirming that it is reserved for those who confess the Lord Jesus Christ as well as give other evidences that they are born again.

A church covenant is a succinct statement expressing how members will pledge to live in community with each other. As members continually seek to apply the Gospel to their lives, new directions, behaviors, commitments, and habits are shaped in their life together.

Baptist BACKGROUND BEHIND A CHURCH COVENANT As with a confession of faith, a church covenant is developed by men in light of the teachings of Scripture. Therefore, these documents are always subject to possible revisions in light of our growing understanding of the Scriptures. As the Scriptures, which do not change, changes our understanding of what we are to believe and how we are to live, our church documents will need to reflect that change.

A church covenant does not work from the assumption that Christians are perfect, but it does express the notion that we really do want to be distinct from the world in our life together as we take serious our common pursuit of obedience to what God says in the Scriptures.

Baptist BACKGROUND BEHIND A CHURCH COVENANT “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.”

1 John 3:14

We are to love our neighbor and we are to love our spouse. But there is a difference between the two. A major reason behind this difference is due to the nature of a covenant relationship. Such a covenant defines and describes the intensity and focus of how we love our spouse.

While all Christians are called to love all Christians, that is neither practical and doable. But being in covenant within our local church, our lovingly care for each other is to be concrete and consistent.

CONSUMERISM:•A mind-set that church is a religious “store” that exists to provide good and services to meet my needs and suit my preferences.

PRIVITIZATION:•A mind-set that spirituality is solely an individualized experience and not in need of the give and take from the community of others.

JUVENILIZATION:•A mind-set that extended adolescence or immaturity is a preferred course of life, avoiding character development and service to others.

IDEALIZATION:•A mind-set of unrealistic expectations that life together will be smooth and easy but when its not, its time move on to where it is thought to be.

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT God, by His grace alone, has led us to repent of our sin and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone as our only Savior. Having been baptized upon our profession of faith in Christ, we desire to joyfully and solemnly unite with this church family, living in a covenantal relationship with the members of this church for the mutual promotion of our Christian discipleship. For the glory of God, in humble reliance upon the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit, we specifically endeavor to do the following:

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Our life together does not begin with the commitments we make—either to each other or to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our life together begins with the commitment that the Lord has made to secure a people for Himself, and in bringing them into union with Himself to also bring them into union with each other.

The Gospel creates a people and unites a people together in a local church who, in seeking the Spirit’s empowerment, strive to live dependently upon the Lord and for His glory.

Because of the Gospel we purpose to come together as a church.

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Faithfully attend the basic services of the church, acknowledging this level of participation to be our first ministry.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not 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.”

Hebrews 10:23-25

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Diligently guard the truth, knowing and upholding the sound doctrines of the Bible.

“Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth,…”

1 Timothy 6:2-5

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Wholeheartedly support, love, and care for the church’s ministries and members by offering our prayers, our financial giving, and our service.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 4:8-11

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Devotedly address the needs of our own homes, upholding our marriage vows, rearing our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and honoring our parents.

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:32-33; 6:1, 4

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Clearly bear witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, living a transformed life and proclaiming the Gospel as God gives the opportunity.

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Colossians 4:5-6

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

1 Peter 3:15

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Actively pursue personal holiness before God, remembering to walk carefully in our culture, denying ungodliness, and refusing to be mastered by any drugs, food, drink, practices, and relationships that would dishonor Christ and compromise our allegiance to Christ.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Titus 2:11-14

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Conscientiously promote the unity of our church, being a peacemaker in the body of Christ in the way that we love each other as Christ has loved us.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Respectfully follow the leaders of our church, trusting and supporting their leadership.

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Hebrews 13:7, 17

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT Humbly submit to our church’s discipline, graciously repenting when approached about sin and lovingly restoring others who become entangled in sin.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

Hebrews 3:12-14

AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT We agree to annually renew our commitment to this covenant, not merely assenting to its letter but loving its spirit. Moreover, when we physically move away from our church we commit to withdraw from this church’s fellowship and unite with another local body of Christ as soon as possible.

Membership assumes we desire to be the kind of people expressed in our church covenant.

Annual membership renewal whereby we agree to the terms of the Covenant can be a way to affirm that desire.

APPROPRIATE USE OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT

APPROPRIATE USE OF OUR CHURCH COVENANT

FINAL CLARIFICATION ABOUT OUR CHURCH COVENANT “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

FINAL CLARIFICATION ABOUT OUR CHURCH COVENANT To reach out to our culture with the Gospel, we must first-personally and corporately-demonstrate that the Gospel is making a difference in us as we live together in community. Specifically, the Gospel must be imparting new loves and new desires as we remain together.

If we, as a local church rejects the call to be a distinct people in community with each other instead choosing to accommodate, adapt, and conform to the moral patterns of the culture around us, we will not only fail to truly reach the culture with the Gospel, but tragically, we will have functionally abandoned the Gospel as a people.