Church Covenant: What Is Required Of Church Members Part 2 Series

Church Covenant: What Is Required Of Church Members ? Part 2

1 Thess. 3:11-4:1

1Th 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1Th 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Congregation Standing:

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the 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.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; 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; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; 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 drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; 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 rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

What is a covenant ? A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation. In church affairs, a solemn agreement between members of a church that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel in brotherly affection.

This morning I want us to look at the following part of the church covenant:

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; 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; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

*Note: The word "Engage". What does it mean ? As in engaged to be married, it is a promise.

We are thus promising to do the following which is stated in our Church Covenant.

*Note: The word "Therefore" Do you remember what you do when you see the word "therefore" ? You look to see what its there for ! In this case the word "therefore" means "because of"

Because we have been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost........"

What are these promises which we are making in this covenant ?

I. It is a promise of affection.

We are to walk together in Christian love according to the Bible and our church covenant !

a. We are to love one another because of Christ.

1Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Illust. "The Miracle On The River Kwai" was one of the most remarkable stories of World War II.