Church Covenant: What Is Requried Of Church Members ? Part 4 Series

Church Covenant: What Is Reguired Of Church Members ?

# 4 Final in Series I Timothy 3:15

Congregation stand and read covenant:

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.

This morning we conclude our series on The Church Covenant, What Is Required of Church Members ? I hope this series has been helpful, and challenging to you.

This morning we will look at the final two paragraph’s of The Church Covenant.

Notice the words "future engage" meaning that we also promise. Our responsibilities as Christians, and as members of The Rock Baptist Church are many, and great !

I believe it grieves the heart of God when the church does not take seriously our responsibilities as believers, and as church members. Notice with me this morning what some of these respons. are.

I. We have a responsibility to protect.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love;

We should watch over one another with a Godlike jealousy !

Do you recall the question put forth from God to Cain ?

Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? The word keeper means protector or to build a hedge around. Cain is asking am I supposed to build a hedge around him to protect him ? The real question is....Am I accountable for my brother ? And the answer is a resounding "yes" ! We as believers should be accountable one to another.

a. We should protect one another from danger.

We should protect our brothers & sisters in Christ when we discern that they are about to become involved in something that could be dangerous.

b. We should protect one another from departing.

If we sense through the actions or lack of action that a believer is about to depart or stray from the Lord or the church, we have a responsibility to intervene, and encourage them. Not only should we protect one another from departing or straying, but we should try and reclaim those who have strayed. Remember the words of Paul:

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

c. We should protect one another by defending.

Illust. Lewis

I admire people who have the courage to step in and defend those who are being picked on !

Don’t become involved with those who would spiritually tear down other believers unless you plan on defending them ! Even if what is being said may contain some truth, we should be spiritual minded, and seek to help, and not further hurt !

II. We have a responsibility to pray.

to remember each other in prayer

Illust.

When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy he once remarked to his mother, "Momma, you can’t be good without praying." "How do you know, Robert?" she asked. "Because I’ve tried!" he answered. This brings to mind a story about another little fellow -- one who had been sent to his room because he had been bad. A short time later he came out and said to his mother, "I’ve been thinking about what I did and I said a prayer." "That’s fine," she said, "if you ask God to make you good, He will help you." "Oh, I didn’t ask Him to help me be good," replied the boy. "I asked Him to help you put up with me."