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.
The conditions for allied prisoners of war in the Japanese prisoner of war camps were so deplorable that the men in the camp did not hesitate from stealing food from their dying fellow soldiers in a desperate attempt just to survive. Ernest Gordon who wrote the book, was himself given up as incurable by the MO, but was nursed back to life by the devoted self sacrifice of a man in his company, Dusty Miller. But the miracle was the transformation of attitudes in that camp as people in it began to understand and respond to the love of Christ. How did it get through to these men in such desperate conditions ? It all started with a Scotsman named Angus McGilvray, who literally gave his life for his friend. His friend was very ill and about to die. Someone had stolen his blanket, Angus gave his dying friend his own. Someone stole the dying man’s food. Angus fed the dying friend his own food. The result ? Angus’s friend got better. But Angus collapsed one day from starvation and exhaustion. He fell on his face and died.
That is a story of remarkable courage, and devotion. Yet the love of Christ is the greatest example of love ever demonstrated.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
b. We are to love one another because of the commandment.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
This is not a choice, but a command. We are commanded by God to love one another as he has loved us, and as we have been taught !
c. We can love one another because of the comforter.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
God’s love is shed abroad (gushing out) in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. How is it possible to love each other in spite of our differences, and disagreements ? It is possible because his love has been dispersed into our hearts through the spirit of God ! Notice our covenant says "by the aid of the Holy Spirit !
II. It is a promise to advance.
We are to strive for the advancement of this church.
What if the early church had continued to tarry in Jerusalem ? Suppose they had refused to obey the principles of the great commission ? Can you imagine if they had decided not to advance the gospel to the gentiles ?
John Wesley said...."Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world!"
Illust.
Over 2,000 years ago a young Greek artist named Timanthes studied under a respected tutor. After several years the teacher’s efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it. One morning when he arrived to admire his work, he was shocked to find it blotted out with paint. Angry, Timanthes ran to his teacher, who admitted he had destroyed the painting. "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. Start again and see if you can do better."
We too can become so enamored with our beautiful bldgs, and wonderful works that it hinders the advancement of the church, and the spread of the Gospel.
We must not forget the "Go" in the "Gospel ! We must be willing to advance, to progress !
a. In Knowledge
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
b. In Holiness
1Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
c. In Comfort
2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
The church must be a place of comfort, and encouragement. There is enough negative stuff outside of the church. We need to advance the church, and each other with words of encouragement.
d. In Prosperity
e. In Spirituality
Live churches’ expenses are always more than their income; dead churches don’t need much money!
Live churches have parking problems; Dead churches have empty spaces!
Live churches may have some noisy children; Dead churches are quiet as a cemetery.
Live churches keep changing their ways of doing things; Dead churches see no need for change!
Live churches grow so fast you can’t keep up with people’s names; In dead churches everybody always knows everybody’s name.
Live churches strongly support world missions; Dead churches keep the money at home!
Live churches are full of regular, cheerful givers; Dead churches are full of grudging tippers!
Live churches move ahead on prayer and faith; Dead churches work only on sight!
Live churches plant daughter churches; Dead churches fear spending the money, time, and talent!
Live churches outgrow their Sunday School facilities; Dead churches have room to spare! Live churches welcome all classes of people; Dead churches stick to their own kind!
Live churches’ members read their Bibles and bring them to church; Dead churches’ members seldom do!
Live churches’ members enthusiastically support the ministries; Dead churches have no ministries--only functions!
Live churches’ members look for someone they can help; Dead churches’ members look for something to complain about!
Live churches’ members reach out to share their faith in Christ; Dead churches’ members don’t have enough to share!
III. It is a promise to attend.
We are to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
Attention must be paid to the church that it not be neglected.
a. Attend to worship.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
b. Attend to the ordinances.We must neglect to carry out the ordinances of the church.
c. Attend to the discipline.
This is one of the most neglected, and disregarded areas of the church. We’re too afraid of offending people, and running them off. The truth of the matter is that if a person is not willing abide by the principles of the word of God, and are unwilling to repent, the church would be better off without them.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
d. Attend to its doctrine.
We must be careful that Biblical doctrine is being taught, and preached from our children’s classes to our adult classes. We must pay careful attention to this area in our church.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
IV. It is a promise to aid.
We are 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.
a. ministry.
The tithe is the least we should give.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Act 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
b. expenses of the church.
c. relief of the poor.
1Jo 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
d. spread of the gospel.*Note how we are to aid.....cheerfully and regularly
