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."
One of the most touching scenes in the Bible, and one that we can learn from concerning prayer is found in John 17
Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Isn’t it a blessing to know that the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for us ? And he continues to do so even now. In the same way God wants us to pray for each other, to approach the throne of grace on behalf of each other.
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1Sa 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Illust. It is said that early African converts to Christianity were very committed to private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."
III. We have a responsibility to provide.
to aid each other in sickness and distress;
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
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?
Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
IV. We have a responsibility to promote.
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.
a. Promote Christian Sympathy.
Mat 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Compassion is a feeling of pity that comes from the heart.
It is a feeling that will move us with action !
Luke 10...the good samaritan had compassion
1. slow to take offense
2. ready for reconciliation
Illust. Rabbi David A. Nelson likes to tell the story of two brothers who went to their rabbi to settle a longstanding feud. The rabbi got the two to reconcile their differences and shake hands. As they were about to leave, he asked each one to make a wish for the other in honor of the Jewish New Year. The first brother turned to the other and said, "I wish you what you wish me." At that, the second brother threw up his hands and said, "See, Rabbi, he’s starting up again!"
3. mindful of the rules of our Savior
4. secure it without delay
Illust.
A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"
Love covers a multitude of sins !
V. We have a responsibility to persist.
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.
I know some folks leave a church, and move to another location, and they can’t bear to move their membership. We have a responsibility to worship close to wear we live, and to become involved in ministering to the community that we live in !
God wants us to persist in our spiritual growth, and in ministry whereever we are !
