Pastoral Reflection 11.8.15

Why does City on a Hill have a Church Covenant?

A covenant is simply a promise agreement initiated by God outlining the conditions of the relationship. God’s covenant with us is both vertical (between us and him) and horizontal (between God’s people). For this reason, City on a Hill, and most other churches, have a written membership covenant. CoaH’s is shaped by the New Testament teaching on what life is to look like in God’s family. Below you will find CoaH’s covenant.

Believing that we have been brought by the grace of God to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and continuing to live by his grace, we joyfully covenant the following with each other.

We will work for the unity of the church by acting in love towards other members, by refusing to gossip and by submitting to the leaders that God has given to the church and will pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We will walk together in love and exercise a loving care and accountability over each other and faithfully encourage and correct one another as necessary.

We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others.  We will serve in the ministry of the church and will seek to be equipped for the service that God has for us.

We will, as we are blessed to be parents, endeavor to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends.

We will rejoice at each other’s happiness and seek to show compassion and sympathy in order to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.

We will seek to live carefully and wisely in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and seeking to live a holy life.

We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.  We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We will, when move from this place, 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.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

We go over this covenant in our membership class and all members of City on a Hill commit to carry out this covenant. While none of us is perfect, together we seek to live it out for our good, God’s glory, and in order that CoaH might show the world the beauty of the gospel in a community of people.

Love you all,

Pastor Bland