HowToStudy The Church Covenant
()
About this ebook
For hundreds of years local churches have used various forms of a "church covenant" as a teaching tool for Discipleship and as a way of having a simple one page synopsis of the responsibilities of the church members to each other within a church as the Body of Christ.
G.E. Cummings II
G.E. Cummings grew up in the Pacific Northwest, has a Ph.D. in Sacred History and Sacred Literature. Spent his young adulthood as a Missionary among the Hupa people in Northern California. He has been a Pastor, Christian radio host and teacher.
Related to HowToStudy The Church Covenant
Related ebooks
Washed and Well-Fed: How the Sacraments Change Everything Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Pandemic Pastor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Worship of the Church and The Beauty of Holiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPresbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers, Revised edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGathering Together: Baptists at Work in Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYou Can't God Can: Making a Difference in Your World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAfter Pestilence: An Interreligious Theology of the Poor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExemplary Life Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mission and Church in Malawi: The History of the Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian 1889 - 1962 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Presbyterian Pendulum: Seeing Providence in the Wild Diversity of the Church Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRite of Passage for the Home and Church Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPreaching That Makes the Word Plain: Doing Theology in the Crucible of Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBroadman Church Manual Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Peoples and Places: How Geography Impacts Missions Strategy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Voice of Our Congregation: Seeking and Celebrating God's Song for Us Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ruined Sinners to Reclaim: Sin and Depravity in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnderstanding the Divide: A Presbyterian Elder, a Roman Catholic Theologian, and Basic Questions of the Christian Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gospel In-Verse Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsArts Across Cultures: Reimagining the Christian Faith in Asia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoing Full Circle: Worship that Moves Us to Discipleship and Missions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNotes in the Key of C: Tuning out Cancer, Tuning in Hope Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unsearchable Riches of Christ: Chosen to be Sons of God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReligious Intolerance, America, and the World: A History of Forgetting and Remembering Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFaithful Ministry: An Ecclesial Festschrift in Honor of the Rev. Dr. Robert S. Rayburn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow Majestic Is Your Name: An Introduction to Biblical Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConversations on Pastoral Survival Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVital Churches: Elder Responsibility for Their Pastors and Congregational Planning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorship Formation: A Call to Embrace Christian Growth in Each Element of the Worship Service Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPonder Anew: Conversations in 21st Century Church Music Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Holy Bible (World English Bible, Easy Navigation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind Workbook: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for HowToStudy The Church Covenant
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
HowToStudy The Church Covenant - G.E. Cummings II
HowToStudy the Church Covenant
GE Cummings
Copyright 2012 by Gerald Cummings
Smashwords Edition
Published by CoolCats Publishing at Smashwords
Smashwords License Statement
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Basic Training for Christians
Church Covenant
CHAPTER 1,
SPIRIT-LED LIVING
CHAPTER AIM: By the end of the CHAPTER the student will understand the role of the church in God’s plan to grow them up spiritually so that they are more like Jesus.
Text: Ephesians 4:1-13.
Background Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; Philippians 1:6.
Introduction
Our Church’s Adopted Church Covenant is written in the form of a resolution. We as a body are resolving to do certain things because of certain things. It is composed of five simple paragraphs. The church covenant is not part of the Bible and should not be used as a rule of faith or a test of fellowship with other churches. It is a synopsis of sound biblical principles. It is a short, easy to ready summary of what we believe the Bible teaches our responsibilities are as members of a church to the church and to each other. This first CHAPTER will consider the words of the first paragraph of the church covenant, the pre-amble.
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
1. _______________ Led by the Spirit to Be Saved.
From the very beginning of our experience with God we have each been led by the Spirit of God. As a lost person who did not know that he was lost, or how to become saved, we needed the leadership of God’s Spirit. God’s spirit convicted us of our sin. God’s Spirit called us to Repentance toward God. It was God’s Spirit that revealed to us that we are sinners in need of a savior. And when we heard the gospel of Jesus Christ it was the Holy Spirit who bore witness with our own spirit that what we were hearing was true. We decided to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit when we gave our hearts to Jesus. It was not a decision to follow Jesus only far enough to escape Hell. Salvation changes us. The Spirit is the innermost part of a person. The moment a sinner repents of their sin and places their personal faith in Jesus as savior their spirit is transformed. Before we were saved we were spiritually dead. This means we were spiritually separated from God. Death means separation. When a person physically dies they are separated from their body and from the physical world and everyone in it. When we were spiritually dead we were separated from the Spirit of God and everyone who is born of God. But when we were saved we came alive spiritually. Spiritual life is rightly defined as living in Fellowship with God through the Spirit of God. God’s Spirit lives in my spirit giving it new life. That is why Jesus said we are born again
. Once upon a time from our mother’s womb we were born physically. But not until we followed the Spirit of God’s leadership to be saved were we born spiritually. Spiritual birth is not supposed to be the end of a spiritual journey, but the beginning.
2. _______________ Led by the Spirit to be Baptized.
In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded the church to teach all nations, or make disciples of every people, and then to baptize those new disciples. In the New Testament, baptism always follows salvation. In the plan of God for a believer, baptism always follows salvation. In the life of an obedient child of God Baptism always follows salvation. Some have suggested that they should wait to be baptized until they feel really convicted by God to be baptized. But the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible. The Bible is the book the Holy Spirit wrote. The Holy Spirit in the Bible has already commanded a saved person to be baptized. You don’t need to wait for God to repeat Himself. If you are saved you should be baptized. Baptism portrays the gospel in two ways. First, it portrays the gospel generally by showing a picture of Jesus dying for our sins, being buried in the earth, and rising from the Dead on the Third day. Baptism publically declares, I believe the Gospel
. Secondly, Baptism portrays the Gospel personally by showing a picture of a believer dying to sin, being buried in Christ, and being raised by the Spirit of God to walk in Newness of Life. Baptism also does two other important things. It is a pledge to God that you will live for Him who died for you. Also, it is a public pledge to the church you are joining to be an active member of that local visible body of believers because it is the body of Christ.
3. _______________ Led by the Spirit of God to This Church.
There is really only one good reason for choosing a church home. Because God’s Spirit leads you to it. God plans to grow you up as a Christian until you reach full maturity in Christ. That doesn’t happen in a day or a year. God grows you