A JOURNEY OF THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP

Breadcrumbs

COVENANT OF FELLOWSHIP

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

 

Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as 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, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We purpose, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to embrace and advance the mission of NECFC by

  • Moving toward Jesus Christ in personal and corporate rhythms
  • Moving toward Gospel-centered community in thought, word, and deed
  • Moving toward the world with our time, talents, and treasures
  • Celebrating and promoting the people and purposes of this body
  • Walking together in Christian love
  • Sustaining its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines
  • Contributing 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 commit to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives as we cherish and contend for the Gospel in personal and communal affairs. We purpose to foster a grace-filled, biblically oriented environment in our home whereby our spouse and children might enjoy and explore their own role in the rich Gospel story. Furthermore we joyfully engage in the world around us as we aim to seek the salvation of those in our various spheres of influences. We will strive to be just in our dealings, faithful in our commitments, exemplary in our living; a champion for unity making every effort to pursue peace, while avoiding all gossiping, backbiting, and excessive anger.

We further commit to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christians sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always eager and ready for reconciliation and mindful of the teaching of our Savior to seek it without delay.

We resolve, should a time ever arise, that when we remove from this church, to do so in a manner consistent with biblical love, communication, truth, and the good of Christ’s Body; and further, to unite with a church where we can carry out the principles and spirit of this covenant.

I expect and trust that if I lax in my commitment to these principles, this body at NECFC will hold me accountable with reproof, rebuke, and exhortation to keep me faithful to the commitment that I am making; and furthermore, as I commit myself to the fellowship, I realize that I am entrusted with the same obligation of mutual exhortations and encouragement. If I ever continue in my sin without true repentance, and do not hear the pleas and rebukes of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I implore this body to seek my spiritual restoration in proceeding in the steps of restoration and purity given by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-20 and further outlined in our church’s biblical peace-making document.