A Liturgical Summary of FBC’s Covenant
Explanation: When we observe the Lord's Supper together, we will often read our church covenant in unison, sometimes using this abbreviated summary. These are our biblical commitments before God to one another:
As we trust we have been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and having been baptized upon our profession of faith we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other, that God enabling us . . .
- WE WILL LOVE GOD (Great Commandment)
- We will seek to live carefully in the world for the glory of the One Who called us into His marvelous light.
- WE WILL LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Great Commandment)
- We will forgive one another, encourage one another, serve one another, and pray for one another.
- We will meet together regularly to build up and encourage one another.
- WE WILL LOVE THE LOST (Great Commission)
- We will earnestly teach and disciple our children.
- We will live on mission, everywhere and every day, so that we may preach the gospel and win souls to Christ.
FBC's Full Church Covenant:
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized by immersion 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.
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, and the relief of the poor, and to the spreading of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; 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 conduct and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior 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.
pdf version available here