Church Covenant - another example (CLM 468)

From: Bart Kroon

Thu, 4 Dec 1997

SOUTH BARWON REFORMED CHURCH (Victoria, Australia) 

CONGREGATIONAL GOALS 

We, the members of the South Barwon Reformed Church, prayerfully 
covenant together to accept the goals and aims set out below. We 
commit ourselves to seeking God's gracious help in working towards 
ese goals and to encouraging one another to that end. We will 
endeavour, at all times, to ensure that our Covenant brings glory to 
our Triune God.

I.GENERAL GOALS. 

We recognise that goals should develop in terms of responsibilities 
which flow from the basic commandment to love God and our neighbours. 
What we aim at must be governed by what the Lord requires of
His church.  

Broadly speaking, the Lord requires that:   

i.We worship Him and live in daily dependence on Him (Eph.5:19; 1 
	Peter 2:5; John 15:5 etc.)  
ii.We grow in grace and in the likeness of the Lord Himself (2 
	Pet.3:18; Eph.4:13; Col.1:28; 1 Thess.1:69). 
iii.We disciple the nations (Matt.28:19,20).  
iv.We overflow with good works (Gal.6:9,10; Eph.2:10).  

These help us to distil four main congregational goals:

1.To be a congregation that joyfully, spiritually and biblically 
        worships God and prays to Him.  

2.To be a congregation that is growing (together and individually) in 
	obedience to our Lord's will and conforming to His image.  

3.To be a congregation committed to and zealously active in the task 
	of disciplemaking.  

4.To be a congregation overflowing in good works both to Christians 
	and to nonChristians as the opportunity allows.  

II.PARTICULAR GOALS. 

1.WORSHIP AND PRAYER (EXALTATION): 

We will aim at developing more joyful, spiritual and biblical worship 
and prayer at; 

i.Personal, ii.Family and iii.Congregational levels. 

We aim:  

a] to have every member of the congregation enjoying fruitful 
	personal times of Bible reading (study) and prayer each day. 
b] to have every family regularly worshipping the Lord together in 
	meaningful, varied times of family devotion. 
c] to have every aspect of public worship  praise, prayer and 
	preaching  enriched. 
d] to have every family represented at regular meetings for prayer. 
e] to foster earnest, specific and believing prayer at prayer 
meeting

2.GROWING IN GRACE (EDIFICATION): 

We grow in grace as we; 

i.grow in knowledge, 
ii.deliberately strive to putoff sin, 
iii.positively and deliberately cultivate a godly life (see 2 
Pet.3:18; Rom.8:13; Col.3:12ff.). 

We aim: 

a] to have all members of the congregation growing in their 
	knowledge of God through the Bible. 
b] to have everyone coming to a clearer understanding of particular 
	teachings and applications taught in the Bible. 
c] to have everyone more aware of the real sins of the age and of 
	the Church. 
d] to have everyone committed to "putting off" old sinful habits 
	through deliberate and disciplined efforts. 
e] to have everyone positively committed to and working at "putting 
	on" new and godly habits.

3.DISCIPLING OTHERS (EVANGELISM): 

The task of discipling others involves; i.contacting people, 
ii.presenting the Gospel to them, iii.training converts in obedience. 

To fulfil the Great Commission we aim:

a] to have more and meaningful contacts with nonchristians. 
b] to have a greater understanding of the mind, needs and hurts of 
	modern people. 
c] to have a greater understanding of the errors and injustices in 
	society today. 
d] to have a clearer understanding of the Gospel message and how 	it 
        relates to people today. 
e] to have more specific, fervent prayer for the unconverted and for 
	the means of Gospel preaching in our day. 
f] to have a clear understanding of the needs of new Christians, and 
	a program to help established them in their new way of life.

4.DOING GOOD (EXTENSION): 

This is a work that goes hand in hand with disciple making. 
Paul emphasises three areas of Christian responsibility; i.our 
families, ii.the Church and iii.all people generally (see Gal.6:9,10; 
1 Tim.5:8)

We aim:

a] to have every member of the congregation actively caring for their 
	immediate and wider family.
b] to be using every means possible to help our fellow Christians 
	spiritually. 
c] to be using every means possible to help fellow Christians 
	throughout the world in their material needs. 
d] to have everyone use the opportunities they have to care for and 
	do good to their neighbours, friends and other contacts. 
e] to have everyone using their gifts as they have opportunity to 
        care for and do good in the wider community.

Dated: May 1991.

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