DISCOVERY CLASS

Exploring Church Membership

Session 2

“What are Our Guidelines?”

COVENANT ORIGINS

The “Tree Diagram”

COVENANT BEGINNINGS

The Lutheran state church in Sweden was sterile, academic & formal

Important Emphases

Evangelical: sharing the good newsPietism: personal relationship with

JesusMoravian: joyful & celebrative nature

of the Christian life

The “Mission Friends”

They met in homes for Bible study and mutual encouragement

Between the end of the Civil War and 1900, 750,000 Swedes came to America

The Covenant Church

Born in Chicago in 1885It’s first name was the “Swedish

Evangelical Mission Covenant Church”

Sister Denominations

The General Conference Baptist Church

The Evangelical Free Church

The Covenant Church was started in Detroit in 1914.

Covenant Affirmations

The Covenant is a life movementWe have no creed but the Bible

Common Christian Affirmations1. We are an apostolic church2. We are a Christian church3. We are a Reformation church4. We are an evangelical church

Biblical authority The necessity of the new birth The mandate to evangelize the world Educate & train disciples Work for social justice

1. The Centrality of the Word of God

“The Bible, the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct.”

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3.16

The Big Question

“Where is it written?”“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4.12

The choice: to be shaped by the Word or the world

How do we know the Bible is reliable?

Authority: the Bible was considered to be authoritative by Jesus and the apostles

The Bible

Unity: The Bible was written by 40 different authors over a period of 1600 years in 3 languages by people from many walks of life (prophet, priest, shepherd. king, government official, doctor, tax collector, religious leader) on 3 continents, yet the Bible is one book that agrees in doctrine, prophecy, comments on Jesus, and its view of life.

The Bible Documentation Accuracy: historical

Nelson Glueck, Jewish archaeologist, “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.”

Jeffrey Sheler, “In extraordinary ways, modern archaeology has affirmed the historical core of the Old and New Testaments – corroborating key portions of the stories of Israel’s patriarchs, the Exodus, the Davidic monarchy, and the life and times of Jesus.” (US News & World Report, 10/25/99)

The Bible

Prophetic accuracyIndividual & social impact

Cultural Inspirational Moral

2. The necessity of the new birth

We are separated from God by our sin Isaiah 59.2; Romans 6.23

To atone for our sin Jesus died in our place, Romans 5.8

His resurrection from the dead Validates his teaching & ministry Gives assurance of eternal life

Accepting God’s Forgivness

“conversion” or being “born again” John 3.3

Salvation is only through Christ John 14.6, "I am the way and the truth

and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

3. The church is a fellowship of believers

There are no solo believersAll New Testament letters were

written to churches or leaders of churches

A. The necessity of mutual participation & sharing

The centrality of corporate worship Hebrews 10.24-25, “And let us consider how

we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We practice 2 sacraments: baptism and communion

B. We are a gathered community set apart for mission

The emphasis is on people, not structures & programs

C. Membership is based on confession of faith & baptism

Doctrinal uniformity is not expected on all points Psalm 119:63, “I am a friend to all who

fear you, to all who follow your precepts.”

4. Conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit The Spirit is…in every believer Produces the fruit of “Christlike” character

in us Is our guide to conduct, morality & truth Points us to Christ not himself Gives believers gifts for ministry We can all have the same fruit but not the

same gifts

5. The reality of freedom in Christ

Primary beliefs: unity the Trinity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit the divinity of Christ the virgin birth Christ's atoning death Christ's bodily resurrection the necessity of the new birth all must repent & seek forgiveness the second coming of Christ the inspiration & authority of the Bible

Christians Sometimes Disagree

Secondary beliefs: diversity & charity the gifts of the Spirit the timing or mode of Second Coming styles of serving communion baptism: infant / believer's theories of biblical inspiration the role of women styles of worship & music types of church organization

Conclusion

We are a pilgrim churchThe time is always right to share the

good news of Jesus ChristUntil Christ returns we keep on with

our work, worship & witness