The - Clover Sites



Contents

The Assurance of Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Basic Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Church Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Assurance of Salvation

The greatest gift we could possibly possess is the gift of assurance that our salvation is secure. No treasure is greater than knowing we will be in heaven with the Lord some day. How then can we know this deep assurance?

The first thing we must understand is how a person becomes a Christian. The most important thing for us to understand is that salvation is a gift from God. Eph. 2:8-9 makes this clear: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” We cannot earn salvation by our own efforts. We can only receive it by faith. But the question remains, how can we know our faith is real?

Here is what is most important for us to understand: even though we are saved by faith, it is our works (deeds) that give us the evidence that our faith is real. James 2:14-17 says:

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds. Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Here, the apostle James is saying that faith without works is really not faith at all. In Acts 26:19, the apostle Paul says, “. . . I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Our deeds prove that our repentance is genuine. If our faith is real, then there will be some evidence of it in the way we live. What then should we look for as evidence that our faith is real?

There is actually an entire book of the Bible that was written so that we could know that our salvation is secure. 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Notice that God wants you to know that you have eternal life. There are many people who think we simply can’t know, but this verse says that God wants us to know. How can we know?

First, we can know we are truly saved by our obedience. 1 John 2:3 says, “We know we have come to know him if we obey his commands.” If our faith is real, then our heart’s desire will be to obey him, and we will feel truly sorry when we don’t. This is what 1 John 3:6 means when it says, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues in sin has either seen him or knows him.” This does not mean we will never sin after we become a Christian, but we will not “continue in sin.” Our lives will no longer be characterized by sin. When we have truly received the love of God, our desire is to love God in return, and we do this by obeying God (1 John 5:3). This is the first thing you must look for as evidence that you belong to him. Do you have a heart to obey God? Is his love for you moving you to obey him out of your love for him?

Second, we can know by our love for other believers. 1 John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” 1 John 5:20-21 says, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Something happens when we recognize that God is our Father. We begin to see that all who belong to him are our brothers and sisters. If we do not have a special place in our hearts for his children here, it only reveals we do not have a special place in our hearts for our Father in heaven. When we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is another evidence that we truly belong to the Father.

A third way we can know is by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. I John 3:24 says, “. . . And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” 1 John 4:13 says, “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”

These are the three things we should look for as evidence that we truly belong to the Lord:

obedience,

love for other believers, and

the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

As you see these things in your life, you can be sure that you belong to him. However, not only should we look for each of these things, we should also ask ourselves whether we are continuing to see them in our lives over time. This is another evidence that our faith is real. 1 John 2:28 says, “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him.”

Through the years, there has been much debate among Christians over the question of whether our salvation is secure. Some believe that once we are saved, we are always saved and can never lose our salvation. Others believe that we can lose our salvation if we fall away from God. Those who believe a person can never lose salvation generally ask, “How could I ever have any true security if I had to constantly live with the fear of losing it?” Those who believe a person can lose salvation often ask, “How can you say that a person who has fallen away from the Lord is truly saved?”

As we consider all of Scripture together, the best solution is to recognize that our salvation is secure when we place our trust in Christ. God is the one who saves us, and he is the one who keeps us (Matt. 28:20, John 10:28, Eph. 1:13-14). However, some have a false assurance of their salvation. They believe they are saved because they said a prayer years ago or because they were baptized. However, if they are not persevering in their faith, they should reevaluate. This is why so many verses speak of our need to continue in our faith (Col. 1:22-23, Heb. 3:6,14; 1 John 2:24). Again, this perseverance is not what saves us, but it does give evidence that our faith is real.

This does not mean a believer will never fall out of fellowship with God. King David in the Old Testament and the apostle Peter in the New Testament sinned against God in severe ways (2 Sam. 11:1-27; Matt. 26:69-74), but they were miserable until they returned to God (Ps. 32:1-5; Matt. 26:75). This is true of every true child of the Father (1 Jn. 3:6; 5:18). On the other hand, many who seem to have fallen away from the Lord never truly belonged to him in the first place (Matt. 7:23). 1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”

Ultimately, we are not qualified to judge who actually belongs to God. Only God can do that (Matt. 13:24-30). But we can evaluate our own lives, and this is something that each of us must do. We must ask ourselves if we are living in a vital relationship with God characterized by obedience, love for one another, and the presence of God’s Spirit. Apart from these things, we have no genuine basis for assurance.

Jesus made it very clear that merely calling on the Lord without actually making him Lord is not enough. In Matt. 7:21, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” If we wish to have a true assurance of our salvation, the most important question we can ask is not, “Have I ever said, “Lord, Lord;” the most important question we can ask is, “Am I giving evidence that I belong to the Lord by doing his will today?”

It is not unusual for us to have doubts about our salvation. However, we must guard against depending too much on our feelings. Our feelings come and go. Some days we may feel close to God, and some days we may not. Our hearts may condemn us (1 John 3:18-20). Therefore, we need evidence that is more substantial than what our hearts may tell us. We must look for obedience, love, and the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives over time. As we see these things, then we can rest our hearts in knowing we belong to him (1 John 3:19).

If we are not completely sure that we have genuinely placed our trust in Christ, there is nothing to keep us from expressing our trust in him either for the first time or for reassurance. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and will dine with him, and he with Me (NAS, Rev. 3:20).” The following is a simple prayer you can pray to trust Christ as your Savior and Lord:

Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I confess that I have fallen short of your will in many ways. I ask you to forgive me. Please come into my life. Help me be the person you want me to be.

Once you have placed your trust in Christ, thank him for the incredible gift of salvation. Rest your heart in the assurance that his promises are true. Let your life be an expression of your love and gratitude to God. As you do, you will give evidence that your faith is real, and he will fill you with a deep assurance that you belong to him.

Assurance of Salvation

According to 1 John 5:13, we can that we

eternal life.

What is necessary for us to experience the assurance of salvation?

1. We must understand what is required for salvation (Eph. 2:8-9).

Salvation comes:

By (gift)

Through (trust)

2. We must understand what gives evidence that our faith is real.

a. : 1 John 2:3

b. Our for Other Believers: 1 John 3:14; 1 John 5:20-21

c. The : 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13

d. : 1 John 2:28

Important Truths:

1. Our security is in Christ’s (Matt. 10:28; Phil. 1:6)

2. Our Works give our Faith is Real

(James 2:14-17; Acts 26:19)

3. Ultimately, only God is qualified to (Matt. 13:24-30)

What should I do if I have doubts?

1. Don’t depend on (1 John 3:18-20).

2. Focus on God’s command to

in the power of the .

3. Pray to trust Christ for if necessary.

Basic Discipleship

A disciple is a learner or a follower. If we are following Christ and learning more about him, then we are his disciples. There are three things that will greatly help us to grow as disciples of Christ: God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.

God’s Word

2 Peter 2:2 says, “like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (NAS).” Just as we need food each day to grow physically, we need the Word of God to grow spiritually. In Matt. 4:4, Jesus said, “. . . Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Heb. 4:12 describes just how powerful the Word of God is:

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.

The Word of God is alive because it comes from the living God. And this is why it is able to give life to us. It is the seed that is able to produce new birth in us (1 Peter 1:23). It is the food that enables us to grow (1 Peter 2:2). When we receive the Word of God, we are receiving God himself (Rev. 3:20). And this is why our goal is never simply to know the Scriptures; our goal is to know the one who has given us the Scriptures. Ultimately, our growth comes from knowing him. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the apostle Paul says this:

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.

Because the Bible is inspired by God, it is what is able to enable us to grow spiritually. Here are some of the things God’s Word is able to do for us. The Word of God:

Guides us Ps. 119:105

Gives us wisdom Ps. 119:97-100

Gives us joy Ps. 19:7-8

Keeps us from sin Ps. 119:9-11

Enables us to grow 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Matt. 4:4

Transforms our thoughts Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:5

Provides a weapon against Satan Eph. 6:17; Matt. 4:4,7,10

Equips us for ministry 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Provides a foundation for life Matt. 7:24-27

Gives us success Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:7-9

Because all of this is true, we must find a way to let God’s Word feed us on a consistent basis. We will not grow spiritually apart from the Word of God. Just as we become weak when we are not fed physically, we become weak spiritually when we are not fed spiritually. Psalm 1:1-4 says:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does he prospers.

This passage contains great promises. The one who meditates on the Word of God will prosper in whatever he does. This may not be the kind of prosperity the world thinks about, but it will be the true prosperity of the soul.

To meditate on something means to think about it over and over again.

We should make an appointment with God for every day--and then keep the appointment. If we are going to do this, we will have to be faithful even on the days you may not feel like it.

There are many good devotional books, commentaries, and other guides that can help us understand the Scriptures. We shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of them. There are also many different ways to learn the Scriptures. Some read through the Bible. Some read a book at a time and study it in more detail. Some take a particular topic and attempt to understand all that the Bible teaches about that topic. Some read the about five Psalms or one book of the Proverbs each day. The most important thing is to let God’s Word speak to us in some way each day.

Prayer

For many people, prayer is nothing more than asking God for things. But prayer is much more than that. It is sharing our lives with him. This is what communion with God is. The word communion means, “to be one with.” When we live in communion with God, we are one with him. 2 Thess. 5:17 says, “pray continually.” Of course, this does not mean we can consciously focus on prayer at every moment, but it does mean we can sense God’s presence with us at all times, and that we can always turn to him in prayer at any moment. God wants to be a Father to us (Matt. 6:9), a Brother (Matt. 12:50), even a Friend (John 15:15). He wants to have a close relationship with us.

Where then do we begin? Here are a few basic aspects of prayer. These are the things that need to be a part of our prayers on a consistent basis.

The first is Confession. We need to confess our sins to God in order to stay close to him. Being born into God’s family does not mean that we will never sin again. However, when we sin, it breaks the heart of our Father in heaven because he loves us and wants what is best for us. And as long as we carry sin in our hearts, we will not experience the nearness of God. Ps. 66:18 says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

We should ask God to forgive us for sins we are aware of. Sometimes sin is doing what we shouldn’t do (sins of commission). Sometimes sin is not doing what we should do (sins of omission). Sometimes sin is merely the attitude of our hearts. We may not even be aware of sins we have committed. This is why King David prayed this prayer in Ps. 139:23-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

God is so merciful, he is willing to forgive us and restore us to communion with him when we are willing to admit our sins. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We don’t have to carry guilt. When we become aware of any sin, we should ask God to forgive us. He has promised to forgive when we sincerely ask and are determined to turn away from our sin (Ps. 139:8-14).

Another aspect of prayer is Praise and Thanksgiving. These are very similar. The distinction between them is that we praise God for who he is and we thank God for what he has done. We can praise God for his power, his majesty, his glory. God is worthy of all of our praise. We can always think of ways to praise God.

Surely, we can always think of ways, to thank God too. 1 Thess. 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are not told to give thanks for all circumstances. We are told to give thanks in all circumstances because God can work in all of our circumstances for our good (Rom. 8:28).

A third aspect of prayer is Requests. We can pray for others and for ourselves. Nothing is too big or small. If it is a concern to us, it is a concern to God. We should also remember to pray in faith. Praying in faith not necessarily believing we will receive precisely what we ask for; it is believing God is good enough and powerful enough to give you what is the very best for us. When we ask with this kind of faith, we can be sure God will give us what is best for us. Asking God for things should not be the only aspect of our prayers, but this doesn’t mean we should not ask God for the desires of our hearts. Jesus said in Matt. 7:7-11:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God wants us to ask, seek, and knock. Because he is like a Father to us, he takes great delight in giving us the desires of our hearts.

Jesus said, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:14).” This verse has made some people think they can ask God for anything their hearts can imagine, but they fail to see a very important part of this verse: “You may ask me for anything in my name.” To ask for something in Jesus’ name is to come to the Father through the Son, and to do so on Jesus’ behalf, in a way that is consistent with his will. It is very important for us to understand that the things we ask for must be consistent with God’s will. Actually, there may be times when we ask for what we think we want, but God knows what we really want better than we do. And so, rather than giving us what we ask for, he gives us what he knows our hearts truly long for. Of course, God knows that there is nothing our hearts truly long for more than to be close to him. 1 John 5:14-15 says:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we ask of him.

If we want to be effective in our prayers, we should focus on asking for the things that are consistent with God’s will. As we do, we will see God answering our prayers, our faith will be strengthened, and we will see that God does what is truly best for us.

Here is a good way to remember these basic aspects of prayer:

C = Confession

P = Praise and Thanksgiving

R = Requests

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Just as CPR revives the heart and the lungs, prayer revives our heart and our spirits.

These are three aspects of prayer that are helpful to remember. But we shouldn’t allow our prayers to become a mere checklist. God wants us to be able to talk to him about anything. The important thing to remember is that prayer is communion with God. The word “communion” is very similar to the word, “communication.” And all communication includes both listening and hearing.

We should take the time to listen in your prayers. We may not know how God will speak to us. It may be through his Word. It may be through the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). However, one thing is clear. We will not hear anything if we are not listening.

When we listen we may even learn what we really need to pray for. Rom. 8:26 says this: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” We should let the Spirit who lives in us move us to pray to the Father through the Son. This is what it means to pray “in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18).

It can be very helpful to set aside specific times to pray. Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan. 6:10). However, we can be sure this was to help him pray at all times. This is what God desires of us.

Fellowship

One of the greatest blessings God has given us in the Church is each other. God never intended for us to live the Christian life apart from the support of our brothers and sisters in him. The Church is the Body of Christ. Apart from the rest of the Body, we simply can’t grow in our relationship with him.

In order for us to experience the fellowship God desires for us to have with others, there are three basic relationships we should attempt to cultivate. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:1-2:

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others also.

One relationship we should seek to have is with someone who can be a mentor. A mentor is more than a teacher. The basic purpose of a teacher is to share information, but a mentor actually shares his life. He not only teaches, he trains others and stays with them until they have acquired the experience they need to accomplish their goals. Some things are better “caught” than “taught.” They can be learned only by observation.

This is what Jesus was to his disciples. It is also what the apostle Paul was to the younger pastor Timothy. Timothy was not actually Paul’s son, but Paul considered him his son in the faith, and he did all he could to pour his life into the younger Timothy. We all need someone who is like the apostle Paul to us.

We should remember that no mentor is perfect. We will be greatly disappointed if we think anyone is. We shouldn’t let the weaknesses of others keep us from learning what we can from them. Also, we should remember that our goal is not to become like our mentors; it is to become like Christ. He is the ultimate one to whom each of our mentors should point.

As we grow through the help of those who are mentors in our lives, then we will be able to enter into another kind of relationship, one in which we are a mentor to someone else. We can call this person a disciple. There are only two things in this world that are eternal. One is God’s Word, and the other is the lives of people. And nothing could be more fulfilling to you than building the Word of God into the lives of others. This is the commission God has given us.

There is a third kind of relationship we should all have in our lives. Not only should we have a mentor (like Paul) and a disciple (like Timothy), we should all have someone who is simply our friend. Along with the responsibility of learning and the pressure that may come from leading, we all need someone who is simply a friend to us. This is what Barnabas was for Paul. In fact, the name Barnabas actually means, “Son of encouragement.”

When Paul told Timothy to entrust his teachings to others who would be able to teach others also, they may have begun as Timothy’s disciples, but they eventually became friends, co-workers in the same calling. In a similar way, our goal is to become the friend of those who are mentors and those who are in a discipling relationship with us.

Not only should attempt to grow in prayer and through our study of God’s Word, we should attempt to do these things with others. As we do, God will greatly enrich our knowledge of him. Our ultimate goal is obedience to Christ. This is the essence of true discipleship.

Basic Discipleship

The word, “disciple” means .

Three things that will help us to grow as disciples are:

God’s

God’s Word:

us Ps. 119:105

Gives us Ps. 119:97-100

Gives us Ps. 19:7-8

Keeps us from Ps. 119:9-11

Enables us to 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Matt. 4:4

Transforms our Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:5

Provides a weapon against Eph. 6:17; Matt. 4:4,7,10

Equips us for 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Provides a for life Matt. 7:24-27

Gives us Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:7-9

Three aspects of prayer are:

and

Three relationships we should cultivate are:

The ultimate goal of growing in God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship is:

Church Covenant

(Based on Our Purpose)

What is our purpose in life? To put it simply, our purpose is to glorify God. Isaiah 43:7 says that we were made for God’s glory. 1 Cor. 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” But this leaves us with a question. What then does it mean to glorify God? The word “glory” is one of those words we hear often, but often find hard to put into words. There is a passage that will help us though. Look for the word “glory in the following verses:

All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 1 Cor. 15:39-41. (NAS)

How is the word glory used in these verses? It is used to describe the nature of the various “bodies:” the sun, moon, stars, etc. They all have unique characteristics that distinguish them. They all have a unique nature. This helps us understand what this word “glory” means: one’s glory is one’s nature. If we can remember this, it will unlock the meaning of several verses of Scripture.

For example, Ps. 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” What this means is that the heavens declare what the nature of God is like. Just as we know what an artist is like from his artwork, we know much about what the creator is like from his creation. The heavens declare his nature, or his glory. As we think about how vast and brilliant the stars are, we get a sense of how vast and brilliant Almighty God is. But this leaves us with still another question: what does it mean to glorify God?

To glorify (verb) God is to in some way act on God’s glory (noun). There are three ways we can do this. First, we glorify God when we adore him for what he reveals to us of his nature. Second, we glorify God when we imitate his nature. And third, we glorify God when we reveal his nature. All of these are ways we glorify God, and all three are a part of God’s purpose for our lives.

First, we glorify God when we adore and stand in awe of his glory--so much so that it moves us to give praise to God. Here is another way to say it:

We glorify God when we praise him for what he reveals to us of his nature.

The second chapter of Luke describes the time the angels appeared to the shepherds after Jesus was born. And Luke 2:20 describes something very interesting. It says, “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Why did the shepherds glorify God? It was because they had seen a glimpse of God’s nature in the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth. When the angel of the Lord appeared to them, Luke 2:9 says “the glory of the Lord shone around them.” Luke 2:13-14 says, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest....” All of this caused the shepherds to glorify and praise God, which means that they were praising God for what he revealed to them of his nature. And this is what prompts us to praise God too. In order for us to praise God, we must see at least a glimpse of what his nature is like. And we can see the glory of God all around us if we will only look. We can see God’s nature in nature itself, God’s creation. We can see God’s nature in His Word, the Bible. And we can see the nature of God revealed most supremely in Christ himself. Hebrews 1:3 talks about this. It says, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of his nature.... (NAS).” The better we know Christ, the better we are able to glorify God because Christ reveals the glory (nature) of God. The word for glory in the original Greek language is doxa, from which we get the word doxology (a hymn of praise). Even a glimpse of his nature moves us to praise him from the depths of our beings. Our highest purpose is to give glory to God, and we do this when we praise him for what he reveals to us of his nature.

The second way we glorify God is by imitating his nature. We do this as our lives begin to take on the characteristics of his nature. Here is another way we can say this:

We glorify God when our own lives take on the characteristics of his nature.

Rom. 8:29 says this: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.” What this means is that God had a purpose for each of us from the beginning of time. God’s plan for us has always been that we become like Christ: “conformed to the image of his son.” And this is one of the reasons Christ came into the world. He came not just to show us what God is like, but to show us what man was meant to be. And nothing will move us to imitate his nature more than adoring the nature he reveals to us. Young people often imitate athletes, musicians, and others that they admire. The more they admire them the more they become like them. This is true of our relationship with God too. The more we adore him, the more we will begin to take on his characteristics.

The third way we glorify God is by revealing his nature to others. Let’s say it like this:

We glorify God when others praise God for what they see of his nature in us.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said this: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” As others see God’s nature revealed in our lives, it moves them to give praise to God for what they see of his glory in us. We have often heard it said, “You are the only Bible that some will ever see.” If they are ever going to see what the God of the Bible is like, they will see him from the way God’s people live their lives. God wants to use us to reveal to others what his nature is like, so they can glorify him too.

And so, these are three ways we can glorify God: 1) by praising him for what he reveals to us of his nature--we also call this worship; 2) by allowing our lives to take on the characteristics of his nature--we call this discipleship; and 3) by allowing others to see his nature revealed in us--this is evangelism.

All of these are a part of God’s purpose for our life. Actually, they all go together. Before others can glorify God for the nature of God they see in us (evangelism), we must be in the process of becoming like him (discipleship). And nothing will do more to make us like him than praising him for what he reveals to us of his nature (worship).

All of this means that fulfilling your purpose of glorifying God begins with truly worshipping him. The Westminster Confession (an old confessional statement of the church) says this: “The chief end [purpose] of man is to worship God and enjoy him forever.” This is where it all begins: with worship. As we worship him, we will become more like him. And as we become more like him, others will see him in us. This is God’s purpose for our lives.

In our church, we have tried to put all of this together in one purpose statement. It goes like this:

Our purpose is to glorify God

by worshipping Him

until we become like Him

so others can see Him, in us.

These three specific ways that we glorify God are also the basis for our church covenant.

Church Covenant

Having placed my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, having been baptized in obedience to God’s command, and believing it is the will of God that I unite with the local body of believers known as Lakeview Fellowship, I commit myself to God and to this church family as follows:

I. I Will Worship God by:

• Valuing Him above all else.

• Obeying God as an expression of my faith and my love for Him.

• Cultivating a lifestyle of communion with God through prayer.

II. I Will Grow as a Disciple of Christ by:

• growing in my knowledge of His Word.

• living within the framework of God-ordained authority in the home, in the church, and in society.

• promoting the unity and strength of the fellowship as I:

• faithfully assemble with the other members of the church.

• use the gifts and abilities God has given me in the service of the Body of Christ.

• let the rule of love guide all I do and say.

III. I Will Do the Work of Evangelism by:

• setting a Christ-like example in my daily life for those who do not know Christ.

• Sharing with others the hope that is within me as God gives me the opportunity.

• Giving obediently to God as He prospers me for the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recognizing my frailty, I also commit myself to confess my sins to God and to return to fellowship with Him whenever I may fall, to seek to restore in love others of our fellowship when they may fall, and to unite with another church which is faithful to Jesus Christ if God should ever call me away from this fellowship.

Church Covenant

Simply put, our purpose is to God (Is. 43:7).

One’s glory is one’s .

We glorify (verb) God when we act on his glory (noun). Three ways we can act on God’s nature are by:

1. his nature.

2. his nature.

3. his nature.

We glorify God when we him for what he reveals to us of his nature.

We glorify God when our own lives take on the of his nature.

We glorify God when others praise God for what they of his nature in us.

What are the words we use to describe each of the following:

Adoring God’s nature:

Imitating God’s nature:

Revealing God’s nature:

Our Purpose Statement:

Our Beliefs

1. The Bible is inspired by God and therefore fully true. It is the authority for all belief and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2. There is one God. He as one God consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that is. He is eternal, perfect, all powerful, all knowing, and present everywhere at all times. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

3. Jesus Christ is both Son of God and God the Son. He was born of a virgin. He lived a sinlessly perfect life. He was crucified to pay for the sins of the world. He was raised from the dead and lives eternally. (1 Corinthians 15:3)

4. The Holy Spirit is God Himself and presently active in the world in the work of convicting, convincing, and comforting. (John 14:16-17)

5. Man was created in the image of God. He was created with the capacity for fellowship with God but because of sin fell from fellowship with God. (Romans 5:12)

6) God’s gift of Salvation restores mankind’s fellowship with God. God offers the gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Salvation is received by faith alone, good deeds being the result of genuine faith. (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14)

7. The Church consists of all who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. God intends that local churches be established throughout the world for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:16-18)

8. The Ordinances of the Church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Through baptism we are identified as belonging to Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by our Lord as a memorial of His blood that was shed for us and His body that was broken for us. (Matthew 28:19-20, 26:26-29; Romans 6:4)

9. The Return of Jesus Christ is imminent. When Jesus comes again, He will gather His own to Himself. Every Christian should live with the expectation that Jesus could return at any time. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

10. The Judgment of God will occur at the end of time. All who have persisted in rejecting Jesus Christ will be eternally separated from God. All who have received God’s gift of salvation will live eternally in fellowship with Him. (Matthew 25:31-43)

Membership Form

Lakeview Fellowship

Name

Address

City State Zip

Home Phone Other Phone ____________

Email ______________________________________________________________

I have placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

I accept and embrace the covenant of the church.

I have completed the membership course of the church.

Previous Church Membership

Name of Church

Location

Baptism

Date of baptism (approximate if necessary)

I would like to be baptized.

Signed Date

Pastoral Recommendation

I have explained the requirements for membership in our church.

I recommend the above individual for membership in our church.

Signed Date

Membership Form

Lakeview Fellowship

Name

Address

City State Zip

Home Phone Other Phone ____________

Email ______________________________________________________________

I have placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

I accept and embrace the covenant of the church.

I have completed the membership course of the church.

Previous Church Membership

Name of Church

Location

Baptism

Date of baptism (approximate if necessary)

I would like to be baptized.

Signed Date

Pastoral Recommendation

I have explained the requirements for membership in our church.

I recommend the above individual for membership in our church.

Signed Date

Membership Form

Lakeview Fellowship

Name

Address

City State Zip

Home Phone Other Phone ____________

Email ______________________________________________________________

I have placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

I accept and embrace the covenant of the church.

I have completed the membership course of the church.

Previous Church Membership

Name of Church

Location

Baptism

Date of baptism (approximate if necessary)

I would like to be baptized.

Signed Date

Pastoral Recommendation

I have explained the requirements for membership in our church.

I recommend the above individual for membership in our church.

Signed Date

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