THIS SUNDAY we continue our January series looking at our church covenant. This week's focus will be on paragraph two, Walk Together in the Unity of Love for the Advancement of This Church.
We will stay in Ephesians 4 and focus on verses 11-16 to better understand the purpose and function of the local church. Remember that our covenant commitment to each other defines who Ozarks Bible Church is.
Over the next three weeks, we will examine what we, as covenant members of Ozarks Bible Church, ought to be doing as a local body of Christ. The illustration below puts paragraph two in picture form.
Walk unified in love,
by the aid of the Holy Spirit
for the
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Advancement of this church
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by
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Sustaining its: Contributing to:
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worship ministry
ordinances expenses
discipline the needy
doctrine
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to spread the gospel
into all the nations
Other Passages to Read:
Titus (yep, the whole letter... ha)
1 Corinthians 12, 13
Meditations:
What is my motivation for attending church? Is it self-serving or self-denying?
Do I strive to walk in love and to be unified with other church members?
Am I concerned about the things in the illustration?
Do I pray for the Spirit to help me with all of the above-mentioned?
How does the fulfillment of the New Covenant help us with these things?
Outline of the Series
Our church covenant is four paragraphs long, and we will take one week per paragraph
Entering into Covenant with One Another - Ephesians 4, Hebrews 8
Walk Together in the Unity of Love for the Advancement of This Church - Eph 4:11-16
To Advance the Kingdom of Our Savior - TBD
Endeavor to Love One Another as Christ Loves Us - TBD
Be constant in prayer regarding our commitment to covenant with one another for the sake of Christ and His church.
Ozarks Bible Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and 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 shall strive by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in the unity of love for the advancement of this church. We shall strive to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, to help those in need, and the spread of the gospel into all nations.
We also endeavor to promote Godliness within our homes; to religiously educate our children and seek the best welfare of all who enter into this local body of believers. It is also a high aim to seek the salvation of mankind and to be just in our dealings with all people. We shall be faithful to our word; avoid all backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the abuse of intoxicating drinks in order to be effective in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further endeavor to love one another as Christ loves us; to pray for one another and come to the aid of the brethren in sickness and distress. We will work 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.
January Catchesim Question and Answer:
Question 32: What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace in which He pardons all our sins (Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7), and accepts us as righteous in His sight (2Co 5:21), only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom 5:19), and received by faith alone (Gal 2:16; Phi 3:9).
MISC NOTES
The Bible Reading Plan has been updated for the New Year
See our new song of the month below Come Praise and Glorify.
DAILY PRIVATE/FAMILY WORSHIP
Seek daily communion with God through scripture reading, prayer, and singing. Click on the resources below.
*This Week's Hymns Playlist - Spotify
*This Week's Hymns Playlist - YouTube
"I feel it is far better to begin with God—to see his face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another." - Robert Murray M'Cheyne
SONGS
New Hymn of the Month
Lyrics: VERSE 1 Come praise and glorify our God The Father of our Lord In Christ He has in heav’nly realms His blessings on us poured For pure and blameless in His sight He destined us to be And now we’ve been adopted through His Son eternally
CHORUS To the praise of Your glory To the praise of Your mercy and grace To the praise of Your glory You are the God who saves
VERSE 2 Come praise and glorify our God Who gives His grace in Christ In Him our sins are washed away Redeemed through sacrifice In Him God has made known to us The myst’ry of His will That Christ should be the head of all His purpose to fulfill
VERSE 3 Come praise and glorify our God For we’ve believed the Word And through our faith we have a seal The Spirit of the Lord The Spirit guarantees our hope Until redemption’s done Until we join in endless praise To God, the Three in One
BE IN PRAYER
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pray for the persecuted church in Columbia
May we grow in the unity of our faith and love in Jesus Christ.
Pray for our new members' class.
Remember to give thanks to the Lord in all your prayers, in all circumstances.
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