About Us
WHO
ARE WE?
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Christ Covenant Church emphasizes
the following: the infallibility, inerrancy, and wholly sufficient
authority of the Bible-the Word of God- a pulpit devoted to the bold,
faithful exposition of that Word, a concern for the Lordship of Jesus
Christ over all of life, a worship service focusing upon the worship
of God-not the entertainment of men-and a commitment to evangelistic
outreach as well as sound, Reformational doctrine.
A Reformed Church -
The term "Reformed" defines our system of doctrine. Since
we believe that the Bible is the standard of all that we are to believe
and do, we strive to "reform: every thought and practice by evaluating
all things in the light of God's Word. As an historical church, we
stand in a long line of believers who embrace the ancient Apostolic,
Nicene, and Chalcedonian creeds; while as a Protestant church, we are
in essential agreement with the great confessions of the Reformation,
including the 39 Articles, the Synod of Dordt, the Belgic Confession,
the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Westminster Confession of Faith of
1646. We hold to these as helpful summaries of Christian doctrine.
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone in the Lord
Jesus Christ, and that God the Father sovereignly and graciously saves
his people in such a way that destroys human pride and merit and exalts
the sovereign grace of God. We believe that those saved by the work
of the Lord Jesus Christ are now under obligation to obey him, not
as the ground of their salvation, but as a result of that salvation.
We are a member church with the Confederation of Reformed Evangelical
Churches. This group of churches is a vibrant, growing organization
committed to the Reformed Faith, covenantal living, faithful worship,
and a heart for missions and church planting. We are proud to be associated
with the CREC! The Lordship of Jesus Christ - We believe that because
all authority has been given to Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18) believers
have the responsibility and the privilege both to preach the Gospel
unto the ends of the earth and to confess his authority over every
aspect or sphere of life. There is no place on earth where Christ is
not king - though many do not acknowledge his all-encompassing authority
- and no person who is not obligated to bow his or her knee in submission
to him. Because Christ reigns, the earth and everything in it belongs
to him. Dominion in the Earth -We therefore believe it is the duty
of believers to bring every aspect of life into conformity with the
standards of His reign; that is to say, the Bible - which is Christ
speaking through his inscripturated Word. The Bible therefore applies
to every aspect of life (II Timothy 3:16-17), not just to some narrowly
defined "religious" or spiritual side of it. It speaks to
art, education, commerce, technology, and politics no less than to
worship, prayer, evangelism, or Bible study. In short, the Gospel transforms
not simply individual lives; but when consistently applied, transforms
whole cultures, creating a distinctly Christian civilization.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ - We believe that because all authority
has been given to Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18) believers have the
responsibility and the privilege both to preach the Gospel unto the
ends of the earth and to confess his authority over every aspect or sphere of life.
There is no place on earth where Christ is not king - though many do not acknowledge
his all-encompassing authority - and no person who is not obligated to bow his or her
knee in submission to him. Because Christ reigns, the earth and everything in it belongs to him.
Dominion in the Earth -We
therefore believe it is the duty of believers to bring every aspect of life
into conformity with the standards of His reign; that is to say, the Bible
- which is Christ speaking through his inscripturated Word. The Bible therefore
applies to every aspect of life (II Timothy 3:16-17), not just to some narrowly
defined "religious" or spiritual side of it. It speaks to art, education,
commerce, technology, and politics no less than to worship, prayer, evangelism,
or Bible study. In short, the Gospel transforms not simply individual lives;
but when consistently applied, transforms whole cultures, creating a distinctly
Christian civilization.
A Family Church - Because we believe
that God has ordained the family as the basic unit for the structure of every other institution,
we place an emphasis upon equipping individuals to function properly in the family.
Because God works through families, every other institution is affected by the training
given and received by families; therefore, we, as a congregation, do not attempt to assume
the responsibilities given by God to the family. Rather, we assume the responsibility to
teach family members how to
fulfill their responsibilities according to the Word of God.
Covenantal Unity and Equipping - Since God's
promises are to believers and to their children (Acts 2:39), we view
the children of believers as full members of Christ's church and recipients
of all the benefits of that membership. In practical terms, this means
we do not break up the family during corporate worship; exclude
its youngest or oldest members from the Lord's Table on account
of age or mental ability; we try not to subdivide the Lord's people
by offering too many age-specific programs and activities. Christ's
church is called not to administer programs but to equip his people
to think biblically, act decisively, and live covenantally in the normal
context of daily life.
A Liturgical Church - The Bible teaches
that man was created for the glory of God. Nowhere is that purpose more
clearly manifested than in the worship of God. While worship must be a
daily and consistent practice of both individuals and families, the Bible
tells us that God is to be worshiped in public by the assembled people of
God on a regular basis as well. For this purpose, the Lord set aside one
day from the rest of the week that we might rest from our ordinary vocations,
be refreshed, and devote ourselves to the worship of God. Corporate worship,
therefore, is a God-centered, not a man-centered activity; and as such, it
involves the participation of all worshipers - the laity no less than the
clergy rather than viewing the congregation as an audience and ministers as performers.
Covenant Renewal Worship -
In worship according to the biblical pattern, God renews his covenant with
his people weekly by calling them into his presence, cleansing them of their
sin through confession and absolution, consecrating them by the reading
and preaching of his Word, communing with them at his Table, and commissioning
his people to take his kingdom into the world. We respond to God's call
by confessing our sin; offering our praise, our prayers, ourselves & our
tithes; confessing our faith; eating at his table; and marching out to serve
the Lord. The only worship, therefore, that is glorifying and honoring to
the Lord is that which he prescribes in his Word.
An Optimistic Church -
Because the Lord Jesus Christ has ascended to the right hand of God the
Father where he shall reign until every enemy has been put under his feet,
we believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will succeed in discipling
the nations of the world. We are not discouraged by the apparent decline of vital,
biblically literate Christianity in our day, but are all the more determined
to be faithful in a deceitful and illiterate generation, awaiting the outpouring
of God's blessing upon the preaching of and obedience to his Word. Christ has
already won the victory and it mush be, nay it is inevitable, that every knee
shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God
the Father.
If you are interested in learning more about our church, we encourage
you to speak with one of our elders. We invite you to worship with us this next Lord's Day.