Covenant Church

Just suppose you wanted to get married. You decided to go shopping. How would you shop? What would you look for? Would you simply go stand on a street corner, look at women passing, say "Hi," and wait for a good feeling? Would you go to a restaurant, wait for single ladies to come in, randomly ask one to dinner, have a good meal and conversation and say: "Will you marry me?"

I think some people would. I think some people have. I think some people do. 

Suppose you are looking for a church. By "church" I mean: Suppose you have decided that you would like to honor the Sabbath Day and keep it holy (novel idea). You have decided that you will attend worship and fellowship with a local body. You will commit to a local body as being your spiritual and social place of fellowship, worship, and Christian work.

How will you choose? I see. You are going to choose a local church based on "feeling comfortable." You have not been in church regularly. You have just moved to town. You believe that being part of a congregation is biblical, healthy, and will be good for you. Maybe you are a new Christian. Maybe you have drifted away from the Lord, lived cold, backslidden, been in sin---still living in sin. But you are ready to come in out of the cold.

You are shopping for a church home. You will pick a church home. But you have decided that you will pick a church home based on "how you feel." You have your own criteria. You have your own expectations. Recently, a visitor to Covenant left in the middle of a worship service saying: "I will not attend a church where ushers wear neckties."

Folks have peculiarities. Some folks want their ministers to have tattoos and wear earrings. Some folks like their pastor to be cool, mod, dress down. Some folks are looking for a church that still sings hymns. Others are looking for jump-up-and-down praise and worship music---lots of repeats.   Dark auditorium, bright stage.  Concert-like atmosphere.

So what are you looking for? If I were to move to a new city and be looking for a church home I would have expectations:

 1.  Pastor be a person of integrity

     A.  Preach the Word

     B.  Live the Word

     C.  Evangelism heart

     D.  Mission heart--reach the world

     E.  Good report in community

2.  Pastor's wife (if there is one) be person of integrity

3.  Leadership be held accountable

4.  Fellowship be healthy and for all ages

5.  Strong discipleship program

6.  Accountability in finances, with tithing being base of stewardship

7.  Mission/vision of church be clear and dynamic

8.  Committed to prayer

 I would look for a church that would challenge me to grow, instruct me, and gently/firmly bring correction to my life in times of weakness/error.

 I would look for a church that would encourage and assist me to become involved as a volunteer.

 I would look for a church home that kept reminding me that Jesus will come, there will be a resurrection of the saints, and we will one day be with Jesus where there will be no sin.

 I would look for a church to stretch me, maybe even create some growing pains. I would look for a church that would help me to serve others and share with them the love of My Lord Jesus.

 I would choose Covenant.

Pastor Bare

Philippians 4:8