Oak Crest Baptist Church
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Children's Ministry
  • Contact Us
  • Give
  • Resources
    • Family Worship Guides >
      • Weeks 1-13 >
        • Week 1
        • Week 2
        • Week 3
        • Week 4
        • Week 5
        • Week 6
        • Week 7
        • Week 8
        • Week 9
        • Week 10
        • Week 11
        • Week 12
        • Week 13
      • Weeks 14-26 >
        • Week 14
        • Week 15
        • Week 16
        • Week 17
        • Week 18
        • Week 19
        • Week 20
        • Week 21
        • Week 22
        • Week 23
        • Week 24
        • Week 25
        • Week 26
      • Weeks 27-39 >
        • Week 27
        • Week 28
        • Week 29
        • Week 30
        • Week 31
        • Week 32
        • Week 33
        • Week 34
        • Week 35
        • Week 36
        • Week 37
        • Week 38
        • Week 39
      • Weeks 40-52 >
        • Week 40
        • Week 41
        • Week 42
        • Week 43
        • Week 44
        • Week 45
        • Week 46
        • Week 47
        • Week 48
        • Week 49
        • Week 50
        • Week 51
        • Week 52

From the Heart of the Pastor- "Church Covenant" Part 4

9/6/2017

0 Comments

 
​The next portion of our Covenant states, “We further covenant to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress;”
            Not only is our responsibility to behave like Christians in the outside world, but also to be Christians in our behavior to one another.  We are to watch over one another in brotherly love.  That does not merely mean we are to care for each other, although it certainly does mean that.  It is more than care, it is accountability.  This is something that many, many churches neglect in this modern age of consumer driven church.  We don’t like the idea of accountability.  We don’t like to think about answering to anyone outside ourselves.  We may even say, “I am accountable to Christ alone!”  That is true, but the means Christ has established to disciple his people is the church.  This mutual accountability is clear throughout Scripture.  It is not something to be feared, but embraced.  God loves us and through his word provides for our growth and maturity.  Hebrews says, “It is for discipline that you have to endure.  God is treating you as sons.  For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? … For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” Hebrews 12: 7,11.  Please remember, this accountability, this “watching over” is redemptive not judgmental.  We need one another to grow in the faith.
            So what does this covenant of accountability look like?  We see it described in the next phrases of the covenant.  We must lift one another up in intercessory prayer.  If we are all accountable to the Lord, we should pray for one another fervently.  I hope you will pray for all the people of our church on a regular basis, not only when they are ill.  Pray they will grow and mature in the things of Christ.  Pray they will develop a passion and desire for the word of God.  Pray that they will be all that God wants them to be at Oak Crest and in his glorious kingdom.  Equally, we are to love one another in times of sickness.  Our desire for one another should always be health and growth both spiritually and physically.  There is nothing quite like facing sickness with the love and support of your church family.  Many of you have felt the prayers of our church as you or a loved one has recovered in a time of illness.  We need and depend on each other.  There is no substitute for a church family when times are difficult.
 
In Christ,
Blain Craig
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Dr. Blain Craig
    Pastor

    Picture

    Archives

    November 2024
    December 2022
    May 2020
    March 2020
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


​Oak Crest Baptist Church, ​1701 S. 5th St, Midlothian, TX, 76065

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Children's Ministry
  • Contact Us
  • Give
  • Resources
    • Family Worship Guides >
      • Weeks 1-13 >
        • Week 1
        • Week 2
        • Week 3
        • Week 4
        • Week 5
        • Week 6
        • Week 7
        • Week 8
        • Week 9
        • Week 10
        • Week 11
        • Week 12
        • Week 13
      • Weeks 14-26 >
        • Week 14
        • Week 15
        • Week 16
        • Week 17
        • Week 18
        • Week 19
        • Week 20
        • Week 21
        • Week 22
        • Week 23
        • Week 24
        • Week 25
        • Week 26
      • Weeks 27-39 >
        • Week 27
        • Week 28
        • Week 29
        • Week 30
        • Week 31
        • Week 32
        • Week 33
        • Week 34
        • Week 35
        • Week 36
        • Week 37
        • Week 38
        • Week 39
      • Weeks 40-52 >
        • Week 40
        • Week 41
        • Week 42
        • Week 43
        • Week 44
        • Week 45
        • Week 46
        • Week 47
        • Week 48
        • Week 49
        • Week 50
        • Week 51
        • Week 52