Each member of the New Canaan International Church is asked to affirm the membership covenant. This is how we express our commitment to the Church.
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, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
WE ENGAGE THERFORE, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
WE ALSO ENGAGE, to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealing, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale, and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
WE FURTHER ENGAGE, to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and 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.
WE MOREOVER ENGAGE THAT, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of Gods Word.
And now unto Him, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, be Power and Glory forever. Amen.
As a member of the New Canaan International Church, I accept the Bible as the Word of God in which is revealed the way of salvation and the guide for faith and conduct. I witness to a personal experience of God's saving grace in my heart and express desire and purpose to live a Holy life, apart from sin and separated unto Christ. I covenant as a member of the New Canaan International Church to be loyal to this congregation, to consent to instruction in Bible doctrine, to support and sustain the services of the congregation by my regular attendance and prayers, to contribute to her program as the Lord prospers me, and to foster a spirit of Christian fellowship and oneness within the Church.
I witness a personal experience of Gods saving grace in my heart 68
We are excited about every person who attends New Canaan International Church! Everyone is welcome to attend and worship with us. But, to be a player on New Canaan International Church team, you must first be a part of God's family by personal faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. (See section on Salvation.)
I accept the Bible as the Word of God 70
One of the key elements of unity at New Canaan International Church is our belief in the authority of God's Word. We may not all understand it exactly the same way, but the common ground we stand on is its authority for both our faith and conduct. The Bible is our defense against spiritual and moral anarchy. The scriptures enable us to know salvation, serve as our guide for spiritual growth, and prepare us for ministry (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
The Bible is our sole authority. The Bible is our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is What does the Bible say? We seek to practice daily Bible reading, and Bible study.
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3. Lifestyle And Discipleship
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I desire and purpose to live a Holy life, apart from sin and separated unto God 71
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I consent to instruction in Bible doctrine 73
We believe in Spirit-led living. Therefore, we covenant together to keep our own spiritual growth and maturity a high priority. As we have received Christ by faith we now commit ourselves to ever increasing faith and dependence on God.
Recognizing that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to Christs work of sanctification in our lives. Anything that might hinder our Christian testimony, our productivity, or our bodies has no spiritual benefit and thus hinders our spiritual growth.
Therefore, in our dress, conduct, attitudes and stewardship we covenant to be ever growing and conforming to Christ. We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God's power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God's Spirit to enable us to do what is right.
The attitude that we are seeking to develop at New Canaan International Church is not conformity to a set of rules but an openness to follow Jesus Christ and to prayerfully consider how the teaching of the Scripture applies to our life today.
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4. Mutual Encouragement
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I covenant to foster a spirit of Christian fellowship and oneness 75
While we recognize our own diversity and individual variances, we commit ourselves to a unity of spirit and loyalty to each other.
We commit ourselves in our words, actions and attitudes to build up our brothers and sisters. Treating them as more important than ourselves, we will seek to encourage, comfort, and console each other. We will not allow pride, anger, jealousy, or bitterness to drive a wedge in our relationships with one another and thus hinder our purpose.
I covenant to support and sustain the services of the congregation 77
Commitment is expressed when we:
Worship: Being part of the mission involves regular attendance for it is in this context that we are able to encourage each other and learn to minister to the world. In Hebrews 10:24, 25 we read, and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some but encouraging one another . . .
Grow: Being part of the mission involves personal growth in your relationship with God and others. The goal is found in Ephesians 4:15, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ. To grow spiritually we need time alone with God and time with others.
Serve: Being part of the mission means giving up some of our rights so that we can serve others and become good stewards of those properties that God has entrusted to us. People not on mission for God can do whatever they want any time, but when you have a focus and a mission you will find that you need to prioritize in order to actualize that mission. Consider the example of Jesus who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant (Philippians 2:6, 7).
Give: Being part of the mission means offering to God and His Church our tithes and offerings. Tithing is a matter of the heart--not the wallet. The principle is found in Malachi 3:10, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. We believe that tithing is God's plan for the support of Christ's body. So we seek to practice the stewardship of all that God provides for us. As Christians, it is our common involvement, teamwork, and commitment which brings glory to God, strengthens His church, and advances His kingdom.
Minister: Being part of the mission means being involved in ministry to others. It is important. The goal of spiritual growth is not only for personal growth but that we might be able to share with others God's love and His Gospel. This goal is described in 1 Peter 4:10, As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
