East Side Grace Brethren Church

Click here to view message board
Does your mind ever wander when you are reading your Bible or praying? Do you have any thoughts that can help people stay focused in prayer or reading?
click here to send your thoughts for the message board
(or e-mail covenant@esgbc.org) Please do not register on the message board, you will not be able to post a message.

In January we explored what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We discovered there are some "givens" that go along with one's claim to be a follower of Jesus. Those "givens" include…

On February 3 we took the notion of "following Jesus" and made it practical. What, exactly, does following Jesus mean for my life, day-in-and-day-out? That day we introduced the concept of a covenant. In the Bible a covenant was a commitment of loyalty to another that was often (but not always) legally binding. We invited our people to make a covenant with the Lord based on one's desire to be a follower of Jesus Christ. This covenant was the practical, day-in-and-day-out expression of what it means to follow Jesus. This covenant consists of the following six parts (Click on underlined title for more info):

Part One I will strive to read God's word at least three days a week and keep a prayer journal for my prayers. I will use The Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 as a guide for my prayers.

Part Two I will identify three people this year with whom I will share my story of how the Lord came into my life. I will get help and training if I find I am struggling to do this.

Part Three I will strive to forgive people. And if there is a problem in one of my relationships I will go to that person directly. I will not gossip.

Part Four I will discover how the Lord wants me to serve him and will serve him as part of his church. I believe I was redeemed by the death of the Son of God so I could be spiritually active for the Lord. If I am not a member of our church I will take steps toward membership.

Part Five I will strive toward worship in my daily life and I will worship with my church weekly.

Part Six I will treat my finances as from God and belonging to God. Thus, I will strive to move my giving to 10%, or beyond 10% if that is where I am now.

As you can tell, this covenant is not something for just 2008. It is about who I am as a follower of Jesus. We will use our website to help you with your covenant keeping. Each month we will provide help, insight, and encouragement for each part of the covenant. Also, our website will offer a Message Board where you can interact with others from our church about each part of the covenant. The Message Board will be a clearinghouse for ideas, stories, questions, and feedback about your spiritual growth. We ask that when you post messages you add your name.

If either of these statements below describe you, you can e-mail covenant@esgbc.org to make a covenant commitment or request a coach to encrouage you.

I would like to make a covenant commitment with the Lord to be proactive about my spiritual growth.

I would like a covenant coach to encourage me in my spiritual growth.


East Side Grace Brethren Church 7510 East Broad Street Blacklick, OH 43004 map & directions (614) 861-5810 esgbc.office@gmail.com Service Times Sunday mornings 9:30 & 11am Programs for all ages	Click here to view message board Does your mind ever wander when you are reading your Bible or praying? Do you have any thoughts that can help people stay focused in prayer or reading? click here to send your thoughts for the message board (or e-mail covenant@esgbc.org) Please do not register on the message board, you will not be able to post a message. In January we explored what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We discovered there are some "givens" that go along with one's claim to be a follower of Jesus. Those "givens" include… believing Jesus Christ is Lord over all (Matthew 16:13-20) resigning as coach of my life and turn the coaching duties over to Jesus; what he says goes (Matthew 16:21-25) realizing that following Christ involves costs (Luke 9:57-62) realizing that spiritual growth does not just happen; I must be proactive about my spiritual growth (Philippians 2:12-13) On February 3 we took the notion of "following Jesus" and made it practical. What, exactly, does following Jesus mean for my life, day-in-and-day-out? That day we introduced the concept of a covenant. In the Bible a covenant was a commitment of loyalty to another that was often (but not always) legally binding. We invited our people to make a covenant with the Lord based on one's desire to be a follower of Jesus Christ. This covenant was the practical, day-in-and-day-out expression of what it means to follow Jesus. This covenant consists of the following six parts (Click on underlined title for more info): Part One I will strive to read God's word at least three days a week and keep a prayer journal for my prayers. I will use The Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 as a guide for my prayers. Part Two I will identify three people this year with whom I will share my story of how the Lord came into my life. I will get help and training if I find I am struggling to do this. Part Three I will strive to forgive people. And if there is a problem in one of my relationships I will go to that person directly. I will not gossip. Part Four I will discover how the Lord wants me to serve him and will serve him as part of his church. I believe I was redeemed by the death of the Son of God so I could be spiritually active for the Lord. If I am not a member of our church I will take steps toward membership. Part Five I will strive toward worship in my daily life and I will worship with my church weekly. Part Six I will treat my finances as from God and belonging to God. Thus, I will strive to move my giving to 10%, or beyond 10% if that is where I am now. As you can tell, this covenant is not something for just 2008. It is about who I am as a follower of Jesus. We will use our website to help you with your covenant keeping. Each month we will provide help, insight, and encouragement for each part of the covenant. Also, our website will offer a Message Board where you can interact with others from our church about each part of the covenant. The Message Board will be a clearinghouse for ideas, stories, questions, and feedback about your spiritual growth. We ask that when you post messages you add your name. If either of these statements below describe you, you can e-mail covenant@esgbc.org to make a covenant commitment or request a coach to encrouage you. I would like to make a covenant commitment with the Lord to be proactive about my spiritual growth. I would like a covenant coach to encourage me in my spiritual growth.