Covenant Groups

To grow into more mature, flourishing, vibrant disciples of Jesus, we need community. God tells us through Scripture that we are to live in community, loving one another and bearing one another's burdens. The Covenant Group ministry is designed to cultivate deep, solid relationships - "spiritual friendships" - built on a foundation of covenantal agreements that establish the trust needed to be open and honest about what's really going on in your life. We believe that all disciples of Jesus need these relationships to become the person God wants us to be.

In a covenant group, 2-5 people meet for three purposes: (1) accountability, (2) vulnerability, and (3) prayer. They do this on the foundation of covenant agreements to protect the integrity and longevity of the relationship and so that everyone in the group feels safe about sharing what's going on. The key is relationship, and the relationship guides what is done next in the group. For some, that will mean studying a book of the Bible closely. For others, it will mean reading an extra-biblical book that helps the members better understand and practice their faith.

Some covenantal agreements are common to every covenant group. Others will be specific to the needs of that group. Members should agree on the covenant agreements and regularly remind each other of them.

We believe that to be fully loved, we must be fully known. When we reveal more of ourselves - or stories, past failures, etc. - to a brother or sister in Christ and receive Christ's love through them in return, we experience more of the love of God. We experience more of the gospel - the "good news" that Jesus, who fully knows us, fully loved us through his sacrificial death on the cross. We are empowered to live more boldly for Jesus and to point others to him. If you want to be a more loving, more joyful, bolder disciple of Jesus, start a covenant group with someone you love and trust!