Clairemont Covenant Church
Behavioral Covenant – “This is how we get along”
At Clairemont Covenant Church we want to follow biblical principles in communicating with each other. This Behavioral Covenant reminds us to follow these guidelines on a daily basis and especially when conflict occurs. Colossians 3:12-14 provides us a great example: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. This covenant is based on the principles of love, grace, joy, freedom, and unity.
Love is our first and highest calling, so we will:
• Pray for opportunities to show God’s love to one another. (1 John 4:11)
• Choose to respect and honor each other in word and deed, always communicating
directly with those we disagree with. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, Matt. 18:15-16)
• Demonstrate God's love in ministering to those in need. (Romans 12:13)
Example: the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
Grace allows us to be kind and merciful, so we will:
• Pray for opportunities to show God's grace to each other. (Matthew 5:7)
• Choose encouragement and participation over criticism. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Demonstrate God’s grace by forgiving as we have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32)
Example: the story of the Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42)
Joy is our response to the outpouring of God's love and grace, so we will:
• Pray for a daily filling of God's joy to share with one another. (Philippians 1:2-6)
• Choose to rejoice for God has poured out his love and grace to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
• Demonstrate joy through worship and praise. (Colossians 3:15-17)
Example: the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)
Freedom allows us to fulfill our calling as individuals and as a church, so we will:
• Pray for ears to hear God's call and the faith to respond. (Luke 8:8)
• Choose to be bold and dare to take action when the Spirit leads us. (Galatians 5:25)
• Demonstrate freedom by responding to God’s call to serve. (1 Peter 4:10)
Example: the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:25-33)
Unity keeps us all moving in the same direction, so we will:
• Pray for a unifying Spirit among all believers. (Romans 15:5-7)
• Choose the good of the whole over self-interests. (Philippians 2:3)
• Demonstrate unity by keeping the bond of peace, refusing to participate in
dialogue that is divisive to our fellowship. (Ephesians 4:3)
Example: Jesus’ prayer for all believers (John 17)
Clairemont Covenant Church
Behavioral Covenant – “This is how we get along”
At Clairemont Covenant Church we want to follow biblical principles in communicating with each other. This Behavioral Covenant reminds us to follow these guidelines on a daily basis and especially when conflict occurs. Colossians 3:12-14 provides us a great example: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. This covenant is based on the principles of love, grace, joy, freedom, and unity.
Love is our first and highest calling, so we will:
• Pray for opportunities to show God’s love to one another. (1 John 4:11)
• Choose to respect and honor each other in word and deed, always communicating
directly with those we disagree with. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, Matt. 18:15-16)
• Demonstrate God's love in ministering to those in need. (Romans 12:13)
Example: the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
Grace allows us to be kind and merciful, so we will:
• Pray for opportunities to show God's grace to each other. (Matthew 5:7)
• Choose encouragement and participation over criticism. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Demonstrate God’s grace by forgiving as we have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32)
Example: the story of the Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42)
Joy is our response to the outpouring of God's love and grace, so we will:
• Pray for a daily filling of God's joy to share with one another. (Philippians 1:2-6)
• Choose to rejoice for God has poured out his love and grace to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
• Demonstrate joy through worship and praise. (Colossians 3:15-17)
Example: the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)
Freedom allows us to fulfill our calling as individuals and as a church, so we will:
• Pray for ears to hear God's call and the faith to respond. (Luke 8:8)
• Choose to be bold and dare to take action when the Spirit leads us. (Galatians 5:25)
• Demonstrate freedom by responding to God’s call to serve. (1 Peter 4:10)
Example: the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:25-33)
Unity keeps us all moving in the same direction, so we will:
• Pray for a unifying Spirit among all believers. (Romans 15:5-7)
• Choose the good of the whole over self-interests. (Philippians 2:3)
• Demonstrate unity by keeping the bond of peace, refusing to participate in
dialogue that is divisive to our fellowship. (Ephesians 4:3)
Example: Jesus’ prayer for all believers (John 17)