Our Values

New Covenant Fellowship

Statement of Values

To value something is to hold it in high regard. Every organization has a set of values, like profit, good service, or integrity. Some values may not be valuable at all, such as ruthless competitiveness no matter the consequences. Sometimes the values define the organization, and sometimes the organization defines the values they would have you believe.

We have our own set of values at New Covenant Church. They are a reflection of what we as a church truly hold in high esteem. Our values are a result of our convictions and our convictions are based on the scriptures.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  – Hebrews 13:8

This is what we value at New Covenant Fellowship. This is what we are in Christ!

We have a Passion for Jesus. We desire to know Him better. We want to worship and obey Him sincerely and passionately.

Families are given by God. They are vital to a godly society and must be strengthened. Ministry happens best in a family environment. NCF unashamedly defends the Biblical concept of families, the sanctity of marriage, the raising and nurture of children, and the gift of celibacy for some. We oppose the misguided attempts by a secular society to redefine and minimize family.

We value holiness, knowing that true holiness is a gift from God. As fallen people, saved by God’s grace alone, we recognize that our best chance of maintaining purity, character, integrity, and righteousness in our daily lives is through a close walk with our Lord. This is best done not just as individuals, but by fellowshipping with other saints.

We value fellowship, especially the fellowship of saints. We not only draw unlimited strength from God, but we draw tremendous strength from each other. Not only are we friends on Sunday, but we are friends every day of the week.

We value wisdom through education, – especially the increasing of Biblical knowledge. We value the cultivation of wisdom and the development of a biblical worldview. Our efforts at learning and teaching in every subject should be done in the most excellent way possible. Our biblical intake should be integrated and not compartmentalized. Learning from God’s Word happens every day of the week, not just on Sunday.

We know that in Christ we have abundant riches and eternal life, but it is not our intention to keep Him to ourselves. What we have discovered in Christ is so wonderful that we cannot horde it. We look for ways to share Christ with the world around us and increase our numbers through evangelism.

We feel a clear calling from God to be change agents in our society. We choose not to hide ourselves from the world around us. Rather, we see ourselves–all of us– as messengers of hope to the hopeless and champions of godliness in a godless world. We seek to influence our world for God and bring Him glory. We seek to prepare and equip our children to do the same.

True ministry is always about people rather than programs. We prefer to worship and fellowship in smaller groups to facilitate more effective ministry. No matter what forms of worship or structure we practice (assuming that at all times they conform to sound scriptural principles) we are not at odds with the established institutional church. Rather, we are just another expression of the Body of Christ. We supplement, rather than work against the efforts of the institutional church. House church or cell church may not be the best vehicle for ministry for everyone, but (for now) we, the people of NCF prefer the small group format.

New Covenant Fellowship is not just about the worship service and fellowship on Sundays. We like to think that we have some truly awesome worship times on Sunday. Those activities prepare us for the true work of ministry we attempt every day. We do not hide ourselves within the walls of a church (or a house), nor do we consume our time only in church-sponsored activities, spending time exclusively with other church members, ministering only to other church members. Rather, our lives are to be spent in the real world, with real jobs, living among and loving real people whom Jesus died for.

We are a house church. We own no church buildings. We have no paid staff. Our church may grow to number in the hundreds or thousands. But our fellowship groups will always be small enough to fit in any single house. Whatever resources that would ordinarily be spent for the upkeep of a building and staff we can directly apply to ministry.

Ever growing, yet remaining small. As our home groups grow (and they will), we will constantly be preparing for the time when a larger group intentionally becomes two or more smaller groups, who will in turn grow and eventually reproduce themselves. And so on, and so on.

By keeping our fellowship groups small, we encourage and empower every member to participate in ministry according to the gifts, abilities and strengths God gives to each member.

We affirm Christ’s ultimate authority over all things, including the Church. No earthly or man-made authority can ever supercede Christ’s authority as revealed in His word. Having said that, we believe that God has ordained certain man-made authority structures (i.e. civil government, church government, and family) to direct and guide His people through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Husbands have God-ordained authority as leaders of their homes, and represent their families in the government of the church, but not to the exclusion of their wives. Christian men are also commanded to submit themselves to one another in humility and love, out of reverence for Christ. Trustworthy elders of proven character are appointed in the church to “shepherd the flock” and to “direct the affairs of the church” under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We affirm a plurality of elders, rather than any single leader. New Covenant Fellowship intends to be an Elder-Led church, rather than an Elder-Ruled church. Important decisions in the church will be arrived at by a clear consensus of the heads of households. If an urgent matter must be decided quickly, the elders are entrusted to act under the direction of the Holy Spirit in the best interests of the church body, especially when it is not practical or convenient for the families to be consulted, or to meet or act as a body. Elders have the solemn responsibility to represent all the families of the church and act on behalf of New Covenant Fellowship, but not replace the judgment of the body with their own judgment, nor act contrary to scriptural principles or the expressed consensus of the church.

Ephesians 5:21-28; Philippians 2:1-16; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:4-6; Acts 15:22-23; Acts 16:4; Acts 20:17, 28-31; I Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-20; Titus 1:5-6; Hebrews 13:17

 

Leadership training. As leaders are identified and developed, we will endeavor to provide practical biblical leadership training through study, mentoring, and practice. Training the leadership insures quality Biblical shepherding and helps prevent division and false teaching.

Mentoring and Accountability: We are stronger with godly friends than we are alone. We will seek out the counsel of our Christian friends and elders when in need. We will offer our own counsel and wisdom when appropriate. We will walk alongside our brothers and sisters for mutual comfort, counsel and accountability.

“One-Another”-ing. Our horizontal relationships (with other people, especially other believers) reflect the quality of our vertical relationship with God. Scripture is full of “One Another” verses that show us how a godly person treats his fellow man. Love one another. Be devoted to one another. Live in harmony with one another. Accept one another. Instruct one another. Agree with one another. Serve one another. Bear with one another in love. Forgive one another. Submit to one another. Teach and admonish one another. Encourage one another. Offer hospitality to one another. Have fellowship with one another. Be at peace with one another. (John 13:34; Rom. 12:10, 6; Rom. 15:7, 14; 1Cor. 1:10; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:2, 32, 5:21; Col. 3:16; 1Ths. 5:11; Heb. 10:24; 1Pet. 4:9. 5:5; 1 John 1:7; and many others)