In the process of cleaning out some of my files at the church, I discovered this list of behavioral parameters that I developed several years back for a covenant group called NEW COMMUNITY. I facilitated this covenant group and remember it fondly. I thought that some of you might be interested in reading through the list of behavioral parameters by which we endeavored to live.
Parameters for “NEW COMMUNITY”
1. Love one another.
2. We will occasionally differ in our opinions on biblical interpretation and application. That is perfectly acceptable. What is unacceptable, however, is the practice of “pouncing” on one another or verbally attacking one another in the midst of our differing opinions. Resist the temptation to belittle or insult those who think differently than you do.
3. Love one another.
4. If you are a quiet person by nature, then allow the Spirit occasionally to move you outside of your familiar and comfortable silence in order to participate in the group conversation.
5. If you are a talkative person by nature, then allow the Spirit to make you cognizant of the benefits of the occasional unexpressed thought. Stand against the temptation to dominate the conversation.
6. Love one another.
7. Work hard to encourage, affirm, and celebrate one another, so that, during every session of NEW COMMUNITY, people will experience a nurturing and supportive environment.
8. Make it part of your daily spiritual discipline to pray for one another.
9. Make it part of your discipleship to build relationships with those outside of the church, so that you might share with them a portion of the love of Jesus Christ and so that NEW COMMUNITY will remain connected to the world through you.
10. Commit yourself to the church’s worship life, since worshiping God is, to the church, what breathing is to the human body.
11. Commit yourself to becoming a positive and visionary influence for Christ in the life and ministry of Central Highlands Church.
12. Do your “homework,” thereby ensuring that our conversation at NEW COMMUNITY will be as rich and participatory as possible.
13. Surround each session of NEW COMMUNITY with prayer. Pray on your way to the session, and pray on your way home from the session.
14. Practice the discipline of confidentiality, holding in your heart the content of our communication in NEW COMMUNITY and not sharing it with others.
15. Shared accountability is part of the very lifeblood of NEW COMMUNITY. Be joyfully and consistently accountable to the other members of NEW COMMUNITY in the areas of your attendance at our sessions, your participation in our conversation, and your regular practice of the spiritual disciplines.
16. And, by the way, love one another.
Love ya!!!!!!!!!!