- We are quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
- We believe the best about each other when motives are unknown.
- We don’t gossip. We practice open, honest, direct communication.
- We speak the truth in love.
- We allow room for mistakes, understanding failure is a necessary condition of our human nature.
- We ask for forgiveness when we do harm.
- We forgive as God has forgiven us in Christ.
- We don’t avoid conflict, because sometimes it’s necessary. We address it and pursue reconciliation.
- We seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
Matthew 18:15–20
15“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Micah 6:8
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
James 1:19–20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:15
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Colossians 3:13
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Discussion Questions
- What sticks out to you when reading through the covenant?
- Is anything unclear to you?
- Where do you personally tend to miss the mark? As a church, where do you think we're close to the mark? Where are we further away?