Our Discipleship Pathway
To help us see the vision of LIVES CHANGED BY JESUS become a reality, we aim to walk a clear path of discipleship together. Our discipleship pathway provides each person a map to live on mission as we gather, grow, serve, and speak.
When we explore Scripture, we discover in the New Testament four biblical priorities Jesus intends for the local church: GATHER, GROW, SERVE AND SPEAK.
- We gather to worship, pray, and celebrate God together.
- We gather to enjoy one another, a family of many generations.
- We grow through daily time with God in His Word and prayer.
- We grow together through gospel-centered relationships in small groups
- We serve as an expression of God’s overwhelming love for us.
- We serve by giving generously as stewards of God’s gifts to us.
- We speak the good news of Jesus in our homes, neighborhoods, and the nations.
- We speak the good news as we intentionally pray for and invite others to be changed by Jesus
OUR COVENANT
We, the members of Ooltewah Baptist Church, having been led by the Spirit of God to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives, and having been baptized by immersion upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, joyfully and faithfully enter into a covenant with one another: many members, one body in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. May lives be changed by Jesus, both ours and countless others throughout the nations!
We will gather for the worship of Almighty God as a fellowship of believers, in the power of the Holy Spirit, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
We will follow and submit to the Scriptures as the final authority in all areas of our life allowing God’s Word to guide our thoughts, change our actions, and help us to discern what is right and resist what is wrong.
We will, with God’s help, live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly desires. Our symbolic burial and resurrection in baptism testifies to this special obligation to live a new and holy life.
We affirm the Constitution and Statement of Faith of Ooltewah Baptist Church knowing that they stand in direct contrast to the popular and often shifting beliefs of the unbelieving world in this present age. We do not believe that calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ constitutes hateful or harassing behavior. Upholding truth is loving our neighbor.
We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We will support our pastors and fellow members through prayer, words, and good deeds and will submit to the authority that the local church has been given in Scripture.
We will refuse to participate in gossip or slander. We will be devoted to one another in Christian love. With humility we will patiently bear with each other, forgiving, encouraging and building one another up, exercising watchfulness over each other.
We will, if the unfortunate need should ever arise, submit to righteous discipline when approached biblically by brothers and sisters in Christ acting with the understanding of this covenant and in both love and humility.
We will gather to worship, pray, and celebrate God together. We will attend worship services regularly, unless prohibited by illness or disability. We will gather to enjoy one another, a family of many generations.
We will grow through daily time with God in His Word and prayer. We will grow together through gospel-centered relationships in small groups, exercising care and watchfulness over each other by being a regular part of a small group, to bear one another’s burdens and rejoice in the fellowship of one another.
We will serve in response to God’s overwhelming love for us by giving generously as stewards of God’s gifts to us. We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We speak the good news of Jesus in our homes, neighborhoods, and the nations. We speak the good news as we intentionally pray for and invite others to be changed by Jesus.
We will, should we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant submitting to the authority of God’s Word.