“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” —Hebrews 3:13

What are Covenant Groups all about?
Our Covenant Groups are the strategic small group ministry of the church whereby Jesus Christ ministers to and nurtures believers through the various spiritual extended families of His body. It is a place where you can belong; share your joys, sorrows, dreams and disappointments; discuss your concerns; and ask questions about faith, the Bible, and God's plan and purpose for your life. It is a place to receive encouragement and be prayed for as well as a place to pray, encourage and reach out to others.

The purpose of the Covenant Group is to create a context for members of FCF to know God more as they fellowship, equip one another and reach out to those who need Jesus Christ and His body. This context is created when believers commit themselves to one another for the benefit of their mutual spiritual growth by means of a covenant. A covenant is a serious commitment or promise between people and before God to do something. As a norm a person who is a Covenant Group member has made a covenant of membership with FCF.

There are different kinds of small groups today: pure Bible study, task groups, life stage groups, recovery groups, etc. While Covenant Groups may have different seasons of emphasis such as Bible study, prayer, service, outreach, fellowship, etc., they exist as the Church in its miniature and personal form. Therefore, Covenant Groups assume responsibility for the primary purposes of the church, "to worship God, equip believers to reach Baltimore and the world for Jesus Christ." They are also intentionally structured to reflect FCF's diverse demographics—individuals of various ages, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds and marital statuses being the body, one in Christ.

Objectives
We believe the objectives of Covenant Groups represent the biblical character of true Christian fellowship. In these groups we seek an environment in which...

• every member is growing deeper in his or her love for God and His Kingdom;
• reaching out to others and making disciples is a constant reality;
• unity and reconciliation with others is a Christian lifestyle;
• understanding and applying the whole counsel of God to life is a valued practice;
• every member knows and uses his or her spiritual gifts and strengths for the building of God's church;
• loving mercy and doing justice is cultivated; and
• every member finds a joy filled experience in meeting together with brothers and sisters in Christ.
  
  

A Place to Work Out Christianity
Christianity is a lifestyle centered on a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is lived out in the midst of an intentional fellowship of believers who demonstrate the power of the Gospel in the world.

This lifestyle is expressed in one form by the believer's participation in the larger congregation. The congregation is the local church in corporate celebration and worship, spiritual oversight and administration, leadership equipping and confirmation, biblical proclamation, doctrinal instruction, public witness and unity.

The Church Within the Church
Yet large corporate assemblies are not conducive to the deeper fellowship experiences which are essential for spiritual maturity and personal care. Jesus Christ and His apostles also modeled the small group format of spiritually accountable believers as essential for discipleship and vital Christianity. Small groups become the church within the church. Our celebration in worship is intended to be a congregation of small groups united to worship God. These intentional small fellowships help ensure that our worship as a congregation is an expression of fully committed lives. In other words, the small group is to be the church in fellowship, personal care and support, biblical application, intimate worship, community prayer, leadership and spiritual gifts development, and outreach and spiritual reproduction.

The Basic Building Block for Maturity and Community
Therefore, we believe that the small group of mutually accountable believers becomes the basic budding block for Christian maturity and community. The vitality of the church is directly dependent on the health of these groups as they encourage individuals to know and love Jesus. Consequently, we are committed to the development of deep and meaningful relationships within the church through lay-led small groups of six to twelve adults that meet regularly in homes.

A Place to Mirror God’s Covenant Promises
At FCF we refer to these groups as Covenant Groups because believers promise to commit themselves in these spiritual extended families to know God more as they fellowship with, equip and care for one another; reach out to those in need; incorporate newcomers into the body; and grow new groups with accompanying leadership. In these committed relationships, Covenant Groups become a place for spiritual renewal and power, healing, and effective ministry through the application of spiritual gifts.

People Become Vitally Connected
Covenant groups are vitally connected to the larger body through a carefully coached system of lay leaders (facilitators) who receive regular encouragement, training and oversight through the pastor, elders and church staff. Accordingly, the primary and direct care of each member of the body is provided for within the Covenant Group. The responsibility of the elders and church staff is to ensure that the facilitators and members are being equipped and encouraged to care for one another. We see Covenant Groups as a key structure for the spiritual transformation of individuals, families, and the city.

In Summary
Covenant groups are gatherings of broken people who are being restored—restored in communion with God, in fellowship with believers and in service in the world.

Covenant Group Name	Meeting time
Won't You Be My Neighbor	Sunday @6:30pm
Five Stones and a Sling Shot	Sunday @6:30pm
Genesis	Sunday @6:00pm
The Hillenites	Sunday @7:00pm
Pizza Eaters	Sunday @5:00pm
Soup & Scripture @ 6:00	Monday @6:00pm
Monday Night Mergers	Monday @7:00pm
Southside Servants	Monday @7:30pm
Tuesday Night Truth	Tuesday @7:30pm
The Livingstones	Tuesday @7:00pm
On Holy Ground	Tuesday @7:30pm
The Body Builders	Tuesday @7:00pm

Page updated March 6, 2007