true to the Scriptures, the reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ 

As one communion in the worldwide church, the Presbyterian Church in America (PAC) exists to glorify God by extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ over all individual lives through all areas of society and in all nations and cultures. To accomplish this end, the PCA aims to fill the world with churches that are continually growing in vital worship, in theological depth, in true fellowship, in assertive evangelism, and in deeds of compassion.

The distinctiveness of the PCA lies in our stress on both reformation and revival. Without an emphasis on revival, "reformation" may become either a mimicking of political ideologies or sterile doctrinalism. Without an emphasis on reformation, "revival" may become a shallow pietism or mysticism. Only reformation and revival together can accomplish the Great Commission of our Lord.

We are committed to

• the Scriptures and the historic Westminster Standards based firmly on a biblical theology that answers the questions and issues of each culture and people to which we minister;
• the winning of new converts and their incorporation into the church through the ministry of the Word and to significant ministry to the needy through deeds of mercy and service;
• the freedom of every member to minister through spiritual gifts and also to the responsibility to do so under spiritual authority and loving discipline.;
• guarding and strengthening the biblical family and also to a ministry to the broken family forms such as the divorced, the widowed and the unwed parent;
• teaching and discipling men and women in the whole counsel of God and also to ministering to the needs of the whole person.

At Covenant Presbyterian Church we desire to see the gospel transform lives in real and tangible ways. How might our mission to 'Glorify God in Worship, Mission, and Discipleship' take shape in someone who makes this their church home? What do we as a church hope and expect for you? To help answer this question, we've compiled 'Ten Hopes and Expectations for the People of God at Covenant Presbyterian Church.' Our earnest hopes and prayerful expectations are that you would

• know Jesus Christ and the salvation only He can give; this salvation is a free gift received through faith alone and is a real redemption which includes forgiveness of your sin, being made righteous in Christ, your adoption as God's child, His rule in your heart, and the transformation of your life.  Philippians 3:9-10
• become a disciple of God's Word; that you would have a life devotion to know, study, memorize, apply, and correctly handle the powerful Word of God; that you would know its truth and see its beauty; and that, as a result of being saturated in God's Word, your whole life would be deeply grounded upon the truths of Biblical doctrine and theology.  1 Peter 2:2-3
• become a man or woman of worship; that you would pursue and experience the joyful, wholehearted, sacrificial giving of glory to the One who created and redeemed you, practicing worship in everything you do—as well as special times of individual and family worship throughout the week, which culminate in corporate worship with God's people every Sunday; and that, as a tangible expression of offering your body as a living sacrifice, you personally would fully engage the Lord during Sunday worship by singing, praying, hearing God's Word, confession, giving tithes and offerings, thanks, and praise to Him.  Romans 12:1
• become a discipler of Jesus Christ who pursues life, truth, grace, freedom, and joy in Him, and that you would disciple others to join you in this pursuit; that you would not neglect (or postpone to a later stage of life) your obedience of the Lord's Great Commission to make disciples, but that you would pursue the Lord's agenda for someone else's life - and your own - by making Kingdom disciples.  1 Corinthians 11:1
• glorify God and harm evil by using your life story (knowing that the Lord sovereignly ordained everything in your life for His purpose at this time; successes & failures; strengths & weaknesses; dreams & disasters) to disciple the next generation, transform the culture, and spread the dominion of Jesus Christ over every area of your life and the world.  Psalm 139:16; Romans 8:28
• intentionally disciple our covenant children, actively loving the next generation of disciples by modeling authentic faith and repentance (not perfection or legalism); that you would pray for and entice spiritual thirst in the next generation by demonstrating that they too can have a vital walk with the Lord even after 50, 60, or 70 years; and that you would have a covenantal perspective of everything you do—not merely living for your generation or the next—but for many future generations.  Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• develop relational maturity characterized by taking the initiative to form relationships and perseverance in creating communities which advance the Gospel; that you would mature beyond relational adolescence (looking only to be accepted, feel loved, be un-offended, and have your needs met) and instead know the life-giving sacrifice of moving toward others (as Christ has with you) - fostering community, forgiveness, reconciliation, and authenticity; and accepting that risk, loss, betrayal, and disappointment are realities for everyone this side of heaven; and that you might resist our culture's influence to fill your schedule with countless activities and commitments at the expense of fostering depth in your relationships with God and others. 1 Thessalonians 2:8
• seek to recover the glorious image of God (now distorted by sin) revealed in you and in all humanity, understanding the connection between the image of God and the spiritual root at the heart of the most pressing issues of our day (including abortion, racism, the breakdown of the family, distortion of masculinity and femininity, homosexuality, human trafficking, war, poverty, AIDS, the environment, abuse, domestic violence, addictions, etc.); and that your own redemption in these things through Jesus Christ would impassion you to thirst for the same redemption in others, compel you to boldly and lovingly entice others to the Redeemer (i.e., 'evangelism'), and convince you that our generation has been providentially raised up for such a time as this.  Genesis 1:26-30
• engage our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in whatever position or vocation the Lord has called you; that you would seek to both engage and transform our culture and other cultures close to us (e.g., Hispanics, Kurds, the arts community, university students, different socio-economic classes, etc.) with the mindset of being God's ambassador in every situation—locally and globally; and that you might deliberately consider your role in obeying the Great Commission by asking, "In what ways can I use the time, talents, and treasure entrusted to me by God to extend the Kingdom of God throughout the nations?"  Matthew 28:18-20
• wage a life and death spiritual battle with an eternal perspective; earnestly awaiting Christ's return, sobered by the reality of the coming Judgment, compelled by the knowledge that every day billions of souls face an eternity in either heaven or hell, learning the tactics of the enemy and how to sabotage them, convinced that God's Word, prayer, and humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit are infinitely more powerful and effective than bombs and guns, and motivated to make great sacrificial risks on behalf of God's glory.  Ephesians 6:12-13

May Covenant Presbyterian Church strive for these things in joy derived from a posture of godly brokenness, sorrow, humility, righteousness, love, peace, and persecution.  Matthew 5:3-12

NOTE: Go to Covenant's Sermon Notes/Audio webpage and download Parts 1 and 2 of the sermon audios and outlines titled 'Ten Hopes and Expectations' under the heading 'Vision Sermons'.