March 12th, 2026
by Casey Stanfill
by Casey Stanfill
The Beauty of Covenant Commitment: Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” -Acts 2:42 CSB
I was studying for a midterm for one of my seminary classes, and I came across this verse. It was foundational for the development of Christian worship.
It also affirms something I’ve been thinking about lately, which is this:
In country where we’re so spoiled that we can threaten to go to the church around the corner if we don’t get our way, I have come to really admire lifelong church members- the saints who are so committed to a particular body that they are willing to stick it out through the lowest of lows and the highest of highs.
Sadly, many see church as just another product to consume. If they don’t like it, they move on to the next thing.
While I was in between ministry positions, I went and visited New Hope Methodist (my original home church). My dad, my grandmother, my cousin, my 2nd grade teacher, and the many saints I’ve been influenced by were all still there.
Everyone was so happy to see me. I felt nothing but loved and embraced….even though I’m Baptist now! As a matter of fact, one of them came up to me and said, “No matter where you end up, you’ll always be one of us.”
That certainly meant a lot as I was getting ready to move off to Fulton/Union City. New Hope has done nothing but cheer me on in my ministry journey!
I say all of this while also understanding that there ARE good reasons to leave a church- new marriages, moving to a new area, theological convictions, etc. However, in an age where new, explosive church plants are glamorized, not many want to celebrate the faithfulness and loyalty to the covenant relationship that lifelong church members have with one another.
FBCUC is a prime example of a church with legacy members who are committed to the covenant we have with one another and have witnessed some of the lowest and highest seasons in the church’s history. What a beautiful, tangible picture of the faithful covenant God keeps with US through all the seasons of OUR lives!
So, First Baptist, let’s maintain out devotion to what God is doing at FBCUC!
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” -Acts 2:42 CSB
I was studying for a midterm for one of my seminary classes, and I came across this verse. It was foundational for the development of Christian worship.
It also affirms something I’ve been thinking about lately, which is this:
In country where we’re so spoiled that we can threaten to go to the church around the corner if we don’t get our way, I have come to really admire lifelong church members- the saints who are so committed to a particular body that they are willing to stick it out through the lowest of lows and the highest of highs.
Sadly, many see church as just another product to consume. If they don’t like it, they move on to the next thing.
While I was in between ministry positions, I went and visited New Hope Methodist (my original home church). My dad, my grandmother, my cousin, my 2nd grade teacher, and the many saints I’ve been influenced by were all still there.
Everyone was so happy to see me. I felt nothing but loved and embraced….even though I’m Baptist now! As a matter of fact, one of them came up to me and said, “No matter where you end up, you’ll always be one of us.”
That certainly meant a lot as I was getting ready to move off to Fulton/Union City. New Hope has done nothing but cheer me on in my ministry journey!
I say all of this while also understanding that there ARE good reasons to leave a church- new marriages, moving to a new area, theological convictions, etc. However, in an age where new, explosive church plants are glamorized, not many want to celebrate the faithfulness and loyalty to the covenant relationship that lifelong church members have with one another.
FBCUC is a prime example of a church with legacy members who are committed to the covenant we have with one another and have witnessed some of the lowest and highest seasons in the church’s history. What a beautiful, tangible picture of the faithful covenant God keeps with US through all the seasons of OUR lives!
So, First Baptist, let’s maintain out devotion to what God is doing at FBCUC!
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