Membership

Persons desiring membership are encouraged to prayerfully seek the will of God and consider carefully the decision to join the Church. This covenant or any covenant is not to be entered into lightly knowing that our eternal God remembers a covenant even after people have long forgotten.

 

Covenants between God and His people and between others are common in the holy Scriptures. This covenant is a commitment between the Church and its Members consistent with the Church's Purpose and Mission statement (Article II) and Statement of Faith (Article III). (See also Gen 6, 9, 15; Ex 20; I Sam 18; II Sam 5; Hos 2; Jer 31; Mat 26)

 

I _____________________________, having confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, having been baptized, and having been led by the Holy Spirit, and in agreement with the Church’s Purpose and Mission statement (Article II) and the Statement of Faith (Article III) now unite myself to the fellowship of this Church.

 

In doing so, I commit myself to God and the other members of the Church that with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit I covenant:

 

• To submit to the authority of the holy Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice (Ps 119; II Tim 3:14-17; II Pet 1:19-21).

 

• To pursue my personal and spiritual development as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ through faithful Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and the practice of spiritual disciplines (Luke 18:1; Acts 17:11; I Cor 9:24-27; Eph 5:1-21).

 

• To follow the command and example of Jesus by participating in the ordinances of the Church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and sharing the gospel with others (John 13:34-35; Mat 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Cor 11:23-29).

 

• To faithfully participate in the fellowship and worship of the Church by attending weekly worship services, engaging in weekly Bible studies, and serving others. Participating in the fellowship of the Church includes displaying Christian love, compassion, and courage. Remembering others in prayer, comforting the ill and infirmed, encouraging the troubled, exhorting in all wisdom those in need of rebuke, being courteous in speech, slow to take offense, and quick to regard acts of reconciliation (Heb 10:23-25; Tit 3:14; II Cor 5:18).

 

• To diligently seek the salvation of my family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone God placed into my life, through the intentional and prayerful efforts of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mat 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).

 

• To steward the resources and blessings given to me by God—time, talent, skill, training, education, money, and spiritual gifts. This includes using my resources in sacrificial and voluntary service to others and cheerful giving to the Church (Mat 25:14-30; Ro 12:1-2; II Cor 8-9; I Pet 4:10-11).

 

• To demonstrate appreciation of God’s grace through faithful obedience to Jesus Christ by the pursuit of holiness in all areas of my life (I Pet 1:13-16; 4:1-3).

 

• To celebrate and observe my Christian freedom in ways that would not create a stumbling block for other believers (Ro 14:14-23; I Cor 8:1-13).

 

• To confess my sins to God. If needed, to confess my sins to my pastor, or another leader within the Church, and to hear the sins of others in strict confidence so that I may put to death the sin in my body (Ro 8:13; Col 3:5; Ja 5:16; I John 1:6-10).

 

• To submit to the appointed leaders within the Church and follow them as they follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1; Heb 13:17).

 

• To make a diligent effort toward achieving unity and peace within the Church (Eph 4:1-3; Heb 13:17; I Pet 5:5).

 

• To submit to and practice discipline within the Church according to the Scriptures. (Mat 18:15-20; Gal 6:1; I Cor 5:9-13; Heb 12:5-11).