Preamble
The church covenant is equal parts promise, summary of expectations, ethical statement, and biblical standard. We summarize how we promise to live together as members in the covenant. It forms the ethics, or the moral principles, of our worldview and holds out a biblical standard by which we live. Church membership is not like joining a club for its benefits or services; it is committing oneself to the good of a local body, even as that body commits itself to your own good.
We use our covenant in two key ways today. We require all new members to sign it before joining the church. Additionally, we regularly recite our covenant corporately. By featuring the covenant in our life together, we strive to protect ourselves from individual and corporate sin. Of equal importance, we spur one another on to live in light of a greater covenant, one initiated by love, sealed by sacrifice, and kept for eternity by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Church Covenant
By God’s grace, we have been brought to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been joined to Him by His Spirit and baptized upon our profession of faith, we solemnly and joyfully reaffirm our covenant with each other.
(John 6:63; 16:7-11; 1:12; 1 Thess. 2:13; Acts 2:41; 8:38; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Acts 2:42)
We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Eph. 4:1-3)
We will walk together in love, exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require.
(Rom. 12:10, 16:17-18; Gal. 6:1-2; Matt. 18:15-17; Jam. 5:19-20; Col. 3:16; Heb. 3:12-13; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Cor. 5)
We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others.
(Heb. 10:23-25; Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17, 25)
We will work to raise up those under our care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends.
(Deut. 6:1-12; 11:18-20; Matt. 5:16, 6:6; Mark 5:19; Luke 5:19; Eph. 5:15, 6:4; 1 Tim. 5:8)
We will rejoice at each others’ happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.
(Rom. 12:15; Gal. 6:2)
We will seek to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily buried by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life.
(Eph. 5:15; Titus 2:12; Rom. 6:4; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Pet. 1:13-25)
We will work together for the continuance of a faithful gospel ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines. We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
(Eph. 2:21-22; Heb. 10:25; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:24-34; Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 5; Acts 2:42; 2 John 1:9-11; Matt. 10:10; Gal. 6:6; Mal. 3:8-10; Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:1-5, Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8)
We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
(Acts 18:27-28; Rom. 16:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:58; Col. 3:23; Heb. 10:24-25)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
(2 Cor. 13:14)