“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4–5, ESV)
The word the New Testament uses for the church literally means, “the called ones”. The essence of the church is a people called out by God to follow him together. We are members that are united as the Body of Christ. We not only belong to him, but we belong to each other. The Body of Christ is a community that is based on the promises of God, therefore, it is appropriate to respond to those promises by covenanting together to follow Jesus.
We promise to:
1. Proclaim Together: The great commission is to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We do this by inviting people into relationship with us, inviting people into a relationship with Jesus, and then a relationship with the church, the Body of Christ.
- I will go and share the gospel with others in words and deeds and not be ashamed of my savior.
2. Worship Together: Every week we gather together in corporate worship. Our chief and highest end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. A part of our exercise of worship is giving our best to God including being financial stewards of our resources to glorify God.
- I will gladly participate in corporate worship with my fellow church members as long as I am physically able.
- I will give abundantly and joyfully, recognizing that God is the owner of all things I currently steward.
3. Study Together: Since God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority on all things of faith and life, we practice daily Bible reading & memorization, small group Bible study and prayer.
- I will get involved in a small group and/or a Sunday school class so that I might grow spiritually together with others, and so I might be accountable to them.
- I will spend regularly personal time in prayer and reading and reflecting on the God’s Word, the Bible.
4. Serve Together: The worship and study of God and His Word finds its expression in loving God and loving our neighbor. We witness to God’s love by loving others and ministering to their physical and spiritual needs.
- I will have the attitude of Christ and put church members and neighbors first before my wants and desires.
- I will focus on the positive ways God is using my church, and not on the flaws of my church, its leaders, or its members.
5. Send Together: As the Body of Christ we empower and encourage each other to proclaim God’s love and truth to the World, we do this by sending, joining and commissioning each other in church plants, missions, and ministries.
- I will pray that God will use me as an instrument to revive His church, for His name and for His glory.
- I will pray for, support and encourage others to take risks for Jesus and His Kingdom.
- I will hear and obey God as he sends me and others to be a missionary and ambassador of Christ in the places where I move, breathe and have my being.
Membership Vows/Questions
- Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God and without hope for your salvation except in His sovereign mercy?
- Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of sinners, and do you receive and depend upon Him alone for your salvation as He is offered in the gospel?
- Do you now promise and resolve, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
- Do you promise to serve Christ in His Church by supporting and participating with this congregation in its service of God and its ministry to others to the best of your ability?
- Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and to the spiritual oversight of this Church Session, and do you promise to promote the unity, purity and peace of the Church?
Below are forms and further explanations of our Membership Covenant and Baptism.
