By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

- John 13:35

What is a Membership Covenant?

A Membership Covenant is a set of mutual promises about how we will live together as a church. It is an outline of our commitments to God and to one another as members of the same body, almost like a job description for the Christian life. In Scripture, God always organizes his people through covenants and this document reflects the fact that the church is God’s New Covenant community.

If a Statement of Faith defines what we believe, then a Membership Covenant defines how we live. Both are important because both affect our witness for the gospel in the world.

We believe this Membership Covenant to be an accurate expression and summary of the beautiful and God-glorifying Scriptural commands regarding the life of Jesus’ church.

How Will We Use this Statement?

Defining Membership - Every member of the church is expected to make and uphold these commitments. This doesn’t mean we expect perfection, but we do expect that church members, like all genuine Christians, will strive by the grace of God to be obedient to his commands.

Encouraging Unity - Having clear and stated commitments helps us grow together in our understanding of God’s vision for his church. This helps ensure that all of us are pursuing the same goal as a church, which is a faithful display of God’s own character.

Membership Covenant- Christ Redeemer Church

By the grace of God, we have been led to repent of our sin and believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We have confessed our faith and have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now, therefore, in the presence of God and by His grace, we joyfully and solemnly covenant with one another as the members of Christ Redeemer Church. 

As an overflow of our faith and identity in Jesus, we now commit ourselves to obeying God’s commands for church members. To that end: 

  1. Devoted Disciples - We will pray and labor to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, devoted to the glory of God, resting in the gospel of his Son, and depending upon the work of the Holy Spirit. (Col. 4:2-3; Luke 9:23; John 8:31-32; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17; Rom. 1:16-17; Gal. 5:25)

  2. Faithful Witnesses - We will strive together to maintain a faithful gospel ministry in this church and to proclaim and adorn the gospel before our family, friends, and neighbors, so that they may be won to Christ. (Phil. 1:27; 1 Tim. 3:15; Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 5:16; 2 Cor 5:18-20)

  3. Corporate Unity - We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, seeking opportunities to encourage and build one another up, and refusing any opportunities to participate in gossip, slander, or anything else that would cause division in the body. (Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Thes. 5:11; Prov. 16:28; Eph. 4:31; Rom. 16:17)

  4. Care for the Body - We will walk together as brothers and sisters in fervent Christian love, showing affectionate care, watching over one another’s souls, praying for one another, sharing in one another’s joys, bearing one another’s burdens with tenderness and sympathy, and diligently using our gifts to serve one another and build up the body. (John 13:34-55; Phil. 2:3-4; Heb. 3:12-13; Eph. 6:18; Gal. 5:13-6:10; 1 Pet. 4:8-10; 1 Cor. 12:4-11)

  5. Assembling Together - We will not forsake assembling together, but will faithfully attend our corporate worship, treasuring our weekly opportunity to sing, pray, listen to the preaching of God’s Word, and participate in the Ordinances. (Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47; Ps. 122:1; Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)

  6. Generous Stewardship - We will regularly, cheerfully, and sacrificially give to support the ministry of this church, the care of its members, and the spread of the Gospel to all nations. (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; Acts 4:32-35; Phil. 4:15-18)

  7. Humble Submission - We will joyfully cooperate with and submit ourselves to the Elders of this church for the care of our souls, knowing this is for our good. (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 1:1-5; Acts 20:28; 1 Thes. 5:12-13; Eph. 4:11-16)

  8. Godly Households - We will endeavor to bring up our children and all those under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and also to encourage each other in that work. (Deut. 6:4–9; Ps. 127:3–5; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; Titus 2:1–8; Prov. 22:6) 

  9. Church Discipline - We will, in the case of unrepentant sin, humbly receive the loving correction and discipline of our church family, and also participate ourselves in graciously rebuking, admonishing, and correcting other members, as fits the occasion. (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; Prov. 12:1)

  10. Continuing Fellowship - We will, if we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with another biblical and evangelical congregation where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s word. (Heb. 10:24–25; Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:1-6)

If we fail to fulfill any of these commitments, we will confess our sin to God and to one another, humbly seeking and readily granting forgiveness in light of the gospel of God’s grace. (1 John 1:9; James 5:16; Matt 18:21-22; Eph 4:32)

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)