Immanuel Baptist Church Covenant

As a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, I declare myself to be a follower of Jesus Christ and affirm that I cannot be such apart from a community of other Christ followers. I recognize that community requires commitment and therefore I make my commitment official and public by willingly entering into this covenant with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at Immanuel Baptist Church:

• A Christian’s life must be distinct amidst a world of sin. Therefore, I covenant to live a holy life of integrity and purity and according to God’s standards (cf. 2 Cor. 7:1, 1 Thess. 4:7).
• The ultimate mission of the church is to spread the message of salvation through Jesus and expand the kingdom of God. Therefore, I covenant to intentionally seek opportunities where I can share the gospel with those who do not currently believe (cf. Mt. 28:18-20).
• Love of God and love of neighbor go hand in hand. Therefore, I covenant to practice religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless by exhibiting a concern for the poor and oppressed and championing the cause of social justice in whatever ways I can (cf. Mt. 22:39, James 1:27).
• Community requires openness. Therefore, I covenant to foster relationships of authenticity and transperancy by letting people in the community into my heart and life (cf. James 5:16).
• When sinful people are together they are bound to step on toes or rub each other the wrong way eventually. Therefore, I covenant to not grow bitter or leave (cf. Eph. 4:31-32), but to patiently cultivate genuine love between members (cf. 1 Jn. 4:7-12), and proactively work to preserve the unity of the body (cf. Eph. 4:2-3).
• Being a part of a body means that members are intimately interrelated. Therefore, I covenant to consider how my words and deeds affect my fellow members and act accordingly (cf. Rom. 12:4-5, 14:1-23).
• Scripture grants oversight of the church to the elders. Therefore, I covenant to joyfully submit to their leadership (cf. Heb. 13:17).
• In addition, I specifically covenant to:
• regularly attend Sunday worship services (cf. Acts 20:7, Heb. 10:25).
• seek to grow in my practice of personal spiritual disciplines (1 Tim. 4:7b).
• faithfully give of my finances to the church according to omy means (cf. 1 Cor. 16:2).
• be actively involved in a weekly small group (cf. Acts 2:46b).
• attend Membership meetings
• and pray consistently for the church and its members (cf. Col. 1:3).
• 
  
  Finally, I recognize that participating in such a church community requires accountability. Therefore, I covenant to lovingly rebuke fellow members when necessary, accept rebuke when received, and unflinchingly extend forgiveness upon repentence (cf. Lk. 17:3-4). I also covenant to submit to and uphold church discipline (Mt. 18:15-17, 1 Cor. 5).