As those who have been brought to faith in Jesus by the powerful working of God's Holy Spirit, and have been baptized as believers, we pledge that with God's help we will give ourselves to the following commitments:
- We will hold fast to the Gospel of Jesus for our life and salvation, putting no confidence in our flesh for our standing, status, or security before God and His people (Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 3:20-25; Galatians 2:20-21; 6:14; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 1:21-23).
- We will center our lives on Jesus and His mission, trusting and obeying Him as we seek to make disciples among our neighbors and among the nations by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 8:34-38; Acts 1:8).
- We will conduct our lives in holiness according to God's Word, submitting ourselves to the Scriptures and continuing in this local church's Statement of Faith as a trustworthy summary of biblical teaching (Matthew 5:13-16, 48; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:11-12).
- We will be faithful in the Word and in prayer, devoting ourselves to the study of Scripture and to private and corporate prayer and intercession (Acts 2:42-47; 4:31; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
- We will actively, consistently, and joyfully participate in the corporate life of the church, serving in its ministries, engaging in groups, and attending weekly gatherings to worship, receive God's Word, and observe the Sacraments (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25).
- We will seek to exemplify true Christ-centered community, striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit by loving, serving, caring for and admonishing one another (John 13:34-35; Acts 4:32-37; Romans 12:9-10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:1-6; 4:25-5:2).
- We will seek to discover, strengthen, and use our spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the growth of His Church (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
- We will cheerfully, sacrificially, and regularly give to support the ministries and expenses of the church, to relieve the poor and needy, and to advance the spread of the Gospel through all nations (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:6-12).
- We will accept biblical guidance from fellow partners of the church and its elders who are called to give care, counsel, and spiritual direction to its partners (Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-12; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24; 13:7, 17).
- We will honor marriage as a permanent and exclusive covenant between one man and one woman for the sake of demonstrating the Gospel to the world, while striving to honor and provide intimate friendship and spiritual family to those who for the sake of Christ, live as single and celibate (Matthew 19:3-12; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4).
- We will hold one another accountable to this covenant, exhorting and equipping one another to keep these promises and seeking to gently restore those who persistently live contrary to them (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:25).
- We will embrace as covenant partners those who commit to keep the spirit of this covenant, but who due to physical health conditions are unable to keep all the practices of this covenant. We will seek to serve them as our homebound partners in need of support, encouragement, prayer, and fellowship (Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 25:36; James 1:27).
- We will, upon leaving this congregation in good standing, notify the appropriate leaders and, as soon as possible, unite with another church that seeks to embody the spirit and doctrine of this covenant for the glory of God (Ephesians 4:4-6).