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Church Covenant

The church covenant is a voluntary agreement by members of a Baptist church whereby they promise to conduct their lives in such a way as to glorify GOD and promote the ongoing of His church. Every member should study it carefully, refer to it often, and seek to live by it. It clearly outlines the obligations of church membership. The form of covenant in use at First Baptist is as follows:

Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the spirit of GOD, to receive the LORD JESUS CHRIST as our SAVIOR, and on the confession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST, we do now, in the presence of GOD, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in CHRIST, to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the HOLY SPIRIT, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its ordinances, discipline, and doctrine; to faithfully attend its services of worship; to 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.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings; faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the cause of our Savior; to make Christ first in all things both spiritual and temporal.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courteous in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of the Word of GOD.

Basis of the Covenant

The obligations of church membership outlined in the covenant are all scriptural, as may be seen from the following study.


I. Salvation and Baptism (John 3:3; Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:9-10)

II. Duties to the Church

  1. To walk together in Christian love (John 13:34-35)

  2. To strive for the advancement of the church and promote its prosperity and spirituality. (II Timothy 2:15, II Peter 3:18)

  3. To attend worship services regularly (Hebrews 10:23-25)

  4. To sustain the churches ordinances, discipline and doctrine (Matthew 28:19, I Corinthians 11:23-26)

  5. To give it priority in my life (Matthew 6:33)

  6. To contribute cheerfully and regularly (I Corinthians 16:1-2, II Corinthians 9:6-8, Luke 6:38, Malachi 3:10)

  7. To carry my membership when I move and be active in church work wherever I live (Acts 11:19-21, Acts 18:24-28)

III.  Duties in Personal Christian Living

  1. To maintain family and secret devotions (I Thessalonians 5:17-18, II Timothy 3:16)

  2. To religiously educate the children (Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

  3. To seek the salvation of the lost (Acts 1:8, Matthew 4:19)

  4. To walk circumspectly in the world, and to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment (Ephesians 5:15, Philippians 2:14-15, I Peter 2:11-12)

  5. To avoid gossip and excessive anger (Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:8-10, James 3:8-10)

  6. To abstain from sale and use of drugs and liquors (Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 23:29-35)

  7. To shun pornography (Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 5:27-28)

  8. To be zealous in our efforts for Christ (Colossians 1:10, Colossians 3:17)

IV. Duties to Fellow Members

  1. To watch over one another in love (I John 4:7-8)

  2. To pray for one another (James 5:14-16)

  3. To aid in sickness and distress (Galatians 6:1-2, James 2:14-16)

  4. To cultivate sympathy and courtesy (I Peter 3:8-9)

  5. To be slow to take offense, always ready for reconciliation (Ephesians 4:31-32)