Why Do We Have A Membership Covenant?

Written by Jared Burkholder | Pastor of Outreach & Connections

God never intended his people to live in isolation. The Scriptures only present a picture of Christians living in community. In the Bible, to love God is to love and be connected to his church. The Christian’s ability to rightly know, depend on, and image God flows out of a robust commitment to one another. The church exists for the glory of God and the good of God‘s people. It’s much more than a building, programs, and even weekly gatherings. The church is a group of people who are committed to God, committed to his word, and committed to each other.

“The Covenant expresses our intention to love, serve, and grow together and to do so faithfully.”

Church membership ratifies this commitment, demonstrating the vitality and ensuring the continuity of biblical community. Then, the Membership Covenant gives a more resonant voice to this commitment, expressing a promise to be for the good of those in this church family. The Covenant expresses our intention to love, serve, and grow together and to do so faithfully.

Each year, we affirm this commitment to each other, signaling our intention to continue pursuing Christ together. These commitments outline a pathway of faithfulness that beckon Grace Baptist Church into deeper relationships with each other as we grow together in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And, together, we stand as beacons of eternal hope to a lost and dying world.

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)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28 ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17 ESV)