With the guiding help of the Holy Spirit, I commit the following with my brothers and sisters in Christ at the Church at Trace Crossing: Having, as we trust, been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to Him as the LORD, Savior, and Supreme Treasure of our lives, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with each other.
We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace as we biblically welcome and test instruction from the Scriptures, seeking to grow toward biblical unity in the truth. We will refrain from causing division by teaching or following doctrine that contradicts God’s Word. (Heb. 12:14; Eph. 4:1-3; Acts 17:11)
We will walk together in brotherly love, as becomes members of a Christian Church, exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require. (Eph. 4:1-3; Gal. 6:1-2, 10; Col. 3:16; Rom. 12:10)
We will participate in a LifeGroup where we can serve and be served, where we can offer accountability and provide accountability, and where we walk through the Scriptures together aiming toward maturity in Christ. (Eph. 4:15-16)
We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others. We will use our spiritual gift(s) for the building up of the church. (Heb. 10:24-25; Col. 4:2; Rom. 12:3-8)
We will endeavor to bring up those who may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example seek the salvation and sanctification of our family and friends. (Deut. 6:4-9; Eph. 6:4; 1 Thess. 4:1-8)
We will rejoice in each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows. (Gal. 6:2; Rom. 12:15)
We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, being just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our behavior; to avoid all gossiping, backbiting, and excessive anger; to seek God’s help in abstaining from all practices which bring unwarranted harm to the Body or jeopardize our own or another’s faith; to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily buried by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life. (Rom. 6:1-14; 12:1-2; Eph. 4:25-32; 5:1-2, 15-21; Phil. 2:14-16)
We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, striving to advance Christ’s kingdom as we sustain Trace Crossing’s worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
We will submit to biblical authority in resolving conflicts within the church according to Matthew 18:15-20.
We will contribute cheerfully, sacrificially, 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. (Acts 2:42-47; 2 Cor. 8-9; Matt. 28:18-20)
We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word. (Heb. 10:24-25)