Believing that we have been brought by the grace of God to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into the following covenant with one another as one body in Christ:
As God is perfectly joyful, we affirm by the power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel of Jesus Christ as the objective truth that governs the world and our lives, thus the only source of true joy. We commit to walk in the joy of our salvation, to keep our affections for Christ and his saving work primary in and over every circumstance. We joyfully submit to the word of God through reading, studying, and obeying all it says for the purpose of holy transformation that yields joy. (Galatians 1:8–9, Jeremiah 15:16, Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:22)
As God dwells in perfect unity, we commit, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be unified, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. We commit to graciously hold one another accountable to holiness in all things: praying earnestly, gathering regularly, forgiving completely, bearing in love, giving generously, serving humbly, and declaring Christ boldly. In committing to these things, we hope to live in an authentic community that sanctifies one another in Christ and is distinct to our world. (John 16:12–15, Psalm 133:1, Philippians 1:27, Luke 10:2, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32, Malachi 3:10, Philippians 2:3–4, 7-8, Philippians 2:14–16)
As God pursues his children, we commit, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in word and deed to do everything to the glory of God; to believe ourselves missionaries in this life. We commit to pray, give, and serve our local and regional communities in any way that would allow us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We commit to partner globally with missionaries of like faith in prayer, giving, encouraging, and going, that we may endeavor in Christ’s mission to bring every people around His throne. (1 John 4:14, Colossians 3:17, Acts 1:8, Matthew 22:39, Revelation 7:9-12)
As God is perfectly sacrificial, we offer by the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives as living sacrifices in order to truly worship; no longer living for ourselves, but for Christ alone. We commit to give sacrificially our resources, believing we are strangers in this world and merely stewards of what the Lord has given. We commit to sacrificially give our glory, to fear no man’s evaluation of our reputation nor threat of physical death, believing to die for Christ is to truly live. (Philippians 2:8–9, Hebrews 9:22, Romans 12:1, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Acts 2:45, 1 Peter 2:11, 4:10, Galatians 2:20)
And it is our prayer that our love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that we may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)