Covenant

Our Member Covenant aims to articulate the biblical responsibilities of covenant members of a local church, so that we might love God and our neighbour as we ought.

Hill City Baptist Church Covenant

 

Having been brought by God’s grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we now, depending upon the Holy Spirit, affirm this covenant with one another: 

 

We will pursue unity and peace by walking together in love and in the Spirit, and by avoiding all bitterness, gossip, anger, and hurtful speech. (Eph. 4:3; Gal. 5:16, 25; Eph. 4:29, 31)

We will be kind to one another, and forgive each other, even as God, through Christ, has forgiven us. (Eph. 4:1-2; Luke 17:3; Col. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Pet. 1:22)

We will, having sinned against another or been sinned against, attempt to seek reconciliation and resolution according to the steps laid out in Matthew 18:15-17.

We will seek to cultivate healthy spiritual disciplines, such as Bible reading and prayer, in our own lives to the end that what we would bear spiritual fruit and grow in our likeness to Christ. (Heb. 5:12; Phil. 4:8, Rom. 8:5-9)

We will strive to support each other through difficulties - rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep. (Gal. 6:2; Rom. 12:15)

We will endeavor to train our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, and seek to walk in a way that adorns the gospel of Christ before our family, friends, and neighbors (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:1)

We will strive to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world as we wait for the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Gal. 5:22-24; Titus 2:12; 1 Pet. 1:14)

We will not neglect to gather together but, in light of sin’s deceitfulness and the nourishment such fellowship provides, will support and treasure the biblical preaching of the whole counsel of God, the faithful observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the loving exercise of church discipline. (Heb. 10:25; 2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 11:26; Matt 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:13.)

We will submit to our church leaders and to commit to following them as they follow Christ, for they endeavor to lovingly and patiently watch over our souls as those who will have to give an account. (Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 11:1)

We will cheerfully contribute to the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the advancement of the gospel both to our neighbors and the nations. (Matt. 28:19; Luke 12:33; 2 Cor. 9:7.)

We will affirm and uphold those Biblical doctrines as summarized in the Hill City Baptist Confession of Faithand the values of this church as set forward in our Church Constitution.

We will, if moving from this place, unite as soon as possible with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

In committing ourselves to pursue these things, we acknowledge our utter dependence on God to establish the work of our hands - as Psalms 121:1 reminds us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. .”