CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Our church family unites around historic, biblical Christianity as summarised in our Statement of Faith.

The members of our church have also committed to living together according to the promises in our Church Covenant. This covenant outlines the ordinary expectations the Bible gives for Christians as we live together in God’s community. We trust and pray that this will help us to live fruitful lives together as we follow Jesus.

Grace Church COVENANT

Having been brought by God’s grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we now, in dependence upon his Spirit, resolve to live by faith, and so establish this covenant with each other.

  1. We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3)

  2. We will be devoted to one another in love. With humility and gentleness we will patiently bear with each other, forgiving, encouraging and building one another up, exercising watchfulness over each other and admonishing one another when necessary. (Luke 17:3; Col 3:13; 1 Thess 5:11; 1 Pet 1:22)

  3. We will faithfully pray for one another and for our church leaders who are called to keep watch over themselves and all the flock. (Col 4:2; Heb 10:25, Heb 13:17, Acts 20:28)

  4. We promise to bring up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends. (Eph 6:4; 1 Pet 3:1)

  5. We will rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, helping to carry each other’s burdens. (Rom 12:15)

  6. We will seek, by God’s help, to live carefully in this world, denying ungodliness and worldly passions. We will strive to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, as we wait for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12; 1 Pet 1:14)

  7. We will defend and maintain a Bible-based and Christ-centred ministry in this church by supporting and upholding: the preaching of the word of God (2 Tim 4:2); the administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 11:26); and the exercise of biblical church discipline (Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 5:13)

  8. We will contribute cheerfully, generously and regularly to the ministry of the church, the needs of our neighbours, and the spread of the gospel through all nations. (Matt 28:19; Luke 12:33; 2 Cor 9:7)

  9. We will not neglect to gather together and, when we move from this place, will seek to join with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s word. (Heb 10:25)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. (2 Cor 13:14)