I commit to being renewed through the putting off of my old way of life and putting on my new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). I recognize this is an ongoing process that helps me become the person God created me to be. If I have not done so yet, I will pursue baptism as a way of showing that I have been made new not through anything I can do on my own power, but through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I commit to prioritizing heavenly expectation over worldly excess. I will give freely of my time, talents and treasures so that God will be made known in and through my local church. I understand that this is a process that helps me let go of all the promises the world offers so I can open myself to all that God has for me. If I am not doing so, I will commit to giving a set amount of my financial means to the local church to increase my expectation of God moving in me and through me (Luke 3:15).
I commit to being fully known by myself, by God, by those in my local church, and by the world. I will pursue a remarkable love that seeks to help others become the person that God created them to be and I will commit to relationships in the local church that help me become the person God has created me to be (John 13:34). I will commit to being part of a smaller group of Christians that hold me accountable to this kind of love.
I commit to making God known in the lives of those around me by discovering how God has uniquely gifted and called me to impact the lives of others. I will pursue my diakonia (1 Corinthians 12:5) and find ways to partner in the local church to make God known through my unique calling (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). I will commit to regular service in the local church as my worship response to Christ fulfilling His calling to sacrifice His own life on my behalf.
I commit to walking in an active faith and love for the benefit of those in my spheres of influence (Galatians 5:6). I will glorify God by investing in the lives of my neighbors as a reflection of the incredible love that He has shown to me and them.
I will dedicate myself to God and His church. I will be a person of His Word, that approaches God with humility, letting him change my mind about things based on what He says (2 Timothy 3:16). I will choose to walk hand-in-hand with fellow believers, even when we don't see eye-to-eye. I will seek to actively help shoulder the spiritual mess that those less mature than myself create as I walk others closer to the cross of Christ (Romans 15:1-2). I am choosing to help make an invisible God visible, in power, by committing to this type of loyal love. I understand I must be present for this type of love and will choose to prioritize the regular gathering together with other believers to worship.
I understand this covenant is not a set of rules to be followed. Christ took all guilt and shame on the cross and as a church family we are choosing to walk in that freedom together. This covenant represents community values worth pursuing as we seek to hold one another accountable in creating a better place to belong.