Covenant of Membership

in Bethany Church Christian Reformed

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent to redeem the world, and I love and trust him as my Savior from sin and the Lord of my life.

I believe that God has called me to Bethany Christian Reformed Church, and I embrace its mission as my own:

Bethany Church has been called by God
   and is empowered by the Spirit
   to be the presence of Christ in core city Muskegon:
We will strive to demonstrate and activate
   Christ's passion for children and young people;
   Christ's promises through fervent prayer; and
   Christ's power to reconcile all people to God
      and each other.

Therefore, I commit myself to the Lord and to this church by . . .

1. participating regularly in worship services [Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:46,47];

2. praying daily for Bethany Church, its members, its leadership, and its ministries [Colossians 4:2,3; James 5:16];

3. growing in the Christian faith through a program of personal and corporate bible study and prayer [Colossians 2:6,7; I Peter 3:18];

4. serving in a ministry of the church as a demonstration of the gifts the Holy Spirit has invested in me [I Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6-8];

5. supporting this church's ministry with my gifts of money, using the "tithe" [1/10] as a guideline for Kingdom giving [Malachi 3:10; II Corinthians 9:6-15];

6. developing close fellowship with the body of Christ at Bethany through involvement in a small group [Philippians 2:1,2; Acts 2:42-46];

7. living in accord with my brothers and sisters, quickly and lovingly resolving any conflicts, so that we may individually and corporately give witness to the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace [Colossians 3:13-15; Matthew 18:15-20]; and

8. submitting to the authority of the church through its appointed leaders [Hebrews 13:17; I Thessalonians 5:12,13].