The church exists in this world to display the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Those of us who trust in and follow Jesus are caught up in something much bigger than ourselves. We have graciously been invited into God’s redemptive purposes in the world. Membership at Cornerstone is a participation in Christ’s family, a local expression of the universal household of God. All members are united in Christ and thus to one another. Unity within the church is expressed in love for God and a love for others, both those within the family and those who are not. Because of the identification of Jesus with His church we are expected to display His gospel glory in a manner worthy of Him (Ephesians 4:1).
As Christians, we are members of God’s household (Eph. 2:19) called to function, participate, and minister in a particular place within the body of Christ. A healthy body requires that each part does its work well (Eph. 4:11-16). A healthy church requires the same: members who are sacrificially committed and well equipped to do the works of ministry that the Lord Jesus has prepared in advance for them to do (Ephesians 4:11ff, 2:1-10). Here at Cornerstone we hold our members in high regard and expect them to be a community of growing disciples who are on mission with Jesus to the culture and to one another in Christ. The Lord, in his sovereignty, placed us in this city, in our neighborhood, at our workplace, among these people, in this time for a reason (Acts 17:26-27).
Section 2 What is a Church Covenant?
A covenant is a promise by which we obligate ourselves to one another in such a way that the obligation of one party is not dependent on the faithfulness of others (Ps. 76:11; Ezek. 20:44; 36:22; Hos. 2:19-20; 3:1; 2 Tim. 2:13). In a biblical covenant we make promises first and foremost to the Lord and also to one another in Christ to be the church that the Lord is calling us to be. The Cornerstone church covenant includes a statement of personal faith, a statement of biblical doctrine, the obligation of Cornerstone church to its members, and the obligations of members to Cornerstone church.
Section 3 Statement of Personal Faith
a)I am a Christian saved from the eternal wrath of God by God’s grace and through faith in Jesus Christ, my Lord, Savior and Life, through his death and resurrection, by which I am assured of eternal life (John 3:16-18; Rom. 3:23-26).
b)I believe that Jesus Christ is exactly who he claimed to be, the divine Son of God (Isa. 5:6; Mt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:70; John 4:25-26; 6:29; 8:58; 11:25-27; 14:6-7; 15:5).
c)I have repented of my sins and have been made a new creation in Christ (Acts 2: 29-42; 1 John 1:9; 2 Cor. 5:17).
d)In obedience to Scripture I have been baptized by immersion to personally identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and to publicly demonstrate my commitment as a disciple of Jesus (Col. 2:12; Romans 6; 1 Peter 3:21).
Section 4 Statement of Biblical Doctrine
a)I agree with the core beliefs of Cornerstone church which are expressed in the Cornerstone church affirmation of faith.
b)I understand the importance of submission to church leadership and will be diligent to preserve unity and peace; I will adhere to Cornerstone church’s position on primary theological issues, and I will not be divisive over secondary issues * (Eph. 4:1-3; Heb. 13:7,17).
c)I agree that the 66 books of the Bible are the ultimate doctrinal authority on all matters (Isa. 55:11; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 2 Tim. 3:15-16; Heb. 4:12).
Section 5 Obligation of Cornerstone church to its members
a)We covenant that your elders and deacons will meet the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
b)We covenant to seek God’s will for our church community to the best of our ability as we study the Scriptures and follow the Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5).
c)We covenant to care for you and seek your growth as a disciple of Christ, in part by teaching you the Word, equipping you for service (Eph. 4:11-13) and praying for you regularly.
d)We covenant to provide teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture (Acts 20:27-28; Gal. 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
e)We covenant to be on our guard against false teachers (Acts 20:28-31).
f)We covenant to exercise church discipline when necessary (Mt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5; Gal. 6:1).
Section 6 My Obligation to Cornerstone church as a member.
a)I have read and understood the Cornerstone church doctrinal statement and will not be divisive to its teaching. I also understand the importance of, and will be diligent to preserve unity and peace ( Eph. 4:1-3; Heb. 13:7,17).
b)I covenant to submit to the authority of Scripture as the final arbiter on all issues (Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
c)I will maintain a close relationship with the Lord Jesus through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and practice of spiritual disciplines. My relationship will be evident through my participation in weekly worship services, communion, gospel community, service, and a life that glorifies Jesus (Pss. 105:1-2; 119:97; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:23-25; 2 Pet. 1:3).
d)I will steward the resources God has given me, including my time, talents, and treasures (Prov. 3:9-10; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 5:22-26; Eph. 4:1-16; 5:15-18). This includes regular financial giving, service, and participation in community that is sacrificial, cheerful, and voluntary (Rom. 12:1-8; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:7-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
e)I covenant to care for my brothers and sisters in Christ in brotherly love (2 Peter 1:7), to pray for my fellow members regularly (Colossians 4:3), and to be slow to take offense and quick to seek reconciliation (James 1:19, Matthew 5:24).
f)I covenant to submit to discipline by God through his Holy Spirit, to follow biblical procedures for church discipline in my relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, to humbly adhere to righteous discipline when approached biblically by brothers and sisters in Christ, and to the discipline by church leadership if the need should ever arise (Ps. 141:5; Mt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 2 Cor. 2:5-8; Gal. 6:1-5, 8; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 2:25; Titus 1:9; 3:10-11; Heb. 12:5-11; Rev. 2:5-7, 14-25).
g)I agree, by God’s grace, to walk in holiness as an act of worship to Jesus Christ, who has saved me from my sin so that I could live a new life (2 Cor. 5:17). I will practice complete chastity before marriage and complete fidelity in heterosexual marriage by abstaining from practices such as cohabitation, pornography, homosexual behavior, and fornication (Job 31:1; Prov. 5; Rom. 13: 12-14; 1 Cor. 6:9-7:16; Heb. 13:4). I will refrain from illegal drug use, drunkenness, and other sinful behavior as the Bible, and my conscience dictate (1 Cor. 8:7; Gal. 5:19-21). Should I sin in such a manner, I agree to confess my sins to the Lord, and to Christian brothers or sisters in order to help me put my sin to death and remain in right relationship with others and God. (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5; 1 John 1:6-10; James 5:16; Galatians 6:1-2).
Section 7 My Commitment to the Mission of Cornerstone Church
The mission of Cornerstone church is to glorify God by making Connecting, Growing, and Serving disciples of Jesus Christ.
I have read the complete mission statement of Cornerstone church and commit to live out this mission statement as a diligent, faithful disciple of Jesus, that my identity would be in Him, my worship would be for Him, my fellowship would be through Him, and my interaction with the culture would be for His Kingdom and Glory.
I understand that this covenant obligates me to the members and elders of Cornerstone church. I accept responsibility to notify Cornerstone church if at any time I can no longer commit to this covenant, or if I have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding Cornerstone church.
* While the doctrines expressed in the ‘Statement of Personal Faith’ and our ‘Affirmation of Faith’ are recognized as primary within the church, there are a number of secondary beliefs about which the current leadership of Cornerstone is passionate. Complete agreement is not required for the sake of membership, but it should be known that the pastors of Cornerstone church will preach, teach, and counsel in accordance with their conscience regarding various secondary theological convictions.
