Church Covenant

            Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our   Savior and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

           We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

          We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale of and the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to use our influence to combat the abuse of drugs and the spread of pornography; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

           We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feelings and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

           We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of Gods Word.

Our Purpose for the Membership Expectations

Christian faith is not to be defined merely in terms of individual relationship with the Lord.  The Bible does not teach an isolated, solitary Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul teaches us every member is necessary and indispensable.

Thus, our covenant relationship in Jesus Christ places on us as members shared responsibilities.   The purpose for our Membership Expectations is to define what we believe are essential shared responsibilities as Church members to build a unified, growing Church according to the teachings of the Bible.  Such definition allows you, the prospective member, to understand what is expected of you when you join our Church.

We believe the Bible constitutes the only authority for faith and practice in the New Testament church.  Therefore, the Bible is the ultimate source and guide for you to determine your responsibilities as a member.  We recognize our Membership Expectations are not exhaustive or inclusive of all responsibilities as taught in the Bible. 

Living obediently to the Christian calling and lifestyle is a matter of free will choice. The spirit of our Membership Requirements and  Expectations seeks to honor God’s covenant with you, His divine choice of placing you in our Church, and your choice to obey God.  However, our openness to your free will does not lessen your responsibilities or the high cost of following Jesus (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:57-62; Luke 14:26-27, 33). 

Our expectation for you as a member is to choose obedience to Jesus.  Thus, to the best of your ability, and with help of your Lord, we expect you to joyfully accept and fulfill your responsibilities as a member of East Lake Fellowship.  As your Church family, you should expect of us to love you, encourage you, build you up, and involve you in God’s work at our Church.  You should expect us to make you feel and believe you are the necessary and indispensable member God has already made you to be.

East Lake Fellowship

Membership Expectations

We believe a member’s essential shared responsibilities for a unified, growing church as God teaches in the Bible are as follows:

To Protect the Unity of Our Church

I plead with you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment.  1 Corinthians 1:10

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Colossians 3:12-15

By acting in love to build up my fellow members

In sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart  1 Peter 1:22

Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another  Romans 14:19

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification for even Christ did not please Himself  Romans 15:2-3

By faithfully joining in the fellowship of our church

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, . . . but exhorting one another  Hebrews 10:24-25

By following the leaders of our church and their vision

Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.  Hebrews 13:17

To Join in the Work to Fulfill the Purpose of Our Church

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:37-39

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age  Matthew 28:19-20

By sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others

You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  Acts 1:8

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us:  we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  2 Corinthians 5:19-20

By inviting the unchurched to attend our services

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more,. . . I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.  Now this I do for the Gospel’s sake  1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23

By warmly welcoming all those who visit

Above all things, have fervent love for one another, . . ., be hospitable to one another without grumbling  1 Peter 4:8-9

To Contribute to the Spiritual Growth of Our Church

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ,  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  Ephesians 4:14-16

By growing in spiritual maturity through personal Bible study

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth  2 Timothy 2:15

Be doers of the Word and not hearers only  James 1:22

By learning the truths of the Bible and their application to life through the teaching ministry of our church

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

By praying for our church and its growth

Continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving  Colossians 4:2

. . . Always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God  Colossians 4:12

By living a godly lifestyle

As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct  1 Peter 1:15

Let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel of Christ  Philippians 1:27

To Serve in the Ministry of Our Church

Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.  Mark 10:43-45

By discovering, developing, and using my spiritual gifts in the ministries of our church

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  1 Peter 4:10

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. . . But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  1 Corinthians 12: 4,7

By developing a servant’s heart

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ, who  . . . made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant  Philippians 2:4-5,7

To Participate in the Worship in Our Church.

The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him  John 4:23

By attending faithfully and expectantly

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. . . Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  Psalms 100:1-2, 4

If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord   Isaiah 58:13-14

By giving regularly

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.  Malachi 3:10

On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper  1 Corinthians 16:2