The Southcliff Membership Covenant

Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior, having been baptized, and being in agreement with Southcliff’s beliefs and purposes, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Southcliff church family.  In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:

I.    I  will continue to grow in my relationship with God

• ...By attending worship and my grow group faithfully
• ...By living a godly life
• ...By worshipping God through giving regularly

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...but let us encourage one another.”  - Hebrews 10:25

“But whatever happens, make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ.” - Philippians 1:27

“Each one of you, on the first day of each week, should set aside a specific sum of money in proportion to what you have earned and use it for the offering.” - 1 Corinthians 16:2

II.   I  will cultivate a healthy relationship with my family

• ...By living a godly life in my own home
• ...By honoring my spouse according to scripture
• ...By teaching my children the way of Christ

“I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart”.  - Psalm 101:2

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”  - Ephesians 5:25-28

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” - Deuteronomy 11:18-19

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” - Ephesians 6:4

III.  I  will have an active relationship with the church

• ...By praying for church leaders and other members
• ...By discovering my gifts and talents and using them in the church
• ...By refusing to gossip and encouraging others in their faith

“To the church...we always thank God for you and pray for you constantly.” - 1 Thessalonians 1:2

“Have a sincere love for your fellow believers, love one another earnestly with all your hearts.” - 1 Peter 1:22 (GN)

“Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you...” - 1 Peter 4:10 (Ph)

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs...”  - Ephesians 4:29

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no advantage to you.”  - Hebrews 13:17

IV.  I  will cultivate a Missional relationship with the world

• ... By praying for the lost to be reached for Christ
• ... By being equipped to share my faith
• ... By being a witness for Christ in my conduct and in verbally sharing the gospel.
• …By inviting the unchurched to attend events and warmly welcoming those who   visit.

“Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Matt. 9:37-38 (ESV)

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” - 1 Pet. 3:15 (ESV)

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” - Mark 16:15 (ESV)

“Go out into the country...and urge anyone you find to come in, so that My House will be full.”   - Luke 14:23 (LB)

“So, warmly welcome each other into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified.”  - Rom. 15:7 (LB)

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ...who took on the very nature of a servant...”  - Phil 2:3-4, 7