A church covenant expresses what God in Scripture calls us to as brothers and sisters in Christ, joined together as a local body of believers.  As you read it, may it cause you to say, "This is the kind of loving Christian community I want to be a part of!"

Our Church Covenant

Having been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation and to surrender our lives to His lordship, and having been baptized afterward by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we joyfully and seriously covenant together as one local body of Christ for the glory of the Lord and the expansion of His kingdom.

As followers of Jesus Christ, led by the Holy Spirit to membership with Collinsville First Baptist Church, we covenant together for the following purposes:

1. We will place ourselves under the spiritual leadership of this Church, particularly its Pastors, to watch over our souls and will, for our benefit, let them do so with joy. Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17

2. We will gather together regularly with this local body of believers so that we can encourage one another toward Christ and good works. Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25

3. We will seek to develop genuine Christian relationships with members of this local body and devote ourselves to love and be loved by them. John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:11

4. We will cultivate unity and peace with those in this local body and will seek to follow biblical principles of conflict resolution and reconciliation when unity and peace are strained or broken. Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-20; Romans 12:16,18, 14:19; Ephesians 4:1-3

5. We will pursue life transformation with the aid of this local body by growing in Christ and leading those under our care to do the same. Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20, 5:18-25; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 3:5-17

6. We will invite members of this local body to hold us accountable to living a life worthy of the calling of Christ and will do the same for them so that we will please the Lord and represent Christ and this Church well wherever we go. John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:1-3, 5:15-21; 1 Peter 2:11-12

7. We will uphold the biblical doctrines and Church discipline of this local body. Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 3-4

8. We will serve Christ through the vision, mission, and strategy of this local body in accordance with our spiritual and natural gifting and as there is need. Matthew 20:26-28; 25:35-36,40; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10-11

9. We will give financially according to biblical principles to support the ministries of this local body and its partners to expand the kingdom of God locally and around the world. Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:38; 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, 9:6-8

10. We will share the gospel of Christ with those around us and invite them to gather with this local body. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20

11. We will seek biblical justice for and extend relief and compassion to those who have a need in our community, especially members of this local body. Psalms 82:3-4; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:9-10; Micah 6:8; Matthew 7:12, 25:40; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:2,9-10; James 1:27

12. We will pray faithfully and fervently to God for His direction and blessing on this Church, its members, and its ministries. Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16