God wants all of His people to be part of a local family (church) of believers. This is where God desires that we pursue sacrificially serving the King with our best friends. For the sake of unity in our church, we ask that all prospective members agree to pursue the following "7 G Commitments.” More detailed discussions on each commitment are presented in our “Authentic Christianity” membership program offered, offered in the spring and fall quarters of the year. Upon completion of the program and identification with the New Life family, we ask members to sign a covenant of understanding and agreement with these Biblical principles.
New Life Membership Covenant
I desire to demonstrate my commitment to Christ the King by joining His Body and His family at New Life Community Church (1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 5:23). I have completed the Authentic Christianity membership program and agree to pursue the following "7 G Commitments":
Grace
I believe that God has forgiven my sins, not because of good deeds I have done, but because of God’s grace given to me through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (cf. Eph 2:8-9; Rom 3:20-28; 10:9-13). I have expressed my saving faith in the biblical manner of believer’s baptism, so that I may enjoy the privilege of Communion (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor 11:23-32). Because I have been saved by God’s grace, I endeavor to understand, experience, and live by that grace, including treating others with grace (cf. Col 2:6). Therefore, I commit to accepting others as I have been accepted by Christ (cf. Rom 15:7), refusing to participate in gossip or divisiveness (2 Cor 12:20), working out offenses by taking the steps that Christ prescribed (cf. Matt 18:15-17), and living “in harmony with one another” (Rom 12:16).
God's Glory
I believe my primary purpose for living is to bring glory to God, and I commit to be holy and to promote holiness in the church for the sake of God’s reputation in our community (Heb 12:14). Therefore, I agree that damaging, habitual, and public sin in the church should be dealt with graciously, but firmly, as directed by the Scriptures (Rom 16:17-18; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 2 Thess 3:6; Tit 3:10-11). I join with the leadership and congregation of New Life to always ensure that our church family is a safe, encouraging, and God-glorifying place to fellowship with Christ and His people.
Gospel
I believe the good news of forgiveness in Christ, “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Therefore, I commit to pray for and care for those in my life who need salvation, and to share the Gospel with them as God gives opportunity (Col 4:2-6). In addition, I commit to take advantage of the outreach training available in the New Life Growth Track and to work together in a L.I.F.E. Group to pray for and reach out to my circle of non-Christian friends.
Growth
I believe God wants me to grow in the knowledge, character, and wisdom of Jesus Christ (cf. 5:11-6:3). Therefore, I commit to take advantage of learning opportunities through Sunday services, Growth Track classes and projects, and small groups. (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Pet 2:2)
Giving
I believe God has blessed me abundantly in order to bless others abundantly. Therefore, I commit to give God’s blessings of time, talents, and treasure to His Body, which is the church, when and how I have the opportunity to do so. (2 Cor 9:6-16; Eph 4:16; 1 Pet 4:10)
I believe God has entrusted each of us with a special talent that He expects us to use in order to benefit God’s people and advance God’s kingdom and glory (cf. 1 Pet 4:10-11; Rom 12:4-8). I commit to devoting the time and effort to discover, develop, and faithfully deploy my spiritual gift(s) in order to accomplish the "good works which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph 2:10) and "so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Eph 4:12). This, of course, requires a commitment of my most valuable resource: my time.
Likewise, I believe God expects us to give financial resources cheerfully and generously (cf. 2 Cor 9:6-13) to provide for the ministries and needs of our church family (Num 18:21; 1 Cor 9:7-14; 2 Tim 5:17-18; Gal 6:6). I believe that while the Old Testament command of giving ten percent of our income (a "tithe") is not repeated as a New Testament command, it is a principle that should be seriously considered, and possibly even exceeded in the New Covenant of grace that we are in (cf. Lev 27:30; Matt 23:23).
Groups
I believe an authentic Christian church is to live and look like a family of spiritual brothers and sisters who know, enjoy, and care for one another, and who are practically obeying the over 100 “one another” New Testament commands. I know of no better way to consistently and practically accomplish this apart from fellowshipping with a small group of Christians on a regular basis (cf. John 15:12-14; Col 3:16; 1 Thess 5:11; Heb 3:13; 10:24-25). Therefore, I commit to participating in L.I.F.E. Groups for the purposes of Loving others, Interceding for others, Fellowship, and friendship Evangelism, all in a desire to experience sacrificially serve the King with my best friends. (cf. Acts 2:42-47)
Guides
I believe God has assigned pastors/elders to lead the local church and spiritually shepherd my life (1 Pet 5:1-3; Acts 20:28), and that God will hold me accountable for how I follow my pastors, and will hold them accountable for how they “watch over my soul” (cf. Heb 13:17). Therefore, I commit to the heart, hope, purposes, and strategies that the pastors of New Life have founded on Scripture. I also commit to pray for my pastors regularly (cf. Col 4:1-3), and I refuse to believe “an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses” (1 Tim 5:19), and even then, giving them an opportunity to defend themselves or repent of a wrong if necessary.
