Covenant
At Sun River Church, membership is much more than just attendance; it’s a meaningful commitment to live out the Gospel within a supportive, accountable community of faith. Covenant Membership represents a shared journey of following Jesus Christ, where members unite to glorify God and foster deep relationships with one another. We view membership as a profound commitment to a local group of fellow believers, grounded in our faith and dedication to supporting each other in growth and service.
At Sun River Church, membership is much more than just attendance; it’s a meaningful commitment to live out the Gospel within a supportive, accountable community of faith. Covenant Membership represents a shared journey of following Jesus Christ, where members unite to glorify God and foster deep relationships with one another. We view membership as a profound commitment to a local group of fellow believers, grounded in our faith and dedication to supporting each other in growth and service.
Commitment
Covenant Membership is a call to actively engage in the life of the church; each person’s unique gifts and talents play a crucial role in strengthening the congregation. This understanding of membership is rooted in values of faith, surrender, fellowship, and obedience, loving God and loving others, submitting to Christ’s authority, and seeking to live in alignment with the Bible as God's Word. This shared commitment nurtures a sense of belonging and inspires members to participate wholeheartedly in worship, discipleship, service, and outreach.
Covenant Membership is a call to actively engage in the life of the church; each person’s unique gifts and talents play a crucial role in strengthening the congregation. This understanding of membership is rooted in values of faith, surrender, fellowship, and obedience, loving God and loving others, submitting to Christ’s authority, and seeking to live in alignment with the Bible as God's Word. This shared commitment nurtures a sense of belonging and inspires members to participate wholeheartedly in worship, discipleship, service, and outreach.
Community
True discipleship thrives in community, where we walk alongside one another, encourage each other, and experience God’s transformative work. As a family, we pray, learn, and serve together, sharing struggles and celebrating victories. Covenant Membership at Sun River Church is a joyful commitment to contribute to God’s mission, making a lasting impact on each other and the world.
True discipleship thrives in community, where we walk alongside one another, encourage each other, and experience God’s transformative work. As a family, we pray, learn, and serve together, sharing struggles and celebrating victories. Covenant Membership at Sun River Church is a joyful commitment to contribute to God’s mission, making a lasting impact on each other and the world.
How does membership benefit me?
“How does attachment to the body help the thumb?” The language of faith in Scripture is largely the language of community. We are called to live out our faith together, and we become the beneficiaries of all the “one another” commands given in the New Testament when we live in committed community together!
How does membership benefit the church?
Again, “How does the body benefit from the utility of a thumb?” Every part of the body has a purpose to benefit the body. When a body part is missing, the rest of the body is negatively affected by that lack of utility, and will often have to work harder to pick up the slack. A committed community of believers provide the greatest opportunity for mutual cooperation and support to all the other members of the body, and that body has the greatest opportunity for service and evangelism!
What does the Bible say about membership?
Membership is not an explicit requirement of Scripture, but it is born out of the clear expectation of Scripture of commitment of the believer to a local community of other believers. The analogies of the church in the New Testament include family, adoption, buildings, the body, and trees/vines. In all cases the illustration shows that believers are to be connected to one another through Christ as the central uniting element of our faith.
What is required to become a member?
Baptism, attendance of the Covenant Membership class, an interview with a Pastor/Elder, and presentation to the Covenant Members.
Am I a member for life?
Yes! Members are only removed from the roles when they move and transfer their Membership. The time Membership would be revoked is as the final step of church discipline in cases of clear unrepentant sin.
Do my children also become members?
No, children are not automatically brought into membership, though they do receive all the benefits of membership as a part of your home! It is expected that, when they reach adulthood, they will work through the process themselves as committed members of the community.
I have more questions!
Come to the Covenant Membership class (held quarterly) to learn more about how Sun River understands and practices membership! Please feel free to bring your questions; there is always opportunity for Q&A at those meetings.
We are a Bible-believing Christian church that affirms our faith in one God, the Creator of all, who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ is both true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, who died as a sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily, and ascended into Heaven as our Priest and Advocate. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and works to convict, regenerate, and empower believers for godly living. We recognize the Church as those who, through faith in Jesus, are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and united in the Body of Christ. Salvation is found solely in the blood of Jesus and His resurrection, making us children of God through the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that humanity, created in God's image, has fallen into sin and is lost without regeneration. We believe in the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, which profoundly impacts the lives and service of believers.