Membership
God is creating a new people who will one day live with him in a renewed heavens and earth. He sent his Son to die on the cross to pay for our rebellion against our Creator. As the Spirit works in us, we are drawn to God through repentance and faith. This unites us to Jesus and brings us into the universal church made up of all believers around the world and throughout time.
By becoming members of a local church, we give expression to this reality. We make it clear that we belong to Christ and his people and that we are committed to serving and being served by a particular group of believers. One way to picture it is that if the Christian life is a like a journey to heaven, then local church membership is about committing to a group of people to be your hiking companions. All of this is in line with the teaching of the Bible and the example of the early church, which is for our good and for God’s glory.
When people become members at DPC, we generally ask them to make the following vows. While some people also like to share their testimony (the story of how Jesus has worked in their life), it is not a requirement so don’t let any uncertainties or worries around public speaking put you off from becoming a member.
VOWS
Do you believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Do you repent of your sin and, with a humble and grateful heart, put your trust in the grace of God and in Jesus Christ whose death on the cross takes away your sin?
Do you promise to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself?
Do you promise to be faithful in prayer, in reading the Bible, and in sharing regularly with your fellow Christians in worship?
Do you promise to confess Christ before others and to give a God-honouring proportion of your time, talents and treasure for the advancement of the gospel?
Do you promise to regularly participate in the community, worship, service and mission of this congregation?
Do you promise to respect and submit to the elders of this church as they carry out their pastoral oversight – insofar as they shepherd you in accordance with God’s Word?
Do you acknowledge your dependence upon the Holy Spirit to equip you and to empower you to be faithful to your promises?
CONGREGATION VOW
Do you, God’s people here at Darebin Presbyterian Church, promise to welcome these people into our midst, to uphold them in prayer and to extend to them your fellowship and encouragement in Christ?
Response: We do