What to Expect

Worship

We assemble on every Lord's Day (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10), which is Sunday, and worship God. The Bible is our authority. Therefore, we practice only within the guidelines prescribed in the Bible. We follow the simple New Testament worship pattern as God instructs in Scripture, as demonstrated by Jesus and His apostles and followed by first-century Christians. Scripture is our guide (2 Tim. 3:15-17). We neither add to God's word nor take away from God's word (Acts 2:42; Rev. 22:18-19).

The church is Christ's body, over which God made Him the Head (Eph. 1:22-23). A church of Christ (Rom. 16:16) obeys Jesus (Heb. 5:9; Eph. 5:24) and abides in His doctrine (2 John 1:9; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). Salvation is in Jesus to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). Jesus is the Savior of the church (Eph. 5:23; Eph. 1:22-23). We must be members of Jesus' church to be saved (Eph. 5:23; Rev. 2:10; Acts 2:47). The word “church” means a called-out body. Christians are the people who respond to God's gospel call (2 Thess. 2:14).

When you visit, you will find people who have obeyed God's call to be saved (Acts 2:40-47; Gal. 3:26-29). They have been born again (John 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:22-23) and added to the church by Christ (Acts 2:47; Rom. 16:16).

We must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24). God's word is truth (John 17:17). Jesus, as the Word, is the truth (John 1:1; John 14:6). Therefore, we worship in spirit and truth by worshiping according to the manner prescribed in God's word. If we attempt to worship God according to the commandments and traditions of men, our worship is vain (Matt. 15:8-9; Col. 2:20-23). When you visit, you will find that our worship is based on the truth revealed in God's word.

Our worship on the first day of the week is orderly (1 Cor. 14:40) and consists of:

• Bible teaching by biblically qualified men (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 20:7; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17),
• praying (1 Tim. 2:8; Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17),
• singing from the heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16),
• baptized believers partaking in the Lord's Supper each Sunday (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-33; Acts 20:7), and
• giving “as prospered” (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

The preacher does not have a religious title; he will not be referred to as “Pastor” or “Reverend.” You may hear him referred to as “brother,” “minister,” “preacher,” or simply by his first name. He will not wear ecclesiastical clothing that sets him apart from other believers. We believe in the scripturally defined priesthood of all believers and their equality on this basis (1 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6).

Expect to hear a gospel preacher pleading for all who would follow Christ to obey the original pattern of Christianity revealed in the Bible. Since the Word of God is the seed of the Kingdom (Luke 8:11), when it is planted in people's hearts it will produce the same fruit today as it did in the first century. We earnestly plead for the unity of all believers on the scriptural platform of no man-made creed, just the Bible; no name but Christ's; no organization but the church; and no worship but that authorized by God's Word. This is the only real answer to Christian unity and fellowship in Christ (Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 1:10).

Preaching

Expect this church to respect the Bible as the fully inspired Word of God (2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Thess. 2:13). The Bible is the complete and only authority in true religion (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:11). Since the Word of God is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, expect this church to reject all human creeds and man-made bindings (Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19). We believe that to follow and bind traditions of men is to worship God in vain (Matt. 15:8-9).

The sermon will be a Bible-based lesson. One of the leading men of the church will prepare and preach the sermon (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Rom. 10:17; 1 Thess. 4:1-2). We believe that if a man speaks, it should be from the Word of God (1 Pet. 4:11). The sermons you hear can be supported by the Bible.

Scripture references are given to enable listeners to check the Bible for themselves and see whether we are speaking the truth. We encourage you to check what we say by searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; John 5:39).

At the close of the sermon, an invitation may be extended to everyone in attendance. This provides an opportunity for anyone desiring prayer support or wishing to make a public commitment, such as requesting baptism, confessing sin, or being restored to the church. The preacher may encourage those who wish to respond to come forward while the congregation sings a hymn. Although the response may involve several people or none, you will not be singled out in any way. Please do not feel ill at ease during the invitation. If baptism is requested, we invite you to witness the event and rejoice with us. We practice scriptural baptism by full immersion for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:1-8; Gal. 3:27).

Praying

Prayer is a vital source of strength in a Christian's life. We pray often in private and with each other. When we come together in an assembly, prayer is an important part of our worship. In keeping with orderly worship, prayers in the service are led by male members of the church (1 Tim. 2:1-8; 1 Cor. 14:34-35). Everyone does not pray a separate prayer aloud. We are led by a brother who speaks his prayer publicly, and the rest follow silently as we pray together. This allows us to worship reverently and orderly and avoids noise and confusion. You will not be embarrassed by being called upon to lead a public prayer. Through prayer, we speak with God in praise and make requests for specific needs.

Congregational Singing

Singing is a vital part of our worship. One of the unique things about churches of Christ is a cappella singing. “A cappella” is an Italian expression meaning “in chapel style,” “as in the church,” or “without instrumental accompaniment.” History reveals this style of worship as commonplace for first-century Christians and for several hundred years of the early church. The whole congregation joins together in unity, praising God in song without musical instruments (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Members blend their voices in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The purpose of our songs is to praise God and to teach and admonish one another (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). This is not merely a preference; it is a conviction reflecting our desire to worship according to the New Testament pattern (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:17-19; Heb. 2:11-13).

Songs are selected by male members of the congregation. Many visitors choose to join in singing, while others prefer simply to listen as we worship.

• 1 Cor. 2:12: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
• John 4:23-24: The true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
• Phil. 3:3: We worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
• Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26: Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn together.
• 1 Cor. 14:15: Paul wrote, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
• Eph. 5:18-20: Christians address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in their hearts.
• Col. 3:16: Christians teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
• Heb. 2:12: “In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”
• James 5:13: “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

Since the command to sing is specific and addressed to the individual, we do not add a mechanical instrument of music to worship in song. For the same reason, we do not have choirs sing for us or use mood music to entertain us. There is a pure simplicity in voices united in Spirit and Truth to worship our Savior, one which man-made machines cannot fill. The aesthetic and entertainment value of individuals or groups singing specials before a congregation, or the use of musical instruments, may please a crowd and be praised by people, but according to Scripture it is unnecessary and undesirable in true worship to God.

Where instruments are mentioned in the New Testament, reference is made to their use in Old Testament traditions or events. Other references to musical instruments in the New Testament are either metaphors or descriptions of sounds. We have no early records showing that musical instruments were carried over into New Testament worship. History records the Catholic church as introducing the organ into Christian-era worship around A.D. 670.

Lord's Supper

We follow the New Testament teaching practiced by the first-century church (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20). You can expect us to partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of every week—Sunday. Jesus instituted this supper as a memorial of His death on the cross (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26), which ended the old covenant with the Jewish people and, by His shed blood, ratified the one new covenant under which we now live and will continue until Christ returns. As we partake of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, our minds are centered on the events of the cross. In this act we have communion, or fellowship, with Christ (1 Cor. 10:16). It was the practice of the early church to eat the Lord's Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

Christ chose an unleavened loaf as the emblem of His body. Following Christ's example, the loaf is blessed, broken, and passed to each person. Each participant breaks off a piece and eats it, remembering Christ's suffering and death. Christ chose a single vessel containing fruit of the vine as the emblem reminding us of His shed blood, which ratified the new covenant. The vessel is blessed and passed to each person.

If you choose not to participate, do not feel embarrassed; simply pass the emblems to the next person. We do not practice closed communion. As communion is passed, each individual examines himself or herself to partake in a worthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27-29). We do not examine, encourage, or forbid guests concerning their participation in the Lord's Supper; it is each guest's choice. However, we would point out that there can be no communion or fellowship with Christ unless one has been scripturally baptized into Christ for the remission of sins and remains a faithful child of God (1 John 1:5-7; Gal. 3:26-27).

Giving

Each member of the congregation contributes weekly to the work of the church (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-10). There are individual factors that determine the amount of our offerings, but above all it must be an offering from the heart (2 Cor. 8:1-8). An individual gives as he purposes in his heart, “not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:6-7). As the Bible teaches, we give liberally as God has prospered us on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

As our guest, you are not expected to contribute a donation. We will not embarrass you by personally asking for an offering, and we do not want you to feel embarrassed if you choose not to or cannot afford to give. We do not have an example of tithing as part of the New Testament church. Where tithing is mentioned in the New Testament, it refers to events under the old covenant. Contributions are personal and between the giver and God.

Announcements

At the end of the service, the song leader or another member may announce items of general interest to the congregation. These may concern upcoming events, prayer requests, members who are ill or traveling, public expressions of thanks, or the recognition of special visitors (Eph. 4:15-16).

Closing

Services conclude with a closing song and a prayer led by men of the congregation. We believe the truth contained in God's word has the power to save souls. During worship, we strive to act according to God's will. You will find that our services are Bible-based and rely on the Scriptures with the desire to obey God's authority. Our desire is that you will find His authority in all we do—in worship, study, activities, and organization. Finally, you will find our services warm, friendly, and loving. Our desire is to let His word shine in our worship and in our lives.

Becoming a Christian

When visiting, you will find that we teach salvation as authorized by Jesus (Matt. 28:18-19). If you are interested in becoming a Christian, we would love the opportunity to share what the Bible says with you. The Bible teaches that we are saved by God's grace, not through our own efforts or ability to do good works—not by works of merit (Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation is a free gift offered through the work of God. Simply put, God's grace established a plan for saving humanity, a plan by which we can be saved through God's Son and Jesus' obedience unto death on the cross for us.

God's offer of salvation is for all. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24). God convicts us of our sinfulness and leads us to obedience to His will, which involves repenting of and turning away from our past lives of sin (Luke 13:3). We confess our faith in Jesus (Rom. 10:9-10) and accept the free gift of salvation by obedience in baptism into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, which allows us to receive forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5).

As Christians, we try to live for Christ, though we often fail Him. We draw encouragement from our relationship with local Christians in the church, and we worship God regularly. As we study the Bible, we grow in knowledge and understanding, and God shapes us into the people He created us to be.

Jesus has commanded us to:

• Hear (Rom. 10:17; James 1:22; Ps. 119:105),
• believe (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; John 8:24; Heb. 11:6),
• repent (Luke 13:3; Luke 13:5; Acts 2:38),
• confess Him (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10),
• be baptized (Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21), and
• remain faithful until death (Rev. 2:10).

As a church of Christ, we teach only the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). When you visit, you will hear what Jesus taught about salvation—nothing more or less. At the close of each sermon, you may hear an invitation to become a Christian. You will have an opportunity to express your faith in Jesus Christ by repenting of your sins, confessing Christ before others, and being buried with the Lord in baptism (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Matt. 10:32; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27). We will not embarrass you by approaching you personally. The appeal is made from the pulpit, and an invitation song is sung for your encouragement.

If you choose to obey the Lord, you may come forward and make your choice known. The church does not have to be assembled for you to obey the gospel; you can obey at any hour of the day or night by making your request known (Acts 16:30-33).

Now that you know more about what to expect when visiting a church of Christ, we extend a special invitation to visit. We would consider it an honor to have you as our guest. If you have questions about the service or anything said during it, please feel free to ask any member. We will be happy to answer as best we can (1 Pet. 3:15). We are also glad to examine the Scriptures with you in your home or by correspondence if you desire.