We Are Christians…
It is our desire to be nondenominational. We wear no other name than Christ’s and claim to be members only of the body of Christ.
So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26 NIV) We believe we can be identified with the Christians of the first century as can all who will be guided by the teaching of God’s Word. The Word of God, when planted in the hearts of honest people, and obeyed fully, will produce Christians just as it did in the first century. Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1 NIV)
We have no earthly headquarters…
There is no man, or group of men, who legislate for the church. We have no one to answer to but Christ. He is the head of the church which leaves no room or need for human headquarters or heads. There are only independent congregations in different locations with Christ as Lord and Master. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col 1:18 NIV) As a congregation matures, men who meet the qualifications of overseers (also called elders, pastors, or bishops) are appointed to look after the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Such men are appointed only after the local congregation determines that they meet the qualifications set forth by the apostle Paul. Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (2) Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (3) not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (4) He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (5) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) (6) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. (7) He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Tim 3:1-7 NIV) The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (6) An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. (7) Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless–not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. (8) Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (9) He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:5-9 NIV) Our preachers are not necessarily “pastors” (unless they also serve as overseers) but are simply teachers of the gospel.
The Bible is our only Book of Rules…
We have no man-written creed books to follow. While recognizing the guiding principles of the Old Testament, we seek conformity to the rules and patterns of the New Testament. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, (2) but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Heb 1:1-2 NIV) We accept the Bible as being both verbally inspired and infallible in content. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. (21) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet 1:20-21 NIV) Consequently, when the Bible speaks upon any given subject, its pronouncement is accepted as final.
Our Plea for Unity…
We plead for unity among all who obediently respond to the doctrine and commandments given in the New Testament. We consider such unity to be possible or Jesus would not have prayed for it. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 NIV) Since division has always been the result of departure from God’s pattern, we believe division can be healed by a return to the revealed truth of God’s Word.
What to Expect at our Assemblies…
Our assembled worship procedures are simple, spiritual and orderly, keynoted by the words of Jesus: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (24) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NIV) Absent is the frenzied emotionalism so common in churches today. Each element of worship finds its origins in the commands and examples found in the New Testament.
Singing…
The entire assembly joins in singing gospel songs. There is no choir or special groups, only simple congregational singing. Since we find no evidence that the early church used mechanical instruments to accompany their singing, we do not use them in our worship. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,”(Eph 5:19 NIV)
Prayer…
The congregation is led in prayer by one of the men in the assembly. We pray not only to praise and thank God, but to ask for our needs and the needs of others. “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” (1 Tim 2:8 NIV)
Preaching…
The lessons and sermons are intended to teach God’s Word so as to encourage compliance by those who listen. You will hear no sensational discussions of non-Biblical subjects, just a period of plain Bible teaching and study.
The Lord’s Supper…
- Like the church in the first century, we observe the Lord’s supper each first day of the week.
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. (Acts 20:7 NIV) The supper consist of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine as memorials of the body and blood of Jesus. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, (21) for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. (22) Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! (23) For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, (24) and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (25) In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (26) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (27) Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. (28) A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (29) For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. (1 Cor 11:20-29 NIV)
Giving as We Prosper…
We take up a collection only on the first day of the week. Should you attend our Sunday service when the collection is taken, you are not expected to give. This is the responsibility of our members, not our guests.
Who are We…
We are simple Christians, followers of Christ, and we comprise a church that is of Christ. Christ is our only creed, the Bible our only guide. “and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26 NIV) “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.” (Rom 16:16 NIV) We are striving to be a church after the pattern found in the New Testament. How we become Christians, how we live as Christians, what we teach, the way we work and how we are organized is dictated by the examples we find in the New Testament. We are your neighbors, your fellow-workers, and your fellow-students. We are people saved from sin who are interested in the salvation of others. We sincerely want Heaven to be our eternal home and we wish to share Heaven with you!