LaVergne Church of Christ |
What To Expect When You Visit a church of Christ
You can expect to find a group of Christians assembled to worship God through Jesus Christ His Son. This worship consists of studying the Bible, praying, singing, observing the Lord's Supper, and contributing of our means. These Christians worship as Christ directed the first century disciples (John 4:24; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 2:8; Ephesians 5:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
You can expect these churches to have a wholesome respect for the inspired word of God, the SOLE and COMPLETE AUTHORITY in religion today. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11). "Let us all walk by the same rule" Philippians 3:16). Since churches of Christ accept the Word of God as an all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, you can expect them to reject all human creeds (Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19).
Since Jesus declared, "Upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18), churches of Christ are identified as belonging to Him (Romans 16:16). In these churches you will hear everyone entreated to obey the Lord's commands, namely: BELIEVE in Christ (John 8:24), REPENT (Luke 13:3), CONFESS Christ (Matthew 10:32), and be BAPTIZED into Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) in order to become a Christian, a member of the Lord's church. After becoming a Christian, these disciples are then urged to continue faithfully in worshipping and serving the Lord as the New Testament directs.
You may expect to hear gospel preachers pleading for all who would follow Christ to return to the original pattern of Christianity as revealed in the New Testament. It is their conviction that since the Word of God is the seed of the Kingdom (Luke 8:11), if it ALONE is planted in the hearts of men it will produce the same fruit today as it did in the first century! This product will be New Testament Christianity.
Churches of Christ wish to commend to all people everywhere this basic approach to serving God. It is the conviction of these Christians that this is the only real answer to Christian UNITY and FELLOWSHIP in CHRIST! (Ephesians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 1:10).
John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Timothy 2:8 - I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Acts 20:7 - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 - Now concerning the
collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches
of Galatia, even so do ye.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him
in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
when I come.
1 Peter 4:11 - If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 3:16 - Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Galatians 1:8-9 - But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which
we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed.
Revelation 22:18-19 - For I testify unto
every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him
the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
Matthew 16:18 - And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Romans16:16 - Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
John 8:24 - I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Luke 13:3 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Matthew 10:32 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mark 16:16 - He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 8:11 - Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Ephesians 4:5 - One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
