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What do we believe?
Is the church of Christ a religious denomination?
What is the distinctive plea of the church of Christ?
How are the churches of Christ organizationally connected?
How are the churches of Christ governed?
What does the church of Christ believe about the Bible?
Does the Church of Christ have a creed?
Why does the church of Christ baptize only by immersion?
How often is the Lord's supper eaten?
What kind of music is used in the worship?
By what means does the church secure financial support?
How does one become a member of the church of Christ?
Open Invitation
We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that "God created the heavens and the earth" and maintains His creation by His holy will. We further believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that He was born of the virgin Mary, and was crucified, buried, and resurrected. At His resurrection, He became the first to live, die, and live again, never to die again. Thus, we believe Him to be our only Lord and Savior, and that He now rules at God's right hand. Christ will come in all of His glory to judge both the living and the dead, and there will be no end to His kingdom.
In terms of faith and practice, we further believe in the restoration of New Testament Christianity. We are attempting to recover in the modern age the Christian faith as it was believed and practiced in its beginning. The goal is the unity of all believers in Christ. The spirit is the restoration of love for each other as well as those who have not yet accepted Christ. The plea is to embrace Christ as our only confession, scripture as our only authority, and Christian as the only name we wear. Our hope is to be Christians only. Restoration of New Testament Christianity expresses itself in baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, worship centered in the Christ, and a life committed to holiness. Upon conversion, God adds each Christian to His family.
Finally, we believe in full inspiration of the Word of God. We understand that God has spoken finally in His Word and that we should attempt to follow His Word in terms of beliefs and practices.
Is the church of Christ a religious denomination?
The "church of Christ" is not a religious denomination. In Romans 16:16, the Apostle Paul states: "All the churches of Christ send greetings." Thus, the term "church of Christ" is simply the scriptural name for Christ's church. The church of Christ is comprised of men and women who have accepted and follow Christ in accordance with Biblical teachings.
It is primarily a plea for religious unity based upon the Bible. In a divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible common denominator upon which most, if not all, of the God-fearing people of the land can unite. This is an appeal to go back to the Bible. It is a plea to speak where the Bible speaks and to remain silent where the Bible is silent in all matters that pertain to religion. It further emphasizes that in everything religious there must be a "Thus saith the Lord" for all that is done. The objective is religious unity of all believers in Christ. The basis is the New Testament. The method is the restoration of New Testament Christianity.
Following the plan of organization found in the New Testament, churches of Christ are autonomous. Their common faith in the Bible and adherence to its teachings are the chief ties which bind them together. There is no central headquarters of the church, and no organization superior to the elders of each local congregation. Congregations do cooperate voluntarily in supporting the orphans and the aged, in preaching the gospel in new fields, and in other similar works. There are no conventions, annual meetings, or official publications. The "tie that binds" is a common loyalty to the principles of the restoration of New Testament Christianity.
In each congregation, which has existed long enough to become fully organized, there is a plurality of elders who serve as the governing body. These men are selected by the local congregations on the basis of qualifications set down in the scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-8). Serving under the elders are deacons, teachers, and evangelists or ministers. The latter do not have the authority equal to or superior to the elders. The elders are shepherds or overseers who serve under the headship of Christ according to the New Testament, which is a kind of constitution. There is no earthly authority superior to the elders of the local church.
The original autographs of the sixty six books which make up the Bible are considered to have been divinely inspired, by which it is meant that they are infallible and authoritative. Reference to the scriptures is made in settling every religious question. A pronouncement from the scripture is considered the final word. The basic textbook of the church and the basis for all preaching is the Bible.
Does the church of Christ have a creed?
Why does the church of Christ baptize only by immersion?
The word baptize comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and literally means, "to dip, to immerse, to plunge." In addition to the literal meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the practice of the church in apostolic times. Still further, only immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as given by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a burial and resurrection.
It is expected that every member of the church will assemble for worship on each Lord's day. A central part of the worship is the eating of the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7). Unless providentially hindered, each member considers this weekly appointment as binding. In many instances, as in the case of illness, the Lord's supper is carried to those who are hindered from attending the worship.
As a result of the distinctive plea of the church - a return to New Testament Faith and practice - acappella singing is the only music used in the worship. This singing, unaccompanied by mechanical instruments of music, conforms to the music used in the apostolic church and for several centuries thereafter (Ephesians 5:19). It is felt that there is no authority for engaging in acts of worship not found in the New Testament. This principle eliminates the use of instrumental music, along with the use of candles, incense, and other similar elements.
The foregoing summary is derived, in part, from "Who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe in?" written by Batsell Barrett Baxter
Service Times
Sunday
Bible Classes
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Morning Worship Assembly
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Evening Worship Assembly
5:00-6:00 p.m.*
*Children's Bible Hour (Sept. - May)
Monday
Meet for the Master
6:30 p.m. (Sept. - May)
Wednesday
Ladies Bible Class
10:00-11:00 a.m.
(Sept. - April)
Bible Classes
7:00-8:00 p.m.
