Many churches trace their origin to a certain movement or person in history. What is different about the church of Christ is that it started less than two months after the crucifixion of Jesus. This is recorded in the Bible in Acts chapter 2. Several years later, Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Rome and sent this greeting, “All the churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16). The church of Christ has been around since the first century.
The Bible tells us everything we need to know about God’s design for the organization of the church. Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15). His teaching is our only doctrine and creed (2 John 9) because God gave Him all authority (Matthew 28:18-20). Thus, we have no governing body or centralized office that dictates policy or doctrine. The Scriptures teach us that each individual congregation is to appoint men with certain qualifications to serve as “elders” over that congregation (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). These men are also called “pastors” and “bishops”. They lead the congregation and have authority to oversee the teaching of God’s word. Other men are appointed to serve as “deacons” (1 Timothy 3), and they perform work delegated to them by the elders so that the work of the church is done effectively. The church is the institution designed by God to evangelize the world (Matthew 20:1-16; Ephesians. 3:10; Acts 13:1-9). We also are responsible to care for the needs of our members (Acts 2:43-45) and to edify one another (Hebrews 10:24-25; 3:12-14).
We accept the Bible, and the Bible alone, as the Word of God. It is our only source for authority to do our work. We strive to be the same church as the church of the New Testament. We work to be the same in teaching, worship, organization and work. Our goal is to please God by following His will (1 John 5:3), and we try to do so without compromise. Our worship is very simple. On Sunday mornings we begin with some announcements, which are followed by singing. After a prayer and more singing we take the Lord’s Supper together (1 Corinthians. 11:17-34). The sermon is delivered next and after some closing songs worship is concluded in prayer. Sunday evenings are similar. Both worship services last about one hour.
Our Bible classes are also very relaxed. Classes meet Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Our teachers are well prepared to teach the truth and to make learning both interesting and worthwhile. We have classes for all ages and each one is focused on Bible study. Every so often we have a Gospel meeting. During these meetings we have guest speakers who deliver sermons. If you visit during one our meetings we will also sing, pray and have some announcements.
When God created the world He created a place free of sin. When He put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He gave them one simple rule. Don't eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But because He created us with the freedom to chose, rebellion against God soon came about. Sin separated mankind from God, because He can't sin. Even with that, God still wanted a close relationship with His greatest creation. Because He wanted to be near His creation, He actually came to earth to teach mankind how to have a personal relationship with Him. He did all of this through Jesus Christ, His son. He taught us how to pray, live, speak, teach, and serve. With His death on cross, Jesus took away our sins. Being a Christian is simply being a follower of Christ. However, to be a true follower of Christ, complete and utter obedience is expected. There are no half-Christians, it's all or nothing.
So what do you need to do? You need to learn about God's free gift of salvation! There is nothing you can do to earn salvation. God set out a plan to redeem his people. Here are some things you can do to get started in a new life with God:
First off - realize that above all and anyone else, God loves you! John 3:16 says that God loved us so much he sent his Son to die for each us.
Secondly - admit that you do wrong things and miss the mark of perfection. Sin is messing up. We all do that. Romans 3:23 even says that all of us will sin and fall short of what God expects.
Third - turn a 180 with your heart. In Acts 2:38 when the people who put Christ on the cross found out that they were wrong, they asked, "what should we do?"
Fourth - confess to yourself and others that Jesus is Lord, that he is truly the Son of God. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus tells us that if we confess belief in Him, He will confess our names to His Father.
Fifth - be baptized or immersed into Christ. Baptism is the act of obedience that is symbolic of Christ's burial after His death. When Christ died, He was buried and then rose again on the 3rd day. When we are baptized, the person we used to be dies, we are buried in water and then rise to be a new person, one commited to Christ. Some people doubt the importance of baptism but Jesus Himself actually told His apostles to baptize those who they taught in Matthew 28:18-20.
Sixth - do your best to become a devoted student of the God's Word. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to present ourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Within that idea is also the fact that we are to be an example to the world. 1 Timothy 4:12 tells those of us who are Christians to be examples by our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Do you have other questions? If you have any questions about what you've read, please Contact Us. We will get back with you as soon as possible.