The word church, as it is used in Scripture, is a gathering of people.
It is usually used in reference to:
- the entire body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23) and
- a group of Christians in a specific geographical location(1 Thessalonians 1:1).
The church as the entire body of Christ is the one that Jesus promised He would build (Matthew 16:18). It is the spiritual body of which there is only one and over which Jesus is head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:4). It is the body into which we are baptized, to which the saved are added, and of which we are members individually (1 Corinthians 12:12,13,27).
Churches as local groups of Christians are clearly seen in Acts, Paul’s letters, and John’s book of Revelation. They are spiritual units of which there are many (Acts 15:41). They are assemblies to which the faithful will endeavor to be a part (Hebrews 10:24,25). We are simply one of these churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)!
We are not part of any denomination. Such organizations are of human origin and design and are foreign to the New Testament.
God’s word, and nothing else, is our authority.
Human creeds or councils have no authority. They are, at best, unnecessary and, at worst, additions to the inspired Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Revelation 22:18,19).
It is to God-breathed words that we turn to determine what we believe and teach. It is within the pages of God’s book that we learn the work He has given to churches, how He wants us to worship Him (John 4:23,24), and how we should live our lives (2 Peter 1:3). Appeals to human philosophies, experiences, or feelings are inadequate. Only truth as originally revealed in Scripture is authoritative. Anything else is unacceptable (Galatians 1:6-9)!
Since God’s word is our authority and guide (Psalm 119:105)
… it should not be surprising that our goals and work are spiritual in nature.
We are a group that belongs and answers to Christ. Therefore we are committed to serving Him in the spiritual ways taught by inspired men and exemplified by the first churches.
To Learn and Teach
Our primary purpose as disciples of Jesus is to learn more about Him, His ways, His truths and His will. We want to share the fruit of our studies with one another and then with those whom we can influence for good (2 Timothy 2:1,2). We are eager to support and facilitate the teaching of the word and the spread of the good news about Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:15-18).
To Unify
We desire unity. We want to work with all who share a love for the truth, and who submit themselves to the will of God (1 Corinthians 1:10). Our call is for unity that is firmly rooted in the inspired word of God (Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-15) and not on the traditions and creeds of men (Matthew 15:6; Romans 10:1-3). There is no other true or lasting unity.
To Stand
We will not compromise truth! We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). We are keenly aware that some people destructively twist the Scriptures and teach what is contrary to God’s will (2 Peter 3:16). We are determined not to give into the pressure to change what is taught in Scripture to make it more palatable to the majority (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Faithfulness to God allows no less!
Jesus said that all who would worship God must do so in spirit and truth (John 4:23,24)
Ultimately our approach to God is only accomplished in and through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). God is spirit, and it is His desire that our worship of Him come from our spirits. We have this ability because God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26,27).
Likewise, our worship in spirit is to be in truth. Again, truth is not something subjective that is determined by feeling or experience. God’s word is truth! (John 17:17). Jesus is truth! Therefore, our worship is not designed to appeal to fleshly appetites or conform to the traditions of men but is intended to be founded upon and consistent with what God has revealed through Jesus Christ and His apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20).
To praise
Our purpose is not to glorify and promote ourselves, but to point and lead all to God. As Creator, Sustainer, and Savior, God is certainly worthy of our praise (Revelation 4:11). We seek to be a people who are eager to praise God (Acts 2:47; Hebrews 13:15).
To edify
Our gatherings together should be occasions to spiritually motivate one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24,25). Therein we hold one another accountable to the confession we have made as followers of Jesus (1 Timothy 6:11-16; Hebrews 10:23). As can be seen by looking at the good examples of the first churches, this edification may take the form of exhortation and/or correction (2 Timothy 4:2). It can be done through teaching (Acts 20:7), singing (Colossians 3:16), and prayer (Acts 2:42; 21:5).
To remember
On the first day of the week we gather together to “break bread” (Acts 20:7) by partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20). Jesus Himself gave us this memorial the night in which He was betrayed (Matthew 26:26-29). We take seriously the admonition to “eat and drink” in the way that Jesus intended (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
The way of salvation is through Jesus Christ, and Him alone (John 14:6)
If we do not believe in Jesus, we will die in our sins (John 8:24). Therefore, we are determined to preach Jesus and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2) no matter how foolish this perishing world may think that message is. To those who are being saved, the gospel is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) to save (Romans 1:16)!
The message we proclaim is no different than the one preached from the beginning. Jesus told his disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19,20). This is the way of making disciples as instructed by the Lord Himself.
Therefore, when some in the crowd at the Jewish feast of Pentecost were convinced and convicted that they had killed the Messiah, they asked, “What shall we do?” In response to that, Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;….” (Acts 2:37,38).
It is salvation from our sins that we need. Salvation cannot be accomplished through man-made works or earned by being perfect; but salvation comes through faith in Jesus and in the working of God and His grace (Colossians 2:12,13). Saving faith accepts the truth and acts on it as well (James 2:14-26).
It is in faith that we obey and confess the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9,10). In repentance we seek the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). In baptism we are buried with Christ and our sins are washed away (Romans 6:1-4; Acts 22:16). God’s Word says that these (faith, repentance, and baptism) save us (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Peter 3:21). Are you a child of God? Have you put on Christ (Galatians 3:26,27)? Have you been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)? If we can help you in answering any of these questions, please contact us!