|
The Newport church of Christ |
|||||||||||||
Who We Are The church of Christ that meets in Newport is nothing but the church. We don't:
But, we do specialize in the one thing that the Bible does tell us to be: the Lord's church in this community. AUTONOMOUS The church that meets here is not a member of any organization larger than itself--and--it has no organizations within it that are smaller than itself. Our Bible classes provide the medium for teaching what the Bible teaches, for these classes are part of our overall program to teach the word of God to this lost and dying world. Like we said before, our specialty is being the church of Christ (you know, the one everyone can read about in the New Testament). NO APOLOGY INTENDED Please don't misunderstand us--this is not an apology; rather, we believe that being the church is enough for us because that's all He intended His church to be. Whether you realize it or not, this involves much because Jesus established His church (Matt. 16:18) for spiritual purposes (Matt. 6:33). It is a "spiritual" house, if you will, the stones of which it is made up are people--people who are also "priests" that we may offer "spiritual sacrifices" of worship to God through Christ (1 Peter 2:5). Therefore, when we meet together to worship God (and thus far, we've not discovered any better reason to assemble ourselves together), we worship just as they did in New Testament times. OUR WORSHIP We are careful to do those things that the early church did. We sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). We preach the word of God (2 Tim. 4:2) so that those in attendance can hear the gospel (Gal. 1:6-9) and be instructed (2 Tim. 2:25) and edified (Eph. 4:12) that who hear may obey (Rom. 6:17; Luke 6:46). We pray (1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:20; 1 John 5:14). We partake of the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26:26-29, 1 Cor. 11:23-24) every first day of every week (Acts 20:7). We give of our means (2 Cor. 9:6-9) only on the first day of every week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). We are equally careful to not do anything is our worship that He has not told us to do in His word (such things as counting beads, burning incense, or playing pianos or other mechanical instruments of music). We want to do all that God has told us to do, but nothing that He hasn't revealed to us in the book we know as the Bible. After all, a "church" of Christ must worship Him as He has specified (Col. 3:17). THE WORK OF THE CHURCH The Bible is also very clear about the work that the church of Christ is to do, and we take charge seriously, too. Preaching the Gospel It is the preaching the gospel of Christ that is the "power" of God to save (Rom. 1:16); therefore, it is of the utmost importance and urgency. Of all of the institutions in this world, the church is the one that God has committed the work of preaching the gospel to this lost and erring generation, for the church is "the pillar and ground of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). Edifying the Church The teaching of God's divine truth, as revealed in the scriptures, to Christians here in Newport is an integral part of our work, for the flock is fed spiritual truth (Acts 20:28) and the body of Christ here builds up itself (Eph. 4:12, 15-16). Helping Needy Saints The benevolent work of ministering to the needs of the saints is done as each need arises (Acts 6:1-6; 2 Cor. 9:1-8). Yes, the church at Newport specializes in being just the church. Let no man deceive you--this is a full-time job! Besides, to be "of Christ," a church cannot be anything except a church. We extend to you a cordial invitation to visit with us soon and often. This page was created May 16, 1999 by Hal Snyder. |
|