In Ephesians 5:18-19 Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus instructing them to ” …be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.”, and again in Colossians 3:16; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
In each instance where instruction is given in the New Testament regarding singing, there is no mention of instrumental music in worship. Neither is there command, precept, or example for this practice. Therefore we conclude it to be a mandate from God to use our voices in singing praises to His name.
In Prayer
There will be several prayers during the assembly, including prayers for specific needs and requests (I Timothy 1.1,2).
In addition to praying to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9), member’s of Christ’s church are instructed to “be careful for nothing; but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Prayers include adoration and praise to our God, they may also include requests for wisdom, peace, and unity, or deliverance from temptation. When we pray in faith and in accordance to God’s will, God will hear us and will answer our prayers.
In Instruction
“Take heed to thyself and thy teachings. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee. (1 Tim. 4:16) May God help us to always pattern our preaching after the example of New Testament preachers.
In 1 Tim. 4:13, Paul instructed Timothy to, “…give heed to reading”. It is obvious from the context that the subject of this reading was the Word of God. They knew that they needed to handle the word of God properly in order to present themselves as approved workmen unto God. This requires diligent study! In Hebrews 5:12-14 we learn that those who study and use the word of God are able to understand it and to teach others.
In Observing the Lord’s Supper
Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper in an upper room of a house in Jerusalem on the night before His crucifixion. Four accounts of this event are presented in the Bible (Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-20, and 1 Cor. 11:23-26) His words were anticipatory. The memorial was established before the event commemorated took place.
The Lord’s supper is a memorial service. Jesus said, “…this do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19) As Christians remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross they become conscious of their past need (they were sinners without hope), and their present responsibility (to live a life of purity and devotion to God).
In Giving
In keeping with the New Testament, we give as we have prospered on the first day of every week (1 Corinthians 16.1-2). , on Sunday mornings, collection plates are passed throughout the congregation. As our guest, you are not expected to contribute. You may feel perfectly comfortable in simply passing the collection plate down the row.
In Bible Study
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35)
Again in John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
And the Apostle Peter wrote, “Having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the Word of God, which liveth and abideth. For, All flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth; but the word of the Lord abideth forever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:23-25)
“Our aim is to develop and share a complete knowledge and understanding of the love of Christ”
Worship Service
In Song
In each instance where instruction is given in the New Testament regarding singing, there is no mention of instrumental music in worship. Neither is there command, precept, or example for this practice. Therefore we conclude it to be a mandate from God to use our voices in singing praises to His name.
In Prayer
There will be several prayers during the assembly, including prayers for specific needs and requests (I Timothy 1.1,2).
In addition to praying to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9), member’s of Christ’s church are instructed to “be careful for nothing; but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Prayers include adoration and praise to our God, they may also include requests for wisdom, peace, and unity, or deliverance from temptation. When we pray in faith and in accordance to God’s will, God will hear us and will answer our prayers.
In Instruction
“Take heed to thyself and thy teachings. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee. (1 Tim. 4:16) May God help us to always pattern our preaching after the example of New Testament preachers.
In 1 Tim. 4:13, Paul instructed Timothy to, “…give heed to reading”. It is obvious from the context that the subject of this reading was the Word of God. They knew that they needed to handle the word of God properly in order to present themselves as approved workmen unto God. This requires diligent study! In Hebrews 5:12-14 we learn that those who study and use the word of God are able to understand it and to teach others.
In Observing the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s supper is a memorial service. Jesus said, “…this do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19) As Christians remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross they become conscious of their past need (they were sinners without hope), and their present responsibility (to live a life of purity and devotion to God).
In Giving
In keeping with the New Testament, we give as we have prospered on the first day of every week (1 Corinthians 16.1-2). , on Sunday mornings, collection plates are passed throughout the congregation. As our guest, you are not expected to contribute. You may feel perfectly comfortable in simply passing the collection plate down the row.
In Bible Study
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35)
Again in John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
And the Apostle Peter wrote, “Having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the Word of God, which liveth and abideth. For, All flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth; but the word of the Lord abideth forever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:23-25)