We know visiting an unfamiliar place can be intimidating.  We want to briefly tell you what to expect when you honor us with a visit.

Background:  A brief description may help you understand why we practice the things you will observe in our services.  We desire to be the church that Christ built (Matthew 16:18).  We believe that all religious authority belongs to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18).  We seek to imitate the New Testament in all things.  We are an independent local congregation doing its work with its own funds (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  The Bible alone is our source of faith (Romans 10:17).  We are not associated with denominationalism.  We do not recognize or embrace any human creeds, disciplines, catechisms, or religious traditions (Matthew 15:7-9).  Instead, we embrace Christ’s plea for unity in John 17:20-21.  We seek to be a part of the “one faith” spoken of in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:5), on which is the only basis for unity.  We also believe in the essentials of faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession (Acts 8:37), and baptism (Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 2:38), as the requirements for entrance into the body of Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).

Preaching:  The preacher does not have a title.  He is not referred to as Pastor or Reverend.  He is usually referred to as a brother or by his first name.   He does not wear special clothing to distinguish himself from any other member.  The Bible teaches that all members are priests and are equal (1 Peter 2:9).  The sermons you hear from the pulpit can be supported by the Bible.  Scripture references are given and we encourage you to check what we say by searching the scriptures (Acts 17:11 and John 5:39).

Prayer:  When we come together in an assembly, you can expect our public prayers to be led by men (1 Timothy 2:8-13).  It is usually announced that we will be lead in prayer by a certain brother.  The brother speaks his prayer publicly, and the rest of us follow him silently as we pray together.  This allows us to worship reverently and orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Singing:  One of the most unique items of our worship is our singing.  It is “a cappella”, meaning we sing without the accompaniment of musical instruments.  This practice is not merely a preference.  It is a matter of faith.  We find authority for singing in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16.

Lord’s Supper:  You can expect us to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week.  Jesus instituted this supper as a memorial of His death on the cross (Matthew 26:26-29 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).  As we partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, our minds are to be centered on the events of the cross.  In this act, we have communion or fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16).  It was the practice of the early church to eat the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7).  As the communion is passed to each individual in the assembly, we each examine ourselves that we may partake of it in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).  We do not examine, encourage or forbid any guest concerning their participation in the Lord’s Supper.  It is the choice of our guest.  However, we would hasten to point out that there can be no communion or fellowship with Christ unless we are faithful children of God   (1 John 1:5-7 and Galatians 3:26-27).

Giving:  Every first day of the week, we also give of our means.  The New Testament teaches that we are to give as we have been prospered and to give willingly and cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7).  As our guest, you are not expected to make a contribution.

Invitation:  At the close of each sermon, you can expect an invitation to become a Christian.  The opportunity will be given to express your faith in Jesus Christ by repenting of your sins, confessing Christ before men and being buried with the Lord in baptism.  If you choose to obey the Lord, you may come to the front at this time.  If anyone responds for baptism, you will witness the baptism during the service.  The baptism will be by immersion (Acts 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2:12), and it will be for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  May we point out that the church does not have to be assembled for you to obey the gospel.  You can obey at any hour of the day or night by simply letting your request be known. (Acts 16:25-34)

The best advice that we can give you is to “Come and see.” (John 1:46), observe, ask questions, get acquainted and prayerfully consider the things that you hear.