What You Can Expect When You Visit the Church of Christ
written by Joe R. Barnett
We want you to visit us at the church of Christ. And we want you to feel comfortable. But we know an unfamiliar place can be intimidating.
So, let us tell you what you can expect when you honor us with a visit.
BACKGROUND
A brief description of our background may help you understand us.
We are a part of "The Restoration Movement." Our goal is to "restore" the New Testament church in our time - to determine from the Bible what the church was like in the beginning, and to be like that. We believe this is a worthy and reverent goal.
We want to be a Bible-centered church. And we try to be. Yet we know that our conclusions aren't flawless, and that our practices are sometimes colored by habit, preference, tradition, or convenience.
Now, let us walk you through a worship service.
There may be some variations from this description, because every church of Christ is autonomous. Self-ruled. Independent.
THE SETTING
Some churches of Christ meet in homes or rented facilities. However, most, for the sake of convenience, have erected a church building.
You will enter what we refer to as the "auditorium." There will be rows of chairs or pews for the worshippers. There are no reserved seats, so feel free to sit anywhere you choose.
SINGING
In a bookrack near you, there will be a hymnbook for your use. When the song leader announces a number, you can turn to that number in the hymnbook to find the words and music.
One of the unique things about churches of Christ - and something you may find strange - is that the music is "a cappella." That is, we sing without the accompaniment of musical instruments.
This is a conviction with us, not just a preference. It has its roots in our restoration heritage. We are seeking to worship according to the New Testmant pattern. Since the New Testament leaves instrumental music out, we believe it's best to exclude it, too.1
You may consider us narrow on this point. But we believe you will respect our reason for it, and our conviction. And we think you'll find the singing meaningful, with everyone being invited to participate.
PRAYERS
There will be several prayers during the service. And there may be prayers for specific needs and requests.
PREACHING
You will notice that the preacher doesn't have a title. He won't be referred to as Pastor or Reverend. He may be addressed as Dr., but only if he has earned that academic credential. He will probably be referred to as brother, or Mister. or, possibly, just called by his first name.
He won't be wearing any ecclesiastical vestments which set him apart.
The reason for this is our belief in the priesthood of all believers. That all are equal.2
The sermon will likely be from 20 to 30 minutes. We think you will find it refreshingly Bible-centered.
INVITATION
At the close of the sermon, the preacher will "extend an invitation." This is simply an expedient time to invite those who are moved to do so to make a commitment or request prayer support.
He will encourage those who wish to "respond" to come to the front of the auditorium while the congregation sings a hymn.
Don't feel ill-at-ease during this invitation. You will not be singled out in any way.
There may be several who respond. Or none.
Some may respond for baptism. Some to confess sins. Some to ask for prayer for a specific need. Some to "identify" or "place membership" with this church.
If anyone responds for baptism, you will witness the baptism during this service. The baptism will be by immersion.3 And it will be for the remission of sins.4
LORD'S SUPPER
If you visit on a Sunday morning, the Lord's Supper will be included in the worship proceedings - because churches of Christ observe this memorial every Sunday.
Again, the reason for this is our desire to follow New Testament teaching. The first century church celebrated this observance on the first day of the week.5
We assume from this that they did it the first day of the week. And we know from respected historians that in early centuries the Lord's Supper was an every-Sunday commemoration.6
During this memorial, plates containing pieces of unleaved bread will be passed throughout the congregation. The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus.7 Each participating person will break off a piece of the bread and eat it.
Next, trays filled with small cups will be distributed. The cups will contain "fruit of the vine," usually grape juice, symbolizing the blood of Jesus.7 Each participant will drink the contents of one of the cups.
If you choose not to participate, don't be embarrassed. Feel free to just pass the plate or tray to the person next to you.
OFFERING
Also, if you visit on a Sunday morning containers will be passed to collect the weekly financial offering.8
As our guest, you are not expected to make a donation. Feel perfectly comfortable in just passing the collection plate on down the row.
WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF YOU
Nothing at all! You are welcome to participate. But don't feel obligated to. Just observe, if that is your choice.
You may be asked to fill out a Visitor's Card. This simply provides information so the church can write or call to thank you for your visit. Supply the information if you are comfortable doing so. But feel free to decline this request if you prefer.
THE PEOPLE
What kind of people can you expect to find? Pretty much the entire spectrum, as in any group.
You will find traditionalists - and you'll find those who prefer anything new over everything old.
You will find those of us who mistake our traditions for absolute truth, and get pretty bent out of shape when they are tampered with. And you'll find those of us who are a bit smug at having been liberated from tradition.
You will find legalists and liberals - and a lot of people in between.
You will find happy people - and grouchy people. Friendly people - and unfriendly people. Loving people - and cantankerous people. People who are learning - and people who already know everything.
You'll find us to be like the little West Texas community that has a billboard at the edge of town which says, "The Home of 3,000 Friendly People - And A Few Old Soreheads."
You get the picture. We're a diverse group, coming from varied backgrounds, and at different stages of knowledge and spiritual growth.
We don't know everything. We don't do everything right. We don't always treat each other as we should. We haven't arrived - we're just on the journey.
But, you see, we were not brought together by any illusion of our perfection or righteousness. We were brought together by our recognition that we are sinners in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus.9
That's the reason we can worship together, stick together, and, with God's help, accomplish some things that make a difference.
You won't have to look very far to find our failures.
But bottom line, you will find people who love Jesus and love the Bible.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1 I Corinthians 14:15: So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. Ephesians 5:18,19: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Hebrews 2:12: He says, I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregaiton I will sing your praises.
2Matthew 23:8-12: But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Galatians 3:26-28: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of ou who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. I Peter 2:5, 9: you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
3Acts 8:35-39: Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the read, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized? And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, but went on his way rejoicing. Romans 6:3,4: Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Colossians 2:12: having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
4Acts 2:38: Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
5Acts 20:7: On the first day of the week we came together to break brad. Paul spoke to the people, and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
6Neander, Eusebius
7I Corinthians 11:23-25: For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
8I Corinthians 16:1,2: Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
9Mark 2:17: On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Romans 5:6-9: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much moe shall we be saved from God's Wrath through him! Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redeption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace I John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
from the Metro Church of Christ
copyright @1992 Pathway, Inc.
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