What to Expect
Sunday, 10:00 AM
You can expect a warm, friendly welcome. Before services, we enjoy a few minutes of fellowship and casual conversation. We would like you to give us the opportunity to know you.
What will be expected of you? Absolutely nothing. You are welcome to participate, but don't feel obligated to.
Our services are based on the teachings of the New Testament and examples of the 1st century Christians. Our worship service includes singing, praying, taking the Lord's Supper, giving an offering, and preaching. Our worship service is done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40).
Congregational Singing - our singing is a cappella (no musical instruments) and is comprised of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We sing praises to God and sing to each other to teach and admonish one another (Eph 5:19 Col 3:16).
Praying - We are led in public prayer by a brother. It is the avenue of worship which brings us humbly before the throne of God. There will be several prayers during our service. They may include praise to God, for the sick or in need, thanksgiving, or specific requests.
Communion or Lord's Supper - Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper before his death (Matthew 26:26-29 Mark 14:22-24 Luke 22:17-20). Christians observe this memorial supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus and the grape juice symbolizes the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Plates of unleavened bread will be passed throughout the congregation. Each participant takes a cup with a small piece of bread in it and eats it. A Small cup of grape juice is then distributed to drink. There is a place on the back of the pews to place the empty cups. This is a special time for Christians to remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). If you choose not to participate, feel free to pass the plate or tray to the person next to you.
Giving or offering - This is collected weekly (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). This is a freewill offering decided on by each individual member according to how they have prospered (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). As our guest, you are not expected to make a donation, however, anything you wish to give is appreciated and used in the Lord's work.
Preaching - This part of our worship provides spiritual food for the soul. God speaks to us through his written and inspired word. Our preacher does not have a special title. He is not referred to as Pastor, Reverend or Father. He is addressed as any other brother in Christ. This could be Mr. Patterson or even his first name, Kevin.
Invitation - The invitation is extended at the close of each sermon. This is just a convenient time to invite those to make an obedient response to the gospel. This includes responding in faith (Hebrews 11:6), repenting of sins with godly sorrow (sorry your sinning hurt God) (2 Corinthians 7:10 Luke 13:3 Acts 17:30), confessing the gospel, that is, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he died, was buried and rose from the dead (Romans 1:16 2 Corinthians 9:13 1 Timothy 6:14 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), being baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sins (1 Peter 3:20-21 Acts 2:38) to walk a new life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:3-4 Galatians 3:27), and being added to the body of Christ, the church (Acts 2:41 Acts 2:47 Colossians 1:18 1 Corinthians 12:27 Ephesians 5:23). This is also a time for members of the church who have grown weak and whose sins are known publicly to seek restoration (James 5:16). It is also a time when special prayers for special strength or needs can be requested. The preacher will encourage those who wish to "respond" to come to the front of the auditorium, while the congregation sings the invitation hymn. You will not be singled out in any way. There may be several who respond or even none.
Note the invitation is open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"
"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."
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;" "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body." "And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it." "And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:" "For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:" "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye." "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."
"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
"Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;"
"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;" "By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
"Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
