Spencer
Indiana
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Spencer Church of Christ
About Us:
The church of Christ is not a denomination in the sense that most people think of sectarianism. The word denomination implies part of a whole. The church of Christ is the whole, i.e., it is the whole of Christ's body, (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is composed of any group of human beings who have heard God's word, the Bible, and obeyed it.
The church for which Jesus shed his blood and sacrificed His body is composed of Christians. Christians are neither Catholic nor Protestant. Neither are they Jewish. They are not hyphenated Christians, e.g., Baptist-Christians, Nazarene-Christians, Pentecostal-Christians, Et. Al. They are simply Christians!
Jesus Christ in circa 29-33 A.D authorized the church of Christ. It was prophesied hundreds of years prior to that, (see Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2:28-32, etc.) It was actually borne into existence on the Day of Pentecost referred to in Acts chapter 2. The apostle Peter said, "This is that which was prophesied by Joel..." (Acts 2:14-20). "The Lord added to the church daily those that were being saved," (Acts 2:41-47). Later, Colossians 1:14 the apostle Paul said, "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son..." Christians are now in that kingdom, as their citizenship is there, (Ephesians 2:19; see also Philippians 3:20).
Headquarters for the church of Christ are in heaven. We base this on the fact that while on earth the apostles were given divine authority, (Matthew 16:18-19). At no time did they set up a headquarters from which to run and rule the church. We have no central, earthly administrative office that oversees or even works alongside Christ. We work under Him, (1 Corinthians 11:3). Jesus has all legislative power. We have no board of directors, counsel(s) or synod(s) to govern the church of Christ. Each congregation is autonomous (independent) and relies solely on the written word of God for authorizing religious practices, (John 12:48; 5:45-48).
Men who meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 may serve as elders, pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters, or shepherds (all synonyms). Male members who wish to serve as deacons (servants) must meet the stipulations identified in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. There are no "assistant pastors," "youth directors," or "activities chairpersons." In addressing the church of Christ at Philippi, Paul headed his epistle, "...to all the saints (Christians) in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons..." (Philippians 1:1).
Each member of the congregation takes part in the worship; hence, there are no choirs. Each person sings psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, (Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 14:15). Each person is responsible for his/her own disposition of mind during prayers, preaching, communion, giving as well as the song service. These are the five basic items of worship, and we hold to that pattern in addressing God today.
We have no priest other than Jesus Christ as the Hebrew writer states in Hebrews 7:1-28. Jesus Himself said, "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9) We have no clergy/laity system as no one Christian is put on a pedestal. Each individual is expected to do what he is capable of doing with his God-given talents; e.g., preach, lead singing, pray publicly, Et. Al.
We have no material or physical altar as Jesus serves likewise in this capacity, Hebrews 13:10-12. In the Old Testament God ordered many altars of wood, stone, etc. In the New Testament, however, we acknowledge Jesus as our Altar, and it is He who has offered Himself as the supreme sacrifice for our sins. We in turn offer our worship unto Him as our Altar.
We have no mechanical instruments of music, as the New Testament examples of music in the New Testament church were always a capella (without instruments). Two passages of scripture that have to do with the church assembled are 1 Corinthians 14:15 and Hebrews 2:12. In the preceding verse, during the beginning of the church of Christ, people were told to meet together and sing with the spirit and understanding. In the latter verse, the Hebrew author reiterates a passage from Psalms 22:22 that he would "...in the midst of the congregation sing Thy praise."
Finally, we believe that one is saved when he/she obeys the gospel. The plan the first century folks followed was the God-given one. They first heard God's word, (Romans 10:17); believed what they heard from that word, (John 5:39); repented of their past sins, (Acts 2:38); confessed that Jesus is God's Son, (Matthew 10:32); and were baptized that their sins might be washed away in Christ's powerful, redeeming blood, (Ephesians 1:7), and resurrected to a new life in Him, (Romans 6:1-11).
The church of Christ is not a denomination in the sense that most people think of sectarianism. The word denomination implies part of a whole. The church of Christ is the whole, i.e., it is the whole of Christ's body, (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is composed of any group of human beings who have heard God's word, the Bible, and obeyed it.
The church for which Jesus shed his blood and sacrificed His body is composed of Christians. Christians are neither Catholic nor Protestant. Neither are they Jewish. They are not hyphenated Christians, e.g., Baptist-Christians, Nazarene-Christians, Pentecostal-Christians, Et. Al. They are simply Christians!
Jesus Christ in circa 29-33 A.D authorized the church of Christ. It was prophesied hundreds of years prior to that, (see Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2:28-32, etc.) It was actually borne into existence on the Day of Pentecost referred to in Acts chapter 2. The apostle Peter said, "This is that which was prophesied by Joel..." (Acts 2:14-20). "The Lord added to the church daily those that were being saved," (Acts 2:41-47). Later, Colossians 1:14 the apostle Paul said, "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son..." Christians are now in that kingdom, as their citizenship is there, (Ephesians 2:19; see also Philippians 3:20).
Headquarters for the church of Christ are in heaven. We base this on the fact that while on earth the apostles were given divine authority, (Matthew 16:18-19). At no time did they set up a headquarters from which to run and rule the church. We have no central, earthly administrative office that oversees or even works alongside Christ. We work under Him, (1 Corinthians 11:3). Jesus has all legislative power. We have no board of directors, counsel(s) or synod(s) to govern the church of Christ. Each congregation is autonomous (independent) and relies solely on the written word of God for authorizing religious practices, (John 12:48; 5:45-48).
Men who meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 may serve as elders, pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters, or shepherds (all synonyms). Male members who wish to serve as deacons (servants) must meet the stipulations identified in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. There are no "assistant pastors," "youth directors," or "activities chairpersons." In addressing the church of Christ at Philippi, Paul headed his epistle, "...to all the saints (Christians) in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons..." (Philippians 1:1).
Each member of the congregation takes part in the worship; hence, there are no choirs. Each person sings psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, (Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 14:15). Each person is responsible for his/her own disposition of mind during prayers, preaching, communion, giving as well as the song service. These are the five basic items of worship, and we hold to that pattern in addressing God today.
We have no priest other than Jesus Christ as the Hebrew writer states in Hebrews 7:1-28. Jesus Himself said, "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9) We have no clergy/laity system as no one Christian is put on a pedestal. Each individual is expected to do what he is capable of doing with his God-given talents; e.g., preach, lead singing, pray publicly, Et. Al.
We have no material or physical altar as Jesus serves likewise in this capacity, Hebrews 13:10-12. In the Old Testament God ordered many altars of wood, stone, etc. In the New Testament, however, we acknowledge Jesus as our Altar, and it is He who has offered Himself as the supreme sacrifice for our sins. We in turn offer our worship unto Him as our Altar.
We have no mechanical instruments of music, as the New Testament examples of music in the New Testament church were always a capella (without instruments). Two passages of scripture that have to do with the church assembled are 1 Corinthians 14:15 and Hebrews 2:12. In the preceding verse, during the beginning of the church of Christ, people were told to meet together and sing with the spirit and understanding. In the latter verse, the Hebrew author reiterates a passage from Psalms 22:22 that he would "...in the midst of the congregation sing Thy praise."
Finally, we believe that one is saved when he/she obeys the gospel. The plan the first century folks followed was the God-given one. They first heard God's word, (Romans 10:17); believed what they heard from that word, (John 5:39); repented of their past sins, (Acts 2:38); confessed that Jesus is God's Son, (Matthew 10:32); and were baptized that their sins might be washed away in Christ's powerful, redeeming blood, (Ephesians 1:7), and resurrected to a new life in Him, (Romans 6:1-11).