Important Reminder: Beginning Mar. 9, Sunday evening services will begin at 6:00pm.
Important Reminder: Beginning Mar. 9, Sunday evening services will begin at 6:00pm.
WHEN WE GATHER TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY MORNING, WE FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS AS SET FORTH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE.
EPHESIANS 5:19 STATES, "SPEAKING TO ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD." COLOSSIANS 3:16 INSTRUCTS US TO, "LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY AND IN ALL WISDOM. TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD." THEREFORE WE DO NOT USE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN WORSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO DO SO.
WE GO TO GOD IN PRAYER IN ORDER TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS FOR ALL OUR BLESSINGS, TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT FACE CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIVES, AND TO SEEK FORGIVENESS FOR WHEN WE FALL SHORT OF GOD'S TEACHINGS. JAMES 5:16 TEACHES US TO, "CONFESS YOUR TRESPASSES TO ONE ANOTHER, AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTIVE, FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILS MUCH."
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WORSHIP IS PARTAKING OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. ACTS 20:7 PROVIDES US WITH THE EXAMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES GATHERING ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, "TO BREAK BREAD." 1 CORINTHIANS 11:28 INSTRUCTS US TO EXAMINE OURSELVES, AND TO EAT OF THE BREAD AND DRINK OF THE CUP." AS CHRISTIANS, WE PARTAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER ON EACH LORD'S DAY TO COMMEMORATE CHRIST'S SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE, WHICH HE ENDURED FOR ALL MANKIND. IT ALSO IS A FORM OF FELLOWSHIP WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WITH CHRIST.
WE MAKE AN OFFERING EACH WEEK TO ASSIST IN MISSIONARY WORKS, BOTH HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WE ALSO SUPPORT VARIOUS WORKS IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREN, AS WELL AS OFFERING SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. 1 CORINTHIANS 16:2 INSTRUCTS US TO, "ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK LET EACH ONE OF YOU LAY SOMETHING ASIDE, STORING UP AS HE MAY PROSPER." 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 STATES, "SO LET EACH ONE GIVE AS HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART, NOT GRUDGINGLY OR OF NECESSITY,; FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER."
WE HAVE A LESSON WHICH IS TAKEN FROM THE WORD OF GOD. THE BIBLE PROVIDES US WITH ALL INSTRUCTION IN REGARDS TO BOTH OUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL LIVES. IN JOHN 17:17 JESUS INSTRUCTS US TO, "SANCTIFY THEM BY YOUR TRUTH. YOUR WORD IS TRUTH." 2 TIMOTHY STATES, " ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK." AS CHRISTIANS, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER DURING FELLOWSHIP, OFFER AND RECEIVE INSTRUCTION, AND OFFER SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN TIMES OF NEED.