About the Church

The Bible alone is the complete guide by which we live by (II Timothy 3:16-17), and we know it is the pure word of God (II Peter 1:20-21, I Thessalonians 2:13). We are Christians that follow the New Testament to the letter by not adding to or taking away from God's word (Deuteronomy 4:2, Matthew 15:7-9, I Corinthians 4:6, Galatians 1:6-8, Revelation 22:18-19). It is the job of the church to preach the gospel to everyone that lost souls my be united with Christ (Acts 8:4, Romans 10:14). We, at the West Innes Street Church of Christ, understand that there is a pattern in the New Testament that must be followed as given by the apostles through divine inspiration (Matthew 28:18-20, II Timothy 2:2, I Corinthians 4:6, II John 9-11). Every Lord's day we meet, this pattern includes prayer (Acts 2:42, I Timothy 2:8), preaching (Acts 11:26, Acts 20:7), singing (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 2:12), the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11:23-29) and collection (I Corinthians 16:1-2). We must be very careful that we speak as the oracles (or utterances) of God, which includes continuing in the apostles teachings (I Timothy 4:16, II John 9-11, Galatians 1:6-8, Romans 16:17, Ephesians 4:14, Titus 1:9), so we will not fall into the category of false teachers (Acts 20:29-30, I Timothy 4:1, Ephesians 4:14, Galatians 1:7-8, II John 10:11), and lead others astray. The church of our Lord is a divine institution in which he purposed to bring about through Christ from the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:10-11). Christ said that he would build his church in Matthew 16:18 and Paul tells us in Acts 20:28 that the church is blood bought. The church is the place where the saved are found, added by God (Ephesians 5:23, Acts 2:47) through baptism (I Corinthians 12:12-13, Acts 2:38, 47). Individually the members are called Christians, a name that has divine origin (Acts 11:26, Isaiah 56:5, Isaiah 62:1-2). In Acts 11:26, "were called" in the Greek denotes divine origin. The church is the temple of God in which we are a part of (I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, II Corinthians 6:16, Hebrews 3:6, I Peter 2:5).

The church when mentioned in New Testament scripture never refers to the building, but instead to the members that God has added to it. The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia which means assembly or called out. We are told in I Peter 2:9 that we have been called out of darkness into Christ's marvellous light. The church is also called the bride of Christ because we are spiritually married to Christ and belong to him (Romans 7:4, Ephesians 5:22-32, Revelation 21:2, 9, 22:17). The bride always wears the husband's name to honor him, that is why the church is called what it is - The Church of Christ. There is no pope or other earthly head or headquarters; for Christ is the only head and he alone makes doctrine (Ephesians 1:22, Galatians 1:11-12). Every congregation of the Church of Christ is independent from other congregations in that one does not govern the other. Christ has all the authority (Matthew 28:18). Every congregation should appoint men as elders which are also called shepherds, bishops or pastors that oversee the spiritual well being of the congregation (I Peter 1:1-5, Acts 20:17-29). There must always be a plurality of elders in every congregation (Philippians 1:1, Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5) with the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9. Also, men are appointed to the office of deacons that are to serve under the elders whose qualifications are listed in I Timothy 3:8-13. The Church of Christ also has preachers that preach the gospel. They may also be called evangelists or ministers (Romans 10:14, II Timothy 4:5, I Corinthians 3:5). Preachers nor anyone else are not to be called by titles such as father, reverend or anything else that may exalt one over another (Matthew 23:7-12). For more detailed information about the church check out The Lord's Church link on the Bible Topics Listing page when it becomes available.