WHO ARE WE?
INTRODUCING THE NORTHSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST
There is a group of simple, New Testament Christians
meeting nearby. We're sincerely striving to pattern
ourselves to be like the Lord's church you read about in the New
Testament. Here is your personal invitation to visit with us. We
are genuinely glad to have you be with us at any of our worship
services. You are our honored guest. We would be very encouraged
by your interest in spiritual priorities. So many people in
today's society have forgotten this.
We hope you find a warm, friendly welcome as our
special guest. We hope you will want to come back and be with us
again. We are a Christ-centered, God-glorifying, Bible-based,
truth-loving church. By obeying the gospel of Christ, we have
found forgiveness, hope, peace and joy in Christ. Many people
have been turned off by the faults of modern churches, such as
the toleration of hypocrisy, man-made doctrines, church politics
and too much emphasis placed on money. Like the original church
revealed in the New Testament, we are independent and
undenominational, with no man-made denominational affiliation.
We are a congregation of undenominational Christians like you
read about in the New Testament (Acts 2:42-37; Philippians
1:1,27). Only the truth of Christ can set us free from spiritual
ignorance, sin and self (John 8:31-32). Only God's truth in the
Bible can save our soul (James 1:18). The doctrines of men are
shifting sand and do not please God (Mark 7:6-13).
If you have any questions about what is said or
done, please feel free to ask us. We have never been offended by
any question that visitors ask about our beliefs and practices.
We aim to give a Bible answer to any Bible related question. We
actively encourage you to seek answers from God's Word. It can
guide your life for the better in time to eternity. We firmly
believe Jesus Christ and His Word can meet our deepest needs in
this chaotic, religiously confused world.
WHY ARE WE INTERESTED IN YOU?
We care about your spiritual welfare. Why? True
Christianity is a religion of love. "God is love, and the one
who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John
4:16). A happy part of the Christian life is caring about the
Lord, our brethren and our neighbors. Love is seeking the
highest good of another always.
In this impersonal, cold world, we are interested
in you, your problems, your needs and your spiritual welfare.
God in Jesus Christ took a personal interest in our condition.
Every caring, sacrificial action of Jesus on earth can be
explained by the fact He was deeply interested in everyone's
welfare. God plays no favorites. With the Lord, there are no
little people, no insignificant lives. He loves us every one as
if we are the only one. "He loved me and gave Himself up for me"
(Galatians 2:20).
We have come to know God's transforming love.
Christ reaches out to touch people through His people, which is
His body, the church (Colossians 1:18). So we are interested in
manifesting this personal concern to you. This manifests itself
in warm, friendly interest in how you are doing. We all have
worries, problems, needs and aspirations.
Genuine interest is also shown in sharing with you
the truth of God's will. Jesus promised everyone who obeys His
Word that "you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you
free" (John 8:31-32). This marvelous spiritual freedom is
freedom from the bondage of sin and the self limitations of a
self-centered life.
FROM THE PREACHER
I really appreciate you taking the time to read
this. It shows that you have an interest in bettering your life
and that you realize a spiritual need. This is refreshing in
this secular, dog-eat-dog world. Too many people seem not to
care about spiritual values, and that they have a forever-living
spirit made in God's image. Yet, by reading this far, you're
different. You realize you have a spiritual need. You're on a
journey to eternity.
In coming and listening to my lessons from God's
Word, I earnestly hope that they will stimulate your spiritual
appetite, answer questions, make the Bible relevant to your
life, and provoke thought and positive action.
Preaching "the full message of this new life" (Acts
5:20) is done with the aim of your soul's salvation and your
life's transformation. "The word of His grace...is able to build
you up and to give you the inheritance" (Acts 20:32).
I appreciate you reading along in your Bible with
the references given in the lesson. In religion, it doesn't
matter what I think or say about it, but only what God has
revealed in Scripture. I am honored if you ask a question. This
means you are stirred to know more of God's will.
We, at this local congregation of the Lord's
people, do not pretend to know all the answers, but we do
believe in where to look for all the answers in life and of
faith -- "the living and abiding Word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).
BETTER BIBLE CLASSES
The world is filled with perplexing problems.
Marriages are under stress. Our pressure-cooker world strains
family life. What will you teach your children about right and
wrong, God and the purpose of life? The spiritual benefits of
being taught the Bible are: finding forgiveness of sins by
Christ's blood, the hope of heaven, the power to change, truth
to live a purposeful life, joy and peace in spiritual growth, a
better help for your children's spiritual development and a
happier home life.
We think we have great Bible classes here that are
getting better. A local church of Christ is divinely charted to
be "the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), not
of frivolous fun and frolic. The mission of a local church of
Christ is to have the best possible Bible classes "for the
equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building
up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). We plan and tailor
our classes to spotlight the many ways the Bible deals with
daily life and how to have happier families. The Bible as it is
deals with man's life as it is.
We have Bible-centered classes for all ages, from
the youngest ages to adult classes. Expect the Bible to be
taught. No time is wasted on politics, crafts, entertainment,
or the like.
We have a host of dedicated teachers who strive to
invest quality time in the preparation of classes. The
children's classrooms are neat and attractively designed for a
positive learning environment of the Bible.
Families are strengthened by Bible classes on the
family, good children's classes, godly families that serve as
examples, and helpful leaders that can advise in critical areas.
We have practical, Bible-based books and video tapes in our
library to help strengthen family life. We have video tapes of
children's Bible stories as a better alternative to the violent
programs on TV.
God designed the family. He knows how it works
best. Bible classes will give God's wise counsel on the
responsibilities and benefits of a God-centered family. "By
wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and
pleasant riches" (Proverbs 24:3-4).
ENJOYABLE HOME BIBLE STUDIES
Have you ever wanted to know more about the
Bible's teaching on a subject, but you did not know where to
start or who to turn to? The Bible is the world's best-selling,
most translated book. It is also the least understood.
The Bible tells about a man reading the Scriptures
aloud. A gospel preacher asked, "Do you understand what you are
reading?" The African government official replied, "How could I,
unless someone guides me?" He invited the preacher to travel
along with him in a life-changing study of the Bible (See this
story in Acts 8:30-39).
You can discover God's will for your life. The
Bible is the revelation of God the Creator and His loving will
for your life. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty
of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). In Scripture we learn to know God
better, which in the end is the true meaning of life. God wants
you to seek after Him by faith (Hebrews 11:6). Faith in who God
is and what He wills for you is found in His Word (Romans
10:17).
We would like to read the Bible with you in the
convenience and comfort of your home. There is no sales
pressure, only the opportunity to learn. God still speaks to
those who take time to listen to His living voice in Scripture
(Hebrews 1:2).
We offer several Bible study aids, free of charge.
All our spiritual resources are at your disposal. We have
various Scripture outlines on various Bible topics and books of
the Bible that would best meet your present spiritual need. We
have no rigid format. We seek your religious questions. We seek
to give only Bible answers to Bible related questions.
We live in a confused religious world. It does
matter what you believe in religion. Jesus declared, "The words
that I have spoken will judge him at the last day" (John 12:42).
What you believe determines how you behave. How you respond to
Christ's Word will determine your eternal destiny. Let us get
together to open and study God's life-changing Word. "Open my
eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your law" (Psalm
119:18).
WHAT IS THE CHURCH TO DO AND BE?
A recent Gallop poll found that 60% of Americans
think modern churches have strayed from their spiritual purpose.
What is a local church supposed to be? A local
church is a group of faithful Christians, penitent believers who
have been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. This
makes them members of the one body or church of Christ (Matthew
16:18; Acts 2:38,47; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:13,18).
To do God's work in God's way, He wants His people
to work and worship together as a spiritual team (Acts 2:42-47).
In New Testament times, multitudes of local churches of Christ
were planted by the gospel all over the world (Romans 16:16).
They were all undenominational and independent of any man-made
hierarchy. The guiding ideal of a local church is to "conduct
yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel...standing firm in
one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel" (Philippians 1:27). In a dark and dying world, this
joint effort centers on "holding forth the word of life"
(Philippians 2:16).
So, a local church uses the New Testament as the
ideal rule of faith and practice in divinely authorized
teaching, worship and work (Colossians 3:17). The church, under
scriptural leadership and skilled teachers, is geared to equip
you to know and grow in God's Word (Ephesians 4:11-16). In our
assemblies, it is our sincere aim to have uplifting worship in
singing, prayer, partaking the Lord's Supper every Sunday,
giving and listening to God's Word preached. This just like the
original church we read in the Bible did. This is done to be
pleasing to God, as "worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
Such draws us to the center of the universe before the throne of
God and revitalizes us (Revelation 4:1-11).
A church should not be a gather of familiar
strangers. This church is a spiritual family striving to provide
mutual support of love, warmth and caring. "Let us consider how
to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking
our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the Day
drawing near" (Hebrews 10:24-25). We are here to help each other
through life's toughest challenges. We strive to show genuine
love and involvment in each other's life. This facilitates
mutual acts of caring and service. Christians working and
worshipping together can help each other become the very best
persons the Lord wants us to be. We are ultimately fitted for
heaven. There is no limit to the good done by right minded
people working together in a local church of Christ, doing the
Lord's work in the Lord's way.
We would love to sit down together with you and
read Christ's word together in the comfort of your home. We
invite you to assemble with us at our worship services. We are
sincerely interested in you. Our sentiment toward you is: "If
you go with us, it will come about that whatever good the Lord
does for us, we will do for you" (Numbers 10:32).
We'd love to hear from you. Write our minister
at WFrankWalton@juno.com.
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