We use only what we find in the New Testament to guide our group worship.

• Preaching and Teaching the Word of God
• Worship in Song
• Prayers To God
• Communion - The Lord's Supper
• Giving As We Have Been Blessed
• Edification
• Godly Behaviors

We may worship God somewhat differently as individuals, offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. However, our collective worship must contain these elements.

Preaching and Teaching the Word of God:

The Psalmist wrote, "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth... Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:103, 105) Since the knowledge of God's word is so critically important to every Christian, preaching and teaching are central parts of our worship assemblies. One of our evangelists, elders, or other Bible teachers presents a sermon from the Bible at each Sunday worship assembly (10:30 a.m.; 5:00 p.m.).

Someone once wrote, "Everyone ought to love the Bible. Everyone ought to be a regular reader of the Bible. Everyone ought to strive to live by the Bible's teachings. The Bible ought to have central place in the life and working of every church; and in every pulpit."

We agree. We give "central place" to the study of God's Word in our worship. Please bring your own Bible and study with us.

Worship in Song:

When we assemble to worship, we speak "to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our heart unto God" (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). We follow the example of Jesus and the New Testament instructions (Matthew 26:30, Ephesians 5:19, James 5:13) to blend our voices in songs of praise and devotion to God.

We sing without the use of musical instruments in order to please God by worshiping Him the way He has directed.

Prayers to God:

God talks to us when we study the Bible. We talk to God when we pray. The Bible is filled with passages that emphasize the importance of pouring out our hearts in devotion and praise to God in prayer. The apostle Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be make known to God" (Philippians 4:6).

Prayer is an important part of our daily lives before God and a vital part of our worship during our assemblies. "And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)

Prayer is always a part of our worship service.

Communion - The Lord's Supper:

The night before His death, Jesus set up a memorial that the Bible calls "a communion" of the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16), or the "Lord's Supper" (1 Corinthians 11:20). We follow the example of Jesus, His apostles and the New Testament Christians (1 Corinthians 11:23-29).

Every first day of the week (Acts 20:7), we remember Jesus' death by eating unleavened bread to symbolize His body crucified on Calvary and drinking the fruit of the vine (grape juice) to symbolize His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:26-28).

Partaking of the Lord's Supper reminds us of God's enormous love and Jesus' great sacrifice on the cross.

Giving As We Have Been Blessed:

The Lord's church has been instructed to collect money to support the Lord's work. The apostle Paul gave this instruction, "On the first day of every week, let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come." Every Sunday, we take a few minutes during our worship service to allow our members to contribute to the Lord's work. Through this act of worship, we have the privilege of returning to God a portion of what He has blessed us with so generously.

When visiting, do not feel obligated in any way to contribute to the work of our local congregation. When the plate comes by, please feel comfortable just passing it along.

Godly Behavior:

Besides the parts of our worship listed above, there are certain behaviors that are expected of Christians when they are together. These apply in the worship service and any other time we get together.

• Exhort one another (Heb 10:25)
• Build each other up (1 Thes. 5:11)
• Have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7)
• Stir each other to good works (Heb 10:24)
• Encourage one another daily (Heb. 3:13)
• Edify (Rom 15:2)
• Speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)