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Mall City church  of Christ

Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ - Romans 1:16

About Us

     The Mall City church of Christ is a congregation of Christians who believe in the authority of Jesus Christ as the one and only head of the church. In matters of faith we are bound to be obedient to the Word of God which is the will of God. The church is governed by what the Bible says and not by our feelings. We worship as first century Christians did. We obey the gospel the same way first century Christians did. We worship the way they did in the New Testament. And the congregation is ruled by a plurality of elders as prescribed by the teachings of the New Testament. After we obey the gospel we are committed to serving and obeying Jesus Christ. We become Christians or imitators of Jesus.

     If the Bible speaks on a subject, we obey it. If the Bible is silent, we are silent. If the Bible says it we believe it and that settles it. We believe that God has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) The Bible message is unchanging and there will be no new revelations. Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

 

                                                                                     Just Christians

     You can be just a christian! Does this sound strange? The congregations of which they are a part are usually known as "churches of Christ." This term is not used in a sectarian sense, but is intended to denote their desire to belong to Christ's church. The Bible says, "All the churches of Christ greet you." (Romans 16:16) However, it is just as correct to describe the church of which we read in the Bible as "the church of God" (1 Cor. 1:2), the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), or the "household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). These and similar Biblical phrases are not proper names, but descriptive expressions which show how the church is related to Christ and His Father.  
     Individually Christ's followers are known as "Christians" in the Bible. "The disciples were  called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). "If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in his name." (1 Peter 4:16) Never does a human name prefix this God given name. Paul was one of the greatest of all Christians, but he did not want disciples to be called "Paulites" or "Paulite" Christians." (1 Cor. 1:10-17.)


                                                                                     A Distinctive Plea

     Churches of Christ have a distinctive plea. Of course, in many ways we agree with others striving to follow Christ. We believe in the divine inspiration of the entire Bible and that it is sufficient to guide us in all matters of faith; in the death of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins; and that after death all men will be rewarded or punished in another life for the way they have lived here. And with all people of real religious conviction we insist that the moral principles of Jesus are absolute truths to be exemplified in the personal righteousness of the child of God.

                                                                                       The Bible Only

     However, we not only believe that the scriptures are inspired, but also are convicted that the New Testament must be our only guide in religious faith. God's Word frequently warns us against changing the divine message. (see Galatians 1:6-9) We, therefore, have no creed or catechism to present, but accept Christ as our only creed and the Bible as our only guidebook. In this way we are never prevented by an erroneous creed from accepting any truth which may be learned from God's Word.

                                                               Restoration Rather Than Reformation

     It is obvious to thinking people that the religious world is badly divided. Great leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to correct erroneous teachings and practices. But the reformers often started at different points and thus arrived at different conclusions. Division rather than unity resulted.

     Churches of Christ, on the other hand, plead for the restoration of apostolic Christianity rather than a reformation of existing religious bodies. Since all can agree that the early church was right,we should also be able to agree taht we cannot be wrong if we succeed in reproducing that church today in every essential part. While many things have changed in the 21st century, the teachings of Jesus and His apostles have not. Truth is absolute and unchangeable. God's Word is truth (John 17:17) and can save today as surely as in the first century if applied in the same way. "The truth will make you free."(John 8:32)
     Should you visit one of the churches of Christ you will find it worshiping God as did the early disciples --"in spirit  and in truth." (John 4:24) You will observe that it partakes of the Lord's supper, or communion, every first day of the week. This is because we are following the example of the early Christians who assembled every first day of the week to "break bread." (see Acts 20:7) Likewise, in every other way churches of Christ seek to reproduce New Testament Christianity -- in organization, in work, and in other areas of teaching.

                                                                            How To Be Just A Christian

     In few places is there so much disagreement as in answering the Bible question, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30) Here again churches of Christ reply by going to the scriptures for their answer. The Bible teaches that Christ shed His blood for our sins (Matthew 26:28) and that without it we cannot be saved. (Hebrews 9:22) But what does Jesus require of us if we are to appropriate that sacrifice? Those who crucified Him were told to "know assuredly" or believe that Jesus is "both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) When these people on the day of Pentecost then asked for further information, they were told, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins."(Acts 2:38) Today we teach as did the apostles then that for Christ's blood to remove our sins we must as believers in Him repent and be baptized. As we are thus saved from our sins, the Lord adds us to His body, the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."(Acts 2:47) "For in one Spirit we are all baptized into one body." (1 Corinthians 12:13) The saved, then, are in the body or church of Christ; one cannot be saved and be outside the body.
     The early disciples were Christians only. Although we live 2000 years later, we too can be Christians only if we will follow the same teachings given to these first followers of Jesus. Christ said, "The seed is the word  of God." (Luke 8:11) Just as surely as a planted acorn will produce only an oak, so God's Word will produce Christians and nothing more.  We  invite  your earnest consideration to this plea.

 

Weekly Schedule

Sun Bible Study 10 a.m.

Sun Worship 11 a.m.

Sun Worship 5 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study  6 p.m.

Christ is Head

Matthew 16:16-19 
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Romans 16:16        Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Colossians 1:18      And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.