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Geneva Church of Christ
Come Worship With Us |
What You Can Expect When You Visit
The Church of Christ
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If you are looking for a
friendly church that loves the Lord and believes the Bible is the Word
of God, Why not consider a visit to the Church of Christ in Geneva?
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When You Arrive On Sunday
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We know that unfamiliar surroundings can be a bit intimidating, so let us tell you what to expect when you first come to visit.
If you choose to come for Bible study at 10:00 AM, you'll find that we have classes for all ages. Someone will be happy to help you take your children to their proper classroom and teacher.
When you arrive, feel free to sit anywhere you wish to in the auditorium. Adult class will be from a book in the Bible. The class will be open to discussion and you can feel free to ask a question if you wish. If you didn't bring a Bible, you may use one from a nearby bookrack. Bible classes last about 45 minutes, then there will be an intermission (restrooms are nearby). Worship services will begin at 11:00 AM.
If you arrive during the intermission, you can be assured that you will find a friendly atmosphere - you'll be greeted and made to feel right at home. More than likely, you'll see someone here you know!
We sincerely hope that what you will find will be just what you have been looking for!
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Our Intentions Are Good
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Our aim is to restore the New Testament Church in our time: to determine from the Bible what the church was like in the first century and try to be like that!
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About Our
Assemblies For Worship
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Before the worship service begins, one of the men will come to the front to welcome our visitors, to mention upcoming events and make known any special prayer request.
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Singing
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When the songleader comes to the front, you may wish to take a songbook. He will announce the song number prior to singing. You will notice right away that our singing is congregational - everyone sings - and that it is "acappella:" without any kind of mechanical instruments. This is more than just a preference: our desire to worship God acceptably leads us to respect the absence of either command or example in the New Testament other than to sing and make melody with our hearts (Ephesians 5:19).
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Prayers
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There will be several prayers during the
service. These will be led by one of the men of the congregation. While
in Churches of Christ there is no distinction as in "clergy" or "laity"
(only different roles or areas of service), men are the leaders of the
church. Our ladies are highly esteemed and play vital roles in
practically every area of work in the church, yet we respect the
Bible's instructions that men are to lead in the worship assemblies of
the church.
(1 Timothy 2:8-15)
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The Lord's Supper (communion)
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Regardless of which Sunday you may visit our
services, the Lord's Supper will be included in the worship. This is
because we observe the death of Jesus every week, just like the early
Christians did. (Acts 20:7) During this part of the service, prayers
will be given, plates containing unleavened bread and trays filled with
small cups of grape juice are passed. These symbolize Jesus' sacrifice
on the cross and are a remembrance of His Body and shed Blood. (Matthew
26:26-28)
If you do not wish to paricipate, don't be
embarrassed. Just pass the plate or tray on to the person next to you.
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Sponsors
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Contribution
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The church's work is financed solely by the freewill offerings of its' members (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). At the conclusion of the Lord's Supper (simply as a convenient time) collection plates will be passed for the weekly offering. Visitors are not expected to contribute. You may just pass the plate on to the person near you.
As our guest, you may participate in the service as you wish, but you are not in any way obligated to. Afterwards, most any of our people would be happy to help you with any questions you might have.
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Preaching
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You will also notice that our preacher doesn't have a "title." He won't be referred to as "Reverend" or even "Pastor." He may be called "brother" or just by his first name. He won't be wearing any special clothing that sets him apart from all the other members.
That's because the Bible teaches us that all believers are priests (1 Peter 2:9). The Lord Jesus expressly forbade the use of religious titles or designations that elevate humans (Matthew 23:9).
The sermon will usually last around thirty minutes and be Bible-centered. At the end of the sermon, the preacher will extend an "invitation" which is simply a response time for any who wish to ask for prayers, to be baptized or to ask to be identified as members of our congregation (don't be nervous - you won't be singled out or embarrassed in any way).
If someone wishes to be baptized, it may take place immediately and you will witness it along with everyone else. The baptism will be by immersion in water and will be for the forgiveness of sins, as the Bible teaches (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).
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