A Little Bit About the City Park church of Christ

 

First of all, we want you to know that we’re delighted to know that you’re interested in learning more about Jesus the Christ and His church!  We strive to be Christians in our daily lives, but there is something special about the Sunday assemblies.  We’d love for you to come share this time of fellowship and worship as our honored guest. 

 

We know that it can be an uncomfortable thing to visit a church for the first time, but don’t worry about us, we don’t bite.  We’re just simple, salt-of-the-earth people.  The City Park church is as diverse as the community of which we are a part, the charming City of Floydada.  Many of us are involved in agriculture, several are school teachers, others are involved with business, and of course, many are enjoying a well-earned retirement.

 

When you visit, please be sure to pick up a copy of that day’s bulletin: It has all the information about what’s going on at City Park, a short article from the minister, and other useful tidbits.  We try to start our Bible classes at 9:30 and our hour of worship at 10:30.

 

We come together to encourage each other, to build each other up, and to help each other become more like Jesus Christ.  If that sounds like a good way to spend your time, why don't you join us? 

 

Why We Do What we Do

 

Both Scripture and History give us glimpses into the life of the church as it was when Jesus’ Apostles still walked the earth.  The Bible tell us that Jesus received His words from God and that, in turn, he passed that same message onto His apostles (John 17:7-8); what the apostles received they passed on to the first generation of Christian preachers and evangelists, men like Timothy and Titus.  The Apostle Paul, then, writes to Timothy, saying, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2).  Thus we see the chain of authority for the church.  We must make every effort not to invent new teachings, develop new positions, create new churches, or do anything that exceeds what God’s design for His church is.  We must, like the Corinthian Christians to whom Paul wrote, learn “not to go beyond what is written” in Scripture (I Corinthians 4:6).

 

Sometimes Scripture is very clear and gives a command to its readers.  An example of this might be, “be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).  Commands (or “imperatives”) tell us what to do and how to do it. 

 

Other times, Scripture shows us examples of God’s people.  Of course, examples can be good or bad.  A bad example would be that of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).  This couple lied to the church at Jerusalem, the apostles, and to the Holy Spirit.  They were quickly condemned by the apostles and struck down by the Spirit.  Obviously, this is not an example for Christians to follow.  However, other times we see positive examples:  In Acts 20:7 the Christians at Troas and the Apostle Paul assemble “on the first day of the week” to share the Lord’s Supper (“Communion”), to remember the Lord Jesus and His sacrifice.  This is seen as an approved example.  Since an apostle was involved and by his presence and participation we can easily see that this practice was in accordance with apostolic doctrine.  In his letters (“epistles”), Paul makes it very clear that what he teaches in one congregation, he teaches in every congregation (I Corinthians 4:17; 7:17).  If we have an apostolically-approved example then we know that’s what the apostles taught for Jesus’ church then, we know it’s what they would teach if they were alive today.

 

What to Expect When Visiting the

City Park church of Christ

 

So, relying on Scripture as our guide and looking to History as secondary evidence, we have tried to stay true to apostolic teaching in our beliefs and our worship.  Here are some things you’ll most likely experience at City Park:

 

Bible Class:  We have classes for all ages of youth and also Bible classes for adults.  The younger kids are taught by Mrs. Laura, an experienced teacher who loves kids.  Teens and young adults can join Brother Danny in a class more appropriate for their age.  The adults usually meet in the auditorium and study either verse-by-verse from Scripture or explore a relevant topic in the light of God’s word.

Acts 2:42a

 

A cappella Singing:  This is, perhaps, what churches of Christ are most known for – that we sing with our voices and do not use musical instruments in worship.  While there are several valid biblical reasons we don’t use them, we also are more encouraged by being able to hear our brothers and sisters singing to one another than we would be hearing a lifeless instrument.  God personally designed the human voice and with it we sing praises to Him! 

Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16

 

Public Prayers:  We believe that God listens to our prayers.  Through prayer we can directly praise God for who He is, thank Him for what He has done, and bring our requests to Him.  He has given us this privilege and we do our best to take advantage of it.

I Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12b

 

The Lord’s Supper (“Communion”):  We know from Scripture that Christians met together to share a memorial, commemorating the broken body and shed blood of Jesus.  They did this on the first day of the week and we, trying to be true to the apostles’ teaching, do the same every Sunday.  We use unfermented grape juice and unleavened (yeast-less) crackers as symbols representing Jesus.

Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-34

 

The Collection:  “God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it” (Psalm 24:1, MSG).  All we’re doing when we contribute our means is acknowledging that fact.  It’s not that we’re giving to God, it’s that we’re returning to God that witch which He’s already blessed us.

 

In the Bible we see congregations sharing not only a spiritual bond, but sharing physical goods and resources as needed.  Christians are also told to “do good to everyone” as we have opportunity (Galatians 6:10).  Therefore, as a church we try to address needs in our community and even around the world, as we have opportunity.  The collection goes to meet those needs as well as supporting missionaries, children’s homes, and other good works, as well as supplying the needs of local ministry.

Acts 4:34-37; I Corinthians 16:1-4

 

The Sermon:  Ultimately, our knowledge of who God is, what God has done, and what our response should be can only come from an understanding of the Holy Bible.  In addition to our classes, a special time is set aside to hear the Bible preached.  No one has a right to make learning the Bible boring and we try to be relevant to the culture today, but the bottom line is that God has given preachers a responsibility to, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (II Timothy 4:2). 

I Corinthians 15:1-2; II Timothy 2:2, 4:2; I Peter 1:10-12