The members of the church in Avondale welcome any who would like to visit our worship services and Bible studies. On this page you will find information such as the AUTHORITY that we appeal to, what you can EXPECT when you are with us, the MISSION we strive to fulfill as the Lord's church, a brief summery of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, and available BIBLE CLASSES. If you have any questions please feel free contact us with the information provided on our HOME PAGE.
In Col. 3:17 Paul commanded, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." "In the name of" means "by the authority of." Therefore, as the church that belongs to Christ, our goal is to worship God according to His will as revealed in His inspired word, the Bible. There are many methods, many activities, and many ideas that people use in order to do more as a church. However, appealing to the authority of Christ requires that we set aside our own ideas, as good as they may seem, in order to adhere to God's specific commands. Only when we are serving the Lord His way can we truly be pleasing to Him. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). For this reason one will not find many of the activities that are so popular in the world taking place in this congregation. Since it is the gospel of Christ that we preach, we strive only to preach it in a way that Christ would approve. It is the work of the Lord's church that we are trying to accomplish, so we limit the work that we do to the pattern revealed in the New Testament.
We also live by the words found in 2 Peter 1:3, which says that through God's word He has given us "everything pertaining to life and godliness" and that His word is able to make us complete if we pursue it with all diligence (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Because of what the Bible says, we know that if we together with love for one another and love for the truth, then we can do as Paul said, "...speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10). We encourage all men to set aside all human standards of authority and to pursue the pattern delivered to us in the New Testament. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11).
We also live by the words found in 2 Peter 1:3, which says that through God's word He has given us "everything pertaining to life and godliness" and that His word is able to make us complete if we pursue it with all diligence (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Because of what the Bible says, we know that if we together with love for one another and love for the truth, then we can do as Paul said, "...speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10). We encourage all men to set aside all human standards of authority and to pursue the pattern delivered to us in the New Testament. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11).
As the church we are the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27). Christ is the head of the church, "And He is the head of the body, the church…" (Col. 1:18). As such it is essential that we function as the head directs us.
Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." To worship God "in spirit" means to have the right attitude and to draw near Him with our hearts. Therefore we should all strive to make our hearts right with God as we gather to worship Him. We must seek to glorify Him and honor Him, as this is the purpose of our worship.
In following the example of Christ, we encourage all men to set aside human traditions from their worship and only worship God in spirit and in truth. To worship God "in truth" means to do it according to God's instructions. The only truth revealed is that which is found in the Bible. While praying to the Father, Jesus said in John 17:17, "Your word is truth." In the New Testament Scriptures, God reveals how He wants to be worshiped in His church. According to that pattern, there are five basic things which God desires in our worship of Him.
Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." To worship God "in spirit" means to have the right attitude and to draw near Him with our hearts. Therefore we should all strive to make our hearts right with God as we gather to worship Him. We must seek to glorify Him and honor Him, as this is the purpose of our worship.
In following the example of Christ, we encourage all men to set aside human traditions from their worship and only worship God in spirit and in truth. To worship God "in truth" means to do it according to God's instructions. The only truth revealed is that which is found in the Bible. While praying to the Father, Jesus said in John 17:17, "Your word is truth." In the New Testament Scriptures, God reveals how He wants to be worshiped in His church. According to that pattern, there are five basic things which God desires in our worship of Him.
1. Pray (1 Tim. 2:1)
2. Sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)
3. Give of what we have been prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
4. Eat the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-34)
5. Teaching and Edification (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:26)
2. Sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)
3. Give of what we have been prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
4. Eat the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-34)
5. Teaching and Edification (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:26)
As laborers in His vineyard, God expects us to serve Him diligently and faithfully (Heb. 6:11-12). As Christ served us by giving His life, so we offer our lives in service to Him (2 Cor. 5:15). As the Scriptures also teach, we must flee the things of the world and pursue godliness and truth, such as pleases our God. It was for this purpose that Jesus died on the cross according to Titus 2:14, "...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."
Therefore, as a local congregation of Christ's people, we strive to do those things that Christ gave for His church to do. There are many churches that make it their mission to do things that are not found in the Scriptures. However, in Eph. 4:12, the apostle Paul teaches that Jesus only intended for the mission of His church to consist of three kinds of works: 1. "the equipping of the saints", 2. "the work of ministry", 3. "for the edifying of the body of Christ." Since these are the only three kinds of works that Jesus instructed His church to fulfill, to go beyond these is to go beyond God's word (2 John 9).
In order to fulfill our mission according to Eph. 4:12, in the church here in Avondale we devote much of our time together teaching and edifying one another so that, as a the body of Christ, we may grow together to be more like Christ. We also spend much time and effort preaching the gospel to the lost so that they too may have salvation. "...preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). We care for our widows as they have need. "Honor widows who are really widows" (1 Tim. 5:3). We strive to fill whatever need our brethren may have."...you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb. 6:10). God also says that if a congregation is unable to care for its own physical needs where disaster has struck, we can provide resources to help them. "Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea" (Acts 11:29). This kind of work is also called benevolence.
In addition to our activities as a local congregation of God's people we also encourage one another, as individual Christians, to take advantage of opportunities to do good unto all men (Gal. 6:10).
Therefore, as a local congregation of Christ's people, we strive to do those things that Christ gave for His church to do. There are many churches that make it their mission to do things that are not found in the Scriptures. However, in Eph. 4:12, the apostle Paul teaches that Jesus only intended for the mission of His church to consist of three kinds of works: 1. "the equipping of the saints", 2. "the work of ministry", 3. "for the edifying of the body of Christ." Since these are the only three kinds of works that Jesus instructed His church to fulfill, to go beyond these is to go beyond God's word (2 John 9).
In order to fulfill our mission according to Eph. 4:12, in the church here in Avondale we devote much of our time together teaching and edifying one another so that, as a the body of Christ, we may grow together to be more like Christ. We also spend much time and effort preaching the gospel to the lost so that they too may have salvation. "...preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). We care for our widows as they have need. "Honor widows who are really widows" (1 Tim. 5:3). We strive to fill whatever need our brethren may have."...you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb. 6:10). God also says that if a congregation is unable to care for its own physical needs where disaster has struck, we can provide resources to help them. "Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea" (Acts 11:29). This kind of work is also called benevolence.
In addition to our activities as a local congregation of God's people we also encourage one another, as individual Christians, to take advantage of opportunities to do good unto all men (Gal. 6:10).
In the world there are a great many gospels that are being taught, but the Bible teaches that there is only one gospel that can save us from our sins. As Paul wrote in Rom. 1:16, the gospel of Christ is "God's power unto salvation." That means that the gospel is the avenue through which we receive God's power for the salvation of our souls.
The gospel was delivered by Jesus Christ when He lived on the earth and died on the cross for our sins. After He rose from the dead, He commanded His disciples to preach His gospel throughout the whole world (Mark 16:15-16). That gospel has been preached by the New Testament apostles and prophets and it is recorded for us today in the New Testament Scriptures. Concerning that gospel, Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." We see then, not only the need to be saved, but also the need to seek salvation through the one true gospel.
Do you desire salvation? If you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God then you can have salvation through His gospel. The word of God teaches that we must do the following:
1. Hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17)
2. Believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16)
3. Repent of our sins (Acts 2:38)
4. Confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9)
5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 22:16).
6. Live faithful to God.
The gospel was delivered by Jesus Christ when He lived on the earth and died on the cross for our sins. After He rose from the dead, He commanded His disciples to preach His gospel throughout the whole world (Mark 16:15-16). That gospel has been preached by the New Testament apostles and prophets and it is recorded for us today in the New Testament Scriptures. Concerning that gospel, Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." We see then, not only the need to be saved, but also the need to seek salvation through the one true gospel.
Do you desire salvation? If you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God then you can have salvation through His gospel. The word of God teaches that we must do the following:
1. Hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17)
2. Believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16)
3. Repent of our sins (Acts 2:38)
4. Confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9)
5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 22:16).
6. Live faithful to God.
To learn more about the gospel and salvation you can CLICK HERE or e-mail us at info@avondalechristians.com.
Home Bible studies to help you learn more about God's word. Some specific topics include:
- New Convert
- Pre-marital
- Marriage
- Young Adult
- Men's
- Women's
- E-mail correspondence at info@avondalechristians.com
- And more
If you are interested in starting a personalized home Bible study to learn more about God's plan for salvation, you can contact us using the information provided on our home page.
If you would like to study more on your own you can find sermon outlines and other study tools on this website.
ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST THAT MEETS IN AVONDALE, PA
HOME |
ABOUT US |
SERMONS |