|
which meets at
501 S. Washington St.
Lodi, CA 95240
Service Times - Sunday: 9:00 & 10:00 AM;
6:00 PM - Wednesday: 7:00 PM
To
contact us by email, enter the following address in your browser.
LodiCAchurchofChrist [@]
gmail [dot]
com
- Please put in appropriate symbols, without
brackets; this is done to reduce spam.
NOTE:
THIS SITE IS NOT TO BE USED FOR SOLICITING FUNDS!
Any emails sent to us will be ignored unless they are in tune with the purpose
of this website. Our purpose is established clearly to assist in educating
people with the knowledge of the Bible and to provide information about the work
here. This website was not created to provide people with a tool to solicit
funds. Thank you for your understanding.
Note:
New Links page
Note:
“Bible Audio On-line”
Click
to use
Note:
Five Day Bible Reading Schedule
(2024
Schedule is available)
The apostle Paul commanded that Christians are to read and study God’s
word, the gospel of Christ (Eph. 3:3-11; 2 Tim. 2:15); so that they will
be equipped to obey it and teach it to others (Heb. 5:8-14; 2 Tim. 2:2).
The new Five
Day Bible Reading Schedule is
available by clicking the Five
Day Bible Reading Schedule by Mark Roberts link.
We encourage you to commit to reading and studying your Bible regularly
so that you will “understand
what the will of the Lord is” (Eph.
5:17).
Some Things
That May Surprise You About The
church of Christ!
By Ernest
Finley
1.
You may
be surprised that everyone in the assembly is invited to participate in
the singing portion of the worship services. We have no choirs, special
groups or solos. We use no pianos, drums, organs or guitars, etc. All
music is a capella (vocal) as the New Testament indicates it was
in the apostolic days (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Contrary to what you may
have heard, the singing is good singing, soul stirring and encouraging!
2. You may be
surprised that visitors are NOT requested to make a
contribution. Local members contribute on the first day of the week,
each and every week. This is done without demand in the form of "dues"
or "assessments." Free-will giving on the basis of other New Testament
principles is impressed as the plan of scriptural giving. No
pie-suppers, crab feeds, raffles, or money raising schemes are used! We
do not bum or beg from those outside the Lord’s own family. All
contributions, if the Lord’s Will is respected, are freely
given.
3.
If you visit with us on any Lord's Day (the
"first day of the week"), you may be surprised
to find that we commemorate the death of Christ by partaking of the
Lord's supper, which was instituted by Christ and commanded and taught
by Paul, the Apostle (Matt. 26:26-29;1 Cor. 11:23-26). In the first
century, "upon the first day of the week the disciples came
together to break bread" (Acts 20:7). Therefore, since
every week has a first
day, it follows that the Lord's death must be
commemorated every week! Not once every six months, or only on
"Easter Sunday"!
4. You may be
surprised that no hyper-emotional appeals are made. You will not be
urged to act or move in response to the invitation of the Lord until you
have sufficient knowledge of the Truth, to serve as a basis for your
faith (Jn. 20:30-31; Acts 16:32).
5. It may
surprise you that most Christians attend every assembly of the church
because they want to, enjoy it, know it is commanded and because they
realize that assembling to worship is vital to their spiritual growth
and service to God (Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:25).
6.
You may
be surprised to know that we have no man-made prayer book, no
church-authorized discipline, manual or creed and no ritualistic worship
(2 Tim. 3:16-17 & 4:1-4).
7. You may be
surprised at the manner of our services. You will not hear shouting,
screaming or any other manifestation of unbridled emotions. No one will
fall out in a faint, roll around on the floor or speak in "unknown"
tongues. You will see that the admonition of the apostle Paul
that all things "be done decently and in order,"
is sincerely observed (1 Cor. 14:40).
8. You may be
surprised that the service is NOT conducted by a man claiming to be a
part of a special priesthood. Since the Lord Jesus Christ is our High
Priest and all Christians now make up a general priesthood and can
themselves approach God and offer their prayers and sacrifices, it
should be evident that no special earthly priesthood is necessary today
(1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Heb. 4:14-16).
9. With virtually
all denominations having earthly headquarters, it may surprise you that
the church of Christ has neither earthly headquarters nor an earthly
head. Christ alone is head of His body and the church’s headquarters is
in heaven, where Christ now sits and rules with ALL
authority (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; Phil. 3:20-21).
10. Contrary to
what you may have heard, you may be surprised to know that the church of
Christ is not intent on condemning everyone to Hell, but invites all to
come to our Lord in obedient faith, in faithful service
and worship and in Godly living, that one may enjoy the benefits of His
grace and strive for the hope of eternal life (Tit. 2:11-12; 1 Jn.
2:25).
11. Finally, you
may be surprised to learn that the Lord’s church is neither Catholic,
Protestant, sectarian nor denominational. The Lord’s church in the first
century was obviously none of these. If we are correct in our claim that
we follow His Word alone (admitting that not all "churches
of Christ" can honestly make this claim) and in every way
seek to be simple New Testament Christians, then we are the same as it
was in the first century. Being of the same head, doctrine and practice
results in being the same body the Lord purchased or built and therefore
antedates both Catholicism and all Protestant denominations (Acts 20:28;
Matt. 16:18).
We greatly
desire the unity for which Jesus prayed, but, we believe that scriptural
unity is found only in Christ (Jn. 17:20-21). Both Catholicism and
denominational sectarianism stands opposed to this unity. We stand upon
the Word of our Lord alone, respecting His authority in everything and
speaking only as He directs us if we "all be one"
in Christ as He so fervently prayed (Matt. 28:18; 1 Pet. 4:11).
PLEASE ATTEND OUR SERVICES AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!
|
