Why do we do what we do?

In John 4:23-24 Jesus says that true worshipers are to worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.  In Acts 2:42 we find that the New Testament Christians were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  In 1 Corinthians 16:2 we find a commandment to put aside (give) as we have prospered.  In Ephesians 5:19 we are told to sing.  Because we seek to follow the Church that Jesus established in the first century, here is what to expect when you worship with us.

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• Praying - Our line of communication with God is through prayer.  We are to thank God and make our requests known to God.  As you read through the New Testament and observe the practices of the early church you will see that Christians prayed together (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:36, James 5:13-16).

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• Acappella Singing - We are commanded in Ephesians 5:19 to sing and make melody with our hearts to the Lord.  Since we are to do this with our hearts we do so without an accompaniment of instruments. Singing also helps us to encourage one another as we hear each other's hearts opening up to God.

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• The Lord's Supper - In Matthew 26:26-28 during their last supper together before Jesus was crucified, Jesus took the bread, broke it and told His disciples that the bread represented His body.  He then took the cup and told His disciples that the cup represented His blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.  In 1 Corinthians 11:25 he adds to do this in remembrance of Him.  In Acts 20:7 we see that the New Testament Church came together on the first day of the week to break bread, therefore when we gather together on Sunday we follow Jesus' command to remember him.  The unleavened cracker represents His body and the grape juice represents his blood that was shed for our sins.

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• Giving - Just as in the first century, the work of God here on Earth cannot be accomplished without the Saints giving to support it.  Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:2 commanded the Corinthian Church to put aside and save as they had prospered on the first day of the week.  In 2 Corinthians 9:7 he adds that God loves a cheerful giver.  When we meet together on Sunday we take the time to follow this commandment from God.

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• Preaching - It is God's desire that all men come to know him.  The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament, divinely inspired by God, wrote down what they saw and heard.  Those writings are compiled in our current day Bible.  In Matthew 28:19-20 we are commanded to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I (Jesus) commanded you.  The goal of the preaching at the Farmerville Church of Christ is to present the Bible to others so they can get to know God.

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Each time that we meet together we end by offering an invitation to obey the gospel.  In Mark 16:15-16 Jesus commanded us to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."