- How do I locate your building?
- Why do you take the Lord's Supper (Communion)
every Sunday?
- Why doesn't your church use instrumental music?
- Who is in charge of your congregation?
- Why must I be baptized?
- When is "the second coming" of Christ?
From I-25: Take Exit 141 (Cimarron/U.S. 24) and turn west (toward the
mountains). Turn right on 14th Street and go three blocks to Pikes Peak
Ave.
From downtown: Go west on Colorado Ave toward Old Colorado City.
Turn right at 14th Street and go one block to Pikes Peak Ave.
From Woodland Park: Take U.S. 24 east to 21st Street. Turn left.
Go two blocks to Colorado Ave. Turn right. Go east to 14th Street.
Turn left. Go one block to Pikes Peak Ave.
Click here for map!
Paul tells us that on the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread, "and when
he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took
the cup, when he had supped, saying. This cup is the new testament in my blood:
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come" (1
Corinthians 11:24-26).
Jesus instituted this supper to be done in remembrance of Him. Paul said, "as
often" as Christians partake of this memorial supper, they "show the Lord's
death till he come." There is no question that the church should partake of the
Lord's Supper, but how often? Is the frequency of communion just a matter
of opinion?
It would be strange if the Lord instituted a memorial and gave no guidance as to
how often it should be done. The Jews received explicit instructions as to when
they were to observe the Passover, Pentecost, and other memorials. The New
Testament is clear that the early church assembled each first day of the week
(Sunday) for worship. First Corinthians 14:23 speaks of the whole church "come
together into one place" and Hebrews 10:25 warns against "forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together." The first day of the week was the time for
the early church to assemble and partake of communion.
Paul came to Troas "and upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7). The verse before states,
"we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto
them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days" (Acts 20:6). Thus Paul
and his group had waited a full seven days at Troas so that they could meet with
Christians on the first day of the week, "when the disciples came together to
break bread." Their stated purpose in coming together was "to break bread,"
meaning to partake of the Lord's Supper. The writings of many ancient writers
such as Pliny, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and others show that the universal
practice of the early church was to meet each first day of the week to partake
of the Lord's Supper.
But was it every first day? When God told the Jews to "Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8), they understood that it was every Sabbath day
that was intended, even though God did not specifically say to remember every
Sabbath day. A man who violated only one Sabbath was stoned to death (Numbers
15:32-36). When Paul wrote, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him..." (1 Corinthians 16:2), didn't
he mean that each first day of the week Christians were to give? Each first day
of the week (the day of the Lord's resurrection, and the day the church was
established), is the day Christians are to observe communion. No other day or
frequency is authorized by command or example of Scripture.
(Our thanks to Bob Prichard for permission to use his excellent article to
answer this question.)
The New Testament teaches that Christians should sing in their worship of
God.
"I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
(1 Cor. 14:15b) "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
There is no example of the New Testament church ever using instruments to
accompany their singing. History records that the earliest Christians sang
without instruments in their worship. In fact, the term "A Cappella,"
which has come to be known as singing without instruments, literally means “in
the manner of the church,” or “as in the chapel”). We believe that a
cappella congregational singing both enhances our personal involvement in the
worship, and conforms to the New Testament example.
Many visitors who attend worship at the Pikes Peak church of Christ find the
singing remarkable. Men and women, young and old sing in beautiful
harmony and are able to focus their thoughts on the words of each song.
Congregations of the churches of Christ are led by elders. The New
Testament also refers to these same leaders using various other terms that
describe different parts of their jobs. "Overseers" or "bishops" indicate
that they must constantly monitor the congregations they lead. Similarly,
"pastors" or "shepherds" indicate the watchfulness and tenderness in the way
they guide the congregation.
The office of elder is appointed by the congregation to a man who meets the standards
described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Each instance in the New
Testament that makes reference to these men indicates that there are
more than one elder serving in a given congregation.
The Pikes Peak church of Christ is currently led by two elders: Bill
Ball and John Eriksen.
The Bible could not be clearer on this topic. Baptism is essential for
your salvation. Here's why:
- It is necessary to enter God's Kingdom (John 3:5)
- It permits you to come in contact with Christ's blood (Romans 6:3, 4)
- It is the means by which you get into Christ (Galatians 3:27)
- It the means by which you are saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21)
- It remits your sin (Acts 2:38)
- It washes away your sin (Acts 22:16)
- It is how you are added to the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:23)
This is such an important topic. If you have any question about
baptism, please contact us. We will be happy to discuss this matter with
you.
Since Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven, Christians have pondered
the words spoken by two of God's messengers dressed in white: "This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you
saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11b)
The Bible teaches that there will be no sign, no warning, no indication that
Christ's second coming will soon occur. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Paul (a special
representative of Christ--an apostle) wrote that Christ's coming will be "like a
thief in the night". Just as thieves give no advanced notice of their
crime, there will be no sign that the Christ will soon return. That day is
known only to God. (Matthew 24:36)
Each individual must be prepared for that day. Are you prepared?
If you are not sure, please contact us.
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