TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS PAGE, we offer this study out of love for you and love for God's Word, so...with an open heart, an open mind and an open Bible..."...search the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so..." (Acts 17:11)

As a visitor to the church of Christ assembling in Luverne, you will be our honored guest. We seek to live our lives and worship our God according to His will as expressed in the Bible. The Bible is sufficient (2 Timothy 3:15-17 and 2 Peter 1:3-4) to teach us how to be saved and how to live our salvation. This includes worship (John 4:24) "in truth" - we must worship as God desires, not as we want.. Because of this foundational teaching of Scripture, we strive to offer worship that is proscribed by command or example, refrain from that which is forbidden, and not "go beyond what is written" (I Corinthians 4:6). God has given us instruction and commanded us to study (II Timothy 2:15) and apply His Word to our lives. The Bible reveals the way that is right and cannot be wrong, and we seek to walk that strait way (Matthew 7:13-14).

When you visit the church of Christ in Luverne, you might see (or, not see), hear (or, not hear) some things that bring questions to your mind. Although we cannot answer every question in this space, we would like to give you a basic understanding of why we believe and act as we do in worship. If you need further clarification on these matters or have other questions, just send us an e-mail and we'll do everything we can to get you an answer as soon as possible. We seek to offend no one, love everyone and follow Jesus only. He is "THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life." (John 14:6).

THE LORD'S DAY
We assemble together on every first day (Sunday) of every week to offer God our worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Assembling on the first day of the week puts God first (Matthew 6:33). The first day of the week is the day that Jesus rose from the grave (Luke 24:1). The church was born on a Sunday (Pentecost - Acts, chapter 2). We know that Pentecost was a Sunday (Leviticus 23:15-16) because it falls seven weeks plus one day (50 days, thus "Pentecost") after the Passover (a Saturday - "Sabbath" day). Christians are adminished not to take this obligation lightly (Hebrews 10:25), but to assemble at the appointed times designated by the congregation. The early church gathered on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7 and I Corinthians 16:1-2), and we follow this example.

THE LORD'S SUPPER (Communion)
The church assembles on the Lord's Day (Acts 20:7) for the purpose of remembering (Luke 22:19) the life, death, burial, resurrection, acension and promised return - just as Jesus directed (Matthew 26:26-29 and I Corinthians 11:23-29). Jesus instructed us to commune with Him and with one another by "breaking (unleavened) bread" (representing His body) and drinking the cup of the fruit of the vine (representing His blood) until He returns. This observance is a time of reverential personal reflection (I Corinthians 11:28) upon God's love, our life, forgiveness, and salvation for every Christian in the assembly.

WORSHIP IN SONG
By its very nature, worship is something directed to Almighty God and ascribes worth to Him - the focus cannot be on any one person or group of people. The word "worship" means "to fall down, do obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to". Worship is not offered for the entertainment of those assembled, but is an offering "in spirit" (John 4:24)...a "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15) and "spiritual sacrifice" (I Peter 2:5) offered to God. Likewise it is a spiritual offering that must be offered only as God's Word instructs - "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Since this is the only manner revealed in the New Testament, we offer our worship in song together - congregationally - with God as our audience. The only "instrument" authorized in the New Testament is the grateful heart of a forgiven sinner (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16). The melody is to be made in the heart and delivered up in praise by singing. The instruction is both simple and profound..."sing"...so, we do.

PRAYER
Paul instructed the men (yes, he specified "men" - using the Greek word for "male adult") to pray in the assembly (I Timothy 2:8). This is not a "cultural" command, since he further gave the reason for this command as the order of creation and fall (I Timothy 2:11-13). Since we worship One who is not a God of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33), we must do things "decently and in order" (I Corinthians 14:40). Accordingly, one man will offer a prayer aloud in the assembly on behalf of all assembled. Prayers are offered from the heart and petition God for the needs and salvation of all people, and for our local, state, antional and world leaders (I Timothy 2:1-4).

PREACHING THE WORD
As he taught the Christians in Corinth (I Corinthians 1:21), Paul reveals that God has chosen in His wisdom to use men (I Timothy 2:12) through the "foolishness of preaching" to proclaim the gospel. We engage in a mutual study of God's Word and God's will for us in the assembly lead by the preacher (evangelist, minister). We preach God's saving message of hope (Romans 1:16, Romans 8:24, John 3:1-3 and I Peter 1:22-23) and encourage people to obey the gospel from the heart (Romans 6:17 and II Thessalonians 1:8). We instruct and admonish Christians to heed sound doctrine ("healthy teaching") reveled in God's Word God and not follow the commandments of men (II Timothy 4:1-5). Sermons are based upon the Word of God, filled with the Word of God and encourage application of the Word of God to our daily lives.

GIVING FROM THE HEART AS WE ARE PROSPERED
On the first day of every week (I Corinthians 16:1-2) we collect free-will offerings from the brothers and sisters in the assembly. Although any offering you make is accepted, as a visitor, you need not feel any obligation to give any money. God desires a loving gift from the heart and not a forced gift (II Corinthians 9:5-8). Our purpose in assembling is not collecting money, but to worship God with a thankful heart for the gift of Jesus (John 3:16 and II Corinthians 9:15). Our giving to God is an expression of our gratitude, given freely in love according to the blessings God has bestowed upon our lives (Luke 21:1-4 and II Corinthians 8:1-5). It is important to God that we financially support the work of the Lord's church in evangelism, edification and benevolence - all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior...to His glory, and not our own.