The Church

We believe that the local church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again people. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. 

Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Acts 20:28-32

I Timothy 3:1-13

Titus 1:5-11

We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority of control. 

Acts 13:1-4

Acts 15:19-31

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Romans 16:1,4 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: ⁴Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 3:9,16 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. ¹⁶Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 5:4-7,13

1 Peter 5:1-4

We recognize water baptism (total immersion in water) and the Lord's Supper (unleavened bread and grape juice) as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the Church in this age. 

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. ⁴²And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26