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Welcome to the La Plata Church of Christ web site. We at the La Plata Church of Christ are a group of Christians in the Southern Maryland area striving to serve God as he has instructed us in the Bible.
Christ's church is not a building or a man-made organization. It is simply the body of people whose souls have been saved. Here's where you'll learn more about Christ's church and about how you can become a member.
What is the church of Christ?
The church of Christ is the church that Jesus Christ founded and is His body. Because members of His body are scattered throughout the world, they form local congregations, such as the La Plata Church of Christ congregation or the first-century congregations at Ephesus and Corinth.
Because Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23), congregations recognize only His authority -- not the authority of any man -- in directing church matters. His authority is recorded in His word, the Bible.
If you aren't a churchgoer, or if you attend somewhere other than a faithful congregation of Christ's church, you will notice some differences in the way we serve and worship God from what many consider to be a "typical church." For example:
- We sing a cappella -- that is, without instrumental accompaniment. (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16)
- We take the Lord's Supper (communion) every Sunday. (Acts 20:7, Acts 2:42)
- We give back to the Lord each first day of the week. Christians give of cheerful heart as they have prospered. (1 Cor. 16:2, 2 Cor. 9:7)
- Each congregation is autonomous, led by Christ. Congregations are not part of any regional, national, or worldwide organization and are thus not denominational. (1 Tim. 3:1, Tit. 1:5)
- We always preach the Gospel for the salvation of man's soul. (Rom. 10:14)
We do these things in these ways because the Bible gives us no authority to do them in other ways!
For more information about the church of Christ, contact us.
How do I become a Christian?
"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." -- Acts 2:47
This question can also be asked as, "How do I join the Lord's church (the church of Christ)?" or "What must I do to be saved?" or "How do I achieve eternal life with God in heaven?" These questions all have the same answer.
There are five steps to salvation:
- Hear the word of God. (Rom. 10:14)
- Believe that Jesus is the son of God. (Matt. 3:16-17, Heb. 11:6)
- Repent of your sins -- that is, feel such remorse over them that you change your behavior to never do them again. (Acts 17:30)
- Confess Jesus as Lord. (Acts 8:36-37)
- Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38)
Then you must live a faithful life, serving God as he commands in His word, the Bible. (1 Pet 2:9)
resource: Bible & Traders Point Church of Christ
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