The Oak Forest church of Christ invites you to attend any of our services. We love having visitors and would be honored by your presence. We are a warm, friendly, and loving congregation, and we are sure you would feel welcome. We seek to follow the New Testament in all we do in our worship services. We aim to honor and glorify God in worshiping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). As a congregation of the Lord’s Church, we seek to learn, grow, and love God and each other. We hope you will visit and allow us to get to know you.
God
We believe, first of all, that God is—the great ‘I AM,’ the source of all being. Again, how does one stop there when such a weighty, awe-inspiring statement demands so much more? But for brevity’s sake, we must push on. We believe that those who diligently seek Him are rewarded by Him in ways incomprehensible, with joy inexpressible, and with peace that passes understanding. Believing that the God who presents Himself to us in the Bible is the only true God, we devote ourselves to Him heart, body, and soul. He is our life. We believe that to honor Him, we must serve the needs of our fellow man with the same diligence and passion with which He does. We believe He gave His only begotten Son that we might live; His Son died on the cross so that our penalty might be paid; He extended mercy and grace at great sacrifice to Himself. We can and will do no less.
Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came to earth to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God the Father. While on earth Jesus was God and man, we believe that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for all mankind, providing the perfect sacrifice for our sins through the shedding of His blood.
We believe that He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the Father’s right hand, and will return in power and glory to receive His own.
Worship
To honor Him, we not only strive to offer Him our whole-life service every day of our lives, but we also offer Him our heartfelt worship. In accordance with His will, each first day of the week, we humbly and obediently assemble with fellow believers to sing praises to His name and as we all sing, we are brought together as one body in Christ. In our worship, we offer Him our prayers of petition, thanksgiving, and supplication, asking that He bless us with wisdom to use for His glory all that He gives us. Our singing is acapella without the addition of instrumental music.
Every week, while assembled, we remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim his death until he returns by partaking in the Lord’s Supper. We give attention to the reading and teaching of His word so that our lives might be strengthened spiritually and that our spirits might be emboldened to carry out our God-given commission to go into all the world, teaching the good news of salvation and making disciples.
Also, upon the first day of the week, to support the works of His kingdom locally and throughout the world, we give back to Him financially as He has prospered us. We find instructions for these efforts to honor Him in the New Testament.
Salvation
As to doctrine, we have no creed but Christ. We believe the Holy Bible is just that, holy; it is inspired (from the very breath) of God. While we have brothers and sisters of precious faith worldwide, we are not connected to any earthly religious body or headquarters and only submit to the rule of Heaven itself.
To become a part of that body of believers, according to God’s word, one must come to know and trust the grace of the God of heaven by hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Having come to a faith-filled knowledge of Him and of His Son we know we cannot be in His eternal fellowship unless we are willing to turn from and put to death any passion for sin and choose to be His disciple (Luke 13:3; Romans 6:10).
Because Jesus is the Son of God and because God has made Him King of kings and Lord of lords, we willingly and passionately confess His name (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:10) and submit to the washing away of the guilt of all past sins in the blood of Christ through the God-given medium of baptism (immersion) in water (Acts 2:38, 22:16).
After this new birth, we strive to walk with Him in light, looking to Him for guidance and asking for His forgiveness for our failures, which He mercifully and willingly gives (1 John 1:5-9).
The Church
We believe that all of Scripture is inspired by God and provides everything we need to live a life that pleases Him. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:3) Because of this, we strive to worship in the same way the first-century Church did when it was established by Christ and His Apostles.
Our desire is for pure Christianity with no additional creeds, simply the Bible in its entirety is why our congregation is pastored by a group of men called Elders (1 Tim 3:1-8), why our ministers do not take confession, and why our church family addresses each other simply as brother or sister.
What Is The Church Of Christ?
The word “church” simply means “assembly or gathering.” Did you know that the first time the word “church” was mentioned in the Bible was from the mouth of Jesus? The twelve apostles were gathered together with Jesus in the far northern part of the Golan Heights at the southern foot of Mt. Hermon, near modern day Baniyas, when He said, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18, NASB). Based upon the solid “rock” foundation of His divinity, Jesus planned to build His called out people, His church. After the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven of Jesus, the church Jesus planned began as recorded in Acts, the second chapter. That church followed strictly the teachings of the apostles of Jesus (see Acts 2:42; Galatians 1:8,9; Jude 3).
- Why not go back beyond denominationalism to the simplicity and purity of the first-century church?
- Why not take the Bible alone and once again continue “steadfastly in the apostles teaching” (Acts 2:42)?
- Why not plant the same seed, the Word of God (Luke 8:11), that first century Christians planted, and be Christians only, as they were?
When it all comes down to it, members of the churches of Christ are a people of restoration spirit-wanting to restore in our time the original New Testament church. In the latter part of the 18th century, men of different denominations, studying independently of each other, in various parts of the world, began to ask: They were pleading with everyone to leave denominationalism, to leave human creeds, and to follow only the Bible. They taught that nothing should be required of people as acts of faith except that which is evident in the scriptures. They emphasized that going back to the Bible does not mean the establishment of another denomination, but rather a return to the original church. Members of churches of Christ are enthusiastic about this approach. With the Bible as our only guide, we seek to find what the original church was like and restore it exactly.
Is The Church Of Christ A Denomination?
By definition the church of Christ cannot be a denomination because it is not dependent on man-made creeds, but simply on the New Testament pattern. We do not conceive of ourselves as being a denomination – nor as Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish – but simply as members of the church which Jesus established and for which He died. And that, incidentally, is why we wear His name. The term “church of Christ” is not used as a denominational designation, but rather as a descriptive term indicating that the church belongs to Christ. We recognize our own personal shortcomings and weaknesses, and this is all the more reason for wanting to carefully follow the all-sufficient and perfect plan God has for the church.
What Is The Historical Background Of The Restoration Movement?
One of the earliest advocates of the return to New Testament Christianity, as a means of achieving unity of all believers in Christ, was James O’Kelly of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1793, he withdrew from the Baltimore conference of his church and called upon others to join him in taking the Bible as the only creed. His influence was largely felt in Virginia and North Carolina, where history records that some seven thousand communicants followed his leadership toward a return to primitive New Testament Christianity.
In 1802, a similar movement among the Baptists in New England was led by Abner Jones and Elias Smith. They were concerned about “denominational names and creeds” and decided to wear only the name “Christian,” taking the Bible as their only guide. In 1804, in the western frontier state of Kentucky, Barton Stone and several other Presbyterian preachers took similar action declaring that they would take the Bible as the “only sure guide to heaven.” Thomas Campbell, and his son, Alexander Campbell, took similar steps in the year 1809 in what is now the state of West Virginia. They contended that nothing should be bound upon Christians as a matter of doctrine which is not as old as the New Testament.
Although these four movements were completely independent in their beginnings, eventually they became one strong restoration movement because of their common purpose and plea. These men did not advocate the starting of a new church, but rather a return to Christ’s church as described in the Bible.
Members of the church of Christ do not conceive of themselves as a new church started near the beginning of the nineteenth century. Rather, the whole movement is designed to reproduce in contemporary times the church originally established on Pentecost, A. D. 30. The strength of the appeal lies in the restoration of Christ’s original church.
How Are The Churches Of Christ Governed?
In keeping with the simple approach of doing what the Bible says, each congregation is completely autonomous and each seeks to be self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-sustaining. In each congregation, those that have existed long enough to become fully organized, there is a plurality of elders or presbyters who serve as the governing body. These men are selected by the local congregation on the basis of qualifications set down in the scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-8). Serving under the elders are deacons, teachers, and evangelists. The elders are charged with the spiritual feeding and direction of the congregation. The members voluntarily submit to the authority of the elders. The elders are shepherds or overseers who serve under the head-ship of Christ according to the New Testament.
What Does The Church Of Christ Believe About The Bible?
The original autographs of the sixty-six books, which make up the Bible, are considered to have been divinely inspired, by which it is meant that they are infallible and authoritative. Reference to the scriptures is made in settling every doctrinal question, and pronouncement from the scriptures is considered final.
The Bible is full of history, prophecy, literature, and philosophy. It is also the greatest love story ever written. It tells the story of how the Creator of all mankind, and everything in our world and beyond, stepped down to earth in human form to rescue mankind. It tells of One who loved mankind so much that He was willing to send His own Son to die for all people. It is the most beautiful of love stories. It is more than a book. It is more than just words on a page. It speaks forth the message of hope to all mankind. What a great God we serve!
Does The Church Of Christ Believe In Predestination?
The Bible clearly teaches that God pre-planned and predestined the church to which believers would be added when saved. Additionally, the gospel was pre-planned and predestined (1 Corinthians 2:7). God does not predestine individuals irresistibly. He has set a standard by which all men must choose to live. Our good and loving God wants all men to be saved, but only those who choose to obey God’s plan for salvation will be considered as predestined. He ever lives to choose those who of their own will choose Him (Acts 4:28; Romans 8:29,30; Ephesians 1:4-5,11).
Who, How, And Why Does The Church Of Christ Baptize?
Baptism is a very misunderstood concept in the modern religious world. In fact, it is one of most controversial of issues. Our goal is to go back to the simplicity of Bible on the matter.
The early church baptized by full immersion. We see in every conversion in the New Testament that baptism is full immersion for the remission of sins. No sprinkling, or pouring, is found in scripture. Infants were not baptized, only accountable believers were immersed for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).
In the salvation of man’s soul there are two necessary parts: God’s part and man’s part. God’s grace is so great because He makes salvation possible. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). No man deserves salvation, because his choice to sin has separated him from his God (James 1:14,15; Romans 3:23,6:23). The love which God feels for man led Him to send His Son, Christ, into the world to redeem man (John 3:16; Hebrews 2:10). The life and teachings of Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross, and the proclaiming of the good news of salvation to man is God’s part in salvation.
Man’s response is also necessary if man is to have salvation. Man must comply with the conditions of pardon which the Lord has announced. Jesus clearly set out man’s part:
- Jesus said one who hears what the Father says will come to Him. “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me” (John 6:45).
- Jesus said one must believe He is Lord. “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
- Jesus said one must repent, which involves godly sorrow and a will to change the direction of one’s life. “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5).
- Jesus said one must confess Him as Lord. “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
- Jesus said one must be baptized to be saved. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
- Jesus said one must be faithful until death. “…be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
What Is The Role Of The Lord’s Supper?
Another place where you may have noticed a difference between churches of Christ and other religious groups is in the Lord’s Supper. This memorial supper was inaugurated by Jesus on the night of His betrayal (Matthew 26:26-28). It is observed by Christians in memory of the Lord’s death, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:24,25). The emblems – unleavened bread and fruit of the vine – symbolize the body and blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:16).
The scriptures teach that we are to meet on each first day of the week (Sunday) to worship and break bread. Churches of Christ are different from many in that we observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week. A central part of the worship is the eating of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). It is the privilege and responsibility of the follower of the Christ to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the first day of the week, as the early church did.
What Role Does Music Have In The New Testament Church?
God created the perfect instrument for worshipping and praising Him – the human voice. It is the only one that can unite sound and words. It is the only one that is accompanied by the heart, the soul, the mind, and one’s strength. A cappella singing is not only the one authorized form of musical worship, (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), but is simple, beautiful, and does not call for professionals. One does not have to have a beautiful voice, know how to read music, or be a loud singer. God calls and asks for our whole body to sing forth melodies from within us. We cannot please God by passively sitting and just listening.
By What Means Does The Church Secure Financial Support?
Each first day of the week the members of the church “lay by in store as they have been prospered” (1 Corinthians 16:2). The amount of any individual gift is generally known only to the one who gave it and to the Lord. This free-will offering is the only means authorized for the church to be supported. NO assessments or other levies are made. However, the New Testament teaches and expects generosity and sacrifice from followers of Christ. God generously provides for us and we show our love and gratitude in worshiping Him with our offering.