The Church of Christ at Rio Grande is a church that seeks to worship God after the pattern of the New Testament. In today’s context this means the following: as people saved by the blood of the Lamb, we come together to worship the Almighty, He who is Creator of all that exists. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 4:17– For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church (ASV). 1 Timothy 3:14-15 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

Our worship is simple in form. SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:42– And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (ESV). **** And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers (ASV).

 

We sing songs of praise without the use the mechanical instrument. This is an invention of man for the purposes of his own ear. The Lord gave no authority for its use. In fact, He said nothing of its use at all; thus, to use in the worship of God is to presume God will accept it. Perhaps He will, but we will not use it and hope that He does. SCRIPTURE: speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father (Ephesians 5:19-20, ASV)

 

We observe the Lord’s Supper on a weekly basis. We offer it in the morning and the evening. Those who gather with the saints are authorized by the Lord to partake on one or both occasions. Generally, those present Sunday morning do not take the Lord’s Supper in the evening, but if they chose to do so they can. SCRIPTURE: For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come.

 

On the first day of each week, just as the apostle Paul instructed the Corinthians, the saints lay by in store that in which they prospered. The money collected is the single source of income for the local congregation. From the collection plate all ability to render support for the proclamation of the gospel locally and in missionary fields comes. This is our primary focus; alongside this focus is our ability to render assistance to the saints (primarily) and non-saints. SCRIPTURE: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

 

Whenever the saints gather, there is heavy emphasis on the preaching/teaching of God’s word and in prayer. SCRIPTURE: I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

 

In the preaching of God’s word, there is heavy emphasis on opening the Bible, seeing what it says, understanding it in the proper context and then making application. No topic the Lord addresses is avoided. SCRIPTURE: if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen(1 Peter 4:11).

 

In a public gathering of the saints, the men who are walking faithfully with the Lord lead in prayer. SCRIPTURE: In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness [with a reverent demeanor] and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works. Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing (1 Timothy 2:9-12).

 

In today’s environment this is important. For many churches have set aside the Lord’s way and gone the way of man. For instance, in direct violation of the Lord’s way, women are now preaching and leading in other contexts. SCRIPTURE: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12)