A local church of Christ is simply a congregation that
belongs to Christ. It is organized after the New Testament
pattern of "elders, deacons and saints" (Phil. 1:1). All creeds
of men are rejected and the Bible is the only standard of faith
and practice. As the gospel is planted in the hearts of honest
men and women (Luke 8;11; Rom. 1:16), new Christians are born
(John 3:1-5; Rom. 6:1-7). Upon the instructions of the New
Testament, Christians meet on the Lord's day for the Lord's
supper (Mt. 26:26-30; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29), singing (Eph.
5:19; Col. 3:16), prayers (Acts 12:5), study of the scriptures
(Acts 15:7-21) and giving contributions for the Lord's work (1
Cor. 16:1-2).
Each congregation is independent from every other
congregation, claiming its autonomy under Christ (Phil. 1:1; 1
Pet. 5:1-2). It recognizes no earthly head, belongs to no
association of churches, stands free from denominational
churches and supports no human institutions.
It recognizes its God-given responsibility to preach the
gospel according to its own ability, to provide edification to
its own members, and to provide benevolence for its own needy
(Acts 6) and for those saints in need in other places (1 Cor.
16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8, 9).
As the early disciples "went everywhere preaching the word"
(Acts 8:4), so do 20th Century Christians.