What To Expect
We appreciate your interest in visiting the Paintsville Church of Christ.
We hope that you will join us at your earliest opportunity.
Some might ask the question: What can we expect? In our worship services, at the Paintsville Church of Christ, this is what you can expect to occur.
You Will Find a Friendly Spirit:
First and foremost, you will find an atmosphere that is built upon the principles that we strive to live by, as Christians. We believe that friendliness is a natural attitude among people who truly love God, so we strive to make sure our visitors receive a warm welcome. To make your first visit with us easy and pleasant, you will be greeted at the front door by several friendly people who can help you find a seat, locate the restrooms, the nursery, classrooms for your children, etc. After services, we hope you stick around for just a few minutes so that we can introduce ourselves and get acquainted with you. We hope you will accept our invitation to meet with us again. It will be our pleasure to have you and we sincerely believe you will benefit by coming.
Bible Teaching:
As the inspired Word of God, the Bible governs all Christian teaching and activities (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Colossians 3:17). Therefore, an important aspect of our public worship involves learning God's Word together (Acts 20:7; 2 Timothy 4:2). During our morning and evening services on Sundays, worshippers learn the Will of God through Biblical sermons delivered by capable men. In addition, before Sunday morning worship and on Wednesday evenings, classes for all age groups assemble for Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15).
Singing:
In our assemblies, all worshippers participate in acapella (i.e. without the accompaniment of musical instruments) singing. This form of congregational singing allows human voices to blend together in a beautiful fashion. From grateful hearts completely dependent upon God's provisions, we teach and admonish one another in songs of praise (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
Prayer:
God invites His people to communicate with Him in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This unlimited access allows children of God to unburden their hearts to a loving Father (1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6) and to make requests of a powerful and generous God (James 1:5-8). In our assemblies, we pray to praise God, offer thanks for His provisions, request assistance to overcome our human frailties, and seek His continued blessing. All of our prayers are addressed to God, in the name of His son and our mediator, Jesus Christ (John 16:23; 1 Timothy 2:5).
The Lord's Supper:
Following the New Testament pattern that is provided for us, our weekly assemblies include partaking the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7). On the evening of His betrayal, Jesus chose the items of the Passover meal (unleavened bread and the cup containing "fruit of the vine") to establish an abiding memorial of His sacrifice (Matthew 26:26-29). This memorial is for Christians and reminds us of what Jesus did when he died on the cross for our sins. It consists of eating a small portion of unleavened bread that represents Christ’s body that was sacrificed and drinking grape juice that represents His blood that was shed for everyone. Various men serve the memorial to the congregation.
The Offering:
During our worship services on Sundays, members participate in a monetary collection. In the days of the Apostles, Christians voluntarily gave in proportion to their prosperity to supply special needs (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). There are many New Testament examples of individuals and the church that gave money and goods generously to God and His people. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to give a portion of our income to help with the work of the congregation to further the spread of the Gospel. Visitors are not expected to give any money.
The Invitation:
At the end of the worship service, the minister and elders offer an invitation to those present. This time in the worship service provides an opportunity for those who believe they are ready to follow Christ to respond. Those who accept the invitation can go to the front where the elders or the minister will greet them to deal with matters of the soul deserve, which need great urgency (2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Hebrews 9:27). Sometimes, children of God need the prayers and encouragement of believers to endure the burdens of life (Galatians 6:1-2). In other cases, unfaithful Christians desire to restore their relationship with God by repenting of sins and asking the church to pray with them for forgiveness (Acts 8:20-24; James 5:13-16). Finally, this loving and tender invitation extends to anyone who desires to obey Jesus to receive forgiveness for sins (Hebrews 5:8-9; Romans 6:16-18). Through Scripture, Jesus commands lost souls to believe in Him (John 8:24), repent of a sinful lifestyle (Luke 10:3; Acts 17:30-31), confess the identity of Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16). The invitation provides an opportunity for rejoicing in this life and above (Psalms 51:1-13; Luke 15:10).
What Will Be Expected from You:
When you visit, we will neither ask nor expect you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. We would merely encourage you to join in our worship to God and return at every opportunity. We strongly desire to help you grow in your relationship with God and welcome the opportunity to meet you, help you increase your knowledge of the Bible, and assist you in any way we can. Here at the Paintsville Church of Christ, we look forward to your visit!
