Distinctive Features of Christ’s church

The church that Christ built (Matthew 16:18) and purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28) is neither a denomination nor interdenominational. Christ’s church can be easily distinguished from those man made institutions by a number of its own distinctive features, some of which include:

Its Name and Organization

It claims Jesus Christ as the only Head

o Ephesians 1:22-23;  5:23

It wears His name and repudiates all human names

o I Corinthians 1:10-13

o Romans 16:16

o Acts 11:26; 26:28

o I Peter 4:16

It is governed by New Testament teaching and follows no manmade creed or discipline

o II Timothy 3:16-17

o I Peter 4:11

o Hebrews 9:15-17

Each congregation is self-governed, independent of any other congregation. They are not under the ruling of any humanly designed governing body, but each congregation of the Lord’s church is overseen by elders (where there are men qualified) who are selected from among the local members.

o Acts 20:17, 28

o I Peter 5:1-4

o Titus 1:5

Elders in Christ’s church are men who meet scriptural qualifications as outlined in the New Testament.

o I Timothy 3:1-7

o Titus 1:6-9

Elders are most often assisted by deacons, who are men meeting specific qualifications and having been chosen from the local membership.

o I Timothy 3:8-12

The Worship of Christ’s church

The church of which Christ is the Head follows a pattern of worship as set forth in the New Testament:

Prayer

o Acts 2:42

o I Timothy 2:8

Preaching the gospel

o Acts 20:7

Singing without any use of mechanical instruments

o Ephesians 5:19

o Colossians 3:16

Partaking of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday, the "first day of the week". The Lord’s Supper, or communion, consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, which to Christians represent the body and blood of Christ, respectively. The Lord himself instituted this memorial.

o Acts 20:7

o I Corinthians 10:16

o Matthew 26:26-28

Giving as we have been prospered, every first day of the week.

o I Corinthians 16:1,2

All aspects of congregational worship are led by male members of the church.

o I Corinthians 14:34,35

o I Timothy 2:11,12

BECOMING A MEMBER OF CHRIST’S CHURCH

The Lord adds people to His church as they are saved by obeying the gospel

o Acts 2:47

o II Thessalonians 1:7-9

Obedience to the gospel consists of:

Hearing the gospel

o Romans 10:14-17

Believing the gospel

o Mark 16:15,16

Repenting of past sins

o Acts 2:38

o Acts 3:19

o Acts 17:30

Confessing belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God

o Acts 8:37

o Matthew 10:32,33

Being baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins

o Acts 2:38

o Mark 16:16

Having become a member of Christ’s church, living a faithful Christian life

o Romans 12:1,2