WE CLAIM TO BE:
1. A Christian church
Our message is that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We require no other creed. He alone is Lord and Savior.
2. A church of Christ
The church belongs to Him. We have no authority to change the teachings, rewrite the rules, alter membership requirements, or usurp His place. The church is not a democracy.
3. A church seeking unity
Like the Campbells and Stone, members of this church seek to be one in Christ with all others He calls His own.
4. A church seeking to restore
As much as possible, we imitate the New Testament precedents. That is why our baptism is by immersion, our Communion is every Lord's Day, our leaders are called elders, our preaching is about Christ, and our prayers are in Christ's name. Even our church name is rooted in the earliest days, when disciples were called Christians and their congregations were often addressed as “churches of Christ.”
5. An apostolic church
The church, Ephesians 2:20 states, is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Whatever we know about Christ and the church we learned from Jesus' closest companions, the apostles.
6. A thinking church
In the same Ephesian letter, Paul prays that God will give a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. . . .” Christian faith demands the best our minds can give, so we are a studying church, seeking to apply biblical truth intelligently.
7. A feeling church
Ours is not a dryly intellectual approach to God, however. We rejoice and praise and pray and love and serve from the heart. We are unashamed of the gospel and not embarrassed to let our excitement be seen.
8. A sharing church
We share our faith and love with as many as we can reach and our possessions as persons who know that everything we have belongs to God to be used for His purposes.
9. A free church
We have no bishops or superintendents or national headquarters to determine local church policies. We elect our own leaders, call and support our own ministers, and decide where our mission money will go. We are not isolationists, though. Our congregations freely associate with one another to accomplish tasks too big for one church alone.
10. A growing church
We want to grow, because we are under Christ's commission to disciple the world. We haven't completed the task yet, so Christian churches and churches of Christ are renewing our commitment to go unto the ends of the earth, preaching and baptizing and teaching, until the whole world knows the one Lord of all.
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who would respond, by faith, in the following Biblical ways:
1. BELIEVE
That Jesus is the Christ, Gods Son, and that He died, was buried, and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for your sins.
"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Rom 3:22 NIV)
2. REPENT
This is simply a change of mind turning from sin, to follow God.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out," (Acts 3:19 NIV)
3. CONFESS
This is publicly declaring that Jesus is now the Lord of your life.
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom 10:9 NIV)
4. BE BAPTIZED
Biblical baptism is the act of being fully immersed under water, identifying with Jesus death, burial and resurrection. "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38 NIV)
Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who would respond, by faith, in the
BAPTISM IS...
...only for those who can hear, understand and make their own decision concerning Christ. That is why Springfield Christian Church does not baptize babies.
...being full submerged under water - this is called "immersion."
...a symbolic cleaning of sin as we are buried with Christ and raised to a new life.
...a demonstration of our willingness to come under the Lordship (leadership) of Jesus Christ.
...a pledge to God for a clear conscience (I Peter 3:21)
MEMBERSHIP AT SPRINGFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Membership at the Springfield Christian Church or in any Christian Church
congregation is based on being a Christian through these steps of faith.
Anyone who has entered into a saving relationship with Jesus is invited
to be a member of the Springfield Christian Church.
The Lord's supper is for all Christians and is offered in weekly remembrance of
Christ's payment for our sins. Communion is a time of reflection and
proclamation of our faith in Jesus.
If you desire to become a Christian or a member of the Springfield Christian Church, please respond to the invitation at the end of the service or notify the Minister or one of the elders after the service. We will be delighted to help you with your decision.
FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
We believe that the Bible is God's inerrant word, and it is our only book of doctrine.
We believe Jesus is God's only son, and through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, He paid for the sins of those who will accept a faith relationship with Him.
We believe that salvation is found in no other name than Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:10-12)
We believe that the Head of the Church Is Jesus Christ
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