What to Expect When Visiting
When you visit the Oceanview church of Christ, you will be treated as our honored guest. People will greet you, introduce themselves and answer any immediate questions you may have such as "Where is a class for my children?" or "Where can we sit?". We will really try to make you feel welcome. You can count on that!
Jesus said, “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Because of our confidence in the Bible, we pattern our worship after the teaching of the New Testament. We observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday like the apostles taught the early church (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11:23-26). We give of our money each Sunday as Paul taught in (I Corinthians 16:1-2). We pray and study the Bible just as you would expect. Everyone joins in our enthusiastic acapella singing, seeking to obey the established pattern of scripture (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). We study God's word together (1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:16) and enjoy bible classes/sermons (Romans 10:14, 1 Timothy 4:13).
Though the inclusion of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday and the absence of a piano or organ may seem unusual at first, we think you will find our worship moving and biblical. You may even find yourself paying more attention to the messages of the songs and thinking more deeply about the cross of Christ. We are glad you chose to visit us and we think you'll be glad too! Learn more about what we believe!
Jesus said, “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Because of our confidence in the Bible, we pattern our worship after the teaching of the New Testament. We observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday like the apostles taught the early church (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11:23-26). We give of our money each Sunday as Paul taught in (I Corinthians 16:1-2). We pray and study the Bible just as you would expect. Everyone joins in our enthusiastic acapella singing, seeking to obey the established pattern of scripture (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). We study God's word together (1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:16) and enjoy bible classes/sermons (Romans 10:14, 1 Timothy 4:13).
Though the inclusion of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday and the absence of a piano or organ may seem unusual at first, we think you will find our worship moving and biblical. You may even find yourself paying more attention to the messages of the songs and thinking more deeply about the cross of Christ. We are glad you chose to visit us and we think you'll be glad too! Learn more about what we believe!
What We Believe
Christian beliefs are not the "product of our preferences" or imaginations. God has revealed what we are to believe and how we are to live in scripture. As Christians, we endeavor to learn and understand God’s will. Below are short summaries of some of our more significant beliefs.
GOD
We believe in the God of the Bible who created and sustains all that is (Gen. 1:1; James. 1:17). Our God is a God of love and justice who continually reaches out to bring us close to Him in this life and for eternity. Since He is God and we are His children, we do our best to submit our will to His and live to His glory.
JESUS
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he is the only way to salvation and eternal life. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, and then gave His life on the cross for our sins. On the third day He rose from the dead, and today reigns in heaven. (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4)
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Godhead who inspired the apostles and their associates to compose the Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). We believe the Holy Spirit indwells believers at the point of baptism and remains as an earnest of the final inheritance that will be in heaven (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 Cor. 6:19).
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the God-given guide that we must follow in order to get the most out of life. The Bible is the only objective source of information that we have to learn of God’s will for us and the church. The Bible tells us about God, Christ, the church and how to live as Christians. We believe that all that we do and believe must be taught or implied in the Bible. We seek to follow the Bible in all matters of faith and practice (Col. 3:17)
GOD
We believe in the God of the Bible who created and sustains all that is (Gen. 1:1; James. 1:17). Our God is a God of love and justice who continually reaches out to bring us close to Him in this life and for eternity. Since He is God and we are His children, we do our best to submit our will to His and live to His glory.
JESUS
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he is the only way to salvation and eternal life. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, and then gave His life on the cross for our sins. On the third day He rose from the dead, and today reigns in heaven. (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4)
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Godhead who inspired the apostles and their associates to compose the Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). We believe the Holy Spirit indwells believers at the point of baptism and remains as an earnest of the final inheritance that will be in heaven (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 Cor. 6:19).
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the God-given guide that we must follow in order to get the most out of life. The Bible is the only objective source of information that we have to learn of God’s will for us and the church. The Bible tells us about God, Christ, the church and how to live as Christians. We believe that all that we do and believe must be taught or implied in the Bible. We seek to follow the Bible in all matters of faith and practice (Col. 3:17)
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus."
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GRACE & SIN
We believe that sin is the problem and that God’s grace is the only solution. It was God’s grace that sent Jesus to the cross for our sins, and it is God’s grace that offers the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice to us. When our trust (i.e., faith) in God’s grace leads us to accept salvation on His terms, our sins are removed and we are added to the family of God, the church (Acts 2:38,41).
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the gathering of God’s people on earth. All who respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ through faith in Him, repentance of sin, and immersion into Christ are members of the church, the body of Christ. The church has no clergy-laity separation. Each member plays a vital role in taking the gospel to the world, and in helping fellow Christians serve God faithfully. We seek to be organized as the New Testament was organized with elders and deacons (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9).
WORSHIP
We believe in worship that is directed to God and which, to be accepted, must be offered sincerely from the heart according to the pattern established in God’s Word. We seek to worship God according to the New Testament and to the example of the New Testament church (John 4:24).
CHRISTIANS
We seek to be called Christians and a church of Christ because of what the New Testament reveals to us (Acts 11:26; Rom. 16:16; Acts 4:12).
SALVATION
We seek to be saved and to teach a plan of salvation as taught and practiced in the New Testament. We believe we must hear the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 16:16), repent of our sins (Acts 2:38), confess Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37), be immersed in water for the remission of our sins and to be added to the church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47), and live faithfully by the teachings of the Bible (Luke 9:23). This is what we believe it means to “call upon the name of the Lord in order to be saved” (Rom. 10:13; Acts 2:21, 38; 22:16).
HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe in heaven, a place that is being prepared for the faithful in the presence of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, which is the eternal home of the spirits of just people made perfect. We believe in hell, a place of everlasting torment prepared for the devil and his angels, which is the destiny of all whose name is not found written in the Book of Life.
LOVE
We seek to love one another as Jesus loved us because our Lord teaches us that by this love all mankind will know that we are his disciples (John 13:34-35).
How Do I Place Membership?
No person can "add you" to the church that Christ established. The truth is God adds you to His church (Acts 2:47). God tells us how to respond to the gospel of Christ and be added to His church. If you are a baptized believer and are interested in placing membership at our congregation, please set up and appointment with our elders to discuss more.
According to the Bible, to be added to His church, one must:
1. Hear and Know the Gospel (John 8:32, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
2. Believe (Mark 16:16, Acts 16:31)
3. Repent (Luke 13:2-5, Acts 2:38, 2 Peter 3:9)
4. Confess (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9-10)
5. Be Baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
According to the Bible, to be added to His church, one must:
1. Hear and Know the Gospel (John 8:32, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
2. Believe (Mark 16:16, Acts 16:31)
3. Repent (Luke 13:2-5, Acts 2:38, 2 Peter 3:9)
4. Confess (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9-10)
5. Be Baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)