OVERVIEW

The Centerville Road church of Christ congregation is independent of any denominational organization. We are not associated with any national or world headquarters. Yet, we cooperate voluntarily with our sister congregations in the Lord’s work and fellowship. To read more about us, click on: Our Aim, Our History, and Our Minister, Elders, Deacons, and Missionaries.

The following is our organization as set forth by the pattern of New Testament Scriptures.

Head of the Church: CHRIST

The New Testament clearly teaches that Christ, and Christ alone, is the head of the Church. He is to have preeminence over all things to the Church. “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church…” (Ephesians 1:22)  “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body…” (Ephesians 5:23) “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence…” (Colossians 1:18)

Elders:

In the New Testament, congregations of God’s people were overseen by men known as elders. According to the Bible (Acts 14:23, Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:5), the orderly arrangement and superintendence of the church entailed the ordaining of qualified men to a duly appointed eldership. The elders were known as bishops, pastors, presbyters, overseers, and shepherds. These six English terms are used interchangeably and all of their corresponding Greek terms are found in Acts 20:17, 28 and 1 Peter 5:1-2. Each individual member of this office is to be qualified for this work by the criteria identified in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. We commend our qualified men as pastors, bishops, elders/overseers, presbyters, and shepherds of the flock at the Centerville Road church of Christ.

Deacons:

The New Testament reveals that the church of Christ at Philippi was organized with both elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1). To be eligible to serve as a duly appointed deacon Christian men are to exhibit and possess the qualities and characteristics outlined in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

Preacher:

The New Testament commands that the Gospel be spread via teaching and preaching of the Word of God. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned…” (Mark 16:15-16) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe…” (1 Corinthians 1:21) As an expedient in this matter we support a local preacher so that he is able to dedicate himself full-time to the teaching and preaching of the Gospel.

The Bible charges Gospel Preachers to faithfully preach the whole counsel of God. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry…” (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Members:

Members of the Centerville Road church of Christ are your friends, your family members and your customers. We are people, young, old and in-between, who strive to, in every way, to be the church Jesus said He would build in Matthew 16:18. The church that was established in the First Century, which we read about in the New Testament.

One is added to the church of Christ today in the same way people were added to the church of Christ in New Testament times.

  • In Acts 2:37, people who were convicted of the fact that Jesus was the Messiah – and that they had just crucified Him! – cried out and asked, “What shall we do…!?”
  • The Apostle Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation…”(Acts 2:38-40)
  • Notice then the reaction of many who heard this Gospel message, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers….” (Acts 2:41-42)
  • To what were these three thousand people added in Acts 2:41?
  • They were added to the church. “…And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved…” (Acts 2:47 NKJV)

In Acts 3:19, Peter commanded men and women to “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19) “Be converted” is a summary of what what must do to be a Christian. One is converted when he or she has complied with the Bible’s teaching on what one must do to be saved. [God has already done His part in salvation. His grace has made salvation possible. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…”(Titus 2:11)]

Being converted includes:

  • Believing and Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God…”(Acts 8:36-37)
  • Repenting of your sins. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19)
  • Being baptized in order to wash away your sins. “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord…” (Acts 22:16)