What To Expect When You Visit With Us
by David Padfield
Many people are hesitant to attend worship services at an unfamiliar church. To help alleviate any apprehensions you may have regarding this congregation, we would like to explain what you can expect when you visit with us at the Church of Christ in Zion, Illinois.
Courtesy And Kindness
First of all, you will find no exclusive pews for any person. All are greeted with equal courtesy and kindness (Acts 10:34-35; Galatians 3:28).
You will find no tendency toward entertainment with beautiful organ or piano music. Like the first century Christians, we will engage in the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19). The words used in our songs will be easy to understand (1 Corinthians 14:15). God has commanded the sincere praise of His people to come from the heart (Colossians 3:16).
Order And Reverence
You will not be confused by many people speaking or praying at the same time. Good order will prevail at every service (1 Corinthians 14:33). You will observe one of the brethren leading the congregation reverently and quietly in prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-5).
If you are present on Sunday, the Lord's Day, you will observe the congregation eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine in memory of the death of Christ (Matthew 26:26-29). We do this on the first day of every week, like the Christians in the first century (Acts 20:7).
You will not find special collections taken at every service. A collection is taken only on the Lord's Day (1 Corinthians 16:1-3). This congregation is supported by the free will offerings of its members. We do not ask non-members to financially support our work, nor do we engage in fund raising activities like rummage sales and bingo games. We specialize in being a church, and do not compete with places of amusement.
The Bible Is Our Only Guide
You will observe that the Bible is the textbook to which reference is repeatedly made in our classes and sermons. Special emphasis is placed on that part of the Bible known as the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:16). You will never be asked to accept what some man says about the Bible; we want you to read the Bible for yourself to see "whether those things are so" (Acts 17:11).
The audience will not be embarrassed or singled out for any sort of demonstration or testimony. You can quietly observe and study that which you see and hear (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Salvation In Christ
You will hear obedience to the will of Christ emphasized as necessary to salvation: faith in Christ as taught in the gospel (Romans 10:17); repentance (Luke 24:47); confession of faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10); and baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
If there should be a response from someone in the audience to the appeal mentioned above, you will see them taken to a pool of water where, in simple likeness to the burial of Christ, they will be buried in water and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
Our membership includes Christans from the local area, as well as those who travel a good distance to get here, from places in Illinois like Gurnee, Round Lake, Antioch, Waukegan, Lake Villa, Grayslake, the Great Lakes Naval Base, and Chicago, as well as from cities in Wisconsin, such as Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee. You will be more than welcome at all of our services. Please come and bring your Bible to "search the Scriptures" with us. If you do not have a Bible, we will be happy to give you one—just stop by our meetinghouse.
