About the Church

 
What do Sunday Mornings Look Like?

Our Bible Classes and Worship Services are both an hour long. We understand how timeliness is important in this busy society. We believe the Bible is inspired by God, our creator.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.  Thus we follow it in precept and principal. Only in this way can we truly glorify God.
2 Timothy 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  We accept no doctrines of men, no creed book but the Bible, no earthly headquarters, because we take our instruction directly from the Bible. Believing that the New Testament is our only guideline for life today. Jesus said He would build His Church in Matthew 16:18-19 "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Peter went on to preach the first sermon on Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2: and 3000 people were added to the Church, thus were saved that day." Acts 2:47

We believe in patterning the church after that which we have instructions and examples given in the Bible. We realize that the silence of God is just as powerful as when He speaks.

Here is an example:

The most obvious and unique  thing you will notice in our worship is the total absence of instruments accompanying our singing in worship.  Our music style is best described as "Acapella". Meaning "singing without the accompaniment of instruments." Historian can document the 1st Century Church did not us instruments of music in worship. Of all the information, examples and commands given us in the New Testament, there is absolutely NO mention of instruments of music being used in the early Church when worshipping God. To further our understanding of this subject the following is given for your consideration.
In the Old Testament God meticulously planned out and described every detail of where and how He wanted to be worshipped. This is taught throughout the first five books of the Old Testament. The penalty for not following these guidelines was death. (Leviticus 10:1-7)

 
In the New Testament God remains meticulous about how He wants to be worshipped. The Bible provides examples and commands for five elements of public worship, which are authorized by specific scriptures: Teaching/Preaching 1 Corinthians 4:17; Singing: Ephesians 5:19, Prayer: Acts 12:5, Taking a collection: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Partaking of the Lords Supper: Acts 20:7. Some of these basic elements are carried over from the Old Testament to the New Testament with the addition of communion. Previously, in the Old Testament instruments of music accompanied their singing. Without exception however, every example describing singing in New Testament Worship, only Acapella music is mentioned. Matt 26:30 After Jesus and His Disciples finished what we know as the "last Supper" they "sung" a hymn.
Taking into account how God meticulously itemized everything about worship in the Old Testament, even with the inclusion of instruments it is abundantly clear that God did not authorize their use in New Testament worship. His silence speaks great volumes.

Please don't misunderstand our motive, we love music. Many of our members enjoy playing instruments. However, we do not use instruments in worship to God. God has given us vocal cords for worshipping Him from the heart.

What is Communion?
Communion is for believers.
During Communion a plate of unleavened bread/crackers and a small cup of juice (typically grape) are passed, in  remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. The unleavened bread represents the body of Jesus that was sacrificed on the cross. The fruit of the vine represents the blood that was shed by Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. This remembrance of Jesus was instituted by Jesus himself in the upper room the night before His crucifixion. This is why sometimes it is referred to as the Lords Supper. The early church kept this communion celebration and remembrance every Sunday. Following their example, we, too partake in partaking of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine each Sunday which is the day that Jesus arose from the grave. Acts 20:7 The disciples gathered together upon the first day of the week to break bread.  1 Cor 16:2 When you come together upon the first day of the week take up a collection. 

What Kind of Church is Dale Ridge Church of Christ?
Dale Ridge is an independent, nondenominational church. 
  The Dale Ridge Church is a group of dedicated believers applying the principles of Jesus Christ in the 21st Century.  A group of people who admits our having not ARRIVED completely yet in our Spiritual journey of Biblical knowledge. We are still SEEKING to know Christ better each day. To have that SPECIAL relationship that's bound together with a love for truth. You Are Encouraged To Come Join Us In This Journey. 
We strive to make growing disciples of Jesus Christ by being a church that loves God, loves others, and serves both.

Churches of Christ, like many religious bodies today carry the name of its founder. From Matthew 16:18 we conclude and God establishes the "founder" to be Jesus, who said He would build (future tense)  HIS Church (Possessive Pronoun) upon the foundation of what Peter confessed. (That Jesus Christ is the Son of God) Jesus, in Matthew Chapter 16 goes on to say, speaking directly to Peter "and I will give you the keys to the kingdom". Notice: Church & Kingdom are used as meaning the same. We find Jesus' prophecy fulfilled on Pentecost Sunday in Acts Chapter 2 where the focused speaker is, of course, Peter, just as Jesus predicted.  Peter, hypothetically used the "keys" (words guided by the Holy Spirit) that would reveal (open the door)of  the Church that Jesus built.  There were 3000 listeners who were convinced by Peters preaching that they had, in fact crucified the Son of God and were willing to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. Acts 2:38. As Peter and the other disciples continued to preach the good news "that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day. This is later described as the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" in 1 Cor 15. There were others who were also  willing to repent and be baptized according in Acts Chapter 2:47, these individuals were added to the same Church as the previous 3000 on Pentecost. Note: We see here that only Jesus adds the obedient to His Church. (not voted in, not join, not inherited by way of family relationships.) 

The entire New Testament is devoted to the establishing this "one Church" in Jerusalem, all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Matthew 1:8. In Romans 16:16 we are referred to individually and as a group as the "Churches of Christ". Unlike most religious organizations, we have no earthly headquarters which governs all their respective congregations.  Our headquarters are in Heaven, and we receive our Spiritual leadership from the Word of God.