Lincoln Park Church of Christ

What are services like?
The Church of Christ attempts to follow the example of worship found in the New Testament so we want to worship God ‘in spirit and in truth’. We believe that worship is vital to all that we are and do and that we were created to worship and serve God. Our worship is simple and heart-felt. COMMUNION: Because Christ and His cross are at the center of our faith, the Lord’s Supper is at the center of our worship. Every Sunday we participate in this symbolic meal together as a reminder of what Christ has done for us. The apostle Paul wrote that when we eat the Supper, “we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Unleavened bread and grape juice are used to symbolize Jesus’ body that hung on the cross and His blood that was shed for our sins. As the bread and the cup are passed among the congregation, everyone is invited to participate in the communion. It is intended for believers in Christ, but it is up to you to decide whether or not to participate. No one is excluded, and you won’t be singled out if you choose to participate in it or if you don’t. SINGING: is another important aspect of our worship. We sing acapella (without instrumental accompaniment), as did the earliest Christians, so everyone has the opportunity to participate. Rather than viewing singing as a medium of entertainment, we see it as an opportunity to express our praise to God. One of our song leaders will lead the congregation in singing and you are welcome and encouraged to join us in singing praises to God. The song leader will announce the numbers before each song and songbooks are located in the racks on the back of the pews. PRAYING: We believe in prayer, both private and collective, so when we come together to worship we offer prayer to God as a means of praise, and also as a way of making requests. At various points in the service, prayers will be led that convey to God our thanks for His blessings, as well as those seeking His blessings. Generally people bow their heads and close their eyes when a prayer is being offered as a way of showing reverence to God. OFFERING: At the conclusion of the Lord’s Supper, collection baskets are passed to give Christians the opportunity to express their gratitude to God for all that they’ve been blessed with. Giving is expected of all of our members. Whether or not you choose to participate as a guest is up to you. Because the Lincoln Park Church of Christ is an independent congregation, all of the funds collected are used to further the work of the church, for evangelism and benevolence both locally and around the world. PREACHING: Our Sunday worship services include a Bible based sermon that will last about 30 minutes. The goal of these messages is to teach God’s word and how to live as Christ teaches us to live. At the conclusion of the sermon, an ‘invitation’ will be offered for anyone who wishes to be baptized (immersed) or who would like to have the church pray for them. If you choose to do either of these, simply walk to the front of the auditorium during the song.

What is the community like?
When you visit, you will meet people just like you who want to please God with their lives. Because we are the church “of Christ,” He is the focal point of all that we do and teach. The Bible is our textbook for learning about Jesus, about His church, and about how He wants us to live. Because we believe that it’s important to let God speak to us through His Word, you will find us studying and teaching it every time we meet. From our Cradle Roll class through our adult classes, and always in our worship, you will find the Bible is the basis of all that we do.

What if I'm not a Christian?
EVERYONE is welcome at Lincoln Park! Whether you grew up attending church services or are just beginning to think about God for the first time or after a long time, we invite you to attend one of our services. We won't single you out or embarrass you. We will do our best to make you feel comfortable and welcome. If you are a believer that is interested in becoming a Christian, we would love to have an opportunity to share what the Bible says to you about your relationship with God. The Bible teaches that we are saved by God’s grace, not through our own efforts or through our ability to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are saved completely by what Jesus did for us at the cross. There are several steps we must follow in order to accept God’s offer of salvation. First we must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24). Once God convicts us of our sinfulness, we must repent or turn away from those sins and commit our lives to Him (Luke 13:3). After confessing our faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), we receive the free gift of salvation as we are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5). As Christians, we try to live for Christ, though we fail Him often. We draw encouragement from our relationship with local Christians in the church, and we worship God regularly. As we study the Bible, we grow in our knowledge and understanding, and God shapes us into the person He created us to be. If you have any questions about spiritual matters, or if we can help you in any way, please contact us. We would be thrilled to have an opportunity to get to know you better and to and study the Bible to discover God’s plans for your life.