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ORGANIZATION: We are a non-denominational, autonomous local church. We believe God reveals His will to us through the scriptures; that the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the words of His apostles and prophets, as recorded in the New Testament, were given to all mankind as infallible instructions as to what He has done for us and what He expects from us; that the pattern and structure of the church that Jesus established can be determined from these scriptures. Therefore, we believe we must make every effort to follow that same pattern today, and keep the structure, worship, work, mission and teaching of the church in conformity with the New Testament pattern. In keeping with that conviction, we are one local independant church (among many similar churches) which is locally governed and operated, with no organizational ties to any other church or governing body (Jesus Christ is the Head). We do however, have fellowship, cooperation, love and encouragement for all other local scriptural churches of the Lord, wherever they may be. More information on this subject can be found on the ARTICLES page.

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HISTORY: The Lord Jesus Christ established His church in about 33 AD. Shortly before His death on the cross He said, "...upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hades will not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18). Continuing on in verse 19, He called it the kingdom of heaven. Then in verse 28 of that chapter and in Mark 9:1, He said some of those who were standing there, to whom He was talking, would not taste death, (would not die) till they had seen the kingdom come with power. This is the everlasting kingdom of which Daniel prophesied in Dan. 2:44.
         All during His personal ministry, Jesus had been preaching about the coming of the kingdom (see Matt. 4:17, 23; 9:35, Mk. 1:14, etc.). He said it would come with power (Mk. 9:1). In Luke 24:49 we learn more about this power. Jesus told the apostles He was going to send the promise of the Father upon them, but for them to wait in Jerusalem to be endued with power from on high (from heaven). The promise He was speaking of was the Holy Spirit. This is confirmed in Acts 1:4-8. After Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, and just before His ascension back to heaven, the apostles asked Him about the kingdom. He said they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they were to wait in Jerusalem to receive it.
         We learn from Acts 2:1-4 that they did receive the Holy Spirit and the power. Therefore it was at that time that the kingdom was established, which is also called the church (Acts 2:47). Since Jesus died, arose and ascended to heaven at the age of about 33 years, we know that the church, the kingdom, was established about 33 A.D. at Jerusalem. Those who believed and obeyed the gospel preached by the apostles were saved and added to the church by the Lord. They were delivered from the power of darkness and put into Christ's kingdom (Acts 2:47, Col. 1:13). God's word is still true and these things are still happening today when people hear His word, believe and obey Him.
         For about eight years the Jerusalem church was the only congregation of the Lord's people. Then when persecution scattered the people they went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:1-4) and made converts to Christ in many places, establishing many local churches, or congregations. When the gospel was preached to the Gentiles, according to God's plan, the disciples were called Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28, Jas. 2:7, 1Pet. 4:16), fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 62:2, and the congregations were called churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16), churches of God (1Cor. 1:2), and such like. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Lk. 8:11). When the seed, the pure word of God, is planted, even today, converts to Christ are made and new churches of Christ are established.

         Here in Joliet, the Lord's church was established about 1952. Several people who had heard, believed and obeyed the gospel and were therefore Christians, lived in the Joliet area and had been travelling to other towns around Chicago to worship. They decided to form a congregation here. They first met for worship in the downtown YMCA building for several months, then used their accumulated funds to buy a lot on Margaret Street and start a building there. When the basement was finished, they assembled there for worship for about a year, until the upper structure was finished. Ever since then it has been called the Margaret Street Church of Christ.

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NAME

The church of the Lord Jesus, the Lord's church, the church of God, the family of God, the church of the living God, the body of Christ; these are all legitimate and scriptural identifying phrases for the church which Jesus established in about 33 AD in Jerusalem and which soon grew and spread around the world. Church of Christ is another such identifying phrase for that group of souls who entrust their lives to Christ and eagerly look for His second coming. This is the phrase most often used on signs, publications and literature to avoid confusion. There is no compulsion, rule or law for any local congregation to use any one of these particular phrases to identify themselves, since each local church is independant and autonomous.

Shortly before Jesus established His church He said, "Upon this rock I will build My church...." (Matt. 16:18) and in Acts 20:28 the apostle Paul said that Jesus had purchased the church with His blood, so it is definite that the church belongs to Christ. Therefore it is scriptural and right to call the church "the church of Christ", if it is following and staying within His teaching (2Jn. 9). Jesus built His church, shed His blood to purchase the souls of those who are its members and is its head, so we wouldn't want to deny Him the credit and the honor by calling it after some human-invented name. The church is to be the glory of Christ (2Cor. 8:23; Eph.1:19-23). He is worthy of glory since He has built His house, His church (Heb. 3:3-6).
         Paul called local churches "the churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16). However, that wasn't an exclusive name. He also called them "the church of God" (1Cor. 1:2 and 2Cor. 1:2), "the saints who are in... (location)" (Rom. 1:7, Eph. 1:1), "the saints in Christ who are in... (location)" (Phil. 1:1, Col. 1:2), and other similar expressions. He refers to "the body of Christ" (1Cor. 12:27), which he says is the church, and that Jesus is its head (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18). He also calls it the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13) and "the house of God, which is the church of the living God" (1Tim. 3:15).
         So, following the authoritative scriptures, we also call the church ALL of the things that the scriptures do. However, it would be impractical to try to put all of those references on a sign, so those first members at Margaret Street who had a hand in the decision picked one of those scriptural designations that seemed most descriptive and recognizable for the sign. We have seen no reason to change it so far.

A CHURCH OF CHRIST
by Dan Peters

        Recently I was asked about why I have chosen to put this phrase on the back of our bulletin. So let me start by saying that we are not a denomination or a sect. The Jews had denominations they called "sects", such as "the sect of the Sadducees" (Acts 5:17) and "the sect of the Pharisees" (Acts 5:15). These were subsets of the Jews, divided on doctrinal beliefs (Acts 23:8). But notice that Paul refused the idea that Christians were a sect. Paul heard the Jewish lawyer say, "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes". But when Paul had a chance to speak at his trial, he said, "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers..." (Acts 24:5,14). Paul did not think it proper to belong to some "sect" or "denomination". Nor do I think it is proper for any Christian to belong to a sect or denomination. This division is sinful according to Paul. See 1Corinthians 1:10-13 where Paul stopped the Corinthian church from dividing up into denominations.

        The New Testament uses many phrases to describe the church.
        1. "church of God" (Acts 20:28, 1Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:13, 2Cor. 1:1 etc.)
        2. "church of the firstborn" (Heb. 12:23)
        3. "church of the living God" (1Tim. 3:15).
        4. "all the churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16)
        5. "all the churches of the saints" (1Cor. 14:33)
        6. "the churches of God in Christ Jesus" (1Thess. 2:14)

        Here are some of the descriptive phrases that describe the church. I could put on the back of this bulletin "A CHURCH OF GOD", for that is in fact what we are, but not to the exclusion of "A CHURCH OF CHRIST" for that too is what we are. We are God's church and we are Christ's church, not one to the exclusion of the other. I am convinced that "church of Christ" is a description of the church, and not a name. But it is only one of the Biblical descriptions. I have pointed out six descriptions, not six names. By saying "A CHURCH OF CHRIST", I am using it as a description, not a name. If these are six names, which shall we go by? If we are going to be fully scriptural, then let us take all the scriptural phrases. DP

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WORSHIP ACTIVITIES: "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Hab. 2:20). "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him" (Matt. 17:5) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him"(Col. 3:17). These scriptures teach us to first hear the word of God on any matter before we act. Jesus said, "...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (Jn. 4:23-24). The word of God is the truth (Jn. 17:17). The scriptures teach us what God wants in worship. We believe we are following God's will in our worship. What do the scriptures tell us God wants in worship?

• He wants singing (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16, 1Cor. 14:15)
• Prayers (Acts 2:42, 1Cor. 14:15-16)
• Partaking of the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26:26-28, 1Cor.   11:23-26    Acts 20:7)
• Preaching of the word (Acts 20:7)
• Contributing (1Cor. 16:1-2, 2Cor. 9:6-7).

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