Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
December 4, 2022

Thoughts on Local Church Worship and Organization
by Gardner Hall , edited slightly (via Facebook)
“The New Testament actually has very little to say about local church worship or organization.” This type of statement is becoming popular in a number a circles and a brief review of it is in order.
1. It is an exaggeration. It would be true to say that more of the New Testament is dedicated to expressions of God’s love and the need for personal holiness and responsibility than to collective activity. However, to say that the New Testament has “very little” to say about it is an exaggeration. A number of chapters deal directly with local church worship and organization: 1 Corinthians 11-14; 1 Timothy (most of the book), good portions of 2 Timothy and Titus and James 2:1-12 are a few sections that come to mind. There are many more indirect references to collective worship and church organization.
2. The quantity of references doesn’t necessarily reflect the importance of the matter at hand. There are very few direct references to the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. Yet, who would deny that it is a key element of the Christian’s life and his fellowship with others? To say that the Lord’s Supper is of little importance because of the paucity of direct references to it would be a major blunder.
3. What is the purpose of this type of statement? Is it repeated to imply that how we organize ourselves in local churches and how we worship collectively is of little importance? If so, what is wrong with organizing ourselves with presiding bishops, regional bishops, archbishops or even a pope? What would be wrong with holy water, Latin mass, the rosary, etc., If how we worship collectively is of little importance, what about fog machines, laser shows, screaming rock bands and other elements of entertainment-oriented worship? Are we willing to accept all the consequences of implying that church organization and worship are of relatively little importance? Sometimes we just throw out statements without considering the results of taking them to their logical conclusions.
I think I understand some of the concerns of many who make such declarations. Yes, there are some who emphasize external acts of worship and yet seem to show little concern for the inner man. A few are grouchy or just plain mean. Yes, Phariseeism is a legitimate danger. Yet in our concern for one error, let’s not commit another by implying that it doesn’t matter so much how we worship collectively or organize ourselves. That’s the type of thinking that led to Romanism and modernism. Let’s not go down that road again.

Christ in Me
by Bryan Gibson
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20).
For Christ to live in me (Galatians 2:20), His words must live in me (John 15:7).
If His words live in me, His mind lives in me (Philippians 2:5).
If His mind lives in me, “every good thing” lives in me (Philemon 1:6).
If every good thing lives in me, sin cannot (1 John 3:6-9).
Bottom line: If His words and His mind live in me; and every good thing found in Him is found in me, my life will look like His life. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Classes………...9 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Worship/Bible Study..5 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.