THE CHURCH’S DECLARATION OF PRACTICE
We believe that:
The local church, in accordance to the revealed will of God, consists of elders, deacons and members.
The ascended Lord bestows gifts upon men for the fulfilling of His work on earth, and the administration of local churches is entrusted to elders and deacons, appointed of Christ and chosen and set apart by the church.
Elders are primarily responsible for the spiritual matters of the assembly; to oversee, to watch, to feed and to guide. To them is entrusted the ministry of the Word of God. It is their solemn charge to ensure that all ministry, on all occasions, is to the profit and edification of the church. It is the duty of members to support their elders by prayer, and to submit to their admonition in the Lord.
Deacons are primarily responsible for the practical matters of the assembly; to “serve tables” (to care for the material and physical needs of the flock). To them is entrusted the ministry of overseeing and co-ordinating the charitable duties and endeavours of the church. It is their solemn charge to ensure that all such ministry, at all times, be administered with spiritual grace.
Revelation 2-3 ; Acts 20:17,28 ; Galatians 6:6 ; Ephesians 4:7-12 ; 1 Timothy 3:1-13 ; 1 Peter 5:1-3 ; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 ; Titus 1:9 ; Hebrews 13:17 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ; Acts 6:2-6 ;
Members of a local church are saints by calling and are therefore responsible for evidencing such a life and testimony. They willingly give themselves up to the Lord and to one another in professed subjection to the doctrines of the Word of God.
It becomes the duty of members to love, to watch over, to forbear and forgive one another in love, always striving together for unity, peace and holiness.
Further, it is the duty as well as the privilege of every member, whenever possible, to be present at the assembling of the church for the ministry of the Word of God, for prayer, the observance of the ordinances and the appointed church meetings, and to contribute towards an orderly, dignified and reverent spirit in the gatherings, ever having in mind the glory of God, the spiritual prosperity and well-being of fellow members and the blessing of the unconverted.
Romans 1:6-7 ; 1 Corinthians 1:2 ; Romans 6 ; Ephesians 4:1 ; Ephesians 5:1-11 ; Colossians 1:9-12 ; Romans 12:1-2 ; 1 Peter 1:13-19 ; Revelation 22:11 ; 2 Peter 1:10 ; 3:11-12 ; 1 John 1:6-7 ; 2:4-6 ; Acts 2:41-42, 44-47 ; Hebrews 10:24-25 ; 1 Peter 5:5 ; John 13:34-35 ; I John 4:20-21 ; John 14:15 ; 2 Corinthians 13:11-12 ; I John 5:2-3 ; Galatians 6:2 ; Psalm 133:1-3 ; Romans 14:19 ; Colossians 3:13 ; Hebrews 10:24-25 ; 1 Timothy 3:15 ;
1 Corinthians 14:40 ; Psalm 93:5
The Authorized Version of the Scriptures only, should be used at all our services.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ; Psalm 19:7-11 ; Acts 20:32 ; Deuteronomy 4:2 ; Galatians 1:8 ; Revelation 22:18-19 ; Proverbs 30:6 ; Genesis 3:1 ; Luke 16:29-31 ; Jeremiah 23:28-29 ; John 6:63 ; John 8:31,32,47 ; John 12:47-50 ; 2 Timothy 2:14-18,23 ; 2 Timothy 3:1-9 ;
2 Timothy 4:1-5 ; 1 Timothy 6:3-5,20,21
Our worship being due to God alone, we are utterly dependant upon Him to direct us to acceptable worship. The Scriptures of Truth make plain that not all offered worship, however sincere, is acceptable to the Lord. Consequently, the standing rule given by our Saviour Himself that worship must be ‘in Spirit and in Truth’ is ever to be upheld in all integrity. The safest and surest principle for acceptable worship is to offer only that which the Lord Himself in His Word has prescribed. This is a matter of utmost importance and must ever be treated with great care and caution.
Glossolalia and modern charismatic activities are regarded as extra-Biblical for this age.
Psalm 29:2, 96:9 & 1 Chronicles 16:29 ; Genesis 4:3-7,26 ; 8:20 ; 12:8 ; Psalm 22:27 ; Revelation 15:4 ; Exodus 20:1-11 ; 34:14 ; Matthew 4:10 ; Revelation 19:10 ; 22:9 ; Isaiah 40:18 ; Deuteronomy 4:23-24 ; Malachi 1:6-14 ; 3:1-6 ; Leviticus 10:1-3 ; 1 Chronicles 13, 15:11-13 ; Matthew 15:8-9 ; John 4:21-24 ; Philippians 3:3 ; Acts 24:14 ;
Hebrews 12:18-29 ; 1 Timothy 3:15 ; 1 Corinthians 13:8-11
The use of worldly methods, spiritualized entertainment or debate are not according to Biblical precept and therefore dishonouring to God.
2 Timothy 1:11-15 ; 2:14-26 ; 3:1-17 ; 4:1-5 ; Acts 20:27 ; 1 Timothy 4:5-7,11-16 ; 5:21 ; 6:20-21 ; Isaiah 55:11 ; Hebrews 4:12 ; Matthew 24:35 ; Isaiah 40:8 ; Psalm 119:89 ; John 8:31
Matthew 28:19-20 ; Luke 22:19-20 ; Acts 2:41-42 ; 8:35-38 ; 1Corinthians 11:23-26
1 Timothy 2:11-12 ; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Ephesians 5:22-24 ; Genesis 2:23 ; 1 Timothy 2:9-11 ;
1 Corinthians 11:5-15 ; Deuteronomy 22:5
Psalm 111:9 ; Genesis 18:23-33 ; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 ; Matthew 6:9-13 ; John 17:1-26
Matthew 28:18-20 ; Mark 16:15-16 ; Luke 24:44-47 ; Acts 1:8 ; Romans 10:6-17 ; 1 Corinthians 1:22- 24 ; 1 Corinthians 9:16 ; 2 Corinthians 5:20 ;
Ephesians 6:15 ; 2 Timothy 4:5
Ephesians 1:3,13 ; 4:4-6 ; 1 Corinthians 3:16 ; 6:19 ; Romans 8:9
Matthew 8:15-20 ; Ephesians 4:2-3 ; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 ; Galatians 6:1 ; Romans 16:17-18 ;
1 Timothy 6:3-5 ; Titus 3:9-10
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ; Acts 11:29 ; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ; Matthew 10:9-10 ; Luke 10:7 ; 1 Corinthians 9:7-18 ; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 ; Hebrews 13:16 ;
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 ; 1 John 3:16-18 ; Philippians 4:10-20
THESE THINGS ARE MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US.