Truth On The Web Ministries

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A CHURCH IS THE BODY OF BELIEVERS, NOT A BUILDING - WHAT WE BELIEVE.

Wary of the ‘emerging’ new Christianity? Does the mainstream Christian corporate church structure seem unbiblical to you? Would you like to worship more like the first century disciples? Well so do we!

That is why we worship in Spirit and Truth at house churches or rented buildings. We are families and individuals who are bound together in Christ. We seek the faith once delivered to the Saints. We believe that we are saved by God’s grace alone. It is by having faith in Him and the work of His Son Jesus that we can partake in the gift of salvation. We also believe that if you love Him you will heed His instructions (keep His commandments).

WWJD? We also keep the seventh day Sabbath, like Jesus did. We currently gather in homes like the early disciples. As we grow, we may split into other homes geographically or rent meeting halls. We tend to shun the pagan things that are displeasing to God. We do not practice traditional holidays but embrace the same Holydays that Jesus and the Apostles observed in the New Testament manner.

SABBATH WORSHIP SERVICES

We usually share a meal prior to service prepared the day prior by the brethren. Services commonly consist of prayer, hymns, teaching, sermon or bible study (mostly interactive by the spirits lead) closing hymn and prayer. Fellowship often continues the rest of the Sabbath. We come from many backgrounds but are one in Christ.

Phone: 1-847-630-5613 [Brian]. Services are held every Sabbath (7th day of the week) Saturday at 12:30 PM Central time (12:45 main message start). Give us a call to find out where the worship/study service is to be held on a particular week and stop in for as long or short as you like. Ask as many questions as you may have on the phone, through e-mail or during your visit. Also you may visit us on the web for live Sabbath sermons (most weeks) by going to http://www.totw.org/live.

AN ALTERNATE APPROACH

The Survey Says: The famed Barna Research Group conducted a recent survey on the growth of the "house church" movement. A house church was described as "a group of believers that meets regularly in a home or place other than a church building.”

The survey included 2,008 house churches and found that: "Two-thirds of house church attenders (68%) were "completely satisfied" with the leadership of their church, compared to only half of those attending a conventional church (49%)."

Another conclusion was that: "Two-thirds of the house church adherents (66%) were "completely satisfied" with the faith commitment of the people involved in their gathering. In contrast, only four out of ten people attending a conventional church (40%) were similarly satisfied with the faith commitment of the people in their congregation."

George Barna said, "There is an emerging group of millions and millions of people that is also rapidly growing who have come to recognize that they haven't necessarily been called simply to go to church," he observes; "they've been called to be the church." Barna said the house church members have more of an "opportunity to focus more deeply on Scripture.”

BRG continued, "Those who attend a conventional church are generally content to show up and accept whatever their church has on the agenda; they place the responsibility for their spiritual growth on the shoulders of the church." Barna said, "We found that most conventional church goers have no desire to help improve their congregation’s ministry, nor do they feel a need to increase their personal spiritual responsibility.

On the other hand, the intimacy and shared responsibility found in most house churches requires each participant to be more serious about their faith development. Clearly, the house church experience is not for everyone." Are you serious about your faith?

SCRIPTURES ON HOUSE CHURCHES

The early NT church met in homes and rented halls. The scriptures record in various places that the church is not a building but the people, the Body of Christ, that gathers together. The church often met in the homes of their members.

• Acts 8:3-4 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
• Romans 16:3-5 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
• Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
• Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

COME VISIT US ON THE WEB OR ... IN THE HOUSE!

Here is a picture of many of The Church of God, Woodstock Saints