New Testament commandment to Give:  Lay by in store
The Church of Christ strives to follow the New Testament pattern of giving.  Many denominational churches and other religious organizations promote the idea of tithing.  However, while tithing is a Biblical term, it was only practiced in the Old Testament.  1 Corinthians 16 gives us answers to many questions about New Testament Church giving.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 KJV
(1)  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
(2)  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

​The apostle Paul gave the following instructions to the brethren in Thessalonica. “16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV). Prayer is a vital part of the Christian’s life. It is the way a Christian can communicate with God expressing his thanksgiving, making his needs and desires known to God, the Father. Jesus instructed us how to pray in the following verse, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9, NKJV). Our prayers are directed to God, the Father, but we are to pray through or in the name of Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote, “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20, NKJV).
Jesus throughout His ministry sought opportunities to pray to God. In the following verse we see Jesus separating Himself from the multitude and finding a place of solitude where He could pray. “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there” (Matthew 14:23, NKJV). Jesus found comfort and strength through prayer during the most difficult times of His ministry. Prayer brought a “time of refreshing” for Jesus. The Christian can also find comfort and strength through prayer. Prayer will help one to avoid or overcome temptation (Mark 14:38).
We should pray that God will lead us in “paths of righteousness,” and when we come to the “valley of the shadow of death,” we will have no fear. Jesus nearing His death on the cross prayed, “nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42, NKJV). The Christian can also know that it will be well with their soul when he allows God to lead.

Transcription:

​John 4:24 KJV  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
 
When we assemble together for the purpose of worshipping God; our goal is to worship Him both in spirit and in truth.  To this end, the Churches of Christ have held to the principle to speak where the Bible speaks and keep silent when the Bible is silent.  Therefore, we can only safely do what we can find in the New Testament either a command, example, or necessary inference. In regards to the public teaching or preaching there are guidelines the Church must follow.
We believe true and correct teaching strengthens the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
And false teaching can destroy the Church
2 Peter 2:1 KJV  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
I would like to focus on two practices of many other religious organizations that are not authorized or straight-out condemned by the Bible.
 
Dividing the assembly or Sunday School:
In the examples of teaching done in the Bible; it was always in an undivided assembly.  In the Old Testament, men, women, and children were taught in one assembly:
 
Deuteronomy 31:11-13 KJV
(11)  When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
(12)  Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
(13)  And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
In the New Testament, we find the teaching was also done in an undivided assembly.
 
1 Corinthians 14:23 KJV  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
Note the phrase “the whole church be come together into one place”
 
1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
Again the wording “ye come together”
 
1 Corinthians 14:31 KJV  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
Notice the phrase used “that all may learn”
 
Put together….. when we come together….. in one place…. That all may learn.
This is contrary to popular practice, but concrete in Biblical teaching and example.
To reject this is to deny the Bible.  There is not one example of Jesus, his apostles, teachers, or preachers in the New Testament dividing the assembly.

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One of the things often noticed about the churches of Christ is that we sing without the use of instrumental accompaniment.  A cappella singing is the only music used in our services.  Simply stated, we desire to worship according to the instructions or examples given in the New Testament.  Instrumental music was used in the Old Testament, but is absent in all 8 references to music and worship in the New Testament.

WHY WE SING
We sing; not because we simply “like it” but to praise God, who is worthy to be praised.  Additionally, Colossians 3:16 says we teach and “admonish” or gently help one another thru our songs.
Colossians 3:16 KJV  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
WHAT WE SING
We cannot sing just any song we want, but limited to psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Ephesians 5:19 KJV  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
 
Psalm – a sacred or holy song
Hymn – a song of praise directed to God
Spiritual songs – from the Greek interpreted “songs of the breath of God”.  Songs that bring edification, exhortation and comfort to the Church.

PURPOSE OF SINGING
1 Corinthians 14:15 KJV  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
 
We probably all enjoy what we consider “good” music that is by our favorite artist and every note is perfect.  However, when we worship how it sounds should always be of less importance than the ability for everyone to understand the intent communicated by the words of the song.
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CONGREGATIONAL SINGING
Singing together as a congregation brings together all believers in attendance to sing the song as one.  Combining our voices together in song can be a source of encouragement, teaching, rejoicing, unity and build faith.  The overall benefit of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is that God receives the glory as we declare to God, each other and the world “we believe this to be true”. 

Transcription:
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The Lord’s Supper, also referred to as the communion and the breaking of bread, is a commandment of Jesus given to the church. We can find references of the Lord’s Supper in the following passages, Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-29. Jesus established the Lord’s Supper the night he was betrayed. Jesus explains the three elements involved in the Lord’s Supper. The bread represents the body of Jesus (Matthew 26:26). The fruit of the vine (grape juice) represents the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:28-29). The New Covenant or New Testament is represented by the cup (1 Corinthians 11:25). The church is commanded to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27). The question often arises when or how often the church is to partake of the Lord’s Supper. The New Testament example of the church partaking of the Lord’s Supper is on the first day of the week, Sunday (Acts 20:7). Therefore, each first day of the week, Sunday, the church gathers to partake of the Lord’s Supper. The importance and unity of Lord’s Supper is shown in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian brethren as he expresses the oneness of the church as they partake of the Lord’s Supper. “16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17, NKJV). Since the days of the apostles the church has consistently met on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper.