ORGANIZATION/GOVERNMENT
Each congregation of the Lord's church is to be autonomous, which means that each governs themselves. Our headquarters is in Heaven. There are no earthly headquarters.
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The Fairview congregation is overseen by a plurality of elders (also known as shepherds, bishops, pastors, and presbyters). They must meet the qualifications or standards given in God's Word (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
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The Fairview congregation has men who serve as deacons. They are assigned to do specific works that are given to them by the eldership. Deacons must also meet the qualifications or standards giving in God's Word (1 Tim. 3:8-13).
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The Fairview congregation has two preachers. They are also known as ministers or evangelists. They are not pastors, though he may serve the role as a pastor within the eldership.
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OUR BELIEFS
These 10 beliefs form the basis for everything we do at the Fairview Church of Christ:
1. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior - "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).
2. The Bible is God's revealed will - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3. Love is the greatest of all commandments - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).
4. The church is God's spiritual family on earth - "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
5. Unity is the desire and responsibility of every believer - "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).
6. Baptism by immersion is the climactic point of salvation by grace through faith - "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16)"
7. Worship in spirit and truth is the criteria for God-centered praise - "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
8. Service to others is the evidence of true spiritual greatness - "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matthew 23:11).
9. Evangelism is every Christian's first order of business - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
10. Prayer and Bible study are a vital means to holiness and spiritual maturity - "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).
1. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior - "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).
2. The Bible is God's revealed will - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3. Love is the greatest of all commandments - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).
4. The church is God's spiritual family on earth - "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
5. Unity is the desire and responsibility of every believer - "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).
6. Baptism by immersion is the climactic point of salvation by grace through faith - "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16)"
7. Worship in spirit and truth is the criteria for God-centered praise - "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
8. Service to others is the evidence of true spiritual greatness - "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matthew 23:11).
9. Evangelism is every Christian's first order of business - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
10. Prayer and Bible study are a vital means to holiness and spiritual maturity - "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT WORSHIP
PRAY - We are blessed and privileged with the ability to pray to our Heavenly Father, giving thanks and making our requests known to Him.
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).
SING - Everyone is involved in worship when we all blend our voices together as we sing praises and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Mechanical instruments are not used in worship because Scripture does not authorize them to be used in worship service.
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" (Ephesians 5:19).
STUDY - Sermons are presented in the worship hour. They will be centered around Christ and developed from the Word of God, which instructs all of us to live righteously. It is our hope that you study and check what is being taught in these sermons to see if they align with the Bible.
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7).
GIVE - What a great opportunity it is to give back to our Lord as He has prospered us! The Bible teaches that the church in the first century did so on the first day of the week (Sunday).
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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"
(1 Corinthians 16:1,2).
(1 Corinthians 16:1,2).
LORD'S SUPPER - The two elements authorized are unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. The bread represents the body of Christ, and the fruit of the vine represents the blood of Christ (Luke 22:19,20). The Bible teaches that the first century church partook in this act of worship every first day of the week (Sunday).
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7).
