Middletown Church of Christ - What to expect when you worship with us

1) The presence of God - We see that He is here in all that we do.
	Matthew 18:20 reminds us that God is with us whenever we come together. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst" Psalms 139 says, "O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets. You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away. You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord. I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me. Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it. Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you? If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and go to the farthest parts of the sea; Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me."

2) The holiness of God - We encounter his holiness, and recognize that he is sacred and unique from us.
	In Isaiah 55:8, 9, God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Truly, God is different from us, and we must respect his holiness. What else can explain the marvelous sacrifice that he gave, giving His Son to die on the cross?

3) The power and knowledge of God - We are awed by His great and awesome power and his immeasurable knowledge and wisdom.
	Truly, God's power and knowledge is incredible. Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus that God can do "immeasurably" more than all we can ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). Earlier, in the Gospel of Luke, we are told that "nothing will be impossible with God" (Lk 1:37). The prophet Isaiah said "Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock" (Isa 26:4). In our worship, we honor God's power and knowledge by studying his word, recognizing his deeds, and learning from them today.

4) The love of God - We are encouraged by the love and grace that He has shown to us.
	"Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have compassion on His afflicted" (Isaiah 49:13).

Sing	Songs of faith and praise We sing some inspirational songs to bring us into the mood of worshipping. We may sing an uplifting song such as "Blue Skies and Rainbows" or "Sing and Be Happy." We'll often sing a song about coming together to worship, such as "We Bow Down" or "Holy Ground."
Call To Worship	A scripture reading Our minister or sometimes one of our elders will lead us into our worship by reading a Psalm or another passage that brings our minds into the spirit of worshipping. Sometimes there will be a devotional thought or a prayer along with it. Other times we may read the passage aloud together.
Sing	Songs of worship At this time we sing songs of praise and worship. Often we'll sing the old favorites - hymns that some of the older members grown up with and love. We may also sing some new songs that the younger members have grown up with or are excited to introduce. Often we'll sing about Jesus and the wonderful gift he was and is.
Lord's Supper	Communion with the Lord This is a special moment for Christians. Each week we have the opportunity to re-enact the Lord's supper. This was an event that took place between Jesus and his disciples the day before he was crucified. Ever since then, Christians have gathered on the first day of the week to partake of it together. It is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that grants us the opportunity to be saved; it is also a symbol of our unity together with other Christians throughout the world, who also eat and drink it each and every Sunday.
Offering	For members only! We are sensitive to the fact that many people believe that churches are just out for your money. We want you to understand that God does expect all Christians to share their blessings with one another. We read about the church in the first century doing just that. If a person decides to become a member of our Christian family, he or she will be expected to do as God has commanded. As our guest, however, we certainly do not expect you to feel obligated to contribute. After all, you are our guest!
Scripture	Words from the Holy Scriptures The Bible is God's one and only direct communication to us today. As Christians, we should spend as much time as we can learning from this book - "the greatest book ever written." It is as true today as it was when it was written. You will always hear the Word of God read at the Middletown Church of Christ. Usually, we will offer a prayer before or after the reading.
Sing	An uplifting song or two We love to sing at Middletown. Often, at this time, we'll sing an uplifting song or two. We try for the songs to be applicable to the scripture reading that was just read and to the sermon which is to follow.
Message	A sermon or presentation from God's word and how it applies in our lives Our preaching minister, Kent Benfer, now presents a lesson from the Bible to help us grow as Christians - or to help us grow into Christians. There is space prepared in the bulletin for sermon notes. He may use an overhead projector or other visual aids to assist in understanding the message. .
Sing	The invitation of the Lord We try to never depart without giving someone the chance to respond to the message from the Lord. Jesus laid out a clear plan for salvation for us. We are to (1) hear the word, (2) believe the word, (3) repent of our sins, (4) confess our sins, and (5) be baptized for the remission of our sins. This is a convenient time for someone who has made it through the first three steps to complete his or her journey to salvation by taking the last two. Also, at this time, Christians who are struggling or have particular prayer needs may come forward to express them to their Christian family. We will pray for them, try to lift their burden, and help them through their trials.
Dismiss	A prayer We close the services with a simple thought to carry us through the day. We invite God to go with us and to watch over us.
Fellowship	Some time together After our worship assembly is complete, we often spend time together in fellowship. Sometimes it is organized, such as a potluck lunch or a kids activity. But, normally, it's just time for casual conversation together. Christians being friends - laughing, loving.... these are all aspects of the community that is the church. Are you in the mood to eat? Don't be surprised if you are invited to go to a nearby restaurant!

If you are in the Louisville, Kentucky area, please come by and visit us. Click to find where we are located and when we meet. We look forward to seeing you!