In Jeremiah 6:16 we read, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls” (NKJV). In a time such as ours we all understand the need for rest. Rest in our everyday lives, our hearts, and our souls. In relationship to God’s love he established three institutions to fulfill this need. One, family (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-6). We all understand the role that family and home plays in this idea of rest. We also know that sometimes the family can fail us. Two, civil governments (Romans 13). And while, like the family, an organization headed and run by imperfect, and sometimes, ungodly men can also fall short of giving us the peace and protection we need. So, Third, Christ gave of the church (Matthew 16:16-19).

Every institution, in order to be successful, must have an expressed purpose and a goal. To attract follower and provide the necessary needs, it must have a message as well. Thus, the New Albany Church of Christ is committed to being the church of God’s intent. To provide love, support, encouragement, peace, hope, joy, and rest. How do we do this?

One, we plead for unity of all who love Jesus. This is the Master’s will. In John 17:20-21 we read, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” It is our objective to be obedient to God which will result in Christian unity.

The basis for this unity is the gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ as expressed in the pages of the New Testament. And the method for achieving this goal is the restoration of the faith and practices of the church we read about in the New Testament.

Two, we are pleading for every soul, of every nation, sex, and ethnicity to join us in going back to the Bible so that in every essential point we will reproduce the original for Christ’s church. We seek to do this by…

A. Teaching and obedience to the Lord’s plan of salvation. We believe salvation is found in faith (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 8:37), confession (Matthew 10:32-33), repentance of sins (Acts 17:30), and immersion for the remission of those sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).

B. Wearing the same name. We want to be Christians, nothing more, nothing less. This is what the disciples in the New Testament were simply known as (Acts 11:26).

C. Teaching and practicing the same things we read about in the New Testament. Again, nothing more, nothing less. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus instructed His followers to teach others to observe the things that He had commanded. And the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

D. Engaging in the same acts of worship. It’s important that our worship services focus first and foremost on God. We want to only do those things approved by and pleasing to Him (John 4:24). So, we praise him with congregational singing, we offer up prayers to Him, we read and preach the Word of God, and on the first day of each week we partake of the Lord’s Supper and cheerfully give back a free-will offering as we have been prospered.

E. The same organization and government. We are overseen by elders and served by deacons and ministers (Ephesians 4:11-12; Philippians 1:1).

F. Focusing on the same mission. To preach the Good News (Mark 16:15); Make disciples (Matthew 28:19); to be God’s servants (James 1:27); and to edify and encourage others (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Three, our is a plea for Christ. That the living, reigning, mediating Christ be our only head and ruler over his church (Ephesians 1:20-22). That the word of Christ, the New Testament, be the only standard for our lives (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Ephesians 5:11). That the principles of Christ should be exemplified in the lives of everyone who wear His name (Philippians 2:5; Matthew 5:14-16). And that every command of Christ be honored and obeyed (Luke 6:46; Hebrews 5:8-9).

Won’t you join us in going back to the Bible, back to Christ, and back to pure New Testament Christianity? Will you follow the will of God, or person desires and preferences or the beliefs and teachings of men? There is only one church, the church that Christ died for and purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).