A church in Palatka, Florida, dedicated to telling the world about Jesus Christ through worship, ministry, and fellowship.
Weekly Meeting Times
Worship
Sunday 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Bible Study
Sunday 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
Selecting a Church home can be a difficult decision. In this area between Jacksonville and Orlando alone, there are well over 1,000 places where people gather together to worship. With so many different beliefs, doctrines, and practices to consider, it truly can be an overwhelming experience.
We want to help you.
Below is a window into our congregation. Much like window shopping, the information below is a starting point to help you see who we are, what we believe, and why we want you to join our church family. As you look closely, you will find we are simply a collection of people like you who come together to serve a God who loves us.
After reading the information below, you may still have questions. If you do, please get into touch with us through one of the many ways that you’ll find on the site. We would love to answer any questions you have and be of any assistance to you that we can. We hope you will like what you see and come and be a part of something special–the family of God at College Road Church of Christ.
What To Expect
When in the community, we find that many people are curious about our worship. The simplest way that we can explain our worship is to point you to the Bible. We worship the exact same way that the Church did in the first century! It’s really that simple. Here’s a step by step of what you can expect when you visit with us.
When you get to our building, you’ll be welcomed at the door by a group of greeters. These people are there to make sure that you are welcomed and to help you find your way around the building. If you show up at 9 on Sunday Morning, they’ll help you find a Bible Class that is best for you! If you come for worship at 10 or 5, they’ll show you the way to the auditorium.
Services will typically start with singing. We’ve found that our singing is the area of our worship that we receive many questions about. Sometimes we are asked: Are you the church with no music? The truth is that we are passionate about our music. We are so passionate about our music that every member is asked to take a part in it. No, we don’t use instruments, such as pianos and guitars. This is simply because we are commanded in the New Testament to “address one another” by “singing and making melody in the heart” (Ephesians 5:19). It’s really that simple. We’re just 21st century people trying to be the same Church Jesus started in the first century. As a visitor, you have no obligation to sing but feel free to join us in our singing if you wish.
We will come to a point in our service that we begin to focus our mind on the Lord’s Supper. We do this every Sunday just as the first century church did (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11). There will be a man of the congregation who will get up and either read a scripture or will give some thoughts about what we are doing and why we are doing it. We partake of bread, which reminds us of the body that Jesus sacrificed and then we partake of the fruit of the vine which reminds us of the blood that He shed. This is a focal point of our worship and helps us to always remember the sacrifice that was made on the Cross.
Immediately following the Lord’s Supper, we give of our many blessings. As a visitor, you will have no obligation to give. Funds are gathered to help the work of the local church and to support the spread of the Bible. This is done by the example of and the command to the first century Church in 1 Corinthians 16.
Following our giving, we’ll sing some more together and then we will receive a message from God’s book. This lesson will last about 25 minutes and will conclude with an invitation and a song that will give people the opportunity to come and express any needs they have. If you feel you have any needs, you’ll be welcomed to share them at this time and we’ll do all we can to meet them. This is typically followed by announcements about what is going on in the congregation, a closing song and a closing prayer.
We know this sounds like a long process, but it’s really not. We just wanted to make sure you knew exactly what to expect. Our worship services only last between an hour and an hour and fifteen minutes.
What We Believe
While worship is an important part of what we do, we are only in worship or Bible class together around 3-4 hours a week. So what do we do with the other 164 hours in a week and how do we live?
Let us start by saying we are not perfect. We firmly believe we are only able to be saved because of the grace which God has offered to sinners. Having said that, we also like to remember what Paul said in Romans right after talking about the need for God’s grace. He said in Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” We don’t believe the things we believe because they are easy, hard or somewhere in between. We believe these things because they are found in God’s words for us. The Church of Christ has no human creed or bylaws. We simply follow Biblical instruction. This is why the College Road Church of Christ is not a denomination, but rather simply a Church of our Lord. Here are a few things that the Bible teaches that set us apart from many denominations:
Salvation is accessed from Faith, Repentance, Confession and Baptism. While God’s grace is powerful, the Bible is clear that a person must take certain steps to access that Grace. When teaching the first Gospel sermon (Acts 2), Peter was questioned by the very people who crucified Jesus. The Bible says that they were cut to the heart and asked “Brothers what shall we do?” Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Bible is filled with examples of conversion. We would love to share more of these with you either through a Bible Study in your home or through a Mail-In Bible Course. The quickest way to set this up is to contact us.
Where the Bible speaks, we are to speak boldly. Where it is silent, we are to be silent as well: II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all scripture is God breathed and that it is what will make the man of God perfect and thoroughly furnished for good works. There is no doubt that Man has found innovative ways to change Worship and Christian Living but it is not by these men that we will be judged. The plea of this Church is Simple, New Testament Christianity – nothing more and nothing less.
The Bible calls us to a higher way of living. Many people will tell you that there are no absolute truths in the world. They will ask “How can we really know what is right and what is wrong?” We believe that those answers are clear. We know right and wrong by the inspired word of God. We echo the sentiment of the psalmist in Psalms 119. (159) Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love. (160) The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (161) Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. (162) I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. (163) I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
Need More Information?
Come visit us on College Road – you can get directions here. You can also email us at crcocpalatka@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you soon!