The Brethren Church

God’s purpose in human history is to form a people for His own glory. This purpose, begun in the Old Testament nation of Israel, is continued in the New Testament church, which is founded upon Jesus Christ. He calls it to be a visible body of His followers, extending His own ministry in the world. It is composed of all who have received Him as saving Lord and have committed themselves to being His faithful disciples. This one body finds expression in local communities of believers who are responding to the call of God. Through mutual submission they covenant together for the purposes of worship, nurture, evangelism, and service.

God in His gracious love gave to the church special gifts through His Spirit. These gifts, varied and numerous, have but one purpose: to strengthen the body by equipping each member for ministry. Love is the framework in which the gifts operate and guides their use for the common good.

God also gave to the church ordinances, symbolic rites established by the command and example of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. They are pledges of our faithfulness to Him, visible declarations of the gospel, and necessary expressions of an obedient faith. The ordinances include baptism by trine immersion; confirmation by the laying on of hands; the threefold communion service consisting of the washing of feet, the love feast, and the bread and cup; and the anointing of the sick with oil. The ordinances uniformly testify to the gracious work of the triune God for His people in the past, in the present, and in the future.

Deut. 7:6-8; Isaiah 43:5-7; 1 Pet. 2:9-10; 1 Cor. 3:11; Matt. 5:13-16; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Acts 2:28-41; Matt. 16:24-26; 1 Cor. 1:2; Col. 1:2; Eph. 5:18-21; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Eph. 4:7-16; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:12; 1 Cor. 13:1-13; Eph. 4:15-16; John 13:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:26; John 13:15; Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 9:10-19; John 13:1-17; 1 Cor. 11:20-22; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Mark 6:13; James 5:13-16; 1 Cor. 11:26

Worship

The church worships when believers gather to praise and honor the living God. His nature and works call forth responses of reverence, submission, adoration, and celebration. These responses take the forms of reading and declaring His Word, praying, singing, giving, and other activities that glorify God. The worship experience should never be taken lightly. It requires preparing the heart, focusing the mind, exercising the will, and the participation of each worshiper. True worship glorifies God and renews His people.

1 Chr. 16:7-36; Ps. 8:1-9; Ps. 100:1-5; Rom. 11:33-36; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 5:18-20; John 4:23-24; Rom. 12:1-2; Ps. 33:1; Heb. 12:28-29

Fellowship

The source of Christian fellowship is our relationship with God restored through Christ. Fellowship is the bond that forms as God joins believers to one another in Christ’s body by His Spirit. True fellowship is Christ-centered, resulting in a unity which is based on truth, love, and humility. Therefore togetherness without substance, emotion without obedience, or tolerance without caring cannot be fellowship. Genuine fellowship will produce a sense of mutual concern, wholehearted service, and abiding joy. The nearest the church approaches the divine ideal of fellowship is in the experience of the communion service.

1 John 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 4:1-6; Eph. 4:14-16; Phil. 2:1-4; John 13:34-35; Gal. 5:13-15; 1 John 1:3-4

Discipleship

Jesus calls people to follow Him, learn from Him, and bring others to Him. This lifelong process is discipleship. It begins as the Holy Spirit leads persons to repentance and faith in Christ. It continues as they use the resources available in Christ and the Spirit, in Scripture and the church, to grow in the life of faith. The church is responsible to shepherd and nurture believers in their growth. Discipleship is not optional for the Christian. The life goal of every believer is Christlikeness.

Matt. 11:28-30; Matt. 16:24-26; Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 14:25-33; Phil. 4:19; John 16:13-14; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 10:23-25; Eph. 4:11-16; Matt. 7:21-23

Stewardship

God has entrusted to all persons resources to manage during their lifetime; for example, life, family, time, abilities, opportunities, and material possessions. While providing these for our enjoyment, He likewise instructs believers to entrust all back to Him, to be rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share. Because our culture has clouded the difference between real and perceived needs, the believer must learn to be content with what God has provided and renounce selfish materialism. Our example is Christ, who, though rich, became poor for the sake of others. Stewards who are found faithful do not put their trust in material possessions; they entrust these possessions to God, using them for His glory and the extension of His kingdom.

1 Chr. 29:14; Ps. 24:1; Ecc. 2:24-25; 2 Cor. 8:3-5; 2 Cor. 9:6-15; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Matt. 6:24-34; Phil. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 6:6-10; Heb. 13:5; 2 Cor. 8:9; Prov. 11:28; Luke 16:1-13; 1 Cor. 4:2

Discipline

The church is called to be a body which reflects God’s character of holy love. Therefore the spiritual well-being of each member is its concern. This concern is shown in discipline that seeks the restoration of members whose behavior is damaging their relationship with God or other people. The primary responsibility for reconciliation rests with the person(s) involved. If this responsibility is not fulfilled, the church must take initiative to effect reconciliation because persistent sin weakens the health of the entire body. If these efforts fail, the final recourse is to remove the unrepentant member(s).

Eph. 1:3-6; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:16; Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; Matt. 5:23-24; Matt. 18:15-22; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Cor. 5:9-13