We do not have a creed or doctrine other than the Word of God, and we strive to follow it book, chapter, and verse, without adding to it or taking away from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19). Our aim is to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the Bible is silent (1 Peter 4:11).
Our congregation is not part of or subject to any larger man-made religious organization. We do not elect a president or board of directors. Jesus Christ is the only head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). We are a completely autonomous congregation, governed locally, just as the church in the first century was.
The Southaven church of Christ is lovingly overseen by a plurality of highly qualified elders who attend to the spiritual needs of the flock, we also have several qualified men who are referred to as deacons who assist with various duties and assist our elders. These men have met the qualifications that have been laid out in the Word of God. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
God
We believe, first of all, that God is—the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). We believe that He created everything (Genesis 1:1) Since He is the creator of all, the giver of all, and sustainer of life (Acts 17:24-28), we, in turn, love Him and seek to serve Him with everything we have (Matthew 22:37). We believe He gave His only begotten Son that we might live (John 3:16-17).
Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came to earth to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God the Father (Matthew 1:21; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). We believe that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for all mankind, providing the perfect sacrifice for our sins through the shedding of His blood (Isaiah 7:14; 2 Peter 2:21; Matthew 26:28).
We believe that He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the Father’s right hand, and will return in power and glory to receive His own (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Worship
Our aim is to worship God according to the teachings of Jesus, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Each first day of the week, we assemble together to sing praises to God and sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs to edify one another (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). We offer Him our prayers of petition, thanksgiving, and supplications (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim his death until he returns by partaking in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-28). We give attention to the reading and teaching of His word so that our lives might be strengthened and that we live in a way that is pleasing to Him (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Acts 20:7; 1 Peter 4:11). We give back to Him financially as He has prospered us to support the works of His kingdom, locally and throughout the world, as He has prospered us (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Knowing that God is the object of our worship, we strive to do only those things that will bring glory and honor to Him (1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 4:11).
Salvation
The Bible teaches us that sin causes us to be lost (Romans 6:23). Thankfully, the Scriptures show us how to be saved. In order to be saved from our sins, the word of God must be heard and through hearing the word of God our faith is developed (Romans 10:17; John 8:24). We are to turn from sin in repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30). We are to confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:10), and we are to be baptized in order to have our sins washed away (Acts 2:38, 22:16).
After this new birth, we strive to walk with Him in light, looking to Him for guidance and asking for His forgiveness for our failures, which He mercifully and willingly gives (1 John 1:5-9).
The Church
During His earthly ministry, Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18-19). This was the church that was prophesied by the prophets (Joel 2, Daniel 2, Isaiah 2). On the day of Pentecost, the Gospel would be preached, and those who responded that day through repentance and baptism had their sins washed away and were added to the church which belongs to Christ (Acts 2:37-47). If we did what they did, we can be exactly what they were. We are not part of a “Church of Christ” denomination, we are seeking to simply be a part of the church for which Jesus died for and purchased with His precious blood (Ephesians 5:25). It is that church that He is coming back to present to the Father one day (1 Corinthians 15:23-24).
