The only music used in our services is a cappella singing. This is because the New Testament nowhere depicts the use of mechanical instruments in worship. Of the eight references to ‘music’ in New Testament worship, none mention the use of instruments:

• “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:30)
• “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…” (Acts 16:25)
• “…I will praise your name among the nations, I will sing hymns to you among the peoples.” (Romans 15:9)
• “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.” (1 Corinthians 14:15)
• “…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18-19)
• “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)
• “…I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” (Hebrews 2:12)
• “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13)

There are many examples and instructions on how to pray in the New Testament. Jesus taught us how to pray (Matthew 6:5-15). Because Jesus is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) and high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), our prayers must be addressed to God in the name of Jesus (John 16:23). In our prayers, we give thanks and praise to God. We may also pray for our own needs and the needs of others.

God commanded us to teach others His Word to save sinners (Matthew 28:19-20). The early Christians devoted themselves to teaching (Acts 2:42). According to Romans 10:17, “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of God.” Only through studying God’s Word can we teach others. We must guard against false teaching and use only the Bible as our foundation (1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:1-5).

God instructed John to write to the churches in Asia Minor, and these letters were to be read to the congregations (Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). Paul also commanded that the Scriptures be circulated and read in the churches so that believers could be encouraged by them (Colossians 4:16).

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on the night He was betrayed (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). As Christians, we participate as a remembrance of His death, recalling the sacrifice of His body and blood on the cross for our sins (Matthew 26:26-28). The Lord’s Supper consists of two elements: unleavened bread (bread without yeast) and the fruit of the vine (grape juice), symbolizing Christ’s body and blood, respectively (1 Corinthians 10:16).

Following New Testament teaching, we take the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, as the early Christians did (Acts 20:7). The text does not specifically say “every first day of the week,” but just as the command to observe the Sabbath was simple: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8), which the Jews understood as observing every Sabbath, we understand by the same reasoning that it refers to every first day of the week.

Historical writings from respected scholars like Neander and Eusebius also support that the early Christians observed the Lord’s Supper on every Sunday.

The church receives the necessary funds to carry out its work through the generous giving of its members. 1 Corinthians 16:2 instructs us who should give: “each one of you”; when to give: “on the first day of every week”; and how much to give: “in keeping with your income,” but cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).