"First City Church of Christ"

Larry R. Ping II

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     On Sunday, Nov. 3rd, 2019, those comprising First City Church of Christ assembled for the first time. Consider these needs which brought about this new work in Vincennes, IN.

    

     1. The Need for a Sound Work. Paul wrote to Timothy about “sound doctrine” (I Tim. 1:10, II Tim. 4:3, Tit. 1:9, Tit. 2:1), a “sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7), “sound words” (II Tim. 1:13), being “sound in the faith” (Tit. 1:13, Tit. 2:2) and “sound speech” (Tit. 2:8). Everything about the Lord’s Church is to be sound, or “healthy, well and uncorrupted.” Several decades have passed in Vincennes, IN without the blessing of a sound work. This work changes that.

    

     2. The Need for Respect of Authority. The Apostle penned “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). The bulk of religious confusion in the world is a direct result of not respecting God’s authority. Jesus announced “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18), leaving man none. We have determined to find authority for each thing we teach, and each thing we do.

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     3. The Need for Biblical Worship. The Lord called upon worshippers to remember “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). Worshipping in spirit involves the right attitude. Worshipping in truth requires doing so according to God’s Word. So we will “sing” (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16), we will “preach” (I Cor. 1:21), we will “pray” (I Tim. 2:8), we will commune the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) and we will “lay by” on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1-2).

    

     4. The Need for Book, Chapter and Verse Preaching. Many pulpits today are filled with story-telling, humorous tales and pop psychology. These have their place, but it is not in the pulpit of the Gospel preacher. We must ask “For what saith the scripture” (Rom. 4:3)? We must “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Tim. 4:2). The Gospel preacher must adopt the attitude of Paul when he uttered “yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (I Cor. 9:16)! Thus, we preach the Word.

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     5. The Need for the Opportunity to Be Saved. There is no greater question than that of the Philippian jail-keeper who asked “what must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30)? The Jews on Pentecost inquired about the same (Acts 2:37). God has laid out a very clear plan for those wishing to rid themselves of sin. God calls upon man to “hear” His son (Matt. 17:5), to “believe on him whom he hath sent” (Jn. 6:29), to “repent” (Acts 17:30), to “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” (Rom. 10:9) and to be “baptized” (Mk. 16:16). As one obeys this Gospel plan, the Lord adds him “to the church” (Acts 2:47). This new Christian is then responsible to “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). This is the plan we will preach each time we gather.

    

     6. The Need for Biblical Work. The three-fold work of the Lord’s Church is set in Eph. 4:12 as Paul wrote “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” We will teach God’s Word, build up and be benevolent to God’s people.