The Lord’s church in Bucyrus Ohio was organized as the church in any place, it began on July 17, 1960. The first meeting was held in the K. of P. Hall with 13 members in attendance. The meeting place was then changed to the Lions’s Club building and they worshiped there until November 7, 1961, when the basement rooms were done on the new assembly building site by the body of Christ member’s determination and labor, each one giving of his or her talent. The congregation grew to 34, with attendance between 60-70.
The remaining work of the present building began on May 1, 1966. The structure was completed sufficiently in late 1966 for use and for dedication on Sunday, August 27, 1967. The congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010 being located on Lincoln Avenue. The Lord’s church is always looking forward to meeting new visitor’s and members of the Lord’s Church. We hope you and your family and friends come join us on the times we gather to serve the Lord and get to know each other through fellowship.
We love teaching the gospel of Christ to people. This is the case because the gospel is the power of God to save people from their sins (Rom. 1:16). Thus, Jesus commanded His gospel to be preached to every creature (Mark 16:15, 16). People who learn the truth of God (John 8:31, 32; 17:17) regarding sin, its eternal consequences, and how to be saved from it (1 John 3:4; Jam. 4:17; Rom. 3:23; 6:23), are taught that they must believe in Christ (Rom. 10:17; John 8:24), repent of their sins (Acts 17:30), confess their faith in Christ (Rom. 10:10), and be immersed in water by the authority of Christ for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21). In being baptized into Christ, Jesus adds them to His one universal church (Acts 2:47). Thus, when the seed of the kingdom, the Word of God (Luke 8:11) is sown in the honest hearts of people, the kingdom or church is produced. This is the case because a seed always produces after its kind.
Thus, members of the Lord’s church are Christians only—nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. They are members of the church that Jesus built (Mat. 16:18), the church of which you read in your own New Testament. Indeed, the New Testament church is pre-denominational and anti-denominational (John 17: 20, 21;1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 3:16). Contrary to the erroneous long time and popular teaching of man-made denominations, as previously noted, Jesus built only one universal church (Mat. 16:18; Eph. 4:5; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22, 23). However, the largest and smallest organized entity of the Lord’s one church are churches of Christ in various geographic locations, such as the Lord’s church in Rome, Corinth, Phillippi, Colossae, or Bucyrus, or churches whose geographic locations are not designated. The apostle Paul referenced them when he wrote “the churches of Christ salute you” (Rom. 16:16). These scriptural terms show the relationship of the saved to their Savior and vice versa.
Understanding that there are many churches of Christ throughout the world in various geographic locations, when we refer to one church we scripturally identify it as a church of Christ in a certain location—such as the church identified as the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ. In the English language Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ is a proper name such as one’s own personal name. However, in the New Testament, the universal church does not have a proper name, but only terms of designation, such as church of God, house of God, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the church, etc. In following the inspired New Testament pattern or blue print for referencing the church we, therefore, designate ourselves according to our geographic location, namely the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ.
The Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ is dedicated to seeking the old paths. This she does by only doing what the New Testament authorizes, leaving undone what it does not authorize, and those things it explicitly (in just so many words) prohibits (Jer. 16:16; Col. 3:17). Thus, we keep ourselves from binding on people what God in His Word has not bound and from loosing men from what God in His Word has bound. We are also concerned about defending the church from false doctrine. Thus, we, as was the apostle Paul, are set for the defense of the gospel, and as Jude directed, we have, do, and will contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Phil. 1:17; Jude 3). We are concerned about keeping those who have been saved from their sins on the “strait” and narrow way, the only path leading to heaven (Mat. 7:14; 1 Cor. 15:58; Gal. 2:5; Col. 1:23; Rev. 2:10).
The Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ assembles on the first day of the week to worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Thus, in the Lord’s Day worship assemblies we pray to God, observe the Lord’s Supper, study the Bible, contribute financially of our means to support the work of the church, and sing from the heart to God psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as we teach one another with them (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). In the hour preceding our Sunday morning worship, we have Bible classes for all ages (2 Tim. 2:15). Also, we have a mid-week Bible study with Bible classes for all ages. Prior to our mid-week Bible classes, we assemble for a brief devotional period comprised of singing, teaching, and prayers. In seeking to save the lost, we preach the gospel to the alien sinners, edify the saints, and practice benevolence—caring for those who cannot provide for themselves (Jam. 1:27; Gal. 6:10).
The brethren are taught to love one another and, thus, to settle any problems that may arise between them as Jesus taught such to be solved (1 John 4:7; Mat. 18:15-18). If you desire to be a faithful child of God as the New Testament defines such, we welcome you to visit and study the Bible with us. Come and see personally what the Bible teaches about where we came from, why we are here, and the two eternal places where all mankind will exist in eternity when all things material cease to be (2 Pet. 3:7-14; John 12:48; Heb. 9:27; 2 Th. 1:6-10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Mat. 25:31-46). We will prayerfully and faithful study the gospel plan of salvation set out in the New Testament of Christ, so you can know what God requires of people to become Christians and live faithful lives in the Lord’s church.
We are not only concerned about teaching the gospel to those lost in their sins, so they will know how to become Christians and live faithfully to the Lord, but we are also greatly concerned about Christian living in His church. The church is not a “live as you please body of people” (2 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 2:19). To Christians the apostle John wrote: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked… Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:1-6,15-17). If you are a Christian who is considering being a member of the Lincoln Avenue congregation, we are greatly concerned about what we can do to help you grow spiritually in Christ.
We want every member to be filled with good works, as the New Testament defines and reveals them. However, we are also greatly concerned about what church members can do to help the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ faithfully serve the Lord. Will you be faithful to the Lord in all things—attending regularly all the worship assemblies, the Bible study periods, and other activities deem important for the edification of the saints and the furtherance of the gospel (Heb. 13:17)? Are you truly committed to doing all things according to the pattern or authority of Christ revealed on the pages of New Testament of Christ (Col. 3:17)? As the old spiritual song declares, “I want to be a worker for the Lord. I want to love and trust His holy Word. I want to sing and pray and be busy every day in the kingdom of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Also, as Paul wrote to the young preacher Titus, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Tit. 3:8). Also, as Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Rom. 16:19). So, what can you as a Christian bring to the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ that will help the church be faithful to the Lord by your obedience to the Lord in all things (Mat. 6:33; Rom. 6:17, 18; Heb. 5:9)? If you have any questions for the Lincoln Avenue church as to what and why we teach and practice what we do, we would be more than happy to answer them. We welcome your investigation of the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ in the light of what the Bible teaches. As Peter wrote to Christians, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).