Who is the Church of God?
There are a number of Christian churches/denominations who go by the name of "Church of God", and it would be both presumptive and unscriptural to state that we're "God's sole church" on planet earth. We're a congregation within the "Church of God, Cleveland, TN", a church that's reaching out to the local community and beyond with God's message of grace and mercy. Our vision for our local congregation here at Clays Mill Road Church of God is to have a place of worship where the preaching of God's Word goes forth "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.." (Eph. 4.12) A church that forgets its heritage soon finds itself adrift on a sea of change. But on the same token, a church that stays mired in her heritage misses both opportunity to serve her community and possibly, the move of God.
At Clays Mill Road, we understand the blessed heritage that we have and how it has been rooted in the Pentecostal outpouring of the last century. We realize we live in an ever changing world with new and challenging opportunities for service every day. Our goal is to run to these challenges head on, while holding on to our identity as Pentecostal believers. As a worshipping community of Christian disciples, we at Clays Mill Road are committed to the proclamation and demonstration of this Good News in the power of the Holy Spirit.
What do you mean by "Evangelical or Pentecostal"?
Some view these as mutually
exclusive terms, and they both are an accurate description of just what we are.
By EVANGELICAL,
we're stating that we accept the primary doctrines that have been revealed
through the Bible. These doctrines include the inspiration and authority of
God's Word (the Bible); the trinity of the Godhead; the virgin birth of Christ
Jesus; Salvation by faith, thru repentance, in the atoning death of Christ; The
visible, bodily resurrection of Christ and his subsequent ascension to the right
hand of the Father; the ministry of the Holy Spirit; the second coming of Jesus
for a church looking for Him and the unity of all believers in Jesus Christ.
By PENTECOSTAL,
we're stating that we hold to the continuous
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The same outpouring experienced on the Day of
Pentecost is available to followers of Christ today, in order to empower them as
witnesses and servants of the risen Lord. We recognize the Gifts of the Spirit
as they've been revealed and taught through New Testament Scripture.
"A snapshot History of the Church of God"
Our Church traces its roots back to the rugged hills along the Tennessee-North Carolina border when in 1886, eight Christians gathered at the Barney Creek Meeting house to form the Christian Union. It would be known by this name for the next twenty-one years when the Christian Union became the Church of God. Nearly a century and a quarter have passed and that fellowship has grown into a church now found in more than 145 countries, with a membership base of over five million. “Thru many toils and snares it has already come” but this church has held onto the Heritage that has been passed on to it. As the first modern and oldest Pentecostal church in America, many of our leaders have become well known and respected within the Evangelical community. The Church of God has become the church it is today simply by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making itself available to the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the
whole church pray at once for specific needs?
Acts 4:24 -- "...And when they
heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, "Lord,
thou art God which hast made heaven and
earth'..."
Why do we anoint
with oil and pray for the sick?
James 5:14 and 15 -- "...Is any
sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of
faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he
have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
Why do we have
audible praise unto the Lord?
Psalm 34:1 -- "And when they heard
that, they lifted up their voice to God..."
Why do we lift
our hands?
Psalm
134:2 -- "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord."
I Timothy 2:8 -- "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
Why do we clap
our hands?
Psalm 47:1 -- "O
clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."
Why do we stand
when we sing?
II Corinthians 20:19 -- "...And the
Levites,...stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
Worship is
personal.
"...I will rejoice in thy
salvation." Psalm
9:14
"...I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm 122:1
"...If any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." John 9:31
Worship comes
from the heart
Matthew
12:34
-- "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh."
Matthew 22:37 -- "...Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
Worship is
corporal
Romans 15:5-"...Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Timothy 2:8 -- "I would therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
Why do we give
tithes and offerings?
In obedience to God's word, Clays Mill Road Church of God gives every
individual the responsibility to support God's work
as instructed by the following scriptures:
Exodus 35:21 -- "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service and for the holy garments."