Have Questions?

What’s Expected of You?

Nothing at all! You’re welcome to participate, but not obligated. You’ll probably be asked to fill out a visitor’s card, and, if you wish, you may provide us information about yourself so we can thank you for being with us.

We’re Simply Christians

It’s our sincere desire to be non-denominational, to simply be known as Christians, members of the body of Christ (Acts 11:26; Ephesians 1:22-23). Collectively, we refer to ourselves as the church of Christ, the Lord’s church, or the church of God (Ephesians 5:23). The church of the first century did not divide into denominations, neither should Christians today.

We Follow the New Testament

The New Testament Church is possible today for all who hear, believe, and are guided by the plain teaching of God’s word. In Luke 8:11, Jesus declares, “the seed is the word of God.” He was emphasizing a known fact: A seed, when planted in good soil, will produce after its own kind. The Word of God is the seed that produces Christians. The Word of God, when planted in the hearts of honest people, and obeyed, will produce Christians today, just as it did in the first century, nothing more and nothing less.

The Bible alone is sufficient for all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible provides a pattern for the organization, mission, and conduct of the church. When the Bible speaks upon any given subject, its pronouncement is final. By its own testimony, no one may alter a single word of it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs. 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). The Bible is both verbally inspired and infallible in content (2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:11-13).

Our Emphasis Is Spiritual

We assemble for the specific purposes of worshiping God, studying His word, and exhorting each other (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:22-25). The primary mission of the church is to teach the gospel to the lost and dying world (Matthew 28:19-20). The church was never meant to be a “front” for a social club.

We Aren’t Governed By Man

Christ is the head of the church and the Bible is the standard by which the church is governed (Colossians 1:18). This leaves no room for institutional church governments so common in religious bodies today. The first century churches were independent, autonomous congregations with Christ as Lord and Master, not denominations. Like the first century Christians, we seek to be Christians without these denominational organizations.

In keeping with the pattern of the first century church, we at the Monte Vista church of Christ are led by qualified men called elders. The apostle Peter clearly explained the responsibilities of these men: “The elders who are among you I exhort: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:1–3)

Jason Amalong

Ryan Dart

Austin Johnson

Mitch Johnson

Ric Moore

Greg Nelson

David Sparks

Stan Thompson

Shawn Jeffries joined our congregation as our minister in February 2019, coming to us from Columbia, TN.

Shawn Jeffries

The Benevolent Work of the Church

We try our very best to use the church of the New Testament as our pattern here at Monte Vista. We want to do everything according to the commands and examples found in the New Testament. On the subject of benevolence—providing financial relief to those in need—we see in God’s Word that every instance of financial support given by the church was limited to church members. Christians in need were given aid by their local church (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-37; Acts 6:1-6), and churches also provided financial help to Christians elsewhere (Acts 11:27-30; Romans 15:26-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:1; 2 Corinthians 9:12-13). We’re certainly sensitive to the financial needs of each person as individuals, but we’re not authorized to take money from the Lord’s treasury for non-members of His body.

Members of the church who need assistance can Contact Us and let us know how we can help.

The Missionary Work of the Church

The Monte Vista church of Christ has been actively involved in missionary work for many years. In particular, Africa, Mexico, and needy areas of the United States have all been fruitful missionary fields, thanks in large part to providence (1 Corinthians 16:9, Colossians 4:3) and the efforts of the elders, deacons, ministers, and former and current members of the Monte Vista congregation. This work has come in the form of both financial assistance and personal ministry. During droughts, famines, or economic disturbances, members of the church have also helped with the material needs of their spiritual brothers and sisters in foreign lands (Acts 11:29, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

If you want to know more about our missionary work, please Contact Us.

We all have a choice to listen to God or to disobey Him. The Bible says that we all sin (Romans 3:23) and that we, in turn, are separated from God as a result of that sin (Isaiah 59:2). God knew that we would turn our backs on Him, so even before Adam was created, God had a plan (1 Peter 1:20). When the time was right He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not suffer death, but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus lived a sinless life and sacrificed Himself for our sins. It took the blood of Jesus, who had no sin (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), to wash away our own (1 John 1:7).

So you ask, “How can I be saved?” The answer is simple! Each of these steps are required for a person to be cleansed of their sins and added to the church.

After you have completed these steps, because of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8), you are saved and God adds you to His church (Acts 2:47). These steps are the beginning of a wonderful, and often difficult, journey. As Christians, we’re constantly striving to be more like Jesus and to follow His example everyday of our lives.

Becoming a Christian is the most important step you’ll ever take in your life. If you have any questions about your soul’s salvation, don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

Baptism is commanded by Jesus Christ. In the great commission Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18- 20) Mark gives this same commission as, “And He said to them, ”Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:15–16)

The word “baptism” is an anglicized word that was coined in 1611 in the translation of the King James Version. Sprinkling was introduced as a substitute for and on a par with baptism at the Council of Ravenna in 1311 and subsequently has been adopted by protestant denominationalism. In the 1600’s when the Anglican translators were confronted with translating the Greek baptizo (and other forms) into English, they found themselves in a dilemma. To translate baptizo as “to immerse” would be to deny authority for their practice of sprinkling. On the other hand to render baptizo as “to sprinkle” would be a travesty and a reproach against their scholarship. And so, as a compromise, the translators simply transliterated the Greek word into English and introduced into the English language a new word – “baptism.” Those who believed in sprinkling capitalized upon the resulting confusion (as people inquired as to the meaning of this new word) by telling the uninformed that “baptism” embraces several actions or modes. But this is not so, according to the scholarship of the world.

Had the Greek word baptizo been translated into English, instead of being transliterated, we would have “dip, immerse, submerge, plunge” rather than a new word “baptism.” Baptism never meant to sprinkle or pour. The Greek word for “sprinkle” is rantizo, and the word for “pour” is cheo. All three words, in both Greek and English, suggest different actions. To say that a person can be baptized by sprinkling or pouring is a contradiction of terms. It is like saying that one can run by walking or riding.

The Bible is crystal clear in helping us to understand the action of “baptism.” Writing to the church in Rome Paul said, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3–4) Paul clearly said that “we have been buried with Him through baptism.” In writing to the church in Colossae Paul said the same thing, “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12) We are buried in baptism and then raised up with Christ. One cannot find a single person who was sprinkled or poured for baptism in becoming a Christian in the New Testament.

The first record of sprinkling was that of Novation in 251 A.D. In 1311, the Council of Ravenna allowed sprinkling in the Roman Catholic Church. Greek speaking countries still practice only immersion. As you study the conversion of the man from Ethiopia please notice that the passage mentions “much water.” (Acts 8:26–39) Baptism requires much water, a going down into the water, being buried in the water and being raised from it, and a coming up out of the water as one can see in the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch. Surely one is able to see the action of baptism in this passage.

Even leaders of many religious denominations have admitted that baptism is a burial in water:

• Martin Luther (founder of the Luthern Church): “The term ‘baptism’ is a Greek word; it may be rendered into Latin by mersio — when we immerse anything in water, that it may be entirely covered with water.”
• John Calvin (founder of the Presbyterian Church): “The word ‘baptize’ signifies to immerse and the rite of immersion was practiced by the ancient church.”
• John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church): “Buried with Him — alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion.”
• Catholic Dictionary: “In Apostolic times the body of the baptized person was immersed, for St. Paul looks on the immersion as typifying the burial with Christ, and speaks of baptism as a bath.”

The quotations above show (1) they are unanimous in their definition of baptism as immersion; (2) they all come from members of churches that have substituted sprinkling and/or pouring for immersion. Their scholarship and honor require them to refute their own practice, however. To adopt any other view requires a denial of New Testament authority.

In baptism one imitates the death of Christ, and as He died, one becomes dead to sin by repentance, puts off the old man by being buried in baptism, and is raised to walk in newness of life even as Jesus was raised by the glory of the Father (Romans 6:3–7). In baptism one is baptized (buried) into His death (wherein He shed His blood for the remission of sins for many. (Matthew 26:28; John 19:33, 34; Acts 2:38) The purpose of baptism, then, is to be “saved,” to “wash away sins,” to “put on Christ,” to enter “into Christ,” and to have “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 3:21).

You have the choice of obeying God according to His Word or listening to men.

When talking about “the church,” we’re referring to the Lord’s church. The church that is identical in name, doctrine, practice and organization with the church that you can read about in the New Testament. We’re not referring to religious bodies that have been founded by men. When talking about being “saved,” we’re talking about being forgiven of past sins, redeemed, and becoming a child of God.

Many people think that they can be saved outside the church as well as in it — that they can be Christians outside as well as in the church. They reason that as long as they are good neighbors, good husbands or wives, good parents that all is well. Rather than thinking that something is true one should be concerned with what the Bible teaches. The Word of God furnishes us with everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).

If one can be saved outside the church as well as in it then:

• One can be saved as a rebel against God! Jesus is now “….the King of kings, and Lord of lords….” (I Timothy 6:15). He is now reigning over His kingdom, the church (I Corinthians 15:24–25). All who submit to Him come into His kingdom (John 3:3–5). When people submit to Jesus as King by obeying the gospel they are “translated” from Satan’s kingdom to the kingdom of God’s dear Son! (Colossians 1:13). If one can be saved outside the church, then one can be saved in Satan’s kingdom and continue to be a rebel against God.
• One can be saved without the blood of Christ. Jesus purchased the church “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Christians are redeemed by Jesus’ precious blood (1 Peter 1:18–20). Christ gave His life and His blood for the church (Ephesians 5:25). No one can be saved without His blood, but no one can be saved by His blood without coming into the church, which was purchased by His blood (Ephesians 1:7).
• It is possible to be saved outside the flock of God! Paul equates the flock of God with the church in Acts 20:28 when he says, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” If we follow the Good Shepherd (and we must if we hope to be saved), then we will come into His flock, the church (John 10:16).
• We can be saved outside God’s family! Paul declared that “the house of God is the church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15). The word ”house“ used in this way means ”family.“ God’s house, His family, is the church! If we can be saved outside the church, then we can be saved without being a child in God’s family! Only if we are children of God can we be ”heirs.“ (Romans 8:17) If we’re not a child of God then we are not an heir of God. All who are not in ”….the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19) are strangers and sojourners and their spiritual father is the devil (John 8:44).
• We can be saved without being a part of the bride of Christ. Paul wrote to the saints at Rome that they were “married” to Him who had been raised from the dead, i.e. Jesus Christ (Romans 7:4). Paul ardently desired to present the Corinthian church as a “pure virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). When writing of the love which a husband should have for his wife, Paul explained, ”This mystery is great, but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church” (Ephesians 5:32). To be recipients of Christ’s suffering and death for us, we must be in the church, the bride of Christ! Jesus “loved the church, and gave himself up for it” (Ephesians 5:25).
• We can be saved outside the body of Christ. “And He is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18). Christians ”are one body in Christ” (Romans 12:5). Jesus is the Savior of the body “as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). How can one be saved outside of that which Christ saves? There is no promise of salvation outside the body of Christ, the church.
• There are no spiritual blessings promised outside the church! Christ purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). How may we be beneficiar- ies of His precious blood? By being in the church-and being faithful. When we are saved by His blood, the Lord adds us to His church. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

Since the Lord adds all the saved to the church (Acts 2:47), then the church consists of all the saved! If it is possible to be saved outside the church of the Lord, then it is possible to be saved without being a part of the saved. Yes, one must be a member of the church of the Lord to be saved!

The Bible is without exception the most wonderful book in existence! There is no book in the world like it. Millions of people through the ages have read, loved, obeyed its teachings and have rejoiced in its wonderful promises.

While men were used to write it, the Almighty God of heaven and earth was its ultimate author. This claim was not made by Christianity, but is the claim the Bible makes for itself. The apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). The apostle Peter explains how God made His will known to the prophets, “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit inspired men to write the wonderful words of the Bible (I Corinthians 2:6–13).

In the Old Testament alone there are over 2,000 times when you’ll find expressions like “And God spoke to Moses,” “The word of the Lord came unto Jonah,” and “God said.” The Bible claims to be a record of the words and deeds of God as He dealt with mankind for the purpose of providing salvation.

The mere fact that the Bible claims to be the Word of God does not prove that it really is from God, since many other books make similar claims. The difference between the Bible and other books is that the Bible contains indisputable evidence that it is the Word of God.

About forty men engaged in writing the Bible beginning with Moses, about 1,500 years before Jesus, and closing with the apostle John writing the book of Revelation toward the close of the first century (covering about 1,600 years). These forty men came from different walks of life including shepherds, kings, and fishermen. These men wrote in different places, such as the wilderness, prison and exile. Although there are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven books in the New Testament, the Bible is one book. From beginning to end, there is one unfolding story of God’s plan of salvation for mankind. This salvation was conceived before creation, revealed gradually through the Old Testament and culminated in the coming of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me;” (John 5:39).

The Bible is all about Jesus and the wonderful salvation God has made possible through Him. There is complete harmony that cannot be explained by coincidence or collusion. This unity of the Scriptures is only one reason among many, which supports the Bible’s claim to be the divine Word of God.

Other internal proofs of the divine inspiration of the Bible include the following: the Bible’s profound and rational doctrines; the purity of its ethics; its historical character; the soberness of its teaching; its relevancy to human needs; and fulfilled prophecy. In addition to the internal proofs there are many external proofs.

At Monte Vista, we not only believe the Bible to be the divine Word of God, we preach and teach it without addition, subtraction or substitution. God’s Word alone guides our faith and practice.

Is there truly a God? How can anyone be sure such a being exists? We believe that the existence of God, and questions such as these relating to it, can be intelligently answered. However, the existence of God cannot be demonstrated to the five senses of man. God’s existence must be accepted by faith just as the writer said, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). This faith is not blind. The same writer said, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Therefore, faith is a conviction founded upon evidence, and we believe the evidence for God’s existence is overwhelming!

There had to be something that created everything we see and know, something far superior to that creation. The psalmist said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). We understand by looking at the things that were made that God was the perfect Designer. The writer to the Hebrews used this same sort of reasoning when he said, “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4). A house is something that shows design and planning. His argument is that men are involved in the design, planning and building of a house. A house does not come into being by accident. Yet, we are expected to believe that this wonderful and beautiful universe came into being without a designer—without the Supreme Being—God?!

Paul’s argument in his letter to the church at Rome approaches this matter in much the same way. He shows that the Gentile is without excuse in ignoring the existence of God. “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being under- stood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:19–20). Paul is saying, there is no way man could ignore the fact of a Creator when there is a creation. There is no excuse for rejecting the truth about God because His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in the universe He created.

The first chapter of the first book of the Bible opens with these majestic words: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” There, in simple terms, is the answer to man’s questions “Where did everything come from?” “How did this world which we now inhabit come into existence?” Then, after giving an account of the creative work of God during six days, the inspired summary is given in these words: “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven” (Genesis 2:1–4).

As to the nature of God’s creative work, three things should be emphasized: The creation was (1) perfect and full-grown, (2) completed in six 24 hour days and (3) non-evolutionary. Each of three facts is in obvious contradiction to the theory of evolution. In the theory of evolution, all things are said to be going from a simpler to a more complex state of being, from a more disordered arrangement to a more orderly one. The Bible states that this process works in the exact reverse. It says that things were perfect in their original condition and that, subsequent to the sin of Adam and Eve, they have degenerated from their originally perfect state by means of death, decay and conflict.

Not only does the universe establish the existence of God, the Bible also bears witness that God exists, because only divine inspiration can explain the existence of this most remarkable of books. The characteristics that point to divine authorship are:

• The Bible’s amazing unity
• The Bible’s amazing preservation
• The Bible’s historical accuracy
• The Bible’s scientific accuracy
• The Bible’s prophetic accuracy
• The Bible’s civilizing influence
• The Bible’s absolute honesty
• The Bible’s life-transforming message

Evolution is a false, God-denying, faith-destroying religion. Yes, evolution is a religion! It has its origin in the devil, who is the father of all lies. Its devotees are putting themselves in open conflict with the Word of God and are putting all who dare disagree with them under the anathema of pseudo-science.

God does exist, as we can clearly see from His handiwork and explanation of Himself. Are you willing to listen to Him?

ABSOLUTELY!

We would love the opportunity to sit down and talk with you about spiritual matters! Our elders, ministers, and members are all interested in sharing God’s message with you. If you’re interested in setting up a personal Bible study, please Contact Us!

Request a Personal Bible Study

No. We believe that the financial support of the church at Monte Vista is to be handled by the members of our local church (1 Corinthians 16:1). Also, we are instructed to take up a monetary contribution on the first day of the week, when we are gathered together (1 Corinthians 16:2). While it might be convenient, and increasingly popular, to take up a collection online, we are not authorized to take a collection from the general public, or on days other than Sunday.

At the top of this website, you’ll notice a link to the Member page. This is an area for our members to get information about workgroups, worship assignments, schedules for speaking, and schedules for communion preparation. This is not a page meant for those who are not members of our congregation.

If you can’t find something you’re looking for, or you would like more information about Monte Vista, please feel free to Contact Us or call us at (602) 345–1578.