Lecture on Churches of Christ

Historical Background

• Originated from movements led by Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell
• Disliked denominational schisms; aimed for biblical purity
• Movements merged in 1832, remained united until a split in 1906

Church of Christ Beliefs

View of Self

• Consider themselves undenominational
• See themselves as the continuation of the original church

Key Doctrines

Trinity and Christ

• Affirm the Trinity
• Believe in the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, death, resurrection, ascension, and future return

Scriptures

• Bible is inspired and inerrant
• Only the Bible, not creeds or confessions

Practices and Ordinances

Baptism

• Essential for salvation; immersion only
• Baptizes only believers, not infants
• Re-baptism if initial one's understanding was insufficient

The Lord's Supper

• Observed weekly on Sundays
• Elements: one loaf of bread and wine (fermented or unfermented varies)
• Generally practiced as open communion

Governance

• Local congregations are autonomous
• Elders are male, with qualifications specified in Titus and Timothy
• No use of titles like