The term "Non-Denominational church" sometimes makes people think of a church with no direction or plan of action for its congregation, while others view the term as a church that accepts anyone with no regard to race or sexual or social preference. Neither of these statements are true. The truth is that this type of church places its beliefs strictly on biblical principles and welcomes any believer on the basis of accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and submitting to following the Bible in its entirety. To hone in on the inner workings of a Non-Denominational church, it is best to break down the different parts that make up the church.
Leaders of a Non-Denominational Church
A Non-Denominational church is led by a group of elders (Titus 1:5-9), a group of deacons, and a ministerial staff, which may include:
- Senior Minister
- Associate Minister(s)
- Music Minister
- Youth Minister
- Children's Minister
The elders have the ultimate leadership role in the church when it comes to making decisions on how funds are dispersed, ensuring the church is being a good steward of the money given through tithes and offerings, and what activities are allowed and not allowed to take place within the church walls, among other important factors. The elders hold board meetings in regular intervals to discuss such matters with the deacons and ministerial staff before any decisions are made.
Day-to-day operations are often times carried out by an administrative staff, as well as a business manager and a group of volunteers from the congregation to assure that the church is running smoothly. Whether there is a business manager really depends on the size of the church, and is not necessarily needed.
Non-Denominational Bible Studies and Sermons
It is no small matter when it comes to teaching an entire congregation about God's Word. It is also something not to be taken lightly. The ministers of the church are charged with delivering biblical and relevant materials to people, and the people have great faith that what is being taught is correct and true. Therefore, some Non-Denominational churches receive their teaching from materials written by the ministerial staff or from pre-printed materials that the elders accept as delivering the true Word of God.
Topics of sermons and Bible studies vary on many factors, which might include:
- Teaching biblical doctrine
- Learning about biblical characters
- Facing tough issues in today's society
Nowadays it is not unlikely to find a vast way of bringing God's Word to life through sermons and Bible studies with the advanced technology available. Some churches use DVD players, audio and visual equipment, and other means to keep the congregation entertained while hearing God's Word.
It is very common to have a time of remembrance by sharing the bread and blood of Jesus together, as well as a time to take up tithes and offerings during a service. Some churches prefer to do this once a week, while others will have this time once a month or in some other interval.
Non-Denominational Activities and Events
Like many other churches of different denominations, a Non-Denominational church holds many opportunities for members to fellowship. Whoever said that Christians don't have fun, has not been to church lately. Some activities that a Non-Denominational church might hold include:
- Church-wide dinners
- Bible group gatherings
- Children's activities
- Seniors activities
- Mission trips and supporting missionaries
What is Most Important to a Non-Denominational Church
While not all Non-Denominational churches purchase the same materials, conduct a service in the exact same way, or hold the same Bible studies, there are three things they all have in common, including:
- Using only teachings directly from the Bible.
- Requiring members to be born-again Christians (John 3:3).
- Working to spread the Gospel and bringing others into the fold (Matthew 28:19-20).
A Non-Denominational church is for those who want to learn about the Bible and follow Jesus. That's all there is to it. These types of churches have not just starting springing up around the world in the last few decades, but have been in existence for hundreds of years. It's a great church to attend, if you want to stick to biblical doctrine.
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