SoCal Church of Christ
At SoCal Church of Christ, our goal is to illuminate and positively impact Southern California, encouraging our friends and neighbors to build a lifelong, committed relationship with Christ.
Our mission is to serve, honor, and glorify God, both individually and collectively, by obeying His word and sharing our faith with others.
Matthew 28:18-20 – Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What We Believe
GOD
God is real. He created the Universe. He exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He’s the source of all truth. (Genesis 1:1-2; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:14)
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and inerrant word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
SALVATION
Salvation can be found through faith and obedience in Jesus Christ alone. He is humanity’s only access point to forgiveness of sins. (John 3:16, 36; 14:6; Acts 4:12)
BAPTISM
It is the God-given task of every Christian to go and preach the good news to all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches that baptism is the moment at which a believer receives forgiveness of sins and is raised to walk in newness of life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-4 )
Our Acappella Heritage
A distinctive feature of our worship is the practice of Acappella singing—that is singing without the use of musical instruments. Here are four of our guiding principles.
- Biblical teaching. We believe the New Testament provides direction for how we should worship. In Ephesians 5:18-19 Paul writes, ‘Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.’ In Colossians 3:16 the apostle writes, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.’
- Historical example. From its earliest days the church simply sang praises to God. Musical instruments were introduced into Christian worship after several centuries, and not without controversy. The term a cappella, means ‘in the style of the church.’ Singing unaccompanied is not a peculiar custom but how the early church worshiped.
- Theological implications. In the Old Testament the use of musical instruments is commanded as part of the worship and sacrificial system conducted at the Temple in Jerusalem. However, with the coming of Christ and new covenant, these older forms of worship are no longer relevant. Consider the complete absence of teaching in the New Testament regarding the use of instruments.
- Congregational participation. Congregational singing encourages each individual to join their voice with others in praise to God as a unifying expression of worship. It emphasizes participation over performance. The focus remains on the message of the song and the collective praise offered to God.
Congregational singing preserves the simplicity, purity and participatory nature of early Christian worship, placing the emphasis not on musical performance, but on heartfelt praise to God.