Independently Owned and Operated

Did you know??? Church is very important to God! Of course you did, for you aren’t like so many today that have no church affiliation (“nones”), and who say that it is not imperative that one go to church. You know that the Scriptures say differently, as Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church and is the builder of such (Ephesians 2:20; Matthew 16:16, 18). The New Testament church was founded on the apostles and prophets of this very N.T. era (a time of grace that we would not dare presume upon). The word “church” is found some 120 times in the N.T. with an overwhelming majority of those times (c. 95) referring to the church in its local context. The letters of the N.T. were written to congregations in a specific location, or leaders or church members of various believers gathering together in an organized fashion (i.e. 1 Corinthians 1:2a; 2 Timothy 1:2 & 4:2). These individual bodies of believers would regularly and consistently meet together on the first day of the week (Sunday) for instruction, giving, singing and such like (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1). The believers in Christ at the beginning stages of this wonderful church age gathered willingly and joyfully as they welcomed the fellowship many times into their own homes (Romans 16:4-5). Sure, there were some that made it a habit to neglect the assembling of themselves, but they were in the minority with a super-majority serving and encouraging each other each and every week as a priority in their lives (Hebrews 10:24-25). There was a genuine love for the Lord and the Lord’s family, and nothing would keep them apart (Ephesians 2:18-19; 4:1-6).  

As the church of God and members one of another which Christ has purchased with His own blood, and established to represent Him as a light by a separated life individually and collectively in this dark world; let us commit to carrying out from the fellowship at Good News Baptist Church of Katy our Lord Jesus Christ’s mandates upon this independent, local, habitation of God or Temple of His Spirit (Acts 20:28; 2 Corinthians 6:14- 7:1; Philippians 2:12-16; Ephesians 2:21-22). The apostles addressed independent local churches because they had their own challenges in their particular locals. God-given direction and counsel by the Holy Spirit was written with the understanding that the individual congregations had the authority and responsibility to implement, with biblical discernment and wisdom, those things spoken to them according to their conscience as directed by the decisions of the members in the various places, without coercion or apostolic intervention (1 Corinthians 5:3-5; Acts 6:2-5; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4). Therefore, the church is governed from within as to its doctrine and practice, and only by its membership’s authority and determination, and not by any outside source. No other church, church association, governmental agency, any one individual from within, etc. can demand the local church’s compliance to its dictates (Acts 5:29; Revelation 2:7; Matthew 18:17).  

God’s church is worth the expenditures of our time & energy!