Palm Springs Drive church of Christ Overview
Written by Charlie Brackett
There is a uniqueness about the Palm Springs Drive church of Christ that may not be immediately apparent to those who happen by. Someone might say, "Why, what do you mean? This church looks similar to many you pass in Altamonte Springs, and practically every other city of these United States." Therein is part of this church's uniqueness. This church is not the building. It is the people who meet and worship in this building. In biblical language, they are the "ekklesia", the Greek word for the called out assembly, or in a word, the church.
But there is more. The Palm Springs Drive church of Christ answers to no human authority. There is no national or international headquarters. And, there is no body of theologians that determines the doctrine or program of work or worship that this church will follow. They are totally independent of any outside ruling body or head, except for One. That is, the Divine Head, Jesus Christ. They answer only to Him.
Before His ascension back to the Father, Jesus said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) Earlier in His ministry, He had declared, "I will build My church". He did not say "churches"; He built but one. Nor did He say, "I will build you a church, and you, and you." He said, "My church." The folks who meet in the building bearing the sign "Palm Springs Drive church of Christ" stand firmly on the belief that they are part of that one true church the Jesus built. Not their church, but His. His local group of disciples that meet and worship on Palm Springs Drive.
"How do they know they are part of His church?" you ask? There is only one way. Each member of this body of Christians has become a disciple of Jesus and therefore His church by doing what He has commanded for entrance into His church, also known as His kingdom. While on earth, Jesus taught "not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) Notice the importance of doing the Father's will, rather than being religious according to some human theology or tradition. Jesus charged His apostles with the task of carrying His will to the whole world and down through the ages to us when He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19, 20)
The members of the Palm Springs Drive church are committed to doing only the Father's will and fulfilling the commission that Jesus gave to His apostles and to those whom they converted. For that reason, their worship and practice is based on the authority of Christ as found in the Bible, the inspired instructions the Lord left with His apostles and prophets. Check us out. Join us for worship and/or Bible study. Consider what we do and teach. If you question whether our words or our practice are as Jesus would have them, ask where we find the authority for the things we say and do. You would be our friend to question.
No matter how accomplished any of us are in life's pursuits, we try to be always mindful of our relationship with the Almighty through His Son. Paul said of the Father, "He raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above principality and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:20-23) Our existence as a church is totally because of Him and for Him. Come! Join with us in praising His high and holy name, the One who fills all in all.
By Charlie Brackett