Welcome to the Hilltop Church of Christ
A New Testament Church

What is a New Testament Church?
The New Testament church began on the day of Pentecost in the first century. In Acts 2, Peter began his sermon preaching the gospel/Good News (death, burial and resurrection) of Christ. As part of his sermon, he stated to the crowd in Acts 2:36-38 (Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, ” Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”) And on that day, Acts 2:47 tells us that “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

A New Testament Church in the Twenty First Century?
In the latter part of the eighteenth century, men of different denominations, studying independently of each other in various parts of the world, began to ask, “Why not go back beyond denominationalism to the simplicity and purity of the first century church?  Why not plant the same seed, the Word of God, which the first-century Christians planted and be Christians only, as they were?”  They were pleading with everyone to throw off denominationalism, to throw away human creeds and to follow only the Bible.  They taught that nothing should be required of people as acts of faith except that which is evident in the Holy Scriptures.  We who are members of the churches of Christ are enthusiastic about this approach.  With the Bible as our only guide, we seek to find what the original church was like and restore it exactly. We do not propose this arrogantly, but humbly.

What is the Church?
The word “church” means the “called out” (Greek word “Ekklesia”). The church is composed of those who have been “called out” of this world by the gospel into Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14). The gospel tells of sin and of its wages of eternal death (Romans 6:23). It tells of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It urges all to repent and receive forgiveness of sins. When one obeys the gospel, when he/she heeds its call, they are then “called out of darkness into His marvelous light”  (1 Peter 2:9). So the church is made up of those who have obeyed the gospel, who have been “called out” of sin unto salvation. You then become a part of of what 1 Peter 2:9 also describes as, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”

Jesus Himself is the only recognized head of the church, who has been given all authority in heaven and on the earth (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). As shown in the New Testament church, congregations of the church of Christ are overseen by qualified elders and served by qualified deacons and evangelists (1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28, Ephesians 4:11).

The church are people who are the children of God, and are saved through baptism and the demonstration of faith in acceptance of God, trust in His Word and obeying His Word (Ephesians 5:23). The church is not the Savior – Jesus is our Savior and the head of the church, but the church is the body of Christ. We, when baptized into Christ, are a part of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. “) All who believe and are baptized are saved (Mark 16:16), and thus are “added to the church” by the Lord (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).

What Must I Do to Be A Child of God? Complete the 5 Steps to Salvation

Hear – We must hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”)

Believe – We must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”)

Repent – We must repent for our sins (Luke 13:3 – “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”)

Confess – We must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”)

Be Baptized – We must be baptized in the watery grave of baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”)