Welcome to the Olive Branch church of Christ

As individuals, we simply identify ourselves as Christians…Christians only.  We do not wear a denominational name and we do not follow denominational creeds.  As a congregation, we identify ourselves as a church of Christ.  This is to emphasize our relationship with Christ.  We have been baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) and we truly try to follow the teachings of Christ in all activities of work, worship, and organization.  We are not identified with any denomination and are not organizationally tied to any other church.  We are not a denomination but are an independent, autonomous congregation of God’s people.  The Scriptures reveal that each congregation should be self-governing under the supervision and oversight of elders (1 Pet. 5:1-3).

We welcome your visit to our web site.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact us. Please come visit and worship with us if you are ever in the Olive Branch area.

Elders
Kerry DyeD.O. White
Billy Sasser
Deacons
Cody BelvinJames McKinney
Tyler BoydJay Taubken
Jody HowellZachary Walker
Ministers
Mike HixsonJared Rhodes
Office Staff
Yvette Sanders

What We Believe

We accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God and follow it as our only guide in religious matters.  We attempt to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where it is silent.  We fully accept the authority of Christ in all things, doing His things in His ways.  We do not presume to add to His instructions nor to distract from them.

When we go back to the New Testament, back before all the religious confusion and division  of today–back before human creeds and denominations alienated and divided men who believe in Christ, we learn that God’s children were simply called “Christians” (Acts 11:26, 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).

We believe that the New Testament is sufficient to instruct us in all our spiritual needs (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  When we simply preach and teach and obey what it teaches, we will become just what the early Christians were.

We do not claim to be perfect.  We have shortcomings.  The Bible tells us that all sin and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). For this reason we need Christ.  His perfect sacrifice paid the price for our sins (2 Cor. 5:21).  In Christ we have fellowship with God and with one another (1 John 1:6-7).

As a congregation we have joined hearts and hands in mutual work of service.  We want to share the good news of Jesus Christ
with others.  For this reason, we make provisions to preach the Gospel.  We engage in public worship following the example given by the apostles (Acts 2:42).  We encourage one another to love and to do good deeds (Heb. 10:23-25).  We love each other.  We rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with those who weep, as Paul instructs us to do in Romans 12:15.

Worship Services

Our worship services are quietly devout, designed to draw the worshippers closer to God and to enable each one to grow in knowledge and understanding of the will of Christ.

Our desire and purpose is to be governed in all things by the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  Since we follow only the Word of God, our worship consists of those elements which God directed the early church to observe:

  • Singing (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16)
  • Praying (Acts 2:42; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:1-4)
  • Preaching (Acts 20:7; Acts 2:42; 1 Thess. 1:8)
  • Observing the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:24-26)
  • Giving to God (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:9)

We try to make every part of the worship as inspirational as possible keeping in mind that we must not add to the basic activities of worship described in the New Testament.  Thus, we do not:

  • Sing with the mechanical instruments of music
  • Pray to anyone other than our Heavenly Father
  • Take up a collection on any day other than Sunday
  • Partake of the Lord’s Supper on any day other than Sunday
  • Preach traditions, commandments, precepts, or doctrines of men

The Invitation

At the close of the sermon an invitation is extended to encourage anyone whose relationship with God and Christ is not what it should be, to come and give himself to the Lord in obedience to the gospel of Christ.  At that time the assembly stands and sings a hymn of encouragement.  The invitation is extended for two types of persons: the one who has never become a Christian and the one who is unfaithful and wishes to return to Christ.  No one is ever pressured or embarrassed at this time, however.

We teach that to become a Christian, one must do what men were taught in the days of the apostles.  We cannot assume that we can do anything less and become a Christian today.  The New Testament teaches that one must:

  • Believe in Christ (Mark 16:16; Heb. 11:6; John 3:16).  Believing in Christ involves believing who He is (the Son of God) and believing what He says (in the gospel).
  • Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 2:38)
  • Confess faith in Christ as the Son of God (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9)
  • Be baptized for the remission of sins (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27; 1 Pet 3:21)

If one is an unfaithful Christian, having turned back to sinful things, he must return to God so he will not be lost.  The New Testament also teaches how that is done:

  • Repent of sins (Acts 8:22; Rev. 2:5)
  • Confess sins (2 John 1:9; James 5:16)
  • Pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 2 Pet. 3:9)

Investigating Further

We urge you to investigate!  It is our fervent prayer that you, our friend, will not go to the judgment of Christ without investigating the teachings of the Word of God.  Why?  Where you will be in eternity depends on what you do now.  We urge you to study the Bible and follow it as the only infallible guide in religious matters.  We are not a sect or a cult; we offer no creed books, manuals, or Catechisms.  We earnestly plead with you to investigate and follow the Bible and the Bible only!

We would like to make you feel welcome at our worship services.  This church is a happy church and one which is always friendly to all who come our way.  We have regular worship services in which a spiritual devotion will awake your desire to be closer to God.  We have a fine program of Bible studies in classes for all ages in which you can be a participant in learning God’s Word.  Our schedule of services is linked from the menu.

If you are tired of a social club atmosphere in the name of religion or if you have realized that denominational differences are not in harmony with God’s Word, we believe you will be interested in the simple New Testament Christianity we try to practice.

We welcome your visit!  You may expect to be treated as an honored and respected guest.  If you have any questions or would like to study the Bible with us in your home, please feel free to call us or to let us know of your desire.

Below are a few links to resources for your study. We hope you find these links a helpful addition as you study God’s Word.

Christian Courier
Apologetics Press
PTP365