Planning to attend your first worship service in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), and not sure what to expect? This short guide walks you through it, from the deacon or deaconess who greets you at the door to the separate seating for men and women and the simple sanctuary without crosses or images. You’ll learn why our worship services are solemn and quiet, what the Bible says about each of these practices, and the simple order every service follows, wherever you are in the world.
In this episode:
- Planning your first visit to the Church Of Christ
- Who greets you at the door
- Why men and women sit separately
- Why there are no crosses or images in the sanctuary
- Why the worship service is solemn and quiet
- The order of every worship service
- How to find a congregation near you
Click to expand transcript
Transcript:
VO: You finally did it! You made plans to attend a worship service in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ). Maybe you’ve been invited many times or maybe you’ve been searching for a Church near you and an Iglesia Ni Cristo congregation popped up. Or perhaps you’ve seen people walking out of the building looking happy and fulfilled, so you wondered to yourself, “I want what they’re experiencing.” With everything going on in our communities, everyone could use a little bit more upliftment and inspiration these days. We totally get that. But now, you’re a bit nervous about this experience and are wondering what to expect when you walk inside. Well, let’s help you with that.
When you walk into a worship service in the Church Of Christ, maybe one of the first things you’ll notice is the peace and solemnity of the gathering. You’ll first step foot in the foyer, where you’ll be greeted by a deacon or a deaconess who will happily show you where the sanctuary is and answer any questions you may have about the service. Let them know it’s your first time. They’ll be excited to help you. After the foyer, they’ll guide you to the main sanctuary, where the seating is arranged with two sides: the male and the female sections. Most people are surprised by this, but this is done to maintain the solemnity and orderliness of the worship services. This is based on the Bible’s instruction written in I Corinthians 14:40.
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Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 14:40
Good News Translation
Deacons and deaconesses will then help usher you to your seat. Now, you may not have had a chance yet to look up but when you do, you’ll notice that the sanctuary has a very simple layout. There’s a podium, and behind the podium is where the choir sits. There are no crosses or graven images because in the Church Of Christ, we follow strictly what the Bible says.
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“You shall have no other gods before Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth;
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Exodus 20:3-5
New King James Version
So, in every worship building in the Church Of Christ, all you will find is simple moldings complementing the simplicity and solemnity of the occasion. Now, you may also have noticed that we’ve said “solemnity” a few times. There’s a reason for that. The Bible teaches us that worship services are very sacred occasions because of who is present. Solemnity is observed because it’s a command of God, after all.
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The Lord is in his holy Temple;
let everyone on earth be silent in his presence.
Habakkuk 2:20
Good News Translation
So, while there is hymn singing, there isn’t clapping or yelling involved. It’s the opportunity to pray to God, but also the chance to hear His teachings, so every detail is aimed to ensure we can give God our complete attention. In fact, every worship service in the Church Of Christ—wherever you are in the world—follows the same simple format: arrival and personal prayer, hymn singing, opening congregational prayer, preaching of a Bible lesson, closing congregational prayer, giving of voluntary offering and benediction. So, wherever you are in the world, you never have to worry about what happens next, or even surprises. This is your time to focus solely on hearing God’s words and offering true and meaningful worship to God.
Well, that about covers it for now. You may still have some questions or you may still be a little nervous.
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GET TO KNOW US
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WORSHIP WITH US!
incmedia.org/find-a-congregation/
incmedia.org/find-a-congregation/
If that’s the case, just email us and we’ll walk through your questions and help you get ready for your first in the Church Of Christ. We’re looking forward to meeting you soon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens during an Iglesia Ni Cristo worship service?
Every worship service in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) follows the same order, wherever you are in the world:- Arrival and personal prayer
- Hymn singing
- Opening congregational prayer
- Preaching of a Bible lesson
- Closing congregational prayer
- Giving of voluntary offering
- Benediction
- Can visitors attend an INC worship service?
Yes. Our worship services are open to everyone. When you arrive, a deacon or deaconess will greet you in the foyer, answer your questions, and help you find a seat. Just let them know it’s your first time. Find a congregation near you: Locate an INC congregation - Why do men and women sit separately in INC worship services?
In our worship services, men and women sit in separate sections to keep the service solemn, orderly, and free from distraction. This follows the Bible’s instruction: “Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40, Good News Translation). - Why are there no crosses or images in INC chapels?
We follow strictly what the Bible says, and God commands, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image… you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5, New King James Version). That’s why our houses of worship have a simple layout, with a podium and a choir area. - Is there music or clapping in INC worship services?
Yes, there is hymn singing led by the choir, but no clapping or shouting. We observe solemnity because the Bible teaches that God is present in worship: “The Lord is in his holy Temple; let everyone on earth be silent in his presence” (Habakkuk 2:20, Good News Translation). - Do I have to give an offering?
Offerings in the Church Of Christ are voluntary, as the Bible teaches: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, New International Version).
Key Takeaways
- Worship services in the Iglesia Ni Cristo are solemn and sacred, a time to focus on hearing God’s words and offering Him true worship.
- First-time visitors are welcomed by deacons and deaconesses, who will answer questions and help them find a seat.
- Separate seating, a simple sanctuary without images, and quiet reverence are all based on the Bible.
- Every worship service follows the same simple order, so there are no surprises wherever you attend.
