The River Chapel Church of the Nazarene
Rockton
IL

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Here at the River Chapel, we have adopted a song that we play regularly during our worship services. Not just because it is titled “The River”, but also because of it’s message. We believe that you will be changed by the blood of Christ! Have a listen!

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Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Nazarene churches in Rockton, Illinois, United States

Church of the Nazarene churches in Illinois, United States

Church of the Nazarene churches in United States

All churches in Rockton, IL

https://www.rocktonvillage.com/index.asp?SEC=C47C9061-1DC1-43C9-91E5-AAEB1E48FB64

Rev. Paul Simmonds

Pastor

815-624-7418

815-624-7418

14053 Nazarene Dr.
Rockton, IL
61072-1533

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP 10:30 A.M.

in person or online at YouTube/ River Chapel COTN

Service Times last updated on the 9th of August, 2023

What is a Christian?

A Christian is a follower of Christ, Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 11:26). Those who follow Jesus not only believe that Jesus spoke the truth in His earthly ministry, they believe to the point of committing their entire lives to Him (John 3:16). They seek to become Christlike disciples and share their faith with others, forming them into Christlike disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

What is the purpose of my life?

There are two answers to this question. First, God invites us to experience a personal relationship with Him. That invitation is offered to every human on earth. Second, God wants each of us to use our abilities and opportunities to help others. These purposes are different for each of us.

As part of traditional Christianity, Nazarenes understand that God created all people with the same intention: Each one should have a loving relationship with God that will last for eternity (John 3:16; 1 John 1:3). When we have such a relationship, God intends for us to become more loving, patient, and self-disciplined; in short, we are on a journey toward a God-shaped life (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 3:2).

In addition, God gives each person special abilities designed to help others. For example, some are able to teach others about God, some are able to help with physical needs, and some are especially effective in counseling or leadership (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

What do Nazarenes believe about God?

As part of the Christian community, Nazarenes understand that there is one God, who has always existed and will always exist (Deuteronomy 6:4). We believe that He is creative (Genesis 1; Isaiah 40:25-26) and holy (Leviticus 19:2; Isaiah 5:16, 6:1-7) and that His purposes are carried out in this world (Jeremiah 29:11; Acts 1:6-7).

We also understand that God’s nature is “three-fold”: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14). This concept of God’s three-fold nature, the Trinity, was understood by the early Christian Church as the best way to explain what they had experienced. They knew from their Jewish roots that there is only one God, but they also knew that Jesus acted as if He were God. In addition, the Holy Spirit, empowering the church as promised by Jesus and the Old Testament, seemed to have all of God’s power as well. Thus they understood that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are parts of the one God who has always existed. Nazarenes embrace this belief borne out by God’s Word.

Who is Jesus Christ?

The New Testament writings state that Jesus of Nazareth was born to a Jewish family during the early days of the Roman Empire. He was killed by the Roman occupation forces and truly rose from the dead. Then He joined God the Father in heaven.

While those of different faiths consider Him a great religious teacher, the followers of Jesus understood that He was more than just a teacher. He forgave sins (Mark 2:1-12; John 8:1-11); He spoke as if He had always existed (John 8:58); and one of His followers addressed Him as God (John 20:28). His death was more than a simple execution; His death makes it possible for humans to have a restored relationship with God (Colossians 1:21-23). In His continued life with the Father, He still cares for us humans (1 John 2:1-2).

The Church of the Nazarene agrees with other Christians that Jesus is God. He is distinct from God the Father, known to the Jewish nation at the time of Moses (Deuteronomy 1:31; Proverbs 3:12). He is also distinct from the Holy Spirit, who has empowered Christians since the earliest days of the Church (Acts 2:4, 33). The Holy Spirit continues the work of Jesus through His followers today (John 16:13-15).

While He is God, He is also human. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon her (Luke 1:26-35). In Him, the nature of God and the nature of humanity are united in one Person (Colossians 1:19-20).

What do Nazarenes believe about the Holy Spirit?

Before Jesus died, He told His followers that He would leave them. He also promised that they would receive “another advocate” who would be with them forever (John 7:37-39, 14:16). After His death and resurrection He told His followers that they would receive power through the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). He then left His followers (Acts 1:9).

Days later, Jesus’ followers did receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4, 18, 32-33). The church immediately recognized the presence of the Holy Spirit as being equivalent to God’s presence (Acts 15:8-9; Ephesians 3:14-19; 1 John 3:24).

What do Nazarenes mean by “salvation”?

Nazarenes, like other Christians, use the term “salvation” to mean turning from wrong actions, receiving God’s forgiveness, committing ourselves to God, and living as God directs.

Salvation is from the word “save.” Jesus declared that He came to “save the lost” (Luke 19:10). When a pagan Roman jailer wanted to become a Christian, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). When talking to a religious leader, Jesus said that God intended to “save the world” through His life (John 3:17).

What are we saved from?

Some scriptures promise salvation from other people and their evil intentions (Psalm 18:3). More often, God’s Word promises salvation from the evil that is widespread throughout the world (Isaiah 45:22; Acts 4:12). Many times in the scriptures God offers to save us when this world is destroyed (Joel 2:31-32; 1 Peter 4:18). However, the most common use of the word may be “saved from the punishment we deserve” (Romans 5:9; 1 Corinthians 15:2; 1 Timothy 2:4).

What does the Church of the Nazarene believe about living a holy life?

Nazarenes, with other Wesleyans, believe in entire sanctification, when God’s transforming work is complete and God’s divine love that inhabits the Christian cleanses all sin from the heart (Romans 6:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

After we are born anew, we need the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit in our hearts (Romans 8:6-8). When we make a complete commitment to Him, He cleanses our spirit, fills us with His perfect love, and gives us the power to live a holy life in obedience to Him (Romans 8:5, 9-11).

Sanctification is God’s will for all believers (1 Peter 1:15-16). Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, God enables believers to live a holy life and empowers them for life and service (Acts 1:8.)

Nazarenes distinguish between a pure heart that is obtained in an instant through the infilling of the Holy Spirit and a mature character that is the result of growth in grace.

What is baptism?

Baptism has been a Christian symbol since the time of Jesus (Matthew 3:1-6). It involves applying water to Christians to symbolize their death to the old way of life (Romans 6:3-4) and their new life God provides (Galatians 3:26-27). Baptism, a sacramental “means of grace,” seals one’s intention to follow God (Acts 2:37-41, 8:35-39, 10:44-48). The Bible never defines how much water was applied or how. Therefore, the Church of the Nazarene considers immersion, sprinkling, and pouring all to be acceptable methods of baptism.

Nazarenes also understand baptism to be a symbol of the new relationship God establishes with His people. Because of this, some Nazarenes choose to have their young children baptized as a symbol of their intention to raise their children in God’s Church and their hope to see that their children choose God’s ways when they are older.

What is the Lord’s Supper?

On the last night Jesus spent with His disciples before His death and resurrection, He shared bread and wine with them as part of the Passover meal (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). This sharing of the bread and wine is known as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper.

When Jesus shared the bread and wine with His disciples, the bread symbolized His body and the wine symbolized His blood (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20). The disciples understood this to mean that He was giving up His life (body and blood) for their benefit. The earliest records of the Church show that His followers regularly shared bread and wine together, reminding themselves that Jesus had died for them (1 Corinthians 10:14-16) and will come again.

When Nazarene churches offer the Lord’s Supper today, all believers are invited to participate regardless of membership in the church. The Lord’s Supper is not appropriate for those who have not yet accepted the new life God offers (I Corinthians 11:28-29).

Do Nazarenes take official positions on social or political issues?

The Church of the Nazarene understands that Christians are expected to oppose evil and promote good. In our complex world, we also understand that few issues are completely evil or completely good.

We express our opposition to underlying evils such as dishonesty (Leviticus 19:11; Romans 12:17), slander and vengeance (2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:15; Ephesians 4:30-32; James 3:5-18; 1 Peter 3:9-10), and sexual immorality (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).

We also affirm our support for good actions, such as helping those in need (Matthew 25:35-36; 2 Corinthians 9:8-10; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17-18), being courteous and helpful (Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:2, 10; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14; Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 3:18), and honoring God (Exodus 20:3-6; Deuteronomy 5:7-10, 6:4-5; Mark 12:28-31).

The Covenant of Christian Conduct in the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene provides guidelines concerning Christian conduct on some specific matters. Rather than taking official stands, on most issues the Church of the Nazarene encourages its members to apply God’s principles and act accordingly. All Christians are promised God’s guidance when we truly seek it (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:16; James 1:5).

How does being a Nazarene affect one’s actions?

It is difficult to say that all the people in any group “always” or “never” act in certain ways. Within a church body, this is especially difficult, because God works with each believer a little differently. However, those who are Nazarenes have decided to follow God as best they can, and they intend to be more like God tomorrow than they were yesterday.

Nazarenes actively encourage each other to become more like Jesus. We donate time, money, and energy to causes that will show God’s love to the world (Matthew 25:31-40; Acts 2:45). We tell others about the ways God has worked in our lives, giving Him credit for the positive changes that the Holy Spirit has made (Acts 1:8). Nazarenes invite others to attend church services because we believe that God works through such gatherings to teach us more about himself (Acts 2:46; Hebrews 10:25). In short, we live our lives to show how God has made a difference (Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 4:4-5).

How does the Nazarene understanding of God make a difference in the lives of Nazarene members?

Nazarenes understand that God intends to make us like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2). This means that we are to become holy and Christlike (Leviticus 11:44; Matthew 5:48). After we have received our new spiritual lives (John 3:5-7), we experience the Holy Spirit teaching us how to live in a way that will please God (Galatians 5:22-23).

This means that Nazarenes are not content with knowing that God has met them once. They actively seek to learn more about Him and His plans by reading the Bible, by gathering with other believers, and by spending time communicating with God in prayer.

How can I learn more about the Church of the Nazarene?

The best way to learn about any person or group is personal interaction. Join us at The River Chapel on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am for service or visit the website http://nazarene.org/.

The Church of the Nazarene traces its anniversary date to 1908. Its organization was a marriage that, like every marriage, linked existing families and created a new one. As an expression of the holiness movement and its emphasis on the sanctified life, our founders came together to form one people. Utilizing evangelism, compassionate ministries, and education, their church went forth to become a people of many cultures and tongues.

Two central themes illuminate the Nazarene story.

The first is “unity in holiness.”

The spiritual vision of early Nazarenes was derived from the doctrinal core of John Wesley’s preaching. These affirmations include justification by grace through faith, sanctification likewise by grace through faith, entire sanctification as an inheritance available to every Christian, and the witness of the Spirit to God’s work in human lives. The holiness movement arose in the 1830s to promote these doctrines, especially entire sanctification. By 1900, however, the movement had splintered.

P. F. Bresee, C. B. Jernigan, C. W. Ruth, and other committed leaders strove to unite holiness factions. The first and second general assemblies were like two bookends:

In October 1907, the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America and the Church of the Nazarene merged in Chicago, Illinois, at the First General Assembly.

In April 1908, a congregation organized in Peniel, Texas, drew into the Nazarene movement the key officers of the Holiness Association of Texas.

The Pennsylvania Conference of the Holiness Christian Church united in September 1908. In October 1908, the Second General Assembly was held at Pilot Point, Texas, the headquarters of the Holiness Church of Christ. The “year of uniting” ended with the merger of this southern denomination with its northern counterpart.

With the Pentecostal Church of Scotland and Pentecostal Mission unions in 1915, the Church of the Nazarene embraced seven previous denominations and parts of two other groups.1 The Nazarenes and The Wesleyan Church emerged as the two denominations that eventually drew together a majority of the holiness movement’s independent strands.

“A mission to the world” is the second primary theme in the Nazarene story.

In 1908 there were churches in Canada and organized work in India, Cape Verde, and Japan, soon followed by work in Africa, Mexico, and China. The 1915 mergers added congregations in the British Isles and work in Cuba, Central America, and South America. There were congregations in Syria and Palestine by 1922. As General Superintendent H. F. Reynolds advocated “a mission to the world,” support for world evangelization became a distinguishing characteristic of Nazarene life. New technologies were utilized. The church began producing the “Showers of Blessing” radio program in the 1940s, followed by the Spanish broadcast “La Hora Nazarena” and later by broadcasts in other languages. Indigenous holiness churches in Australia and Italy united in the 1940s, others in Canada and Great Britain in the 1950s, and one in Nigeria in 1988.

As the church grew culturally and linguistically diverse, it committed itself in 1980 to internationalization—a deliberate policy of being one church of congregations and districts worldwide, rather than splitting into national churches like earlier Protestant denominations. By the 2001 General Assembly, 42 percent of delegates spoke English as their second language or did not speak it at all. Today 65 percent of Nazarenes and over 80 percent of the church’s 439 districts are outside the United States. An early system of colleges in North America and the British Isles has become a global network of institutions. Nazarenes support 14 liberal arts institutions in Africa, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Korea, and the United States, as well as five graduate seminaries, 31 undergraduate Bible/theological colleges, 2 nurses training colleges, and one education college worldwide.

For more information on the history of the Church of the Nazarene, visit Nazarene Archives.