Practices Carried Out At Sharon Gospel Chapel

Our practices are generally characteristic of those carried out in other conservative, evangelical churches. Some are listed below; more detail is available on some of these by following the links.

1.         Gathering to the Lord

2.         Priesthood of believers

3.         The two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. According to J.R. Littleproud (The Christian Assembly. Gospel Folio Press, Grand Rapids, MI) “there are but two ordinances in the Christian Church – baptism and the Lord’s supper. In this context ordinance means ‘a religious rite or ceremony’ (1974. Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, Toronto).

Baptism

 At Sharon Gospel Chapel we practice baptism of believers by immersion. The main reasons for baptism are given in the verses below. A more complete discussion can be accessed by clicking on the above link.

Because it is the commandment of Christ

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matt 28:18-19)

To fulfill righteousness

"But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." (Matt 3:14-15)

For identification with, and show belief in, Christ

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:1-5)

To acknowledge death of self with Christ and a new life

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4)

Lord’s Supper

We observe the Lord’s Supper (Breaking of Bread) according to the commandment of our Lord to remember His death. A more in-depth discussion of this subject can be accessed by clicking on the above link.

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20).

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (1 Cor 11:23-26)

We observe the Lord’s Supper “on the first day of the week” in accordance with the practices of the early church

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7).

Believers exercised about a Gospel outreach work in south Edmonton worked of one accord in the purchase of a lot and the subsequent erection of a building thereon using 'Army hut' material and thus the "South Edmonton Children's Mission" was begun.

Miss Eva Russell and Miss Ruby Murphy (later Mrs. Walter Christie) were leaders in reaching the children of the community, many of whom attended nearby schools. Weekly (Tuesdays at 7 PM) Bible classes and hobby crafts were used to introduce the children (and ultimately their families) to the Gospel. Later, when Miss Eva Russell was led of the Lord to mission work in the Dominican Republic, David Gaunt and Olive (Eva's sister) then took charge of the mission work. While yet attending Bethel Gospel Chapel the 'Gaunts' attracted capable Bible teachers and talented hobby-craft workers to help at the mission.

By 1954 many young believers began migrating into the city, with a resulting large increase in fellowship at Bethel Gospel Chapel which then became filled to capacity. Some elders encouraged the members there to help in alleviating the problem; and so the seed was planted amid the workers of South Edmonton Children's Mission to begin an assembly using that building as a meeting place.

An exploratory meeting was convened by those interested. Representatives from Bethel Gospel Chapel and the 97th Street Gospel Hall were invited to attend. Ben Finch of Bethel and Norman Relf from the Gospel Hall were present.