About Us – Pennsauken Gospel Hall

Who We Are

For newcomers, visiting PGH will be a much different experience than what many have come to know as a “typical church service” especially in North America. We seek to follow, to the best of our ability, the pattern for a New Testament church, laid out for us in the Bible. With that in mind, just a few notes so you aren’t caught off guard and are prepared for your visit:

For starters, there is not a paid pastor to lead the services as we seek to honor the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5-9 and Hebrews 13:15).
You will also notice that the women of the church all wear head coverings during services (1 Corinthians 11:1-16) as well as remain silent in their participation (1 Corinthians 14:34-35 & 1 Timothy 2:11-12)
The “seat of the unlearned” is a physical separation during the Worship Meeting between those who are in the fellowship of the assembly (or visiting from a similarly gathered church with a letter of commendation [Romans 16:1-2]) and those who are not (1 Corinthians 14:16). This is not an effort to discriminate or to judge the salvation of visitors but is a protection for both the assembly and the visitor. This gives the visitor the opportunity to observe and learn how we follow only the direction of the Word of God for instruction in the Worship Meeting.

Where We Are

What We Believe

What the Bible teaches about the Bible:

The Bible alone is the inspired Word of God. The Old Testament was validated by Christ and the New Testament was authorized by Christ as being the Word of God. There is no subsequent or other written revelation from God.
The inspiration of the original autographs of the Bible is verbal,plenary, flawless, and final.
The Bible’s message is universally authoritative,historically accurate, personally transforming, and eternally relevant.

What the Bible teaches about God:

There is one true God: infinite in being, eternally coexisting in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God is revealed as holy, righteous, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and sovereign.
The eternal Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, became man; possessing both full Deity and sinless, perfect humanity.
- His holy character and morally flawless life displayed the glory of God.
- His death at Calvary was purposed eternally. That death was necessary to meet God’s righteous sentence of judgment against us for having broken His holy law.
- He physically arose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
- The account of His death as a sacrifice for sin, His burial and resurrection comprise the message known as the Gospel.
- He will ultimately return to earth to establish His righteous kingdom.

What the Bible teaches about Humanity:

Adam, the head of the human family, created in the image of God,sinned against God through disobedience of God’s commandment.
We, consequently, live in a creation scarred by that original sin. And we, ourselves, sin repeatedly since by our very nature we are sinners and will be held accountable by God for our personal sin.
Our sin is a violation of God’s holy law: God’s righteousness requires eternal punishment against us because of that sin.
God provides salvation to every person who will acknowledge their need and receive His salvation in Christ.
Every person will exist eternally either in God’s kingdom or under His judgement by their own choice of accepting or rejecting God’s offer of salvation.

What the Bible teaches about Salvation:

Personal salvation is necessary for all and is received by faith alone in Christ and His atoning death.
Repentance of sin and believing in Christ as Savior and Lord results in the complete forgiveness of sins and present possession of eternal life.
Salvation is an instantaneous, once-for-all moment that secures eternal life which can never be lost.
Every person who is saved is immediately indwelt by the Spirit of God and born into the family of God.
Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers and purposes for each person to live that they might glorify God.

What the Bible teaches about the Church:

All who have trusted Christ for personal salvation become members of His church which, mystically, is His body.
Local gatherings of Christians “in His name” and owning His authority comprise local assembly testimony.
The mission of the local church is to glorify God in worship, nurture Christian growth of believers and proclaim the Gospel.
The responsibility for function of the local church involves the priesthood of all believers.
The authority for the function of the local church is, alone, the Word of God administered by spiritually minded overseers acknowledging the authority of the Lord.

What the Bible teaches about the Future:

The return of the Lord Jesus to the air to rapture all who are saved is imminent.
All who have heard the Gospel before the rapture will have no more opportunity for salvation.
The rise of the Anti-christ and the Great Tribulation will follow,culminating in the return of Christ to earth with His church to judge the nations.
The Lord Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth for a period of 1000 years.
The Lord Jesus will subdue the final rebellion of Satan, who will be consigned to the lake of fire forever.
The Lord Jesus will judge all who rejected Him in their lifetime at the Great White Thrown and consign them to the lake of fire forever.
The new heavens and new earth will be created, the kingdom of God will be established, and the Day of God will begin with eternal reward and blessing for all the redeemed in Christ.

Service Descriptions

The Breaking of Bread:

At the Lord’s Supper you will notice a table in the center with a loaf of bread and a cup of wine on it. These are symbols only. However, they are very graphic symbols rich in meaning: the bread reminds us of the body of the Lord Jesus and the cup reminds us of His precious blood. Taken together they remind us of the vicarious death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Following His request shortly before His death at Calvary, we’re “remembering Him” in worship and communion. And well we should for the cup reminds us of the communion of the blood of Christ and the bread of the communion of the body of Christ. Scriptural doctrine tells us that forgiveness of sin is through His blood and that forgiven sinners become members of the body of Christ: we have been “called to the fellowship of His Son: Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In keeping with the New Testament pattern, various brethren guided simply by the Spirit of God will lead in worship until the bread and cup are distributed to those in the local fellowship. Hymns will also be given out during the service by various brethren as the Spirit leads. For convenience, there will be an offering taken for the Lord’s work following the bread and wine. However,you will not be solicited nor will we take an offering from any person not in fellowship. Toward the close of the Worship Meeting, a brother may read and comment upon portions of the Bible.

The Sunday School and Bible Study:

We share a concern for both you and your family. Our conviction is that all quality of life issues start with a proper relationship with God through knowing His Word, the Bible, and His Son Jesus Christ. Whether you are coming alone or with your family we have classes for all ages! We will begin this time by singing choruses with the children. Following the singing the children will go to various classes belonging to their age group and adults will meet together to study a portion of God’s Word. Don’t worry, we will help you find the perfect class for your children! The classes and Bible study will end promptly at one o’clock.

The Gospel Meeting:

If this is your first time visiting the Pennsauken Gospel Hall, the Gospel Meeting maybe a perfect meeting to visit! We hold a Gospel Meeting every Sunday evening during which the focus is on the preaching of the Gospel. The Biblical definition of that gospel is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried,and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

This meeting will commence by singing a few hymns and opened in prayer. Normally there will be two speakers who will each have a 30 minute message. The grace and love of God will be emphasized as well as the great blessing of knowing sins forgiven and having eternal life. The Bible is clear that there is only one method of salvation and that is through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.

The Prayer Meeting / Bible Study:

This meeting is a mid-week gathering of the assembly to pray collectively about concerns we share and for the work of God at large. Each week we like to have a focus on a certain burden (e.g. local gospel efforts, young Christians, the needy/sick, missionary works, etc). You’ll find our Bible studies both doctrinally instructive and practically encouraging and should serve to deepen interest in God’s Word, the Bible.