The churches of Christ is the result of the Restoration Movement that took place in the 1800s in the United States. This movement was an effort to go back to the Bible and the church Jesus established in the first century (Mat 16:18).  The result was a multitude of congregations with no national headquarters or central authority.  The headquarters is considered to be in heaven with Christ as the head of the church (Eph 1:22-23).  The Bible is considered to be the pattern or authority for all doctrine as well as the work and worship of the church.

Each congregation is independent or autonomous but have, for the most part, common practices and beliefs. The body of believers are united by (1) a common belief in God as the Creator of the universe (Gen 1:1); (2) faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the only begotten Son of God and the author of salvation (Jn 3:16, Heb 12:2); and (3) a conviction that the Bible is the revealed word of God (2Tim 3:16-17).  

The New Testament is the pattern for the work and worship of the church in the twenty first century as it was for the first century.  Biblical authority is required for all doctrine and practices just as it was in both the Old and New Testaments (Rom 10:17, Col 3:17). The Scriptures are the inspired word of God and are profitable for doctrine and instruction in righteousness that completes the man/women of God for every good work (2Tim 3:15-17, 2Pet 1:3). 

The primary function of each congregation is to conduct public worship and carry out the commission Jesus gave His apostles (Matt 28:18-20 and Mk 16:15-16).  The mission of the local church is to edify the members by the study of the Bible and to carry the Gospel to the world (Rom 1:16-18).