A Church on Cornerstone Road
The Alexander church of Christ stands at 100 Cornerstone in Alexander, Arkansas, a small town just southwest of Little Rock in Saline County. The congregation identifies itself simply as the church of Christ, with no denominational label or affiliation beyond the Restoration Movement tradition of seeking to restore the New Testament pattern of worship and work. Members describe their congregation with a motto that appears at the top of the church's homepage: "A church that loves God, His word, and one another." Visitors walking through the door on a Sunday morning find a community shaped around Bible classes, a cappella singing, expository preaching, and a Lord's Supper observed each first day of the week.
The church's identity has grown well beyond its physical address over the past two decades. Its collection of recorded sermons, downloadable in PowerPoint, Keynote, PDF, MP3, and video, now stretches from 2007 through the present year, with a new lesson almost every Sunday, Wednesday, and a mid-week live broadcast. Preachers from across the country, and the occasional guest from abroad, contribute regularly. The result is a working archive that functions as both a teaching resource and a window into how a single congregation reads Scripture together.
Sunday and Wednesday Rhythm
Worship on the Lord's day follows a steady, predictable shape. Bible classes for all ages begin at 9:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m. the congregation gathers in the auditorium for morning worship, a service that includes congregational singing, prayer, the Lord's Supper, a collection, and a sermon. A second worship hour meets at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday evening brings another Bible class at 7:00 p.m. The schedule is printed on the contact page in plain language: "Bible class: 9:00 A.M., Worship: 10:00 A.M., Sunday Evening: Worship 4:00 P.M., Wednesday: Bible class: 7:00 P.M."
The services are described as orderly rather than elaborate. "Signing for the hearing impaired provided during all of our services" appears alongside the times, indicating that an ASL interpreter is part of the regular assembly, not a special accommodation. The contact line is direct: 100 Cornerstone, Alexander, AR 72002, with the main church number 501-568-1062 listed for anyone who wants directions or a word of encouragement.
A Cappella in the Pews
Music is one of the clearest expressions of the congregation's convictions. The "What to Expect" page explains it plainly. "One of the unique things about us that may seem strange to some people is that the music is a cappella," the page states, "That is, we sing without the use of instrumental music. This is not just a preference with us but is a conviction based on the Scriptures and the practice of the early Christians." Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are cited as the basis. The page anticipates that some visitors may consider this "narrow," but explains that the members are "striving to please God, not men."
Visitors find a songbook in the bookrack in front of each pew, and the song leader announces the numbers so everyone can sing together. "We're sure that you will find the singing meaningful, with everyone being invited to participate," the page adds. The music is the kind that fills the room with voices, not instruments, and it sets a tone that carries into the rest of the service.
The Evangelist's Desk: Don McClain and the Preaching Team
The preacher who is most often at the pulpit is Don McClain, who is identified on the "About" page as the congregation's evangelist. McClain's sermons appear throughout the archive from 2008 onward, walking through books of the Bible verse by verse, addressing doctrinal questions, and engaging contemporary moral issues. Recent series include the Gospel of John, the Book of Ruth, the Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon on the Mount and Marriage, the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew, the Book of Acts, the Book of James, and a recurring study through the Psalms and Ecclesiastes. The pace is expository; the goal, in McClain's own recurring phrasing, is to be "searching for the truth."
McClain is joined by a team of preachers who rotate into the pulpit and contribute their own series. James Hamilton, another regular, brings a steady stream of lessons on the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew, the Book of Revelation, Galatians, Colossians, the Pastoral Epistles, and a long-running series called "Daily Renewing the Heart," working through qualities such as gratitude, humility, purity, generosity, boldness, and zeal. Bruce Reeves, an evangelist for a sister congregation in Conway who has debated repeatedly on the church's online pages, contributes gospel meeting series on baptism, the resurrection, confession, and perfection. Tony Alexander, whose name gives the church its mailing identity, also preaches and teaches.
Visiting preachers round out the schedule. Brent Sharp, Ashton Wilson, Karl VanDevender, Herbert Matthews, Wilton Wesley, Ricky Manes, Kristofer Gardana, Matthew McClister, Boyce Barger, Joseph Casimier, David Brown, Zachariah Smith, Rufus Thrower, Sean Cavender, Jorge Gonzales, Nick Angel, John Hines, Tommy Thornhill, Jason Rodriguez, Seth Barger, Brandon Lewis, and a guest speaker from Lagos, Nigeria, Emmanuel (Manny) Ebong, are among those who appear across the sermon archive, often for a single Sunday or a short series. The diversity of voices keeps the archive lively, but the doctrinal core remains consistent.
"Searching for the Truth" - Live Bible Studies by Phone and Online
The congregation's most distinctive public ministry is its live, interactive Bible study broadcast called "Searching for the Truth." The program airs three times a week - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3:00 p.m. Central - and is streamed on YouTube while simultaneously accepting phone calls at 1-501-568-1062. The format is direct: the host opens a Scripture passage, works through it verse by verse, and invites listeners to call in or comment with questions. The phone line is treated as an open classroom rather than a talk show.
The program has become a kind of weekly theological workshop that reaches well beyond the local area. The YouTube channel, listed under Don McClain's name, hosts years of searchable archives, organized by year. Sessions often pick up where the previous one left off, working through books of the Bible in long, patient arcs. The Wednesday broadcast sometimes feeds directly into the evening Bible class at the building, allowing the live audience to continue the discussion in person.
The "Searching for the Truth" broadcasts also serve as the platform for the church's gospel meetings and special series. When a guest preacher comes through for a week of services, the broadcasts are used to promote and stream the lessons, with PowerPoint, Keynote, and PDF handouts made available for download. The combination of phone-in accessibility and downloadable charts has made the broadcast one of the most sustained evangelistic efforts the congregation maintains.
Sermons by the Year
The sermon archive is organized year by year, with a separate page for each year's lessons going back to 2007. The most recent page lists 2026 sermons at the top, working backward through 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and so on, with each entry dated and tagged by speaker, Scripture reference, and downloadable format. The pattern of availability is consistent: a lesson preached on Sunday is uploaded by the end of the week with the audio, video, slides, and a written handout.
The archive is searchable by topic as well. The "Sermon Page" organizes lessons by book of the Bible - Genesis through Revelation - and by recurring series such as "The Church of Christ," "Bible Authority," "Calvinism Exposed," "Baptism," "Series on Godliness," "Sermon on the Mount," "At the Feet of Jesus," "Dangers Facing the Church," "Trustworthiness of the Bible," "Family Matters," "Spiritual Growth," "Conversions in Acts," "Looking Unto Jesus," "Series on Worldliness," "The Law of Moses," "Existence of God," "The Holy Spirit," "Overcoming Everyday Problems," "Gospel Meetings," and "End Times." Visitors who want to think through a single subject can find a half-dozen or more lessons on baptism, the Holy Spirit, or the end times within a few clicks.
Several long-running series anchor the archive. "At the Feet of Jesus" follows Jesus' life through the Gospels, examining His use of Scripture, His response to temptation, His treatment of the lost, and His priorities. "Conversions in Acts" walks through the conversions recorded in Acts 2, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, and 19, asking in each case what the converts were taught, what they believed, and what they were commanded to do. "Daily Renewing the Heart," led by James Hamilton, runs through the qualities of Christian character one after another - patience, gratitude, humility, purity, generosity, boldness, zeal, joy, honesty, and love.
Debates Across the Years
One of the most unusual features of the archive is the church's commitment to formal, multi-night public debates on contested doctrinal questions. The "Debates" section lists several extended exchanges, with each night's affirmative and negative speeches posted as video, audio, and PowerPoint charts.
The debates are unusually diverse in topic. In 2005, Bruce Reeves debated Gene Cook Jr. over four nights on the question, "Is Baptism Essential for Salvation?" In 2007, Reeves met Steve Raines of Central Baptist College on the same subject and then turned to debate Dr. Ronald V. Mitchell, also of Central Baptist College, on whether a Christian can so sin as to be eternally lost. That same summer, Don McClain debated David Hepp on whether miraculous spiritual gifts have ceased and whether Holy Spirit baptism is available today. In 2020, Reeves met Holger W. Neubauer in Amarillo, Texas, across four nights on the AD 70 doctrine, debating whether Jesus returned in A.D. 70 to judge the world or will return in the future.
The debates are treated as teaching tools. The PowerPoint charts used by each side are posted alongside the videos, and the resolutions are framed formally. Visitors who want to understand the church's position on baptism, the security of the believer, the continuation of spiritual gifts, the work of the Holy Spirit, or eschatology can watch both sides argue their case and read the slides that supported each speech.
Restoration Movement Roots
The congregation's self-understanding is rooted in what its members call "The Restoration Movement." The "What to Expect" page explains, "Our goal is to determine from the Bible what the church was like in the beginning, and to be like that. We are trying to follow the pattern given to the first century Christians by the inspired writers of the Bible." The page describes the church as "Bible-centered" and adds, "If anyone has a question regarding what we teach or practice, we will be glad to give 'book, chapter and verse' to explain our practices."
The practical outworking of that conviction appears in several details. The preacher is addressed as "mister," "brother," or by his first name; the page explains that he will not be referred to as "Pastor" or "Reverend" and will not wear a robe or "ecclesiastical vestments," on the basis of the priesthood of all believers from 1 Peter 2:5-9. The sermon typically runs thirty to forty-five minutes. After the sermon, the preacher extends an invitation, and "Non-Christians may request to be baptized, or a Christian may come forward to confess a sin, or ask for prayers. If any respond to be baptized, they will be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3,4)." Visitors are not singled out.
The Lord's Supper is observed as part of the Sunday morning worship on the basis of Acts 20:7, and the free-will offering is collected only on Sunday, following the pattern in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. As a guest, you are not expected to give; you may simply pass the plate along. The congregation also fills out a visitor's card, if comfortable, so the church can express appreciation.
Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper
The church teaches that baptism is essential to the forgiveness of sins and that it is to be administered by immersion. A major section of the archive is devoted to "Baptism / Salvation," with lessons titled "What Scriptural Baptism Accomplishes," "The Nature of Saving Faith," "Here Is Water (What Hinders You?)," "Saved Like Noah," "The One Baptism of Ephesians 4:5," "Questions About Your Baptism," "Why Do Christians Need to Hear About Baptism?," and "The Baptism That Saves." The lessons argue from Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, and Romans 6:3-4 that baptism is the moment at which a believer is united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
The Lord's Supper is treated with similar care. A series titled "Worshipping God by Faith" works through each element of New Testament worship - the Lord's Supper, giving, prayer, singing, and preaching - asking in each case what Scripture authorizes. The Lord's Supper is described as a memorial, with lessons on what it is, who should partake, how it is to be observed, and what the consequences of abuse are, citing 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.
Signing for the Hearing Impaired
One of the distinctive features of the congregation, called out specifically on both the home page and the contact page, is that signing for the hearing impaired is provided during all services. This is not a special event or a periodic accommodation; it is a regular part of the assembly. Visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing can expect the same interpreter present on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening as anyone else in the pews.
What to Wear, Where to Sit, and What Will Happen
The "What to Expect" page addresses the small anxieties of a first-time visit in some detail. "When you come into the building," it says, "you will notice numerous tracts and publications that you are free to take with you to read." The auditorium has rows of pews with no reserved seats. Visitors are welcome to sing along or simply listen. The preacher does not have a title, will not wear a robe, and will likely preach a thirty-to-forty-five minute sermon drawn directly from the Bible. Questions and comments are welcome afterward.
At the close of the sermon, the preacher "will extend an invitation," allowing those who are convinced to take whatever steps they need to make themselves right with God. No one will single you out. As the page puts it, "We are simply Christians, trying to pattern our lives and our worship according to God's inspired word, the Bible. We welcome you to come and visit with us, to investigate our practice and our teaching, and to compare what you see and hear with the Bible."
Family Series, Holy Spirit Studies, Eschatology
The church maintains three particularly thorough topical series. "Family Matters" gathers lessons on marriage, raising godly children, the roles of husbands, wives, and children, biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage, and the Christian home. "The Holy Spirit" runs through the person and nature of the Spirit, His work in inspiration and revelation, in redemption, in miracles, in Holy Spirit baptism, and in the indwelling of the believer. "End Times" defends what the church calls "Biblical Eschatology," examining Daniel 9, Matthew 24, the AD 70 doctrine, the thousand-year reign in Revelation 20, the Day of the Lord, the judgment, and the resurrection of the dead.
A separate set of series addresses contemporary concerns. "Calvinism Exposed" works through Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and the Perseverance of the Saints, examining each doctrine against the relevant proof texts. "Dangers Facing the Church" treats apathy, formalism, liberalism, error, persecution, compromise, and the world's leaven. "Overcoming Troubles" draws lessons from Job, the Psalms, and the Sermon on the Mount on patience, endurance, and trust.
Online Library and Worldwide Reach
The church's online presence is unusual in scale for a single congregation. The home page lists live streams, recent sermons, sermon series, expository series through every book of the Bible, sermon years going back to 2007, topical series, gospel meetings, debates, tracts, an FAQ about churches of Christ, and the "Searching for the Truth" live broadcast schedule. Facebook carries the same announcements under "Alexander church of Christ," and the YouTube channel hosts the live stream archives and a sermon playlist for each year.
The combination of downloadable handouts, video lessons, and a call-in broadcast has made the church a resource for individual Christians and small congregations well beyond central Arkansas. Listeners call from around the country during the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday broadcasts, and the PowerPoint slides from each sermon are emailed on request. Visitors who arrive at the building at 100 Cornerstone find a congregation whose reach is much larger than its address suggests.
Visiting the Building
Anyone planning a visit can find the church easily. The address is 100 Cornerstone, Alexander, AR 72002, with the main number 501-568-1062. Bible class begins at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, with morning worship at 10:00 a.m., evening worship at 4:00 p.m., and Wednesday Bible class at 7:00 p.m. A sign language interpreter is present at every service. The live "Searching for the Truth" broadcast can be reached by calling the same number during the Monday, Wednesday, or Friday afternoon broadcast at 3:00 p.m. Central, or by joining the YouTube stream. Members of the congregation are glad to provide directions, answer questions, and send along any of the church's tracts or sermon outlines on request.