SUNDAY
Sunday School- 9:15am
Worship- 10:30am
Evening Study- 5:00pm
WEDNESDAY
Adult Bible Study- 6:00pm
TeamKid- 6:00pm
Student Ministry- 6:00pm
SERVICE TIMES
WELCOME FROM FIRST BAPTIST
OUR LOCATION
ABOUT FIRST BAPTIST
THE GOSPEL
Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a particular religion or affirming a certain value system. Being a Christian means you have embraced what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation. Consider the following truths found in the Bible.
GOD IS THE SOVEREIGN CREATOR
Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution. But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Therefore, He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19). That means He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.
GOD IS HOLY
God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3); therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God requires holiness of us as well. First Peter 1:16 says, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
MANKIND IS SINFUL
According to Scripture, everyone is guilty of sin: There is no man who does not sin (1 Kings 8:46). That doesn't mean we're incapable of performing acts of human kindness. But we're utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12).
SIN DEMANDS A PENALTY
God's holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). That's why simply changing our patterns of behavior can't solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
JESUS IS LORD AND SAVIOR
Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Even though God's justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18). Christ's death satisfied the demands of God's justice, and Christ's perfect life satisfied the demands of God's holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26).
THE CHARACTER OF SAVING FAITH
True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), pursue Christ (Matthew 11: 28-30; John 17:3), and obey Him (1 John 2:3). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).
[Originally Posted at https://www.gracechurch.org/about/gospel]
WHAT TO EXPECT IN WORSHIP GATHERINGS
FAMILY WORSHIP
Children are encouraged to join with their parents in worship. We do not offer children's church, but we do offer childcare for children from birth-5 years old.
PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE
The public reading of Scripture is one of the most ancient, time-honored practices of God’s people that is recorded in Scripture. It is a practice that is repeatedly described and commended at crucial moments in redemptive history, from the very beginning to the very end of the Bible. In fact, it is something that God’s people are specifically commanded to do with devotion. As Paul told Timothy, his young pastoral protégé, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Tim. 4:13).1
EXPOSITORY PREACHING
Expository preaching involves the exposition, or comprehensive explanation, of the Scripture; that is, expository preaching presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable. The word exposition is related to the word expose—the expository preacher’s goal is simply to expose the meaning of the Bible, verse by verse.
The expositor approaches the sermon with these foundational assumptions:
1) The Bible is God’s Word. If every word of God is pure and true (Psalm 12:6; 19:9; 119:140), then every word deserves to be examined and understood.
2) Men need divine wisdom in order to understand the Word (1 Corinthians 2:12-16).
3) The preacher is subject to the text, not the other way around. Scripture is the authority, and its message must be presented honestly, apart from personal bias.
4) The preacher’s job is to clarify the text and call for a corresponding response from his hearers. 2
CONGREGATIONAL SINGING
In a spirit of thanksgiving, we are called to address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Therefore, the music in our worship gatherings is focused on the congregation being able to do so. Our song selection seeks to fit within the mold of God-centered, Biblically/Theologically Sound, and Congregationally singable.
PASTORAL PRAYER
The pastor leads our congregation in intentional prayer that God would be glorified in our worship, that His Spirit would lead us to worship in spirit and truth, that He would be with those in our church family who are unable to be with us in corporate worship, and that He would help us to be the hands and feet of Christ.
1Justin Borger, "Don't Forsake the Public Reading of Scripture," https://tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/dont-forsake-the-public-reading-of-scripture/
2 "What is Expository Preaching?" https://www.gotquestions.org/expository-preaching.html
MEMBERSHIP AT FIRST BAPTIST
At First Baptist Church, we welcome new members upon completion of our Membership Class by baptism, transfer of letter, or statement of faith. The Membership Class is offered quarterly or as needed. If you are interested in joining our church family, or simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, simply call the church office at (256) 362-8081 or speak to someone from the Pastoral Staff.