VISION
We are a church who wants to make a difference in our community.
We desire to see lives changed by the gospel.
The vision of Oak Grove Baptist Church is to keep the Gospel central in everything. In the words of the Apostle Paul, we believe that the Gospel is of “first importance.” We should base our lives and ministries around it.
For I delivered to you as of first importance
what I also received: that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Cor. 15:3-4
Our message is straightforward. For we believe that the hope for our community and the nations is the Gospel. We believe that it is the “power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” We want to saturate the community and the world with the good news by proclaiming it with clarity and love, and by practicing good deeds that glorify Jesus. We desire to be a blessing to the community and to the nations with our actions and our words.
We believe this emphasis on the simplicity and power of the Gospel will also help us be unified. We can agree to disagree over matters that are not of first importance. But on the Gospel, we will be together. We refuse to argue over trivial matters because of the urgency of getting the Gospel to the nations.
In creation, God created humanity in his image. But sin entered the world and now all people have fallen short of their purpose as God’s image bearers: to glorify God. We believe that God sent Christ to redeem us; that is to rescue us from our sin by dying in our place. Now God is at work transforming his redeemed into the image of Christ, who glorify Him. We believe that we will one day gather with every tribe and tongue to glorify Jesus in the new heavens and new earth, or the new creation forever. This is the story of the Bible. This is the story of the Gospel. This is the story we want for Oak Grove Baptist Church and our community.
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals, for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed people
for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Revelation 5:9
We are committed to keeping our ministry simple. We will avoid offering numerous programs and keep our focus on a few simple (but great) things. We will meet weekly for worship to know Christ and exalt Him, we will participate in opportunities within our community to spread the Gospel and also opportunities to grow our own faith. Where called we will give and serve locally and where called we will give and serve globally.
Our Beliefs
WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD
We believe in God who is eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit—each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity.
WE BELIEVE IN JESUS
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the trinity, who was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is fully God, but became fully man to save a lost world. We believe that he was crucified and three days later rose from the grave. He ascended into heaven, and will one day return again.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the eternal third person of the Trinity, who permanently indwells every believer upon his or her faith in Jesus Christ.
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error, and is the final authority of faith and practice.
WE BELIEVE IN GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE CHURCH
We believe the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and making Him known to a lost world.
WE BELIEVE WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
We believe humanity is made in the image of God. Although God designed us to have fellowship with Him, we became alienated from God through disobedience. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and choose to sin against God. We are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts.
WE BELIEVE IN ETERNITY
We believe that forever is spent in one of two places: eternally separated from God because of sin or in union with God because of His forgiveness and salvation. When you die, you will either spend eternity in heaven or hell. Eternal separation from God happens in hell. Eternal union with God occurs in heaven.
WE BELIEVE IN SALVATION
We believe that Salvation is God’s gift to you if you’ll accept it. We can never make up for our sin with self-improvement or good works. It is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness that you can be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment you receive Jesus Christ into your life by faith.
Acknowledgement to churches below for their well worded statements of faith that provided source material
Imago Dei Church Raleigh, NC.
New Vision Baptist Church Murfreesboro, TN