Grace Life closed for a period during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but is now open again for services. Please see our services page for our current list of meetings and services.

Grace Life is unique for our area in that there are no other outspoken, representative churches in the Reformed Baptist tradition around us. We are also unique in our expositional preaching, carefully examining even the smallest portions of Scripture, in order, so that nothing may be skipped or left out and all can be explained. In our church, you will find people from all backgrounds, coming together in this unique place to worship God and share in the joys of the Gospel rightly preached.

Expositional preaching has two primary advantages; first, Scripture is explained using logical, grammatical, historical reasoning in a way that is meant to derive the simple meaning of the text, and apply it to our immediate context as New Testament Christians. Second, expositional preaching forces the preacher to examine each verse, unable to skip or explain away difficult passages as would be simple to do with topical preaching. Expositional preaching allows the holy Scriptures to speak for themselves, rather than being manipulated into speaking for the preacher.

At GLBC, we believe that biblical church membership has three prerequisites: salvation, baptism, and vote of confirmation by the church. All people are welcome to visit Grace Life for any length of time before seeking membership. Anyone interested in becoming a member is welcome to approach the elders about membership. Usually, the elders require testimony of salvation and an explanation of the Gospel to be given by people interested in membership. Applicants are also given copies of the church constitution and covenant for review and agreement. Upon approval by the elders, the individuals are presented before the congregation for recommendation to membership, and the congregation votes. In cases where someone seeking membership is not yet baptized, but has a biblical testimony of salvation, the church will usually vote to accept their membership upon baptism which would then be scheduled for a convenient time. Children of families in membership are not considered members until they also give testimony of salvation and are baptized, but can only vote after they turn 18. Baptism administered to an applicant when they were an infant is not recognized by GLBC as biblical baptism, which means applicants who were baptized as infants would need to be properly baptized by immersion, after salvation, before membership can be accepted.

Communion, or The Lord’s Supper, is a special observance of Christ’s death in our stead, and is a true means of sanctifying grace to the believer. At GLBC, we use this observance as a somber time of fellowship and community with one another, reflecting on our covenant together and the responsibility we have for one another’s well being, spiritually and otherwise. Because of these things, Grace Life practices closed communion. By this, we mean that communion at GLBC is offered to members only, though any who feel comfortable are welcome to remain as observers without participating. We came to this decision as a church after much study, and not as an insult to our fellow believers and churches, but as a reminder to ourselves of our covenant and an opportunity to demonstrate the value of church membership. We practice communion on Sunday night, and if one is a member of a church of like faith and gives a proper salvation testimony, having been baptized by immersion after salvation, one may partake of the communion. However, the communion service is directed as a means of grace to the membership of Grace Life and we reserve the right to forbid anyone from partaking of the table.

Baptists became known above all else as a people who saw baptism differently than the rest of the Christian world at the time. We believe that biblical baptism is applied by immersion and only after salvation. We don’t believe this way simply to be different, but because we recognize the biblical image of baptism as illustrative of a vicarious death and resurrection that has only been experienced by the believer. Baptism is a testimony of the washing that has already occurred in the soul by the Holy Spirit; how can one testify of that which he has not experienced? Reformed Baptist theology beautifully demonstrates the contrast between the Old and New Covenants, which ultimately is the difference between Baptists and those who would baptize infants. Many resources on Reformed Baptist theology are available here on our site and at many other resources we offer in the menu above.

Sunday morning is a special time at GLBC. At 9:45, the Adult Care Group and other Sunday School classes gather. Care Group is an opportunity for adults in the church to meet, share in fellowship (often with snacks!), share in our burdens and joys, and discuss the sermon from the previous week. After class, morning service begins at 11. Due to COVID-19, Care Group meetings and Evening Services have been suspended and the Morning Services will start at 10:30am. We begin with announcements, followed by joyful singing. Between songs we have readings, prayer, a catechism lesson, and an offering. The lessons from God’s Word is the most anticipated part of the service, with rich exposition and direct application being offered to our lives from Scripture. Our songs come from many different writers and time periods, and you will find any assortment of instruments on and around our stage. Come join us as we worship our great God!

GLBC is not formally affiliated with any associations at this time, though we do recognize and engage in fellowship with churches of like faith and fundamental practice. Activities and fellowship opportunities for all age groups is a great way to receive edification from other local assemblies.

The position of elder is very important and one not to be taken lightly. The New Testament portrait of church leadership was a plurality of elders (Acts 20:17; James 5:14). Paul called for the “elders of Ephesus” and mentions that “elders were ordained in every city.” When there was a need for theological clarity, the “elders at Jerusalem” were gathered. Secondly, no one man has all the talents and gifts required for the position of elder. Although little instruction is given about how a plurality of elders is to be structured, the scriptures do inform us that elders have been entrusted with the sacred duty of working together to lead the church, protect it from error, and promote its spiritual well-being. In our current structure we have three elders. These men are each gifted in the necessary requirement for teaching, yet they each have other gifts such as music, vision, counseling, administration, and discipleship. This allows for a more balanced and steadfast approach to leadership. Thirdly, a plurality of leaders provides protection to the church and the elders. In a church where there is only one elder, he might take authority that is beyond the limits of position and biblical mandate. A plurality provides not only accountability, but also discipleship. Who does an elder go to when he needs counsel or when his family is struggling? It is a great joy to have a plurality to care for and counsel each other. The other protection is that when a sect within a church would rise up against the elder, it is more difficult to attack a team of leaders than an individual. Many issues in our churches would be stopped by a plurality. You might say the deacon board provides the protection, but there is no biblical mandate for a deacon board, and having one is antithetical to what the office of deacon is biblically responsible for.

You’ve come to the right place. This is a great question, as it is very important to us, and in fact foundational that newcomers experience a welcoming and informative environment that is effective for people at all levels of knowledge in the Christian faith. Our church is made up of people who are new to the Bible and others who’ve been studying the Bible for decades, and our regular practice is to teach verse-by-verse through books of the Bible. During worship services, personal application is intentionally explained from Scripture to be easily understood by all listeners. At 9:45am on Sunday mornings, the Adult Care Group meets to further discuss the previous week’s message in a more informal environment, to ensure we are all learning and understanding the text. Other one on one opportunities can also be available to assist in personal growth as needed/desired. Whether you’re new to the Bible or you’ve been studying it for years, we are confident that the Bible’s inexhaustible truth can be a blessing, encouragement and means of God’s grace in your life.

We encourage everyone to attend, including those who are investigating the Christian faith, and hope that if you are searching for truth, you will be pleased to attend a church that preaches directly from Scripture. It is our intention to avoid personal opinion or doctrines of tradition, and instead explain each text using logical, grammatical, historical reasoning to derive the simple meaning. If you would join us or simply wish to reach out, we cherish the opportunity to discuss the Christian faith with you and answer any questions you may have.

This is a topic that we have spent much time studying as a congregation, and due to the fact that there are many questions/misconceptions on what each position holds to, it is a topic that may be best answered with a more personal discussion. That said, to put it succinctly, we believe that the Bible overwhelmingly identifies men and women as being fallen sons and daughters of Adam, dead in their sins, unwilling to turn from their sin and follow Christ, and justly deserving of the wrath of God. Additionally, we recognize and confess that apart from the regenerating, heart-changing grace of God, no one would ever come to Christ in faith or even desire to come to Christ in faith. The system of doctrine commonly nicknamed “Calvinism” is consistent with the Bible’s teachings on these matters, while Arminianism improperly emphasizes that each man and woman, though sinful, has an inherent ability to come to Christ in faith on their own. Although many Arminians rightly confess that salvation is by grace alone, we believe they do so inconsistently.

While God has blessed his people with many great teachers in the past and present (many of whom we will not know until the age to come), there are many solid, Bible teachers in our present day whom we do recommend. Among them (to name a few) are men such as John MacArthur (Grace to You), John Piper (Desiring God), Steven Lawson, Mark Dever (9Marks), Ligon Duncon, Kevin Deyoung, David Platt, James White (Alpha and Omega), Voddie Baucham, and Paul Washer. Links to many of these ministries are under the Resources menu at the top of our web page, and most if not all of these men have sermons and other resources available on SermonAudio.com.

While we primarily use the English Standard Version (ESV) for corporate worship, we do not mandate one particular translation, ​and we believe there are several viable translations that are appropriate for corporate worship and personal devotions.

To properly answer this question, we must clarify what GLBC holds as key doctrines, or “non-negotiables”. Upon request, interested parties can have access to copies of our church constitution and our covenant. Prior to membership it is required that we review and agree (or covenant) together on these points. Outside of this, you will be comfortable to find that our membership consists of many people at various stages of knowledge and spiritual growth, and we don’t agree on all things either. We do however, enjoy openly discussing and even debating all positions, as this is how we find growth and continue to encourage one another in the faith. While we recognize good men can disagree on certain secondary doctrines, we do not allow for the denial of the key fundamental, orthodox teachings of: The Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit); the deity of Jesus Christ as God the Son incarnate; the virgin birth, perfect life, and resurrected state of Jesus; salvation by repentance and faith alone; the Fall of Man in sin and its passing to all creation; the Bible as the inspired Word of God, preserved for all generations; and the creation of all things by God in six days.

The foundation of any society, including the society of the church, is the family. We believe marriage to be between a man and a woman and as intended to be permanent until separation by death. Any definition of marriage beyond this would violate the purpose of marriage as outlined in Scripture. Marriage was a gift from God to Adam; God saw that Adam would be alone and in need of companionship, and therefore God created a woman for the man. This was not degrading to the woman but is glorious to the woman as she fulfills God’s design for God’s glory. Man is to be respnsible for and in headship over his family; not the government, or the church. At GLBC we will actively and passionately encourage, and even correct, male headship. It is not the churches responsibility to protect, educate, and discipline your family. We do, however, believe the church is ordered by God, and every family is to have membership in a church and submission to the elders of that church. So, while we may offer discipleship ministries for women and children, it is for the support of the man as he leads his home and not to replace it. We strongly impress upon men to “Man Up” and lead their families in obedience to the Scriptures in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.