Your first Sunday at Grace Bible Baptist Church

Walking into a church for the first time is a small thing that can feel big. You may not know where to sit, what happens first, or whether anyone will speak to you. This page is for anyone who has been thinking about visiting Grace Bible Baptist Church at 2646 Jefferson Ave in Knoxville and would like to know what a Sunday holds before coming.

Come as you are

Our welcome is short, and we mean every word of it: no matter who you are or where you're from, we invite you to come as you are. You do not need to know the songs, the books of the Bible, or anyone in the room. Our congregation is diverse, and we want this to be a loving and caring place for people of all ethnic groups. If all you can manage this time is to find a seat and listen, that is a fine way to begin.

People visit churches for many reasons: a move to Knoxville, a hard season, a friend's invitation, or plain curiosity. Any of those is reason enough to come, and you do not owe us an explanation for yours.

The Sunday times

These are the Sunday times we post, exactly as we keep them:

• Sunday School at 10:00 A.M.
• Morning Worship at 11:00 A.M.
• Evening Bible Training Union at 6:30 P.M.
• Evening Worship at 7:00 P.M.

If you are visiting for the first time, Morning Worship at 11:00 A.M. is a fine place to begin, and you are welcome at any of the others as well. If mornings are difficult for you, Evening Worship at 7:00 P.M. gives you another way in. Nobody is keeping score of which service you chose, and you can try a different one next time. The other Sunday times are there for you to use as they suit your week.

What a service holds

We describe our services as uplifting praise and worship, warm and friendly fellowship, and a message from Pastor Robert Barnett that is compelling, Biblical, and applicable to our lives. Praise and worship is the singing and the gathering of God's people in the sanctuary. Fellowship is the plain business of people greeting one another, and we hope that includes you. The message is the preaching of the Bible. Pastor Barnett has put it this way: we make no apology for strong preaching, sound doctrine, and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

We would rather you see it for yourself than read a script about it. If you are curious how we think about the Bible we preach from, our article on why we preach from the King James Bible is a good next read.

Finding the church

We are at 2646 Jefferson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914, on Jefferson Avenue in East Knoxville. If you would like to ask something before you come, call the church at (865) 637-8954 or send a message from our Contact page. The Services page lists every weekly gathering, not only Sunday, and the About page tells you more about the church family and about Pastor Barnett.

If you miss a week

Missed a Sunday? Don't worry. Our previous messages are on our YouTube channel, and the Sermons page on this site is a good place to start. Some people like to hear a message or two before they visit, and that is a perfectly sensible way to get to know a church. If you cannot make it in person, you can still hear what is preached here.

Asking for prayer

If something heavy is on your mind, you do not have to wait for Sunday. Call the church at (865) 637-8954, or write to us on the Contact page and tell us what you would like prayer for. We would count it a privilege to pray with you, whether or not you have ever set foot in our building.

The rest of the week

Sunday is not the only time we gather. We post Wednesday Evening at 7:30 P.M., Thursday Soul Winning at 7:00 P.M., and a Saturday Prayer Meeting at 10:00 A.M. On Saturdays we also hold a Bus Meeting at 10:30 A.M. and Bus Visitation at 11:00 A.M. You are welcome to start with a single Sunday and see how it feels before you decide anything else.

We hope to see you on Jefferson Avenue. Come as you are, and bring a question if you have one.