New to Springfield Baptist?
What you can expect
Our congregation usually begins arriving around 9:40, and spends time visiting over coffee and a light breakfast or treat. Feel free to come early and join us. The refreshments are free, and we’d enjoy meeting you before service.
Our worship service begins at 10am with a song, followed by Scripture reading and prayer. We then move into a time of worship. After singing a few more songs (a blend of hymns and contemporary songs), our teaching pastor will share a message, normally around 35-45 minutes long. Our preaching is expository, although we do sometimes have a topical series. The important thing is that our services are centered around the Word of God, and not a preacher's agenda.
We welcome children in our worship services. We understand that it's hard for young ones to be quiet and attentive, and we expect them to make a little noise. We do provide a nursery for children under 3 if you would prefer.
We've looked through the Bible, and haven't seen anything about a suit and tie, so we don't make a big deal about how you dress. If you like to wear a suit, you'll find folks here who dress the same way. If you like to wear shorts and a tee shirt, we've got those folks too. The important thing is that you DO wear clothes.
We’re excited you’re thinking of visiting our church and look forward to you coming to worship with us. There’s something a little scary about visiting a new church, and we know it can be tricky to navigate the first time you come here. Feel free to get in touch to find out more and to discover how to make the most of your initial visit for you and your family. We can’t wait to meet you.
The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.
A.W. Tozer
General Statement of Faith
Christ calls sinners out of sin and self, and into fellowship with Him. We believe that this is the unspeakably kind act of our Sovereign God granting faith, which is then exercised, and not the result of our works.
(Eph 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(2 Pet 1:1) - Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ
We believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, and that Scripture alone is the basis Christian faith and practice. We believe that the Scripture consists of the 66 books (39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament) and that the canon of Scripture is closed.
(2 Tim 3:16-17) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
(Rev 22:18-19) I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
We believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, according the Scripture alone.
(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
We believe in the Trinity, which consists of three real persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three are infinite and without beginning and are therefore only one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being. Yet these three are distinguished by several distinctive characteristics and personal relations.
(Matt 28:19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
(2 Cor 13:14) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
We believe that Jesus Christ has saved our souls, and the souls of all Christians from sin, continues to do so, and will ultimately save us when we die or He returns.
(John 10:27-30) “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
We believe Baptism is the first step of public obedience to Jesus Christ for the Christian. We are Baptist by conviction. We do not believe in infant baptism, because we do not find a scriptural support for this practice. Those who are to be baptized are those who have first become disciples. However, we do not exclude those who believe in infant baptism from our fellowship, nor do we have any preoccupation with changing their minds.
(Matt 28:19-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We believe that God calls us out of sin into light for two reasons. First, to conform us to the image of His own Son, and second, that we might share the Gospel with other lost sinners.
(Eph 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(1 John 3:3) And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
(1 Pet 2:9-10) But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
On Pastoral Responsibility
To the end of achieving a healthy church, God has made some men as under-shepherds to minister to His people and encourage them to attend the means of grace He has appointed: Scripture, Prayer, and Fellowship.
We believe that there should be a plurality of pastors who lead the church. No one man should have authority over the entire body, but this responsibility should be shared among men who meet the requirements set forth in 1 Timothy 3. While various pastors will have differing gifts, no pastor is greater than any other. They are equals.
Each pastor or elder's primary responsibility is to faithfully guide the church in obedience to what God has commanded.
As pastors, we should also lead the church in evangelistic endeavors. We should be capable of sharing the Gospel with the lost in a clear and concise way, and training the church to do the same.
As new souls are added to the church, we are blessed with the privilege of baptizing them publicly in obedience to the commandment of Jesus. Baptism is the full immersion of a new Christian into a pool of water accompanied by their statement of faith in Jesus Christ.
Additionally, pastors may at times be called to reprove, rebuke, and firmly exhort those members who are in need of discipline. This is to be done in love, with a view toward restoration, and never in a domineering or authoritative way. Exhortation and rebuke should be done tearfully and not threateningly.
There are those times where the pastor is privileged to officiate weddings. As part of this privilege, we delight in conducting premarital counseling sessions, which are mandatory for any parties which we agree to marry.
Finally, it is sometimes the pastor’s responsibility to officiate the memorials and funerals of those souls which have gone on from this life to the one to come. These occasions can be sorrowful or somewhat joyful, depending on the circumstances, and a pastor ought to be able to discern between the two and conduct himself accordingly.