Word of Truth Baptist Church
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth 2 Timothy 2:15
welcome
Please take some time to browse around our website. We hope that the contents will help you in your search for the truth.
If you are looking for a church where you will be encouraged to "worship the Father [God] in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23) we invite you to attend our worship services. If you are not sure you have a genuine saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:16), please read the message on the Salvation page.
We have purposefully chosen the name Word of Truth Baptist Church to clearly identify who we are and why we exist.
word of truth
The name and focus of our church is taken from 2 Timothy 2:15.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The "word of truth" spoken of in this verse is God's Word, or as most commonly referred to, the Bible.In the context of this letter written to a pastor [2 Timothy], the Holy Spirit directed Paul to instruct that only by "rightly dividing the word of truth" could one be assured of being "approved unto God" and "not be ashamed." The term "rightly dividing" specifies the responsibility of handling God's "word of truth" in a precise, accurate, and right manner. This instruction to a pastor is applicable to every believer and is the objective of Word of Truth Baptist Church.
The emphasis in every worship service is the preaching and teaching of the "word of truth." Although we recognize there is a place for topical preaching and teaching, we believe that in-depth expositional preaching/teaching through the books and doctrines of the Bible is the most conducive to the spiritual growth of every "body of Christ."Ephesians 4:11-15 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"Those who serve in our preaching/teaching ministry follow the example recorded in Nehemiah 8:8."So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."We encourage you to find and utilize these audio and print resources on the Sermons & Studies page of our website.
Baptist
Word of Truth is a Baptist church. We identify with those down through history whose doctrine and practice have set them apart as distinctive from other groups within "Christianity." A primary distinguishing point has been the insistence of following the New Testament doctrine/practice of baptizing only those who have a Biblical testimony of salvation, or "Believer's Baptism."
Historically, the scornful term originally given to these groups of baptized believers by their opponents was "Anabaptists" ["rebaptizers"]. From that term of disdain came the shortened identifier "Baptists." We unashamedly claim this name.
Additionally, we are unaffiliated with and independent from any denominational or associational control, with the Lord Jesus Christ as our "Head" (Colossians 2:19). We also believe that all the doctrines of the Bible are essential and prefer to be identified as "Biblicists" rather than limiting ourselves by associating with the movement known as "Fundamentalism."
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. " Matthew 28:19-20
Church
Word of Truth is a Baptist Church. We are a group of believers whom God has called out of the world in salvation (John 15:19), who have subsequently demonstrated our faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through baptism (Romans 6:1-5), who have been set by God as members into a body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), and who assemble regularly as a "church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15) for mutual worship, instruction in the Word of God, and fellowship. Word of Truth Baptist Church is not a place to attend, it is a "body" (Colossians 3:15) and a "house" [household/family] (1 Timothy 3:15) in which to belong.
As such, we are both authorized by God and responsible to God to obey His mandate [Great Commission] to evangelize the lost with the "gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:8), baptize those who are converted through "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21), and then continue an ongoing discipleship ministry of "teaching them" (Matthew 28:18-20) the "word of truth." While our primary focus is White Bluff, Tennessee, we also support those of like faith and practice who are doing the same in locations throughout the world (Acts 1:8).