Coral Gables Baptist Church sits on Granada Boulevard in the heart of Coral Gables, a short walk from the University of Miami and surrounded by the international community of Miami-Dade County. Its tagline, "a church that feels like home," is the simplest summary of who the church is. Members describe themselves as a traditional, multi-generational, and international congregation that seeks to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of Jesus Christ and being Gospel-centered in everything they do. The church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Sundays on Granada Boulevard
Sunday is the rhythm of the week at Coral Gables Baptist Church. Sunday Bible Study meets at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. Both take place in the church's sanctuary on Granada Boulevard. The morning is built around two commitments: digging into Scripture in smaller settings and then gathering the whole church family for worship that is at once traditional and accessible.
Visitors are welcomed warmly and invited to come as they are. The church describes itself as a place "wherever you are in life's journey" and frames each Sunday as an opportunity to be encouraged alongside the rest of the family.
Tuesday Nights with Pastor Rick
In addition to the Sunday Bible study hour, the church gathers every Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the CGBC Sanctuary for a Bible study led by Dr. Rick Vair, who goes by Pastor Rick. Pastor Rick presents on the current teaching series and also answers general questions about the Bible, biblical history, and the history of the church. The Tuesday night study has long been a mainstay of the congregation's life together.
For those who cannot attend in person, the Tuesday Bible study is also available virtually through Google Meet. Participation online requires a one-time registration so participants can receive the meeting link and an optional email reminder. Even those joining from home are invited to send in questions ahead of time for Pastor Rick to address in an upcoming study.
Worship That Ranges from Hymns to Modern Songs, in a Traditional Setting
The worship service on Sunday morning features music that ranges from timeless hymns to contemporary classics, all presented in a traditional setting. The music ministry aims to glorify God, lift up the name of Jesus, and edify the congregation. Its emphasis is on sound doctrine and theology in the texts rather than on entertainment value, which gives the music a thoughtful, teaching-oriented character rather than a concert feel.
Volunteers from the music and tech teams work together each week to run microphones, accompaniment tracks, on-screen song lyrics, and sermon notes, and to record and edit the service for later listening.
A Teaching Church: Sermon Series from the Bible
Coral Gables Baptist is, at heart, a teaching church. Past sermon series walk straight through books of the Bible and through major doctrines of the Christian faith. Recent and archived series include studies on the Sermon on the Mount, the Book of Revelation, the Book of Acts, the Sermon on the Mount, the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Second Coming of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, and themes such as Election, Forgiveness, the Power of Prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, the Birth of Jesus, the Cosmic Delusion, the Invisible World Behind the Visible World, and Hard Sayings of Jesus.
Many of these series run for many weeks: the Holy Spirit series in 2020 stretched across sixteen parts, and the Book of Revelation walk-through in the same year ran to twenty parts. Sermon messages are posted on the church's YouTube channel and organized by year so listeners can return to a particular teaching.
Children, Hospitality, and the Volunteer Team
The life of the church on Sundays is supported by a wide team of volunteers. The Children's Ministry welcomes leaders who want to teach Sunday Bible lessons, organize activities for kids, and provide childcare during the service so parents can focus on the morning.
The Hospitality team welcomes visitors, assists newcomers, assembles the worship folders, prepares the sanctuary and entrance area, and helps clean up after the service. Behind the scenes, volunteers operate the dual screen displays, run the sound equipment with the Minister of Music, manage video presentations, photograph the church and special events, create graphics for online materials, presentations, and printed material, and support social and email marketing. A volunteer form available from the church allows members and regular attenders to indicate where they would like to serve.
Supported Ministries and Mission Partners
Coral Gables Baptist Church supports several ministries outside its own walls through prayer, giving, and service. These include the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions, the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, the International Mission Board, and Samaritan's Purse. The church also regularly lifts up prayer requests from its members and the wider community through a prayer form available from the church.
What the Church Believes
Coral Gables Baptist Church exists to provide a Bible-based, Christ-centered place of worship so that people will come to know Jesus Christ. Its teaching ministry centers on the Bible, the person and work of Christ, and the historic Christian doctrines that flow from them. As a member congregation of the Southern Baptist Convention, the church identifies with the broader Baptist family of churches and the cooperative mission work that comes with it.
Joining the Church Family
First-time visitors will find Sunday Bible Study at 9:30 a.m. and the Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary at 5501 Granada Boulevard in Coral Gables. Those who want to go deeper can add the Tuesday night Bible study at 7:30 p.m. either in person or virtually through Google Meet. Sermon recordings and recent series are available any time on the church's YouTube channel. Anyone who wants to serve, in areas such as children, hospitality, music, tech, graphics, or marketing, can fill out a volunteer form, and prayer requests can be submitted through the church's prayer page.