Grandville Baptist Church sits on 40th Street SW near Wilson Avenue in Grandville, Michigan, a small city just southwest of Grand Rapids. The congregation describes itself as "an intergenerational authentic community learning and living the Gospel of Jesus for the sake of others and the glory of God," and everything from its Sunday schedule to its weekday small groups is built around that single purpose.
Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known
The church's stated mission is "knowing Jesus and making Him known." That mission is pursued through four discipleship focuses that shape every ministry at GBC: Worship, Fellowship, Service, and Witness.
Worship is the weekly gathering of the church body. Members believe that rehearsing the truth of the gospel every Sunday through preaching, singing, praying, and celebrating the ordinances of communion and baptism is the fuel for living out the Christian faith throughout the week.
Fellowship is more than attending events together. The Bible describes believers as members of one body, so the church intentionally enters into one another's lives, studies God's Word together, prays together, and cares for one another. The structured way this happens is the Sunday School and Discipleship Hour that meets right after the morning service.
Service is described as a natural overflow of a growing faith. The congregation looks to Jesus' example of humbly washing His disciples' feet and to His command to "do as I have done to you," and every member is encouraged to find at least one area of service in the life of the church.
Witness flows from the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Members are encouraged and equipped to share the good news of the gospel, both inside the church family and out in the broader Grandville community.
Sunday Mornings on 40th Street
Sunday is the anchor of the week. The morning worship service begins at 9:30 AM and is offered both in person and online. The worship team leads the congregation in songs, followed by a time of prayer and Christ-centered preaching from the Word of God. Throughout the service, the church aims to lift up four truths: that God is supremely worthy of worship, that sin and brokenness are real, that Jesus Christ's sacrifice is the glorious remedy, and that salvation calls for a personal response.
The musical style varies from week to week. The worship team uses a variety of music styles, instruments, and musicians, so the sound of a given Sunday can differ from the last.
First-time visitors are told to come as they are. Some attenders wear their Sunday best, others dress in business casual, and many arrive in jeans or shorts. The aim is a comfortable, Christ-centered gathering rather than a dress code.
At 10:45 AM, the Discipleship Hour begins. This Sunday school time runs until about 11:45 AM and is the structured place where the church's "Fellowship" focus is put into practice through classes for all ages.
Kids at GBC
Children are welcomed from the nursery stage through the elementary years.
The nursery is available during the 9:30 AM worship service for children up to two years old. Children from age two through second grade begin the service with their families in the sanctuary and are then dismissed to Kids Service Time, an age-appropriate portion of the morning designed just for them.
When the service ends at 10:45 AM, kids from age two through second grade move into Kids Discipleship Hour, which runs until 11:45 AM.
Safety is taken seriously. Check-in for all Sunday morning children's ministries uses the KidCheck child check-in system, which means no one can pick up a child without the parent's consent. Parents can register online ahead of time for a smoother experience on Sunday morning.
Students in Grades 7 Through 12
Middle-schoolers and high-schoolers have their own gathering. The youth group meets on select Sunday evenings for students in seventh through twelfth grade. Evenings include games, worship, and a time of studying God's Word together.
Adult Discipleship and the Thursday Bible Study
The Discipleship Hour after the Sunday service is the backbone of adult fellowship at Grandville Baptist. Classes are offered for all ages and are described as a valued time of prayer, study, discussion, care, and fellowship. The goal is to grow, challenge, and encourage one another in the Christian faith and walk out the gospel together.
For those who want a deeper weekday study, the Morning Bible Study meets every Thursday at 10:00 AM at the church. It is a dedicated group committed to in-depth study of God's Word, building up and encouraging one another in spiritual growth.
Men's and Women's Prayer Gatherings
Prayer is woven into the life of the church beyond Sunday morning.
Women meet for a Women's Prayer Group each Tuesday at 9:30 AM in the conference room, gathering for corporate prayer.
Men gather for a Men's Prayer Breakfast each Tuesday at 7:30 AM. The men come together in prayer over breakfast, supporting one another in their walks with Christ.
Preaching and Teaching
The teaching ministry at Grandville Baptist Church works through books of the Bible and through topical series. Recent preaching has included a six-part walk through Romans under the heading "The Impact of the Gospel," a three-part study on "The Heart of Paul," a four-part series on "God's Design for Church Leadership," studies in the Pastoral Epistles of Titus and 2 Timothy, an extended look at the Psalms, and seasonal series around Christmas and Easter. The Lord's Supper is observed as one of the two ordinances the church celebrates, along with baptism.
Sermons are livestreamed through the church's Facebook page and posted to Vimeo, so members who are traveling, sick, or otherwise unable to attend in person can still keep up with the teaching.
RightNow Media and Online Giving
The church makes a large library of Bible study videos, teaching series, and family-friendly content available through RightNow Media. Anyone connected with the church can sign up for free access.
Online giving is available as well, with both one-time and recurring gift options. Members can give as a guest or set up a profile for regular support of the church's ministry and outreach.
Getting to the Church and Getting in Touch
Grandville Baptist Church is located at 4325 40th Street SW in Grandville, just off the intersection of 40th and Wilson. The church office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to noon, and can be reached at (616) 534-8681 or by email at gbc@grandvillebaptist.org.