By Ron Wilson, Pastor

One of the first questions I’m asked about our church is, “What denomination are you?” I always answer, “We’re not any denomination.” The reply is usually, “So, you are non-denominational?” In modern times, even that phrase has taken on a denominational flavor. A quote by General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson describes our position very well, “I would like to see no question asked in the way of what denomination a chaplain belongs to, but let the question be, does he preach the gospel.” The point is, we don’t want a label that attracts only certain people and makes the rest feel like they don’t belong. Any person is welcome at TBSC. But more importantly, we believe the Bible teaches against denominational divisions, and we don’t want to do anything to further a man-made division of the body of Christ.

I find it hard to reduce to a few paragraphs the mission of our local church, but I’ll start with our slogan: A Church with a Heart for God’s Word. We love the word of God and want to do all we can to learn it and live by it. God’s Word is the foundation of everything we are. Before we can live for God, we have to know God. Before we can be Jesus’ disciples, we have to know Jesus’ teaching. Before we can be led by the Spirit, we have to be familiar with the Spirit’s leading.

Furthermore, it is this familiarity with God’s word that gives us confidence to share God’s truth with the people around us. Certainly the Spirit empowers us to testify, but He empowers us through the word of God we have hidden in our hearts. When we study the Bible, generally-believed concepts become life-defining convictions that are clearly understood and easy to explain.

The founders of TBSC shared a common love for home-based Bible study. That is what influenced our name, our family atmosphere, and the homey design of our building. We have found Bible study to be the foundation of relationship building and body unity. Digging into the Scriptures together forms a common bond that is unlike any other. I think it is because when you look at the Scripture for what it says, people are truly humbled. Our sinful nature becomes clear. We each realize how desperately we need a Redeemer and how hopeless we are without the Father’s unconditional love, Jesus’ redemption through His blood, and the Spirit’s daily counsel. It simply puts everyone on a level field so we can get to the duty of loving one another as Christ loves us.

Specifically, we do what we do to worship and glorify God, to learn His precepts so we can live by them, to promote love and unity among all believers, to take the gospel of Jesus to the world, and to prepare believers for this lifestyle through discipleship.

Discipleship is most effective when it is carried out in the context of the family. Therefore, we are deeply committed to strengthening the family and being family oriented. It is no surprise that Satan has always tried to destroy the family and continues through the specific and methodical attacks of our secular-humanistic society.

Beginning in Genesis, the Bible demonstrates that the knowledge of God and the gospel of His Son is passed to generations through the means of the family. The Bible also teaches that children are most effectively educated in the Lord by their godly parents. Thus, we strive to make parents aware of this responsibility and equip them to accomplish this task.

We believe it is God’s divine order that parents will direct their children’s belief system either to honor God or to dishonor God. Thus, as fathers it is our goal to be and train men to be Noahs, who, “being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household.”

We also train men to be leaders in the Church. Yet, this leadership is learned through leadership of the home. We strive to equip men to be servant-leaders of their homes, to be husbands who love their wives as Christ loves the Church, and to raise children who are delightful before God and man.

We proclaim the nobility and glory of biblical womanhood and motherhood according to such Scriptures as Titus 2 and Proverbs 31. We protect and defend the honor of all women and nurture wives to fill the esteemed role as the completer of their husbands.

At TBSC our goal is to follow Paul’s example in Colossians 1.28: “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.” This completeness for all members of the family will restore biblical family structure and values. Being complete in Christ will enable believers of all ages to live devoted to God. Being complete in Christ, we will truly desire to fulfill Jesus’ great commission, influencing our culture and our world for generations to come.

The Bible Study Center was founded in 1997, in Blanchard, Oklahoma. If you would like to know more about our worship gatherings, missions efforts, service projects and other forms of TBSC body-life, choose any of the links found at the top of  this page and in the information window on the right.