Nashville First Baptist Church

Worship is a core value for First Baptist Nashville because we believe that when our worship honors God, all of our other core values are strengthened. Evangelism and ministry flow out of a life that has learned to worship. Christ-likeness and servant-mindedness are cultivated in the environment of genuine worship. Worship impacts all that we are and all that we do. Worship at First Baptist Nashville is a rich experience, drawing from our collective history as growing followers of Jesus Christ. It is influenced by the architecture of our sanctuary but must always be a faithful expression of the good news of Jesus Christ as the gospel is proclaimed in word and song. We long for the moving of God’s Holy Spirit in worship. Sometimes our services are filled with joyful celebration. At other times we are more contemplative and reflective. The music is eclectic, drawing from many genres and styles, but always selected for the message it conveys and the contribution it provides to the sermon and other elements emphasized in worship. Every member of First Baptist Nashville is encouraged to practice regular times of private worship throughout the week and to be present when the congregation gathers for worship as the body of Christ.

At the core of our church’s being, every member of this congregation must be involved in helping bring someone to Christ. This is why our church exists. It’s our purpose. It’s what we do. Years ago a well-intentioned member shared that our church was a healing place for people who had been hurt in other churches. Someone else said it was a nurturing place where we nurtured the faith of people then sent them out to minister elsewhere. Another voice said FBC is a family church where multiple generations gather. While there may be some truth in all these statements, none of them finds its voice in the New Testament. They are good things, but they are at best some of the bonuses of being faithful, not the objects of our faithfulness. A church is a body of baptized believers who are doing what Christ would do in the community if He were here in person today. Christ would be seeking to save that which is lost. That was His mission two thousand years ago and it needs to be ours today. We are a people on mission introducing Jesus to those who do not know him. Our mission is to be evident in our worship (sermon and song), in our Sunday School (each class is a connecting group where lost people can discover Christ), in our mission commitments (being engaged personally and financially to carry the message of Christ), in our campus (our location and physical plant point people to the Savior), and in all our ministries (everything we do should connect a person to Christ).