Central to our vision is that in order to live to God's glory we, as God's people, need to know Him. We need to know Him personally - come to faith in Him, and then get to know Him intimately - grow in love and knowledge of Him.
To do this we need to feed on His word, the Bible. We therefore place listening to and learning from His word in a central position in all our activities. We long to be like the Psalmist whose heart hungered to hear from God more than he could hunger from the sweetest parts of a honeycomb.
You will see that our teaching ministries all point to the Bible, which by His Spirit will lead us to hear His voice. We believe God's word when it tells us that the Bible is given for our instruction, for our reproof and for our growth in righteousness.
Jesus taught in many different way - public ministry, life example, small groups, one-to-one, and even while travelling from place to place.
We believe that learning from God's word must follow this pattern - not dependant only on a particular form of teaching, but from many different opportunities. Whilst we give particular emphasis to the preaching of God's word in various meetings, we do not devalue other forms of Bible-Study. Above all, where there are particular individual needs we encourage folk to engage more in appropriate places where teaching will be appropriate for the individual circumstances and need.
We firmly believe that God's people are best equipped, best served, and best strengthened through meeting with God and listening to Him speak through the proclamation of His word. We have what some call an 'expository ministry' - we go through parts of the Bible systematically, seeking to 'expose' the meaning of God's word and apply it to our lives today, as His Spirit enables and reveals.
We firmly believe God's word to be entirely relevant to our daily life, and our only necessary guide to how we should live for God in this world. We also affirm that God's word is far from boring, and so seek to present it in a manner that will engage interest and appeal to our mind, whilst recognising that His word is always revealed by the Spirit to our heart. We come with expectation of hearing God speak, and seek to see a response of God's people to His word.
Our Home Groups are an essential element of the teaching and care of the fellowship, and we strongly encourage every adult in the fellowship to attend a home group. It is here where we get to know one another in a deeper way, encourage one another in the faith, and seek to build each other up as we study God's word together. The prayer time that accompanies the studies is vital in our care for one another and in applying what we have learnt to our lives.
As well as the ministry in church services and learning together in Home Groups, we seek to encourage Bible study using many different opportunities. The following articles contain information on the various other way in which we encourage folk to get into God's word and hear His voice.
God's word is powerful! God uses it to bring people into relationship with Him. He uses it to transform lives. He uses it to bring comfort and peace. He uses it to speak personally to us.
Paul reminded Timothy that "from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (1 Tim 3:15). He reminded Timothy to continue in God's word. And we know that God's word is just as vital for each child of God if we are to grow in Jesus (1 Pet 2:2)
We therefore really encourage everyone in Street Baptist Church to regularly spend time reading God's word and praying each day. It's not something we do as a duty, but because those who are true Christians have been brought into relationship with Jesus, to speak to Him and listen to Him speaking to us is a natural part of our relationship with Him.
In these pages you will find some tips to help you in your personal Bible study and prayer times. We trust that you will find them helpful. We know that you will be greatly blessed as you spend time with God each day!
