I’m New

What to Expect

First Time Visit

New to Grace Church? We are honored that you would consider being our guest. We are a family of local congregations which means we have several campuses throughout the Upstate. The campus pages can help you discover which campus is closest to you. Each campus has exciting programs for children and students. We would love to meet you and worship with you this weekend. Weekly worship includes a variety of elements including preaching, teaching, singing, prayer, stories of life change, baptism, and communion.

Teaching Style

We use a combination of live and video teaching to ensure that we have the same sermon content across our campuses each week. This content is based in the Bible, which we believe to be God’s Word. These sermons come in the form of series, often books of the Bible. You can review prior teaching on our teaching webpage or the Grace Church Teaching App.

Music Style

We sing and worship as a way of celebrating the person and the work of God. He alone is worthy of our praise. We value corporate singing and choose songs that are based in God’s Word but also written in a way that is singable for entire congregations. Our musicians strive to play with excellence and bring a great amount of effort into the songs we sing.

What to Wear

At Grace Church, you will find a variety or preferences in regard to dress. For the most part, our “style” would be referred to as casual.

Kids and Students

Grace Church Kids provides a safe and nurturing environment for your children. We do extensive background checks on our volunteers and have a thorough registration system to ensure that your children are safe and cared for. While they are with us, they will experience the truth of the Bible in a fun, exciting, and practical way.

Age-specific teaching, worship through song, and involvement in small groups are key components in impacting our students’ lives. In addition to weekly programming and small groups, students also have opportunities to participate in retreats, mission trips, and service projects to impact the local community.

Click here to find a campus near you.

Sunday 9:00am & 11:00am
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Sunday 11:15am
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Sunday 9:00am & 10:45am
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Thursday 12:00pm, Saturday 5:00pm, Sunday 9:00am & 11:00am
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Sunday 9:00am & 10:45am
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Sunday 8:45am & 10:30am
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Sunday 9:00am & 11:00am
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Our Mission

Grace Church exists to make mature followers of Jesus Christ by equipping them for a life of spiritual passion that impacts their home, the community, and the world for Jesus Christ.

Discovery

What is Discovery?

Discovery is an orientation to our church that provides you with information about our mission, core values, ministry distinctives, and the benefits of a local church. It is also the starting point for you to connect at Grace Church to groups, volunteer ministry teams, and membership.

Upcoming Classes

Our Vision

Defined by Scripture

At Grace Church, we place a high value on the Scriptures, meaning that we seek to conform our lives to Biblical truth both individually and corporately. We believe that through his Word, God has revealed to us our true identity. Once dead because of our disobedience and sin, we by our very nature used to be subjects of God’s wrath. But in his rich mercy and love for us, God gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:1-5). Now, through faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we live as forgiven and free children of God (Rom. 8:15-17). Though not yet completely freed from sinning, we live now as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) and those who bear the very image of God (Gen. 1:27). Altogether we want to continually affirm that we are who God says we are — the broken and redeemed parts of us alike — and want to always be a people who return to the Scripture to remind ourselves of the identity that we have through our relationship with God through Christ.

Directed by Scripture

Just as Scripture tells us of our identity, we also believe that it gives us clear direction regarding how that identity should shape the way we live. God’s Word is clear: we are not supposed to just listen to God’s Word, but to do what it says (James 1:22). It is through the Scripture that God reveals to us what he wants us to do, how he wants to shape our lives, and how he wants us to respond to his Word. It is our conviction that ultimately hearing God’s Word is meant to go hand-in-hand with response, leading to a changed life. Because of this, we want to be a people who continually come back to the teaching and studying of Scripture, always giving room to respond to the things God has revealed to us. At Grace Church, we want to continually create an environment that encourages ongoing response to the Word of God to bring about lasting, lifelong change.

Our Beliefs

Doctrine is what we believe about the things God has revealed concerning His people, His plan, and His world. Our doctrinal convictions help us understand the overarching storyline of the Bible—creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—and keep it from becoming mere history. In this way, doctrines provide meaning for the present and hope for the future. We believe that these Foundational Doctrines are fundamental to the Christian faith and have been taught and practiced accordingly for over 2,000 years. Agreement on these areas is essential for Grace Church practice and fellowship. These doctrines are not meant to be an end in themselves; these beliefs, revealed to us by God through His holy Scriptures, should lead into the praise of God and the practice of godliness.

Our Core Values

Discipline is a key ingredient for any type of growth, especially spiritual growth. Discipline is difficult to cultivate and even harder to maintain. However, there is one thing that makes the act of becoming disciplined easier. We are disciplined about the things that we are passionate about! As Christians, we should be passionate about reaching our full potential in Christ. How do we go about cultivating a life of spiritual passion? There are many areas of the Christian life that are keys to this pursuit. As a church, we have identified six areas that we believe are foundational to becoming more like Christ and living a healthy and balanced Christian life.

We believe Scripture should be the foundation for our lives as believers. This plays out through Bible-based teaching during our services; however, it is also important that, as believers, we study the Word individually and apply it to our lives daily. In our desire to know God more, we should dive into Scripture, as it is God revealing himself to us through the Bible. However, simply reading the Bible will not change us. We will begin to learn and grow as our lives are changed and guided by the application that comes through the study of his Word.

Prayer is the way in which we talk to God. It is honest, authentic communication with the God of this universe. Our prayer life is an indicator of our dependence on God. It is also a reflection of the intimate relationship between the Creator and his created people. Prayer can be planned and disciplined, spontaneous, or corporate. Although prayer may take different forms depending on our backgrounds, God is most concerned with our attitude in prayer as opposed to the method. Prayer gives us an opportunity to examine our hearts in humbling ourselves before God and realizing our need for Him in every aspect of our lives.

Being connected to our brothers and sisters is an important part of our lives as believers. God does not want us to do life alone, but instead, to have authentic relationships with others in which we share both our struggles and joys. Being a part of a community provides both accountability and encouragement. Although living in community can at times be difficult, risky, and painful, it produces life change and growth. Grace Church helps to promote this value by encouraging all members to be involved in community groups.

Often times people think of ministry as a vocational job, however, all believers should have a ministry-focused life. One of the most significant ways this is played out is through serving in the local church. As a church, Grace has many needs that are filled by volunteers serving. Each member of the church has specific spiritual gifts that help the body to function in unity. It is helpful for us to identify our spiritual gifts and abilities to know how we can best serve the church. When we serve, we allow God to work through us and impact others as well as change ourselves. We look to Jesus as our example of serving, as he served us by freely giving his life.

The world we live in today is consumed with money and materialism. As Christians, we must guard against getting caught up in this worldly pursuit. We must remember that we are simply managers of our resources, not owners. All we have was given to us by God and should be used to honor and give back to him. We must look for ways to strategically give our money and possessions away. Because money is such a powerful, gripping item, our hearts will follow where we put our money.

As believers, we have a responsibility to share the gospel with those who do not know Jesus. Through engaging our neighbors locally, regionally, and globally, we can strategically create relationships that provide opportunities to do so. In loving, helping, and providing for these people, we are also showing God’s love as we care for those in need. We should seek out ways to build relationships and allow God to use us, and work through us, in sharing the good news of Jesus. The goal of outreach and missions is to make disciples of Jesus Christ through relationships that allow opportunities for the Gospel to be shared.

Our Start

After graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1995, Matt Williams felt deeply moved to plant a church. Upon returning to their home state of South Carolina, Matt and Vicki saw the need for a Biblically based church in Greenville, which could equip believers to be mature followers of Jesus Christ able to impact their own communities for the kingdom.

With that vision, Grace Church gathered for the first time in the home of Tom and Allyison Merritt on June 4th, 1995 with only 7 members. After a brief time, it was clear that God intended Grace Church to grow beyond the walls of the Merritt living room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grace Church affiliated with a denomination?

Grace Church is a non-denominational church without affiliation to a larger governing denomination. All decisions affecting the spiritual direction of the church are made by the board of elders. We can be succinctly described as an evangelical church dedicated to accurate teaching and practicing of the Bible.

Who is your senior pastor?

Grace Church believes in the plurality of leadership, and as such all decisions regarding the spiritual direction of the church and major financial and physical decisions are made by the board of elders. The board of elders executes decisions in plurality, meaning that all must agree, or a decision is tabled. Decisions, as they relate to the every day function of the church, are made by the staff leadership in accordance with the spiritual direction set forth by the board of elders. Decisions are not made by vote of the church body, however, input and concerns are always welcome and considered.

Why We Don’t Have a Senior Pastor

How are elders elected and replaced?

There is no set number of elders, and the current board is always praying and considering additional elders as the church continues to grow. New elders are selected by the current board of elders, and the church body has an opportunity, prior to ordination of a new elder, to bring forth reasonable concern or agreement with the qualifications of the proposed elder. Once ordained, an elder remains on the board as long as he has a heart for eldership, effectively fulfills his responsibilities, and adheres to the qualifications of an elder set forth in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

Eldership

Why are there multiple teachers at Grace Church?

Grace Church has a teaching team structure. Matt Williams, Founding Pastor, and Bill White share the majority of the teaching responsibilities. However, there are several others, including Campus Pastors, who teach from time to time based on their spiritual gift in teaching and the subject matter.

Why Multisite?

How do I get into a community group?

The first step to getting involved in Biblical Community is the completion of Discovery. Upon completion of Discovery you can enroll in Foundations. Foundations leading into a group will be the beginning of your group experience. If you have any additional questions please contact us at [email protected].

Can I join Grace Church without my spouse?

Our primary concern at Grace Church is for the spiritual health of our members. When both spouses are followers of Christ, we believe strongly in mutual pursuit of spiritual growth at Grace Church, including husbands who lead their wives and wives who support their husbands in this pursuit. For other circumstances, please contact a pastor at the church office to discuss so we can determine how to best serve you.

Do women fill leadership roles at Grace Church?

Women fill vital ministry roles in the work of God at Grace Church, including Member Care, Women’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry, and Student Ministry. Nearly all Community Groups are led by couples. Our staff also includes many women in roles that oversee and shape our ministries.

Women in Leadership

What is Grace Church's stance on baptism?

We believe that baptism is commanded for followers of Christ, but do not believe that the act of baptism is assurance of salvation in any way. We support a “believer’s baptism”, where a person makes a decision to follow Jesus Christ and publicly professes this through baptism and testimony. We practice baptism by immersion because it is the example given to us in the New Testament. We do not prevent members from observing other forms of baptism, however, we do not practice them in our services.

Baptism

Looking for more?

We have compiled lists of books, papers, and articles on many of these subjects that will help you answer questions, get help, understand Christian beliefs, and live a life of spiritual passion that impacts your home, community, and the world for Jesus Christ.

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