We believe the Bible alone is our authority for faith and life. The statement below outlines the biblical convictions that guide how we teach, worship, and disciple families at Pilgrim.
We believe the original manuscripts of Scripture were given by inspiration of God and without error. The God who gave His Word has also preserved it for His people throughout history.
We believe the King James Bible is God's preserved Word for the English-speaking world - pure, accurate, and complete. Every word is exact and trustworthy. We do not believe it needs correction, revision, or improvement. This Bible serves as our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Faithful, verse-by-verse teaching of Scripture protects believers from man-made traditions, church politics, and empty religion.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Psalm 12:6-7)
We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This triune God created all things and sustains the universe by the word of His power.
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man - conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and without sin. He was crucified for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to heaven. He will return to receive His church and establish His kingdom on earth.
(Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:16-17; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:26-35; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)
We believe salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a gift of God, not earned by human effort or religious works. Salvation comes through repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
We believe in the eternal security of all believers. Those who have trusted Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept secure by God's power until the day of redemption. True believers cannot lose their salvation.
(John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-26; Colossians 3:3-4; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
We believe Jesus Christ is the head of His church, and Scripture alone governs all matters of faith, practice, and church life.
The church is the body of Christ, consisting of all who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation - not baptism, membership, or attendance - makes someone part of the body of Christ.
We believe every born-again believer should gather with a local church - a faithful assembly of believers - to worship, serve, and grow together in obedience to God's Word.
(Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Hebrews 10:24-25)
We believe in the complete separation of church and state. God has established both civil government and the church with distinct purposes and authorities, and neither should control or be controlled by the other.
We believe the church is autonomous under the headship of Jesus Christ alone. Civil government has no authority to dictate doctrine, regulate worship, or interfere with the internal affairs of the church. Likewise, the church exists to preach the gospel and make disciples, not to seek political power or govern civil affairs.
We believe in religious liberty for all people. Faith cannot be compelled by government force, and every individual has the right to worship according to conscience without state interference or persecution.
When civil authorities command what God forbids or forbid what God commands, believers must obey God rather than men. Scripture provides clear precedent: the Hebrew midwives refused Pharaoh's command to kill infants, Daniel's friends would not bow to idols, Daniel continued to pray despite royal decree, and the apostles preached Christ though commanded to stop. Christians today must exercise the same faithful obedience when government contradicts God's Word - doing so respectfully, accepting consequences when necessary, and trusting God's ultimate authority over all earthly powers.
(Matthew 22:21; John 18:36; Exodus 1:15-21; Daniel 3:16-18; 6:10; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
We believe water baptism is a public testimony of salvation, not a means of salvation. Baptism does not save or make someone a member of the body of Christ - only faith in Jesus Christ does that.
We practice believer's baptism by immersion - the baptism of those who have personally trusted Christ as Savior. We do not practice infant baptism, as we believe baptism is an act of obedience that follows salvation, not a means to it.
Every believer should follow Christ in baptism by immersion in water. This act publicly identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 1:13-17)
We believe Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper as an ordinance for His church to observe regularly. The bread and cup are symbols that remind us of Christ's broken body and shed blood for our sins. We observe the Lord's Supper as an act of remembrance and proclamation of His death until He returns.
We practice open communion, welcoming any believer in Jesus Christ to participate. We observe the Lord's Supper on the last Sunday of each month, setting aside dedicated time to remember Christ's sacrifice together.
(Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
We believe in the eternal, conscious existence of all people after death. Those who have received Jesus Christ by faith will spend eternity in the presence of God. Those who reject Christ will spend eternity separated from God in the lake of fire.
Hell is a real place of conscious, eternal punishment. We do not believe in annihilation or a second chance after death.
(Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23)
We believe God is not willing that any should perish, but desires all to come to repentance. Because the gospel is the only hope for the lost, every believer has a responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him.
(2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Our Commitment to Public Evangelism
We believe evangelism is a command for every believer, not a spiritual gift reserved for some. Sharing the gospel is not merely the pastor's job; it is the responsibility and privilege of every member of the body of Christ.
At Pilgrim, we actively engage our community through gospel tract distribution, door-to-door evangelism, open-air preaching, and participation in community events such as fairs, festivals, and parades. We believe the church should go to the lost, not simply wait for them to come to us.
As the Lord provides willing laborers, we desire to expand our outreach through Good News Clubs, nursing home ministry, jail ministry, and ministry to veterans.
(Acts 1:8; 8:4; 20:20-21; Romans 10:14-15)
We believe God created all life in six literal, consecutive 24-hour days, as recorded in Genesis 1-2. The human race is young - approximately 6,000 years old - and man was created directly by God in His image, not through evolutionary processes.
We reject theistic evolution, progressive creation, and any evolutionary explanation for the origin of life. The biblical creation account is historical fact, not myth or allegory, and establishes God's authority over all creation.
(Genesis 1:1-2:7; Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3)
We believe every believer is called to live a life that honors Christ and reflects His holiness. This includes purity in thought, word, and conduct. Christians should be visibly distinct from the world - in how we dress, speak, and what we allow to influence our hearts and minds.
We believe genuine holiness flows from a transformed heart, not from merely following a list of rules. As the Holy Spirit works in believers, they will increasingly desire to separate themselves from worldly entertainment, immodest dress, and cultural influences that contradict Scripture.
We do not believe in forced conformity, but in heart change that produces visible fruit. Biblical preaching on holiness is often dismissed as "legalism," but legalism is trying to earn salvation through works - holiness is the fruit of salvation already received. We believe Scripture consistently calls believers to live visibly different lives.
(Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4; Titus 2:11-14)
We believe music is a gift from God that should be used to honor Him and edify His people. Music is not morally neutral - it carries spiritual and emotional power that can draw hearts toward God or toward the world.
In corporate worship, we use music that is reverent, biblically sound, and focused on congregational participation rather than performance. We emphasize hymns and traditional sacred music because they are rich in doctrine, singable by all, and distinct from worldly entertainment styles. The great hymns of the faith teach biblical truth in memorable ways that benefit every believer - from young children memorizing lyrics to mature saints deepening their theological understanding.
We avoid music that imitates rock culture or is driven by sensual rhythms and performance aesthetics. This includes Christian Rock and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), which often blur the distinction between worship and entertainment, prioritizing emotional experience over biblical substance.
We encourage believers to exercise careful discernment in their personal music choices, asking: Does this honor Christ? Does it edify my soul? Does it draw me closer to God or feed fleshly desires?
(Psalm 33:1-3; Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
CLICK HERE for a curated list of Christ-honoring music resources.
CLICK HERE for choir and special music guidelines.
We believe everything belongs to God, and Christians are stewards of the resources He has entrusted to them. Giving is an act of worship, gratitude, and faith - not a requirement to earn God's favor.
We believe New Testament giving is voluntary, cheerful, and proportional to how God has blessed each believer. We do not teach mandatory tithing, as the tithe was an Old Testament command to Israel. Instead, we encourage believers to give from their firstfruits, to give sacrificially as they are able, and to lay up treasures in heaven through generous support of the gospel.
We believe the local church is the primary recipient of a believer's giving, as it carries out the work of preaching, discipleship, and missions that God has commanded.
How We Receive Giving
We do not pass an offering plate during services. While there is nothing wrong with this practice, we want to avoid causing embarrassment for visitors or creating pressure to give. Giving should flow from a willing heart, not from social expectations.
We do not make emotional appeals for money or send fundraising letters. We trust God to provide for the needs of His church through the faithful, cheerful giving of His people.
We provide an offering box for members and regular attenders to give as the Lord leads. Giving can also be done by mailing a check or giving online.
(Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-8; Philippians 4:14-19)
We believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. This is the blessed hope - when Jesus Christ returns in the air and all believers are caught up to meet Him in the clouds. Our bodies will be resurrected and transformed, and we will be forever with the Lord. Christ does not come to earth at the rapture; He receives His church to Himself.
We believe the rapture and the second coming are two distinct events. After the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel's Seventieth Week), Christ will return to earth visibly with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom. This second coming fulfills God's covenant promises to Israel.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Titus 2:13; John 14:1-3; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; Daniel 9:24-27; Jeremiah 30:7)
For our biblical convictions on marriage, family, gender, and the sanctity of life, please visit the link below:
Serious Teaching. Strong Families. Biblical Authority.
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170 4th Ave. Cookeville, TN 38506
