About Us
Who We Are
We are believers in Jesus Christ—that is, by God’s grace alone we came to realize that we are sinners, deserving of the wrath of God (Rom. 3:23, 6:23). There is nothing we could do to save ourselves, so God in his amazing grace sent his Son Jesus Christ to the earth (Rom. 5:8). He lived a perfect, sinless life and died on the cross to pay for our sins and to be resurrected on the third day for our justification (Rom. 4:25). A believer in Jesus Christ is one who has been born again (Jn. 3:3) and has repented from sin and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Acts 20:21, Eph. 2:8-9). As believers, we now seek to follow Christ according to the Bible as we live out the Great Commandment and Great Commission.
The Great Commandment
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
– Mark 12:30-31
The Great Commission
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:19-20
Because loving God, loving people, and making disciples is at the core of who we are, we believe it is important to define what a disciple is. We have identified six core identities (characteristics) of a disciple.
At Grace Church of Ovilla, a disciple is a:

A disciple is a person who humbly recognizes their need to continually learn from Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

A disciple is a person who seeks to serve others as Christ has served them. In John 13:1-20, Jesus served his disciples by washing their feet—and thereby illustrating what he was about to do for them through his sacrificial death. After he finished, he explained his desire that his disciples would serve others in the same way: “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

A disciple is a person whose giving displays the infinite value of Jesus. We give and share what we have because Jesus is our true and only treasure (Mark 10:17-31).

A disciple is a person who worships God in spirit and in truth. We see this in John 4:1-42, when Jesus meets the woman at the well. There, Jesus invites the woman to true worship regardless of place or personal past.

A disciple is a person who is a committed family member of the local church—the “family” of God (1 Timothy 3:15). Before he died on the cross, Jesus prayed that his disciples would be unified together in him. The goal in this unity is that the world may know that God sent his Son and that we as God’s people may experience his love together.

A disciple is a person who proclaims the gospel. In this, we join in God’s mission to spread his glory to both our neighbors and the nations. In John 20:21 Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

A disciple is a person who humbly recognizes their need to continually learn from Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

A disciple is a person who seeks to serve others as Christ has served them. In John 13:1-20, Jesus served his disciples by washing their feet—and thereby illustrating what he was about to do for them through his sacrificial death. After he finished, he explained his desire that his disciples would serve others in the same way: “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

A disciple is a person whose giving displays the infinite value of Jesus. We give and share what we have because Jesus is our true and only treasure (Mark 10:17-31).

A disciple is a person who worships God in spirit and in truth. We see this in John 4:1-42, when Jesus meets the woman at the well. There, Jesus invites the woman to true worship regardless of place or personal past.

A disciple is a person who is a committed family member of the local church—the “family” of God (1 Timothy 3:15). Before he died on the cross, Jesus prayed that his disciples would be unified together in him. The goal in this unity is that the world may know that God sent his Son and that we as God’s people may experience his love together.

A disciple is a person who proclaims the gospel. In this, we join in God’s mission to spread his glory to both our neighbors and the nations. In John 20:21 Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
What We Believe
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that God has made himself known through the Bible.
The Godhead
We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit—the Three-In-One.
Creation of the World & Man
We believe that God created all things and that he created all people in his image.
Gender & Marriage
We believe that God made gender – male and female – and intends it to be a good, unchangeable, and glorious gift to humanity. We believe that God made marriage to be the life-long union of one man and one woman.
Salvation
We believe that all people have sinned and are sinners both by birth and choice. We believe God redeemed the world through the sacrificial death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. We believe that God is sovereign over salvation and people are responsible to trust in the Savior. We believe that it is only by trusting in Jesus alone that a person can be saved from the guilt and judgment of sin.
Eternal Security
We believe that both the gift of salvation (life with God) and the punishment of sin
(separation from God) are eternal.
Sanctification
We believe that God sanctifies his people through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Responsibility of Believers
We believe that God has called every believer to be a proclaimer of the one true gospel to both our neighbors and the nations. We believe that all we do should be done to glorify God.
The Church
We believe that God is building and governs his global church, and he calls his people to
faithfully gather in the context of a local church.
The Return of Christ
We believe that Christ is coming back and will fully establish his eternal Kingdom on earth.
Grace Church of Ovilla is associated with Founders Ministries, an organization committed to encouraging the recovery of the gospel and the biblical reformation of local churches. To download our full statement of faith or constitution, click below.
What We Do
Grace Church of Ovilla exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ by his grace for his glory.
What We Practice
Doctrinal Distinctives
These distinctives represent what we believe and regularly teach from the pulpit and in our classes, studies, and fellowships. They’re intended to give you a sense of our culture at Grace Church of Ovilla.
God-Centered
“[W]hether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). At GCO, we believe that God made us for His glory, and although we seek to please others for their good, ultimately, we play for the audience of One.
Biblical Inerrancy
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3:16). At GCO, we believe the Bible is divinely inspired, so that when the Bible speaks, the Lord speaks.
Biblical Sufficiency
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence…” (2 Pet. 1:3). At GCO, we believe that the Bible gives us everything we need to know in order to bring God glory, to know Him through faith, and to live our lives pleasing to Him.
Expository Teaching
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt. 4:4). At GCO, we believe that expositional teaching is the best way to understand the Bible—that is, to explain the Word of God to the church, detailing the particular meaning of each verse of Scripture.
Elder-Led
“[P]ut what [remains] into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you…” (Tit. 1:5). At GCO, we believe that the church is to be led by a plurality of biblically qualified men called elders (pastors). Although ultimately under Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd, the elders are to lead and shepherd the church—loving the Lord, the Bible, the gospel, the saints, and the lost.
Reformed
“[T]he pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). At GCO, our doctrine arises out of the Reformation, a direct expression of the doctrinal truth of the New Testament church. Although we do not adhere to all aspects of Reformed teaching (e.g., infant baptism), any diversion lies in our conviction of Scripture (Mk. 16:16, “…believe and be baptized…”). We are happy to stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.
Worship According to the Word
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24). At GCO, we believe that when the church gathers to worship, its worship is to be according to Scripture.
Gospel Centrality
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt. 28:19). At GCO, we believe this command was placed upon all believers for all times. As a fire thrives by burning, so the church thrives by each member proclaiming the gospel to everyone they meet.
Community of the Saints
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). At GCO, we believe the church is called to be the family of God, practicing the ministries of the early church and loving one another. Jn. 13:35 states, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Every-Member Ministry
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…” (Eph. 4:11-12). At GCO, we believe the Body of Christ is equipped for service so that the bulk of the church’s ministry is carried out by its members who love the Lord by serving one another. Additionally, we believe the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to every saint for their good and for the entire church (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4, 1 Pet. 4).
Missions
At Grace Church of Ovilla, we have a heart for missions and spreading the gospel. For more information, check out our Missions page.