Questions? We Have Answers.

Visiting a church for the first time comes with a lot of unknowns. Where do I park? What do I wear? What happens to my kids? We would rather you walk in already knowing. Below are the questions guests ask us most, answered plainly. If yours is not here, call us at (813) 988-4350 or send us a message. A real person will get back to you.

Jump to: Planning Your Visit · During the Worship Service · Your Kids · What We Believe · About Our Congregation

Planning Your Visit

When do you meet?

Sunday worship is at 9am. Sunday Bible classes are at 5pm. Wednesday Bible classes are at 7pm. Classes meet for every age, from infants through adults. You are welcome at any of them, and you do not need to come to one before the other. All four adult Bible classes are livestreamed if you would rather start from home. Explore our curriculum, past and ongoing topics, and children and teen Bible classes.

Where are you located?

We meet at 8001 Temple Terrace Highway, Temple Terrace, FL 33637, just off I-75 in the Tampa area and about a mile and a half from Florida College. From downtown Tampa we are roughly fifteen minutes northeast. From USF, about ten minutes southeast. Get directions.

Where do I park, and which door do I use?

When you pull into our lot, make an immediate right and you will see guest parking on your left. Come in through the front doors and greeters will welcome you, hand you a bulletin, and point you toward the auditorium, the classrooms, or the restrooms. You will not have to figure it out alone.

What should I wear?

Come as you are. You will see suits and you will see jeans on the same row, and nobody is counting. Some here see dressing up as a way of giving God their best, and that is worth thinking about. Scripture asks Christians to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9-10), and that is the only thing we would ask of anyone.

Will I be singled out or asked to introduce myself?

No. We will not ask you to stand, raise your hand, wear a visitor badge, or say anything in front of the congregation. Sit wherever you like. People will be glad to meet you before and after the service, but nothing will put you on the spot.

Will you ask me for money?

No. A collection is taken among the members on the first day of the week as part of our worship (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), but guests are not expected to give anything. We will never ask you to contribute, and we will not follow up about it.

Do I need to tell you I am coming?

Not at all. You are welcome to simply show up on Sunday. If you would like us to watch for you, fill out the Plan Your Visit form and we will make sure someone meets you at the door and helps you find your way. Either way works.

During the Worship Service

How long is the worship service?

About 75 minutes. It is simple and focused on Jesus. If you need to step out with a child or leave early, please do so freely. No one will think anything of it.

What actually happens during worship?

We sing, we pray, we read Scripture, we observe the Lord's Supper, and we listen to a sermon from God's word. Members also give as part of worship. That is the pattern the New Testament shows, and we keep it simple on purpose.

Why is the singing a cappella?

We sing with our voices only, without instruments, because singing is what the New Testament specifies for Christian worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), and we do not add to what is written. There is no choir and no praise team. The congregation does the singing. You are welcome to join in or simply listen.

What is the Lord's Supper, and may I take it?

Every Sunday we observe the Lord's Supper, taking unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine in memory of Christ's death, as the Lord instructed and the early church practiced (Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Prepackaged emblems are set out at the entrance to the auditorium from the foyer, and if you wish to partake you can pick up a packet on your way in. It is for baptized believers in Christ. If that is not you, simply sit quietly during that part of the service. Nobody watches, and nobody minds.

Do I need to bring a Bible?

Bring one if you like. If you do not have one, there are Bibles in the pews, and many of the verses are displayed on screen. The preacher will always tell you where he is reading from. Following along in your own Bible is encouraged but never expected.

Can I watch online before I visit?

Yes. The Sunday morning assembly is livestreamed, and so are all four adult Bible classes on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Past sermons are available anytime in our sermon archive. Watching for a few weeks before you visit is a perfectly good way to start.

Your Kids

Is there something for my kids?

Yes. On Sunday morning your children stay with you in the assembly, and we are glad when they do. Bible classes for every age, infants through high school, meet at 5pm on Sunday and 7pm on Wednesday, using Bible stories, songs, and age-appropriate lessons taught straight from Scripture. See what happens in Temple Terrace Kids.

Do my children stay with me during worship?

Yes, and we are glad when they do. Children belong in the assembly, learning to sing, pray, and listen alongside their parents, even when they are mostly coloring. Watching their own family worship God shapes them in a way nothing else does.

What if my baby cries?

Nothing at all happens. This congregation has a lot of young families, and the sound of a baby is the sound of a church with a future. Stay in your seat if you like, or step out for a minute. Nobody is bothered. There is a cry room and a private nursery at the back of the auditorium, both with the service on audio and video, so you will not miss anything.

How do you keep children safe?

Every adult who teaches or helps in a children's class is trained, and our building is monitored during services and classes.