Who We Are
We are a church on a mission to
glorify and enjoy God as we
gather, grow, and go.
Christ Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit to the glory of God the Father, who love, worship, and live as God commands in His Word. We seek to accomplish this mission by God's grace through the means of prayer, Word, sacrament, and fellowship. Our roots are in the historic ancient biblical Christian faith, while our life and work are present today in Knoxville.
If you are unsure what to think about religion, if you know little about Christianity, or maybe you are cynical towards the church, please allow us the honor of introducing you to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. For Jesus alone forgives, comforts, and gives rest to the weary. If you are skeptical of the Bible and its claims, we welcome you to come, talk, meet Jesus Christ and some of His people here at Christ Church.
What We Believe Are the Biblical Foundations of Our Christian Faith
Scripture Alone
We affirm that the Bible is the only place where one can find God's revealed Word to his people. All knowledge of God, self, others, and creation, rests on the Bible's authority, which is God's Word, completely trustworthy and without error, and directs us in what to believe and what to do. Scripture is our final authority to direct everything we do at Christ Church Presbyterian and in our lives.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Christ Alone
We affirm there is only one way to be made right with God, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone. No other sacrifice will do. No other system of beliefs or religion can compare. The climactic revelation of God's plan for salvation is the person, Jesus Christ. Who assumed human nature, lived a sinless life, obeyed God's law perfectly, suffered, died on the cross, was physically raised on the third day, and ascended into heaven, where He reigns eternally. He performed all of this to accomplish the salvation of His people. There is no other place to go to be made right with God other than Christ alone.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12
Grace Alone
We affirm that it is only by God's grace that sinful people can have any hope of forgiveness and salvation from God. Christians are not "better" than anyone else, and we did nothing to merit our standing before God. Instead, out of God's sheer grace and mercy, he has chosen to love rebellious, sinful, and imperfect people. The Bible teaches that the one true and personal God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Triune God's plan of salvation flows from the Father's gracious will, is accomplished by the substitutionary death of God the Son, and is applied to His children by God the Holy Spirit.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10
Faith Alone
We affirm we are made right before God through faith alone in Jesus. Despite being created in the image of God, all humans have become estranged from God through sin. As good as we may be, we are never good enough to earn God's salvation, which can only be received as a free gift. offered to us through faith. A life is pleasing to God as it is lived in the power of the Holy Spirit as gratitude for the salvation we have received by grace. If we are saved by grace, then surely our status before God cannot be based on our moral performance; otherwise, we would never be able to stand before him. Instead, we simply trust in the perfect righteous life of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death on our behalf.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:1
Glory of God Alone
We affirm the Bible teaches that the one true and personal God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The direction and goal of all that He wills is His own glory. All of God's plans, works, and especially the reason for our salvation bring glory to God alone. He alone is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31
The Larger Church We Are a Part of
Christ Church Presbyterian is a church plant of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Covenant is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
Our church plant is supported through generous prayer and financial partnerships from the following Presbyterian Church in America congregations.
Briarwood PCA in Birmingham, AL
Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, TN
Christ Covenant PCA in Knoxville, TN
Fellowship PCA in Greer, SC
First Presbyterian PCA in Crossville, TN
First Presbyterian PCA in Dillion, SC
First Presbyterian PCA in Jackson, MS
First Presbyterian PCA in Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA
Midway PCA in Powder Springs, GA
Old Peachtree PCA in Duluth, GA
Second Presbyterian PCA in Greenville, SC
Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange, FL
West Hills PCA in Knoxville, TN
Woodruff Road PCA in Simpsonville, SC
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) was formed to be a denomination that is:
“Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission.”
While not the largest Presbyterian denomination in America, the PCA is the largest Bible-believing Presbyterian denomination in the United States of America.
The PCA is an Evangelical, Reformed, and Presbyterian denomination.
Evangelical - By Evangelical, we mean that we emphasize the Gospel (good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ), as well as being a church that affirms historic Christian doctrine and holds to the inerrancy of Scripture.
Reformed - By Reformed, we mean that we are connected to the teachings of the historic church and the doctrinal beliefs recovered during the Protestant Reformation. These doctrinal beliefs are expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. All elders and deacons of the Presbyterian Church in America must personally subscribe to and uphold our confession's teachings.
Presbyterian - By Presbyterian, we are describing our representative form of church government. Local churches are governed by a “Session” of elders (“presbyters”). The members of the congregation elect these elders. Elders from each local church compose a regional “Presbytery” and a national “General Assembly.”
Our Leadership
Our Pastor
John Blevins III
John grew up in a northern suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. In 1999 he moved to Greenville, Tennessee, to attend Tusculum College and play football. At the end of his freshman year, John transferred to Appalachian State University. It was at ASU while living in a fraternity house that the Lord saved John. Shortly after being brought to faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord introduced John to his wife, Taylor. Since then, God has blessed John and Taylor with almost two decades of marriage and three sons. After college, John worked in different jobs, from manual labor to outside sales. Having sensed the call to the gospel ministry, which the church encouraged, John entered Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary over ten years ago. After graduation, John was ordained and installed as the Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 2015. In partnership with several churches, Covenant is planting or establishing Christ Church Presbyterian in the Northwest Knox area of Knoxville.
Along with his regular ministry of prayer, Word, and sacrament, John has served his neighbors in other capacities as well. This includes serving on the board of a crisis pregnancy center, speaking in Knoxville area Christian school chapels, addressing local civic organizations, and coaching youth sports. John has a passion for helping others come to know Jesus Christ and helping Christians grow in their faith. He is always willing to work out time to meet and get to know his neighbors. If you would like to meetup with Pastor John for coffee or a meal to ask questions about the Bible or talk about Jesus email him below.
Pastor John loves spending time with his family, enjoying movie nights, family meals, and lifting weights with his older sons. Along with reading the Bible, theology, and biographies, John is a fan of several science fiction books. These include but are not limited to C. S. Lewis' The Cosmic Trilogy, Frank Herbert's Dune, and Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy. Even though he is a bit of a bookworm, John enjoys meeting and getting to know folks. And, sometimes, the occasional woodworking or home improvement project gets done around the house!
Our Elders
Currently, Christ Church has a temporary session made up of elders from our planting church Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, TN. As Jesus builds His church, He will provide men from within Christ Church with the gifts to serve His people as elders and deacons.
Our Deacons
Currently, Christ Church has a temporary diaconate consisting of deacons from our planting church Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, TN. As Jesus builds His church, He will provide men from within Christ Church with the gifts to serve His people as elders and deacons.
