Our Story
A community learning to trust and follow Jesus in Bloomington, Indiana.
Who We Are
Maple Grove Christian Church is a cozy congregation in Bloomington, Indiana, where real people are figuring out what it means to follow Jesus together.
We're part of the Restoration Movement—a tradition that goes back to the early 1800s with a simple idea: get back to the basics of what Jesus and the early church actually taught, without all the denominational baggage that divides Christians. That means we focus on Scripture, practice believer's baptism, take communion every week, and believe that unity among Christians matters more than having all the right opinions.
But what really defines us isn't our history or our theology—it's our people. We're teachers and tradespeople, students and retirees, introverts and extroverts, lifelong believers and skeptics-turned-Christians. What we share is a commitment to take Jesus seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.
People often mention our "cozy feel" when they visit. We're not trying to be the biggest church in town—we're trying to be a place where you're known, where your story matters, and where you can ask honest questions without pretense.
What We Believe
Our faith is built on the Bible and centered on Jesus. Here are the core convictions that shape everything we do:
The Bible is our authority
We believe Scripture is God's Word and our guide for faith and life. That's why Pastor Nick teaches verse-by-verse through books of the Bible—because we think God has something specific to say to us today through His Word.
Jesus is the center of everything
Jesus isn't just a good teacher or moral example—He's the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead. Trusting in Him and following Him is what changes everything.
Faith requires both trust and action
Following Jesus means believing He is who He says He is, and then actually living like it matters. We're not saved by our works, but real faith shows up in how we love God and love people.
Baptism and communion matter
We practice baptism by immersion for believers as a public declaration of faith in Jesus. We take communion every Sunday as a regular reminder that Jesus gave His life for us.
Unity is worth pursuing
Christians don't have to agree on everything to be united in Christ. We hold to the essentials of the faith and extend grace on the rest.
Want to talk more about what we believe? Email Pastor Nick—he'd be happy to grab coffee and answer your questions.
If You're Curious About Christianity
Maybe you're not sure what you believe yet. Maybe you have a lot of questions, or you've been hurt by the church before, or you're just intellectually curious about what Christians actually think. Wherever you are, you're welcome here.
We don't expect you to have it all figured out before you walk through the door. Honestly, none of us do. Faith isn't about pretending to have all the answers—it's about being honest with God about where you really are and seeing where He leads.
If you'd like to explore what Christianity is about in a low-pressure setting, here are a few options:
- Come to a Sunday service. You can sit in the back, listen, and leave without talking to anyone if you want. No pressure.
- Email Pastor Nick. He'd be happy to grab coffee, answer questions, or just listen to your story. (pastor@maplegrovechurch.org)
- Check out "Theology for Curious Skeptics." Pastor Nick has a YouTube channel where he talks about faith, doubt, and tough questions in a conversational way. [Link to YouTube channel]
We're not here to argue you into faith or make you feel judged for your questions. We just want to walk alongside you as you explore what it means to trust and follow Jesus.
Meet Pastor Nick
Nick has been the pastor at Maple Grove Christian Church since [year]. He's 47, single, and has a deep love for teaching God's Word in ways that make sense for real life.
Nick's approach to preaching is simple: work through entire books of the Bible, verse by verse, and help people see how ancient Scripture speaks to modern challenges. He's committed to expository preaching—which just means letting the text say what it actually says, rather than making it say what we want it to say.
Outside of church, Nick is a bit of a nerd (think Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, and Batman), enjoys golf when he can find the time, and is working on getting back in shape. He also runs a YouTube channel called "Theology for Curious Skeptics" where he engages honest questions about faith.
If you'd like to talk with Nick—whether you have questions about the church, want to explore faith, or just want to say hello—he'd love to hear from you.
Our Restoration Movement Heritage
Maple Grove is part of the Independent Christian Churches (also called the Restoration Movement), which began in the early 1800s with a simple goal: restore the unity of the church by getting back to what the Bible actually teaches.
The movement was started by people like Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell, who were frustrated by all the denominational divisions among Christians. They asked, "What if we focused on what the New Testament church looked like and tried to practice that today—without all the human traditions that divide us?"
Here's what that means practically:
- We're non-denominational—we don't answer to a larger church hierarchy. Each congregation governs itself with the guidance of elders.
- We prioritize Scripture over tradition—if something's in the Bible, we do it. If it's not, we don't treat it as essential.
- We practice believer's baptism by immersion as the biblical pattern for how people enter into a relationship with Christ.
- We take communion every Sunday because the early church did, and because remembering Jesus' sacrifice regularly keeps us centered on the gospel.
- We believe in unity among Christians—we can disagree on secondary issues and still be brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you want to learn more about the Restoration Movement, Pastor Nick would be happy to talk with you. But honestly, you don't need to know all the history to be part of this church—you just need to be interested in following Jesus.
Want to know more?
We'd love to talk with you. Whether you have questions about what we believe, want to visit on Sunday, or just want to connect, reach out anytime.
Get in Touch