At Great Oaks you'll be welcomed into a friendly, casual environment by people who are excited to see you!
We want you to have an idea of what to expect when you arrive at Great Oaks. All you have to do from there is come as you are and find out more for yourself!
New Here?
Our Services
Sunday Mornings
9:00 AM & 10:45 AM
What you can expect at a weekend service
Each of our services last about 60-70 minutes. During this time you will hear thought-provoking and engaging messages based on the Bible, experience high-energy worship music, and fun teaching for your kids.
Our Mission
At the heart of Great Oaks is our mission of connecting everyone with Jesus, community, and purpose. Our mission is the foundation of everything we do and teach. It inspires our worship, teaching, ministries, and groups. It motivates our service to our community and the world. It serves as the foundation of everything we are, do and believe. It is our desire to model unity in the essentials, grace in non-essentials, and an openness to grow in all things.
Our History
Great Oaks was planted by Grace Church in Morton, IL in 1997. The goal was to establish a solid, gospel-centered church in an area that was growing rapidly (Peoria’s northeast suburbs). The church started out meeting in schools, but in 2006 we built our current facility at 515 State Route 116 in Germantown Hills. The church has grown steadily over the years and continues to follow God in growing His church deeper.
Our Beliefs
God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He has eternally existed in three co-equal persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He was sent by the Father to live a sinless life on earth, freely laid down His life on a cross and rose again after three days. In doing so, He paid the penalty for our sin, and defeated death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.)
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. The Spirit lives in every Christian giving them spiritual gifts and providing power, understanding, and guidance necessary for living as a follower of Jesus. (II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.)
The entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and without error in the original writings. It is our authority in all matters of faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5.)
All people are created in the image of God to have a relationship with Him. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all people sin by falling short of God’s perfect standard. Sin breaks our relationship with God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2.)
Salvation is God’s free gift to us which we receive by faith. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness and turning from our selfish desires can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1.)
Becoming a follower of Jesus leads to a changed life, which is a lifelong journey of growth and learning in selfless love, humility, service and holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
People will either exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation or eternally separated from God by sin. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelations 20:15; I Corinthians 2:7-9; II Thessalonians 1:9.)
The Church is the community of Christ followers, made up of all who put their faith in Christ. The local church is called to carry the message of hope to the world until Jesus Christ returns to judge the living and the dead. (Ephesians 4:4-6, 15-16; Matthew 25:31)
We believe that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive covenant between one man and one woman and that all sexual activity outside the marriage relationship is immoral and therefore sin. (Genesis. 2:24-25; Exodus 20:14, 17; Leviticus 18:22-23; Matthew 19:4-6, 9; Romans 1:18-31; I Corinthians 6:9-11, 15-20; I Timothy 1:8-11; Jude 7)
