Who We Are

Shady Grove Presbyterian Church (SGPC) was founded in 2018 near Jefferson, Texas, as an independent congregation in the Reformed tradition of Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John Gerstner, and R.C. Sproul. As a small congregation we are not affiliated with a particular denomination at this time. It is our desire to carefully consider uniting with a faithful Reformed and Presbyterian denomination whenever that becomes an evident possibility. At the same time, we desire to diligently avoid affiliating with any group which might attempt to influence our congregation in any unbiblical way.

Our pastor, Bailey Cadman, is an honorably retired minister in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

What We Believe

SGPC is a confessional church and we adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. We believe that these documents of the Protestant Reformation are an accurate summary of the doctrines taught in the Bible itself. Though membership in our congregation does not require all those who join to affirm every doctrine expounded in the Westminster Standards, nevertheless, all officers of our congregation (Elders and Deacons), are required to affirm those standards with sincerity and understanding.

We wholeheartedly affirm the five “Solas” of the Protestant Reformation.

Sola Scriptura, “by Scripture alone.”

Since the Bible is the only inspired and inerrant written Word of God, it is our only infallible rule for faith and life. It alone can bind the conscience of believers. See Matthew 4:4 and 2 Timothy 3:16.

Sola Fide, “by faith alone.”

Justification is by faith alone in Jesus Christ. No child of Adam, with the sole exception of Jesus Christ the God-Man, is without sin. Thus no man can or will ever be justified in God’s sight based on his own merit. In justification God freely imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the believer. That righteousness of Christ is the sole ground of the believer’s acceptance by God and the forgiveness of his or her sins. See Romans 5:1 and Galatians 2:16.

Solo Christo, “by Christ alone.”

Jesus Christ is the only Mediator through whose work we are redeemed. There is no other Savior, and there is no other way to eternal life. See John 14:6, John 3:16, and 1 Timothy 2:5.

Sola Gratia, “by grace alone.”

Though the true believer’s faith always issues in works of obedience to God, yet those works are in no way meritorious and in no way secure or add to the believer’s justification. See Romans 2:4 and Ephesians 2:8-10.

Soli Deo Gloria, “to God alone the glory.”

Since salvation is from God alone and has been accomplished by God alone, therefore to Him alone belongs all the credit for our salvation. See Isaiah 42:8 and Colossians 3:17.

Why Presbyterian?

The word “Presbyterian” comes the from the New Testament Greek word presbyterion (1 Timothy 4:14,

where the word is translated “the eldership” in the NKJV), which means the body of Elders. Presbyterian churches are overseen and governed by presbyters or Elders. The Apostle Paul emphasized that there be a group of elders in every church (Titus 1:5, Acts 20:17). Elders are biblically qualified men who have been nominated, trained, examined, elected and ordained to oversee the affairs of the church. The Bible sets out explicit qualifications for Elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

In addition to Elders, it is desirable that every congregation also be served by Deacons. The word deacon means “one who waits on tables.” The first deacons were nominated, approved, and ordained in Acts 6, with the purpose of caring for the material needs of the congregation, thus allowing those with the spiritual oversight of the congregation (the Elders) to better fulfill their role of prayer and the ministry of the Word. The Bible also gives explicit qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:18-13.

How We Worship

As a small congregation, meeting in a farm store building in rural Jefferson, our worship is necessarily somewhat less formal than it might otherwise be. At the same time we know that to worship in spirit and in truth means to come into the special presence of the triune God. And so we come with great reverence, decorum, and humility. Since it is God alone whom we come to worship, it is God alone whom we seek to honor and please during worship. Thus our worship is not entertainment. As it was in the New Testament, as well as throughout the ages in spiritually healthy churches, our worship consists of significant time in prayer, the singing of hymns as well as Psalms (Colossians 3:16), the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, and especially the expository preaching of the Bible.