A church for people who feel church isn’t for them.

Sunday: 9:30AM, 11:00AM
801 Beirne Ave, Huntsville (5-Points)

 

Upcoming events

  • Fall Fest

    October 25th

    Mark your calendars! Immediately following second service, we will have music, talent show, carnival games, a petting zoo, bounce house, hayride, funnel cakes and more! Come hungry for walking tacos and also grab a refreshing "dirty soda". Bring your friends!

  • Next Steps

    Sunday, November 1

    Are you tired of sitting on the sidelines and just doing church? Are you ready to learn more, grow more, serve more? Then Next Steps class is here for you!

    Next Steps is not some boring tutorial, but an exciting overview of how you can join the Essential Church Community! You will hear what we are about, how you can connect, and where you can plug in.

    The class will take place on November 1st immediately following the 11:00 service. Lunch and childcare are provided, but registration is required for adults (for the Next Steps class) and for children 6weeks to 5th grade (for childcare).
    Registration closes on Thursday, October 29th at midnight.

    Register here.

  • Speed Dating

    EYM Tacos and Talent

    October 17th

    Calling all youth in grades 6–12! Essential Church is looking for talent of all kinds—singing, storytelling, comedy, magic, optical illusions, and anything else you can dream up!

    Put together an act and join us on October 17th at 5:30 PM for a night of fun, food, and talent. Invite your friends and family to come cheer you on—and of course, we’ll have tacos!‍ ‍

    Register here.

Click here to see all events

You Belong Here

We don’t care what you wear, how many piercings or tattoos you have, what candidate you voted for or even if you know anything about the Bible. We are a church filled with people just like you with every kind of story imaginable.

It’s dark, it’s loud, and it smells a lot like coffee. We love Jesus.
We love the Bible, and we love our church.

We’re having a ton of fun, but we aren’t just playing around.
We love what we get to do here.

We think you’ll love it too.

 
 
 
 
 

Huntsville

Address
801 Beirne Avenue Northeast
Huntsville, AL 35801

Summer Service Times
Sunday: 9:30am and 11:00am

Learn more
 
 

Last week’s Teaching:
Can You Follow Jesus Without Organized Religion?

 

“I love Jesus, but I don't believe in organized religion.”

It's a statement we hear all the time. And honestly, some people have good reasons for feeling that way. Churches can become bureaucratic, leaders can fail, and religious institutions can sometimes prioritize protecting themselves over loving people.

But here's an important question: Is organized church something Christians invented, or is being part of a church actually God's design?

In this message, Pastor Tim Milner explores what the Bible teaches about the church, why the earliest Christians developed organized communities, and why following Jesus was never intended to be a solo journey.

Through 1 Corinthians 12 and Acts 6, we'll discover that organization isn't necessarily the enemy of authentic Christianity. Sometimes, organization is how love makes sure nobody gets forgotten.

5 Key Takeaways:

  1. Jesus established the church. It's not something denominations, governments, or modern pastors invented.

  2. Organization isn't the enemy of love. Biblical organization helps churches care for people, especially those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

  3. You need the church, and the church needs you. Christianity isn't a religious event you consume. It's a body you belong to.

  4. Healthy caution can become unhealthy cynicism. Sometimes what we call protecting our peace is actually protecting ourselves from people who might challenge us.

  5. The answer to bad organized religion isn't no organization. It's biblical organization. Churches should be structured to love people, make disciples, and accomplish the mission Jesus gave us.

If you've been hurt by a church, become disillusioned with organized religion, or wondered whether you really need to belong to a local church, this message is for you.

Jesus knows every flaw in His church, and He still loves her. He hasn't abandoned her, and He hasn't stopped building her.

If we're going to follow Jesus, we should learn to love what Jesus loves.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:15–27, Acts 6:1–7, Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 5:25

Essential Church | Huntsville, Alabama

A church for people who feel church isn't for them.

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