About Us

Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church plant in Oxford, Ohio that launched on October 5, 2008 by Dr. Tim Eaton.  The name of our church is inspired by the Bereans, mentioned in the book of Acts because of their desire to know Jesus Christ and study God’s Word, the Bible. Berean Bible Church exists to bring glory to God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
Acts 17:10-11 (ESV)

Berean Bible Church is a diverse community of faith that desires to love and serve the city of Oxford, Ohio and the campus of Miami University by sharing our passion about Jesus Christ. We are a “pretty good church” that doesn’t take ourselves too seriously but takes Jesus Christ very seriously. Our weekly gatherings are designed so that people searching for God can find the God who is searching for them. We are young and old, rich and poor, casual and formal, traditional and modern. We invite you to worship with us in a relaxed atmosphere as we sing ancient and modern songs, pray, and hear God’s Word, the Bible.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

What is the mission of Berean Bible Church?

The mission of Berean Bible Church is to bring glory to God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Does Oxford, Ohio need another church?

A fair question. Although our city has many churches, it also has over 27,000 residents and certainly not enough worship spaces for all of them. We believe that God is inviting our friends and neighbors into a relationship with Jesus Christ and we want to provide an additional worship space for our city. Our desire is to create an environment where people of every age group, racial or ethnic group, income, and education level can come together and worship Jesus Christ.

Who is the pastor at Berean Bible Church?

Dr. Tim Eaton, an accounting professor at Miami University, is the pastor and senior leader.

I’m interested in visiting one of your gatherings. What is it like?

Although our worship gathering begins at 10:45 AM, some folks arrive at 10:00 AM to begin brewing coffee.  Most begin arriving around 10:30 AM and socialize over coffee before the gathering begins. We open with a short sharing and prayer time, usually followed by a reading from the scriptures (the Holy Bible). We sing both ancient and modern worship songs for about 15-20 minutes and then listen to a message preached from God’s word, the Bible. We mostly use expository preaching, although we sometimes have a topical message or series of messages.  Expository preaching means that we cover entire books of the bible, verse by verse. In doing so, we obtain a full understanding of what the original author meant. We also avoid the temptation to skip over passages that are challenging or uncomfortable. While being thorough, we also strive to make the Bible understandable.  We generally conclude with some response time of prayer and/or singing and dismiss. The atmosphere is casual and unhurried, and people continue to socialize and network after the formal gathering.

I am a parent. Will my children fit into Berean Bible Church?

Yes.  Even though we are a small church plant, there are currently more children and teens than adults. Children are welcome and currently worship with adults during our weekend gatherings.  We desire to create a family-based culture where families are able to worship together as much as possible, not separately.

Our current meeting space does not currently have a separate space to conduct special children’s activities.  Parents of infants, toddlers, and smaller children will want to bring some quiet activities that their children will enjoy.  We also have complementary coloring books, crayons and snacks.  Older children and teens should bring a bible and participate during our gatherings.

I am a Miami University student. Will I fit in at Berean Bible Church?

Absolutely! Dr. Eaton, our pastor, is a professor at Miami University and he promises not to give exams or assign papers.  We’re thankful that Miami University has so many student ministries.  But our hope is to serve Miami University students by welcoming them into our homes and being an extended family during their college years.  We also hope that Miami University students will find a place to serve the community through a local church, especially students desiring to get their feet wet in church planting.

Is Berean Bible Church part of another movement or denomination?

No. Berean Bible Church is an independent non-denominational church. Our current regular attenders come from a variety of Christian backgrounds.  Affiliating with a group that shares our core values and mission isn’t out of the question, it just isn’t a prime focus at this time.  Whether you’ve grown up as an atheist, agnostic or in a particular faith tradition, we want you to feel welcome at our gatherings.

Would Berean Bible Church describe itself as missional?

Yes. Just as foreign missionaries move to a distant land and immerse themselves in the culture, we believe that we are called to love and serve the city of Oxford, Ohio and Miami University in a culturally relevant way.

Would Berean Bible Church describe itself as part of the emerging church?

Maybe. It depends on your definition of emerging church. To many within the evangelical community, “emerging” is the latest buzz word for “cool, hip church”. The good news of Jesus Christ has always been counter cultural – we’re not sure it’s ever been hip and cool. However, we are passionate about communicating God’s love and mercy (the good news of Jesus Christ) to emerging generations in our community in a way that is deep and moving, yet accessible and understandable.

Do you collect money? How is it spent?

We believe that the regular attenders of Berean Bible Church should support the church financially.  We do not pass an offering plate and we do not pressure newcomers to give money.  However, a collection box is available for those who desire to support Berean Bible Church and its mission.  There are currently no paid staff and minimal expenses. As our finances grow, we will make investments in renovating our space and purchasing audio-visual equipment.

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

You can contact us via e-mail or call the church office at (513) 523-4040.

Tim Eaton, pastor
General Inquiries