Join us in-person on Sundays at 9 or 10:30 am and online at 10:30 am. Find the Livestream HERE.
THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity, setting it apart from all other religions. As Christians, we follow Jesus, shaping our beliefs and daily practices around His teachings. However, we also recognize that God has given us the entire Bible—not only as a guide for living but as the key to knowing Him personally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
While different Christian churches may hold various distinctions, the Elders at Henderson Hills have outlined the following eight core beliefs that summarize our doctrinal foundation.
THE BIBLE
The Bible refers to the Old and New Testaments, and it is the most amazing, timeless, and important book ever written. Though the Bible had human authors, the Lord superintended the writing process through His Spirit. The Bible's words are God's words, inspired by Him and without error (in the original manuscripts). They are good for teaching, correcting, guiding, and changing us. The Bible alone is our ultimate authority to teach us about God and how to live.
Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 7:24-27; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
GOD
There is one God who has always existed in three persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created the heavens and the earth. He is eternal and unchanging. God is everywhere and in control of everything. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-wise. God works all things for His purposes. He is faithful and perfect. He is also loving, merciful, and just.
God the Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. He has always existed, and when He came to live on earth, He was (and is) both fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to take away our sins, and rose from the dead. Jesus is the mediator between God and people, the only person able to reconcile the two sides.
God the Holy Spirit works to convict us, comfort us, and conform us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit enables us to pray. He still works miracles in people's lives. He gives followers of Christ spiritual gifts to build up the church.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:6; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-4; John 16:7-8; Romans 8:26-28; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5
THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
The spiritual world is not something we can see, but it is just as real as the physical world. God, angels, Satan, and demons are all real beings, and heaven and hell are real places. Angels are spiritual beings who serve God and who help people. Demons are evil spiritual beings who are led by Satan. They are enemies of God, and they try to destroy people.
Nehemiah 9:6; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 9:47; John 14:2-3; Acts 17:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16
SALVATION
Though God created people for His glory and fellowship, Adam and Eve rebelled against Him and disobeyed His command. As a result of their sin, their fellowship with God was broken, and they were cursed with physical and spiritual death. Likewise, their descendants (all of us) are born with that sinful nature. We cannot have a personal relationship with God unless our sinful hearts are restored, and the penalty of death is paid. Because the curse of sin is upon us, God will not accept anything we do as righteous enough for salvation.
However, in His mercy, God made a way to be right with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a sinless life, yet He paid sin's penalty through His sacrifice on the cross. But Jesus did not stay in the grave. He came back to life, thereby defeating our enemy of death. This gift of salvation is free to those who confess and repent from their sin and believe in Christ by faith. As a result of God's grace, we become new spiritual persons, and the goodness of Jesus is placed upon and within us, so that we are completely loved and accepted by God and adopted into His family forever. We now live to share God's good news with others.
John 3:16; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-12; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 4:7-13
BAPTISM
Jesus commanded all believers to be baptized. Baptism is a public demonstration of a believer’s identification with Christ. Being symbolic in nature, there is no saving value in water baptism itself. Baptism follows a believable profession of faith and is performed by immersion in water. It demonstrates a believer’s obedience to Christ’s command.
Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 16:14-15, 32-33; 1 Corinthians 1:16; Mark 1:15; John 3:23; Acts 8:36, 38-39; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38
THE CHURCH
The local church is not a building; the church is God's people. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by continuing the ministries of Jesus. God also established the church to worship Him, to practice baptism and the Lord's Supper, and to love each other. The church is the pillar and support of the truth; and it is the church's responsibility to share Christ with the world.
There are two offices in the church - Elders and Deacons. Under the headship of Christ, the church is to be led by Elders, who are assisted by Deacons, and governed by the congregation. However, every member of the church is a minister of God. We all have the privilege, the responsibility, and the resources to do God's work.
Matthew 28:19-20; John 13:34-35; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:1-15
LIFE
God created human beings immutably as male and female, in His image, for His glory and fellowship. As image-bearers of God, every person has intrinsic value, purpose, and equality. Life is precious at all stages (starting at conception) and should be respected and protected.
By God's design, marriage is between one biological man and one biological woman for life. Children are a gift from God, and they are to be raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Genesis 1:26-27; Galatians 3:27-28; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 6:4; James 2:2-9
LAST THINGS
The earth will not exist in its current form forever. Big changes are coming. Everybody lives forever after they die. Christians will go to heaven to live with God, and non-Christians will go to hell to live forever separated from God. Jesus now sits on a throne in heaven beside God the Father. Although no one knows what day it will be, Jesus will return to earth in power and glory, to judge all people, and to make all things new.
Matthew 24:36; Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:3; Acts 7:55-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Revelation 1:7-8; Revelation 20:11-15
THE BIBLE
The Bible refers to the Old and New Testaments, and it is the most amazing, timeless, and important book ever written. Though the Bible had human authors, the Lord superintended the writing process through His Spirit. The Bible's words are God's words, inspired by Him and without error (in the original manuscripts). They are good for teaching, correcting, guiding, and changing us. The Bible alone is our ultimate authority to teach us about God and how to live.
Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 7:24-27; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
GOD
There is one God who has always existed in three persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created the heavens and the earth. He is eternal and unchanging. God is everywhere and in control of everything. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-wise. God works all things for His purposes. He is faithful and perfect. He is also loving, merciful, and just.
God the Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. He has always existed, and when He came to live on earth, He was (and is) both fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to take away our sins, and rose from the dead. Jesus is the mediator between God and people, the only person able to reconcile the two sides.
God the Holy Spirit works to convict us, comfort us, and conform us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit enables us to pray. He still works miracles in people's lives. He gives followers of Christ spiritual gifts to build up the church.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:6; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-4; John 16:7-8; Romans 8:26-28; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5
THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
The spiritual world is not something we can see, but it is just as real as the physical world. God, angels, Satan, and demons are all real beings, and heaven and hell are real places. Angels are spiritual beings who serve God and who help people. Demons are evil spiritual beings who are led by Satan. They are enemies of God, and they try to destroy people.
Nehemiah 9:6; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 9:47; John 14:2-3; Acts 17:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16
SALVATION
Though God created people for His glory and fellowship, Adam and Eve rebelled against Him and disobeyed His command. As a result of their sin, their fellowship with God was broken, and they were cursed with physical and spiritual death. Likewise, their descendants (all of us) are born with that sinful nature. We cannot have a personal relationship with God unless our sinful hearts are restored, and the penalty of death is paid. Because the curse of sin is upon us, God will not accept anything we do as righteous enough for salvation.
However, in His mercy, God made a way to be right with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a sinless life, yet He paid sin's penalty through His sacrifice on the cross. But Jesus did not stay in the grave. He came back to life, thereby defeating our enemy of death. This gift of salvation is free to those who confess and repent from their sin and believe in Christ by faith. As a result of God's grace, we become new spiritual persons, and the goodness of Jesus is placed upon and within us, so that we are completely loved and accepted by God and adopted into His family forever. We now live to share God's good news with others.
John 3:16; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-12; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 4:7-13
BAPTISM
Jesus commanded all believers to be baptized. Baptism is a public demonstration of a believer’s identification with Christ. Being symbolic in nature, there is no saving value in water baptism itself. Baptism follows a believable profession of faith and is performed by immersion in water. It demonstrates a believer’s obedience to Christ’s command.
Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 16:14-15, 32-33; 1 Corinthians 1:16; Mark 1:15; John 3:23; Acts 8:36, 38-39; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38
THE CHURCH
The local church is not a building; the church is God's people. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by continuing the ministries of Jesus. God also established the church to worship Him, to practice baptism and the Lord's Supper, and to love each other. The church is the pillar and support of the truth; and it is the church's responsibility to share Christ with the world.
There are two offices in the church - Elders and Deacons. Under the headship of Christ, the church is to be led by Elders, who are assisted by Deacons, and governed by the congregation. However, every member of the church is a minister of God. We all have the privilege, the responsibility, and the resources to do God's work.
Matthew 28:19-20; John 13:34-35; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:1-15
LIFE
God created human beings immutably as male and female, in His image, for His glory and fellowship. As image-bearers of God, every person has intrinsic value, purpose, and equality. Life is precious at all stages (starting at conception) and should be respected and protected.
By God's design, marriage is between one biological man and one biological woman for life. Children are a gift from God, and they are to be raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Genesis 1:26-27; Galatians 3:27-28; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 6:4; James 2:2-9
LAST THINGS
The earth will not exist in its current form forever. Big changes are coming. Everybody lives forever after they die. Christians will go to heaven to live with God, and non-Christians will go to hell to live forever separated from God. Jesus now sits on a throne in heaven beside God the Father. Although no one knows what day it will be, Jesus will return to earth in power and glory, to judge all people, and to make all things new.
Matthew 24:36; Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:3; Acts 7:55-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Revelation 1:7-8; Revelation 20:11-15
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all His enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy. To learn more, click here.
POSITIONAL PAPERS
From time to time, the elders will do an intense study on a particular theological subject and record their findings in a position paper. These papers are meant to clarify questions members might have on these issues and state the church's position on such subjects. Click on the links below to read these papers
QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?