The Ten Principles of Ministry
1. The Bible is our authority.
We see the Bible as the authority for determining our purpose
and structure.
Psalm 1:2;
Psalm 119:11, 72, 105, 130, & 140; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 29:18;
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21
2. Methods
are not to be confused with purpose.
We
recognize that our God-given purpose will never change. it is our understanding
that methods must change as the needs of people do.
Matthew 9:27-30;
Matthew 20:28; Mark 8:22-23; Luke 19:10; John 6:38; John 9:1-7
3. The
spiritual needs of believers and seekers differ vastly.
Those
who have a personal relationship with God need to worship God and be taught
Biblical truths. Those who are seeking a relationship with God need a
trustworthy and safe place to investigate the claims of Christ. We are
committed to strive for excellence in developing ministries that are sensitive
to the needs of both.
Our Sunday
morning worship services are seeker-sensitive, communicating the claims
of Christ through word, music, drama, and other innovative means.
Our Sunday
evening and Wednesday evening worship services focus on leading believers
to worship God and to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Seekers: 1 Corinthians 14:22-25; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; Colossians 4:2-6;
1 Corinthians 9:22-23
Believers: Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians
4:11-12; Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 1:24; Colossians 4:12; 1 Timothy
2:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:6, 13, & 16; 2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:16; James
1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10
4. Trusting
Christ is a process that is most effectively facilitated through friendships
with believers.
Salvation
is the result of repentance and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. In
a practical way, the Lord often uses believers to lead their friends to
Christ. As a result, Henderson Hills is committed to "relational-process"
driven evangelism rather than majoring on "program-driven" evangelism.
Matthew 5:29-30;
John 1:40-48; John 12:20-22; John 16:23-31; Acts 1:8; Acts 18:2-4; Romans
9:1-3; Colossians 4:5-6
5. Every
believer is a minister, gifted by God for the benifit of the Body of Christ.
Every
beliver receives spiritual gifts at the time of salvation. Through these
gifts, believers find fulfillment and effectiveness in serving Christ.
Therefore, we are dedicated to assisting believers in discovering, developing,
and demonstrating their gifts. We are also committed to a church organization
built on spiritual gifts.
Romans 12;
1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4
6. Ministry
is a reflection of our love for God and therefore should be done with
excellence.
Romans
12:2; 1 Corinthians 12:31; Philipians 1:9-10; Philipians 4:8-9; Colossians
1:10-12; 2 Timothy 2:15, 21
7. Christian
character, attitudes, love and integrity are of ultimate value in all
that we do.
Proverbs
10:9; Proverbs 11:3; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Philipians
1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11, 15; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:12; 2 Timothy
2:21
8. Changed
lives is our "business".
The
truths of the Bible, ministered in grace, within the fellowship of believers,
produces changed lives. For lives to be changed, all three elements are
necessary. We must always ask ourselves, "How is 'business'?"
Romans 12:1-2;
2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:16
9. Helping
people improve their relationship with God is a more urgent need than
confronting their actions.
Our
focus is to affect change from the inside out, not from the outside in.
Society is best changed by changed people.
Luke 19:1-9;
John 8:1-11; John 12:1-11
10. The
church's priority to equip believers for ministry is accomplished through
the exegetical preaching and teaching of the Bible.
"Exegetical"
refers to taking the principles, precepts and truths we believe directly
from the actual words of a passage of Scripture.
An approach to preaching and teaching, in which we draw our beliefs directly
from the words of Scripture, is used in an unparalleled way to win the
lost and disciple the saved. We place our emphasis on Scripture being
the tool God uses to develop our faith and equip us for ministry.
Mark 7:1-23;
Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 1:3; 1
Timothy 4:11; and 2 Timothy 3:16-17
As a result
of these commitments, we will staff, structure, preach, teach, sing, budget,
calendar, evaluate and build according to the purpose God has revealed
in the Bible. This will bring glory to Him through out lives. (Romans
11:36)
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