It might sound odd to list this as a value, but in order to make a disciple, this is the starting point. A person who is not a christian is unable to become a disciple. Our church places emphasis on helping people come to faith but it does not stop there. Some Christians have made the initial commitment to Christ but are happy just to sit in church rather than be challenged to live the disciples life. That's why we value seeing people commit to Christ as new believers and continue that commitment as growing believers. Without this fundamental value in place it is rare for a believer to become a disciple (a person who acts like, sounds like and lives like Jesus).
This plays itself out in the following ways:
- We regularly run events designed to introduce people to Jesus
- We will always call for commitment to the discipleship process from people who attend our church
- Our teaching and programs emphasize this commitment
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A second important principle to living the disciples life is to develop the ability to listen to what God is telling you. One of the most obvious ways is to listen to His words in His book, the Bible. Our emphasis on reading the Bible for your self is not about a religious exercise. It is not about gaining some kind of cosmic points for the fact that you did it. It is about putting yourself in the place where you are immersed in God's Word so that you are more likely to hear God's voice. Living the disciples life is about learning to follow his voice.
This plays itself out in the following ways:
- We will always teach from the Bible emphasising how God wants us to act as a disciple
- We will encourage you to regularly read your bible
- We offer courses and aids to encourage you to read your bible in order to develop as a disciple
- Since we value the word we also support organizations that get the word into the hands of the people (translators, distributors and those who help oral learners)
Visit You Version and for online Bibles and reading plans
Visit Wycliffe to learn more about Bible Translators
Visit Queensland Bible Society for Bible Resources
A further help to listening and communicating with God is prayer. We believe this is indispensable for a developing disciple. Prayer is communication with God. It is not just talking it is also listening. A believer who does not pray severely restricts the discipleship process in their life. Communication is the life blood of relationship and it is no different between the believer and God. Prayer is a powerhouse of the church as well. A praying church is an impacting church. We not only talk about prayer but we are doing what we can to see this happen in the life of the disciple and the life of the church.
This plays itself out in the following ways
- We pray in every service and at the end of every service for your needs
- We have regular prayer meetings around a cause
- We have regular corporate prayer and focused prayer
- We also support others who encourage prayer
We mention God here because a disciple needs to be in an intimate relationship with God. Our desire at Hills Church is to understand God in his fullness as a Trinitarian God. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and while at times we need to emphasize one part of his nature we choose to bring balance to this. At times we must teach on Jesus since it is through him we are saved, but we must also equally understand the Father heart of God and how we are his children. Of course this emphasis alone without an understanding of the Holy Spirit and the power and comfort he brings to believers is also short of the mark.
This plays itself out in the following ways
- We will regularly teach on God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and we will encourage you to get to know God intimately
When Jesus gave the great commission, he gave it to disciples. We have often thought that this only applies to the church we attend, and while this is true it sometimes leaves us forgetting that the responsibility lies with me. Evangelism is MY job as a disciple, discipling another person is MY job as a disciple. While we can do things together to help each other we will be no more effective unless we are individually living out the great commission. Jesus told his disciples to "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18). At Hills Church we believe that our job is to equip you for "the works of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12). It is your job as a disciple to minister to others and we will do all we can to help you. This works its way out in four levels of mission.
After the resurrection Jesus met with the disciples and reiterated the great commission. He said "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Our understanding of mission as a church includes the following levels
Again we often thing that mission to Jerusalem mean the area surrounding our church, and while this is true, we believe that it means the immediate people that surround us as disciples. You are the only one with your Jerusalem. No one else has the friends or work colleagues that you have. No one else visits the places that you do. It is indeed your Jerusalem. At Hills Church we believe that it is our responsibility to equip and help you to reach the people around you. At times this will mean an event put on by the church but at other times it will be through training, support and encouragement for you as you go into your mission field. It was once said that church is done best when it is a weekly missionary convention of those who are out in the field doing the ministry.
This plays itself out in the following ways
- We offer regular training on how to minister Jesus in your Jerusalem
- We offer prayer and encouragement for you to minister
- We partner with you to organise events that will help you minister to your Jerusalem
We take the term Judea to mean the surrounding suburbs and city in which we reside. This is generally the same for all of us who go to a particular church. In our case it is the suburbs surrounding Everton Hills and more generally the north side of the city and the whole city of Brisbane. It is our belief that a balanced and healthy church does not just minister to those closest to us, but in keeping with the great commission we do what we can to support other churches and ministries that are reaching our city for Jesus.
This plays itself out in the following ways
- We support regional outreach
- We will support specific ministries as they are in need and carry out this part of the vision
- We stand ready to support any church that wants to make a serious joint effort to reach people in this city for Christ
- We support Church planting and will actively seek to do our part in this to extend God's Kingdom
To the Jew of Jesus day, the region of Samaria represented those who were outcasts of the society. In our case we take that to mean those who are on the margins of our own society. The range would include refugees and the homeless as well as various subcultures in our society. Again we believe that a church cannot only deal with the local area or general population to be balanced. Just like Jesus challenged the first disciples to put aside their prejudice we ask the same of our people and attempt to do what we can for those who find it difficult to be accepted in the main-stream of society.
This plays itself out in the following ways
- We run an opportunity shop for those in need of material assistant
- We offer a free coffee shop in conjunction with this ministry
- We run a family support service for those who are in need of counseling and ministry
- We are working on how else we may be able to better meet the needs of those who are on the edges but we have a long way to go
- Where we are unable to provide these services or help we will support - both financially and with volunteers - those who are already doing the job well
Learn about the Hills Op Shop
Learn about Hills Family Support Service
When Christians think of mission they most often think of those who serve overseas. In some ways this gives us an excuse as to why we are not involved. At Hills Church we believe that as a disciple we can nothing else but be involved in the mission to reach the whole world. A church that focuses solely on caring for those in the church is missing the point. Our goal is to support missions work outside of our city by praying, giving and sending people to make sure that we stay obedient to Jesus command to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)
This plays itself out in the following ways
- We regularly pray for and support missions
- We will always encourage disciples to go where God calls them to go
- We will support missions organizations that effectively carry out this plan
- We will invite missions organizations to tell their story and encourage our people to support them
Visit Wesleyan World Missions
We also value serving one and other. Jesus set the example by washing his disciple's feet, and after he had completed this task he said something profound. "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:15-17). As disciples at Hills Church we also take this advice of Jesus seriously. You can expect two things. The first of these is that you will not be lorded over as a disciple you will be led and served. Second, while you can expect to be served you will also be expected to serve. Unfortunately our society has been trained to be independent when God's plan was that we be interdependent. Christianity was never about what I can get without including what I can give.
This plays itself out in the following ways
- You can expect leaders who are servants
- You can expect not to be manipulated or controlled
- You will be asked to serve others in various ways in and around the church and in the community
79 Queens Rd, Everton Hills
Brisbane, QLD 4053, AU
P: 07 3353 1427
E: office@hillschurch.org.au
