The Bible
We are passionate about the Bible because the Bible is perfect truth from God Himself. It is the main way God speaks to us, guides us, and answers our questions.
Part of the Bible was written before Jesus came to earth, by prophets who received truth directly from God. The rest of the Bible was written after Jesus had come to earth, by apostles who were eye-witnesses of Jesus and specially gifted to remember and understand what Jesus said. Which means the Bible is written truth from God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21).
That’s why we urge everyone at Mercy Hill Church to study, learn, and live the Bible. That’s why we seek to preach and teach the Bible. And that’s why in our Home Groups people talk about the Bible.
The Cross
The Bible teaches that sinful people like us can be completely forgiven and accepted by God. How? Through Jesus’ death on the cross.
If you are trusting Jesus, then when He died on the cross all your sin was punished in Him, and all His righteousness was given to you. As a result all your sin is forgiven, and God sees you as completely righteous. The Bible calls this being “justified” (Romans 3:28; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
This is amazing news for sinful people. If we will repent and trust Jesus, we are immediately and completely loved and accepted by God -- not because of what we are, but because of what Jesus did. This is how the Christian life starts, and this is how it continues.
The Holy Spirit and His Gifts
God does not just want to be understood. He wants to be felt and enjoyed. That’s why, when we trust Jesus, He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; Galatians 3:5) so we can feel God’s love and behold Jesus’ glory (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 4:6).
That’s why we at Mercy Hill Church are hungry for this work of the Holy Spirit. It’s not constant. There’s ebb and flow. But following Jesus involves frequent supernatural experience of the Holy Spirit making God and Jesus real to us. This comes as we seek Him in prayer and Bible study and worship and fellowship with other followers of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit also gives supernatural gifts just like he did with the first believers (I Cor 12-14). We earnestly desire these gifts, and seek to use them biblically so we can build each other up in faith, and to show Jesus to people who don’t know Him.
Strong Singles, Marriages, and Families
Jesus calls some to be single, others to be married. Both are crucial for advancing Jesus’ mission. We want to affirm and strengthen both singles and marrieds in their respective callings.
And when it comes to marriage and families, we believe Jesus calls men to loving, serving leadership of their family – to love and serve and lead and pray with their wives, and to join with their wives in loving and teaching and playing and praying with their children (Ephesians 5:23; 6:4).
Christ-Centered Community
Jesus doesn't just call us to attend meetings. He calls us to pursue Christ-centered community. He wants us to know each other, love each other, serve each other, pray with each other, study His teachings together, encourage each other, and pursue His mission together (John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 12:26; Hebrews 3:12-14).
That’s why our Sunday gathering has a community feel, and that’s why we emphasize weekly home groups – which are groups of 6 to 15 Jesus-followers who band together to pursue Christ-centered community and advance Jesus’ mission in the South Bay.
Every-Member Ministry
Jesus gifts every one of His followers for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7). That’s good news, because as we serve others we experience even more of Jesus (Acts 20:35).
There are some ministries we all are called to pursue – like encouraging believers in faith, and helping unbelievers come to faith. But there are other ministries that we pursue depending on interest and gifting and calling; like home group leading, video production, worship team, children’s ministry, prayer ministry, sound team, and so forth.
Jesus’ Mission
Jesus calls every one of His followers to help people come to know Him (Mark 1:17; Matthew 28:18-20). That’s why he has placed us in our neighborhoods, at our workplaces, with our friends. So Mercy Hill Church is passionate about helping you reach out and help people come to know Jesus, because we want to help you spread the good news of Jesus everywhere you can -- for His glory and your joy.
