KINGDOM OVER EMPIRES
There are 53 times in the New Testament that Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, emphasizing its importance in His teaching. Today, we rarely hear much about it, but at City on a Hill, we believe one of our main purposes is to help bring God’s Kingdom to earth, as Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." When we gather together, we aim to equip God’s people as sons and daughters of God, helping them embrace the power and authority He has given them, as reflected in Luke 10:19, where Jesus says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Our prayer is that every time we leave a gathering, we feel equipped and empowered to live out Matthew 5:14, being that “City on a Hill” where our light shines bright in the darkness for all to see.
PRESENCE OVER PERFORMANCE
At City on a Hill, we know that one moment in the presence of God can change a life for eternity, just as Psalm 16:11 declares, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." When we gather, our priority is surrendering to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, following the example of Acts 2:42-47, where the early church devoted themselves to worship and experienced the transformative power of God among them. Our goal is not to entertain people but to please the heart of God with the worship He receives, aligning with John 4:24, which reminds us that "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." We know that when our heart is to please HIS HEART, we will never be left unsatisfied because HIS PRESENCE IS OUR REWARD!
PEOPLE OVER PROCESS
At City on a Hill, we value people over process. We know that is the heart of God because we see Jesus model this throughout Scripture. He reminded us in Matthew 22:37-39 that the greatest thing we can do is love God and love our neighbors—that’s what really matters. And in Galatians 6:2, we’re called to carry each other’s burdens as a way to live out Christ’s love. For us, it’s not about perfectprograms or polished systems; it’s about making sure people feel cared for, seen, and valued. Whether it’s through a conversation, a prayer, or just showing up for someone, we’re committed to relationships first because we know God cares about people, so we do too.
JESUS OVER EVERYTHING
We are a church unapologetically in love with Jesus, and our purpose is to reveal who He is by sharing the gospel through our everyday lives, just as 1 Peter 3:15 instructs us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” We don’t just give Jesus a place in our lives; we live wholly and completely surrendered to Him, following the call of Luke 9:23, where Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Our methods may change, but our message will remain the same, echoing Hebrews 13:8, which reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We believe every Christian is called to live a life that displays the ways of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and through a commitment to His Word, as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”