Woodland Hills is a local family of Christians, joined by a common purpose (1 Timothy 3:15) and common oversight (Philippians 1:1). Our desire is to please God in everything we do.

In keeping with the New Testament pattern, we worship God as a congregation in song without musical accompaniments (Ephesians 5:19), we are led in prayer by one of the men of the church (1 Timothy 2:1-4), we partake of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7), we subsidize our work with the freewill contribution of our members collected on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and we rely on the Bible for our guidance in all things (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Peter 4:11).

God has not left man to do as he pleases in sacred affairs. The Woodland Hills church patterns its work after the New Testament order (Philippians 4:9). So, as the New Testament directs, this church limits its labor to evangelism, edification, and the care of certain needy saints.

We have qualified men who serve the church as elders (Titus 1:5). Our deacons and our preacher assist them. The oversight of our elders does not extend beyond the members, work, resources and properties of the Woodland Hills church.

What We Believe...

...ABOUT THE CHURCH
Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build My church" (Matthew 16:18). This is the church of the New Testament. Scripture mentions no other. Following the baptism of the first converts to Christ, "the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:41, 47). All whom the Lord saves are added to Christ's church. Thus, Scripture refers to the church, the saved, as His body (Colossians 1:18).

In the New Testament, groups of believers joined their efforts and resources to form local congregations, also called "churches" (Galatians 1:2). The apostle Paul called these groups "churches of Christ" in Romans 16:16.

Jesus established the church, not men; it is His. Thus, it wears His name. Since churches in the New Testament are called churches of Christ, we call ourselves at Woodland Hills a church of Christ.

Churches in the New Testament were independent, self-governing organizations. We follow that pattern at Woodland Hills. We direct our own affairs and leave it to other churches to direct theirs.

...ABOUT THE BIBLE
We accept the Bible as the word of God-that "no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21). We consider the Bible "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is not a creation of the mind of man. Of his preaching and writings Paul wrote, "For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).

Since "it is not in man who walks to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23), we trust the Bible to provide answers to life's questions. It is our only source of authority. We insist upon Biblical approval for the things we do and say (1 Peter 4:11). If we speak or act in a way that is contrary to God's word, our friend is the one who is willing to tell us so.

...ABOUT CHRIST
We believe with the apostle John, "that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). We believe with the apostle Paul, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). We believe with the apostle Peter that "there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

In short, we preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). This involves more than merely accepting the facts of His life and death. Preaching Jesus embodies all He was, all He accomplished, and all He required of us. Paul said, "For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God" (Acts 20:27). We can and will do no less at Woodland Hills.