Hello Everyone!!!

Wanted to give you all a quick update. 

I am finally back from my mini sabbatical and very excited to be back.  The time I took off this month was great and I am very thankful to our elders allowing me to disconnect for a few weeks.  What did I do????  Not much.

I spent time with Bridget and Tripp.

I visited with family.

I fished. 

I golfed.

I slept.

I read.

I prayed. 

I thought. 

I prayed some more.

Thought some more.

Spent time at the lake.

Spoke at my dad’s church.

Worked on some new challenges facing our church.

Texted with Dennis.

Texted with Dennis some more.

Took Naps.

Ate well.

Went for walks.

Played with Tripp.

Date Night(s) with Bridget.

You get the idea… we didn’t do much. We did exactly what the time was intended for… rest, relationships and thinking about the next five years of Hill Country UT without distractions.  It was restful - it was refreshing. 

But now I am back in full swing, excited to start the school year and excited about some of the new opportunities we have as a church.  Starting this Sunday (August 1st), I will begin a new series called, “All in the family: Lessons I learned on Vacation”. It will be a short three-week series in which I will be discussing all the new initiatives and challenges we have in the context of our church being a family.

This is a very exciting time for us as a church.  We will have some challenges that we have not faced before, but God will be faithful.  Please make it a point to join us the next three Sundays so that you will not be left in the dark.  This is “all hands on deck” time.

Cannot wait to preach on Sunday and be with you all!

Denny

Okay, So I just used a reference to “finding Waldo”.  But some of you may be asking, “where has Denny been?”  I have not been far.  In fact, just to put everyone at ease I am still working hard for our church family everyday. However, I wanted to bring this to your attention so that you will know the commitments that I have made this summer that have and will take me out of the pulpit sporadically throughout the summer. 

Commitment #1: Commitment To The Greater Cause of Christ

This summer I have made commitments to other churches and ministries that require me to be out of the pulpit.  Over the last few weeks I have spoken to 10 different churches/ministries in different settings. This has not only been fruitful ministry for those ministries, but also for us.  Each opportunity I have I tell of the story that God is writing at Hill Country UT and at The University of Texas.

Commitment #2: Commitment To The Work of Ministry

Summer is a time that requires a lot of dreaming, thinking and strategizing for our staff team and me.  Some of the challenges and opportunities that God has brought our way are requiring a lot of time that would usually be spent in weekly sermon prep.  I am currently working with our staff and leaders to ensure that our ministry plan 2010-2011 is the best year of ministry we have had to date.  I am excited to share with you soon regarding some of the new doors and opportunities that God is bringing our way. So please know, I am not absent in fact; I am very present even if I am not in the pulpit. These times of leadership and strategy may be the greatest contribution I make to our church family on a weekly basis.

Commitment #3: Commitment To Develop Those Around Me

I have also made a commitment to help develop others and give them opportunities to preach to our church family, mainly Josh and Eric.  I have watched the sermons online and it has brought joy to my heart to see each of these men rise to the challenge and grow in their ministry of the word.  One of the great legacies each of us must consider is the development of others.  Paul wrote to Timothy in II Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

I have made a commitment to continue to grow our staff team and our leaders.  My desire is to kindle afresh the gifts that God has given them.  I am encouraged that these men, with great diligence, are handling accurately the word of God and presenting themselves as approved workman.

Commitment #4: Commitment to Our Elders

This past year, our elder board highly encouraged me to find balance and to strive to keep refreshed.  One of the great gifts that our elders gave to me as your pastor, was an extended time in the summer to renew and refresh my heart and soul.  This time of refreshment and renewal is scheduled for the month of July.  During the month of July I will be spending extended time in study, personal devotion and ministering to my wife and son.  Now this does not mean I will not be working for youJ. In fact, our prayer is that God will renew and refresh my heart, my body and my relationships so that I can have a long, fruitful ministry for many years to come.

The task of preaching God’s word week in week out is a difficult and laborious task.  More than I am even consciously aware of at times.  It is a mystical work to some degree.  It is not just a study of God’s word.  But it is a battle.  A battle to ensure that my heart is listening well to God. A battle to ensure that I am listening well to the needs of our church.  Finally, a battle to ensure that my sermon prep is flowing from a heart that is delighting in Christ above all.  My desire is to admonish our church family with a sincere, authentic concern for what God wants us to hear.  This battle can be a bit weary, and at times what is needed is a small season devoted to renewal.

I am eager to be back with you this next week. I will be back in the pulpit for the remainder of June. My heart has missed you deeply. My love for you and our mission continues to grow and grow.  I consider it a privilege to be part of such a wonderful work that God is doing among us.

I can’t wait to see you all Sunday!!!

With Great Affection,

Denny

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often referred to as the Prince of Preachers, said that up until the time he was baptized, he was afraid to confess Christ. But once he was baptized he lost all fear of man and never again hesitated to boldly profess his faith. He likened his baptism to “crossing the Rubicon or burning the boats. No retreat was possible after that, nor have I ever wanted to go back to the world from which I then came out.”

Spurgeon’s words underscore the critical importance of baptism. Christians may forever debate whether one should be dunked or dipped. However, one thing is indisputable: baptism symbolizes our belonging to a community of believers who are one in Christ. It is a sign and seal that our old Life has been buried and we have been raised to newness of life through His resurrection power.

I am convinced that there is great power in the life of the Christ-follower when they experience the act of baptism.

1. They Experience the Power of Identity:

Baptism gives identity to a Christ-follower who has given their life to Jesus Christ.  Baptism is an outward sign that you are a child of God through Jesus Christ and His redemptive work.  Baptism is not a necessity to salvation! It is rather an act that gives an outward expression that we have been redeemed.

Acts 2:38 climaxes Peter’s powerful proclamation of the gospel on the day of Pentecost. Those impacted by his message cried out, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The Book of Acts itself demonstrates that baptism is the sign of conversion, not the means of conversion. Acts 10:47, for example, describes believers who were indwelt by the Holy Spirit (and therefore saved — see Rom. 8:9) prior to being baptized.

Furthermore, the Bible as a whole clearly communicates that we are saved by faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8-9). When the jailer asked the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts16:30-31).

Although baptism is not the means by which we are saved, it is the means by which we are set apart from the world. By baptism, we testify that we are no longer our own — we have been bought by Christ’s blood and we are HIS!

How powerful is that?! This is incredible -- That we are HIS!  There is great power in knowing who you belong to and who you are. Baptism gives us the power of identity.

2. They Experience the Power of Community

When one follows in obedience in baptism not only do they receive power in knowing their identity, but they experience the power of community. Baptism signifies that you are not only a child of God through Jesus Christ, but it also proclaims that you are part of God’s family. 

I have done many weddings in my time.  There is something very special when it comes time in the ceremony to exchange the rings… I know everyone likes the “you may kiss the bride” but there is great power in the exchange of rings. The rings represent that you belong to one another.  The ring is an outward symbol to all the world that I belong to someone else – I am taken.  My wife and I took this concept to a whole new level when we decided to get our rings tattooed on our fingers. Now that’s legit!  Our rings never come off – we want all to know that I belong to someone for the rest of my life.

Baptism is like a wedding ring. You are saying that I belong to someone. Not only do you belong to Christ, but you also belong to God’s family, It symbolizes to the world that I have a community, a family of people that love me, embrace me, challenge me and endure with me. You will experience the power of community.

3. They Experience the Power of Witness

So what does this mean??? Witness??? What I mean by this is that when you follow in obedience in baptism you experience power much like Spurgeon noted above.  You are making a bold, decisive action that says, “Christ is my king!”  You are being a witness to the world and there is a great power that comes when we make bold statements.

Some of the most powerful baptisms I have ever been a part of have not been in a church setting. Some were in backyard pools or at an apartment complex. I have even baptized people in the ocean or in lakes.  Now the reason these baptisms were so powerful is because of the context.  These individuals wanted to be baptized in a setting where they could ask their friends who do not know Christ to come and observe.  These individuals wanted to make a statement to friends and family by having a public proclamation of their faith in Christ.  They experienced the power of witness.

It is so freeing to say to friends and family, that I know longer belong to the world, or even myself – I belong to Christ.  Making a public profession of your faith brings a new boldness in your witness of Christ in your everyday life. It may sound strange – but it’s true.  Case in point – CH Spurgeon – look at how the act of baptism gave him power to witness more boldly.

I guess I have never fully understood why people are hesitant to get baptized.  It is not something we should do out of duty, rather we should see it as a delight and privilege.  It is a privilege to stand up before others and proclaim: I belong to Christ, I belong to His people and I am witness that the gospel transforms lives.

But the prayer process began, along with many interviews and discussions with the leaders of our mother church about having a strategic church plant that would focus on 50,000 students who call the University of Texas home. My wife, Bridget, and I prayed. I mean we prayed relentless, risky prayers that part of me did not want God to answer. Specifically, we prayed: 1) That God would call us to a risky commitment that would stretch our faith; 2) That God would allows us to have life-long ministry and 3) That God would send us to a ministry opportunity where the gospel needed to take root in the heart of a lost generation.  As we prayed, God began to solidify that a church at The University of Texas is where the journey would lead us.  

The last 5 years have been a journey and God has taught our church so much. It seemed that every fear/concern I had about starting a college church may still be present in mind, but God continues to show His faithfulness.  Here are a few lessons I have or am learning: 

God sends the right people, at the right time to do His mission.  

Back in the early days of Hill Country UT (and they weren't that long ago) I remember thinking - who in their right mind would want to be part of a church that is intentional in reaching a secular, lost campus? More specifically-what adults would give up their comfortable church experience to drive down to the campus and sacrificially invest themselves in the lives of college students?  

Now it is no secret - we don't have an overwhelming amount of adults or even young adults at Hill Country UT. In fact our 100 adults that we do have comprise only about 17% of our overall congregation.  But you know what - God continues to bring the adults we need to ensure that every college student has the opportunity to be discipled by an adult. Of course, we would love more adults because the more adults we have, the more ministry we can effectively do.  

I can remember the first day we opened up for “business”.  We had an office space right off the drag that was composed of a meager 1,000 square feet.  The only folks employed by Hill Country UT was myself, Joshua Tullis (worship leader) and Erica “Haug” Tullis (office admin).  But now our team consists of 3 pastors, 3 directors, 1 admin, 3 PT creative arts positions and 16 interns. Sometimes I wake up and think to myself, where did all these people come from and how in the world can we afford them all? Which leads me to the next lesson I am learning.  

God has a storeroom of resources to ensure His mission is accomplished 

I would say that the most common question I receive from church-planters or others who are praying about doing a similar type church plant is: How does Hill Country UT afford to do the ministry that is does?  This is a fair question - one that sometimes keeps me up at night.  However, I am learning - that God ultimately holds every resource for His mission and He uses the blessings of others to meet our every need.  

To give you a picture of our fiscal picture -- Currently Hill Country UT has an annual budget right at $800k .  Sure, in comparison to some churches it may not seem like a big budget.  However for a church that reaches the poorest demographic of our society (college students), it takes a lot of risky commitment to the mission. Our church family (college students and our 100 adults) gives sacrificially to our church, providing roughly $300k a year.  However, that leaves us with half a million more dollars that we have to trust God with.  

Sure we try to strategically raise this money from outside donors. There are many processes that we work to do the best that we can.  But here is the deal - at the end of the day, God just shows up.  I am constantly amazed how God provides our daily bread and meets our every need. Over the course of the last 5 years we have never been in want. Sure there has been a time or two that we came into inches of the bottom of the checking account. But right when you think there may not be a way out of the jam - God shows up!!  This has personally taught me a great deal about faith.  God wants to stretch our faith and build in us a complete reliance upon Him.  When it comes to the area of finances and resources for us at Hill Country UT we recognize that God is our only hope.  

The younger generation can upset the world  

I remember when we started Hill Country UT. Let me give you a setting - our founding members consisted of 98 adults and 12 college students.  I thought to myself, “How in the world are we going to reach 50,000 students at the University of Texas with only 12 students?” But something unique took place.  12 college students caught a glimpse of what God could do if He had His way in their life. These students began to surrender their lives to Christ and He used their willingness to start a movement among their peers.  What started with 12 students eager to make an eternal impact on their campus to now Hill Country UT reaches over 750 students weekly with the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ.  

The scene of Acts 17 describes what our desire is in the life of our students. That our students will be people who will be described as, “these men who have turned the world upside down”.  I truly believe that the younger generation can be a generation who can “upset the world”.  

We have an interesting demographic. 30% of our student body leaves Hill Country UT every spring semester when school has ended. They go back to their hometowns, they get jobs in Dallas, they go on to graduate school, etc. I guess for the normal church this statistic can be discouraging.  But for us at Hill Country UT it is great news. First, it means we have open seats to fill up with new students in the upcoming fall semester; and secondly, we find joy in sending our students prepared to live for God's mission for the rest of their lives.   

I am learning if you can harness the passion of the younger generation and couple it with the wisdom and mentoring of older, wiser saints - the next generation can “upset the world.”  It is a privilege to serve the students of today who will be the leaders tomorrow. 

Now, just in case you are wondering if corporate worship or gathering on Sundays with the church family is actually important– I have a few brief thoughts for you.

God Delights in His Gathered Church

Most of us start with the concept, “what will I get or receive when I go to church?”  WRONG!  If you start with this perspective you have already missed God’s desire for corporate worship.  Worship is not about you – it’s about Him – Period. Any benefits we receive from corporate worship (and there are many) are not the purpose of corporate worship but rather they are graces that God decides to give us.  But corporate worship is all about God, His glory, His renown!

So many Christ-followers view corporate worship as a consumer and an audience member rather than an active participant. We much rather sit, observe and critique the worship band and even the preaching.  Somehow we have taken upon ourselves to give subjective opinions and evaluations of  “our” experience.  It’s quite amusing actually. I like it when after a sermon someone can come up to me and say, “that sermon was crap” -- while another person will follow with tears and say, “Thank you so much, I needed to hear that today.”  Or someone might say, “The worship today was so bad.” While another might say, “That was the greatest moment I have ever had with God.”

You see those who sit in church to critique as an audience member are missing the great spiritual exchange that God desires to take place between Him and our hearts.  The reason why people have different impressions about a particular worship song or sermon is because of the motive of their hearts.  If the motive is entertain me, let me hear the best sermon ever, or even I could do better – your heart is not ready for worship and surely your heart is not ready to hear the Holy Spirit speak specifically to you.  This motive and perspective has placed you –the created – above God – the Creator.

The very heart of corporate worship is to bring glory to God.  Our hearts should be so focused on what God has done for us through His son, Jesus Christ, that we don’t see ourselves as an audience member but an active participant - a participant who is there to join with others in giving glory to God. When we worship in song, our focus is Christ. When we hear the preaching of His word we are asking the Holy Spirit to transform us for the glory of Christ.  When we take communion, we remember His accomplished works and we give Him glory.  This is the type of worshipper that God delights in and gives grace to.

God delights in corporate worship.  In the Old Testament the people of God spared no expense to worship God.  They would give special tithes and offerings just so they could gather and have worship festivals for God. Yes, they would actually pay to worship God! 

Throughout the Old Testament, God commands his people to observe special holidays for worship. Chief among them are three fall and three spring festivals. The fall festivals were all celebrated in the same Jewish month of Tishri:

Rosh Hashanah—the Feast of Trumpets (New Year’s Day)

Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement

Sukkot—the Feast of Booths

The three spring festivals are:

Purim—the celebration of deliverance from Haman’s plot to kill the Jews

Passover—the celebration of the deliverance from Egypt

Shavuot—the Feast of Weeks

God found great delight in His people coming together and observing Him. By observing them, God’s people physically, mentally and emotionally experienced the spiritual reality God wanted them to remember (see Exodus 13:9).

God Gives Grace When We Gather

Though the purpose of Worship is God, as a worshipper we receive many benefits.  When the church gathers together every Sunday – we find benefits. The writer of Hebrews reminds us: (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The writer of Hebrews is reminding us that when we gather not only do we give glory to God, but God is glorified when we spur one another on.  Our time of worship should characteristically move our hearts toward living lives that glorify Him.

So many college students put little value on the corporate gathering.  However, we are reminded that we do so to our own detriment.  When we fail to value the coming together with God’s people it will hinder our walk with Christ.  We miss out on God working in our hearts. We miss out on the encouragement we receive from living in community with other Christ-followers. We miss out on God’s exchange with our hearts.  We miss out on celebrating and remembering all that God has done for us.  We miss out on living in the virtue of gratitude and when we live without gratitude we will never recognize the complete miracle of the gospel.

When we gather, God gives us grace.  He gives us a grace that your pillow and warm bed cannot. He lavishly blesses us by allowing us to be in His presence and anticipating His power working greatly in our lives.

As the Westminster Shorter Catechism prompts - What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever - our corporate meeting together at church, like our worship in all parts of our life, needs to glorify God and demonstrate our thankfulness and praise of him. As in the rest of life, the focus is on glorifying God, not the wooing of seekers or our own needs. Such meetings together should be inspired by, shaped and based on God's truth taught in the Scriptures, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and centered on the possibility of salvation through faith in Christ and by God's grace.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often referred to as the Prince of Preachers, said that up until the time he was baptized, he was afraid to confess Christ. But once he was baptized he lost all fear of man and never again hesitated to boldly profess his faith. He likened his baptism to “crossing the Rubicon or burning the boats. No retreat was possible after that, nor have I ever wanted to go back to the world from which I then came out.”

Spurgeon’s words underscore the critical importance of baptism. Christians may forever debate whether one should be dunked or dipped. However, one thing is indisputable: baptism symbolizes our belonging to a community of believers who are one in Christ. It is a sign and seal that our old Life has been buried and we have been raised to newness of life through His resurrection power.

I am convinced that there is great power in the life of the Christ-follower when they experience the act of baptism.

1. They Experience the Power of Identity:

Baptism gives identity to a Christ-follower who has given their life to Jesus Christ.  Baptism is an outward sign that you are a child of God through Jesus Christ and His redemptive work.  Baptism is not a necessity to salvation! It is rather an act that gives an outward expression that we have been redeemed.

Acts 2:38 climaxes Peter’s powerful proclamation of the gospel on the day of Pentecost. Those impacted by his message cried out, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The Book of Acts itself demonstrates that baptism is the sign of conversion, not the means of conversion. Acts 10:47, for example, describes believers who were indwelt by the Holy Spirit (and therefore saved — see Rom. 8:9) prior to being baptized.

Furthermore, the Bible as a whole clearly communicates that we are saved by faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8-9). When the jailer asked the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts16:30-31).

Although baptism is not the means by which we are saved, it is the means by which we are set apart from the world. By baptism, we testify that we are no longer our own — we have been bought by Christ’s blood and we are HIS!

How powerful is that?! This is incredible -- That we are HIS!  There is great power in knowing who you belong to and who you are. Baptism gives us the power of identity.

2. They Experience the Power of Community

When one follows in obedience in baptism not only do they receive power in knowing their identity, but they experience the power of community. Baptism signifies that you are not only a child of God through Jesus Christ, but it also proclaims that you are part of God’s family. 

I have done many weddings in my time.  There is something very special when it comes time in the ceremony to exchange the rings… I know everyone likes the “you may kiss the bride” but there is great power in the exchange of rings. The rings represent that you belong to one another.  The ring is an outward symbol to all the world that I belong to someone else – I am taken.  My wife and I took this concept to a whole new level when we decided to get our rings tattooed on our fingers. Now that’s legit!  Our rings never come off – we want all to know that I belong to someone for the rest of my life.

Baptism is like a wedding ring. You are saying that I belong to someone. Not only do you belong to Christ, but you also belong to God’s family, It symbolizes to the world that I have a community, a family of people that love me, embrace me, challenge me and endure with me. You will experience the power of community.

3. They Experience the Power of Witness

So what does this mean??? Witness??? What I mean by this is that when you follow in obedience in baptism you experience power much like Spurgeon noted above.  You are making a bold, decisive action that says, “Christ is my king!”  You are being a witness to the world and there is a great power that comes when we make bold statements.

Some of the most powerful baptisms I have ever been a part of have not been in a church setting. Some were in backyard pools or at an apartment complex. I have even baptized people in the ocean or in lakes.  Now the reason these baptisms were so powerful is because of the context.  These individuals wanted to be baptized in a setting where they could ask their friends who do not know Christ to come and observe.  These individuals wanted to make a statement to friends and family by having a public proclamation of their faith in Christ.  They experienced the power of witness.

It is so freeing to say to friends and family, that I know longer belong to the world, or even myself – I belong to Christ.  Making a public profession of your faith brings a new boldness in your witness of Christ in your everyday life. It may sound strange – but it’s true.  Case in point – CH Spurgeon – look at how the act of baptism gave him power to witness more boldly.

I guess I have never fully understood why people are hesitant to get baptized.  It is not something we should do out of duty, rather we should see it as a delight and privilege.  It is a privilege to stand up before others and proclaim: I belong to Christ, I belong to His people and I am witness that the gospel transforms lives.

What a summer! While most of you are preparing to get back to school and bring to close your summer vacation – I just loaded up the car and tomorrow me, Bridget and the Tripp head out to Ruidosa, New Mexico.  Finally!!! Vacation for the Henderson family.  We are looking forward to the rest, renewal and refreshment before we start another great ministry year at Hill Country UT.  

Lots has happened this summer around Hill Country UT while most of you were away. Just a few highlights:

• We partnered with multiple campus ministries in our summer missional training program. Over 80 of our students participated in the mid-week training program.
• We just concluded a six-week study called Threads. We looked at spiritual gifts through the Sunday sermon series and then followed it up with discussions about how God created each of us to serve Him effectively.
• Our tech team has been hard at wok doing some much needed tech updates to our worship center. Projects include installation of all new house lighting, updated stage lighting and installed hi-def video camera’s for our vodcast and on-line video venue.
• If you are reading this right now – means that you are on our new website. It has been months in the making and we hope it will help you stay more connected to Hill Country UT and you will find the resources that will be provided on the site very helpful.
• Lastly, we have just buttoned up our ministry plan for this coming school year.

Speaking of this coming ministry year – I am very excited to see what God is going to do among us. Our staff, elders and ministry leaders have been very prayerful in the planning process asking, “God what do you want to accomplish this year at Hill Country UT?”  Through the prayer process we have discerned that God was calling us to three major objectives for our church family:  

1) Devoted Heart: This next year we are putting a huge emphasis on seeing people grow in greater devotion to God through their personal quiet time, prayer life, stewarding of finances and personal evangelism.  When thinking through the ministry year we have put great consideration in trying our best to resource our people with tools so they can experience the fullness of Christ in their personal walk with Him.  

2) Committed Church: Also this year we will be placing a huge emphasis on seeing each one of us commit to the body of Christ – His Church.  Our desire is to build in each one of us a heart that invests in authentic relationships and that Hill Country UT is place you can call a “home away from home.”  

3) Missional Mind: We will also be placing a huge emphasis on staying missional this year – seeing missional communities continue to grow and multiply throughout the people groups at the University of Texas.  

I am very excited to see what God is going to do in each one of our lives. I pray that we will all have great anticipation that God will do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine.  

Well, so long… Talk soon. Now time to head to the mountains to refresh and rest and know that He is God! 

Peace. 

d