When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, He responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37). At Desert Hills, we seek to obey this commandment to the glory of Christ by growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. This growth happens through the expositional preaching of the Word of God, through Bible studies in small groups, adult fellowship groups, children’s Sunday school, men’s and women’s groups, and any other time we speak God’s Word to one another. The goal of our teaching is love (1 Tim 1:5), and that begins with love for God.
We also seek to love one another, but what does that look like in the local church? In Galatians 5:13, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Serve one another through love.” Genuine love for other believers will be expressed in loving service. Desert Hills has a variety of ministries that give us many opportunities each week to demonstrate our love for one another in various areas of service. By ministering to all of Christ’s people, our aim is to glorify Christ by expressing love toward His people in service.
Christians are called not only to love one another but to love those outside the church. The most loving thing we can do for our unbelieving neighbors is tell them the gospel of Christ. Jesus commissioned us to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19-20). At Desert Hills, we seek to honor that mandate through local missions in the Phoenix metro area and through supporting missions work throughout the world.
Everything about Desert Hills cannot be summed up in writing. We invite you to come and learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ and how He is at work in and through Desert Hills by visiting us for one of our Sunday services.
For more detailed information on what we teach, download our What We Teach document.
Since a statement of faith is a human attempt to systematize the teachings of divine revelation, it is not infallible. However, it does serve to safeguard the unity and integrity of the church. The members of DHBC agree without mental reservation to the following truths.
We believe that the Bible alone in its 66 books is God’s infallible, inerrant, and sufficient Word (Psalms119:128, 160; 2 Peter 1:20-21), given to be the rule of faith and life. It is inspired in all its parts equally, and verbally inspired in every word (2 Timothy 3:16). Because the Scriptures are the Word of God, they are the authority over all human knowledge and every human activity. The Word of God is the means the Holy Spirit uses to cause a person to be born again (1 Peter 1:23). The Scriptures are sufficient to equip the believer to honor God in every circumstance in this life (2 Timothy 3:17).
We believe that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), an infinite, all knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)—each equally deserving worship and obedience.
A. God the Father
We believe that God the Father is the absolute sovereign ruler of the universe (Psalm 115:3). He is Father within the Trinity (Hebrews 1:5). He is also the Father of all mankind by creation (Ephesians 4:6), but He is only the spiritual Father of those who believe in Christ for salvation (John 8:34-47). God the Father is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9), with dominion over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).
B. God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son (Luke 22:70). As the Son of God He is co-eternal and coequal with the Father, possessing all the divine excellencies, and being in very nature God (John 10:30; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:2). He became a human being at the incarnation, being conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23, 25). He became truly man while maintaining all the fullness of deity in bodily form (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9) and so became the God-man. Jesus lived a sinless life (Hebrews 7:26), and He offered Himself as a sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:10, 12), securing salvation for all who would believe (John 1:12). His death was a substitutionary atonement for sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21). The redemption of believers was accomplished through the shedding of His blood (Romans 5:9), His death (2 Corinthians 5:14-15), and His bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:14, 20). Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father interceding for His people (Hebrews 1:3). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and the Head of His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18).
C. God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-eternal and co-equal in all of His divine attributes and being with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). He is a person with all of the characteristics of personhood, including intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), emotions (Ephesians 4:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11), to give life to those who are in Christ (Romans 8:10-11), to conform them to the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), and to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14). He brings about the new birth (John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 3:6), baptizes all believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) and indwells believers from the moment of conversion (Romans 8:9), sanctifies believers (2 Corinthians 3:17-18), empowers believers for service (1 Peter 4:11), intercedes for believers (Romans 8:26-27), and seals them until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit has given a variety of gifts, service, and activities to the church for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). All gifts, acts of service, and activities which the Spirit gives are to be used for the common good and ruled by the law of love (1 Corinthians 13; 14:12).
We believe that the account of creation in Genesis is a literal, historical account of the creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; Exodus 20:11). God directly created all animals and man without any evolutionary process. He created each tree, plant, and animal after its own kind, and He created man in the image of God (Genesis 1:12, 21-22, 24-27). Adam and Eve were literal, historical people (Genesis 5:3-5; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Timothy 2:13-14).
We believe that man was created on the sixth day of creation in the image and likeness of God, not from any evolutionary process but as an immediate creative act (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; James 3:9). Man was created free from sin. He was created with a rational nature, intelligence, and will. He therefore has a moral responsibility to God (Genesis 2:15-25). Adam’s sin against the commandment of God brought the penalty of spiritual and physical death to the human race (Genesis 2:17; 3:1-19; 5:1-31; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3). Human beings thus became sinners by nature and by choice and incurred the just wrath of God (Ephesians 2:1-3). All have sinned (Romans 3:23) and apart from Christ are slaves of sin (Romans 6:17), dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), and unable to please God (Romans 8:7-8). Man’s salvation is thus wholly by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) in the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31), and that no one is or can be justified by works of any kind (Romans 3:20). The sinner’s salvation consists of regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.
A. Regeneration
We believe that regeneration is the sovereign act of the Spirit of God by which He imparts spiritual life to a person (Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 1:13; 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; James 1:18). It is a one-time event that is instantaneous (John 1:13; Colossians 2:13; James 1:18). Regeneration will be seen in a person’s life through their faith and the works that faith produces (Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26).
B. Justification
We believe that justification is God’s act of declaring a sinner righteous through the sinner’s faith in Jesus (Romans 3:28). Justification is by faith alone apart from any works (Romans 3:28). We teach that justification is a gift of God’s grace (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8), so that no one may boast before God for contributing anything to his own salvation (Romans 3:27; Ephesians 2:9). Justification is based solely upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to the sinner through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).
C. Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which the believer is conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). While the believer is declared righteous in Christ (justification) through faith, he still battles temptation, sin, and the flesh (Romans 7:25; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13). Every believer is in the process of sanctification, which is learning to overcome temptation, sin, and the flesh by faith(2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification is a work performed in the believer by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:13)
D. Glorification
We believe that all believers will someday be glorified with Christ (Romans 8:30). This glorification will result in receiving a new body which is imperishable, glorified, and spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). All believers are eternally secure because they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit for this day of redemption in which all believers will be glorified (Ephesians 1:13-14).
We believe that the church is the body of Christ (Colossians 1:24). Jesus Christ is the Head of the church with all authority, power, sovereignty, and supremacy over it (Ephesians 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18). The members of the body of Christ, the church, are all of those who have received Jesus by faith (Ephesians 2:11-3:6). The purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21; Revelation 1:6) through worshipping Him (Romans 12:1), fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Ac 1:8), participating in baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and building itself up in the faith in love (Ephesians 4:11-16). The church has two ordinances – baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize all new disciples in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). The Lord’s Supper is to be done by partaking of the bread and the cup of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). The bread and the cup are symbolic elements of the body and blood of the Lord, but they are not themselves the actual body and blood of the Lord, nor do they become the actual body and blood of the Lord as they are used in the Lord’s Supper.
We believe that holy angels are created beings and therefore not to be worshiped. They were created by God to serve and worship Him (Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:8-9).
We believe that Satan is a created angel who brought sin into existence by rebelling against his Creator (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19). Some angels followed Satan in his rebellion and also fell into sin (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:1-12). Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Isaiah 14:13-14; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9-10) who will ultimately be crushed by God and eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
A. Death
We believe that when a believer dies, his soul passes immediately into the presence of Christ without loss of immaterial consciousness (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 6:9-11), his soul and body separated until his body is resurrected and glorified (1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). When an unbeliever dies, his soul is kept under punishment until the final judgment (Luke 16:19-31). At the final judgment all unbelievers shall be resurrected, condemned, and cast into the Lake of Fire where they will be tormented under the just wrath of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).
B. The Coming of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to the earth personally and bodily, with great power and glory (Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2:8). The coming of Christ will be unexpected, and no one knows the day nor the hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36-42). Believers are to live in constant readiness for the coming of Christ in glory (Matthew 24:42-25:30).
C. The Eternal State
We believe that the present heavens and earth will be destroyed with intense heat and pass away (2 Peter 3:10). Following the destruction of the heavens and the earth, new heavens and a new earth will be created in their place (2 Peter 3:13). The new heavens and the new earth will be the eternal dwelling place of the people of God, where they will see God’s face and reign with Him forever and ever (Revelation 22:3-5).
Paul Stefanski and his wife Margie have been attending Desert Hills since 2017. Paul became an elder in October 2020 and oversees the family ministries at DHBC. He and Margie enjoy teaching parenting classes together.
Pastor Matt serves as Executive Pastor of DHBC and has been a member of the pastoral staff since 2021. A third-generation Phoenix native, Matt began attending Desert Hills events over 35 years ago when he was 8 years old and started coming to the church regularly when he was in high school. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Theology from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, and his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Phoenix Seminary. Pastor Matt and his wife Darci were married at Desert Hills in 2008 and have four children – all boys! Together they enjoy road trips and exploring new food places. A favorite verse of Pastor Matt is 2 Corinthians 5:21: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Pastor Jason serves as the Community Life Pastor at Desert Hills Bible Church and oversees the counseling ministry. He grew up in Clarkston, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and a Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Dallas Theological Seminary with concentrations in Systematic Theology and Missions.
Jason and his wife, Yesenia, have one son and enjoy spending time together as a family, exploring Arizona's outdoors, and finding new places to escape the summer heat. He enjoys walking alongside people as they grow in Christ and seeing God's Word bring lasting change in their lives.
A favorite verse that captures Jason's heart for ministry is 3 John 4: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Pastor Robb has been the pastor-teacher of DHBC since March 2011. He earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from The Master's Seminary in Sun Valley, CA, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Pastor Robb and his wife Randi have been married for over twenty years and have four children: two daughters and two sons, along with a son-in-law, Landon, who recently married their oldest daughter. They enjoy travel, hiking, baseball, and the beach. One of Pastor Robb's favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 1:18: "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." In addition to preaching weekly, Pastor Robb enjoys hosting the podcast Relentlessly Biblical. You can find him on X at @RobbBrunansky.
Brian Inman has a member of DHBC since 2021 and began serving as an Elder in 2022. He has three wonderful children and has been married to his lovely bride for over twenty years. Brian’s favorite verse is Psalms 16:8, “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Brian is an avid outdoorsman and loves spending time hunting, fishing, and hiking with his family out in God’s creation. He has a passion for God’s Word and a desire to see others come to know Jesus Christ and grow in spiritual maturity. He oversees Student Ministries and the Jail Ministry at DHBC. Brian also serves on the security team and the music team, and he is very privileged to serve as a shepherd for God’s people at DHBC.
Bob and his wife, Linda, have attended DHBC since September 2020. They were married on December 21, 1968 and have two adult children and four adult grandchildren. They enjoy attending plays and musical concerts and spending time with family and friends. Bob enjoys hiking and reading. He has been an elder since 2022 and oversees the James 1:27 widows’ ministry and the helping hands ministry, serves on the missions team, men’s ministry leadership team, and security team, and thoroughly enjoys being a member of the choir. A favorite verse is Psalms 71:18, “And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” We retire from work. but may we never retire from ministry and serving our Lord!
Bob Jones has been a member of DHBC for almost seven years and became an elder in 2020. He attended Western Seminary, earning an M. Div. and a Th. M. in Systematic Theology. He is working on a Doctor of Ministry degree in Theology and Apologetics. Bob has been married to Nanci for two and a half years. They have six children and fifteen grandchildren between them. He enjoys exercising and reading a variety of subjects. Bob’s favorite verse is Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord and to practice it and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” He oversees the Men’s Ministry and the Women’s Ministry. Bob and Nanci are missionaries with Global Training Network, going to Africa four times a year to train pastors and church leaders.