Building a Heritage of Faith

At Heritage Covenant Church, our mission is to cultivate a heritage of faith that honors biblical foundations and prepares future generations to carry the gospel forward. Rooted in the historic truths of the Reformation and a vision of discipleship that spans generations, we are committed to fostering a community where faith is both preserved and shared, creating a lasting legacy of belief and devotion.

What Does It Mean to Build a Heritage of Faith?

To build a heritage of faith is to lay down a legacy that not only honors the past but is also designed to thrive in the future. This heritage isn’t just a matter of tradition or rituals; it is a living faith rooted in the truth of Scripture, continually renewed by the grace of God. In practical terms, it means passing down the richness of Reformed theology, grounded in the historic confessions and catechisms, while also encouraging our children and community to actively live out their faith today.

The Apostle Paul’s words resonate with us here: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Faith, for us, is something entrusted to us to steward and pass on. This passing down of faith is seen throughout Scripture, where we are reminded again and again to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord” (Psalm 78:4). Our task, then, is to prepare and equip future generations to remain faithful to the gospel, holding to a solid biblical foundation in a world that often pulls us away from it.

Rooted in the Past: Our Biblical and Theological Foundations

Our faith is deeply rooted in the historic truths of Scripture and the rich legacy of the Reformation. We uphold the Reformed Confessions and Catechisms, particularly the Three Forms of Unity (the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort) and the Westminster Standards. These confessions aren’t simply old documents or doctrines; they represent a rich heritage of biblical faith and doctrine, crafted by believers who wrestled deeply with Scripture to understand God’s will for His people. This foundation ensures that our worship and teachings remain biblically sound, God-centered, and aligned with the legacy of the Protestant faith.

The Importance of Reformed Confessions

As Joel Beeke writes, "The Reformed confessions serve as faithful guides to the truths of Scripture. They encapsulate the doctrine that the church has received from her Lord and hold us to standards that have been tried, tested, and trusted." Our commitment to these standards gives us a continuity with the past, anchoring us in the shared convictions of the church through the ages. The confessions act as guardrails, protecting our doctrine from veering into error and ensuring we remain faithful to the gospel’s teachings as understood through historic orthodoxy.

RC Sproul emphasized that “the confessions are not authorities above Scripture, but they are helpful guides to understanding what the Scriptures teach.” By holding firmly to these creeds, we do not simply seek to replicate the faith of the past; we embrace a faith that has been tested and refined. In doing so, we remember that we are part of a larger story, a narrative that includes countless believers who have walked faithfully before us.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

The Reformers and Puritans laid the foundation we now stand on. John Calvin, often called the “theologian of the Holy Spirit,” insisted that God’s Word should be central to our faith and lives.

“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it swarms with many faults,”

he wrote. We carry forward his dedication to Scripture, seeking to ground all we do on the teachings of the Bible, understanding that it is through God’s Word that the church is continually reformed and renewed.

Jonathan Edwards, a later Reformed pastor and theologian, beautifully explained the essence of a legacy of faith. He wrote, “God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.” As a church, we aim not only to know about God but to know Him deeply and joyfully. This kind of relational faith is foundational to building a heritage that endures, one that captivates hearts and brings them into a vibrant, ongoing relationship with Christ.

Impacting the Generations

Our mission extends beyond our present community; it looks ahead to generations yet unborn. The heritage we seek to build is not just one of doctrine but of lived faith that shapes families, workplaces, and communities. The Reformers and Puritans, as well as Reformed teachers like Beeke and Sproul, have underscored the importance of generational faithfulness. Our desire is that each generation at Heritage Covenant Church would grow deeper in its love for Christ and commitment to live out the gospel.

Fostering Discipleship through the Means of Grace

One of the primary ways we aim to equip believers for lives of faith is through discipleship, which occurs in the context of the church. At Heritage Covenant Church, discipleship isn’t merely a program; it’s a lifestyle that involves intentional teaching, communal prayer, the sacraments, and fellowship. Joel Beeke underscores the power of family worship and church-integrated discipleship in shaping the next generation, writing,

“It is crucial for parents to show their children the beauty of worship and the worthiness of God.”

Our commitment to discipleship also encompasses our hospitality and missions efforts, through which we raise followers of Christ who are equipped to bring His light into their families, vocations, and communities. Our goal is to leave a legacy of faith that not only touches those in the church but also reaches those outside its walls. As RC Sproul said, “We are not called to be secret disciples, but to proclaim our faith and live it out publicly.”

Passing on a Living Faith

A heritage of faith isn’t simply preserved in creeds and confessions; it is passed down through families, relationships, and intentional mentorship. This aspect of discipleship is crucial. The Puritan Thomas Manton spoke of the importance of teaching the next generation, saying,

“We must be careful to transmit the faith to posterity and charge them with it.”

Our calling is to instruct, encourage, and model faith to our children, demonstrating a life transformed by the gospel.

How We Build for the Future

As a community, we are actively working to shape a church that will be a beacon of faithfulness for generations to come. This involves prayerful, deliberate planning and investing in ways that support our families, equip leaders, and encourage each member to live out their calling. A heritage of faith cannot thrive without intentionality in every area of church life, from corporate worship to individual discipleship.

A Vision for Generational Faithfulness

Generational faithfulness is central to our mission. We are guided by the words of Deuteronomy 6:7, which calls us to teach God’s commands diligently to our children. Our vision is for a church where discipleship is central in homes, where family worship is a regular practice, and where children grow up understanding the weight and glory of the gospel. Joel Beeke writes,

“We are called to teach our children not only the doctrines of grace but also to model lives of grace.”

This holistic view of discipleship includes teaching biblical truths and living them out before the watching eyes of our children.

Hospitality as a Model for Evangelism and Discipleship

Hospitality is another key component of our heritage-building efforts. By opening our homes and lives to one another and to those outside the church, we model the love of Christ in tangible ways. “Practice hospitality,” writes the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:13. Through hospitality, we create spaces where believers can grow in fellowship and where unbelievers can witness the love and grace of Christ firsthand. The Puritans understood hospitality as an essential part of Christian living, an opportunity to display Christ’s love to the world. At Heritage Covenant Church, we believe that creating a welcoming, open community is essential to building a faith heritage.

Education and Christian Worldview

Another pillar of building a heritage of faith is our commitment to education rooted in a Christian worldview. This commitment means that we aim to teach our children and congregation not only biblical truths but also how to interpret all of life through the lens of Scripture. We view education as an opportunity to equip future generations to live wisely, boldly, and faithfully in every sphere of life.

As RC Sproul emphasized,

“There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”

This declaration reflects our understanding that every area of life belongs to Christ, and therefore every subject and activity can be pursued to His glory.

Leaving a Legacy That Glorifies God

In all our efforts to build a heritage of faith, we aim to glorify God. This mission drives everything we do as a church. We are not building a heritage for its own sake or to create a legacy of our own making; we are building a heritage that points to the greatness, goodness, and sovereignty of God. Our desire is to be a church that future generations can look back on and see as faithful stewards of the gospel.

Passing the Torch

Leaving a lasting legacy requires us to continually “pass the torch” of faith to those who come after us. This involves intentionally discipling younger generations and raising leaders who can faithfully shepherd the church in the years to come. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “guard the deposit entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14) serves as a reminder that the gospel is not only a personal treasure but a treasure to be guarded and handed down.

Our aim at Heritage Covenant Church is that each generation will be a faithful witness to the next, sharing the light of the gospel until Christ returns. This vision demands a commitment to diligent discipleship, authentic relationships, and faithful teaching of God’s Word.

Conclusion: Building Together for the Glory of God

Building a heritage of faith requires each member of the church to engage in the work of discipleship, hospitality, and teaching. It’s a collective effort that calls for commitment, prayer, and humility. At Heritage Covenant Church, we are dedicated to creating a community that both honors the past and looks forward to the future, always striving to glorify God through faithful worship, teaching, and living.

We invite you to join us in this mission. Let us be a church that doesn’t merely look back with nostalgia or forward with anxiety but instead presses on, rooted in the eternal truths of Scripture and committed to the Great Commission. As we build this heritage together, may we find encouragement in the words of Jonathan Edwards, who said, “Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.” In God’s strength, may we continue to build a heritage of faith that endures for His glory and for the generations to come.