Hendersonville First United Methodist Church Hendersonville

Hendersonville First United Methodist Church

hfumc.org YouTube
Hendersonville 217 E. Main St.

Watch

Sermon clips from Hendersonville First United Methodist Church

44s

#SurrenderToGod

“The best thing that I've ever done in my life is to give completely and fully to god. Now does that not mean that sometimes I go, and sometimes do I do I worry about college and the stove that we just had to replace and a car and, you know, I told you 236,000 miles and I'm going 300 on an Avalon. Yeah. But I've never ever worried about what I give back to God. And I promise you there's a freedom.”

See all sermon resources
39s

#ActsOfKindness

“When's the last time you felt generosity from people? Sometime maybe somebody... A bill was paid for you or a meal was given to you or somebody showed up at a funeral for you. You don't even know the cost or time involved, they were just there. But you remember what it felt like to receive generosity. You see, generosity is rarely dramatic. Most of the time, it simply looks like ordinary people making quiet decisions over and over and over again.”

See all sermon resources
37s

#LetGoAndLetGod

“What I'm saying to you is that we get so caught up maybe worrying about what we think god wants from us that we hold on this stuff so hard. We start carrying all this around that we don't have capacity. And so what I need to do, I need to take out what I wanna give, and I'll put this away because I don't need this. So I'm just asking you... I'm just I'm just asking you to consider your own life.”

See all sermon resources

Explore

Questions about Hendersonville First United Methodist Church

Visiting

When and where are services?
Services are held each Sunday: traditional worship at **8:30 AM in the Sanctuary** and contemporary worship at **10:45 AM in the Gym**. (https://www.hfumc.org/services/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
What accessibility accommodations are available?
For the preschool program, the curriculum provides suggestions for adapting activities for children with disabilities and English language learners. The provided information doesn’t specify building or worship-service accommodations such as wheelchair access or assistive listening. (https://www.hfumc.org/curriculum/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
What is the worship format, and does it vary by service?
Yes—the worship format varies by service. Sundays at 8:30 AM in the Sanctuary, the traditional service features classic hymns, liturgy, and choir. At 10:45 AM in the Gym, the contemporary service offers modern worship music, a casual atmosphere, a coffee bar, and a praise band. (https://www.hfumc.org/services/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Can someone attend while exploring Christianity or questioning their beliefs?
Yes. Hendersonville First United Methodist Church says you’re welcome and accepted as part of the church wherever you are in your faith journey. Its groups also welcome people who are new to faith and offer opportunities to learn, ask questions, and connect with others. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/) (https://www.hfumc.org/groups/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Is registration required, or can someone simply arrive?
An RSVP is required if you plan to attend the dinner; the church asks you to RSVP by Sunday, February 26. The website doesn’t specify whether registration is needed for the Ash Wednesday service itself. (https://www.hfumc.org/ashwednesday/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup

Kids & families

Which service times have children's programs for each age group?
- **Nursery:** Sundays, **8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.**, covering both the 8:30 a.m. traditional and 10:45 a.m. contemporary services.
- **Preschool and elementary:** Sunday school is **9:30–10:30 a.m.**
- **6th grade:** Sunday-night confirmation is offered, but the time isn’t specified on the website. (https://www.hfumc.org/kids/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Do children need advance registration, and can visiting families participate?
Advance registration isn’t required, but it’s recommended for a child’s first visit to save time. Visiting families are welcome: stop at a welcome station when you arrive, and a volunteer will help check in and guide your child to the right room. (https://www.hfumc.org/kids/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup

Beliefs

What denomination or network does the church belong to?
Hendersonville First United Methodist Church belongs to the United Methodist denomination, as indicated by its name. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
What are its stated core beliefs?
Hendersonville First United Methodist Church states these core beliefs:

- **God is the living Creator and Ruler**, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- **Jesus Christ is God’s Son**, fully divine and fully human. He came for humanity’s salvation, died for believers’ sins, rose from the dead, and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
- **The Holy Spirit lives in believers** and empowers Christian life, understanding of Scripture, and the continuation of Jesus’ ministry.
- **Salvation is God’s gift**; the church says the sure way to salvation is to confess one’s sin and trust Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord.
- **Jesus will return**, receive believers into his eternal Kingdom, and judge the living and the dead.
- **The Bible is inspired by God** and contains what is necessary for salvation; read under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, it is the rule and guide for faith and practice. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
What roles can women hold in church leadership?
Women serve in ministry and staff leadership roles at HFUMC. Examples include the Director of Children’s Ministries, Directors of Church Administration and Friends First Respite Ministry, and Children First Preschool’s director and assistant director. (https://www.hfumc.org/our-staff/) (https://www.hfumc.org/amanda-overton/)

The website doesn’t state whether there are restrictions on other leadership offices, such as pastor.

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
What are its stated policies concerning LGBTQ people?
The materials provided do not state a specific policy concerning LGBTQ people—for example, about membership, marriage, or clergy. The church website describes its aim as creating an “inclusive environment” and welcoming “all” into the life of the church, but it does not specifically mention LGBTQ people. (https://www.hfumc.org/randa-brown/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Who leads the church, and how are leaders accountable?
Hendersonville First United Methodist Church is led by Senior Pastor Scott Aleridge, with Associate Pastor Jason Wilkerson and a staff serving in ministry and administrative roles. (https://www.hfumc.org/our-staff/)

The information provided describes financial transparency as one form of accountability: Pastor Scott says the church’s budget is open for members to review, including a breakdown of where the money goes. The sources provided don’t specify a formal process for holding pastors or other leaders accountable. ([37:15 from November 09, 2026])

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup

Teaching

Which recent sermons would help someone understand the teaching?
The recent sermon available here is Pastor Scott’s message on **generosity and tithing**. It would help someone understand the teaching by showing how generosity can take the form of ordinary acts of giving and service, not just dramatic gestures. ([29:40 from November 09, 2026])

Pastor Scott also connects generosity to biblical teaching, including Jesus’ words that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” and discusses tithing as a practice of giving back to God. ([32:14 from November 09, 2026]) He then uses a household-budget illustration to show how reconsidering spending can make room to give, and describes giving as a source of freedom. ([44:52 from November 09, 2026])

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
How does the church talk about sin, confession and forgiveness?
HFUMC teaches that sin is dealt with through Jesus: he paid for the sins of believers by dying on the cross. The church describes salvation as God’s gift and says the way to salvation is to confess one’s sin and trust Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
How does the teaching approach community and honesty with others?
The teaching presents community as a place where people support one another through prayer, fellowship, and service. The church describes prayer as a safe place to share worries and troubles, and its groups offer practical support, friendship, and opportunities to serve. (https://www.hfumc.org/pray/; https://www.hfumc.org/adults/)

Pastor Scott illustrates that support through examples of church members giving to people in need and a congregation welcoming his family with supplies when they adopted a newborn. He frames generosity as ordinary people caring for others through concrete actions. ([29:40 from November 09, 2026]) ([51:00 from November 09, 2026])

Honesty is modeled through openness about difficult or personal matters. Pastor Scott shares the church’s budget and pledges, explains his own giving practices, and acknowledges that money can lead to disagreements and ongoing struggle. ([37:15 from November 09, 2026]) ([38:12 from November 09, 2026]) ([41:29 from November 09, 2026])

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
How does the church approach doubt and suffering?
HFUMC’s materials don’t lay out a specific approach to doubt, but they emphasize welcoming people wherever they are in their faith journey, and invite them to bring worries and troubles to God and the church in prayer. The church describes the Bible, read with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, as a rule and guide for faith and practice. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/) (https://www.hfumc.org/pray/)

For suffering, the church emphasizes compassionate support and shared care. People facing grief, illness, job loss, or other challenges can seek confidential pastoral care or one-to-one support from a trained Stephen Minister. HFUMC also describes spiritual practices and community support as ways to walk through difficult seasons—and to help one another when someone is burned out or overwhelmed. (https://www.hfumc.org/congregationalcare/) (https://www.hfumc.org/groups/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
How does the church approach faith and work?
Hendersonville First UMC connects faith with work by treating people’s skills, gifts, and passions as ways to serve Christ and care for others, both inside and beyond the church. It invites members to put faith into action through practical volunteer roles, from teaching and hospitality to music, administration, and grounds care. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/) (https://www.hfumc.org/get-involved/)

Pastor Scott Aleridge also connects work with generosity: he points to Paul’s teaching that working hard should enable us to help people in need. He describes giving from one’s income as a practice of trusting God and supporting the church’s mission and community care. ([32:14 from November 09, 2026]) ([38:12 from November 09, 2026])

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Is an answer based on an official statement or an interpretation of sermons?
It depends on the source. The church website’s “What We Believe” section is an official statement of the church’s beliefs. (https://www.hfumc.org/about-us/)

By contrast, conclusions drawn from the sermon are interpretations of Pastor Scott Aleridge’s preaching. For example, he presents tithing as giving a tenth and encourages listeners to consider that practice; that is sermon teaching, not the same thing as a formal statement on the church’s website. ([34:06 from November 09, 2026])

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup

Community

Are there groups or introductory gatherings open to newcomers?
Yes. HFUMC offers short-term small groups each spring, summer, and fall, and says they’re for people who are new to faith or groups as well as those with experience. For example, the Men’s Small Group welcomes newcomers and people seeking to grow in faith. (https://www.hfumc.org/groups/)

There are also Sunday School classes you can visit, including the Followers class, which invites visitors, and the Poe Williams class, which welcomes people new to the church or Hendersonville. (https://www.hfumc.org/adults/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Can someone join groups or volunteer before becoming a member?
Yes. The website doesn’t list church membership as a requirement to join a group or volunteer. Group descriptions welcome people who are new to faith, and the church invites people to serve in areas such as hospitality, music, and children’s ministry. (https://www.hfumc.org/groups/) (https://www.hfumc.org/get-involved/)

For active volunteering, HFUMC requires an application, background check, Safe Sanctuaries training, and role-specific training; adults 18 and older must be cleared on the background check. (https://www.hfumc.org/safesanctuaries/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup
Who can answer a question the published information doesn't resolve?
Contact Hendersonville First UMC at **615-824-8725** or **communications@hfumc.org** for questions not answered by the published information. (https://www.hfumc.org/contactus/)

Last updated on

Copy link to this answer Ask followup

Ask your own question

Responses based on 1 sermon and the church website

PASTORS.AI
Hendersonville First United Methodist Church Sermon & website AI assistant

  • Hi, I’m a chatbot for Hendersonville First United Methodist Church trained on its website and 1 sermons

What do you believe?
What time is service?
What was the last sermon about?