Faith & Worship
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because I see everything by it." (C.S. Lewis)
The articles below, which started life as sermons, are not comprehensive, and yes I know there are gaps, but they cover some of the subjects that might be loosely termed 'Basic Christianity' and might even help to inform you where there are doubts or questions in your mind!
Read John 3:16-17
Christian life is lived in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and in common with other Christians in the church seeking to deepen that relationship and to follow the way that Jesus taught.
For Christians God is understood and known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
…Father… God is love, caring for creation and for every human being as God's beloved child.
…Son… God is as he has revealed himself to be in the historical person of Jesus Christ. Jesus' life, death and resurrection holds the key to knowing and loving God, and to making sense of life, before and after death.
…and Holy Spirit… God is alive, loving and active today, inspiring faith, justice and truth, sustaining the life of the world, giving spiritual gifts to the church and bearing his spiritual fruit in the world - changed lives and a transformed society. (Source www.cofe.anglican.org/faith/christian/)
Within the context of worship in more formal denominations, one of the Creeds (statement of belief) handed down over the centuries may be said by the congregation. The earliest Creed used by the Church may well have been the simple statement 'Jesus is Lord!' but in order to tidy up loose ends, the early Church leaders arrived at the Nicene Creed, which sums up what most Christians would agree about.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
That's a lot to take in, and there may be lots of discussion needed in
order for you to assent to all those statements, but that's part of the
interest in taking the journey.
Never be afraid of asking difficult questions of your Minister. I belong
to the Methodist Church which encourages Christions to continually explore
their faith and ask questions, particularly asking God to open our hearts
to the understanding of his Word.
To fill in one or two of the gaps you might like to check out 'What do Christians Believe?'
©John Birch · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship. If reproduced elsewhere please acknowledge author/website
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