The Everyday Faith Steps:

• Born-again / Saved
• Water Baptized
• Holy Spirit Activated
• Healed + Set Free
• In Community
• Contributing
• Personal Growth
• Reproducing

Faith Scripture:

II Corinthians 5:7: For we walk by faith, not by sight.

The Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

He descended into hell;

on the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended to heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father;

From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church,

The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Apostles' Creed dates back to the 2nd century and was formalized into what we read today around 710AD.

What is a Creed?

A creed is a concise, formal statement of the shared core beliefs of a religious community. The English word comes from the Latin credo, meaning “I believe”. In Christianity, creeds summarize essential doctrines drawn from Scripture. They are used for public confession of faith, baptismal rites, instruction of new believers, liturgy/worship, and as a standard of orthodoxy to distinguish true teaching from error. They are secondary to Scripture. It is a “rule that is ruled” by the Bible rather than an equal authority.

A Creed is a set of beliefs that shapes behavior and identity.

• The Creed answers what it means to be a Christ Follower.
• The Creed informs our communal identity.
• The Creed helps clarify who God is.
• The Creed does not replace Scripture, but it binds the church to Scripture's saving pattern and guards it against distortions.

Why is it important?

To safeguard orthodoxy against early heresies, especially Gnosticism, which denied the goodness of the material creation, the true incarnation, and the physical suffering/death of Christ. Gnosticism is an ancient collection of religious and philosophical movements that taught salvation comes through secret or esoteric spiritual knowledge (gnosis) rather than faith or church authority. Nearly every phrase affirms what Gnostics rejected: God as Creator of heaven and earth, the real birth of Jesus from the Virgin Mary, his suffering under Pontius Pilate, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, etc.

Part 1: Credo – "I believe." Set the stage for establishing orthodoxy and Doctrine.

Part 2: Orthodoxy – This establishes the Orthodoxy of the Trinity. Orthodoxy - The word comes from the Greek word orthos, meaning "right" or "straight," and doxa, meaning "belief."

Part 3: Doctrine – This establishes the Doctrine of Jesus and his Finished Work. Doctrine comes from the Latin word doctrina; A core set of spiritual or theological beliefs taught by a church or faith.

Part 4: Ekklesia - The original Greek word for Church in the New Testament is ekklesia, or Called-OutOnes.

From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church,

The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

Acts 10: 34-43

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

II Timothy 4:1-5

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The Bema Seat (Judgment Seat of Christ)

• Target Audience: Believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

• Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10.

• Purpose: To evaluate a believer's works, service, and lifestyle after salvation to award rewards or crowns, not to determine eternal salvation.

• Outcome: Receiving rewards or suffering the loss of rewards, with no condemnation or eternal punishment. 

The Great White Throne of Judgment

• Target Audience: Unbelievers and the spiritually dead.

• Scripture Reference: Revelation 20:11-15.

• Purpose: To judge the wicked according to their deeds and final rejection of God's provision.

• Outcome: Eternal condemnation and separation from God in the lake of fire. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Through the proclamation of the gospel, He persuades men to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit, a person is led to trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit unites the believer to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth, and dwells within the regenerated. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son, who in turn came to glorify the Father. He will lead the Church into right understanding and rich application of the truth of God's Word. He is to be respected, honored, and worshiped as God, the Third Person of the Trinity. [TWBC Statement of Faith]

Imagine meeting Jesus for coffee, and he brings someone who knows how to fix the very thing you have been struggling with. Jesus, “Let me introduce you to 'Holy Spirit.' He has been my greatest asset and friend while I lived on the earth." He is so good we call him The Helper.

John 14:16-17

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:25-26

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 15:26-27

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:7

7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Paracletos - Greek: Only appears 5 times in the Bible. Four times are mentioned at the Last Supper; John 14-16

• Major Translation - Comforter

• Other Translations - Savior, Divine Encourager, Advocate, Strengthener, Intercessor

The purpose of a covenant is to provide a covering. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important in the New Testament.

The Holy Church, the communion of saints, 

God, by His Word and Spirit, creates the Church, calling sinful men out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ's Body. By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that new redeemed humanity. The Church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made  up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It also exists to serve Him by faithfully doing His will in the earth. This involves a commitment to see the gospel preached and churches planted throughout the entire world for a testimony. The ultimate mission of the Church is the making of disciples through the preaching of the gospel. When God transforms human nature, this then becomes the chief means of society's transformation. Upon conversion, newly redeemed men and women are added to a local church, in which they devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord's Supper, prayer, time, and tithes. All members of the Church universal are to be a vital and committed part of a local church. In this context, they are called to walk out the New Covenant as the people of God and demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God. The ascended Christ has given ministry gifts to the Church (including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) for the equipping of Christ's body that it might mature and grow. Through the gift ministries, all members of the Church are to be nurtured and equipped for the work of the ministry. In the context of the local Church, God's people receive pastoral care and leadership and the opportunity to employ their God-given gifts in His service in relation to one another and to the world. [TWBC Statement of Faith]

Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

• Devotion to Apostolic Teaching: Believers placed a high priority on learning and following the foundational doctrines taught by the apostles
• A Life of Fellowship (Koinonia): Members shared a deep, family-like bond, living in close unity and mutual support.
• The Breaking of Bread: This included sharing communal meals together as well as regularly observing the Lord's Supper.
• Commitment to Prayer: The community consistently gathered and relied on prayer for guidance, power, and thanksgiving.
• Awe, Signs, and Wonders: Signs and extraordinary miracles performed by the apostles accompanied the early movement, creating deep reverence.
• Generous Sharing: Believers held their possessions loosely, selling property and goods to provide for anyone in physical or financial need.
• Gladness and Numerical Growth: Marked by sincere joy and daily praise, their witness drew wide favor and resulted in steady daily conversions.

The forgiveness of sins,

Man's response to the gospel is rooted and grounded in the free and unconditional choosing of Jesus for his own pleasure and glory. It is also true that the message of the gospel is only effectual to those who genuinely repent of their sins and, by God's grace, put saving faith in Christ. The gospel of grace is to be sincerely preached to all people in all nations. Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidence by kingdom service or works. While neither repentance nor works save, unless a person is willing to deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Christ, he cannot become His disciple. 

[TWBC Statement of Faith]

Hebrews 9:11-14

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Consummation of all things includes the visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom on the new heavens and the new earth. In the Consummation, Satan with his host and all those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment, but the righteous in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with Him forever. Married to Christ as His Bride, the Church will be in the presence of God forever, serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be 

fulfilled and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God who makes all things new. [TWBC Statement of Faith]

Revelation 21:5-7

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without  payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my Son.