We Are His Church Introduction: The Question We Can’t Avoid “Whatever people are willing to buy, he is willing to sell.” When a church loses clarity: It becomes unconvincing It becomes indistinguishable from the world So the question is: What are we doing here? Series Direction What do we actually believe? What kind of people does that belief create? Walking through the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith Not Scripture—but a summary of Biblical teaching Covers: Doctrine (salvation, God, etc.) Practices (communion, baptism) Ethics (abortion, MAID) Big Idea The church must clearly confess what it believes—because: Belief us Belief us Belief drives Belief fuels 1. Belief Us Goal: maturity (Ephesians 4:12–13) to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:12-14 Telos = becoming what you were meant to be Like an acorn becoming an oak tree Belief is not just the starting line (John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 It is the DNA of what we become Knowledge of Jesus = A new operating system Redefines: Reality Decision-making Relationships Good and evil Cultural tension: “Belief doesn’t matter—just be a good person” But: What you believe shapes how you live What you believe defines what is good Gospel truth: People are image-bearers → worthy of love and rescue Key line: You can’t live what is good if you don’t know what is true. Therefore: Belief forms us False belief deforms us 2. Belief Us Pressure: make faith more palatable But: The church is not a business We don’t change the product Warning (2 Timothy 4:3–4): For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 People gather teachers who tell them what they want Key question: Which Jesus will we show the world? Role of creeds: Not replacing Scripture Guarding clarity about Jesus Apostles’ Creed: Anchors us in the historic gospel Confession of Faith: Helps us live that truth today The church needs an immune system To discern truth vs. untruth Historical example: “Positive Christianity” in Germany Gospel reshaped by culture → catastrophic distortion Faith lesson: When culture defines truth → church serves something other than Jesus Counterexample: Confessing Church → Barmen Declaration Re-centered on: Jesus as Lord Scripture as authority Church not controlled by culture or state Present-day warning: Algorithms discipling us Politics shaping love Desire for cultural approval Ephesians 4:14: Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14 Not tossed by every of teaching Creeds = declaration: This is the gospel we received This is the gospel we will not change 3. Belief Drives Mission needs direction Direction comes from clarity Cultural moment: Information overload “You do you” → truth is subjective Reality: A post-truth world is Renewed interest in historic Christianity: Because it offers something solid The church offers: Truth that has endured Stability in a changing world Our identity: Rooted in Scripture Connected to historic faith Applied in our context Not: “We’re the only true church” But: Anchored in Jesus with the global church Practical outcome: Know what we believe Speak with clarity and confidence (1 Peter 3:15) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15 Key line: Clarity doesn’t just shape us—it sends us. Pastoral reflection: People are starving for: Something beautiful enough to sing about True enough to die for 4. Belief Fuels Theology leads to doxology The clearer we see God: Holiness Mercy Power Grace The more we respond with awe Loving God = wanting to know more of Him Worship builds: Confidence Resilience Truth for suffering: Pain is not infinite God is Key movement: From clarity → to awe → to worship 10 Reflection & Discussion Questions HOMEWORK: Read the Menonite Brethren Confession of Faith found here: https://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/the-mb-confession-of-faith-full-text/ What part of the opening story resonated most with you, and why? Where do you see the pressure to make Christianity more “palatable” in your context? How has what you believe actually shaped how you live this past week? Which false ideas about God or truth are most common in our culture right now? Where are you most vulnerable to being “tossed around” in your faith? What does it look like, in practice, for a church to have a healthy “immune system”? Why do you think clarity in belief is so attractive in a “post-truth” culture? How comfortable are you explaining what you believe to someone else? What holds you back? Does diving into theological questions lead you to worship or another emotion? If you are cautious about wading into questions of doctrine, what gives you concern? What would it look like for Gracepoint to become a church that is clearly anchored, deeply formed, and boldly on mission? What are the key points at which we need to engage our culture?