By Pastor Richie Allen
For small churches like First Baptist Church, it is important to to stick to the basics of what a churches focus is to be. Here are 4 things a small church needs to practice.
1. Stop playing the game!
God didn’t call you to be a carbon copy of a “successful” ministry.(It might be worth it to re-examine what “successful” means to you, anyway.) He called you to minister. God gave you a unique calling with a unique approach to touching people’s lives. But maybe you have swept that under the rug in the interest of being more “relatable” or palatable.
2. Know that G𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐘𝐎𝐔.
David was nothing like Gideon.
Abraham was not Moses.
Peter was a completely different breed of leader than Paul.
But they were ALL anointed to lead.
And they were all effective.
3. Know Your Assignment
They learned that they could be their unique selves and lead the way they were gifted to lead. They learned that their greatest strength was not in what they did well, but who walked with them while they operated in their strengths and even while they stumbled in their weaknesses.
4. You𝘽𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.
If you’re gifted to prophecy, do that and allow God to use it.
If you’re gifted in worship, do that and allow God to use it.
If you’re gifted to walk with people and disciple them, do that.
Don’t be a Kirkland version of Coke.
Don’t be a cheap imitation of Elevation. Or Maverick City. Or Church of the Highlands. Or Bethel.You won’t do that well because that wasn’t your calling. It was theirs.
The Kingdom will benefit from the ministry you do because God called YOU to do it.
Millions of people say that they are “Christians” and are part of the belief system of the Christian religion. But do some claim the name of Christ, then follow beliefs and practices that are the antithesis of what Christ taught?
Does Jesus Christ have many different church denominations, each teaching a different set of beliefs and practicing different doctrines?
Has Christianity departed from the original teachings of the Church Christ established? The truth may cause you to challenge your present Christian views and beliefs.
Let the Bible be your guide
In order to understand how God looks at today’s religious scene, examine what the Bible says about the following questions:
Question 1: Is there one Church or many denominations?
Jesus Christ did not come to establish many different denominations. Instead He stated, “On this rock [Christ Himself] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [the grave] shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The true Church He founded would never cease to exist. Jesus backed up this announcement with the promise that He would continually support and sustain His Church: “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
This Church will teach the same things Jesus commanded, preach the same gospel message He preached and contend earnestly for the same faith He delivered to the saints (Matthew 28:20; 24:14; Jude 1:3). This Church, called the Church of God throughout the New Testament, will practice the original Christianity. It does not have multiple denominations or multiple sets of beliefs.
Where is the Church that Christ founded, with the promise that He would be its leader, guiding and leading His Church throughout all ages (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:20)?
According to the Word of God, His Church surely exists today! And Christ is the Head of His Church.
Question 2: What does the Bible say about the size of the true Church?
Have those faithful to God ever been many in numbers?
Jesus prophesied, “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14, emphasis added throughout). At no time did the true Church consist of large numbers of people—only a few would find the way of truth.
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Even at the end of Christ’s 3½-year ministry, the number of disciples was small (Acts 1:15).
But the “little flock” has continued to survive until this present time—just as Christ promised it would!
Question 3: But aren’t there many sincere Christians?
Many who claim to be Christian are sincere and well-meaning, but sincerity by itself does not assure understanding of biblical truths. You can be sincere in your desire to do what is right, but be sincerely wrong.
The apostle Paul was sure that he was doing the right thing when he persecuted true believers. He stated, “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13).
Why?
“I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13). Paul was zealous and sincere in persecuting true Christians, but he was sincerely wrong.
Is it possible that we could be sincere in our religious beliefs and practices, yet also be wrong?
Question 4: How can we know if our faith is biblical?
Paul admonished the members of the Church of God at Corinth to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test [scrutinize closely] yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5, New International Version). The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips translates the end of this verse, “You ought to know by this time that Christ is in you, unless you are not real Christians at all.”
Are we willing and sincere enough to follow Paul’s instructions and examine our beliefs in order to see if they are in harmony with the Bible?
The New Testament states that “perilous times” will exist in “the last days,” when people will appear to be religious, but lack a proper fear of God, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1, 5).The New Testament states that “perilous times” will exist in “the last days,” when people will appear to be religious, but lack a proper fear of God, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1, 5).
Is it then strange that Christ will say to some who may have thought they were true Christians: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Once we have proved that our beliefs are biblically based, then we are admonished to “test [prove] all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Question 5: What does the Bible say about religious deception?
Is it possible that most people who profess Christian beliefs are blindly following false religious ideas and doctrines?
Christ warned: “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). Notice this verse does not say the few will be deceived, but the many.
The Bible states that Satan the devil is the perpetrator of this great worldwide deception. It is important to understand that Satan is a great deceiver and a liar and, as Christ stated, “the father of it [lies]” (John 8:44).
Notice these revealing scriptures:
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). No area of the world is immune from his deceptions. No individual is immune from his power and subtle influences.
The apostle Paul spoke about those “whose minds the god of this age [Satan] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The invisible Satan blinds the minds of people so that they do not understand or accept the gospel message of Christ. In fact, they accept a false, contrary gospel that is not biblically based.
Millions sincerely believe they are following Christ, but instead have been duped by a counterfeit Christianity. The Bible says that Satan has “his ministers” who “transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:15). These false ministers preach “another Jesus” and have a “different spirit” and teach “a different gospel” (verse 4).
It is shocking to realize that there is a false form of Christianity that people have been tricked into following!
Satan rules over all the kingdoms of this world. Tempting Christ, he said, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). Satan claimed that all the nations of the world belong to him.
Christ also confirmed that Satan has a kingdom (Matthew 12:26).
Satan’s rule over the nations will finally come to an end when Christ returns to take over his kingdoms, and then install His own eternal government over all nations (Revelation 11:15). Everlasting peace and harmony between nations will finally be established under the governing authority of Jesus Christ!
Question 6: What is the Bible definition of a Christian?
What is a real Christian, and how would you recognize him or her?
Christ stated that it is possible to worship Him, but to do it in vain: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines [beliefs] the commandments of men” (Mark 7:6-7). To love Christ is to keep His commandments, and not to reject them as many do: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).
Paul wrote that the natural human mind is at “enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8).
Clearly something has to change if we have a heartfelt desire to please God. Fortunately, there is good news. The Bible reveals what changes must occur in our lives for Christ to live His life in us (Galatians 2:20).
Romans 8:9 says, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
So if we do not have God’s Spirit, we do not belong to Him—we are not true Christians! But how then do we receive the Spirit of God so that we can belong to Him?
On the Day of Pentecost in A.D. 31 the multitude present asked the apostle Peter what they should do to be saved. He answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Notice that in order to receive the Holy Spirit they had to follow these steps:
Repent—to come to understand that our ways and conduct displease God and then begin to change our way of life, genuinely and from the heart. We need to do our utmost to stop sinning, which is transgressing the laws of God (1 John 3:4).
Be baptized. The Bible teaches that this is to be done by total immersion in water.
Then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of a minister’s hands (Acts 8:17; 19:6).
Please download and study our free booklet Change Your Life! which outlines the biblical steps in the conversion process.
Looking for the church behind Life, Hope & Truth? See our “Who We Are” page.
Let the Bible show you the way
The true Church is comprised of individuals who are described at the end of this present age as those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).
Jesus promised that He would be with His Church until the end of time, and that He would continue to build His Church. God’s Church is comprised of those who have committed their lives to Christ by keeping “His commandments” and doing “those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).
The choice is ours to make. Either we show our willingness to submit to the will of God, or we can decide to go our own way.
God, as a loving Father, urges us to choose His way of life because of its clearly superior benefits. Yet God never forces His will upon us. He leaves that choice up to each one of us. Will you choose authentic Christianity or a counterfeit?
About the Author
Andre van Belkum
Andre van Belkum currently serves as the pastor of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in New Zealand and the Pacific region. Previously he pastored congregations in southern Africa, including South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
“…But He loves him who follows righteousness.” Proverbs 15:9
I try to read my devotions every day or as often as I can (because life can get crazy, right?). Devotions keep me on track spiritually and deepen my faith. So, not long ago. I was reading a certain devotion that reminded me of how we ̶ when we accept Christ into our hearts ̶ become the righteousness of God. Then, we are to continue pursuing righteousness (Proverbs 15:9).
I started wondering, what does it mean to pursue righteousness? What does that look like? I ask because there seems to be some confusion. If our righteousness can only come from Jesus, what is there to pursue? How can we pursue something that only belongs to Him?
It turns out (you guessed it) the Bible details how we are supposed to pursue righteousness so we can perfect our faith. But, first we need to know where righteousness begins.
Righteousness Belongs to Jesus
For years, the Israelites kept a hope alive that God would one day send someone to redeem them from sin. Unfortunately, many of them are still waiting. But for those who have accepted Jesus as the promised Christ, we have a new hope based in His righteousness that covers our sin.
Our righteousness begins with understanding that we are not pleasing to God because of our sin. Isaiah 64: 6 says,
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”
We are not worthy to stand in God’s presence. His holiness and perfection cannot tolerate sin, plain and simple. Our incurable sin nature requires a Redeemer who can justify us and cover our sin with holy righteousness so that the Father will accept us. Jesus is our Redeemer and the only one who can do this.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“The Lord is our righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6
Jesus freely offers us justification and His righteousness when we experience His saving grace. Without Jesus, God cannot accept us. We are still filthy rags. So, it’s important to receive Jesus’ righteousness. After then, it’s up to us to keep working it by desiring holiness above all else and pursuing a Christ-like character.
Pursuing righteousness means we become a “work in progress.” It’s perfected over time through our obedience to Him, and it slowly reveals itself as evidence of our faith. We work at it every day with the goal of seeing its true perfection one beautiful day when we see Jesus in person.
Growing Closer to Him
We can’t pursue righteousness alone. We need the Lord’s help. Here are five everyday ways you and the Lord can work out your righteousness so you grow closer in your relationship.
Seek His Presence
Working out, whether spiritually or physically, requires showing up. Not showing up means nothing gets done, which is why we need to seek the Lord’s presence every day. Reading His words and spending time talking to Him are basic ways to pursue righteousness. You’ve been told this advice countless times, no doubt, but it bears repeating if we are serious about growing closer to Him
Walk in the Spirit
In Galatians 5:22–23, the apostle Paul details the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Holy Spirit guides and convicts us to practice these attributes every day so we bear good fruit (do what is good for us and those around us) and demonstrate our pursuit of righteousness to others.
Good fruit grows more good fruit. Our choices affect the people around us. Walking in the Spirit not only deepens our relationship with God, it encourages others in their pursuits too. Don’t forget, we’re all in this together.
Invite Wisdom
God places great value on wisdom, so much that He wants you to specifically ask for it. Here are a few scripture verses to consider.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13
“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.” Proverbs 8:12
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5
It’s not on Paul’s list of spiritual fruit, but I believe seeking godly wisdom is evidence of righteousness. Wisdom might be useful for everyday types of situations, but godly wisdom is on a whole other level. Godly wisdom involves a deeper knowledge of God and His ways, a better understanding of right and wrong, and confidence to respond to others from a place of love.
Invite wisdom into your walk with God. Just ask Him for it. It’s there for the taking.
Be Generous
Jesus was the most generous person to ever walk the earth. His sacrifice on the cross for us clearly shows His giving nature. As His disciples, we too are called to be generous.
Galatians 6:10 tells us to “do good things for all.” Jesus Himself tells us it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). And since love is the greatest fruit of the Spirit, John tells us in 1 John 3:17, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” John is saying we should be appropriately generous with our love.
Generosity is then not only a requirement of our Christian walk, but it’s also a by-product of our pursuit of righteousness. It’s a natural outflowing of being in a relationship with Jesus.
We can be generous by utilizing another Biblical principle- our time, talent, and treasure. Each of us always has one of the three available for the benefit of others. Make it a habit to daily examine what you can give to someone else to make their day better.
Don’t Be Short-sighted
We usually associate short-sightedness with a lack of long-term vision. Peter talks about it another way in 2 Peter 1:5–9:
“…Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”
In many ways, Peter is echoing what Paul wrote about the fruits of the Spirit in the book of Galatians. He reminds us to be virtuous, knowledgeable in the Word, use self-control, and persevere in all circumstances to produce godliness, which all leads to evidence of God’s love within us.
Peter takes things a step further than Paul by stating matter-of-factly that we will have forgotten our salvation if we don’t pursue righteousness. This is what he means by short-sightedness and implied self-righteousness, and why it’s so important to avoid it.
Don’t Give Up
Pursuing righteousness is an ongoing journey. Encourage yourself daily in the Lord by keeping your eyes on Him, reading the Word, praying and asking for wisdom, and making purposeful efforts to walk in the Spirit. This is what Paul prays for in Philippians 1:9–11,
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
Though God knows our righteousness will never be perfect on this side of Heaven, He is always pleased to see our determination. The simple act of trying and persisting captures His attention every time. So, don’t give up. Pursue your righteousness in the Lord remembering He blesses those who seek Him (Lamentations 3:25).
“You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways.” Isaiah 64:5
What are the 5 Basic Beliefs of Christianity?
At Awaken City Church, we desire to provide answers to some of the most common questions being asked about Christianity today. As a local Christian Church in Herriman, Utah, we gather together on Sundays to study the Bible and learn more about God's purposes and love for us. That said, we understand not everyone is ready and/or comfortable to come to church - which is totally okay! If you do decide to join us sometime in the future, feel free to check out our service details here - we hope to meet you sometime soon!
Christianity Beliefs
So what exactly do Christians believe? That's a great question. While we could easily write a 10,000 word essay about Christian beliefs, we decided to break it down to 5 basic, core beliefs all Christians hold to. Here we go!
#1 - God
Christians believe there is only one God. God has existed from the beginning of time. He created and sustains all things. God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (all present). God is perfect, holy and good.
#2 - The Bible
We believe the primary way God has revealed himself to humanity is through His Word, the Bible. God spoke directly to and through people who then wrote and maintained the scriptures we find in the Bible today. The Bible is the primary means in which we come to understand God and His character. We realize you may have questions about the trustworthiness of the Bible - we recommend this more detailed article about Why You Can Trust Your Bible.
#3 - Jesus
Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God. He has existed from the very beginning with God; thus, he was not created, but the creator of everything. Christians believe Jesus is both fully-God and fully-human. He lived a perfect life during his ~33 years on earth and was crucified on a cross to forgive the sins of those who trust in him.
Jesus is the founder of Christianity and the Christian Church. He is the core of our worship, focus and teaching.
#4 - Sin
We believe that all people are separated from God through what the Bible refers to as sin. In short, sin is anything people do that is against God's good and perfect will. Sin creates the biggest problem in the entire world - the separation of people from their loving and holy God. HINT - don't stop reading here - time for #5!
#5 - Salvation Through Faith in Jesus
God was not okay with the separation that sin caused for each and every one of us; therefore, he sent Jesus to sacrifice himself and take on the just punishment that we deserve. Christians believe that trusting and accepting Jesus' free gift of forgiveness for us is the only way to reconcile our broken relationship with God. The second we believe, trust and commit to following Jesus, all of our sins are forgiven. This is the "good news", or Gospel message, that Christians are so thankful for and passionate about.
Conclusion
As followers of Jesus, we believe that each of these 5 core truths are the foundation of Christianity. Put another way, we would argue these are the hills Christians are willing to die on, as they are essential and critical themes found throughout the Bible. We hope this has been a helpful overview of the 5 basic beliefs of Christianity. We'll continue to answer some of the most common questions people are asking about Christianity in future blog articles. Until then!
Participating together with your church is incredibly important. And Hebrews 10:23-25 underscores this by providing at least five compelling reasons to participate with your church as much as possible. What are these five reasons?
1. Participating with your church on a regular basis strengthens your testimony of salvation (Heb. 10:23).
Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering.
In the first century, gathering together with your church included an element of risk. The unbelieving Jewish community threatened to act in hostility toward church gatherings (Acts 17:5-9). And the Roman government grew increasingly suspicious of Christian activity. But nowhere does the New Testament suggest that persecution and hostility provided ample reason to withdraw from church. Instead, church participation in the face of hostility provided a tremendous display of resolve. A professing believer who refrained from assembling with his church due to persecution raised questions about the authenticity of his faith. Those who congregated with their church regardless of persecution made it very clear that they trusted in the Lord – just as Daniel declared his faith by open worship of God in the face of hostility (Dan. 6:10).
2. Assembling faithfully with your church is a legitimate response to God for His faithfulness to you (Heb. 10:23).
For He is faithful that promised.
God is faithful (Lam. 3:23; 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 5:24; Heb. 11;11). He is reliable. He is trustworthy in every way. Are you? There are many ways to show appreciation for God’s faithfulness to you, to respond with faithfulness to Him. And among them, the Bible clearly teaches that faithful participation with your church is an appropriate, expected response to God’s faithfulness to you. Be faithful to participate with your church because God is faithful to you. What does it take to prevent you from assembling with your church?
3. Persistently meeting together with your church provides you with regular opportunities to serve your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (Heb. 10:24).
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.
Assembling with your church is a matter of service, not just showing up. When you gather with your church, you should bring with you an expectation of participation. Jesus Christ, our Lord, exemplified perfectly this perspective of being a servant (Mk. 10:44-45). And it is the responsibility of every Christian to follow His example. Every believer is a minister, called and equipped to serve one another through church participation (Eph. 4:11-12). And Hebrews 10:24 outlines three particular ways that you should expect to serve others in your church when you gather together. You should pay careful attention to the needs of fellow believers and endeavor to meet those needs. You should nudge one another to become more loving and more focused on doing good works. And you should encourage one another to persist in doing what is right. To serve your church in these ways, you need to assemble together.
4. Consistent church involvement is a matter of obedience to God (Heb. 10:25).
No forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.
God expects you to assemble together with the people of your church. Apart from any other reasons or motivations, this should be a strong enough reason to assemble. Don’t abandon church. Don’t leave church participation behind. Don’t stop gathering together. That’s the ongoing expectation that God clearly provides.
5. Routinely gathering with your church prepares you for the soon return of Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:25).
And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
As the world spins and time marches forward, the day that Jesus Christ returns grows closer. Challenges to faith, hostility towards Christ, and obstacles to faithful church participation increase. And how should you respond? You should not respond by decreasing your church participation. Instead, you should respond by increasing your level of involvement with your church. Assembling with your church family strengthens your faith in so many positive, powerful ways that cannot be achieved any other way. What does it take to keep you away from church?
5 Reasons Why Having Faith Is So Important
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” — Thomas Aquinas
Why is Faith so Important?
Sometimes, when things don’t go according to plan, we lose faith, not only in ourselves, but also in any potential outcome in our lives. Failure will do that to you. When we experience life’s monumental failures, it’s easy to lose hope, and even faith.
But what’s the difference?
Faith, at its core, is deep-rooted in the expectation of good things to come. It goes beyond hope. While much of hope lives in the mind, faith is steeped in the heart and the spirit. It can’t be explained away by reason or logic, or be understood through a single dimension.
While life can be hard at the best of times, faith is the knowledge, deep down inside, that things will get better. It’s taking the next step when you can’t see the entire staircase. Simply put, life would fail to have reason if we didn’t have faith.
We couldn’t drive our cars without faith that someone wouldn’t cross the divider and crash into us. If we didn’t have faith, how could we fly in an airplane, a metallic machine soaring 35,000 feet in the air? Without faith, how could we move from one moment to the next without completely second-guessing every last thing that we did?
Without faith, we couldn’t expect that things would turn out all right for us no matter what the situation might be.
Faith, then, is just as important as the air we breathe. While the oxygen in the air nourishes the body, faith nourishes the heart and the soul. It’s the energy that courses through every single fiber and cell within our beings. It’s part of every muscle and every strand of thought. It is the fundamental foundation of our existence.
Simply put, the importance of faith cannot be underestimated.
People have moved mountains with their faith. Even when situations seemed dire and bleak, it was their faith that carried them through. There’s little to no explanation for it in the physical realm; it’s the metaphysical fiber that binds us all, carrying each of our deepest wishes and desires. That’s where faith lives.
Unfortunately, some people don’t believe in things that they cannot see. They explain things away due to other causes and effects, failing to find the small miracles in life that exist and work in our favor on a constant basis. There’s an enormous level of importance attributable to having faith in life.
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5 Reasons to Have Faith
Faith isn’t just a notion that some people hold onto in tough times; faith is an important element to all human life on earth. Life is precious, but it can also be remarkably difficult at times. Faith is what helps to get us through, illuminating the pathway in times of darkness, helping to give us strength in times of weakness. Without faith, we are nothing.
Here are 5 reasons why having faith is so important in life.
#1 — The focused power of faith breeds abundance
The mind is an incredibly powerful tool. It can be used for good, but also go to waste when neglected or abused. In times of trouble, we tend to move away from positivity. We go from a state of abundance to a state of lack. But, faith is the tool that helps replenish abundance in the heart and the spirit, not just in the mind.
Whatever it is that we focus on in life, we get more of. If we focus on problems, we live solely in those problems and have difficulty moving past the negativity. Alternatively, however, when we focus on positivity and seek out solutions, we can resolve our problems and move from a state of lack back to a state of abundance.
When we train our minds to think in abundance, and we hold unwavering faith, we gravitate towards that. We attract good things because we believe and expect in good things to come. Similarly, when we believe and expect bad things to come, we also attract that into our lives.
Faith is the pathway for abundance, so be sure to hold it at the forefront of your mind. Don’t be afraid to expect the very best for yourself. This isn’t about being selfish or aimlessly wishing for things; this is about the true, utter, deep-down belief in your heart and your soul that things will improve, and that you deserve the very best in life.
#2 — Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
There’s a powerful story in the bible called the Book of Job. The story is about a man named Job who was as astute as any man could be. He believed strongly in God and held high is faith. But the story goes that one day the devil paid God a visit. The topic of discussion? Job’s faith.
The devil reasoned that Job was faithful because he had been blessed with so much in life. Family, money, land, and respect. But the devil proposed that should God take any number of these things away from Job, he would no longer be the faithful man that God held him up to be. The devil claimed that Job would curse God and that his point would be all but proven. God, of course, disagreed.
So, this agreement began when God began taking things away from Job’s life. Over the course of these trials, Job loses everything that he had worked so hard to create over the years. His livestock, all his money, his family, his friends, and his health. However, even when his wife told him he should curse God, Job didn’t. He remained faithful.
Afterwards, God restored all of Job’s worldly possessions, family, and health. To add to that, God multipled what Job once had many times over. The moral of the story? Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Times might be bad and you might want to throw in that proverbial towel. But never lose faith. For a person without faith is likened to a stream without water — they would cease to exist.
#3 — Faith helps you to discover your purpose in life
Going through life and all of its ups and downs can take a toll on us. At times, it’s enough to question our very existence. But through all of the trials and tribulations we might face, it’s faith that gives us that helping hand. It works to guide us in the right direction, moving us towards and allowing us to discover our purpose in life.
This doesn’t happen overnight. Usually, when we’re faced with a difficult situation, it gets harder before it gets better. Little by little, a part of us is broken, until one day, we dig deep down inside and somehow find the strength we needed to make it through. That strength comes from our faith. Whether it’s your faith in God or in something else, that faith shall set you free.
Everything in life is far easier to get through when we have faith. It’s the guiding light that helps push us towards our purpose.
#4 — Faith trumps stress, anxiety, and fear
It’s easy to allow stress, anxiety, and fear to run our lives. We go from moment to moment worried about one thing or another. Sometimes, those worries manifest themselves into highly-stressful situations, causing not only mental anguish, but physical problems as well. There’s a clear and documented connection between stress and the increased likelihood of disease and illness.
When we allow our minds to move into that realm unchecked, there’s no telling of the damage that can be done. But it’s faith that helps to keep those things at bay. Even when we have no reason to believe that things will get better, it’s through faith that our situations do improve. When you hold the utter expectation of that in your mind, no challenge is too difficult.
Learn to harbor faith and use it to eliminate stress, anxiety, and fear. Think back to situations in the past when you made it through something you thought was insurmountable. Believe and expect that good things will happen, and they will. This isn’t about ignoring your problems; this is about knowing that your situation will improve deep down inside your heart and your soul.
#5 — It acts as the pathway to finding solutions
Faith is the pathway to finding solutions in life. Keep in mind that human beings were made to thrive, and not just survive. If you’re only surviving, there’s far greater in store for you. There’s a pathway to all of your solutions, and that pathway is steeped in faith and the expectation of greater things to come in time.
No matter what the situation is, no matter how bad or dire you think it might seem, your faith can and will get you through it. You must accept that as fact, and hold on to the expectation of greater things to come. Don’t stop pushing or searching for an answer to help resolve whatever situation you might be facing in your life.
If you really want something in life, and I mean you really want it deep down inside and you have a strong-enough reason you absolutely must achieve it, faith is the thing that helps you to see that through. It’s at the core of a persistent heart. Never give up on your hopes and your dreams just because you faced some initial setbacks. Lean on your faith as often as possible and you’ll soon come to realize why having unwavering faith is so important in life.
5 Things Thriving Churches Do Well
Set your goals. Grow your church.
BY ABBY PERRY
Thriving churches are very good at doing five critical things—and they’re the same things commonly neglected by plateauing or declining churches. Learn the 5 hallmarks of a healthy church by downloading the Church Engagement Workbook today.
What are the hallmarks of a healthy church congregation? How can they be measured—and if they’re found lacking, how can they be cultivated?
Church innovation leader Matt Engel says the health of a church depends on its ability to do five things well: attract, get, keep, grow, and multiply people. Every activity or program within a church should serve one of those goals. By understanding what the goal is, a church can then measure the effectiveness of each ministry.
In the church, Engel explains, we often “assume that an activity equals an outcome. We may say, ‘We’ve done this backpack drive, therefore we must be doing good.’” But if the backpack drive was meant to keep attendees returning to your church and all it did was attract people to a one-time event, was it successful?
“Churches are great at measuring activities while assuming outcomes,” warns Engel. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Instead, Engel advocates for a know-and-match mentality where church leaders see ministry gaps and strategically choose how to fill them. Thinking in terms of the five goals isn’t just strategic—it’s an effective pastoral framework that supports relational disciple-making.
1. Attract to Show You Care.
Before people will serve in your church, they first must be welcomed into it. According to Engel, the key to attract is offering value without a call to action. Simply put: make people aware that your church exists and that its leaders care about the well-being of people, regardless of what they receive in return.
These efforts do not need to be large-scale, expensive, or resource-consuming. Engel recommends a bite-sized statement on social media or a few-minute video with tips on how to love your spouse or have fun with your kids. It’s all about adding value to your community so that people in your proximity know there’s a church that cares nearby.
2. Get to Make New Connections.
The goal of get is to move people from awareness of your church into connection with your church. This may look like them attending an event, program, or church service, whatever ends in a new, personal connection.
Having a clear vision and goal for each event or program is essential. Take a marriage night, Engel says. One pastor may see this as an outreach designed with the goal of getting and creating those personal connections, while another sees it as a service to keeping existing congregants engaged. Both goals are good, but knowing which goal takes priority, and therefore how to measure its effectiveness, is key. One church found that by framing their marriage event this way, focussing on get rather than keep, they created as many new connections in one night as they typically would in 11 Sunday services.The goal was supported by the outcomes.
3. Keep to Build Steady Community.
Keep refers to not just welcoming new people to your church but helping them become involved as active participants in the life of the church. Every Sunday’s goal should be to keep, says Engel.
Keep isn’t limited to Sunday planning though. Launching a text campaign after a sermon series that features related resources can help engage your people since you’re inviting them into ongoing connection. Church leaders can also use data from these campaigns to flag patterns of disengagement, which can be the precursor to long-time attendees leaving the church.
4. Grow to Go Deeper with Congregants.
Rather than tracking congregational attendance numbers, Engel argues that grow should refer to individual progress, which may be reflected in the five dimensions of human flourishing: spiritual growth and development, financial well-being, mental and emotional well-being, vocational or career well-being, and relational well-being.
Knowing that 150 people participated in your church’s small group program may sound good, but does that convey anything meaningful about each individual’s relationship with Scripture, other participants, or the church as a whole? Not necessarily.
Engel advocates for a model of intention–and assessment–that provides pastors with more information and more options. One church held a date night that was grow-oriented. During this event, the couples took a pre- and post-assessment. After the two-hour event, couples who had the most to lose—those who had, before the event, circled “1” on a scale of 1-5 measuring marital satisfaction—circled “4” on the post-assessment. The success of this event was measurable and therefore repeatable. By aligning goals with staggered assessments, pastors can track meaningful growth through their various events, ministries, and outreaches.
5. Multiply to Make Disciples.
Multiply is the piece of the framework that invites congregants to “flip from a consumer to a contributor.” When church leaders encourage their congregants to join them in the work of multiplication, they are equipping them to partner with the church in meeting the needs of others rather than merely seeing the church as a place to have their personal needs met.
Long-term congregants may need support in cultivating intentional multiplication. Simple resources and calls to action, like providing congregants with encouraging videos to share on social media, can motivate and empower congregants to learn more about their church and community.
Empowered to be Effective
The point of all of this, Engel argues, is singular and scriptural: it should help churches make disciples. That’s why this system prioritizes inviting people to participate in the mission of the gospel rather than treating them as consumers.
This five-goal framework can help facilitate purposeful action in your church. Designed to encourage greater involvement, stronger relationships, and higher levels of participation, the Church Engagement Workbook provides everything you need to begin matching your programs and events to the needs of your congregation and community.