Section Three
A People
The Three Greats
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Christianity is more than a set of beliefs, calling believers to believe in Christ, belong to His community, and live out His teachings. The Great Tradition centers on who Jesus is, the Great Commission calls believers to make disciples, and the Great Commandment calls them to love God and others, even across deep divisions. Together, these three essentials shape both what Christians believe and how they live.
The Kingdom
14
Following Jesus means living under God’s rule and participating in His kingdom rather than following the ways of the world. Though God’s kingdom has already begun through Christ, its fullness is still to come, calling believers to serve others, seek the good of their communities, and faithfully invest their lives in work that matters for eternity.
Freedom and Spirit
15
True freedom is not found in having unlimited choices but in being freed from dependence on ourselves and our own performance. Through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, believers are released from condemnation and transformed into Christ’s likeness as they continually turn their attention toward Him. This ongoing transformation leads to a life marked by maturity, love, goodness, and true freedom.
The Church
16
The church is called to embody Christ’s presence in the world through shared life, mutual love, and service. Though churches differ in structure and are inevitably imperfect, Christ unites believers as one body, giving each person a role in building up the community and serving others. Rather than pursuing a perfect church, Christians are called to pursue a healthy one marked by generosity, humility, and faithful service.
Worship
17
Gathering together around God reorients our lives and prepares us to follow Him in the world. Through Scripture, prayer, community, and practices like generosity and service, we are formed into disciples who can faithfully respond to the challenges of everyday life. What happens in these moments shapes not only how we understand God, but also who we become.
Sacraments
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The physical and spiritual are not separate from one another, as God uses ordinary things to reveal His presence and communicate His grace. Sacred practices draw believers into the story of Christ, strengthen their identity within the church, and point beyond themselves to God’s redeeming work. Through these tangible signs, believers are reminded that God meets them in both the ordinary and the sacred.