Series: Written For You, Not To You
-
So How Is It For You?

Part 7 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. We have spent six posts taking things away from you. You are not the hero. It is not your mail. That is not your promise. If that were the whole series, I would have done you… Continue reading
-
That Promise Had an Address, and It Wasn’t Yours

Part 6 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. I promised you back in the first post that I would give Jeremiah 29:11 back to you. It is time. But to give it back the right way, I first have to take it apart, because… Continue reading
-
Did God Command That, or Just Record It?

Part 5 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. A man once told me, with total sincerity, that he made big decisions the way Gideon did. He would lay out a “fleece.” God, if you want me to take this job, let it rain tomorrow.… Continue reading
-
Read It the Way It Was Written

Part 4 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. You already know how to do this. You do it every day without thinking. When you read the weather report, you take it flat. Rain Thursday means rain Thursday. When you read a love note, you… Continue reading
-
You’re Reading Somebody Else’s Mail

Part 3 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. Imagine you found a letter in an old shoebox at an estate sale. No envelope, no date, the top corner torn off. It opens in the middle of a fight. “You have to stop letting your… Continue reading
-
You Are Not the Hero of This Story

Part 2 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. Every Sunday school flannelgraph got this wrong, and I say that with love, because I grew up on those flannelgraphs. A small shepherd boy stands in a dry valley. A giant roars across the way. The… Continue reading
-
Not Written To You, But Written For You

Part 1 of the series “Written For You, Not To You,” on the proper way to read the Bible. There is a verse cross-stitched on pillows and printed on coffee mugs and quoted at graduations every spring. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not… Continue reading
The Believer’s Creed
I believe in the eternal God—
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
One in essence, infinite in glory,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
whose wisdom shaped all things seen and unseen.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God,
conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
holy and humble, yet Lord of all.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into the depths of hell,
and on the third day He rose victorious.
He ascended into heaven,
and now reigns at the right hand of the Father,
from where He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the breath and power of God within us,
who gives life, convicts hearts, and sustains faith.
Through the Spirit, the Church is made holy,
a communion of saints across all generations.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting in the presence of God.
I believe in the sacred mystery of the Trinity—
not three gods, but one holy unity:
Father, Son, and Spirit—eternal, unchanging, divine.
I believe in the sacred story revealed in Scripture:
that from the beginning, light has warred against darkness,
and though the enemy rose in pride,
God’s promise prevailed through the Seed—
Christ Jesus, born of a woman,
who triumphed through His cross and empty tomb.
I believe salvation is a gift of grace—
received by faith, sealed by repentance,
and made real through the transforming love of God.
I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God,
a lamp for our path and truth for every soul.
I believe in the call of baptism—
a burial of the old, a rising to new life in Christ.
I believe the Holy Spirit empowers believers
with gifts of healing, wisdom, and tongues,
that we may glorify God and serve the world in love.
I believe in divine healing,
for the power that raised Christ from the grave
still moves with mercy among His people.
The Believer’s Charge
We believe that we are called and anointed—
not as spectators, but as servants of the living God.
We are His witnesses in all the earth,
ambassadors of reconciliation and bearers of His light.
We believe that Christ has commissioned us
to go into the world and proclaim His gospel,
to speak truth to the lost and hope to the broken,
to open blind eyes and set captives free.
In His name we move without fear,
for the Spirit goes before us with power and signs.
We believe the promise of our Lord:
that these signs will follow those who believe—
we shall cast out demons in His name,
speak with new tongues of heavenly fire,
lay hands upon the sick and see them restored,
tread upon the works of the enemy,
and walk in the authority of the risen Christ.
We believe that the Spirit within us
confirms the Word with power and grace—
that we are vessels of His love,
agents of His mercy,
and temples of His presence.
We choose to live as those sent by God,
our hearts aflame with His gospel,
our hands ready to serve,
our voices lifted in praise,
our lives poured out for His glory.
The Blessed Hope
I believe in the glorious return of Jesus Christ,
who will restore all things
and reign in righteousness and peace.
And I believe in eternal life—
the home prepared for the redeemed,
and the solemn truth of judgment for the unrepentant.
This is our faith, our confession, our calling, and our hope.
To God be the glory—forever and ever.
Amen.