Sacred Roots Workshop

Session 5 The Great Confession Living a Common Confession, Creedal Theology, and Godly Tradition in the Church Today

A Story That Invites and Transforms

The Christian community gathers to remember and to enact its particular identity as those called out by God in Christ. Because all ministries are rooted in the redemptive presence and activity of Christ in the world, the church’s sense of time and place is oriented toward God’s self-giving in the whole person and work of Jesus Christ. Christian worship involves the gathering of a baptized people who are commissioned and empowered to serve the world. Such servanthood does not take place unless the church remembers with the whole sweep of Scripture and is enabled to hope for a real future in light of God’s promises.

~ Doug E. Sailers. “The Origins of the Church Year.” Robert Webber., ed. The Services of the Church Year . Nashville: Star Song Pub. Group. p. 92.

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I. A Common Confession of Faith: Third-Century Model of Evangelism

It is good that learners desire baptism, but do not hastily receive it. For he who desires it, honors it. He who hastily receives it, disdains it. . . . Hasty reception is the portion of irreverence. It inflates the seeker; it despises the Giver. And thus it sometimes deceives, for it promises itself the gift before it is due. ~ Tertullian, c. 203. Cf. David W. Bercot, ed. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs . Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998. p. 87.

A. The Apostolic Tradition , 215 A.D., Hippolytus, bishop of Rome

B. “The ancient method of evangelism in the local church was a process, not a one time decision made with a support community. This process brought a person to Christ into full communion with the Christian community through periods of development and growth culminating in baptism” (Webber, Journey to Jesus , p. 11).

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