There are four things that have been identified as necessary for everyone to have in order to grow in their faith. They have been called the Building Blocks of Faith.
I BELONG
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We are all made with a deep need to belong to God.
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We also have a need to be in relationship with others.
Our need for belonging runs very deep. That is reflected in the first question and answer of our confession, the Heidelberg Catechism:
. . . I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and in death - to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ. . .
As a result of belonging to Jesus Christ, we also belong to his body the church. We need community. That is why our greeting each other during the service on Sundays and our time of fellowship afterwards are so important. However, not everyone feels like they belong, or have a place in our church.
I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND
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I know the story of God's faithfulness and my part in it.
We need knowledge to grow in our faith. That knowledge begins with knowing the Bible. Then we need to know our place in this story. It is this knowledge that helps shape our identity and grow our faith. The more time we spend studying, reading and being changed by the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, the more we grow in our faith.
MOST IMPORTANTLY WE NEED TO KNOW HOW JESUS' BIRTH, LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION GIVES US LIFE.
I HAVE HOPE
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I have confidence, through Christ, in all of God's promises. God is making all things new, and he is using us to accomplish that.
"Hope is critical to building a vibrant faith. Our hope in Christ is an expectation that is strong and confident. Why? Because it's based on promises made to us by the Creator of the universe and on the promises fulfilled and strenghtened in Jesus Christ.
Having hope and trust allows us to live into the future with confidence that God is doing his work in the world and that we have a part in that work." (from The Building Blocks of Faith Toolkit User Guide)
I AM CALLED AND EQUIPPED
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I am called to work in God's kingdom, and I am equipped to do that.
The fourth building block is about knowing that God has called us to serve in his world and has equipped us for that service. As a church we help each other discern God's call on our lives during the different phases of life. We equip each other through worship, church education (ie small groups etc) and fellowship.
Find our more about the Building Blocks of Faith through the toolkit here