Next Sunday we will begin a five-part sermon series entitled “Core Christianity.”  The plan is to talk about the five things Christianity cannot do without.

It is a series on fundamentals.  Fundamentals are important.  Something is “fundamental” when it is basic or essential to the overall structure it helps to construct.  Remove just one of the fundamentals, and it is like knocking a load-bearing wall out of a house–the entire building collapses.

There are five things Christianity cannot do without:

1. God.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
2. Revelation.  The Bible is the revelation of God’s will for mankind.  Without it, it would be impossible to build faith, for “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
3. Redemption.  The gospel is the good news of Jesus’ mission of redemption.  Mankind is lost in sin, but the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost, shedding his blood as a ransom for many (Lk. 10:19; Mt. 20:28).
4. Community.  In every dispensation God has required his people to worship and fellowship together.  We are stronger when we practice our faith alongside other believers.  Some will say, “I have a relationship with Christ, but I don’t believe in organized religion.”  God invented organized religion.  It is called the “church,” and he expects us to be involved in this community, which was built by his Son (Mt. 16:18).
5. Resurrection.  Paul says, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:17-19). Christians are able to face adversity and even death because of their “living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3).  This is what makes them stand out from the rest of the world.

One of the objectives of this series is to gain a second visit from guests who have visited Ashville Road in the past.  We have designed postcards to advertise the series and have mailed several of them out.  Maybe you know about someone who is open to hearing more about the Christian faith.  Share one of these postcards with them and extend a personal invitation.  Perhaps hearing the basics of Christianity will help them cut through the confusion of the religious world to the essence of what God expects has offered the world through his Son.