If someone asked you to describe your faith, what would you say? Are you prepared to share the reason for the hope that is in you? (1 Peter 3:15) 

If you were talking with a fellow believer and were trying to evaluate your current spiritual state, would you have the words? 

These are some questions I’ve been asking myself since I first read a very unique (and somewhat unlikely) story. I’ll share all about that towards the bottom of the post because it was a lot of fun. But first, let’s see if we can tackle the whole ‘sharing your faith life’ thing. 

Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase through one of the links, I may make a small commission. I only recommend books and resources that I’ve enjoyed personally, or believe that you would like. You can read my full disclosure here. You will also find information on Scripture translations there.

What Is Your Personal Statement of Faith in Jesus Christ?

Have you ever thought about your personal faith statement? Encapsulating what you believe into a few sentences or paragraphs? It doesn’t have to be fancy or ‘eloquent’ to qualify. It could even just be a bullet list.

This is a valuable exercise, to put what you believe into words, along with why it’s important to you.

Most denominations and organizations have theirs posted on their websites. Let’s glance through a few to get us started.

God, Scripture, and Other Important Beliefs

• The Scripture: The Bible is a gift from God, the message he wanted us to have. The books of the Old and New Testaments share the promise of God’s kingdom and eternal hope. It also houses warnings and patterns of God’s faithfulness to help us grow and trust him more.
• God: Creator, Sustainer, Counselor, Friend, Savior, Guide. God exists in three persons, God the father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal and all-powerful. All-knowing, compassionate, faithful, and unable to tolerate sin. This is why he sent his son, Jesus as our messiah, our Lord and savior, to pay the penalty and show us how to live right. The Holy Spirit is our guide and helper.
• Man: We were created as ‘very good’ but soon put our own interests ahead of God, and lost more than we could imagine. To reject the word of God in favor of a tempting lie was devastating, and yet we still do that today. However, by the grace of God, any who believe that Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life, died, and rose again, will be saved. 
• The Church: The church is not a building, but the members of God’s family. Those of us who have heard the good news and claimed it for ourselves. Our purpose is to praise God, and bring him the glory. To serve in his kingdom and help others along the way. 
• Lord’s Supper and Baptism: Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, and Baptism are two symbols of our faith that express our commitment and our beliefs about God. The ways these are done vary, but the meaning behind them points to God every time, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

As I started writing this section, I automatically formatted it to match what I knew growing up as a Baptist. Which I find hilarious because it’s so easy to default to what you’ve always known. But I love the way the Vineyard formats theirs, and I highly recommend you take a few moments to read what you will find at all four links in the next section.

Faith Statement Examples From Different Christian Religious Groups

These are denominations I’ve been connected with in one way or another over the years, though not currently. Also a couple of independent churches with similar core values and beliefs. Most of the core values and beliefs are the same, or very closely related. How they live out that faith and practice their religious beliefs varies between denominations and even between churches.

I find it fascinating to see the differences because each church is a unique blend of the passions, strengths, and weaknesses (and special interests) of its members. Having lived in multiple states, belonged to a variety of churches, and worked at a couple, I’ve had the privilege of seeing a variety of interpretations of these statements:

• The basic beliefs of the Southern Baptists can be found here.
• The core values of the Vineyard can be found here.
• The United Methodist Church
• Calvary Chapel

How to Write a Statement of Faith

Those are all nice institution or denominational statements, but we want to take time to reflect and make it ours. To intentionally buy in, and express our position clearly.

So having a list of questions to answer might be helpful. I liked this one.

But basically, make a list of important aspects of your faith in God. Expand those points in a sentence or paragraph. List the Bible verses that support your confidence. 

Short personal statement of faith examples

For instance

“I believe that God created everything, sent his only son to pay the penalty for our rejection, is still active in our lives today, and is coming back to settle all accounts one day.”

or

“I believe in God, who loves me so much that he sent his only Son to die in my place, so that our relationship could be restored. I don’t always understand or like what is happening, but I trust that God is good, and in control, and will work all things to my good if I love him and stay in right relationship with him. I know that salvation is a free gift I cannot earn, but that good works are what should naturally pour out from my gratitude.

Deb over at Counting Your Blessings has a few great words to explain your faith with.

About the Book That Inspired This Post

Book: Thirty Days Hath

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary romance

Release Date: Revised edition, Feb 26, 2019

Blind Dates Are for Wimps!

At least, that’s what Adric Garrison thinks.
Can you blame him? Thanks to his sister and brother-in-law, Adric is about to embark on a year of month-long, chaperoned, blind dates. Awkward.

He didn’t ask for it. But Adric still finds himself living what seems more like a bad TV reality show than a new life in Fairbury.

Once an ordinary (if prematurely gray and vertically challenged) guy, Adric is now Fairbury’s newest “most eligible bachelor,” and dreams of permanent bachelorhood loom on the horizon. Will he call it quits before the year is out, or will one of his “girls of the month” change his mind?

One man, twelve women, one happily ever after.

Click here to purchase your copy!

Thirty Days Hath…

Okay, Pastors organizing Live-in blind dates?   No, this isn’t a reality TV show, it’s Adric’s life.  

Being the “test pilot” of a new and extremely unusual program, the brain-child of the local Pastors Association could be scary, stressful, and possibly the best thing to ever happen to any of these fine people.  

The comedy of awkward first dates, hard-core premarital counseling discussions, and town gossip is blended with friendship, sweet romance, and just the right amount of humor.  

If it weren’t for the sabotage, the complete lack of privacy, and thoughts of permanent bachelorhood, Adric would be having a great year!  

Christine from February is probably my favorite character. Between her sense of humor and outgoing personality, she would steal anyone’s heart.   But then there’s Allison. And Becca, and Jael, and… Well, you get the idea.  

Honestly, if more people took the time to talk specifically and ask some of the questions from the personal profiles (Describe your faith, flaws, virtues…) in the beginning of any relationship, marriages might have a better chance! This is the inspiration for the printable below.

The Best Parts

The beauty of Chautona’s work is two-fold: firstly, it often serves as a mirror of character flaws and virtues. Second, while each of the books or sets stand alone, characters have a way of popping up again in other books. So if you enjoy this, and want to know more about someone, you usually can.  

For example, you can find some of these ladies in The Agency Files, Past Forward, and Oh, Gracious.  

If you like romantic comedy, self-sacrifice done well, or Christianity lived out, you should give this a try.  

*Note, there is one woman who has a mental breakdown, which is not treated lightly. It’s given the respect it is due.  

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

A Silent Truth No One Admits: Blind Dates Are for Wimps

Maybe I’m not the one to talk. After all, I never dated. Not really. My best friend in high school was a guy. We went to the movies. We did things. Still, we were just great friends.

I had what might be considered one date in Lubbock, Texas in 1987. Maybe. I didn’t consider it one, but I suppose the guy might have. Maybe.

Then I went from best friends with the guy I’ve been married to for 30 years to engaged in the span of a few seconds after what might have been a rhetorical question. He’s under orders not to tell me if it was. After all, he’s the fool who went on to say, “I do.” Just sayin’.

Still, in the first decade of the 21^st century, I discovered a new “thing” in reality TV. The Bachelor. Though I tried watching it, I couldn’t after a while. It started out reasonably clean, but then it devolved into cat fights, spit-swapping sessions, and drama. Oh, the drama.

But one aspect intrigued me.

The focused attention to finding the girl. What if Christians did that? What if we stopped playing the silly game of “pretend we’re not in this to see if you’re someone I could put up with for the next fifty or sixty years…”? Oh, man. What if the church rallied around its members and helped without pushing.

Trust me, you don’t want to push too much. You may discover that the people you’re pushing just get together and talk about it. Laugh at your antics. Mock the ridiculousness of it. Not that Kevin and I ever did that back in the day or anything. (Check out that story HERE.)

That “what if?” spurred an idea.

Sister churches. Chaperones. Not a couple of weeks in a giant house somewhere, but a whole month of real living with someone, day in. Day out. And again, with that chaperone to avoid that “appearance of evil” thing. If you could spend that much time with someone, seeing warts, virtues, best and worst sides… well, maybe you might just be right for each other.

At the least, you’d have a good idea if you even wanted to find out. That’s a healthier and quicker start than two or three months of a date here or there and hoping you’re seeing the real person. Right?

I created a character and ran with it. From giving him less than Hollywood good looks, to an anger problem and a blue-collar job, Adric had lots going for him… and not so much!

Then I tested it out. Acid test. I signed him up for eHarmony.

No, really. I did.

For the record, apparently short, prematurely graying mechanics with anger issues are a hot commodity. It took hours to get it set up, but man there were many women out there for him… supposedly.

And to this day, my Gmail email (that I never use) still says adricgarrison@gmail.com. No joke.

For what it’s worth, Adric learned one very difficult lesson that year.

As I’ve already confessed. I’ve never been on a blind date. I doubt anyone would even consider that I’ve been on a date. Still, after writing this book, I know for one thing. Blind Dates Are for Wimps.

How Would You Describe Your Spiritual Life?

I recently did a study on discipleship. We spent a lot of time on the passage in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Considering a professional athlete compared to a hobby athlete. We compared the two, and all I could say was Ouch!    

The difference in investment, including time, energy, commitment level, distractability, etc. The difference in skill level, passion, pressure, friend choices, and how much you share about it. I must say that my faith often looks more like a hobby.

Thinking in terms of athletics training, how would you describe your spiritual life? For me, my investment in discipleship seems more on par with a hobbyist than a professional.   But I won’t give up.   Because He won’t give up on me!!      

Describe Your Spiritual Journey

Remember it’s a journey, this faith walk we are on. To describe your spiritual journey today includes both how you would describe your faith years ago AND how you would describe your faith today!  

Charting your growth is a big part of the process.

What Does Your Faith Mean to You? Time to Describe Your Faith!

What does your faith mean to you?   How would you describe your faith? comment below, if you would like. Then read Thirty Days Hath…. It’ll have you laughing so hard, and then get you thinking!