Living Out Our Faith
Spiritual Formation
We focus on three spiritual formation distinctives. These help shape our church community as we follow Jesus together.
Loving
God WellSlowing down to be with God and shape our lives out of Christlikeness.
Loving Ourselves Well
Emotional health that affirms our worth and uniqueness.
Loving
Others WellReaching out and offering ourselves to others.
Our Rule of Life
A Rule of Life is an intentional, conscious plan to keep Jesus at the centre of everything we do. Our lives can get very busy, and things are constantly happening to us that interrupt our ability to be still. Our Rule of Life is a set of daily and weekly habits that give us structure and direction to grow with purpose to be like Jesus.
Four Daily Habits
- Three times a day
1. Prayer
Every Morning
- Surrender your life to God. Receive the day, don’t seize the day.
- Receive God’s Love by accepting there is nothing you can do to earn or lose God’s love. This allows you to start your day from a place of security and selflessness.
- Confess your sins confident of your unconditional acceptance. Receive the action of the Holy Spirit by realising God is active in your life and in the world. Ask to see where He’s at work so that you can join in.
Midday
- Pray for others.
- Ask God to be present with those who need wisdom, strength, restoration, and peace.
- Pray for our church, our community and our nation.
Evening
- Pray with gratitude to release the day.
- One passage a day
2. Scripture
Read a passage a day. Dedicate some time each day to immerse yourself in the Holy Scripture. Whether it's a single verse or an entire chapter, allow the wisdom of the words to guide your thoughts and actions. By engaging with Scripture daily, you'll continually grow your understanding and deepen your relationship with God. This practice serves as a spiritual nourishment, helping you navigate life's challenges with faith and resilience.
- one meal a day
3. Meals
Eat one meal with someone else. At RENEW, we believe in the power of shared meals to foster connection and community. We encourage you to share at least one meal each day with another person - be it a family member, friend, or a new acquaintance. This is a time for fellowship, for sharing stories, laughter, and creating bonds. It’s in these shared moments that we truly live out the teachings of Jesus, showing kindness, generosity, and love to those around us.
- Habitually
4. Technology
Prayer and Scripture before checking your phone and put your phone away at meals. In our fast-paced digital world, it can be challenging to find moments of quiet reflection. We encourage starting your day with prayer and Scripture reading before reaching for your phone. This centres your day around your faith, not the digital world. Similarly, during shared meals, we encourage you to put your phone away. This fosters mindful eating, meaningful conversation, and uninterrupted connection, helping you be truly present in the moment.
Four weekly Habits
1
Take a Sabbath
2
Kind Interactions
3
Serve Others
4
Grow the Church
"So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote."
Statement of Faith
Our confession of belief is embodied in the words of the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed and our ‘Statement of Faith’ outlines what is true:
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power, and love. He has eternally existed in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one living and true God.
Genesis 1:1 / Deuteronomy 6:4 / Psalm 86:9-10 / Isaiah 43:10-11 / Matthew 28:19 / Mark 12:29 / John 1:1-3
About Humanity
We are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, everyone is marred by an attitude of rebellion toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God.
Genesis 1:26-27 / John 1:3 / Acts 15:17 / Romans 8:3
About Eternity
People are created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is heaven. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
Matthew 24:27-30 / 1 Corinthians 15:50 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 / Revelation 20:11-15
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God incarnate (the Son of God). He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary by miraculous conception, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory where He is the only Mediator between God and people. He will return to earth and will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords
Matthew 1:21-23 / John 3:3 / Romans 10:13-15 / Ephesians 2:8 Titus 2:11 / Titus 3:5-7
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God available to all people. Men and women can never make up for their sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can a person be saved from sin’s penalty. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
Genesis 1:26-27 / Genesis 2:17 / Genesis 3:6 / Romans 5:12-19 / Luke 24:47 / Romans 10:13-15 / Ephesians 2:8 / Titus 2:11 / Titus 3:5-7
About Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
Acts 2:21 / Acts 3:19 / 1 John 1:9
About Sanctification
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 / 1 Thessalonians 5:23 / 2 Corinthians 3:18 / 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 / 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 / Romans 8:29 / Romans 12:1-2 / Hebrews 2:11
About God’s Dependability
Because God gives men and women eternal life through Jesus Christ, and adopts them as His own, salvation is received and maintained by the grace and power of God—not by our self- effort as Christians. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives believers the assurance of salvation. No power in the universe can separate God’s children from Him.
1 Chronicles 16:34 / Psalm 145:18 / Isaiah 25:1 / 2 Thessalonians 3:3 / Romans 8: 31-39 / James 1:17
About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. The Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ and to empower and guide believers. The Spirit lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. The Spirit provides a Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.
Acts 1:4 / Acts 1:5 / John 20:22 / Luke 24:49 / Acts 1:4-8 / 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 / Acts 2:4
About Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible’s lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.
Hebrews 2:4 / Romans 1:11 / Romans 12:4-8 / Ephesians 4:16 / 1 Timothy 4:14 / 2 Timothy 1:6-7 / 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 / 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 / 1 Peter 4:10
About The Bible
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, never failing, always effective written word of God. It was written by human authors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 / 1 Thessalonians 2:13 / 2 Peter 1:21
About The Church
Through union with Jesus Christ, all believers become members of His body, the one true church. The Bible commands believers to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, and the teaching of the Word, to observe Baptism and Communion as established by Jesus Christ, to offer service to the church through the development and use of talents and gifts, and to engage in outreach to the world. The local expression of the church is found wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command. Everyone, led by elders and other supportive leaders, work together to glorify Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 / John 4:23 / 1 Corinthians 11:26 / Ephesians 1:23 / Colossians 3:24 / James 2:14-21
About Faith and Practice
In all matters of faith and practice, Scripture is the final authority. In matters where Scripture is silent, believers should conscientiously seek to be led by God because it is to Him alone, he or she is ultimately responsible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 / Acts 20:27-32 / Romans 14:1 / 1 Thessalonians 2:13 / Revelation 22:18
We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches and ask that our church members refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in this Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension.