The Three Great Expressions of the Christian Faith 

Drawn from the book:  Simple Church Planting by Daniel B. Lancaster

Discipleship

1. The Great Confession

"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God..."

Jesus establishes a church's foundation the confession that he is Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus builds His church with those who have confessed faith in him. He promises the gates of hell cannot prevail against his church. 

A church must believe Jesus is Savior who entered our world to save [people] from their sins.  Jesus is the Christ. A church must also believe that Jesus is the Son of God—fully God and fully man.   

“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’  Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not  overcome it.'” - Matthew 16:15-18

2. The Great Commandment 

"...Love your God... love your neighbor as yourself..." 

The two most important commands a church should follow is love God and love people. 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

3. The Great Commission

"...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..."

Jesus commissioned his followers to make disciples. He told his followers to baptize the new disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He also commanded them to teach the new disciples to obey all his commands. 

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'” - Matthew 28:18-20 ESV