The Living Truth

Hurstville District Christadelphians
an active, Bible centred congregation following the example of Jesus Christ while waiting for the Kingdom of God

Beliefs

Our way of life...

The Bible gives effective direction to our lives. We try to rely fully upon God and develop a faith which is active in prayer and good works. At the same time, however, we recognize that salvation is by grace.

With God's help, we seek to please and obey him every day, striving to imitate Jesus Christ who faithfully obeyed his Father. We therefore endeavor to be enthusiastic in work, loyal in marriage, generous in giving, dedicated in preaching and positive in our approach to living in the modern world under God's guidance.

A widespread custom amongst Christadelphians is to read the Bible every day using a reading plan which enables us to systematically read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice each year. Of course, many read much more widely than this.

We may also attend one or more evening Bible classes each week. Every Sunday, we attend a service we call the Memorial Meeting. All members partake of bread and wine and an exhortation or encouragement is given based on the Bible. Attendance at this service is the focus of our religious life.

We also have Sunday Schools, Children's Groups and Youth Groups; a weekend away at a Bible Study camp is always popular with Christadelphian young people.

We hold Church retreats for weekends or for a week, as well as much larger gatherings such as regional, state or national conferences.

Some members travel overseas on mission work; others care for the elderly in our nursing homes and hostels. Members support community groups which assist those less fortunate in places such as Africa, Eastern Europe and the Pacific Islands. Many of our members also volunteer in the wider local community. There are a small number of private schools run by our community.

Members donate to the activities of the Church as they see fit and can afford, without set requirements such as tithes. No members are paid for their Church work since all are lay preachers and volunteers.

The Christadelphians are a close-knit community working in God's service in whatever ways we can until Jesus Christ returns to set up his Father's kingdom.


Our beliefs...

The Bible
We believe that the Bible is God's only revealed message to mankind, given to bring responsive individuals to the obedience of faith. The Bible is our only authority and we teach that it should be read prayerfully and with care at every opportunity. (Romans 16:26; Acts 17:11; 2Timothy 3:16-17; 2Peter 1:20-21)

God
There is only one eternal, immortal God. Jesus Christ is his only begotten son and the Holy Spirit is his power. (Isaiah 45:5-7; 1Timothy 1:17; 2:5; Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8; 1Corinthians 8:6)

Man
Man is mortal and a sinner before God. His whole being is prone to sin and the punishment for sin is death, the end of all life. (Job 4:17; Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; James 1:13-15; Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5-10; Psalms 146:40)

Jesus
In his love, God sent his son, the man Jesus into the world to save men from their sins. Those who believe in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20-21, 3:17; John 3:16)

Hope
The only hope of life after death is the resurrection of the body and everlasting life in God's kingdom on earth. (Psalms 49:12-20; 1Corinthians 15:12-50; Romans 8:22-39; Acts 24:15; John 11:25-26; Revelation 5:10, 20)

Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Jesus was sinless. He died to show God's righteousness and to redeem those who receive this sacrifice by faith. God raised him from the dead, gave him immortality, granted him all authority in heaven and on earth and set him as the mediator between God and men. (Ephesians 1:19-23; 1Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 3:21-26)

Return of Jesus
Jesus will return to the earth soon. Then he will raise many of the dead, judge them with the living and give his faithful followers everlasting life in the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 22:12; Luke 21:20-32; John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; 2Timothy 4:1; Matthew 25:31-34)

Kingdom of God
The kingdom of God will be established on earth. Jesus will be king in Jerusalem, his dominion worldwide and his government will bring eternal righteousness and peace. (Daniel 2:44, 7:27; Acts 3:21; Jeremiah 3:17; Isaiah 2:2-4; Psalm 72; Daniel 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-9, 11:1-9, 61:1-11)

The Promises
The Gospel is inseparable from the promises which God made to Abraham and David in Old Testament times. These promises find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. (Galations 3:6-9, 16, 26-29; Genesis 13:14-17, 22:15-18; 2Samuel 7:12-16; Luke 1:31-33)

The Way of Salvation
The way to enter the kingdom of God is by faith. This involves belief in the Bible and obedience to its requirements that men and women confess their sins, repent, be baptized and follow Jesus faithfully. (Hebrews 11:6; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:37-38, 4:12; Mark 16:16; John 3:3-5; Matthew 16:24-27)

The Life in Christ
As followers of Jesus Christ we endeavour to emulate him as much as we can. We believe in treating other people with respect and dignity. Where possible our community lives within the world community but stands aside from it in matters of politics, obeys the laws of the country in which we live and worships simply and freely.

We prefer to let the Bible speak for itself and determine the ways in which we should serve our God as believers who are separate from the world around us. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. (1Peter 2:13-17; Romans 12:9-21; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 4:29-32; Acts 5:29)


Principles...

Scriptural Guidelines for Christian Living
"If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15)


The Greatest Commandment
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. (Matthew 22:37)


The Second Commandment
2. Love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:39)


Jesus Our Example
3. Take Christ for an example and follow in his steps. (1Peter 2:21; Luke 14:27)

4. Be imitators of God. Let Christ's teachings live in you. Be a noteworthy example. (Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:16)


Discipleship
5. Continue to show your faith and confidence in God. (1Corinthians 16:13; 1Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 11:6; 2Timothy 1:13, 2:22)

6. Be holy in all that you do. Be eager and tireless in your efforts to do good. (1Peter 1:1, 5-16; Ephesians 6:5-8; Titus 2:14; Galations 6:9)

7. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart for the Lord. (Colossians 3:23)

8. Follow after whatsoever things are true, noble, right, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)

9. Be self-controlled, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, meek, merciful, forgiving, sober, grave, sincere and temperate. (Colossians 3:12-14; 2Timothy 2:24; Titus 2:2; Ephesians 4:32; Philippians 4.5; 1Peter 1:13, 5:8)

10. Be watchful, vigilant, courageous, joyful, courteous, blameless, harmless and in a continual state of readiness for his coming. (1Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 2:5, 4:4; 1Thessalonians.5:6-10)

11. Choose to think about spiritual things, not material things and, by this process, you will become a new person. (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:2; 1John 2:15)

12. Whatever you do, consider the effect of your action on the honour of God's Name among men. Do all to the glory of God. (1Corinthians 10:31, 3:17)

13. Be joyful in hope and patient in times of trouble. (Romans 12:12)

14. Love your enemies. Do good to them who hate you. Be forgiving. (Matthew 5:44, 6:14-15, 18:21-35; Romans 12:17; Colossians 3:3)

15. Carry each others burdens and thus fulfil the law of Christ. Love one another. Serve one another in love. Live a life of love as Christ loved us. (Galations 6:2; Philippians 2:4; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:2)

16. Let all things be done in love and in mutual submission. (1Corinthians 16:14; 1Peter 5:5)


Prayer and Confession
17. Pray for the forgiveness of your sins. (Matthew 6:12-14; 1John 1:9)

18. Don't be weighed down with the anxieties of life. (Matthew 6:31-34; Luke 21:34-36)

19. Avoid bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, dissensions, factions, hypocrisy, envy, greed, selfish ambition, sexual immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, teachers of error. (Ephesians 4:31, 5:3; 1Peter 2:1; Galations 5:19-21; 2Peter 2:1)

20. In everything give thanks to God and acknowledge him in all things. (Ephesians 5:20; Proverbs 3:6)

21. Pray for those who persecute you and harass you. (Matthew 5:44)

22. Confess your faults one to another. (James 5:16)

23. Pray always; pray briefly and simply; pray in private. (Luke 18:1; Matthew 6:6-8)

24. Pray for guidance to avoid temptation. (Matthew 6:13, 26:41)


Obedience and Conformity
25. Obey authorities except where they conflict with God's laws. (1Peter 2:13; Acts 5:29)

26. Show integrity, sincerity and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those opposed have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8)

27. Refuse ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. (Titus 2:12)


Giving, Sharing and Receiving
28. Call him to remembrance daily and frequently in the breaking of bread as he has appointed. (Matthew 26:26-27; 1Corinthians 11:24-26, 16:2; Acts 2:42, 20:27)

29. In everything, do for others what you would have them do for you. (Matthew 7:12)

30. Give to everyone that asks you and if anyone takes something of yours, don't demand it back. (Luke 6:29-30)

31. Be humble, accept humble duties, befriend humble people. (Matthew 23:10-12; Romans 12:16)

32. Be content with what you have. Always share with others and help those in need. (1Timothy 6:8; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:16; James 1:27)

33. When you give something to a needy person, do it quietly and in private. (Matthew 6:1-4)

34. Give to everyone all that you owe them, be it money, respect or honour. (Romans 13:7-8)

35. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)


Conflict Resolution
36. Live in peace with everyone. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to wrath. (Hebrews 12:14; James 1:19)

37. Settle any disputes quickly; accept being wronged or cheated. (Matthew 5:25; 1Corinthans 6.7)

38. Don't repay evil for evil or insult with insult. Instead, respond with a blessing. (Matthew 5:39-40; 1Peter 3:9; Romans 12:17, 21)

39. If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them in private and try gently to resolve the matter. (Matthew 18:15; Galations 6:1)

40. Do not judge or you, too, will be judged in the same way you judge. (Matthew 7:1-2)


Speech
41. Talk about the gospel and your beliefs at every opportunity. (Mark 16:15; 2Timothy 4:2; Romans 10:8-10)

42. Let your communication be always full of grace, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)

43. Bless them that curse you; let no cursing come out of your mouth. (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14)

44. Avoid lying; speak truthfully to your neighbour. (Colossians 3:9; Ephesians 4:25)

45. Don't slander others and don't give others a reason to slander you. (1Timothy 5:14; Titus 3:2)

46. Swear not at all; let your speech be "yes" and "no". (Matthew 5:34; James 5:12)


Family Relationships
47. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ; wives, love your husbands; husbands, love your wives. (Ephesians 5:21-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21; Titus 2:4)

48. Children, obey your parents. Fathers, encourage your children and be careful not to frustrate them. (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

49. Servants, submit yourselves with all respect; masters treat your servants fairly. (1Peter 2:18; Ephesians 6:5-7)

50. Brethren, live in harmony with each other. (Hebrews 13:1; Galations 6:2)

the coming of the Lord draweth nigh
James 5:8