Confident Christianity - Mark Meynell

It happens all the time... People who start out well as Christians can end up light-years from the gospel of Jesus Christ, caught up in weird and not-so-wonderful cults, movements and traditions. They may still talk about Jesus, but their focus has shifted from the fundamental truths of who He is and what He has done to other things: rituals, rapturous experiences, morality, or an intense engagement with ideas and schools of thought. These other things become the focus of our Christianity. It seems that Jesus Christ and His saving death are no longer enough...

This kind of teaching was the reason Paul wrote his letter to the Colossian church. He recognised the fall-out of 'moving on' from the gospel - we become unsure of God's forgiveness because it no longer depends solely on Jesus; we become proud of what we do; and ultimately, these new spiritualities completely fail to deliver the new life that they promise.

Undoubtedly, Christians today face the same danger. These six studies can help us resist the fine-sounding arguments enticing us to add to what Jesus has done. Only if we are convinced about the true identity of Christ, and certain that He alone is all we need to grow, will we mature into confident Christians.

The six studies in this Good Book Guide will help groups and individuals find the way to achieve true Christian growth into confidence and fruitfulness.

Mark Meynell served in a church in Sheffield before moving to Kampala, Uganda to train pastors. He now lives in Maidenhead with his wife Rachel and two children. He is on the Staff of Langham Partnership and an honorary Curate at All Souls Langham Place in London. [photo: Jodi Hinds]