I believe - Tim Chester

'I believe in God, the Father Almighty...'

The Apostles' Creed is recited by Christians throughout the world each Sunday. For many it is a dull routine, and for others, it is spoken with confusion or doubt, rather than with confidence and joy.

Do we really need creeds? Increasingly, people do not like the idea of pinning truth down. Others want to stick to the Bible alone, and think that creeds have no place in our worship.

But most churches have found it helpful to have a summary of Christian beliefs. Creeds summarise who we are, they teach us what is important and they help us avoid error. In modern business language, they are our 'identity documents'.

This Good Book Guide aims to fill out the content of the short statements of this creed which are so familiar to us. In ten studies, it shows how they are derived from the Bible - the teaching of the apostles - and what the significance of this momentous formula is for our daily lives. Saying the creed need never be dull, confused or joyless again...

Tim Chester is a pastor at Grace Church, Boroughbridge, UK; a faculty member of Crosslands Training; and is the author of over 30 books. He has a PhD in theology and was previously Research and Policy Director for Tearfund UK. He has been an adjunct lecturer in missiology and reformed spirituality. Tim is married to Helen and has two daughters.