Foundations of Faith
You've encountered Jesus in a dream, a vision, or through His undeniable presence in your life. Now you want to know Him more.
These biblical teachings will help you understand who God is, how to walk with Him, and what it means to live as His beloved child. Each teaching is rooted entirely in Scripture, God's written Word to us. Take your time with each one. Let the truth sink deep into your heart.
Welcome to the family of God.
Biblical Love:
The Foundation of Everything
What Is Love, Really?
You've probably heard the word "love" attached to everything from pizza to relationships to career passions. But what does love actually mean in God's economy? And why does it matter to your everyday life?
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13
Love isn't just the greatest virtue; it's the defining characteristic of God Himself. But here's the revolutionary part: the true definition of love isn't found in our feelings or our efforts. It's found in God's action.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10
Love Proven When You Least Deserved It
For centuries, God's people lived under the law, commanded to
"love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."
Deuteronomy 6:5
But here's the honest truth: no human could fulfil this command. Even King David, called a man after God's own heart, failed. God gave this law knowing we couldn't keep it, to show us our desperate need for a Saviour.
Then came the cross. God demonstrated His love in the most powerful way possible:
"But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
Think about that. Not when you got your life together. Not when you deserved it. Not when you were trying your hardest. While you were still a mess, still making terrible choices, still running in the wrong direction, Christ died for you.
Jesus said it plainly:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13
How This Changes How You Love
When you truly receive God's love, something shifts in how you love others. You stop trying to earn love or prove your worth. You stop keeping score. You start extending the same grace you've received.
"We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
The apostle Paul describes what this love looks like in practice:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
This isn't about being perfect in your relationships. It's about being rooted in God's love for you, which then overflows to others. When you mess up, you confess and try again. When others hurt you, you extend forgiveness because you've been forgiven. This love is only possible when you're connected to the Source.
Practical Application:
Think about the hardest relationship in your life right now. What would it look like to love that person the way God loves you? Not based on their behaviour, but based on God's character working through you?
The Holy Spirit:
God Living in You
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
If you're new to faith, the Holy Spirit can seem like the most confusing part of the Trinity. God the Father makes sense. Jesus makes sense.
But the Holy Spirit? What does He actually do?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son, yet distinct in person and role. In the very beginning,
"the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters."
Genesis 1:2
Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit empowered prophets and anointed kings:
"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward."
1 Samuel 16:13
The Promise That Changed Everything
Before Jesus left earth, He made an extraordinary promise:
"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth."
John 14:16-17
Notice the word "another." Someone just like Jesus, who would never leave. This wasn't a downgrade; Jesus said it was actually better:
"But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."
John 16:7
This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost:
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a roaring wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 2:1-4
What the Holy Spirit Does in Your Life
The Holy Spirit isn't optional for the Christian life. He's essential. Here's what He does:
He teaches you.
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."
John 14:26
Ever read a Bible verse you've seen a hundred times and suddenly it clicks in a new way? That's the Spirit teaching you.
He Guides You
"However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth."
John 16:13
Making a big decision about a job, relationship, or move? The Spirit guides you when you ask.
He Empowers You
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses."
Acts 1:8
That courage to share your faith, that strength to resist temptation, that ability to forgive the unforgivable? That's the Spirit's power.
He Transforms You
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23
Those qualities you want to develop? You can't manufacture them through willpower. They're fruit that grows as you stay connected to the Spirit.
He convicts you.
"And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement."
John 16:8
That uncomfortable feeling when you're about to do something wrong? That's the Spirit protecting you.
He Prays for You.
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"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words."
Romans 8:26
When you don't even know what to pray, the Spirit is interceding on your behalf.
He Seals You as God's Child.
"And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit."
Ephesians 1:13
You belong to God, permanently. The Spirit is the guarantee.
Living in His Presence
Every believer has the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
1 Corinthians 6:19
But we're also commanded to "be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:18
What's the difference?
Having the Spirit means He lives in you. Being filled with the Spirit means yielding every area of your life to His control. It's like the difference between having petrol in your car and actually driving it.
You cultivate His presence through prayer, reading Scripture, worship, obedience, and avoiding things that grieve Him:
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Ephesians 4:30
Practical Application:
What's one area of your life you've been trying to change through your own effort? What would it look like to invite the Holy Spirit into that struggle instead?
Your Identity:
Sons and Daughters of God
The Greatest Privilege
Here's something that might surprise you: the greatest privilege of following Jesus isn't just forgiveness of sins. It's adoption into God's family.
"But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
John 1:12
This isn't symbolic language. It's legal, permanent, and binding.
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1
Through faith in Jesus Christ, you receive the Spirit of adoption:
"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Romans 8:15-16
"Abba" is an intimate term, like "Papa" or "Daddy." You're not a distant subject bowing before a king. You're a beloved child running into your Father's arms.
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What This Means for Your Relationships
With the Father:
God isn't merely the Creator; He's your Father. Jesus taught us to pray,
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name."
Matthew 6:9
As your Father, He loves you perfectly:
"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him."
Psalm 103:13
He provides for you:
"And your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
Matthew 6:8
He disciplines you for your good, not to punish:
"For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He receives as a son."
Hebrews 12:6
He delights in you:
"The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
Picture this: the Creator of the universe singing over you. That's how much He delights in you. You cultivate your relationship with the Father through prayer, worship, obedience, and trust. Jesus said,
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
John 14:15
With Jesus:
Jesus isn't only your Saviour; He's your Lord, your Brother, and your Friend.
He said,
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you."
John 15:15
As your Brother, He's not ashamed to call you family:
"Both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."
Hebrews 2:11
You grow in relationship with Jesus through:
Abiding in Him:
"Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”
John 15:4
Knowing Him through His Word:
"Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth."
John 17:17
Communion:
"And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'"
Luke 22:19
Prayer:
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
With the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit isn't an impersonal force. He's a person with whom you have a relationship. He can be grieved, He speaks, He teaches, and He intercedes for you.
You're commanded to "walk by the Spirit," Galatians 5:16, which means living in constant fellowship with Him.
You develop relationship with the Holy Spirit by:
Listening to His voice:
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: 'This is the way. Walk in it.'"
Isaiah 30:21
Obeying His leading:
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Romans 8:14
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Not quenching Him:
"Do not extinguish the Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Being filled continually:
"Be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:18
Your Inheritance
As God's children, you have an inheritance:
"And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."
Romans 8:17
You have direct access to the Father:
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 4:16
Think about that. The God who spoke galaxies into existence invites you to approach Him with confidence. Not cowering, not grovelling, but with the confidence of a beloved child.
Practical Application:
How does knowing you're God's child change how you see yourself? How does it change how you approach challenges, relationships, or decisions this week?
Biblical Leadership:
Influence That Matters
Why Leadership Matters to You
You might be thinking, "I'm not a leader. I don't manage people. This doesn't apply to me.”
But here's the truth: everyone leads someone. You lead through your influence with friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers watching how you live. Whether you're leading a team at work, serving in a church, mentoring someone younger, or simply living out your faith in front of others, you're leading.
And biblical leadership looks radically different from what the world teaches.
The Foundation: Servant Leadership
Jesus made this clear:
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"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:25-28
The world says: climb the ladder, promote yourself, dominate, take credit, protect your position.
Jesus says: serve, empower others, sacrifice, give credit away, decrease so others can increase.
This doesn't mean being a doormat. It means using whatever influence you have to lift others up, not to lift yourself up.
The Character That Matters
A leader in God's kingdom must first be led by God. The qualifications for leadership are primarily about character, not ability, talent, or charisma.
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Humility:
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."
James 4:10
Moses was "more humble than any man on the face of the earth," Numbers 12:3, yet God used him to lead millions. Humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less.
Integrity:
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them."
Proverbs 11:3
A leader must be "above reproach." 1 Timothy 3:2
Your private life must match your public image. What you do when no one's watching matters more than what you do when everyone's watching.
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Servanthood:
Jesus said,
"For I am among you as One who serves."
Luke 22:27
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True leadership serves others, not self. It asks, "How can I help you succeed?" not "How can you help me succeed?”
Faithfulness:
"Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."
1 Corinthians 4:2
God values faithfulness above success. Show up consistently. Keep your word. Finish what you start.
Courage:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Leadership requires making hard decisions, having difficult conversations, and standing for truth when it's unpopular.
Wisdom:
"Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5
You don't have to have all the answers. But you do need to know where to find them.
The Practices That Build Leaders
Prayer:
Nehemiah prayed before every major decision. Jesus often withdrew to pray. Luke 5:16
Before you make big decisions, pray. Before you have hard conversations, pray. When you don't know what to do, pray.
Knowing God's Word:
"This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.”
Joshua 1:8
Leaders who don't know God's Word will inevitably lead people in the wrong direction.
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Empowering Others:
"And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well."
2 Timothy 2:2
Great leaders reproduce leaders. They invest in others, delegate authority, and celebrate when their team succeeds.
Leading by Example:
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
1 Corinthians 11:1
Your life must match your words. People follow what you do, not just what you say.
Seeking God's Glory:
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
Leadership isn't about building your name; it's about magnifying God's name.
The Cost of Leadership
Biblical leadership requires sacrifice. Paul wrote,
"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
Galatians 2:20
Leaders endure opposition, loneliness, criticism, and sometimes persecution for the sake of the gospel. You'll make decisions that disappoint people. You'll be misunderstood. You'll sacrifice comfort, popularity, and convenience.
But God promises:
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!'"
Matthew 25:21
Practical Application:
Where do you have influence right now, even if it's small? How can you use that influence to serve rather than promote yourself? What's one characteristic from the list above that you need to develop?
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Bible (www.bereanbible.com), Copyright © 2016, 2020 by Bible Hub. All rights reserved worldwide.Used by permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).