Christianity
His Understanding of Christianity after 40 years of ministry.
by
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Why do people have difficulty believing the truth about the Christian faith? Many of us vaguely know what we believe. Yet many do not know why they believe and even fewer are able to articulate their beliefs to others. In this book, I want you to think about why you believe or don’t believe some of the basic, fundamental teachings of the Christian faith. Some are essential beliefs for the Christian and others are essential for salvation………. The crucial question for us is: Are we prepared to live in the intimate presence of God? Being prepared can be a foretaste of heaven on earth. Paul wrote, “... we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Paul's words and these printed words, however, offer comfort only to those who can rejoice when they hear Jesus say, “... whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:25). ...when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself. (John 14:3).. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6) The Christian truth about life after life challenges us to be prepared, to hunger and thirst for God, and do His will.
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About the Book
Every section delivers such a descriptive explanation of faith. In the first section Rev. J. Wayne Billings explains why he believes people have trouble with Christianity. Then he explains the simple gift of grace. The second section shows how ten simple “principles” can and should change our lives. The third section, a brief look at Revelation gives us all hope for the future. He explains how a book that often makes us afraid or confused for the future is like knowing the end to a scary movie. Knowing the end is not so scary after all. The Fourth and final section, God Needs You, gives us a pathway to know where to go from this point forward. May we all take Wayne’s words to heart and learn to live what we have been taught. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. After 40 years of serving in the Methodist church, and so many lives being touched, we feel it would be a disservice to allow his words to end with just our family. We have compiled these sermons to continue to spread the knowledge and compassion from a true Shephard of God’s Word.
About the Author
Author Rev J. Wayne Billings Wayne felt the call to the ministry when he was in the seventh grade. However, he ran from it until after he was married. Wayne, as a student pastor, started out in 1957 with six churches in the mountains of NC. In 1963, he graduated from Pfeiffer University and in 1966 he graduated from Duke University Divinity School. In 1997, having served forty years in the United Methodist Church, he retired. Wayne put this little book together especially for his three daughters, six grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren and possibly more to come. He is eighty-nine years old and realizes his days are numbered. Loving each of them, he wanted them to know why he spent forty years of his life sharing his beliefs. Every other Tuesday evening, Wayne and his wife Carolyn serve dinner for the family. They have ten to fifteen people talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. Wayne is not saying every family must do that, but when one considers how weak family life is in our present-day environment, it cannot hurt. He does suggest trying it out. This book is not a history of Christianity, but his witness to what he believes are the essential beliefs for everyone who dreams of a meaningful and joyous life. That is what he desires for his family. His prayer is others will read this, and the Holy Spirit will breathe into them, and their hearts may be changed. He prays they will find a new or renewed life in Christ. This is what Jesus taught us to do: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19) May God Bless you all, Wayne Billings