The Nicene Creed
A Faith That Binds Us Together
A creed expresses what the Church believes to be the fundamental truths of Scripture that should be held by all Christians.
The Nicene Creed was a product of the Councils of Nicaea (AD 325) and Constantinople (AD 381), emphasizing the doctrine of the Trinity in response to a century-long debate over the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Encapsulating the gospel into a short and rich summary, the creed describes the Triune God, who turns toward humanity in the person of Jesus, the God-man who suffered, died, resurrected, and ascended. Furthermore, it expresses how the Holy Spirit aids us in living out the Christian life and points us to a future hope.
The objective of the sermon series is not to delve into the history of creeds and councils nor tackle theological controversies. Rather, we aim to explore the main articles of faith that unite Christian believers throughout the world and history, and how they apply to us today.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial to the father
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
— Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer (1979)
- Speaker: Josephine Kwong
- Scripture: Psalm 23
- Date: 2022-08-07
Psalm 23 (NIV)
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
- Speaker: Ian Ma
- Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16
- Date: 2022-07-31
Ephesians 4:1-16 (NIV)
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Speaker: Ian Ma
- Scripture: John 14:15-27; 16:7-15
- Date: 2022-07-24
John 14:15-27; 16:7-15 (NIV)
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
- Speaker: Ian Ma
- Scripture: Colossians 1:15-23
- Date: 2022-07-10
Colossians 1:15-23 (NIV)
The Supremacy of the Son of God
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
- Speaker: Ian Ma
- Scripture: Psalm 115
- Date: 2022-07-03
Psalm 115 (NIV)
Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.