Creed: What Christians Believe and Why

by Adam Hamilton

We're all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles' Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs.

In this book for Lent, Easter, and beyond, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters.

Chapters include:


God Jesus Christ The Holy Spirit The Church at the Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body Creed: What Christians Believe and Why is also part of a six-week church-wide program that includes a Leader Guide, DVD, and youth and children resources.

Genres: Religion, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Christianity, Church, Spirituality

192 pages, Hardcover

First published December 20, 2016

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Avery Amstutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book from my church library just because it was a recent addition to the collection and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hamilton was refreshingly ecumenical, enthusiastically orthodox, and delightfully readable. Many of my more snobbish friends will probably not like his conversational tone. But many of those same people don’t read dense theology so their opinions are mute. If you want a book that communicates and illuminates the teachings of the creeds to the average person, this is it. In a world full of deconstructionist/revisionists disregarding whole swaths of orthodoxy or fundamentalist demanding strict adherence to their specific beliefs, this book is a refreshing read for its rejection of both extremes, while still arguing for something worthwhile. I got hits of Mere Christianity as I read it.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them.
But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being."
Alexandr Solzhenitzen

This was a very good, intelligently written and informative book - I am all talked out about it because we have met at a group at church to discuss it for the past 4 weeks.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book (I read it in under three hours) gives a good exploration of what Christians claim to believe in the Apostles' Creed, where those beliefs came from and what effect they have. Hamilton is a good moderate, sane Christian writer whose work is always rewarding. I especially like the way he doesn't attack people who believe differently. He does repeat himself a few times, but to good effec.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a class at church during Lent. I thought it was insightful and thought-provoking, and made for some wonderful, deep discussions. I'm glad we read it, and I would recommend it to others.

[Delynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was challenging for me. It is very “deep”. I think we needed more time in our Sunday School
Class to get through this book. What we were able to get through was very interesting and informative. Hamilton gave us lots to think about. We did watch the video as well.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an excellent introduction on the topic of Christian beliefs. Using the Apostles' Creed as a baseline, Adam Hamilton explores central concepts of the faith, like the nature of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, and the resurrection of the dead. In particular, this book would be great for people who have deconstructed their faith and are looking to rediscover some of the foundational beliefs of Christianity. This book was a breath of fresh air, because it avoided both the pitfalls of most modern conservative Christian books about beliefs *and* side-stepped the obstacle of being bogged down in too much progressive Christian theology. It was clear, concise, and well-written. This would be excellent in small group studies, where people can be encouraged to go deeper after refreshing themselves on the basics.

[Ray Timmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read about the creeds written long ago by the early church describing our Christian beliefs.

Adam Hamilton explains in language simple enough that even a non-theologian like me can understand.

In this day of cultish insanity among many "religious" people, Adam Hamilton is a voice of calm reason that challenges and reminds the reader to either return to or discover for the first time , the bedrock beliefs of what makes a Christian a christian.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was for our book discussion group at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I found this book to be a tad dull. It did not inspire me, nor did it teach me anything new. It took me forever to read because it failed to pique my interest in any way. I have to say that there is nothing wrong with the book, it is what it is, a lesson with scripture to back it up. If this is what you need, then fine. Nothing to write home about.

[Candy Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with a class for Lent. Although it did explain and dissect the apostles creed in depth, I didn’t like it as much as other studies by Hamilton.

[Laura Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just what the United Methodist Church needs now. Amidst discussions of division, Adam Hamilton’s “Creed,” reminds us what binds us together. Hamilton unpacks the Apostles’ Creed exploring the very basics of what all Christians believe. These are the essential elements of our faith. Hamilton devotes chapters to belief, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the church and communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the body. Hamilton writes with a pastor’s tone, as usual, affirming what is most important and why it matters while leaving space for mystery and denominational differences. This book is not just for United Methodists. All Christians need to be reminded of our commonalities in order to become the one church that Jesus spoke of and intends for us to build.

[Aimee Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Hamilton has a gift for writing books about faith that are warm, accessible, succinct, and sincere.
This is a "back to the basics " book about the Apostles Creed, the essential statement of the Christian faith.
Those who are interested in Christianity, or even if you have been a Christian for a very long time, this book is beneficial because it explores the tenets of the faith in simple terms that anyone can relate to.
I look forward to each one of his books because they inform me and inspire me.
His writing style is warm and personal. He asks questions that make you examine your own thoughts and feelings. It's almost like having a conversation.
Start with this book and read others by Adam Hamilton. They will not disappoint.

[James Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best Adam Hamilton study I have read. We used it as part of our Sunday School class. I sometimes think of Pastor Hamilton's work as "lite." I am not trying to be uncharitable. I think that he is trying very hard not to offend anyone, and for that reason, sometimes is reluctant to take a hard stance on anything. On the other hand, he acknowledges the impossible task of stating with 100% surety what humans are not capable of fully knowing. This book does a good job of treading the line, while still managing to say quite a bit.

I thought it was very worthwhile reading and any Christian will likely gain a better understanding of Faith through this. Non-Christians will get a better understanding of what Christians believe or say they believe and can judge for themselves how they feel.

P.S. We also used the DVD in our class, which was a helpful addition.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've recently been working on exploring my faith a lot more, and for me, this book made understanding basic tenets of Christianity a lot easier. Perhaps my favorite part of the way Hamilton explains the beliefs of Christians is by not only using the Apostles Creed to break the concepts down, but also by using parallels that people can relate to and by using etymology to break down the meanings of the Greek and Latin the Bible was originally written in to explain broader concepts such as sin. I would recommend this book to even the most staunch of atheists, not to convert them or force religion upon them, but so they can learn a bit more about what Christianity is SUPPOSED to be about.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good discussion on the Apostles Creed and basic Christian belief

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's quite common for Christians to memorize the Apostles' Creed, and this is often done in childhood as part of a Sunday school or confirmation class requirement. But the problem with reciting something from memory, especially when we do it often, is that it becomes rote, and we don't pay attention to the deeper meaning.

That is the priceless value of this book by Adam Hamilton, prolific author and minister in the United Methodist Church, which examines section-by-section the deeper meaning of the Apostles' Creed. A creed is a statement of basic beliefs of a religion, and the most enduring of these for Christians is the Apostles' Creed; the beliefs expressed in it are foundational to the faith.

Organized into six chapters (making it perfect for church study during the six weeks of Lent), the book defines each element of this creed from God to the resurrection of the body. The best part of each chapter is that Hamilton not only describes the what and the how of Christian belief, but most important to me: WHY these beliefs matter.

Find out:
• A brave discussion of God's existence, including the arguments of several famous atheists.
• A succinct description of Jesus's life and ministry.
• The meaning of the Holy Spirit and how you can feel it working in your own life.
• Why it's essential to be part of a church community, the holy catholic church. (Lowercase "catholic" means "universal.")
• The best way to find forgiveness of sins—God's forgiveness and your own for yourself.
• An interesting discussion—from a Christian perspective—on what happens to us when we die.

Bonus: There is an excellent, albeit it still ridiculously confusing, explanation of the Trinity, the triune God. There is a reason so many priests and ministers ask seminarians to be the guest preacher on Trinity Sunday. It's impossible to explain and doing so only makes our brains hurt—for those attempting the explanation and those hearing it.

[Heather Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was selected by our pastor for a small group study during Lent. I volunteered to lead the session occurring in my parents' home, so I was responsible for reading and preparing the materials, including reading this book by Adam Hamilton. I had not spent an extensive amount of time ever considering the Creed that I profess every week at church, and this book was a great introduction into "what Christians believe and why."

The book is divided into six short chapters, each covering one aspect of the Creed. Hamilton spends lots of time asking questions of his readers and providing scripture to consider while unwrapping each tenet of the Creed; however, there seems to be something missing here. Perhaps it is the fact that the Creed is so concise while covering such significant--and massively deep--components of my faith, but the entire time I was reading it, it felt like there should've been more. It could also be that it was written for any lay person, young people included, to study the Creed without being bogged down in scholarly research...

Either way, it was a great way to spend Lent, considering each component of what I believe, surrounded by church members and family, preparing myself for the Resurrection. I'd read more of Adam Hamilton, understanding that he is writing for a very wide audience. In the meantime, I think I'm going to find another C.S. Lewis to devour. Now there's some fun small group fodder!

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a member of a small study group at church, and found it very useful in that setting. It's always a good idea to remember what it is that binds Christians together, particularly during a time when the church, and our nation, is so deeply divided about so many things.

If I had not been part of a group discussing this, I would have found that it mostly skimmed the surface, albeit in a thoughtful way, and it likely would not have had much long term impact on me. That being said, there is so much value in people of faith reminding themselves what our "glue" is that I definitely recommend this one for a group study, and as a jumping-off place for deeper conversations.

[Dr. Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creed is a very short but important book. It has been sitting on my shelf for some time, so I was happy to be able to spend some time with it today. I love the author, Adam Hamilton. Appreciating him and his interpretation of the Word May not be popular right now, but I love his very straight-forward thinking and love that he is not afraid to say when he is not sure. Creed is full of that straight-forward talk. I particularly enjoyed his discussion of the “Holy Catholic Church.” Creed should be required reading for all Christians but particularly those Christians who are members of Methodist churches.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was very insightful and had some wonderful points in it as well as explained things I never knew or thought of before. I just wished it was a bit more interesting. I also watched the video that went with it and felt it was fake and staged and that real conversations were not happening. Don't get me wrong, I think Adam Hamilton is very knowledgeable and he will show you his knowledge but I feel like it was more written for a congregation and not for the individual or a small discussion class.

[librarian4Him02 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up for the same reason I read Gutenberg Bible by James Thorpe. I'm very close to my goal of 30 books for the year and needed a short book to spur me on. My dad has read this three times and recommended it to me.

In this book Hamilton breaks down the Apostle's Creed and give a scriptural explanation for each section. He did bring a lot of insight into words I've said from memory all my life. Someday I'd like to read this again and take my time absorbing all her has to say. But it was an interesting book and I thank my dad for recommending it to me.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Hamilton does a great job of explaining issues of faith. He draws on his own experience, reason, and theological study. I read this book as part of a Bible Study I attend. The subject matter made for lively discussions. One thing to remember is that this book is how Adam Hamilton interprets the Apostle's Creed. He invites readers to discover their own understanding of the Creed. This is an easy read, not too challenging for a diverse Bible Study group and in the ned is a helpful guide to discovering "what Christians believe and why."

[Todd G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well thought out plain English explanation of what it means to be a Christian including references to Bible verses. This one would be well used to explain to those who don’t believe (or do believe but haven’t yet accepted Gods gift of grace) what God desires of us in return for that gift. I cannot recommend this enough; it truly cleared things up for me, helped me ensure I’m on the right path

I will be reading more of Hamilton’s books

[Terry Pellegrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book introducing the Apostles' Creed role in defining common Orthodox beliefs of all Christians. The author delivers a concise thought provoking narrative on the history and purpose of Church Creeds. Hamilton concludes that the Creed "reminds us of what is true. It captures many of the foundational convictions upon which our lives are built. It gives us hope."

[Kelsey Grissom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book. I recommend it as a study for churches. However, I was disappointed in Hamilton’s retreat into male language for God, even God the Spirit. Although Hamilton himself admits that gendered language for God isn’t helpful or theologically sound, he still falls back on patristics. Insert giant eye roll. Come on, Adam. You know better.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't personally love this book, I applaud the author for it. It is an incredibly accessible overview of the Apostles' Creed. I would have loved for it to be more in-depth, and explore more diverse viewpoints, but that would make it much less successful in reaching a wider audience.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Unfortunately I was sick and missed two weeks of discussion but our group had good discussions every time I was there. I thought it was going to be ho-hum, my Christian upbringing doesn't include Creeds. But I learned a lot!

[Beth]

I read this as part of a Lenten study. It is interesting but I was hoping for more theology, more history. It’s mostly a book about how to live the Apostle’s Creed. And that’s not bad. I enjoyed the study and would recommend it.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author explores the Apostles' Creed and how it defines fundamental Christian beliefs.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Sunday School class did this book with the accompanying video. Good walk through the Apostle's Creed.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book by Adam Hamilton. He breaks down the Apostle's Creed in a way that is understood and not daunting. I would recommend reading this book.