Sermon Date: 02/01/2026

Bible Verses:

• Various

Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new

Introduction: Belief Is Never Private

Modern faith loves the phrase “It’s just between me and God.” The Apostles’ Creed politely—and firmly—disagrees.

The moment the Creed moves past “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” it moves straight into community.

Because the Spirit never creates isolated Christians.

Christian belief is personal—but it is never private.

Point One: I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church (The Universal Church)

That word “catholic” often trips people up, so let’s be clear from the start.

“Catholic” does not mean Roman Catholic. It means universal—the whole Church, across time, cultures, nations, and denominations.

Jesus Himself declared the Church’s origin:

“I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Notice who builds the Church. Not pastors. Not programs. Not institutions.

Christ builds the Church.

And His mission is global:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19–20)

The Church is not a building. It is not a brand. It is not a weekly event.

Paul defines it this way:

“You are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens… members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19–22)

Peter goes even further:

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Peter 2:9)

The Church is:

• Holy — set apart by God
• Universal — spanning the globe and the centuries
• Alive — built on Christ Himself

And Christ is not just associated with the Church—He is its authority:

“He is the head of the body, the church.” (Colossians 1:18)

To believe in Christ is to believe in His Church—not as an optional accessory, but as His chosen instrument in the world.

✦ You cannot love the Head and despise the Body.

Point Two: The Communion of Saints (Fellowship)

The Creed now deepens the idea of the Church—not just as an institution, but as a family.

“The communion of saints.”

This does not mean we pray to saints. It means we belong with saints.

The Church is not just the living—it includes all who belong to Christ, past and present.

Hebrews reminds us:

“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” (Hebrews 12:1–2)

We are not alone in our faith. We are joined to believers who have endured, suffered, obeyed, and finished the race.

“Remember your leaders… imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

The communion of saints is both vertical and horizontal:

• Unity with believers who have gone before
• Fellowship with believers walking beside us now

Jesus prayed for this unity Himself:

“That they may all be one… so that the world may believe.” (John 17:20–21)

Christian fellowship is not optional. It is part of our witness.

When we gather, Christ is present:

“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I.” (Matthew 18:20)

And because we belong to God, we belong to one another:

“See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)

That shared identity creates shared responsibility:

“Encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The communion of saints means:

• We carry each other’s burdens
• We speak truth in love
• We worship together
• We suffer together
• We persevere together

✦ Christian faith grows best in community, not isolation.

Conclusion: Belief That Belongs

To say “I believe in the holy catholic Church” is to confess that Christ has a people.

To say “I believe in the communion of saints” is to confess that we are part of them.

Belief joins us:

• To Christ our Head
• To the Church His Body
• To the saints our family

Faith is not a solo journey. It is a shared pilgrimage.

And the same Christ who saves us individually binds us together corporately—so that the world might see not just what we believe, but who we belong to.