For years, I’ve had people ask for a short, approachable resource to help explain who the churches of Christ are. Something more than a tract,1 but not as long as a full 13-week workbook.2 After months of planning and writing, that resource is finally complete. The cover is completed. Becky is currently finishing the editing, and our typesetter will have it ready to print by early next week.

I’m excited to share this with you.

This new booklet provides a simple and straightforward introduction to the churches of Christ. It’s written for people who are seeking truth, visiting your congregation, or just trying to understand what sets the church apart. It’s short enough to read in one sitting but designed to be read slowly, one chapter at a time, with an open Bible.

I think it will be a great addition to your congregation’s guest welcome area, a tool for one-on-one studies, or even a short class series.

Here’s a short excerpt from the preface:

“You may be asking, What is true? What does God actually want from me? How can I know I’m on the right path? This booklet was written to help answer those questions by going back to the source: the Bible.
We want to be the church you read about in the New Testament—nothing more, nothing less.
We don’t follow man-made creeds or religious trends. We follow Jesus Christ, and we believe His word is sufficient.”

Each of the ten chapters explores a key topic—from the organization of the church to the meaning of baptism to the nature of worship. Each one is built around Scripture and includes reflection questions and a challenge to follow Christ, not tradition.

Here’s a quick look at what’s inside:

Chapter Overview

1. A People of the Book – We follow the Bible alone and aim to restore New Testament Christianity.

2. Who Is the Church? – The church is the body of Christ, made up of the saved.

3. The Name We Wear – Christians wear the name of Christ, not man-made labels.

4. The Gospel That Saves – The gospel must be believed and obeyed to receive salvation.

5. God’s Plan of Salvation – Salvation comes by grace through obedient faith.

6. What Happens at Baptism? – Baptism unites us with Christ and washes away sins.

7. Worship That Pleases God – Worship follows the New Testament pattern.

8. How the Church Is Organized – Local churches are led by elders and served by members.

9. Living as the People of God – Christians live daily in holiness and service.

10. Unity in Truth – True unity is built on God’s truth, not compromise.

What’s Next?

We’ll post ordering details on Spiritbuilding’s blog, X, and Facebook page next week. If you're looking for a practical, biblical resource to share with others, I believe this will be a helpful tool.

Thanks for following along—and for your commitment to sharing the gospel.

Are you ready to deepen your faith and live a life that truly honors God? Finding a clear path to spiritual growth can feel overwhelming in a world full of distractions. That’s where What God Requires: Learning to Do Life His Way comes in—a brand-new Bible study workbook set to become your go-to guide for Christian living in 2025.

A Journey to Heartfelt Obedience

Published by Spiritbuilding Publishers, this 106-page gem takes you through thirteen lessons rooted in Scripture. It’s not just about what to believe but how you live it. Each chapter unpacks practical, Bible-based principles that bring you closer to doing life God’s way, from loving the Lord with all your heart to working heartily as unto Him.

What sets this book apart? It’s not about legalistic rules or checking boxes. It’s about obedience from the heart—a faith that flows naturally into every corner of your life. Whether you’re reflecting on how to love your neighbor as yourself or learning to control anger without sinning, the principles presented in this workbook are relatable and profound.

What’s Inside?

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the lessons you’ll explore:

• Love the Lord with All Your Heart – Discover what it means to give God your all (Matthew 22:37-38).

• Share Your Blessings – Unlock the joy of generosity and trust in God’s provision (Luke 6:38).

• Self-Examination – Learn to align your life with Christ through honest reflection (2 Corinthians 13:5).

• Work Heartily—As to the Lord – Transform your daily grind into an act of worship (Colossians 3:23).

Each lesson includes thought-provoking questions for personal reflection or group discussion, making this workbook perfect for solo study or your next church small group. Plus, all Scripture references come from the clear and accessible Christian Standard Bible—ideal for digging deeper into God’s Word.

Why You Need This Book

If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond surface-level faith into a vibrant, purposeful relationship with God, What God Requires is for you. Obedience isn’t a burden; it’s the fruit of a life transformed by grace. Imagine a faith where gratitude overflows, relationships heal, and every task becomes an offering to the Lord. That’s the life this book helps you build.

Preorder Now and Start Your Journey

Released in April 2025, What God Requires: Learning to Do Life His Way (ISBN: 978-1-964-80522-1) is available for preorder now at spiritbuilding.com for just $9.99. Why wait? Secure your copy today and be among the first to experience this life-changing study.

Join the Conversation

What does living God’s way mean to you? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Let 2025 be the year you learn to do life His way. Order What God Requires now and step into a faith that’s deeper, richer, and truer than ever before.

The book of Ephesians calls on us to embrace our identity in Christ and live in a way that reflects His character. In the first three chapters, Paul lays a theological foundation, reminding us of the grace we have received and the unity we share with others in Christ. The last three chapters shift the focus to application—how we should respond to these truths. Paul exhorts us to "walk worthy of the calling" we have received (Ephesians 4:1), Which means that our lives should match our identity in Christ. Because He has transformed us, we are now called to live in a way that reflects His goodness.

A key theme in these chapters is the idea of “walking.” Paul describes the Christian life as a journey with distinct characteristics. He teaches that we are to:

• Walk in unity (Ephesians 4:1-16)

• Walk in uniqueness (4:17-32)

• Walk in love (5:1)

• Walk in the light (5:8)

• Walk in wisdom (5:15)

• Walk in the Spirit (5:18)

• Walk in warfare (6:10-13)

Walking Worthy (Ephesians 4:1)

Paul’s call to walk worthily means that there should be harmony between one's identity in Christ and one's daily life. The word “worthy” suggests counterbalancing—our actions should align with our faith.

Our calling in Christ is significant:

• It is a high calling (Philippians 3:14)

• It is a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:9)

• It is a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1)

Such a calling requires an appropriate response. We don’t just acknowledge our new life in Christ—we live it out.

How to Walk (Ephesians 4:2)

Paul begins by focusing on attitude before action. He emphasizes that before we can live rightly, our hearts must be transformed. He highlights four key attitudes that should shape our walk:

1. Humility – True humility means seeing ourselves rightly in light of Christ. Older translations use the word lowliness, reminding us that we are nothing apart from Him.

2. Gentleness – This is a mild disposition that avoids harshness or retaliation. The Greek word here is often associated with a gentle breeze—refreshing rather than destructive.

3. Patience – Sometimes translated as long-suffering, patience is necessary in three areas:

   • In difficult circumstances

   • In relationships with others

   • In waiting for God’s plan to unfold

4. Forbearing Love – To forbear means to suppress with silence or to cover sins with love (1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12). This kind of love makes room for failures and fulfills the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:14-15 and Luke 6:28-29.

These attitudes build upon one another:

• Humility leads to gentleness.

• Gentleness leads to patience.

• Patience leads to forbearing love.

Walking in Unity (Ephesians 4:3)

A life that reflects Christ will result in unity among believers. Paul instructs Christians to make every effort to keep unity. This means that unity is not automatic—it requires constant work and commitment.

Importantly, we do not create unity—the Holy Spirit does (1 Corinthians 12:13). Our job is to preserve it by walking in love, humility, and patience. Unity is both personal and spiritual, and it is a reflection of our shared identity in Christ.

Living Out Our Calling

Walking worthy of our calling is a daily commitment. It means aligning our actions with our faith, cultivating Christlike attitudes, and striving for unity in the body of Christ. As we walk in humility, gentleness, patience, love, and the Spirit, we reflect the life-changing power of Jesus to the world.

Important Takeaways

If self is at the center, we will never know unity. When we dwell upon our feelings, our prestige, our rights, and our place, unity will never happen. Everything Paul speaks about in these verses involves the doing away of self. There is no other option.

Unity is a gift, not a product. If we look primarily at externals, form, and practice, we will begin to believe unity is achieved by uniformity … that we are practicing it through compliance. This is not the Biblical model. Remember, when Jesus looks at the church, He sees blood-bought believers who justified Himself. See Romans 8.30. He looks at us as those He works in for ongoing sanctification. Ultimately, He looks at us as the people He is leading to be glorified for all eternity. May we all see each other through the eyes of Jesus, not with our human preferences and preferred ways of doing things.

Unity takes the first step. Someone once said unity occurs as naturally as a two-year-old who shares. This is why Paul says we must make every effort to keep it. We are called to love others first and to celebrate the good God is doing in them rather than waiting for them to come to us when they have figured out where we stand, theologically or philosophically. Christians need to be the ones who make every effort to engage others and build bridges … not putting up walls and burning bridges. God has called on us to do this.

Will we have the faith to follow?

Like what you’ve read here regarding unity? Get Matthew’s workbook on unity at spiritbuilding.com!

I'm excited to release this new workbook. I taught it here at Cornerstone in 2015 and recently had a church in Columbus request it for one of their classes. It is part of the new Growth Tracks Series of Workbooks I'm writing.

We're sending it out to print today. Print copies cost $9.99 and should be available by the 24th. Electronic copies (PDF & ePub) are available now.

https://spiritbuilding.com/prod.../marks-of-a-true-christian