Apostles’ Creed Week 4: Jesus Christ

Sep 9

Introduction

In the coming weeks, we’re going to walk slowly through one of the oldest, most widely embraced confessions in the history of the Church—the Apostles’ Creed. This ancient creed is more than a set of beliefs; it’s a narrative. It tells the story of God, the story of the gospel, and the story we are invited into.

The Kansas City Underground holds this creed as a foundational confession. It’s a declaration of trust, a form of spiritual formation, and a shared language that binds us together with the global Church across time and culture.

Each week, we’ll sit with a single line or phrase. You’ll engage Scripture, linger in reflection, and respond in prayer. This is not a study to rush through, but an invitation to abide with truth until it shapes your imagination and your life.

If you want to dive deeper into the meaning behind each line, we highly recommend The Apostles’ Creed: A Guide to the Ancient Catechism by Ben Myers. It’s a short but powerful companion that can enrich your journey.

Apostles’ Creed

Read the following line from the Apostles’ Creed:

“And in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord ”

The center of the Apostles’ Creed—and of our faith—is not a philosophy, a practice, or a religious system. It’s a person: Jesus Christ.

When we say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,” we are declaring more than belief in a historical figure. We are confessing allegiance to the One who is uniquely God’s Son, the Messiah foretold, and the Lord of all.

This line of the Creed roots us in both identity and authority. It names Jesus as the Christ—the Anointed One, the long-awaited King. It names Him as the only Son of God—eternally begotten, not made. And it names Him as Lord—which, in the Roman world, was politically dangerous language. To say “Jesus is Lord” was to say “Caesar is not.”

This is not just belief—it’s surrender. It’s not just admiration—it’s loyalty. The Creed is helping us re-center everything on Jesus.

Scripture Readings

John 1:1–18
Matthew 16:13–17
Romans 10:9–13
Philippians 2:5–11
Colossians 1:15–20

Reflection

The name “Jesus” means “Yahweh saves.” Christ is not His last name—it’s His title. It means “Anointed One,” the Messiah King who would come to rescue, redeem, and reign.

When we call Him “His only Son,” we are saying He is not just a great teacher or prophet. He is uniquely God in the flesh. Sent, but also one with the Sender.

And when we confess Him as “our Lord,” we are placing our whole lives under His leadership. We are saying, “You get to define my values, not culture. You lead my story, not my ambition. You’re the one I follow when it’s hard—and the one I worship when I’m afraid.”

This kind of confession can’t be made casually. It’s not inherited. It’s not cultural. It’s personal, and it’s communal. It’s a line in the sand that shapes our deepest commitments.

When the early Church said, “Jesus is Lord,” they meant it with their whole lives—even when it cost them everything. Today, we join their confession. And we offer it as our own.

Consider

Who or what has the final say in your life?

When you say “Jesus is Lord,” what part of your life resists that? What part longs for it?

We often say Jesus is Lord with our mouths but live as if we are. Or we treat Him like a consultant—not a King. But the Creed brings us back: this is not just belief in Jesus—it’s surrender to Him.

Do you believe in Jesus as God’s Son, or just a wise teacher?

Do you trust Him as Savior—but struggle to follow Him as Lord?

What would change if “Jesus is Lord” shaped your week ahead?

Prayer Prompts

Create space to be still. Slowly pray through these prompts or journal your responses:

Worship: Use Philippians 2:5–11 to shape a prayer of reverence and awe for Jesus—His humility, His obedience, His exaltation.
Confess: Name where you’ve withheld part of your life from His lordship—your time, your fears, your ambitions. Ask for grace to surrender.
Declare: Say the words out loud: “Jesus is Lord.” Let them move from your mouth to your heart. Speak them into fear, confusion, or pride.
Receive: Ask the Spirit to help you see Jesus as He truly is—fully God, fully human, full of mercy and power.
Intercede: Pray for our network to be a people marked by loyalty to Jesus. That in every home, neighborhood, and microchurch, the lordship of Christ would be visible—not just in word, but in practice. Pray that our allegiance to Him would be our shared center.