Primal Credo [Kindle Edition]

Derek Vreeland (Author)

Book Description

Primal Credo is a fresh, modern reading of the Apostles' Creed. Some followers of Christ have never heard of the creed and others recite the creed Sunday after Sunday without giving it much thought. This book will help you grow in faith if you are a new Christian or a seasoned saint. Enter into the creed and discover your DNA as a believer in Jesus Christ.

The Apostles’ Creed is an entry point into God's story. From “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth” to “I believe in…the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting” the Apostles' Creed provides a helpful synopsis of God's story recorded in Scripture. Both the creed and the Scriptures are gifts from the historic church to the contemporary church. The creed works to keep us focused on the big ideas of the Bible, namely God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The creed has been around nearly as long as there has been a Christian Church and for centuries followers of Christ have looked to the creed as a guide to weed out wrong ideas about God, creation, Jesus, salvation, and the end of human history. This book offers a compelling reflection on the Apostles’ Creed, guiding the reader through the language of the creed without big, hard-to-understand, theological words.

Primal Credo allows everyday Christians to understand and live out the essentials of the Christian faith.

Book reviews:

Postmodern people are happily rediscovering spirituality, but must wonder if or where faith might find authentic roots. Vreeland's guidance through the Creed offers a fresh connection to the apostolic faith and community. These meditations take us to the heart of how Jesus' early disciples understood his message and still bear witness to it today.
—Brad Jersak , Author / Teacher, Fresh Wind Christian Fellowship, Abbotsford, British Columbia

In Primal Credo, Derek Vreeland offers the world an engaging reading of the Apostles’ Creed. He writes well and crafts vivid images to convey the power and importance of a creed that many repeat weekly without reflecting on its true meaning. He weaves theological reflection around illustrations drawn from the best of modern and ancient sources. To drive home his writing, Vreeland ends each chapter with discussion questions that will help individuals and groups to go deeper in their own journey with God. I happily endorse Primal Credo and hope that it gains a wide audience.
—Brian D. Russell, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Derek Vreeland (D.Min. Asbury Theological Seminary) is an associate pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Over a decade of pastoral ministry and his love for the historic church have combined to fuel his desire to connect present-day followers of Jesus with the most ancient statement of Christian belief--the Apostles' Creed. In addition to writing, Derek enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, reading, rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs, and absorbing everything Bob Dylan. Follow Derek on Twitter @DerekVreeland.

Product Details

• File Size: 281 KB
• Print Length: 129 pages
• Publisher: Doctrina Press (April 28, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00526NV5I
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,579 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Still reading November 23, 2012

By Cindy Kime

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Enjoying this, did not understand the Credo before I got this. Now I'm learning a lot. Great read, I recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to creed, short, readable chapters with good discussion questions October 16, 2012

By Adam VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

With the exception of a church that I occasionally attended in college (that was right on campus so it is where I went when I woke up late), I have never attended a church that used the Apostle's Creed as part of regular worship.

Theologically I think it is an important thing to do, just like weekly participation in the Eucharist. Practically, like the Eucharist, many churches like the one I attend do not do either.

So even if I do not say the Creed every week, I do think it is something that is important for all Christians to know and understand. Rich Mullins' song Creed is probably the way that many Evangelicals most know the creed. And I bet that many that know the song do not realize that it is actually the Apostle's Creed.

Primal Credo is a good basic introduction to the Apostles Creed. It is not long, has short readable chapters and would make a very good small group discussion with lots of discussion questions in each chapter.

The chapters are based on each line of the creed. So they are short chapters, dealing with small bits of theology at a time. The author is also from a non-creedal background so I think many Evangelicals will appreciate his background and point of view.

One of the things that I think is most important about the creed is that it is a universal statement of faith. Christians from very early (before the biblical cannon was finalized) were reciting the creed and using it to teach new Christians. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Protestants all theologically support and many regularly say the creed as part of their worship.

Early in the book there is a statement from someone who says that Christians only really need to know the creed to understand what Christianity is all about.... After having read hundreds of books on Christianity, the bible and theology I think this is probably more true that most theologians and pastors would like to admit. We as Christians often complicate things. The creed is a good way to uncomplicate them. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Foundational knowledge October 6, 2012

By peacepal

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wonderfully insightful, written to appeal to a wide range of spiritual maturity. I am thankful for this reading experience. It is a Blessing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Primal Credo March 15, 2013

By Mariell J.

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a must have for anyone who is serious about reading the Bible -- many churches and Christians need to read this book, to get an education of the basics of Christianity. Many don't anymore, and often, they don't care, which is sad.

4.0 out of 5 stars FIRST CENTURY INSIGHTS FOR 21ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS May 2, 2011

By onewaypublishing.co.uk

Format:Paperback

Following on from "Shape Shifters" (Derek Vreeland's first published work, which centres on spiritual transformation in the context of the trinity), in his latest book the Bob Dylan-loving US pastor and theologian looks back to the creeds of the early Christian church. Using the Apostle's creed as a compass to navigate by, he explains how these foundational truths point towards the emphases the first believers held dear (and even died for); and how these truths can be applied today.

What I liked about "Primal Credo" was Vreeland's approach. He works towards answering the right questions. When it comes to science-versus-religion orientated debates, the scientists have a tendency to struggle to answer questions that their experimental repetitions will never be able to address. Try describing love or altruism with chemical formulae. You can't. They are asking the wrong questions.

Primal Credo isn't a science/religion book - it is the other end of the spectrum. Writing in a contemporary style, Vreeland engages with the postmodern mindset by teaching intangibles through creative and at times poetic prose, quoting popular and classical culture as reference points, but without losing his way and compromising on the basic truths of Christianity.

In a running order that follows the lines of the creed itself, two particularly strong chapters caught my attention - "The Resurrection" and "Saints". While "The Resurrection" focuses on the eternal perspective, it also looks at the implications of this truth and the thorny issues such as healing that ripple off it.... Meanwhile "Saints" manages to deftly sidestep denominational divisions rife since the great schism by simultaneously talking about honouring past Christians and affirming the priesthood, indeed the sainthood of all believers. Read more ›