Overview of the Church of the Nazarene

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Overview of the Church of the Nazarene
Based on an article by Wes Tracy and Stan
Ingersol This information, was featured in the
2001 General Assembly issue of Holiness Today
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Our Roots Methodism plus the Wesleyan-Holiness
Movement of the United States

• The Church of the Nazarene is a union of various
  Wesleyan-Holiness denominations

WHERE WE CAME FROM
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Phineas F. Bresee of California shaped the
church's form of government.
WHERE WE CAME FROM
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The church has had an international dimension
from its beginning.

• More than 380 districts worldwide
• Three-quarters of them are outside the United
  States and Canada.

WHERE WE CAME FROM
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Today church membership stands at nearly 1.4
million.

• Over half live outside the United States and
  Canada.

WHERE WE CAME FROM
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WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH

• We believe that we are only one part of Christ's
  Universal Church and share with all believers one
  Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

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With other Protestants we affirm

• the priority of salvation by grace alone through
  faith in Christ
• the priesthood of all believers
• the Bible as a final rule of Christian faith and
  practice

WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH
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We believe that the Old and New Testament reveal
God's will for all persons concerning sin,
salvation, and new life in Christ.
WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH
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We affirm that Christ's death atoned for the sins
of all people and that this grace is effective
for the salvation of each person who accepts it.
WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH
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We believe that Christians are justified and
sanctified by faith alone.
WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH
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We affirm that entire sanctification is

• a gracious provision and possibility for all
  believers,
• in which the heart is cleansed of all sin
• and overflows with love for God and neighbor.

WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH
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• We seek to witness faithfully and attractively to
  all people
• We are called especially to preach the gospel to
  the poor.

OUR MISSION IS THE GREAT COMMISSION
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Our approach

• corporate worship
• evangelism
• compassionate ministry
• Christian nurture
• education

OUR MISSION IS THE GREAT COMMISSION
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The people of God are the Church

• Every Christian is called to ministry
• Every believer in the Church of the Nazarene has
  a role in carrying out the mission to which we
  are called

OUR MISSION IS THE GREAT COMMISSION
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