The Bible Tells Us What to Believe. But Do You Know What That Is?
The Bible is not just a collection of ancient stories. It is God's own Word — and it tells us what is true about him, about ourselves, about life, and about what lies beyond this life. These are not small questions. They are the most important questions any human being can ask. And the answers, it turns out, are not as complicated as they might seem.
In Believe: What Should I Know?, Mike McKinley offers new and growing Christians a warm, clear, and genuinely accessible breakdown of the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. Christians have sometimes surrounded these truths with complicated theological vocabulary — words that can feel intimidating or impenetrable to someone newer to the faith. McKinley cuts through the complexity without losing the substance, presenting everything a new Christian needs to know about what the Bible teaches in a way that is easy to understand, easy to remember, and deeply encouraging.
This is a book that takes doctrine seriously and makes it accessible — because what we believe matters, and every Christian deserves to understand it.
What This Book Covers
Mike McKinley works through the essential beliefs of the Christian faith in a clear, logical, and accessible way:
- What the Bible is — Why Scripture is not just an ancient religious text but the living Word of God, and why it is the foundation for everything Christians believe
- Who God is — The nature and character of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and what the doctrine of the Trinity means for everyday Christian life
- Who we are — What the Bible teaches about human beings: made in God's image, fallen in sin, and in need of rescue
- What Jesus did — The person and work of Christ: his incarnation, his perfect life, his atoning death, and his bodily resurrection
- What salvation is — How sinners are rescued by grace through faith, and what it means to be justified, adopted, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit
- What the church is — Why believers belong together in a local community and what that community is for
- What happens after this life — What the Bible teaches about death, resurrection, judgment, and the new creation
What Readers Will Learn
- What the core beliefs of the Christian faith are and why they matter
- How to understand key theological terms — grace, justification, atonement, Trinity — in plain, everyday language
- Why doctrine is not dry or distant but directly connected to how Christians live, pray, and relate to God
- What the Bible teaches about God, humanity, sin, salvation, the church, and eternity in a clear and connected way
- Why what you believe about Jesus is the most important question you will ever answer
- How to begin thinking theologically — not as a scholar, but as a disciple who wants to know God truly
- Why Christian doctrine is not a burden to be mastered but a gift to be received and treasured
How to Use This Book
Believe is short, clear, and immediately useful:
- Personal reading — Ideal for any new Christian wanting a clear, simple introduction to what the Bible teaches
- One-to-one discipleship — A natural resource for a mentor walking alongside a new believer and helping them understand the foundations of the faith
- New members or new believers classes — A reliable, accessible guide for churches introducing new Christians to essential Christian doctrine
- Small group use — Short enough to read together quickly, with content that naturally invites discussion and personal application
- Evangelistic follow-up — A gentle, encouraging gift for someone who has recently come to faith and wants to understand what Christians believe and why
A Note on This Edition
Please note that this copy has a small printing error. The content of the book is complete and entirely unaffected — readers will find nothing missing or incorrect within the pages themselves.
Who Should Read This Book
This book is for you if you are:
- A new Christian wanting to understand the essential beliefs of the faith you have embraced
- A growing believer who has never had a clear, connected overview of Christian doctrine and wants one
- A church leader or pastor looking for a simple, trustworthy resource to give to new members or baptism candidates
- A discipleship mentor wanting a warm, accessible guide to work through with someone newer to the faith
- A seeker who is curious about what Christians actually believe — in plain language, without the jargon
- Anyone who has ever sat in a church service, heard theological words like justification or atonement, and thought: I wish someone would just explain what all of this means
About the Author
Mike McKinley is the Senior Pastor of Sterling Park Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia, and a council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of several books, including works on evangelism, church revitalisation, and the Christian life, and is known for his warm, direct, and accessible writing style. Mike brings to Believe both a careful attention to biblical truth and a pastor's genuine desire for new Christians to understand their faith — not just intellectually but personally and transformatively. He is also one of the endorsers of Character: How Do I Change? by Sharon Dickens, reflecting his consistent investment in resources that help new believers take their first steps well.
About the First Steps Series
Believe is part of the First Steps series — published by 9Marks and series edited by Mez McConnell. It is a collection of short, accessible books designed specifically to help new Christians take their first steps in the faith with confidence and clarity. Each volume addresses a foundational question about the Christian life in a way that is warm, practical, and easy to engage with for someone brand new to following Jesus.
Other titles in the series include:
