Christianity

Being a Christian is about following the teachings and life of Jesus. Christianity holds that in Jesus the whole of God’s love can be seen.

Over the 2000 years that Christianity has been a religion it has grown to be the world’s most common faith and there are groups of Christians on every continent. Christians believe that Jesus is God. Along with Jesus, Christians believe that God is also Father and Spirit. Christians pray “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.

The other distinctive belief Christians have about Jesus is that when he died (crucified around AD 30) his life did not end like all others, but he was resurrected. His disciples following his death encountered Jesus in numerous places and Christians today believe that through worship we can encounter Jesus still.

How Jesus Brings Hope

Find Out More

From Easter to Pentecost in 2025 our churches are finding new ways to share the good news that Jesus brings hope to our uncertain world. Find an event near you here.

The Church

Churches have taken many forms over the centuries, but always they are a gathering of those seeking to know Christ better. Sometimes these are small gatherings of just a few people in someone’s front room, at other times there might be 1,000’s of people in a great Cathedral. Bendigo has 32 ‘parishes’, many with more than one Church or Congregation. These are gatherings of Christians who mostly come from the locality around the church. Bendigo has female and male priests, who are in charge of the parish churches. Find your local Anglican church in the Diocese of Bendigo here.

Anglicanism

Anglicans form a worldwide network of affiliated churches. Breaking away from the authority of the Pope in the 16th century the church spread from England with the expansion of the British Empire. Anglican churches are now found in over 165 countries around the world. Anglican churches, although a product of the reformation, still retain the structure of bishop, priests and deacons.

What To Do Next

Some Recommend Reading

If you would like to learn more about the Christian faith, the best place to start are the ‘gospel’ books in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Here are some other book recommendations:

  • Prayer by Philip Yancey –
    • Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeat of our relationship with God: prayer. What is prayer? Does it change God’s mind or ours or both? This book is an invitation to communicate with God the Father who invites us into an eternal partnership through prayer.
  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis –
    • Mere Christianity explores the core beliefs of Christianity by providing an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.
  • The Reason for God by Tim Keller –
    •  Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand their ground against the backlash to religion created by the Age of Skepticism. And to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics, he provides a challenging argument for pursuing the reason for God.
  • Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster –
    • In this landmark work, Foster examines the “streams of living water” –– the six dimensions of faith and practice that define Christian tradition. He lifts up the enduring character of each tradition and shows how a variety of practices, from individual study and retreat to disciplines of service and community, are all essential elements of growth and maturity.