Christian Essentials

Saved by grace. Grounded in the Word. Faithful in prayer. Bold in witness. Resilient in suffering. Committed in membership. Loving in relationships. Godly in giving. Fruitful in service.

Does this sound like you? Do you wish it did?

Come with preacher and pastor Ken Noakes as he explores what it means to actively follow Jesus and “let your light shine before others”. Ken provides a unique mix of imagined perspectives of the believers described in Acts, topical Bible studies, and careful teaching on these 9 Christian essentials. This book will help those who are exploring Christianity, encourage those who are new to Jesus, and grow every Christian who seeks to live according to what God desires rather than what the world values. This is a discipleship manual.

Ken Noakes is an evangelical pastor/teacher who has served on the staff team of several churches around Australia, and currently serves as Minister at Lower Mountains Anglican Church in Sydney. He trained at Moore Theological College and Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Sydney. He is the author of the JesusWORKS evangelistic course and has contributed to and edited several resources or books, including Leadership on the Front Foot (2009) and Youth Ministry on the Front Foot (2012). He has preached and taught at churches, colleges and conferences around Australia, India and Africa.

"Unlike anything else available. This is a great resource to help grow disciples, not as mere holders of knowledge but as ones who engage with their world, joyfully embracing the privilege of growing as disciples of Christ."

—Archie Poulos, Director, Centre for Ministry Development, Moore Theological College

"We long for disciples of Jesus to be people of truth, balance, zeal and love. In this very helpful and practical book, Ken Noakes takes us into nine sections of Acts and provides teaching, application and discussion material on nine central parts of the Christian life. Are you looking for something to put into the hands of individuals and especially groups? Here it is. This is a fresh gift for the church today and the disciples of tomorrow."

—Simon Manchester, Senior Minister, St Thomas’ Anglican Church, North Sydney, 1989-2019

"Born out of Ken’s pastoral heart and his desire for people to live in ways that honour Jesus, this book explores nine aspects of Christian discipleship that Ken considers to be essential. Each chapter contains an in-depth Bible study followed by encouragement and instruction for those who seek to live faithfully for Christ. It’s a Scripture-soaked treatment that challenges the reader to compare the life that Jesus calls us to with what the world offers, and shows how following and serving Jesus is so much better."

—Wendy Lin, Book reviewer and blogger, Trinity Church Adelaide

"This book has the wonderful aim of helping us to be more godly Christians. The author is an experienced and admired pastor. He has thought deeply about how to communicate biblical teaching in an effective and readable way, and his work will be a blessing to those who study it."

—Dr Peter Jensen, Former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, 2001-2013

"This book is an invitation for all of us—enquirer, new believer, and those who’ve been Christian for a while—to equip ourselves with the tools for being effective disciples of Jesus. More detailed and comprehensive than an introductory course or short ‘next steps’, the creative chapter arrangement allows for deep examination of the fundamentals of the Christian faith. By the end of the book, participants will indeed have a full and useful toolbox."

—Kara Hartley, Archdeacon for Women’s Ministry, Anglican Church, Diocese of Sydney

"This is a splendid book on basic Christian discipleship. For the person wondering, “What will it look like for me to get started as a Christian and to begin to grow in my faith?”, this book provides excellent answers. The Bible passages, short studies and imaginative reflection questions at the end of each chapter give valuable exercises to work on. The instructive material is thoroughly helpful. It is a useful resource for individuals and small groups."

—William Taylor, Rector, St Helen’s Bishopsgate, London

"Christians must always be clear about the essentials of the Christian faith, and must hold on to them. Building on years of experience in pastoral ministry, Ken Noakes combines clarity, creativity and biblical faithfulness in defining and describing these essentials. The book is ideal for both the new believer and the older Christian who wants more certainty about what they believe and how they should live."

—Mike Raiter, Director, Centre for Biblical Preaching, Melbourne

"I had the great privilege of serving alongside Ken Noakes at Holy Trinity Adelaide for many years. The image that sticks in my mind from that period is of Ken sitting in a coffee shop with two others looking at the Bible together—one a young or not-yet Christian and the other someone he was teaching to disciple others. The faces changed but the pattern didn’t. The material in this creative book is not theoretical. It is the distilled experience of someone who has been consistently discipling others for decades. This is a resource that can be used to grow disciples. It combines thoughtful biblical insights with a wealth of accumulated pastoral experience. Ken demonstrates an excellent understanding of the pressures that new and not-so-new believers face. He answers real questions with what the Bible has to say, combined with wise understanding of human nature. This is a great addition for a pastor’s toolbox."

—Paul Harrington, Senior Network Pastor, The Trinity Network of Churches, Adelaide