Baptism
What it Means & Why It Matters
Baptism is a public declaration of your faith in Jesus Christ — an outward sign of an internal miracle. It is a moment where you renounce your old life of sin and publicly identify yourself as a follower of Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 6:4–5 that we are baptized into Christ's death and therefore raised with Him into new life.
The Greek word baptiso means to permanently soak — not just a temporary dip. Going into the water symbolizes the death and washing of our old sinful nature. Coming up out of the water symbolizes being raised into new life and freedom from bondage to sin.
Fasting
What it Means & Why It Matters
Fasting is a biblical practice of giving up food to humble yourself, depend on God, and devote yourself to prayer. Practiced for thousands of years by Jews and Christians, fasting remains a powerful spiritual discipline today. Some fasts last a single meal, while others extend for days or weeks without food.
Fasting was common when the Bible was written, with Jews and early Christians building regular fasts into their calendars to seek God’s voice, direction, and guidance. Often, fasting leads to greater fullness and closeness with God and serves as a weapon against fleshly instincts that war against Him. Fasting appears throughout Scripture in both the Old Testament (before Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection) and the New Testament (after).
Fasting is not a way to get a better response to prayer, but a way to approach God with humility and seek His will. By setting aside food and replacing it with prayer and time in God’s Word, we become more aware of His presence and open to repentance and spiritual insight. Through fasting, faith is strengthened, clarity is gained, and prayer is renewed.
Bible Reading
What it Means & Why It Matters
The Bible is God's message to humanity — the foundation of true teaching for learning about God, growing in faith, and navigating the world. It is the most accurate and widespread ancient document in human history, written by approximately 35 human authors over nearly 2,000 years. Yet behind every author is one divine Author.
Holy Spirit
What it Means & Why It Matters
Jesus and His disciples spent every waking hour together, 24/7. That’s close. But it wasn’t enough. Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples that it was better for Him to leave so He could send the Holy Spirit to live inside of them. That is the closest God has ever been to mankind: indwelling our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Here at Legacy Nashville we believe in the Holy Spirit, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active today, and that He is the third person of the Trinity. We worship God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit
In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came upon the gathered believers, He arrived like a rushing wind and transformed the gathering, launching the entire Church. It was Jesus’ heartfelt desire for us to know the Father deeply through the power of His Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit, we would have a one-directional relationship with God. He makes it a living, breathing relationship; dynamic, personal, and powerful.
Financial Stewardship
What it Means & Why It Matters
When we realize we are caretakers rather than owners of all our resources, we find ourselves consulting the Lord about decisions we make concerning money, housing, and more. We are aware that we are stewarding what He has entrusted to us.
Before we talk about giving, we must answer one question: Who is the owner? Ownership comes with rights and authority. The final say belongs to the owner. Understanding what God owns changes our entire relationship with money and possessions.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1
If He owns it all, then we are not owners; we are stewards.
Prayer
What it Means & Why It Matters
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Community
What it Means & Why It Matters
The Greek word koinonia, used in Acts 2:42 for “fellowship”, means community, communion, joint participation, and intimacy. It is not casual acquaintance. It is shared meals, shared work, shared purpose, and shared life in Christ.
Cigna Health recently reported that 79% of adults regularly feel alone; that’s 23 million more than just two years prior. Loneliness is an epidemic. But God’s Church is a solution through community. We were not meant to live alone. It is Biblical to live in community and not continue a lifestyle of loneliness.
Community informs trajectory. The people around you shape the direction of your life.
Salvation
What it Means & Why It Matters
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