A partial list of notes and Scriptures used:

James calls it the Perfect Law of Liberty that produces a way of life unique in today's Christian world but very close to what our ancestors in the faith did with the Sabbath, holy Days, and resurrections.

One thing that is confusing to a lot is: "What Church do you go to"?

They are looking for a nice clean label... Baptist, Jewish.

"I am a Christian, I attend the United Church of God, I am part of God's Church"

HOW would you respond?

NO, we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and track our origins to the teachings we see on the gospels and epistles just as they are.

We are "primitive" Christians...  "original" Christians.

We must respond with a clear manner that can address the questioner, in time, circumstance, environment, level of interest.

1Pe 3:13  And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
1Pe 3:14  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED."
1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
1Pe 3:16  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

In meakness and fear and clearly reasoned, informed and factual answer.

HOW the early Church was described and a key scripture and principles to follow to describe our Faith. HOPEFULLY we will be better equiped to answer the question: WHAT Church do you go to?

What were the followers of Jesus Christ called in the Beginning?
Act 9:1  Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
Act 9:2  and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

31  AD for the crucifixion is the date we consistently use. So this was sometime later, maybe 5 years.

Act 19:8  And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Act 19:9  But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way  before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Act 19:10  And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

So 20 to 25 years after the death of Jesus Christ... our spiritual ancestors were followers "of The Way"

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Joh 14:7  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Isa 40:6  plus John the Baptist to prepare "the way" for the Lord.

(Psa 86:11)  Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Joh 10:30  I and My Father are one."
We are differenciated from modern Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical Christianity.
ONENESS of GOD. His teachings

(Joh 17:25)  O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
(Joh 17:26)  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
He came to reveal the Father, magnify the Law, show the WAY... therefore they were followers of the WAY.

This is closer to our PRACTICES.

(1Co 11:1)  Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
The Ancient Path... THE WAY ...  Christ followed it and Paul followed Christ and we, also follow Christ.

THE WAY, biblically based and doctrinally sound.

The Sect of the Nazarenes (Follower of Jesus who came from Nazareth, "the Nazarene")

Act 24:5  For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Act 24:6  He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
A derogatory and prejudiced term used negatively by opponents of THE WAY.

It is ok to be called a SECT. Paul dealt with it and we have to deal with it.

What is a Sect?  Webster's:

People will |CALL US NAMES. Recognize it and realize it and accept it.

We are a little flock as they were, we have views
"The Kingdom of the Cults" defines cult in an interesting way.

3 points:
1 - Devotion to a single leader, typically charismatic in some way.  The UCG rejects charismatic leaders. Council plus general conference of elders and rotating Presidency.
2 - Cults separate people from families and communities. UCG does not do that.
3 - Cults reject the Trinity.  by his definition he defines us doctrinally as such. However, Trinity we know was formulated and established CENTURIES after the death of Christ by groups who had DEPARTED significantly and MAJOR ways from the life, teachings and LIFE WALK Example of Christ Who walked THE WAY.

Finally: Christians...

(Act 11:26)  And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Around 43 AD? This is what is used primarily today.

This term only used 3 times in N.T. "THE WAY" is used more frequently.
1Pe 4:16  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
1Pe 4:17  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  Now "IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?"
1Pe 4:19  Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

This letter written between 63 and 67 AD... Christian, had perhaps become more common but again likely a pejorative term used by enemies but had become common.

Unfortunately CHRISTIAN has many diluted meanings that go against a lot of what we clearly see in the scriptures.

(Act 24:13)  Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
(Act 24:14)  But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Acts 21 Paul journeys to Jerusalem where he is arrested.
Acts 22 Paul persecuted THIS Way....  he is a citizen of Rome. This causes a problem due to his rights as a Citizen of Rome.
470 Soldiers to protect Paul...  WOW... he took the job of protecting this Roman Citizen seriously !!!!!
Act 24:10  Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: "Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
Act 24:11  because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
Act 24:12  And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
Act 24:13  Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
Act 24:14  But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
(Act 24:15)  I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
(Act 24:15)  I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
(Act 24:16)  This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

v 14, I worship the GOD of MY Fathers... THE WAY, therefore has a DIRECT CONNECTION of the Patriarchs, the Prophets and Jesus Christ who lived and taught about THAT WAY.
Mal 4:1  "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2  But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Mal 4:3  You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 4:4  "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Mal 4:6  And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

Paul was pointing back to the Patriarchs, David and the Prophets, to worship the GOD of his fathers.

Biblical Christians worship the FATHER from Whom Christ derived His teachings.

Act 24:14  But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
HE believed in the same set of Scriptures as the JEWS who accused him believed. Clearly his understanding is different from the Jews...

"The life and times of Jesus the Messiah" Raisa Aslam?

By the time he says this HE HAS WRITTEN Several epistles...

He does not tell Felix about going to heaven but  resurrections...

HE did not speak in Parables so it would be easier to understand...

When we make decisions we think in terms of the Church and family.
Conscience is a great subject for a future sermon I look forward to giving...
Act 24:16  This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Paul is "peeling the Onion"... little by little... as we may do if the questions continue.

Paul offers us here a BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK for answering deeper and deeper questions with all the basics.

Mat 10:32  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
Mat 10:33  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
WE do not need to stand in the corner and say: Repent... but we also do not need to HIDE.