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Become a Follower of Jesus
You probably have an opinion about Jesus. Maybe you think He’s a great teacher or a prophet. Maybe you think He didn’t exist at all. Whatever you believe, we can probably agree that Jesus impacted and changed the world.
We believe He wants to impact and change you too, and that He’s paved the way for you to know God.
Jesus Himself said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. - John 14:6-7
Trusting Jesus as the way to God is not an exclusive path to God, it’s completely inclusive. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, no matter where you were born or the color of your skin, Jesus is the way for you to have a relationship with God. Everybody’s invited. Everybody’s included. Everybody’s important.
If you think you’re an exception to the rule, you’re wrong. Jesus loves you. Yes...YOU!!
So how do you actually become a Christian, a follower of Jesus?
You just have to take a few simple steps.
Look at what the Bible says:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
“But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” - 1 John 1:9
“If you openly declare (confess) that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9
That’s it. Confess and believe.
Confess your sin to God and that Jesus is the only way to have your sins forgiven. Believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord...that God raised Him from the dead, and your sins are forgiven and your relationship with God is begun. Do that, and you’re a Christian, a follower of Jesus.
But you’re probably thinking, “Don’t I have to be a better person first?”
No, you don’t. You don’t change in order to gain God’s love; you change because you’ve experienced His love.
When you trust Jesus as your Savior, you walk into the fullness of God’s love. Gradually, over time, God’s love changes you as you follow Jesus. You change because you’re loved, not in order to be loved.
Through His death on the cross, and then coming back from the dead, Jesus paid the penalty for all of your wrong and He gives you all of His right.
If you believe that and commit to following Him, your life will never be the same. It’s as simple as repenting of your sin, declaring you want to follow Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is.
Believing in Jesus is the first step on the greatest journey of your life. You haven’t finished the race—you’ve just gotten started.
Have you trusted Jesus with your life? If so, let us know using the button below.
Get Baptized
Baptism is something followers of Jesus have been doing for thousands of years to symbolize their faith and new identity in Christ.
Being baptized shows that we turn away from a life of sin and towards Jesus, the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).
Baptism is a public expression of our new identity in Jesus Christ.
Even if you were baptized as an infant, we’ll baptize you again because this time it’s your choice.
Read Your Bible
It’s important to realize that the Bible is not an ordinary book that reads smoothly from cover to cover. It’s actually a library, or collection, of historical documents, poems, letters, and eye witness accounts written by different authors in several languages over several thousand years. But it’s a readable collection, and you can get through it.
Prayer
What is prayer?
Prayer is simply talking with God. Prayer can be out loud or silently in your thoughts to God.
Serving
Attending church isn’t about scoring points with God. Gathering with other people who are pursuing their relationship with God is a great way to grow in your relationship with God.
Life Groups
Life groups are small communities where people can do life with God together.
TO CREATE COMMUNITY
We create a place where everyone in the group ‘knows your name’.
We meet consistently…so relationships have the potential to be developed.
We talk transparently…to foster vulnerability and honest sharing.
We love people to life.
TO DO LIFE
With God:
We engage and interact with the Bible through 1) questions from weekend message, or 2) a book the group chooses to read, or 3) a passage of Scripture…things that will stir spiritual conversations.
We guide our groups to the ‘heart’ of issues.
We pray with and for each other.
Together
We get together outside of ‘group times’.
We encourage others in the group to get together
We serve together…inside and outside the church community.
We care for needs within the group (hospital visits, meals, etc…)
Life Group is the place where you can belong within the larger gathering.
Giving
The Bible has a lot to say about our money. One of the main things taught is that as followers of Jesus, we should be generous with what God has given to us.
“Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned.” - 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
We should give individually, regularly, methodically, and proportionally. The matter of your giving is between you and God, and He always takes into account our circumstances. He knows when they are beyond our power to direct and control. The important thing is that we see giving as a privilege and not a burden. It should not be out of a sense of duty, but rather out of love for God and a desire to see His kingdom advanced through the local church.
We also need to be careful to not be afraid to give. Giving challenges our faith that God will take care of us when we give some of our money away. As followers of Jesus, we are to be generous people trusting God.
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
We encourage each person to:
Pick a Percent
Make a Plan
Put it into Action
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are gifts or abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to every follower of Jesus for the purpose of building up the church (the gathering).
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7
There are many gifts and most are listed in the following verses.
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” - Romans 12:6-8
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
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